Posted on Wed, Jul 28, 2010 : 12:41 p.m.
Which game is more important to the University of Michigan? UConn or Michigan State?
By AnnArbor.com Staff
Both the UConn and Michigan State games seem to be the litmus-tests on the 2010 schedule for the University of Michigan football team. (See related story here).
Which game do you think is more important to the Wolverines' overall fortunes?
Comments
aarox
Thu, Jul 29, 2010 : 7:05 p.m.
MetricSU, Wish you had gone to AA. You make more sense than most of my co-fans. Sometimes. Ok, so point by point: "little brother" - advantage Metric. It is a tired phrase and everyone outside of my little AA thinks the phrase is a total joke. To many its a sign of what is wrong in AA. Personally I like it but know its just soothing a battered ego. "anybody can win" - tossup. I don't think the spread will be 4 or less. If it is, it will be because UM has decided to make MSU a 'rival' now that they are the only *SU (as in OSU,PSU,MSU) within reach. My MSU friends (not many) are not treating this as a rivalry for what its worth. They have moved on. But I do agree that anybody can win this one. MSU has a knack for playing up or down to the level of their opponents. So tossup. "Shawn Conway" - point [but not advantage] Metric. We have trolled your sites on the football incident to the point where it is tired and trite. Meanwhile we are feverishly trying to dismiss NCAA violations by the coaching staff and other incidents reflecting what I see as a lack of integrity. Point taken and we need to take care of our own house first. But we will still win on October 9 at AA and I will be in my seats to see it!
dk
Thu, Jul 29, 2010 : 12:08 p.m.
On a single game basis I think MSU is more important, however, I think you have to look at how that game effects the season. If UM losses to UCONN, they then have to go down to SB for a tough game against ND. Starting the season 0-2 could be disastorous for UM. Therefore I think ultimately the UCONN game is more important to UM than MSU.
enigmaingr
Thu, Jul 29, 2010 : 11 a.m.
I say again, the MSU is more important than the UCONN game. Not because of the arrogance behind the rivalry but because it is a rivalry. I agree though that losing to UCONN will hurt confidence going into the rest of the season. It will reset the minds of players and fans to think that it'll all be just a repeat of last year. No reasonable Michigan fan believes that this season will be the break-out year. Still, morale around the team will only improve by beating rivals or national powerhouses. Don't count on the latter happening this year so shoot for the former.
Yelmonian
Thu, Jul 29, 2010 : 10:31 a.m.
a2roots... I guess I just figured that the UM tradition is dead. Died when Bo passed, and people started complaining that Carr was winning, but not winning fancy enough. The new UM football was brought in with RR. So yep... if you want to go back 30-40 years to talk the glory days... have at it. I guess I live for today where there is a new "Michigan"... and MSU own's 'em. RR hasn't been able to coach his team to beat MSU. Sorta like MSU has beat ND 7 of the last 10 times... The MSU ERA is here!
rightmind250
Thu, Jul 29, 2010 : 10:25 a.m.
The UConn game is not looking good for UM. I think UConn is rated #25 and Michigan #68. They have 9 players back on a very good defensive team. Michigan #68? You have to be kidding me. Did Lloyd ever have us rated like this going into a season? Have any of you seen the recruiting for 2011? UM is behind Indiana in recruiting? Indiana! Richrod has destroyed a once Major player in college football. All you kept saying wait until RR gets his recruits. Well, his recruits should be playing in the MAC, certainly not the B10. This team is a joke in the press, the field and to high school recruits.
MetricSU
Thu, Jul 29, 2010 : 8:33 a.m.
I count at least four references MSU as "little brother" in these comments. It seems many UM fans are getting nervous, as they can only appeal to what has become a tired phrase. Any rational person would have to think, at this minute, the spread for the game would not be more than 4 either way. With such a spread, either team has a good chance of winning. Anyone who claims with certainty to know the outcome should not be part of any reasonable conversation. By the way, did anyone see that UM 2011 recruit Shawn Conway was allegedly caught on tape stealing out of lockers at his high school? RR is doing it the right way, I guess.
Rick
Thu, Jul 29, 2010 : 4:41 a.m.
WeAreBackLilBrother...........
Sean T.
Thu, Jul 29, 2010 : 1:19 a.m.
I don't care about the history over MSU, I want to win starting this season! We haven't earned the title "Big Brother" and the players and coaching staff that proudly made that statement are gone. So let's get it going again in 2010.
klick12
Thu, Jul 29, 2010 : 1:01 a.m.
Do not fool yourselves. The Connecticut game is critical. If they drop this first game at home they will NOT beat ND the very next week on the road. They start out 0-2 and the season starts to unravel before it has even begun. You must win your home games to build the confidence to win the road games. Just my.02
enigmaingr
Wed, Jul 28, 2010 : 10:39 p.m.
At this point, the support amongst the fan base is waining. Rich Rod needs a win over a rival. We can survive (another) season opener loss to a distant foe. Between UCONN and MSU, I'll pick MSU every day. I would love nothing more than to win just to shut all the spunky faithful's bong holes from yapping for another year.
heartbreakM
Wed, Jul 28, 2010 : 9:28 p.m.
Winning the B10 championship is not going to happen with a loss to MSU. Lose to UConn, and the season gets started poorly (again), but winning the B10 is still an important goal that outpaces the UConn game. There are 3 rivalries, in no particular order (OSU, MSU, ND), and PSU is a distant fourth. Those games will always be bigger than the others on the schedule. RR needs UConn to get off to a good start, but the MSU game is really much more important for all these reasons. And if RR does not get that, then he is way out of his league (I suspect he gets it, though).
aarox
Wed, Jul 28, 2010 : 8:40 p.m.
Dschan if that's directed at me, the answer is no. But there are lot of us out here.
aarox
Wed, Jul 28, 2010 : 7:35 p.m.
Terry (and others), if we keep pretending we are still a shadow of our former self, and keep supporting our current performance, where is the incentive for our storied institution to improve? I think you are doing us all a disservice by even suggesting we are as good as these other teams. Let the chips fall where they may, we do not hold a candle to the *SU's anymore.
aarox
Wed, Jul 28, 2010 : 7:25 p.m.
we will lose to both this year I'm afraid. however if you go back 120 years we are still the best. that's all that matters! go blue!
Terry Star21
Wed, Jul 28, 2010 : 7:25 p.m.
Not much of a worthy poll. Both are teams that shouldn't even be in mentioned with a team like Michigan....my little brother beats me up twice every 12 years or so too - but he knows I'm #1, and he is always scared and knows his place behind me....
OSUbeBetter
Wed, Jul 28, 2010 : 6:43 p.m.
What about The ND game against a first year coach? Ooooo, and a SPREAD coach at that. Thats a good storyline, RR in his third year Vs. fellow Big east rival Brian Kelly.
a2roots
Wed, Jul 28, 2010 : 6:19 p.m.
@yelmonian...what record book are you reading???? You gotta be kidding. Dream weave all you want little brother. I trust most of the other sparty,s can read since they were not foolish enough to make such a ludicrous analogy.
Yelmonian
Wed, Jul 28, 2010 : 5:59 p.m.
A2roots... UM dominance in years = 0. MSU dominance in years = 2.5 However you care to do the math... zero equals zero. Guess they don't teach that at UM.
azwolverine
Wed, Jul 28, 2010 : 5:41 p.m.
They all matter. OSU is more important than all of them, but apparently we are so far below them now that we now compare ourselves to middle of the pack teams like UConn and MSU. Sad. By the way a2roots, A2.com does not need to "concentrate on positive and supportive reporting regarding Michgigan football"...it's not their job. Does Michigan football now need to be coddled by the media to up their fragile psyche? This is football, battle through it. They will get positive media when they earn it, just as they get less than positive media when it is earned (8-16, NCAA sanctions has earned it). Forget the media, get it done on the field.
Chubutta
Wed, Jul 28, 2010 : 4:49 p.m.
The two year streaks ends on October 9th. Sorry Little Brother.
a2roots
Wed, Jul 28, 2010 : 4:37 p.m.
The sparty faithful sure can spit it out. You certainly have the upper hand, for I guess two, of what, the last 40 years in football. Little brother relish the ride while you can, because yes, you will be back where you belong. By the way we count our dominance over sparty in years not days.
SprBwlB4IDie
Wed, Jul 28, 2010 : 4:25 p.m.
As much as a loss to UConn would hurt Michigan fans and RR's job security, at least it would NOT be a reverse hat trick against a team for which Michigan fans insist on having zero respect. It is comically shocking how the arrogance of so many Michigan fans persists with absolutely no foundation in recent reality. If the Michigan players were all as delusional as the fan base, the Spartans would crush them after year. Tell you what - After you win a game against MSU in a revenue sport to break the streak that is in the vicinity of 1000 days, you can go back to pretending that UM-MSU is not a rivalry because UM should always easily win. I think you are going to have to wait awhile for that day as UM is falling to MSU in the renovated Big House and Beilein's 10/11 crew will look like they are in high school when they face the loaded Izzo crew.
trigg7
Wed, Jul 28, 2010 : 3:38 p.m.
You would think the pride thing would have let up since te fall! M will finish 7th at best,if all goes well.
MetricSU
Wed, Jul 28, 2010 : 2:56 p.m.
"They (sparty fans) are getting rather annoying but will soon get back into their rightful spot." Hmmm. Whom did you say is getting annoying? Does anyone else get a sense of entitlement from this statement. I guess it is well known that UM is entitled to have a better football program than MSU. Fortunately, the games are played on the field.
michboy40
Wed, Jul 28, 2010 : 12:52 p.m.
Yea, they are both very important. I want and expect Michigan to win both and I will be equally disappointed if they don't.
a2roots
Wed, Jul 28, 2010 : 12:44 p.m.
What a ridiculous poll. All the games are important. Lose to Uconn and national press slams UM and local press gets more ammunition. Lose to MSU and local press slams UM as well as have to listen to sparty fans spout off. They are getting rather annoying but will soon get back into their rightful spot. As the season nears it sure would be nice if AnnArbor.com would concentrate on positive and supportive reporting regarding Michigan football.