Just a crazy/stupid thought

by ReadingNitFan on Aug 13, 2008 4:59 PM EDT Comment 19 comments

I recall hearing awhile ago that OSU takes/took one day a week to practice for their game with Michigan regardless of who they're playing that week. Has our situation with Michigan gotten that bad that we should start thinking about doing this? I know it's crazy and it's about as likely to happen as JoePa retiring on his own but it's a slow day at work and I'm bored.

I'm so tired of this streak. It passed ridiculous a few years ago and now it's moved on to pathetic.

Oh yeah, here's some stats I put together to show how far ahead OSU and Michigan are above everybody else where it counts....in conference. Wisconsin and PSU are basically deadlocked.

Big Ten Records Since 1993:

OSU 92-27-1

UM 91-29

PSU 73-47

Wis 72-45-3

Big Ten Records Since 2000:

OSU 50-14

UM 50-14

Wis 36-28

PSU 32-32

Big Ten Records Since 2005:

OSU 22-2

UM 18-6

Wis 17-7

PSU 16-8

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Assume for a second we beat Michigan this year.

Then what? What does it accomplish, really? It’s not going to be for the Big Ten Title, it’s not going to get us undefeated season. Focusing on a game in the manner you are suggesting is bad because it’s a non-goal. It’s like Pirates trying to get to .500. A win against Michigan counts just the same as a win against Northwestern.

Were eventually going to beat Michigan jump around like assholes for for the rest of a Saturday, then wake up hungover on Sunday morning and realize either [a] we haven’t accomplished anything, or [b] that were essentially Minnesota, playing for moral victorys instead of championships.

We’re better than that.

For the Glory; National Champions 1982, 1986, 1994,

by jesse. on Aug 13, 2008 5:17 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

good point....

and i agree that we shouldn’t dedicate one day or one drill to Michigan. but you would be lying to yourself if you didn’t think this losing streak was embarrassing. you bring up the example of what happens if we win and what our mindset is after that. i feel the answer to that question is….we now have a huge monkey off our back and now we can operate without that extra pressure of ending a decade long losing streak.

yes the streak will end…and should end this year…..but what if it doesn’t? then what? Then each time we play them, there’s an extra sense of desperation to end that streak. The longer the streak goes on, the harder it becomes to break the streak (eh-hem…Chicago Cubs).

by Stately NOVA Lion on Aug 14, 2008 9:45 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Somebody should sneak a goat into the (2nd)Big(gest) House next time we play there!

Maybe we can get a curse going against them so they can’t beat us or something. At least a chicken or something? A chicken should be good for a 20 year streak at least!

Patiently waiting for the return of Penn State Football

by ReadingNitFan on Aug 14, 2008 10:02 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

the streak

Losing to any team nine times in a row is embarrassing; the fact that it’s Michigan does not really matter to me at all. But you are right, the more you get wrapped up in the streak, the more it turns into a monkey on your back. Of course that’s all the more reason to downplay it rather than emphasize it.

Michigan and Ohio State sucking on New Year’s Day is not a new phenomenon. Ohio State has gone undefeated twice since 1968, Michigan only once. Their Rose Bowl records (Michigan especially) are abhorrent. I think that their single minded focus on that one rivalry game is a big part of the reason for their let downs at the end of the season. The winner of that game usually wins the league and gets bragging rights for a year, the bowl game is usually anti-climactic, and more often than not a loss.

I’m not into that at all. It’s one of the reasons not having a huge rivalry game is nice, it let’s you stay focused on real goals, rather than imagined ones.

For the Glory; National Champions 1982, 1986, 1994,

by jesse. on Aug 14, 2008 10:02 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

i agree....

if we aren’t going to play Pitt every year, then we shouldn’t claim anyone in the Big Ten is our rival. thus every game is just as important as the other. it’s less of a distraction and we all know we don’t need anymore distractions.

good point. but, like you said, having a rivalry game IS nice.

by Stately NOVA Lion on Aug 14, 2008 11:52 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Jumping Around Like A$$holes

Can be done with perspective. I count myself as no better than that, and will likely jump around myself. I will do so, however, with proper perspective that this year’s Michigan team = Minnesota or Northwestern. I, additionally, plan to jump around plenty in celebration of pummeling this year’s overappreciated Illini team and of slipping by an undertalented but well-coached Wisconsin squad in Madison. I just hope I can also jump around like an a$$hole after visits to Columbus and by MSU.

Clearheadedly jumping around like an a$$hole since 1971,
jp

Convivite Nudem!

by jtothep on Aug 14, 2008 1:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

michigan 'practice'

When the big ten network did the ohio state practice broadcast, I think i saw/heard on the that they’ll do some type of drill to prepare for michigan. I’m not sure they said it was an entire practice. That would be insane and would definitely be taking the meaning of the rivalry game too far.

One drill per week or practice i can live with.

"Boy that student section now is up and really making a gigantic amount of noise. You see the sea of white, the white out. Well they are 2 minutes and 28 seconds away from the whiteout of the Buckeyes here tonight." - Ron Franklin

by rmcmillen50 on Aug 13, 2008 5:32 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Woody Hayes Had Michigan Practice

Woody pracitced one day every week for Michigan. I don’t think Tressel does.

And seeing as how Penn State lost to Illinois and MSU and barely beat Indiana and Purdue I don’t think they can look past games.

When OSU did that, Michigan was the only team in the B10 who could beat them and both teams generally entered that game 7-0.

All win streaks eventually end. I think the PSU fans just need to not worry about Michigan as much and focus more on OSU and MSU, the two teams that are on the schedule every year.

by DrDetroit on Aug 14, 2008 7:50 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Streak Only Reason Its a Big game for us

Here is a thought, that the only reason the Michigan game is a big game for us, is in fact because we have lost to them for the past decade. Think about it, what other reason do we have that makes this a big game? Yes, most Penn Staters hate michigan, well why? If you’re from the mid 90’s to now psu generation, its because of the streak. And any older alum have jumped on the wagon because it makes that particular saturday all the more exciting.

I’d be curious to hear some responses as to what else makes this game a big game or as some say, a “rivalry” game.

Now I surely CAN NOT WAIT for the day that we beat Michigan!!

by MrBrianPSU on Aug 14, 2008 11:07 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Its a Big Game because.....

Michigan is generally ranked and a known good team.

All games against ranked teams are big games.

by DrDetroit on Aug 14, 2008 3:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

And because it's homecoming.

Drinking after the homecoming game is a given. But it’s always nicer to be celebrating than drowning sorrows.

I bleed Blue and White.

by Horse N Buggy on Aug 14, 2008 3:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Thoughts from a pre-"mid-90's to now" dude

When Penn State joined the Big Ten, the 2 teams I hated the most were Michigan and ND. I did respect both programs though, and looked forward to a good rivalry with Michigan. It hasn’t panned out, only because we keep losing to them. If this were a competetive series, I think it would be a “big game” for both schools. Now we’re not on Michigan’s radar, and all we care about is ending the streak.

by pjk on Aug 14, 2008 12:14 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

ND??

Keep losing to them? You lost me with the inclusion of ND?

Patiently waiting for the return of Penn State Football

by ReadingNitFan on Aug 14, 2008 12:58 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Didn't mean to include ND in that part

Sorry about that. Just wanted to mention that at the time, my 2 least favorite teams were ND and Michigan (probably in that order). The rest of the comments pertain only to Michigan, in terms of a “rivalry”.

But I will take every opportunity to mention how much I dislike ND.

by pjk on Aug 14, 2008 1:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I would rather

Lose to Michigan and win our bowl game. Seriously. Bowl games are the most important game of the year b/c they are the last one — the game everyone will be thinking about for 9 months. They provide the most national exposure, and are often against temas you only ever play in bowl games. Bowl games are a barometer for what kind of team we really have, nationally speaking.

Whatever happens in the season, just win the bowl game — because in 10 years we can still hang our hat on the fact that we have the best ever bowl win percentage in college football. Beating Michigan once in a while is irrelevant.

by millzners on Aug 14, 2008 1:45 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

So would you rather

Go 11-1 and get destroyed in the Rose Bowl
or
Go 6-6 and dominate the Motor City Bowl.

I, for one, would rather take the Rose bowl option. That’s what happened to Illinois last year (although they were not 11-1) and all anyone can talk about is how great they’re going to be this year.

I bleed Blue and White.

by Horse N Buggy on Aug 14, 2008 3:52 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs