Rivalries and Conferences (Split from LSU v. OSU Offensive Personnel Thread)

[muffler dragon]

Originally Posted by wells

The point here should be what comparison is made, and the nature of the comparison. While A might be compared to B as something it might approach, or replicate, no comparison is made of B to A.

Great statement. I really like that.

[buck1973]

Originally Posted by JohnLSU

Yes, but I could say that every Ohio State fan should be forced to watch an HBO special on the Michigan vs. ND rivalry. Sure, "The Game" is great enough to have books written about. For example, a 288-page book published in 2005 titled, The 100-Yard War: Inside the 100-Year-Old Michigan-Ohio State Football Rivalry.

But there are also books about the Michigan vs. ND rivalry, such as a 319-book published this year titled, Natural Enemies: Major College Football's Oldest, Fiercest Rivalry-Michigan vs. Notre Dame (2007), 319 pages

1991 -- Desmond Howard's incredible catch on 4th down in the 4th quarter vs. Notre Dame. Many are convinced that it was this play that won Howard the Heisman Trophy.


For seven straight seasons from 1988-1994, the highly-contested battles [between Michigan and ND] were decided by 28 points - that's just four points per game. Many came down to the final seconds - a last-second field goal, a heart-breaking kickoff return by Raghib "Rocket" Ismail. The rivalry had seen them all. "It was huge," said Desmond Howard, former Wolverine and 1991 Heisman Trophy Winner. "The rivalry was as big as Michigan-Ohio State rivalry. I mean, you have two major universities whose athletic programs are so highly respected, and you have a Bo Schembechler going in there against Lou Holtz - two living legends as far as coaches. That in of itself makes it a helluva rivalry." ... "When games come down to final minutes or final seconds, those are the grudge matches that fans remember and they can't wait till next year to revenge that loss."

"Everybody that loves college football will watch, want to watch [Notre Dame vs Michigan] or want to know what the score is," Michigan coach Lloyd Carr said.

I mean look at plays like this one from the 1979 game, when a ND linebacker actually jumps on the back of his own player to block Michigan's attempt at the game-winning FG in the final seconds -- YouTube - 1979 Notre Dame vs. Michigan - Bob Crable FG block

My point is not that the Michigan v. ND rivalry is as great as the Michigan vs. Ohio State rivalry, but it's still one of the best rivalries in the country.

Despite what Desmond Howard said, the Michigan-ND rivalry isn't close to The Game. They have only played 35 times. They played 9 times from 1887 to 1909 and didn't play again until 1942 & 1943. They then went another 35 years without playing until 1978 and have been playing regularly since. In recent years, they may have developed some sort of rivalry, but historically they aren't rivals.

[Steve19]

Originally Posted by LSUTyga73

So, Ohio State's only had 41 successful seasons in its long and illustrious history. If the national championship is not as big as the Michigan game then why are you here arguing with LSU fans? Shouldn't you be talking trash to Michigan or something?

If y'all were to have to UM but still made the NC game and won. UM fans would be able to talk trash about winning but you guys could just tell them to kiss your crystal asses. I think that would be better than beating them but only to finish 6-6 or osmehintg. maybe thats just me. oh well

You really don't get it, do you?

To us, no game is bigger than The Game. Not the national championship, nothing.

[JohnLSU]

So "The catch" and the Heisman-pose are the only great moments in the OSU v. Mich game in recent history?

Here is what ESPN thinks are the best moments in the history of the OSU v. Mich game in their list of "The 100 Plays, Performances, and Moments that Define College Football."

#28
BLUE COLLAR
Ann Arbor, Mich. | Nov. 24, 1973
Michigan and Ohio State tied 10-10 in 1973, but a late-game play on which Wolverines quarterback Dennis Franklin broke his collarbone changed the postseason forever. Big Ten athletic directors, sick about losing four straight Rose Bowls, voted to send Archie Griffin and the healthier Buckeyes to Pasadena. Michigan coach Bo Schembechler raised such a ruckus that the league soon decided to let runners-up go to bowl games. 1973: 11 bowls. 2007: 32 bowls.

#32
STRIKE A POSE
Ann Arbor, Mich. | Nov. 23, 1991
Only four other ends had won the Heisman Trophy, but that's not what made Michigan receiver Desmond Howard's 93-yard punt return for a touchdown against Ohio State in 1991 so special. When Howard reached the end zone, he struck a Heisman pose. Innocent prank? Yes, but it also signaled a new era in the marketing of the sport's top individual award. Like politics, the Heisman became all about TV exposure.

#54
BO KNOWS
Ann Arbor, Mich. | Nov. 22, 1969
The 1969 Ohio State Buckeyes were Woody Hayes' greatest team. Says who? Hayes. That's why the 24-12 upset loss to Michigan hurt -- that and the fact that the Wolverines' first-year coach, Bo Schembechler, was a Hayes protege. Michigan took control of the game when Barry Pierson returned a punt 60 yards to set up the third Wolverine touchdown.

#58
OVER AND OUT
Ann Arbor, Mich. | Nov. 20, 1971
No. 3 Michigan (11-0) led Ohio State (6-3) by only 10-7. Late in the game, Michigan defensive back Thom Darden went over wideout Dick Wakefield, who was not only 6-foot-4 but in midair, for an acrobatic pickoff at the Michigan 32 in the final seconds. Ohio State coach Woody Hayes rushed the field screaming "Interference!" When that didn't work, Hayes shredded the sideline markers. That didn't work, either.

[AKAKBUCK]

Originally Posted by sluTiger

Please explain...

I totally missed this from page one.



Uh.


Oh.

[-LSU-]

Originally Posted by martinss01

but we do have serious issues with you or anyone else coming here and telling us it isn't relevant or important.

It's always an interesting game because of the intensity of the rivalry, but is it always relevant in the grand scheme of college football? probably most years just because there usually something pretty significant on the line, but not always. Missouri and Kansas hate each other at least as much as Michigan and Ohio State, yet nobody would try to say that game is important or relevant every year.

to do so is almost akin to telling a die hard the south will rise again type to drop it and move on.

they should drop it and move on at this point.

[JohnLSU]

As for LSU, as many of you pointed out, we don't have one single rival, because we have so many great ones that we can't decide on which one we like the best. The only one that made ESPN's list of "The 100 Plays, Performances, and Moments that Define College Football" was the LSU vs. Ole Miss rivalry. Since we began playing each other 113 years ago in 1894, there have only been 18 years that we haven't played each other, due to factors such as WWI, WWII, the Great Depression, etc. LSU and Ole Miss have played each other every year straight since 1945.

Here's the moment that made ESPN's list:

#16
Baton Rouge, La. | Oct. 31, 1959
[In the game between #1 LSU and #3 Ole Miss,] LSU star Billy Cannon gathered in the punt of Ole Miss' Jake Gibbs at the Tigers' 11. The Rebels led their biggest rival, 3-0, threatening the defending national champion's 18-game winning streak. But Cannon shook off a couple of tackles, hugged the sideline and never stopped until he won the Heisman Trophy. Recordings of the radio play-by-play of Cannon's return will be available at LSU tailgates throughout this fall and for many to come.

I think this is a better description: In 1959, Cannon led defending national champs and #1-ranked LSU to a victory over #3 Ole Miss. The Tigers were trailing 3-0 when Cannon returned a punt 89 yards for a TD, breaking seven tackles. It was the only TD of the game, resulting in a 7-3 victory for LSU in Tiger Stadium. That year, Cannon won the Heisman Trophy.