Do we want MSU & OSU undefeated before we play them?
I say absolutely not. As far as I'm concerned they can both be winless. I know some feel that would damage our playoff chances. Although that might be true, I'm thinking we need to return to Big Ten dominance before we think that big. We also need to bolster our instate and midwest recruiting like it once was. We've been down too long now to root for either of them to do well any time soon. As a fan, I've been humbled since '08 and want to rebuild in stages. Take over the state and the conference and then take over nationally.
August 23rd, 2016 at 5:09 PM ^
as long as we still win (which we did over JLS), those close losses were more painful for their fans than the inevitable beatdowns they knew they were getting under Williams.
August 23rd, 2016 at 8:16 PM ^
August 23rd, 2016 at 10:44 PM ^
Lalalalalalala(fingers in ears)lalalalalala
August 25th, 2016 at 11:17 AM ^
August 23rd, 2016 at 4:09 PM ^
I would love it if OSU was undefeated, only so we could have the chance to ruin their perfect season, and playoff chances.
I would like to see MSU have a <6 win season. Shoot them back to pre-2008 relevance in one season.
August 23rd, 2016 at 5:46 PM ^
August 23rd, 2016 at 4:25 PM ^
August 23rd, 2016 at 4:28 PM ^
August 23rd, 2016 at 5:01 PM ^
August 23rd, 2016 at 4:10 PM ^
I used to always root for OSU to be undefeated when we were to play them to raise the stakes. At this point I'd prefer them to be winless.
August 23rd, 2016 at 4:10 PM ^
of course
August 23rd, 2016 at 4:13 PM ^
August 23rd, 2016 at 5:14 PM ^
our 2011 season is proof that one or two losses, even to a rival (s), does not crush one's dreams. We had a great season and lots of good feelings despite a loss to Sparty. And 2008-10 + 2014 seasons are proof that it is more painful and more demoralizing to lose to rivals AND lose lots of other games.
Max number of losses for opponents = max pain.
August 23rd, 2016 at 5:35 PM ^
Your argument is persuasive from a schadenfreude perspective. But it is somewhat flawed, since it focuses on the emotions of our rival fans.
Sport is a subjective experience, and I only care about my own feelings regarding the teams. What is best for me as a fan. I don't care what is good or bad for MSU fans. And it's a touch sparty-like to invest in what they feel when they're not playing us. So, while you are correct about what inflicts the most pain, I don't really care about their pain. Let them lose to us and respond however they feel, so long as I get to enjoy the W.
August 23rd, 2016 at 10:29 PM ^
my response was to a schadenfreude based premise - that "crushing their dreams is the best" with no reference to our team's performance. That is why my argument only focused on the emotions of our rival fans. So my only point was that ignoring any happy feelings for us, which was the context of the discussion: what is worse for them is to lose lots of games, to us and others, not just to us.
To your point though, what is best for us as fans is also arguably to have those teams be as bad as possible since we compete for many of the same recruits and if we get those recruits, all else equal, would win more games overall and more games against them, which is what matters the most - I agree with you.
Their pain is not independet of our enjoyment. It is inversely correlated overall and for two games a year it is directly inversely correlated. So more pain for them is likely to mean more awesome times for us.
August 23rd, 2016 at 4:14 PM ^
August 23rd, 2016 at 4:16 PM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
August 23rd, 2016 at 4:16 PM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
August 23rd, 2016 at 4:17 PM ^
I used to think beating an undefeated team is better. Now, all I want is a win in dominating fashion.
Remember when we played Arkansas in the Citrus Bowl (1999? or 2000?). We ran the same running play over and over with success. The linemen told Arkansas "here it comes again" and they still couldn't stop it. That's what I want from both the MSU and OSU games. Like men playing a bunch of 6 year olds.
August 25th, 2016 at 11:21 AM ^
August 23rd, 2016 at 4:17 PM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
August 24th, 2016 at 8:03 AM ^
That's an unwarranted assumption. There are lots of scenarios where a B1G champion doesn't get into the playoffs. Big 12 and Pac 12 fans used to say exactly what you argue, only about their conference champs. They don't do that any more.
August 23rd, 2016 at 4:19 PM ^
This isn't a hard question.
August 23rd, 2016 at 4:19 PM ^
I want them to beat every team on their schedule that's not on Michigan's schedule. Same for every other team in the conference.
Recruiting competition will take care of itself -- those schools suck, Columbus and East Lansing are sewers, Michigan is one of the best schools in the country and Ann Arbor is a total babe.
August 23rd, 2016 at 9:53 PM ^
August 24th, 2016 at 8:05 AM ^
Because if Michigan is in a position to beat a team, then OSU or MSU don't have to. If Michigan isn't playing a team, then you want that team to lose to a team that Michigan does play, so as to eiliminate a potetial rival.
August 23rd, 2016 at 4:20 PM ^
I think that non-sequitor applies. We owe them a bunch of lost weekends over the new milennium They are on the schedule. And they are therefore road kill waiting to happen.
August 23rd, 2016 at 4:22 PM ^
August 23rd, 2016 at 4:29 PM ^
August 23rd, 2016 at 4:27 PM ^
I hope they both lose every game.
August 23rd, 2016 at 4:30 PM ^
All i care about is beating them by 50.
August 23rd, 2016 at 4:31 PM ^
I'd prefer them have good records, not for any playoff chances because I don't think that matters but because if MSU has 2/3 losses their fans will complain that this was a down year and that was why we won. Same will go for OSU fans. I lived in Ohio when we won in 2011 and most of their fans didn't acknowledge it as a true win for Michigan because it was Luke Fickell and it didn't count.
August 23rd, 2016 at 5:07 PM ^
August 23rd, 2016 at 4:31 PM ^
What I really don't want is for MSU to beat OSU the week before we play OSU like last year. Circumstances won't the same a la "waking a sleeping" so to speak, but I don't want OSU to have any extra motivation following a loss going into The Game. So if both teams were 1-2 loss teams when we play that's ideal.
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
August 23rd, 2016 at 4:32 PM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
August 23rd, 2016 at 4:32 PM ^
August 23rd, 2016 at 4:33 PM ^
Winless because it makes winning the big ten easier. If we went undefeated we'd be in the playoffs right? I mean I guess not if we only play crappy teams. Hmm. Maybe winless but have other teams we play end up surprising and being ranked. If MSU/OSU sucked but Wisconsin beat LSU and PSU/Indy/Iowa/Nebraska put up good seasons I'd be ecstatic (assuming we beat em).
August 23rd, 2016 at 4:34 PM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
August 23rd, 2016 at 4:35 PM ^
August 23rd, 2016 at 5:07 PM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
August 23rd, 2016 at 4:41 PM ^
Hypnotic. And so true.
August 23rd, 2016 at 4:38 PM ^
August 23rd, 2016 at 5:15 PM ^
August 23rd, 2016 at 4:39 PM ^
August 23rd, 2016 at 4:39 PM ^
August 23rd, 2016 at 4:39 PM ^
August 23rd, 2016 at 4:40 PM ^
MSU I want to lose every fucking game until them assholes shut the fuck up!
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
August 23rd, 2016 at 4:40 PM ^
One one hand, yes. We want the strongest SoS possible, so we want all our opponents to win a lot of games, whether we win or lose to them.
But on the other hand, fuck 'em.