Schedule

cincibuck · #1 (**permalink**) 03-08-2005, 07:01 PM

I'm wondering if it isn't time to think about moving the Michigan game.

My thinking is simple, I can recall more than one instance when a late loss to Michigan cost us dearly in the polls and in terms of which bowl we went to. In 1996 -7 it even cost us a National Championship. If we had lost the Michigan game earlier in the season we would have had time to pull our selves back up in the polls to the point where playing ASU could have been the NC game. Miami had lost a game earlier in the season to a lesser opponent (North Carolina!) and yet was able to re-surface to the number two slot in the polls. Michigan seems to have fared better in this situation... if you can ignore getting shut out of the Rose Bowl following a 10 - 10 tie with OSU in Ann Arbor, but they've gotten the short end of the stick due to a late loss to us also.

Much as I love the tradition of the last game, I think there are lots of reasons to let it float through the schedule.

"But what about all the other rival games that weekend? (I hear you ask)"

Might be welcome news to some other schools who'd like to get on the national network with their big rivalry games. Purdue - Indiana has to settle for private outlets and 30 seconds of highlights at half-time of The Game. Same - same Illinois - Northwestern, Minnie and Wisky...

might also be a time to ask why we get stuck with Penn State EVERY year, while they float off of Michigan's schedule. That means we are always playing two of the three best programs (say what you will about the last few years, but with all that tradition and the second biggest stadium in the conference PSU is going to be tough) in the conference every year.. Whadaya think?

martinss01 · #2 (**permalink**) 03-08-2005, 07:15 PM

you move the game you lower the importance of the game. you lower the importance of the game and you end the rivalry.

you can't have your cake and eat it to. "the game" isn't "the game" because you can recover from its effects easily. it is "the game" because it IS your season. if you want "the game" to be just another game then knock yourself out. but it cant' be both... scum is either just another team in the big 10 that we happen to play every year or they are 50% of the greatest rivalry in sports. your call.

DCBuckFan · #3 (**permalink**) 03-08-2005, 07:18 PM

I agree, as will 95% of the people hear I think.. your arguement makes sense, but no way can you move THE game.

coastalbuck · #4 (**permalink**) 03-08-2005, 07:19 PM

If I'm not mistaken, big ten teams can name some schools rivalry games and they will meet every year. As to the question of moving the scUM game, hell no! It needs to stay where it is. Tradition is something best not messed with.

BearBuck27 · #5 (**permalink**) 03-08-2005, 07:32 PM

You NEVER move this game. That's what makes this rivalry so great. If you move it from the last game, it lessens the importance of THE GAME. To get to the National Championship, you have to beat the other team. My answer is no. I don't think this game will ever be moved from the last week.

jwinslow · #6 (**permalink**) 03-08-2005, 07:38 PM

Given the right circumstances, if tOSU-scUM played in game four, they could possibly play again in a bowl game. That's what happened with FSU-Miami and we were all sick of them playing each other.

BuckeyeNation27 · #7 (**permalink**) 03-08-2005, 07:40 PM

Quote:

I'm wondering if it isn't time to think about moving the Michigan game.

the guys post starts out like this and he still has green? you guys are gettin soft

HineyBuck · #8 (**permalink**) 03-08-2005, 07:45 PM

Sorry Cinci, I know you probably mean well. But I couldn't read past the first sentence of your post:

Quote:
"I'm wondering if it isn't time to think about moving the Michigan game."

Dumb idea.