We all know things are bad up north. Really bad. And while it’s true I yearn for the great rivalry of years past, there’s a strange satisfaction in their suffering.
What makes it even more enjoyable is the way they opened their season on such false hopes. While we were taking our lumps against USC, our favorite 1AA school was off to a 4-0 start against powerhouses like Western Michigan and Notre Dame (another 1AA splattered on the shore of false hopes). By week two they had cracked the top 25 and moved all the way to No. 22 after playing Indiana. (I refuse to count Indiana as a win because we all know how that should have ended). Sure, they faced a slight setback against Michigan State but they proved their worth against Delaware State. Yeah the Hornets lost a defensive struggle to Bethune-Cookman but they are still a force in the MAEC. If DSU can get past Howard this weekend, they should have a lock on eighth place in the division.
And then it all came crashing down. It’s true. Rich Rod and his boys in the fairy-winged helmets haven’t won a game since that triumphant day against Delaware.
And while the _ichigan defense has allowed an average 39 points in their last four games, it’s not the on field performance I want to look at today. It’s the problems off the field and the frustrated fan base that I’d like to explore.
We’ll begin our tour with coach D-Rod who’s once again found himself on the defensive. Just this Monday, the Detroit News reported that the coaching staff failed to file player practice logs. Naturally, this only builds on the accusations which began back in August.
NCAA allegations aside, conflicts between D-Rod and his players still seem to be rearing their ugly head. Last week it was QB Tate Forcier who had his “differences” with the coach. Apparently it was little more then a lover’s spat and they’ve since made up. The dust up was enough to trigger rumors that Forcier may participate in what is becoming one of my favorite _ichigan traditions – transferring to another school.
Justin Boren isn’t the only one to see the light and get out while he still has a chance of saving his football career. After the Buckeyes kicked the shit out of Mich1AAgan last year, Sam McGuffie decided that football powerhouse Rice would be better then playing at the Meatchicken. Of course, the way Spitler laid him out, it’s no wonder. Apparently his high school acrobatics didn’t work against the Buckeyes and better get out then face a beating like that three more times. (I was at the game and there is no question that was the biggest hit I have ever seen. You could here it in the stands. When McGuffie got up, he sort of walked around in a circle until a team mate pointed him toward the bench and he staggered off.)
At least they’ve got leadership at the top keeping it together. Or then again, maybe not. Seems there was an angry old seen pushing around students at the games this year. On two separate occasions, athletic director Bill Martin was accused of pushing student gate attendants who asked for his I.D. You would think that students would recognize the man who hired coach D-Rod by now. How many times do you need to burn him in effigy before he starts to look familiar?
Then there’s the geniuses over at Maize and Blue Nation who didn’t get the satire when Sports Illustrated writer Stewert Mandel took this Tressel quote:
“We told our guys they could have three hours to savor that, but when the clock strikes 12 o’clock, we know what week it is,” coach Jim Tressel said.
and added (still quoting Tressel)
“I’m just playing with you guys. They have no defense. … Take a couple of days off.”
The accuracy of this photo was a hot topic on the Mich!AAgan blogs
This seems way out of character for The Vest…but there it is. And while I question the voracity of this quote, I can’t seem to find anything that is telling me this is either real or fake. I’m about 99.99% sure it’s fake…but it’s on SI.com…with no footnote or disclaimer saying its not genuine.
Your guess is as good as mine. But if it’s true (or fake for that matter)…this is all the bulletin board material we’ll ever need to step up this weekend. Whether Tressell or Mandel said it doesn’t matter that much. The truth hurts either way.
I’m mean it’s on SI.com isn’t it? I’ts got to be true. Personally, I’m about 99.99% sure that whoever posted that over at Maize and Blue Nation is a _ichigan grad. Of course, he’s not the only diploma waving _ichigan alum wondering about the quote. After deciding that it must be a joke, the discussion turns to acceptance and then the justification that somehow, it might help the defense.
Finally, in a last ditch effort to lift their spirits, Meatchicken fans have taken to making videos out of Ohio State highlights (below). I guess when you’ve got to go back six years, it’s a little hard to make these videos.
With that I see it’s getting late. It’s 12:02 and…
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
How bad was the decision to hire Drod. When he was hired players scrambled to find another school like roaches when you turn on the light. I quess Boren was the only one worthy of the scarlet and gray. Their quarterback to be looks good at Arkansas. Not a good time to be a Poorverine. You could actually compare them to ND Irish, both revamping their records with
sub par opponents. After Saturday the Poorverines will finally have to admit deafeat and maybe
shut down the program for lack of coaching, caring, and no fans.
and Mich1gAAn still sucks.
and richy fraudriguez still is trying to find LLLLLoyd Carr’s parking spot on campus.