Gopher Nation hosts.
1. ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg recently ranked the top 5 rivalries in the Big Ten and there were some controversial results (Illinois v Ohio State as #3?). Clearly Ohio State vs. Michigan is the #1 rivalry in the Big Ten, but give me your next three. Your school does not have to be included in this list, but regardless of who you choose defend your picks.
Wisconsin/Minnesota, and to a lesser extent Minnesota/Iowa are pretty decent rivalries. Michigan/Michigan State, though one-sided, is a pretty heated rivalry in the “brother v. brother” sense. Everything, of course, pales in comparison to Michigan/OSU.
2. Obviously winning every game is important and beating really good teams sends a stronger message than beating Minnesota. Assume every team is .500 this year and the outcome of your next two games means nothing outside of pride and a year’s worth of bragging rights. Give me the two schools you would want to beat (in order) and why. What makes beating School’s A and B significant?
Uh, Ohio State (obvs). Second would probably be Michigan State in conference, for state bragging rights, etc. If we’re including out of conference, it would have to be Notre Dame, because I hate them.
3. Take the two teams from above that you claim are your biggest rivals and give me a new mascot for them.
Ohio State Convicts. Michigan State Failures.
4. There are some new rules in college football this year. My favorite is the Big Ten experimental rule which states that after every win this year you get to pluck one player off their roster and bring them back to your campus. Looking at your schedule give me two players you would pluck (assuming a win), why you would take them and what would you do with them?
Assuming a win (it would be a tall task, no doubt) against Ohio State, I would take Beanie Wells, because he is probably the best overall player in the conference. He isn’t a perfect match for the new Michigan offense, but I think he’s a good enough player that he can play in nearly any system. The other is Terrelle Pryor. Speaking of fits for the new Michigan sytstem, he is perfect. Had he come to Michigan, most prognosticators would easily have the Wolverines in the preseason top 20-ish. He can run, he can throw (well enough), etc.
5. Brian at MGO was kind enough to post a diary entry which gives us and new coach Rich Rodriguez a list of Michigan traditions that maybe we were not all aware of. This has inspired two final questions… 5A – are there any Michigan traditions that he missed? (here is your chance for some Michigan cheap shots)
None that I can think of, unless we’re gonna bring up a serious one or two, which would be consistent top-25 finishes and dominating the Spartans.
5B – Are there any traditions of your school’s rival that we should all be aware of?
Other than the cheating at Ohio State (hardy har) and the rampant coke use at Michigan State (hardy har again, Jeff Smoker), which everybody is already pretty well acquainted with, nothing that I can think of off the top of my head.
Posted under Analysis
Tags: roundtables