Soulfire21

December 8th, 2019 at 3:44 PM ^

Sure, they’re good - they’ve given up 50 points a couple of times, too. I just can’t imagine Michigan fandom where I constantly hate myself, my team, and dread every athletic event (which is how this thread reads).

I mean I guess as fans we can root for 4-6 losses every year so that we don’t have to be matched up against good teams but that seems less fun to me.

Joined: 03/18/2010

MGoPoints: 22716

Team 101

December 8th, 2019 at 4:56 PM ^

The self-proclaimed Devotee would rather have us play in a shit bowl like the Pinstripe Bowl in shit weather like New York in late December to play a shit team like Wake Forest so he could feel good about us having a better chance to win.  Sounds like Michigan Man talk to me.

We've been given a more exciting match up then either Penn State or Wisconsin.  I'm looking forward to challenge and if we lose, so be it.  It's a football game.

Joined: 04/15/2013

MGoPoints: 38597

Team 101

December 8th, 2019 at 6:03 PM ^

A lesser bowl at a less prestigious time slot with fewer viewers against a barely ranked team from a lesser conference.  The moo fans were even upset when they were sent there.  The lesser challenge you seek apparently was not an option for us either.

Joined: 04/15/2013

MGoPoints: 38597

Don

December 8th, 2019 at 6:40 PM ^

You’re laboring under some weird assumptions if you think pessimism about our chances against one of the dominant programs in CFB history automatically means hatred for Michigan or self-loathing. It might be nothing more than a rational assessment of where our program is at relative to Alabama, and taking into account we’re 17-26 in bowl games since 1-1-1970.

Joined: 06/30/2008

MGoPoints: 148505

Unicycle Firefly

December 8th, 2019 at 3:42 PM ^

For years, I was opposed to the CFP and was all about preserving the old bowl system, but it all just sucks now and needs to be blown up.  Michigan-Alabama will generate no excitement, a 3-loss Wisconsin team is in the Rose Bowl...we need a top-tier of 32 teams that play an NFL-style season against each other and have a 12-team playoff.

Joined: 10/01/2013

MGoPoints: 8670

Team 101

December 8th, 2019 at 5:00 PM ^

If we let Moo and Notre Dame beat us we could have gone to Quick Lane Bowl.  It would have been an easy victory and WD could have had enough money left over to buy popcorn and bus fare for his ride home.  I've never heard a Michigan fan root for his team to lose so we could get into a lesser bowl.

This thread is pathetic.

Joined: 04/15/2013

MGoPoints: 38597

Nervous Bird

December 8th, 2019 at 3:47 PM ^

Wow! This is the matchup that I wanted! For some reason, the last 2 OSU games have created a sense of shellshock to many fans on this board, and they think that our poor performance is due to a talent disparity and not to the psychological pressures of putting so much emphasis on The Game. The last 2 years Michigan has played it's worst game in its biggest rivalry game. The mistakes that have been made on the field are attributed less to talent than to simple mental breakdowns. 

Michigan will not perform as poorly against other teams as it does against OSU. That is apparent in the results of the last few years (sans 2017 PSU and 2019 Wisconsin). The OSU hurdle is mental, and the pressure to break the trend versus them is overwhelming! Michigan will not play badly against Alabama! Yes, the Crimson Tide is more talented, but it's not like Michigan LACKS talent! This isn't Alabama vs Rutgers. 

This is a welcomed challenge for Coach Harbaugh and his football staff and team. Let's go up against some very good teams without the baggage of a long term losing streak in a rivalry game. I'm excited as hell to have this matchup! And, I'm certain that Coach Harbaugh and the team shares this excitement!

Where is the pride at around this place?! This is MICHIGAN for christsakes! We have been a top 15 team all season, and I want to play another top 15 team in a bowl. Steel sharpens steel! Let's play big time teams, in big time games!

Go Blue!

Joined: 08/11/2018

MGoPoints: 9576

Coldwater

December 8th, 2019 at 3:49 PM ^

Oh man.  Can’t wait to see Bama’s 5 star NFL’ers  vs. our 3 star pluggers.       
 

This will be a measuring stick for Harbaugh to assess the “state of the program”.     If we win, we’re on the right track.   If we lose,  changes HAVE to be made.   You can’t stand pat.   

Joined: 12/14/2008

MGoPoints: 11234

cobra14

December 8th, 2019 at 3:56 PM ^

Come on guys there is a ton of evidence Jim excels against top teams and Michigan will be sky high ready for a game like this. 

Joined: 05/16/2012

MGoPoints: 8448

b618

December 8th, 2019 at 3:57 PM ^

Excellent!

High risk, but super-high reward if Michigan plays a good game, which it can do.  It is the *greatest* chance at redemption after The Game.

Alabama is a very good team.  But --

It is not as good as Ohio State this year because they lost their QB.  And their defense is not as good as Ohio State's this year.  Michigan showed that it can score on OSU's defense, and Alabama does not have as big a running threat at QB as Ohio State did.

Also, Alabama does not have a protective sphere of permaluck, like Ohio State does.  That alone is worth at least 21 points of swing.  :)

Don't cower in fear and give up before the game is even played.  Be a brave Wolverine and fight to the finish.

Let's go! :)

 

Joined: 07/22/2018

MGoPoints: 6486

DeepBlueC

December 8th, 2019 at 4:02 PM ^

Sorry, but no.  A win in the Citrus Bowl, no matter who it's against, will not change the fact that we were no better than the 4th best team in the conference.  Again.  It's not going to give us "momentum" going into next season, and it's not going to magically make our recruiting elite.

Joined: 03/08/2018

MGoPoints: 1434

andrewgr

December 8th, 2019 at 4:45 PM ^

Look, I'm usually as cynical as anyone, and I laugh at all the "if X happens it will help our recuriting!" predictions as hard and as often as anyone.  But Alabama is Alabama.  They have the name recognition, they have the history, they have the reputation.  They're literally as big as it gets in college football.

I think a win over them has meaning, and will help in tangible ways.  I cannot predict what those ways would be.  Maybe it's one recruit for the 2022 class that decides to give UM a look and winds up signing and we never even find out that it was this game that intrigued him in the first place.  Maybe it's fewer doom and gloom articles and bitching alumni in the offseason, which puts Harbaugh in a more positive frame of mind and that somehow makes a difference in some decision he makes.

It could matter in a million different ways, but as cynical as I am, I firmly believe that beating Alabama would make at least some positive difference.

Joined: 11/15/2013

MGoPoints: 3059

Ham

December 8th, 2019 at 5:19 PM ^

1) A win will always be better than a loss, regardless if it has any "meaning."

2) A win would make me very happy on 1/1, instead of nihilist.

3) A win would definitely give the team confidence next season. Beating a tier-1 program would serve as evidence for every returning player what they are capable of. It would be a pay off for all their hard work that they would think about all offseason as they go through spring/fall practices and then again throughout next season. If they lose, especially if they lose big, they'll do nothing but think they'll never have a chance against the top teams. 

4) A fourth 10-win season in 5 years would be important for the program. 

Joined: 01/10/2011

MGoPoints: 37223

cornman

December 8th, 2019 at 4:01 PM ^

Is this a compelling matchup for neutral fans? Both of Alabama's losses were close games against good teams. We lost three three times and got blown out twice.

 

We're going to get destroyed.

 

Joined: 12/17/2018

MGoPoints: 639

bronxblue

December 8th, 2019 at 4:36 PM ^

They also only played three ranked teams all year, and A&M is their best win by a decent bit.  There's a real argument to be made that 5-7 Duke is their second best victory.

Alabama is very good but without Tua they've got some issues that haven't been papered over with superior talent.

Joined: 11/22/2008

MGoPoints: 172039

McBuck85

December 9th, 2019 at 9:12 PM ^

I agree. 'bama is absolutely an excellent team, but this edition has looked different to me all year. I'll fully own that I'm not a coach or an expert, but I saw more self-inflicted wounds this year than is their wont. 

I actually think it will be a compelling match-up, if for no other reason than both are storied programs and this is the first time in a long time (have no idea of the exact span) that they've met. Hell, the "Two of the most driven coaches in the modern era meet up on the field for the first time" story-line will be enough to draw in a lot of folks. I know I'll be watching, and pulling for UM (even though I'm a Buckeye) b/c come bowl season, I always root for BIG teams, esp. when those teams are going up against those insufferable SEC douche-nozzles.

Joined: 11/27/2018

MGoPoints: 85

SlickNick

December 8th, 2019 at 4:03 PM ^

Our fanbase is so pathetic. "Fans" throw in the towel at the mere announcement of playing Bama, but expect the team to come out and play at the highest level no matter what. A win vs Bama would be a great way to end this season, and hopefully a springboard for next season. And if they absolutely dominate us at the line of scrimmage, maybe it would finally be the wake up call this staff needs to build up the DL to the size and depth we had in early Harbaugh years. If this match up is too much for you to handle, simply don't watch. This program deserves better 

Joined: 09/28/2015

MGoPoints: 6079