Meandering through the maize (and blue): Michigan football gets a Top 25 vote

Rich Rod voted for himself

...and Dantonio or Tressel didn't vote for themselves? UM will win at least one of those games this year.

As well he should . . . .

No way Rich Rod beats MSU or OSU. In fact OSU will most likely win by 21 or more. MSU will be close but in the end the better athletes on MSU prevail.

In the past 60 years, UM has lost to both MSU & OSU in the same year 9 times. It hasn't happened in back-to-back years since 1960-1963. Odds are that it won't happen again in '09.

If Rich Rod voted for his own team, that's good. Shows confidence in what he is doing. I have no problem with that.

I personally don't think we'll see top 25 for real based on a weak non-conference schedule, being in a supposedly weak conference, and hangover from last year, unless we actually win a few of the key games (ND, MSU, PSU, OSU).

But who cares -- pre-season polls are so heavily influenced by prior year results, it is silly.

After Michigan starts 7-0, make it more like Top 15.

I would vote them in at 25. Why do people ignore forty years of history and suddenly think that last year was the norm instead of the aberration it was? This is still UM we are talking about, and they can easily win eight or nine with a real QB. Forcier appears to be the real deal, and D Rob could end up being good this year, too.

I'm hoping they make it down here to the Outback Bowl.

sottovoce wrote:
"In the past 60 years, UM has lost to both MSU & OSU in the same year 9 times. It hasn't happened in back-to-back years since 1960-1963. Odds are that it won't happen again in '09."

Don't use facts; it confuses the trolls.

I actually like that the team is under the radar and really has no pressure to do that well. Usually that is when UM will play very well and have a surprisingly well season. The only other two NR Michigan teams I can remember were in 1985 and 1968 Both

I only remember two season UM wan NR in the pre-season top 25. 1985, UM came back with what many had thought was going to be a weak defense to finish 2nd ranked in the country. I can still remember how the critics all said our DL was too small, Hammerstein, Messner and Harris would get pushed around and our defense was so weak. Harbaugh was going to be back but our defense really shined.

And of course in 1969 we were NR after the 50-14 blow out to OSU at the end of 1968 but you know what happened during Bo's first season.

I also hope RR did vote for UM, because we all know that RR has a lot of integrity, and if he honestly thinks he has a top-25 team, he will vote accordingly. It would bode well for the program if RR does feel that his team is top-25 caliber.

Michigan will be fine this season for 2 reasons:

1. RichRod's past experience and history speaks for itself; in year 2 he has done considerably better.
2. The power of the 'stache: Mustaches For Michigan will give the team that extra edge at http://mustaches4michigan.blogspot.com

Tater,
While the Outback Bowl sounds great and I would prefer it, I wouldn't mind the Insight Bowl either, because I would be first in line for the tix!

GoBlueSanDiego: Just an awesome Web site. Really, that's fantastic. I'll be following it in the leadup to the season.

As for Michigan and its Top 25 vote, remember this: Unless you're in the national title hunt (and, be honest, Michigan isn't going to be close to there this year except when it plays Penn State and Ohio State), preseason rankings mean little.