I've never so blindly and so quickly paid for something. Can't wait to read through this with my daughter the same way I used to read through the sports illustrated '97 championship issue as kid with my dad.
Thank you seth. This has been my go to resource for my family's annual mm bracket pool. Helpful to differentiate a bracket from everyone else who just go with vegas + a few upsets.
On the swinging gate play - if the top five linemen are all ineligible receivers, why did Michigan's defense cover them straight up (i.e., why put five defenders on top of five linemen away from the ball )?
I'm guessing it was mostly just out of confusion given the situation. Either way, great way to shut down a play I was confused as fuck by watching live.
Interesting to see a bit into last year's qb battle. The mental toll of going from winning the game in 2021 and a B10 championship to losing the QB competition in the early season sounds rough. I hope Cade does well at Iowa.
You hear lots of talk about NIL money being used to entice starters to other schools (see Cade's podcast interview). Do you think that is the inevitable future of the transfer portal (in that it will include both guys who aren't seeing playing time as well as guys looking for a bigger $)? Or too early to tell?
I hate what TV contracts, ads, and big money have done to college football. I want college football that is opposite of today's sport: amateur, low-cost, and scrappy. Basically a version of the MAC.
Michigan should cut ties with all the cable companies and hire their student communications department to air all their games with no ads. Quality of play would drop like a rock, but the spirit of the sport would soar.
I fully believe ESPN's power rankings are more or less bullshit, but it looks like the MSN article is using an out-of-date ranking that does not account for Saturday's games. If you go to the ESPN Power Rank page, it shows this list hasn't been updated since Nov 21, 2022 (see bottom left-hand corner): https://www.espn.com/college-football/fpi
I fully believe ESPN's power rankings are more or less bullshit, but it looks like the MSN article is using an out-of-date ranking that does not account for Saturday's games. If you go to the ESPN Power Rank page, it shows this list hasn't been updated since Nov 21, 2022 (see bottom left-hand corner): https://www.espn.com/college-football/fpi
Old man take (though I'm only 30 yo): I hope the whole college football (and basketball to an extent) system comes crashing down. It's out of control. Miss when even 'big time' college football was more or less the quality and spirit of Maction.
that article mentions the ride football shuttles which are a fine option, but not close enough to be worthwhile for my situation. More curious if any locals here have used a normal bus route to get to and from the game.
Orem, UT is an odd mission location. Understand the LDS church had to call an audible given Covid, but can’t imagine Orem is fertile missioning ground given its ten minutes from BYU.
Great post, Ace. Like many others, my family is full of die-hard Michigan fans who can recite the O-Line's starters any given season or provide a play-by-play recall of Michigan's most memorable basketball games. However,, Michigan WBB has never been on my or my family's radar until this year. Appreciate you continuing to highlight this team and the awesome season they had - look forward to following them moving forward!
This is some awesome stuff. Thanks for putting in the time to create it.
This seems to confirm that it's a them and not us problem. That is, Michigan / Harbaugh are doing the right things, but OSU has somehow found the magic sauce to join and maintain the elite of college football along with Clemson and Alabama.
The solution? I think it needs to be a systematic one that addresses college football's bigger parity issue. College football as a whole is less fun when a few programs dominate at this level for this long.
But we still have a long way to go. I think everyone on this blog, including myself, was hoping we were a little bit closer to being the best team in college football, but it appears we may need a season or two more under Harbaugh before that vision becomes a reality.
Really hoping we would see some of it in this game, but no wrinkles of Stanfordization ever came. I want to just chalk it up to Brady's players or bad officiating, but it does seem like the Stanfordization is taking longer at UM than even at Stanford.
I think the gameplan going into the game was great (vanilla, but clearly gave us a shot to win the game).
My biggest complaint is that Harbaugh did not adjust in the fourth quarter. A vanilla game plan does not work well when you need to keep a drive alive late in the fourth or you need score a TD in OT.
is on point. Watching the first half of that game was one of the most fun halves of Michigan sports I have ever witnessed. Ranks up there with first half of the 2015 Northwestern football game and the second half of the 2004 MSU football game.
and asked to build a playoff caliber team. OSU's talent is just years ahead of UM's at this point in time. We can thank Tressel, RichRod, and Hoke for this obvious deficit.
Additionally, OSU played their best game of the season today. Unfortunately, OSU's best game is far better than UM's best game (and for obvious reasons).
Jimmy will get the team there, but it will take time.
Targeting call was frustrating. It seems to me that 99% of non-MSU humans would say that was a terrible call. Really hope the NCAA addresses that rule after the season (if not before).
Recent Comments
I've never so blindly and so quickly paid for something. Can't wait to read through this with my daughter the same way I used to read through the sports illustrated '97 championship issue as kid with my dad.
Thank you seth. This has been my go to resource for my family's annual mm bracket pool. Helpful to differentiate a bracket from everyone else who just go with vegas + a few upsets.
On the swinging gate play - if the top five linemen are all ineligible receivers, why did Michigan's defense cover them straight up (i.e., why put five defenders on top of five linemen away from the ball )?
I'm guessing it was mostly just out of confusion given the situation. Either way, great way to shut down a play I was confused as fuck by watching live.
Interesting to see a bit into last year's qb battle. The mental toll of going from winning the game in 2021 and a B10 championship to losing the QB competition in the early season sounds rough. I hope Cade does well at Iowa.
You hear lots of talk about NIL money being used to entice starters to other schools (see Cade's podcast interview). Do you think that is the inevitable future of the transfer portal (in that it will include both guys who aren't seeing playing time as well as guys looking for a bigger $)? Or too early to tell?
I hate what TV contracts, ads, and big money have done to college football. I want college football that is opposite of today's sport: amateur, low-cost, and scrappy. Basically a version of the MAC.
Michigan should cut ties with all the cable companies and hire their student communications department to air all their games with no ads. Quality of play would drop like a rock, but the spirit of the sport would soar.
//end old man rant while fist shakes at sky//
I fully believe ESPN's power rankings are more or less bullshit, but it looks like the MSN article is using an out-of-date ranking that does not account for Saturday's games. If you go to the ESPN Power Rank page, it shows this list hasn't been updated since Nov 21, 2022 (see bottom left-hand corner): https://www.espn.com/college-football/fpi
I fully believe ESPN's power rankings are more or less bullshit, but it looks like the MSN article is using an out-of-date ranking that does not account for Saturday's games. If you go to the ESPN Power Rank page, it shows this list hasn't been updated since Nov 21, 2022 (see bottom left-hand corner): https://www.espn.com/college-football/fpi
Old man take (though I'm only 30 yo): I hope the whole college football (and basketball to an extent) system comes crashing down. It's out of control. Miss when even 'big time' college football was more or less the quality and spirit of Maction.
Uber is an option, but like the idea of using AA public transit if it’s not a completely miserable experience on game day.
Kind of want to run the experiment and see how it goes. My guess is getting in will be fine; leaving will be a slog.
Good to know. This confirms my suspicion that inbound to the stadium would be fine, but leaving would be slow-going.
The play may be to take the bus in and then walk / Uber home (about 3 miles).
that article mentions the ride football shuttles which are a fine option, but not close enough to be worthwhile for my situation. More curious if any locals here have used a normal bus route to get to and from the game.
I’m open to that as well. It’s about 3 miles door to door (that bus stop is about 3/4 mile from my house).
I walked back from the OSU // UM game last year and it took an hour. Not terrible esp if the weather is nice.
I’m also a bit of a transit nerd and haven’t used the ride on a game day so kind of want to give it a go.
Yeah we are considering that too. Esp if the weather is nice.
Ha, I figured I'd add it just to be safe. Given there are more fun football topics to discuss than the AA bus schedule :)
Orem, UT is an odd mission location. Understand the LDS church had to call an audible given Covid, but can’t imagine Orem is fertile missioning ground given its ten minutes from BYU.
Great post, Ace. Like many others, my family is full of die-hard Michigan fans who can recite the O-Line's starters any given season or provide a play-by-play recall of Michigan's most memorable basketball games. However,, Michigan WBB has never been on my or my family's radar until this year. Appreciate you continuing to highlight this team and the awesome season they had - look forward to following them moving forward!
This is some awesome stuff. Thanks for putting in the time to create it.
This seems to confirm that it's a them and not us problem. That is, Michigan / Harbaugh are doing the right things, but OSU has somehow found the magic sauce to join and maintain the elite of college football along with Clemson and Alabama.
The solution? I think it needs to be a systematic one that addresses college football's bigger parity issue. College football as a whole is less fun when a few programs dominate at this level for this long.
This is likely the best diary I've read - appreciate you drafting up. Nice work.
Well, happy thanksgiving to you too.
Still at work (I'm in the Bay Area so only 5pm) - just cracked open an All Day IPA to guzzle down before getting out of here in the next little bit.
I'd love to see more of these kind of posts. This was an enjoyable and informative read.
Random Q: how do you afford most of the flights / hotels - do you churn?
Nothing like using an old MGOBBQ recipe on a weekend where big blue wins!
I've never met Sam, but feel like I know him given the number of times I've listened to him on the radio. Thoughts and prayers are with his family.
.
But we still have a long way to go. I think everyone on this blog, including myself, was hoping we were a little bit closer to being the best team in college football, but it appears we may need a season or two more under Harbaugh before that vision becomes a reality.
One day UM will prevail over OSU. Not sure when that day will be, but hopefully soon.
Go Blue.
Really hoping we would see some of it in this game, but no wrinkles of Stanfordization ever came. I want to just chalk it up to Brady's players or bad officiating, but it does seem like the Stanfordization is taking longer at UM than even at Stanford.
I think the gameplan going into the game was great (vanilla, but clearly gave us a shot to win the game).
My biggest complaint is that Harbaugh did not adjust in the fourth quarter. A vanilla game plan does not work well when you need to keep a drive alive late in the fourth or you need score a TD in OT.
Nice work!
I've been laughing out loud for the last five minutes. How do they all trip?!?
MSU rolling. ND looking pretty typical ND.
Even with CU's QB going out, the defense started to put it together.
And the offense - well, we can worry about that later.
Me: "Hey, no one has picked 35-0 yet!"
Wife: "Yeah, that's because were gonna score way more than 35 f*cking points."
#Truth
But that WOOOOOOOOOO is so damn good. Plus he is wearing Navarre's number.
We score 21 points in the first quarter and 14 points in the second quarter
Third and fourth quarters look like the second half of the BYU football game.
So the QB order is likely the following:
Maybe switch 3 and 4.
If USC actually put up 17 TDs in one half against Brown, we would be in trouble lol
I guess our fear of losing coordinators remains valid. Except in Brown's situation it's more likely he retires than moves up.
Will be fun to see him and Mattison on the sidelines together.
E.g., take the Returning Contributers for WR. Does the fact you list Darboh before Chesson imply that Darboh contributes more than Chesson?
Great post by the way. FB, QB, and LB are definitely question-mark areas.
is on point. Watching the first half of that game was one of the most fun halves of Michigan sports I have ever witnessed. Ranks up there with first half of the 2015 Northwestern football game and the second half of the 2004 MSU football game.
and asked to build a playoff caliber team. OSU's talent is just years ahead of UM's at this point in time. We can thank Tressel, RichRod, and Hoke for this obvious deficit.
Additionally, OSU played their best game of the season today. Unfortunately, OSU's best game is far better than UM's best game (and for obvious reasons).
Jimmy will get the team there, but it will take time.
And now it's time to prep for THE GAME. It's time to drink only LaBatt BLUE and wear only Maize&Blue. Let's Go Blue!
Lewis and Peppers play lights out Two picks between the two of them with multiple PBUs.
is just strait blowing my mind. What a guy.
Targeting call was frustrating. It seems to me that 99% of non-MSU humans would say that was a terrible call. Really hope the NCAA addresses that rule after the season (if not before).