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Buckeyes Ranking Opens Eyes
The coaches poll is out and Ohio State is ranked No. 1 and Michigan 15th.
To some U-M fans, this might seem insignificant. How often in the past have the Wolverines been ranked much higher in the preseason, but not delivered on the field? It almost seems like a blessing given the past. But it is significant from the standpoint that it points to Ohio State as, clearly, the preeminent football program in the Big Ten. The days of John Cooper and Michigan beating Ohio State on a regular basis are over. Michigan cannot claim a more recent national championship, either. It is even more amazing that Ohio State has such a lofty ranking considering the caliber of players they lost from last year’s team. It was far more impact players than the Wolverines lost. Yet, Ohio State is still much more highly-regarded. The Buckeyes of Jim Tressel have become more than a thorn in the side of the Wolverines. They have caused serious wounds. That makes this season especially important for Michigan football. The good part: The Wolverines remain an immensely talented team more than capable of winning the Big Ten. Actually, it would not surprise me if the Wolverines did just that, beating Ohio State along the way. It will be interesting to see the impact new coordinator Ron English has on the defense. It will be the key. It also would not surprise me if quarterback Chad Henne learns from his struggles last year (his stats were not the bad, either) and has a huge season.
Random thoughts
- What an amazing weekend for the Tigers. Can there be any more evidence of their pitching depth than Wil Ledezma, Jason Grilli, Jamie Walker and Fernando Rodney combining to shutout Cleveland 1-0. The Indians are not a good team, but it has nothing to do with their hitting attack. It is very strong.
- Anybody out there still want to trade Craig Monroe? Can you imagine if the Tigers had acquired Alfonso Soriano and benched or traded Monroe. I am not certain if Soriano would have pulled off the same type of heroics. How does the saying go? Sometimes the best trades are the ones you do not make.
- Reason No. 70 I will not cast my vote for Mark McGwire for induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame: He is reportedly not cooperating with former senator George Mitchell's investigation into performance-enhancing substances in baseball. What a disappointment McGwire has become. And on every level.
To some U-M fans, this might seem insignificant. How often in the past have the Wolverines been ranked much higher in the preseason, but not delivered on the field? It almost seems like a blessing given the past. But it is significant from the standpoint that it points to Ohio State as, clearly, the preeminent football program in the Big Ten. The days of John Cooper and Michigan beating Ohio State on a regular basis are over. Michigan cannot claim a more recent national championship, either. It is even more amazing that Ohio State has such a lofty ranking considering the caliber of players they lost from last year’s team. It was far more impact players than the Wolverines lost. Yet, Ohio State is still much more highly-regarded. The Buckeyes of Jim Tressel have become more than a thorn in the side of the Wolverines. They have caused serious wounds. That makes this season especially important for Michigan football. The good part: The Wolverines remain an immensely talented team more than capable of winning the Big Ten. Actually, it would not surprise me if the Wolverines did just that, beating Ohio State along the way. It will be interesting to see the impact new coordinator Ron English has on the defense. It will be the key. It also would not surprise me if quarterback Chad Henne learns from his struggles last year (his stats were not the bad, either) and has a huge season.
Random thoughts
- What an amazing weekend for the Tigers. Can there be any more evidence of their pitching depth than Wil Ledezma, Jason Grilli, Jamie Walker and Fernando Rodney combining to shutout Cleveland 1-0. The Indians are not a good team, but it has nothing to do with their hitting attack. It is very strong.
- Anybody out there still want to trade Craig Monroe? Can you imagine if the Tigers had acquired Alfonso Soriano and benched or traded Monroe. I am not certain if Soriano would have pulled off the same type of heroics. How does the saying go? Sometimes the best trades are the ones you do not make.
- Reason No. 70 I will not cast my vote for Mark McGwire for induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame: He is reportedly not cooperating with former senator George Mitchell's investigation into performance-enhancing substances in baseball. What a disappointment McGwire has become. And on every level.
posted by Pat Caputo at
6:14 AM
17 Comments:
Pat
Being a MSU slappy, I'm not exactly heartbroken to see UofM slide. But is UofM sliding or has OSU just ran away with it? It seems to me, that Tressel has really put all his energy into the "big" games. I hear UofM fans complain about this all the time, Carr is content to have his couple losses, get a respectable big ten finish and make a decent bowl. At the same time Tressel makes his #1 priority beating UofM and worry about the rest later. It just seems that both the gap has spread and is spreading further. Any other thoughts on why exactly, or do you think it is the coaching?
Mcgwire and his ilk should do commercials for weight gain & loss. If they are let into baseballs Hall of Fame they would have to use two plaques (before & after) Vinny
Pat,
As this juicing issue keeps drudging through the due process it will recieve, I keep thinking about Pete Rose. I don't know where you stand on Pete Rose, but I have always thought his punishment to be be the greatest injustice. I think we all knew that McGuire was juicing his bod (while Slapping Sammy was juicing his bat) - but when Pete Rose was a player - he was the "everyman" player with no juice and more hardwork and heart than all these "juice-masters" could muster together. I believe Jim Leyland inspires all our boys to "be like Pete!" on the field.
Please use your vote to write in Pete Rose instead.
What would happen if you guys wrote in Rose's name on the ballet? Time to Forgive Charlie Hustle.
nick p,
what other factor can there be other than coaching? Ohio State does a great job of recruiting. don't believe it, check out its offensive line. the tackles are huge and athletic and so is their defense. they also found kind of a diamond in the rough in troy smith. he wasn't close to the recriuting prize zwick was, but is a better player. michigan hasn't found those kind of players as much recently, regardless the position.
caputo
daver,
the real test comes up here this month. will they be able to maintain this lead while playing virtually all contending teams? i'm thinking they can. certainly the tigers have met all challenges so far.
caputo
tyg,
seems like we agree more than disagree when you think about it. it's just that i feel michigan has too much talent to count out. also, i think you'll see the wolverines play with more of a sense of purpose this season. this is a program that has a lot to prove. last season was an eye opener for michigan. carr and his staff can longer rest on their laurels, that's for sure.
caputo
vinny,
i don't think he is going to get in. i just don't see how he will get 75 percent of the vote from the writers. i know one writer's vote he won't get - mine.
caputo
dt,
everybody has their rationalization for how they are going to handle this. mine is that mcgwire's career was done. he was hurt all the time. there is no way he would have put up hall of fame numbers if he hadn't been doing the stuff. and the fact he says nothing to defend himself is very telling. his act in front of the congressional hearing was absurd. pudge and bonds were good enough players to get in without the stuff, so i'll vote for them. i don't feel that way about palmeiro and sosa, so i won't vote for them. that's just me. there are writers who feel like you and others who won't vote for any of them.
caputo
windsorfred,
i think pete rose should be in. he is a total knucklehead. i don't condone at all what he did betting while he was managing the reds. i don't like his deportment. but he did have more hits than any player ever. and he did what he did, after he was done playing. to me, it is a great injustice. kind of like the joe jackson issue.
Sorry to break the hearts of the MSU slappies in here. I am maze and blue through and through. However, I do feel they are ranked fairly this year. Personaly I think 15 might even be a tad high. More like some where in the 20's. Reason i say that is because the way they stunk the last couple of years in my mind after being ranked so high. They need to prove they are a top 5 team, by clobering the teams they are suppose to. If Mich. can't be OSU this year then I change is needed. OSU being number one though. After losing all the players they did especially on defense are they going to be that good(#1).
As far as MSU goes. Besides stanton being a stud. You dudes I feel bad for. I mean having to not only put up with the crap the lions put out, but having to endure what MSU does. I feel for you.
As far as the tigers go: How exciting of a weekend. I had such a good time on Saturday I couldn't resist giong back Sunday. As good as that heroic ending saturday was. Sundays matchup was just as good.
Monroe showed it last year that around this time something just clicks. If we don't forget he went on a tear towards the end of last year. Perfect timing. ONe good thing about not making the trade look at the debth and options we have.
As for the Lions. Man I am getting pumped up about football. I know we are probably going to end up getting rid of Rogers or M. Williams and Pinner. Do you think the lions should show case those guys heavily against the broncos in the preseason. I know Denver could use a back and a receiver. Maybe we could get something out of nothing like in a package. Not saying it could happen or it will, just saying I personaly feel they should do something along them lines.
you know what is funny about the whole banned substance issue. Look at all the guys numbers ever since they came out. Its like a lot of them got there pay checks then fell fast. Eitehr through injury or the juice just wearing out. You watch Bonds this year. I mean a lot of the balls he hits when he was on that 73 home run tear he was putting those balls in San Diego now he those balls are just reaching the warning track.
As much as I hate bonds. Bonds would have made the hall of fame if he never even hit the 73 home runs because he was a damn good player prior to the juice.
McGwire the substances actually game him some more staying power. He was injury proned through out his whole career. Personally I think he had potential to beat the record with out the juice. I just don't know with out it he would be healthy to do so.
Sosa lets see you get caught with a corked bat, next thing you know you can't speak english, and then you disappear. Heck he broke the record back to back like it was nothing.
Palmero You got caught. No way in hell you get in. It will be interesting to see how things work. But it is good to see guys like A-Rod and and Ramierez guys who have been doing it year and year out while testing is in place.
So my vote for Big Mac. No because I just don't think his health would have held out with out hte substances, but because it wasn't band yeah I say he gets in. Along with Bonds. Sosa and Palmero hell no.
maddog52,
i hear you about football. as exciting as the summer has been with the tigers, and as exciting as the fall promises to be with the tigers, i can't wait for football, either. you're like most michigan fans - realistic. but i just have a feeling the wolverines are going to be really good this season. lets put it this way - that will be a motivated program.
caputo
daver,
those are all valid points. like i said, i'll just follow my conscious and go with it. i don't hold anything against other writers who take a different approach. no offense taken on the writers having too much power thing. but the one thing i can honestly say about the writers is that we do take this seriously, and sincerely do our best. we're not as biased about things as some other factions might be.
caputo
thinkingman,
you're right. where do draw the line on cheating? what is cheating in baseball and what is gamesmanship? seems like the line is blurred.
caputo
Pat: I don't know why i walk around wringing my hands when they have to play Minn. They look ordinary to me. (famous last words) The league must change the schedule like you suggested a while back. I read that seriano has a sore arm. Too bad, it may be from his slider or cutter or fastball or change up or curve or drop or screw ball. Vinny
dt,
obviously you and i don't agree on this. in my opinion, bonds would have had 500 homers and 500 steals anyway. mcgwire would not have come close to hall of fame numbers without that late surge that was enhanced. i always reserve the right to change my mind, but that's where i stand right now on the subject.
caputo
Let me say this young Patrick. I agree Ohio State has taken over the Big Ten. However, Michigan usually does well when the preseason magazines and polls rank it low. Look what happened in 1997.
T Foster
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