Around the Big Ten

[hack]

True, Sparty's offense could be better. Ugh.

[Hannibal]

The PIs won't be called like they were in South Bend.

I keep hearing this but we're not talking about basketball here. Refs are pretty field neutral unless you're talking about Pac 10 vs Big Ten. Agreed on your general sentiment. MSU will win and it will probably be by at least 2 TDs. The Narduzzi vs Borges contest is going to reach new lows as this offense is more reliant on misdirection than either of Borges's previous two.

True, Sparty's offense could be better. Ugh.

Even if he's not better, we will certainly make him look that way. How many times in the past few weeks have we heard the color commentator make a remark about how the opposing offense suddenly looks surprisingly confident and/or effective against us?

[whodean]

Pat Fitzgerald has never shown any interest in coaching at Michigan. I don't know where that sentiment ever came from. Even as an assistant to Walker, he was totally dedicated to NW.

Some folks like to wish there was a different head coach after every loss, er close win...er blowout win ;-)

[lineygoblue]

Exactly. His name might have been mentioned in the last go-around, but I think Pizza Dave got the guy he wanted all along. Fitzgerald would have never left NW for Michigan anyway. I'd rather have Hoke anyway.

::: ducks and covers :::

[WM Wolverine]

Can't see Fitzgerald leaving anywhere unless it's a place like Texas or ND.

[lineygoblue]

I can't even see that happening. The guy is solid NW. He loves his job.

[entropy]

NW is his life. He'd have to be fired or be in a situation where he hates walking across campus to leave..

[Ghengis Jon]

Fitz is a good representative of what the Big Ten ought to be. Loyalty to his players, love for the university, not a cash whore. Wish there were more coaches like him.

[entropy]

And he'll make NW better than any else. He's needed there..

[hack]

Yeah. Nobody suggesting its feasible. My point was just that it would be nice to have an offense that works.

[iam416]

Yeah. Nobody suggesting its feasible. My point was just that it would be nice to have an offense that works.

You're so demanding.

[Hannibal]

It would be nice to have an offense that works that doesn't live across from a defense that suffers from complete incompetence and ineptitude.

[Rob F]

So much gloom and doom...

[Rob F]

Hannibal-do you allow yourself to enjoy Michigan Football at all? You've almost, on a certain level, become this forum's version of Drew Sharp when it comes to badmouthing the U of M Football program.

Don't get me wrong, this is far from a great team as they near the midpoint of the season, but at least (even if by baby steps) they're progressing. IMO, this is still a team in transition and the parts are not all in place yet. There was tangible progress Saturday vs Minnesota , and as long as each week there's improvement in some needed area, I remain optimistic. No flag of surrender here, I see no unbeatable team on the rest of the schedule. The B1G is a highly-flawed conference ; the contenders whose coaching staff best manage those flaws will be meeting in December in Indy.

I'll say it right here and right now---two weeks from now we'll be seeing a 7-0 Michigan team heading for a bye week. And Michigan still might still be the homeliest 7-0 team in the country at that point, but will go into November with Jake Ryan back and likely a few other nagging problems solved.

[hack]

I'll say -- Saturday was progress for sure. Progress to a point Michigan should already be beyond, but progress nonetheless. Watching OSU/NW somewhat ruined it for me though, because those two teams aren't without their problems but they put serious offenses on the field that, time and again, find a way to put their playmakers in a position to make plays.