Posted on Fri, Oct 14, 2011 : 1:20 p.m.
Reasons why this Michigan-Michigan State game is bigger than normal for Wolverines
By AnnArbor.com Staff
This in-state rivalry is always big. Michigan State's three-game winning streak makes it bigger for Michigan. The thought of finishing their career 0-8 against Michigan State and Ohio State has the Michigan seniors playing for their legacy.
All that being true, AnnArbor.com reporter Kyle Meinke says the 104th playing of Michigan vs. Michigan State on Saturday (noon, ESPN) is even more important for the Wolverines than anyone could have imagined heading into the season.
Why? Because, Meinke says in this video preview, a win at Spartan Stadium gives the Wolverines a legitimate shot at a Big Ten Legends Division championship.
Comments
burton163
Sat, Oct 15, 2011 : 1:08 a.m.
Well said Tru2Blu. I am out of town and despearatley need to find an online live stream of this game. Any help would be greatly appreciated!
DonAZ
Sat, Oct 15, 2011 : 2:04 a.m.
Try: <a href="http://www.firstrowsports.tv/" rel='nofollow'>http://www.firstrowsports.tv/</a> Look under the tab "Am Football."
DonAZ
Fri, Oct 14, 2011 : 10:23 p.m.
My hope is Michigan wins, of course. But even if they lose ... as long as they go down fighting to the last whistle then I'll still know Hoke and staff are continuing their construction project. But if they lose like they have the last few years, then I will be disappointed for sure.
Tru2Blu76
Fri, Oct 14, 2011 : 6:36 p.m.
The dynamic of this kind of analysis is that, whatever is claimed to be "super important" becomes less so AFTER the game. Those who are thinking that Michigan will have an after-loss melt down are wrong: this team and these coaches have no quit in them. Even if they do lose to MSU, MSU will not gain much if anything and Michigan will not stop improving. If anything, losses tend to offer more lessons and lead to more improvements than do wins. Michigan has a good chance to end this season 8-4 or better. That's at least .750 in the win column and almost identical to Lloyd Carr's career record. That's a STARTING POINT, with a team that's now mostly juniors with a staff of first-year coaches. (A heck of a lot better than in RR's first year!) OTH: putting too much emphasis on the importance of any game is a mistake. It's manipulative too. I don't think fan excitement is threatened or diminished AT ALL, because we are MICHIGAN FANS. This rivalry is what it is: an exciting experience every year. I'm as anxious as any Michigan fan to see Michigan regain relevance and dominance. But we all went into this season knowing this is a development year and a "work in progress." Only a big loss, by 2 TDs or more, would raise (or re-raise) the question of Michigan's relevance. I strongly doubt they'll lose by that much and believe there are factors making it possible they may WIN by that margin. Critiquing Meinke's video: Unchanged - 2 stars. Because: Same lousy background, same lousy lighting, too-fast delivery and "Number One" - Mr. Meinke must get past the "I just woke from a nap and they're making me do this" appearance. Look at it this way, Kyle: Any Spartan fan seeing your video today will be ROFL!
Bogie
Fri, Oct 14, 2011 : 5:28 p.m.
This is true. If Michigan doesn't start competing with OSU and MSU, they are going to be thrown on the scrap heap with Notre Dame.