Michigan's real nemesis - Troy or Tressel?

beatnd · #1 (**permalink**) 12-05-2006, 02:50 AM

OK guys....since I can tell you're already sickened by the Florida swamp gas on your site

....and since 50 days is plenty of time to talk about some other worthy topics besides The Gator's pity entry into the NC....I thought I'd get in a quick Michigan topic if that's alright?

....I've got an honest question I'd love your perspective on:

I'm a Wolverine and my brother's a Buckeye (yeah things get real interesting in our family the week of THE GAME

) ....we we're discussing today who really has been the reason that OSU has had Michigan's number as of late....ie - Is it Tressel that has owned Carr or is it Troy that has owned Michigan? Now the popular media/fan take has been the former of course....5-1, LLLLLoyd etc....etc....but I'm just wondering if it's actually the latter?

Now let me first say, Tressel is clearly a fantastic coach, great leader, exudes team confidence, great game planner/strategist etc....etc.... - and he clearly 'gets' the UM-OSU rivalry!....and yes the fact is Lloyd is clearly halfway to Cooper territory vs Tressel.....but....

I just can't help but wonder if Tressel is actually 2-1 against Carr (pre-Troy) and then the real key point lately is that Troy is 3-0 against Michigan.....ie - that the true difference maker in the last 3 UM-OSU games has really been Troy not Tressel? I mean Troy's big-game pedigree is amazing! He's 5-0 as a starter in OSU's biggest showdowns - Michigan 3-times, Texas and Notre Dame. Staggering moments and/or offensive stats can be found in all five. Particularly 1000+ yards in 3 Mich games!!....I mean that's unreal!!!! Now is that just Troy - a Heisman winning QB - makin' it happen in THE GAME or is it coaching?....I don't know it just seems like it takes a long scarlet and gray thread to tie that all to Tressel's brilliance. Clearly the Michigan defense has been unable to wrap up and contain Smith in 2004 & 2005 (with a 9 pt 4th qtr lead) and stop him at all in 2006 (especially with the score 35-31 in the 4th qtr)....but is that evidence that Tressel made any great coaching decisions or that Carr - a coach with 27 years at Michigan - suddenly doesn't 'get' the Buckeyes-Wolverines rivalry (especially when you consider his domination of Cooper and that 4 of his 5 losses to Tressel are by 6 points or less?)....or is it just that Troy has played absolutely amazing in these big Michigan games!....and thus it is Troy that really owns Michigan?

Now I'm sure it's obviously a combination of the two....but I'm interested in what you think....if you had to pick one or the other....do you think that as of late it's really been Tressel that has owned Carr or Troy that has owned Michigan? I'd love your perspective guys....and I guess we'll get a good 'Troyless' data point next year in Ann Arbor right?

All the best!

Crystal76 · #2 (**permalink**) 12-05-2006, 02:58 AM

I think it's a little bit of both. Remember, we beat Michigan in 2002 on our way to a National Championship, with no Troy. The thing about The Game is, talent or no Talent. Who ever wants it the badest will win it.

Steve19 · #3 (**permalink**) 12-05-2006, 03:02 AM

Troy Smith became Troy Smith because of Jim Tressel. Enough said

.

PrincetonBuckeye · #4 (**permalink**) 12-05-2006, 03:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crystal76

I think it's a little bit of both. Remember, we beat Michigan in 2002 on our way to a National Championship, with no Troy. The thing about The Game is, talent or no Talent. Who ever wants it the badest will win it.

totally agree!!!