Woodson : Michigan Not Emphasizing OSU Game Enough
Woodson: UM not emphasizing Ohio State game enough https://t.co/xtJ3VsoqbA via @detroitnews
— angelique (@chengelis) May 19, 2018
Woodson: UM not emphasizing Ohio State game enough https://t.co/xtJ3VsoqbA via @detroitnews
— angelique (@chengelis) May 19, 2018
All criticism is valid when the rivalry has become such a nightmare. But yea, the last 2 years the QB play has been the difference. Of course, QB isn't an incidental detail.
I love Woodson but I think you're right. The players are engaged. If there is a lack of emphasis its at the fan level. I've been in Columbus for "The Game" as well as Ann Arbor. The level of outright vitrol in Columbus is near insanity. The impressive thing is that this intense hatred for UM has not subsided one bit despite the near dominance over the last 15 yrs. On the other hand, UM fans sell thier tickets to OSU buyers for home match-ups allowing a high % of scarlet representation in the stands. This doesn't take place at the shoe. The level of discomfort that is being felt as a UM fan attending a game in C-Bus versus what Buckeye fans feel in Ann Arbor isn't even close. Hopefully some series wins will start to change all this. The UM fan base has simply been beat up and the catastrophic loses to some of our rivals lately hasn't helped.
Since 2011, Michigan has won once, but been within a touchdown of winning in a; but two of the other games. An OT loss with some questionable calls or non calls. A bad QB game, a bad 2 pt conversion call, and a horrible second half adjustment are what separate michigan going 1-6 vs 5-2. I don't think Hoke or Harbaugh did not emphasize the importance of the game. Michigan needs to start winning these close ones. They did in the 90s, they need to start now. I don't think there will be a Michigan blowout game for a while.
This has been true of MSU for many of the past 10 years as well.
I think the gameplan and majority of the the play on the field was good enough to win in the last couple of years. What he might be eluding to is the attitude, which has seemed very tame recently, especially leading up to the game. You hear the players and the coaches say things like "We'e just treating this like another game" or "One game at a time, this is just the next one." That's all well and good, and I'm a firm believer in letting your play do the talking, but maybe a little fire in their attitudes could help this team close when it matters.
I'm sure to some of you, this may sound silly, but a lot of winning is in the mindset. I think it's been difficult to have that mindset going into The Game over the last decade because the team has won so little. I'm not saying I want Harbaugh to guarantee wins like he did as a player, but I wouldn't mind him (and other coaches/players) acknowledging the importance of The Game and showing some fire leading up to it. It's not a sure fire way to win, but it definitely makes things more fun for the players and the fans. MSU has had this attitude against us for the last decade, and it has worked pretty well.
I just want to see some fire and attitude. That's all.
I've never been a fan of the "Coach _____ doesn't understand the importance of _____ rivalry" crowd (or some variant, like the ones that talk about emphasis). I'm sorry to see Woodson in that group of people.
Harbaugh publicly has treated OSU as if it's any other game, it simply isn't. Come the fuck on.
Brilliant or not they didn't result in a victory. There used to be three columns in the weekly standings, Wins, Losses, and Ties. Ties are no more and with them any semblance of there being moral victories.
You're welcome. I thought somebody should disabuse you of the notion that brilliant game plans equal victories.
You are right that brilliant game plans do not equal victories, however, brilliiant game plans do at least indicate that the coaching staff does take it seriously though.
There is a difference between going public and giving OSU bulletin board material, and keeping the intensity in house for the team to see. He doesn't want to give OSU anything but I'm sure he's like a raging fire building up to that game.
Hoke couldn't coach but, since 2003 he is the only Michigan head coach that can say he led a Michigan team to victory over Ohio State. Okay, okay, people will now say that game doesn't count because OSU had an interim coach and was down half a dozen players. To that I ask, does OSU not count wins over Michigan that were coached by Rich Rod and Brady Hoke? Does OSU not count their loss to interim coach, Lloyd Carr?
You tell us coach.
MSU among others racked up victories against OSU while Pryor, Posey, Heron, Adams were suspended for the first 5 games of the season. Posey was out for other reasons for more games but came back for the Michigan game and two others.
I get a little miffed when Spartan fans mention Dantonio's first victory 10-7 over an OSU team missing four starters and I think a few others (Whiting, Thomas).
So Michigan probably played against the strongest roster OSU was able to field that year.
Hey, no problem giving Dantonio and MSU proper respect. That Big10 championship game was one of beauty if you are an MSU fan.
Major point is that Buckeyes limped though most of that season but was some how able field their best team against Michigan. Some people are ignorant and think MSU's victory at Columbus was more significant than Michigan's victory at home but MSU basically played the OSU JV team.
do you not remember the play with maybe a minute left in the game when the osu receiver was 10 yards behind the michigan corner and braxton miller overthrew him on what would have been the winning td? they were lucky to win that game.
I distinctly remember that play and I was on track for a heart attack. But the throw was rushed due to the great and and almighty Michigan defensive front (especially that one guy coached by Hoke.) On the other hand, if that play was in the first quarter few would remember it.
There are dozens of "lucky" plays in any given game.
And since 2003 the only Michigan HC with a victory over OSU.
We should fire Harbaugh and rehire Hoke!