What Are More Concerned About? Upset or Injuries?
So I was just thinking about this, I was curious what people were more concerned about? MSU finding a way to pull the upset or MSU doing something dirty to get a UM player hurt? I mean I am not foolish enough to count MSU out entirely because the extra juice they play with in this game and UM possibly playing conservatively on offense making it a close game, but on the other hand MSU does tend to get extra dirty in this game, and I could see it escalate if it starts going sideways for them in the game given the season they are having. So I guess for me personally I would say they are about equal, if not leaning towards the injury possibility.
November 15th, 2019 at 11:30 AM ^
I don't really like the question. Injuries are part of the game.
Losing is losing.
Not really much of a decision.
November 15th, 2019 at 11:35 AM ^
Yes, but I am talking specifically about injuries caused by MSU doing something dirty. I mean we all remember how dirty it got in the game that Gholston tried to break Denard's neck. I am more referring to something like MSU going out of their way to target a QB or WR in a dirty fashion.
November 15th, 2019 at 6:19 PM ^
Maybe like MSU hitting our QB in the head with a helmet?
November 15th, 2019 at 11:32 AM ^
Upset.
If Patterson has a bad day and/or we continue to refuse to chuck it deep as often as we should, I could see MSU's defense shutting down our running game. It's not hard to envision a game where our offense doesn't score a lot of points. And then... our defense is good, their offense is bad, but if it's a 10-7 type game you never know.
MSU plays dirty but do they cause a disproportionate amount of injuries? Just off the top of my head the worst injuries our players have received recently because of cheap shots have come from Wisconsin and Purdue.
November 15th, 2019 at 11:32 AM ^
Most worried that a ho-hum win causes half of the fan base to spontaneously combust.
November 15th, 2019 at 11:37 AM ^
That's fair but in the Mork era have they had a reason to be as frustrated as they are this year entering the game? 4-5, all bigger goals gone and a coaching staff on it's last legs. Just seems like a recipe for extra nastiness if it becomes evident they aren't going to win.
November 15th, 2019 at 11:58 AM ^
The departure of Narduzzi reduced the dirty play a little I think. He was notorious for coaching his kids to intimidate with the threat of injury and the onus of dirty play. It's one thing to play with fire, but quite another to play with intent to injure. It's actually not a bad philosophy for a program with second-tier talent, at least from a utilitarian perspective.
November 15th, 2019 at 1:36 PM ^
Maybe, but a close win really wouldn't bother me more than, for example, how M played vs Maryland. Mork gets his guys fired up for M, so it really wouldn't be a surprise if it were close. As long as M gets the win, I'm fine. M is definitely capable of a blowout win over the Sparties, but Mork has been planning for this game all year, and clearly isn't about to let a possibly concussed starting QB stand in his way of his best shot.
November 15th, 2019 at 2:40 PM ^
And an MSU win would make some of that half plead, "Hire Dantonio!" because they have the memory of a gnat.
November 15th, 2019 at 11:36 AM ^
I don’t want to lose. But if I had to choose between losing or a player on either team getting paralyzed I would choose losing. Fortunately that’s not really how this works. I root for the win and hope for no serious injuries.
November 15th, 2019 at 12:00 PM ^
Your take is too logical and I reject it. How many of your limbs (or digits if you're a pussy) would you allow to be chopped off and cannibalized in your presence if doing so would help Michigan beat Ohio State? Answer that you spineless eunuch!
November 15th, 2019 at 12:05 PM ^
As a eunuch without a spine I no longer have much left to offer for the cause.
November 15th, 2019 at 1:03 PM ^
Bitch, I had my right foot amputated in March of 1969, and Michigan pulled off the upset of the Century the day after my first birthday..... so don't EVER question my fandom!!!!
November 15th, 2019 at 1:43 PM ^
Well, the Knights Who Say Ni now demand the sacrifice of your other foot. Do it quick, you have 2 weeks to get it done or else.
November 15th, 2019 at 11:37 AM ^
Not once did I think about injuries until you mentioned it. Seems odd thing to worry about. Losing I care about.
November 15th, 2019 at 11:39 AM ^
People are misinterpreting my post, I am not asking what would upset you more. Obviously an upset would trump an injury unless it was serious. But I am more asking what you think has a higher probability of happening.
November 15th, 2019 at 11:42 AM ^
Oh. Injury. We will win.
November 15th, 2019 at 11:47 AM ^
Order of probability IMO
Very likely - Someone on Michigan gets injured during the game (normal football play - not due to MSU intent to injure / dirty play)
Unlikely but possible - We lose
Very unlikely - Someone on Michigan gets seriously injured specifically due to a MSU dirty play
November 15th, 2019 at 12:01 PM ^
No Politics.....s/
November 15th, 2019 at 11:40 AM ^
All the talk of running up the score and this game being a walkover are misguided.
November 15th, 2019 at 11:43 AM ^
I mean I tend to agree about the chances of a complete walkover/blowout are not high, but on the flipside the chances of it being a game like last year where the score is closer, but it feels like UM is in firm control is the most likely outcome. Just like last year if MSU falls behind two scores the game is probably over.
November 15th, 2019 at 11:46 AM ^
Upset! Anyone over the age of 30 knows this game is all too familiar. We are back to the good ol' days where this is only game that matters for MSU. I'm 42 and most of my life, Sparty would be perfectly content with a 1-10 record as long as that win came again Mich. That's where we are again. These games are usually closer than they should be and weird things happen. If it's still close at half time, I may need to start taking my medication early.
November 15th, 2019 at 12:00 PM ^
I would most like to see someone tackle Lewerke into Mork as he is running down the sideline.
November 15th, 2019 at 12:08 PM ^
I'd laugh.
November 15th, 2019 at 12:03 PM ^
I'm not worried about anything. I expect a win versus MSU in a hard fought game against an outmatched MSU squad, a close win against Indiana, and a loss to OSU. If that doesn't happen I'll be surprised. But, I won't be worried about any of it.
November 15th, 2019 at 12:04 PM ^
Upset would be way worse, of course. Hopefully last night's hockey game reminds everyone to keep their foot on the gas!
But yeah, the memory of that MSU lineman purposefully diving low right into the side of Mike Martin's knee and injuring him, completely away from the play, in the 2010 game still pisses me off.
November 15th, 2019 at 12:07 PM ^
I hate losing. At anything. Win the game and worry about the bumps and bruises on Sunday.
November 15th, 2019 at 12:08 PM ^
The times an unranked MSU has managed to beat a ranked Michigan team that was considered superior to that MSU squad:
1969: Michigan ranked #13, MSU unranked. MSU wins.
1978: Michigan ranked #5, MSU unranked. MSU wins.
1984: Michigan ranked #13, MSU unranked. MSU wins.
1987: Michigan ranked #12, MSU unranked. MSU wins.
1990: Michigan ranked #1, MSU unranked. MSU wins.
1993: Michigan ranked #9, MSU unranked. MSU wins.
1995: Michigan ranked #7, MSU unranked. MSU wins.
2001: Michigan ranked #6, MSU unranked. MSU wins.
2009: Michigan ranked #22, MSU unranked. MSU wins.
2017: Michigan ranked #7, MSU unranked. MSU wins.
This doesn't cover all our losses to MSU since 1969; the ones not listed involved either MSU teams that were ranked, but lower than Michigan, or losses to outright higher-ranked MSU teams.
The losses noted above encompass five different Michigan coaching staffs.
November 15th, 2019 at 12:19 PM ^
Did you really have to post that? Liquid lunch for me today I suppose.
November 15th, 2019 at 12:59 PM ^
i also would like to get drunk
November 15th, 2019 at 2:04 PM ^
I acknowledge it's entirely reasonable to say "past losses have nothing to do with this year's team and game and have no predictive power."
The losses I list also comprise only a smallish fraction of the total number of games we've played against MSU since 1969, and in general it's reasonable to think that it's more likely that Michigan beats MSU in any given game rather than lose to them.
However, the number of losses we've suffered at the hands of MSU far exceeds the number we've sustained at the hands of any other conference foe besides OSU, and the fact that so many of those losses have been true upsets makes me habitually suspicious of games like tomorrow's, where so many are blithely predicting a legit ass-kicking.
November 15th, 2019 at 12:30 PM ^
If this year ends like 1969 did, I'll be content.
November 15th, 2019 at 2:06 PM ^
Holy crap, forgot we were ranked as high as #7 in 2017, haha. Dang, those were the days, eh?
November 15th, 2019 at 12:08 PM ^
I am concerned that we are not concerned about everything. If we prioritize our concerns, it concerns me that we aren't concerned about the things we should be concerned about, and instead distracted by misprioritized concerns--which is a wholly distinct concern from the myriad concerns that we should be already be concerned about.
November 15th, 2019 at 12:14 PM ^
Upset. Dantini is lying in the weeds.
November 15th, 2019 at 12:29 PM ^
Parking
November 15th, 2019 at 12:30 PM ^
I’m always concerned about an upset to MSU. You can never underestimate them. They will always try to rise to the occasion in this rivalry. Never count them out in this game
November 15th, 2019 at 12:32 PM ^
Would that all of life's questions could be this easy: Upset.
Not worried about injuries any more, or less, than other games.
We are the better team, and emotional investment isn't going to be lacking. But they have some good players. (See Seth's column today if your anxiety level isn't already up there). I hope the team can maintain discipline, make plays, and win.
November 15th, 2019 at 1:12 PM ^
I'm concerned that SP+ gives Michigan an "8% chance of winning out and a 9% chance of losing out."
I always seem to go in assuming we won't have a mess of turnovers, but fumbles were a big reason we started the season so terribly. Turnovers have been cleaned up lately, and the results have improved accordingly. Please don't come back, not tomorrow, not ever.
November 15th, 2019 at 1:31 PM ^
More worried about upset, and that doesnt mean i think its the more likely of the two. Its just that winning against OSU is already a bleak prospect, I cant stomach losing to MSU after finally being supremely confident in beating them this year.
November 15th, 2019 at 1:32 PM ^
Por que no los dos?
November 15th, 2019 at 2:36 PM ^
I am concerned that we only win by 3 touchdowns. They should demolish them.
November 15th, 2019 at 5:03 PM ^
1. Losing
2. Injuries, whether from cheap shots or otherwise
3. Losing and injuries, whether from cheap shots or otherwise.
November 15th, 2019 at 6:24 PM ^
upset. We're not that good just because we had one good game against a ND team that played like shit, they're not as horrible as everyone seems to pretend they are and they always play far better than they should against us. We could very easily lose tomorrow as we constantly run up the middle into stacked boxes as Shea refuses to pull and get sacked a ton by their great DL while Shea stares at wide open receivers and doesn't throw it. Then their offense will have all kinds of wrinkles that gets at least one free touchdown + trick plays that always work. They aren't Rutger, we could easily lose the next three games.
November 15th, 2019 at 8:24 PM ^
Hate to see it posed that way... don’t want to see any injuries and certainly don’t want a loss. I’m concerned about both. We still have two games to go after tomorrow!