Would You Be Satisfied With The Season if UM Won Out?
So hypothetical let's say the team can build on the positive things we saw against PSU and wins out including a miraculous upset of OSU. Would you be satisfied with the season if that happened, even if it did not result in a conference title? I lean towards yes because 10-2 is a good record given the schedule, they would have beat all their rivals, and at least changed a couple of the narratives surrounding the program coming into the year.
October 21st, 2019 at 12:28 PM ^
Yes! So much left to play for this season and if we continue to play like we did that second half, with all our big games at home, it could happen!!
I’m on board, beat ND!
October 21st, 2019 at 12:30 PM ^
At this point I would be fine with 6-6 or 7-5 if one of those wins was over OSU.
October 21st, 2019 at 12:31 PM ^
Satisfied, yes. But mainly because it would end the OSU drought and end the ND series on a positive. 10-2 is also good. It would be nice to get to Indy at some point though.
October 21st, 2019 at 12:32 PM ^
But what if Hoke wins out?
October 21st, 2019 at 12:34 PM ^
Holy Shit yes! I'd even give Harbaugh a (probationary)1 year extension!
October 21st, 2019 at 12:34 PM ^
If the answer isn't universally "yes" then this program is doomed for eternity under the weight of unreasonable expectations.
October 21st, 2019 at 12:38 PM ^
Someone already replied that they wouldn't be satisfied, he is currently on a lonely hill though.
October 21st, 2019 at 12:37 PM ^
Are you kidding, I'd be ecstatic! Especially with this schedule.
Will never stop being a fan though, no matter what.
October 21st, 2019 at 12:37 PM ^
I really don't get the people saying they would be ok with 6-6 and a win over OSU. I mean yes a win to end the curse would be nice, but as others have said if your looking to build momentum for next year 6-6 in year 5 won't do it. Would not be a good look for recruiting. Also I would say in order to stay in the game against OSU UM will need to build a ton of confidence leading up to that game. They aren't building confidence if they lose the next 4.
October 21st, 2019 at 1:31 PM ^
A win over OSU would remind us that we don't have to be perfect to even have a chance against them. Right now, they aren't a monkey on our back; they're an elephant.
Even worse, losing the last game on the schedule, even if it's to a meh team in a game of marginal significance, leaves a bad taste the whole off season. Combine that with our spotty record in Bowl games, and we've had twenty years of the vast majority of our seasons ending in a wet fart.
Plus, this is one of the better OSU teams during their run of dominance. Beating them now (as opposed to a .500 team coached by Adam Sandler in 2011) would be like those two years in a row in the 90s when we upset a 10-0 OSU. I'm old enough to remember the joy those brought. It kept me warm in my heart all winter, even with the very meh Bowl games that followed.
So hell yes, I'd trade a win over OSU for losses in all the other games. It would be progress.
October 21st, 2019 at 12:40 PM ^
Possibly..not sure....but it might change my current perception of another lost season of Michigan football..have to see how ND game pans out
October 21st, 2019 at 12:45 PM ^
Of course...a 10-win season and an OSU, ND, & MSU sweep.
October 21st, 2019 at 12:46 PM ^
Sure - it would be incredibly satisfying to finally beat OSU.
But then the what-ifs creep in and it becomes less satisfying
October 21st, 2019 at 12:50 PM ^
Before the season I probably would have said no but now it's a yes. That's not going to happen though.
October 21st, 2019 at 12:52 PM ^
Absolutely yes. No question about it.
October 21st, 2019 at 12:53 PM ^
If you aren't it means you're somehow not satisfied with a win over Ohio State, at which point I don't even know what I would say to you.
October 21st, 2019 at 12:55 PM ^
I'd be fine beating OSU and losing to all other games. Beat OSU, please...
October 21st, 2019 at 12:57 PM ^
Do you really think 6-6 in year 5 would build any kind of positive momentum for next year and be good for recruiting? I mean yes the win would be nice, but the overall net of that type of season would not be good. And it would still create a negative narrative of the program nationally. Most of the time I would say that stuff is just outside noise that doesn't matter, but if it gets loud enough it does start impacting recruiting.
October 21st, 2019 at 1:56 PM ^
I think in year 5 there is already enough negativity around the program.
I also believe most of it is warranted because Michigan under Harbaugh IS underachieving.
That being said, football & recruiting are about excitement and emotion. If you have a mediocre/poor season, but can have the excitement that beating MSU, ND and the motherfuckingjuggernaught that is OSU; YOU FUCKING TAKE IT and say thank you.
The negative recruiting is all based on Harbaugh/Michigan not beating top teams, not ever beating OSU, not being able to finish a season strong with momentum.
An odd rollercoaster 6-6 season but with those rivalry high points trumps any negative narrative, at least for this season.
October 21st, 2019 at 2:05 PM ^
But a 6-6 season would not involve beating MSU and ND. I guess to me the narratives surrounding Michigan under Harbaugh is not being able to win the conference, not being able to beat a top 10-15 team on the road, not being able to beat OSU and having a bleh record against ND and MSU. As much I would enjoy beating OSU, is a 6-6 season while only addressing one of four narratives really a successful season?
October 21st, 2019 at 4:03 PM ^
If upsetting a top 4 team in the nation at the biggest stage of the year is not counted as a success, then I don't know what else can. I admit my comment is a bit exaggerated, I don't expect us to lose to Maryland or Indiana, or maybe even MSU. But at this stage of the season, with no championship near sight, with a bunch of negativities around coaching in Jim's year 5, what else you would claim "success"? Beat the top-ranked OSU, for the first time in Jim's era, plain and simple, that's enough momentum of an average fan like me.
October 21st, 2019 at 1:03 PM ^
Of course. Ridiculous question.
October 21st, 2019 at 1:05 PM ^
Nothing is too ridiculous with this fanbase as evidenced by 2-3 people responding that they would not be satisfied.
October 21st, 2019 at 1:07 PM ^
10-2 would be outstanding given M's schedule coming into the season, and that of course implies wins over ND, MSU & OSU, which taken collectively would make even a 3-9 season satisfying. This is known as "Bargaining" in the Kubler-Ross vernacular.
October 21st, 2019 at 1:07 PM ^
Beat Ohio State, I don’t care how many more losses we have, I will consider the season a major success.
October 21st, 2019 at 1:08 PM ^
Beating ND and OSU in the same year is a rare thing! Yes!
October 21st, 2019 at 1:08 PM ^
Yes, I'd be happier if I found a $500 bill lying in the street outside my house than I would be if I found a dime at the bottom of my dirty clothes hamper.
October 21st, 2019 at 1:14 PM ^
Hell yes! If we beat ONLY Ohio State, I'd consider the season to have made a step forward.
The more interesting question is would I be satisfied if we beat everyone except Ohio State? That's a poser.
October 21st, 2019 at 1:18 PM ^
Would probably depend on how they lost to OSU, if they fight hard and make it a game I don't think anyone can hang there head too much about losing to OSU this year. That would also mean there was a ton of progress from the beginning of the season against Wisky to the end of the season.
October 21st, 2019 at 3:26 PM ^
a 2016 style loss would be heartbreaking...but I'd get over that...a 2015 or 2018 style beatdown...no way
October 21st, 2019 at 1:35 PM ^
Unquestionably yes
October 21st, 2019 at 1:41 PM ^
An unequivocal yes!
This team could have folded Saturday but they became a unit. I am not a Shea fan but he played a pretty good game. The season is a disappointment relative to when we were 0-0 but considering where we were a week ago? Your scenario would be huge.
October 21st, 2019 at 1:47 PM ^
I would be very happy with that! My three most hated rivals all defeated by M. Positioned well for recruiting and the Ohio monkey off JH's back. Especially given expectations post-Wisconsin. It would represent an impressive turn around.
October 21st, 2019 at 2:03 PM ^
Winning out also mean a win over Florida in a NY6 bowl game. Which many of you are over looking that rivalry.
October 21st, 2019 at 2:05 PM ^
A 10-2 season with wins over ND, MSU, and OSU?
Of course I would be! What the heck!?
October 21st, 2019 at 2:09 PM ^
The answer is so obvious: "Yes." I'd even go so far as to say 9-3, but beating OSU, is a success. I just fucking hate OSU so much that beating them would count as like 5 wins, in my book.
October 21st, 2019 at 2:16 PM ^
Hell YES!!
October 21st, 2019 at 2:21 PM ^
honestly i'd be fine if we beat MSU and ND... beating OSU ain't happening this year folks.
October 21st, 2019 at 2:37 PM ^
Come on man, we haven't beat OSU in a game that counts since 2003. I am honestly so sick of losing to OSU we could go 1-11 next year in a win vs OSU and I'd be happy all year until the next season.
Random true personal story, I've seen every OSU game since 1996 (aside from 2003) when I was 11. In 2003 I was playing in my high school semi-final championship game and I didn't see it, and since this was before DVR/Internet like today I never watched it. I don't count the Hoke/Fickle game, and I honestly don't remember watching a win over OSU since the 97 season. I want the team to beat OSU so bad at this point that I don't care about anyone else.
October 21st, 2019 at 2:37 PM ^
Two answers on this depending on how you look at the season...from here on out, extremely satisfied. M would be OSU and MSU along with ND. That is a strong second half finish and would mean that what M have been seeing up until this time. But the season as a whole, I would still feel that M missed out on a great opportunity. Because if M did that, then what was the product we saw vs Wisc and PSU and vs others. Beginning of the year we were supposed to make a legit run at the B1G and contend for a playoff spot. We are now 2/3 of the way thru October and we are basically out of the race already. That is the hard part of it.
October 21st, 2019 at 2:38 PM ^
10-2 with wins over ND, MSU, and OSU?
Who wouldnt be happy with that?
Heck if we win out and OSU loses to wisconsin. And PSU loses to MSU and OSU. We would go to Indy.
So yea . I'd be thrilled to win out. Make it happen.
October 21st, 2019 at 3:50 PM ^
If PSU loses on the road to Minnesota as well, it can be either Wiscy or them that beats OSU
October 21st, 2019 at 6:09 PM ^
I'm not sure about the PSU loses to Minnesota scenario.
1st tiebreaker is head to head. 2nd tiebreaker is division record. So PSU getting a 2nd division loss eliminates them and then we have the head to head vs OSU. That is the clearest path to indy for UM at this point.
October 21st, 2019 at 3:16 PM ^
I didn't even read your post and yes!! I read the title obviously. Now that I've answered, I'll go read the rest.
October 21st, 2019 at 3:18 PM ^
Absolutely. And I'd have huge optimism for next year. In fact, it would change most of my attitudes toward the Harbaugh era. You'd see a different AB on here.