lilpenny1316

November 8th, 2023 at 9:18 PM ^

Yet, he's picking PSU to beat us on Saturday. His theory is that we haven't played anybody, so we'll be caught off guard by a good team. He also thinks PSU's offense is better than folks think. Whatever. I think he's using non X's and O's, but if we win, I guarantee he'll say his only doubt was because of our schedule.

Joined: 11/19/2009

MGoPoints: 62038

The Real No.1

November 8th, 2023 at 6:08 PM ^

Brought this up in another thread but maybe more relevant here: What kind of control or power do the players have in this situation?  What is to keep them from saying that if the Big Ten chooses to punish Michigan without due process that they simply collectively won’t play on Saturday or until further notice?  Can anyone force them to play?  If they say this now before any action is taken couldn’t Fox Sports step in and let the Big Ten Commissioner know that if Michigan does not play because he chooses to break Big Ten protocol that they will file their own lawsuit for breach of contract and damages?  I think that there is no way Fox Sports would allow this to happen at all.  Why should Michigan have to pay attorneys to fight this fool, let the real money players handle this for them.  Sorry if this has been brought up already.  I just think the potential threat of this could stop the mess before it goes any further.  Crush me if I am out of line.

Joined: 11/08/2023

MGoPoints: 274

stephenrjking

November 8th, 2023 at 7:40 PM ^

I've never understood these arguments, and they keep coming up. Michigan's response to unfair attacks is to... forfeit games? Pack up and leave the conference? That gives the opposition what they want, cuts off the nose to spite the face, destroys the best season we might ever see, which is exactly what the dogpile wants.

The response is to: fight on the ground that's worth fighting on (and the fact that Michigan quickly forked over the laptop, suspended Stalions, and fully cooperated now looks really good for the "due process" arguments they are now making) and win the football games.

It won't fix everything, but there's a lot about this controversy that will taste much less bitter if washed down with a fresh glass of Nittany and Buckeye tears.

Win with cruelty.

Joined: 03/15/2012

MGoPoints: 20144178

uofmchris2

November 8th, 2023 at 6:20 PM ^

We all are (or at least some of us) guilty of posting some bad takes, and I'm here to tell you that the players are not going to boycott this game or any other game lol. 

Just like Michigan is not going to leave the B1G Ten. It's all silly talk.

That said, l can't wait for the fucking beatdown we are about to put on PSU this Saturday. And that is NOT a hot take!! :)

Joined: 10/31/2020

MGoPoints: 12988

Vasav

November 8th, 2023 at 6:29 PM ^

I think the latter may happen. Not anytime soon, but there is nothing that binds Michigan to 12 other schools in this league after this. OSU does drive value to M on account of their rivalry, so if OSU wants to stay it would actually hit M financially. But nobody else does and they tried to derail a championship season by gaslighting an inexperienced commissioner.

Joined: 12/13/2009

MGoPoints: 19564

The Real No.1

November 8th, 2023 at 6:45 PM ^

The intent wasn’t to not play but apply further pressure to avoid any penalties without due process before they are handed out. Do you really think the TV money would allow a game to not happen? Why not bluff now and make everyone else sweat for a while.  Worst case the players are “convinced” to play and fight for the good of the program.

Joined: 11/08/2023

MGoPoints: 274

Underhill's Gold

November 8th, 2023 at 6:25 PM ^

No.

Why should the players sacrifice their opportunity to play to fix this mess that coaches and administrators have created?  

Yes our players are fine upstanding young men, and yes they probably believe in the righteousness of the cause, but they've practiced who knows how many 1000s of hours to compete at the highest level of football, and they get maybe 15 games this year (and only a couple that are even competitive).  

These games are a once in a lifetime opportunity they can never give back. No one who isn't a player should suggest the players give up a game. 
 

Joined: 12/19/2011

MGoPoints: 536

michelin

November 8th, 2023 at 6:38 PM ^

I am not saying it is a good idea, but I wondered what would happen if the players threatened to sit out the Maryland game.  If we beat PSU and OSU, we still go to the B1G title game.  With one forfeited loss to a poor team and  wins over good teams, would we still make the CFP?  My guess is yes but it would probably hurt our seeding.  Would it be worthwhile, at least as a threat?  How much pressure would the networks bring to bear if the threat was just for the MD game?  Would they threaten to sue the B1G for damages? Would the threat itself have the desired effect?  And  in so far as the NCAA is our future threat, could the players broaden their protest, saying that it is also because they are being cheated out of revenue sharing---something Harbaugh has advocated and which may be one reason why the NCAA is scared.  Would they fear that such a case could end up in front of an unfriendly supreme court?  Could the players sue for damages, when one of their only advocates is being punished unfairly?  

Joined: 09/22/2009

MGoPoints: 2541

uofmchris2

November 8th, 2023 at 6:47 PM ^

Just when I thought I commented on one of the worst possible hot takes I've read in quite some time, you had to go and post this. Congrats.

Tell me one reason why the CFP panel would say "yeah, lets choose that team that decided to sit out against Maryland?!? over some other teams that are undefeated. I'll wait.

LOL.

Joined: 10/31/2020

MGoPoints: 12988

olm_go_blue

November 8th, 2023 at 8:50 PM ^

Sure. Let's forfeit a sure win and substantially lower our chances of winning a championship (and remove all margin of error) to prove a worthless point 👉 👈 

These are some really dumb takes, but you got me, because I wasted points to downvote the even worse one and now wasted time responding to this... 

Joined: 08/09/2013

MGoPoints: 5100

Yeoman

November 8th, 2023 at 7:18 PM ^

Not really unprecedented--I can think of at least half a dozen cases of soccer teams walking off and refusing to play. Sometimes there's discipline after the fact, sometimes not. In a UEFA champions league match a few years ago both teams walked off together when the match referee allegedly used a racial slur towards a player. Match was postponed and played the next day with a different set of officials.

That said, it's not happening here.

Joined: 06/08/2011

MGoPoints: 21391

jmblue

November 8th, 2023 at 6:09 PM ^

A lot of strong points, particularly the last one.  The Big Ten has no actual evidence and is going strictly on "descriptions of evidence" - but it wants to punish us anyway?  That's absurd.  This is why you let investigations run their course and publish their findings.

Has the league office thought about the precedent it will establish by going forward with this?

Joined: 11/07/2008

MGoPoints: 103093

mackbru

November 8th, 2023 at 7:34 PM ^

I'm sorry, but I'd imagine the league at least has evidence that Stalions bought tickets to rivals' game, plus visual evidence of his "friends" recording. I'm sure the PI handed it all over to the league. So let's not pretend there's nothing to see here at all. 

Joined: 09/01/2009

MGoPoints: 34197

Hail to the Vi…

November 8th, 2023 at 8:59 PM ^

"Imagining" is exactly why the B1G League Office is in the precarious situation they are in now. You don't "imagine" evidence as the grounds to levy a punishment before an investigation has concluded. At the end, you either have the evidence or you don't.

If you "imagine" the league has evidence that Stalions bought tickets to rivals game, plus visual evidence of his "friends" recording; then the only party pretending here, is you. 

Joined: 09/13/2010

MGoPoints: 12888

Double-D

November 8th, 2023 at 6:12 PM ^

It’s so much easier and more prudent for Pettiti to punt this to the NCAA.

So often guys in this position are wise to limit their downside risk.

The new evidence on OSU, Purdue, and Rutgers changes the narrative and also proves this is likely a very fluid situation as far as discovery.  

Joined: 12/21/2013

MGoPoints: 88069

UofM Die Hard …

November 8th, 2023 at 7:54 PM ^

He is going to be fired either way , very soon.  So it’s up to him how he wants to be fired.

He punts to NCAA, mob cries again ,gets. mad, gets him fired. 
 

Goes through with this, lawsuits, fired  once M starts putting noise out there they are exploring leaving and contacting other league execs. 
 

pick your poison D bag 

Joined: 03/10/2011

MGoPoints: 18435