Told ya so!

Colleges & Universities A-Z University of Michigan
41

<p>
[quote]
Care to explain why Michigan's computer ranking is so high?

[/quote]
Computers care about 2 things. SOS and W/L. That's it. Michigan's rank is high because they have finished their season, where has other teams still have top opponents to beat, and strengthen their schedule. A win over a top opponent shoots you up the standings, just like I told you was going to happen to Louisville.</p>

<p>
[quote]
A2, what makes Arkansas, Florida, or USC any less "fraudulent" than Michigan?

[/quote]
Nothing. In fact, I think OSU is head and shoulders the best team in the country. You might as well put Boise State against OSU because there is no team in the country that will challenge them, and this way we don't have prognosticators whining about Boise State not having a chance. </p>

<p>I think Arkansas is the ONLY team that can challenge OSU, and that's if they can finally figure out their QB situation. I think USC is a fraud of a team. Yes, Arkansas lost to USC, but they had their best player suspended and platooning QBs throughout the game. Now that they've SOMEWHAT found a QB in Dick, and they have their Reggie Bush back in McFadden, they are good. Watch what they do to LSU this weekend. </p>

<p>As for Florida, they got jobbed on one of their calls at Auburn that rewarded Auburn 7 points. However, i'm not high on Florida. I think Arkansas is better than Florida though.</p>

<p>Still, you fail to see my point. Who has Michigan beat? Notre Dame and Wisconsin. That's not as impressive as Arkansas would be going undefeated in the SEC, the nation's toughest conference, and beating 4 top 25 opponents. Even USC, (don't give me this crap about "Oregon State". Every team has a down game, Michigan had a down game against OSU) will have beat 4 top 25 opponents in Arkansas, Cal, Nebraska, Notre Dame. Do you want to reward teams like Michigan for beating nobody, and punish teams like Arkansas for playing harder schedules?</p>

<p>
[quote]
Michigan rules and you know it, Indiana has and is going nowhere.

[/quote]
Yeah, you lost. Have to talk about my football team rather than the argument. But that's what i've come to expect out of the "geniouses" in Ann Arbor. Hey, if I applied in '05 to LSA I would have gotten in too!</p>

<p>If Michigan "rules" then you would be in the national championship. Your team lost. Go jump on the basketball bandwagon before they miss the tournament again. </p>

<p>
[quote]
"expecting" them to be in top 25 does mean something. usually the big ten does put up contenders that are in the top 25 such as iowa, penn state, etc. therefore, michigan's nonconference schedule could be lighter (despite ND) because the conference schedule was expected to be difficult enough.

[/quote]
I'm sorry, i've read this over 5 times, and i'm still confused. You're trying to say that because you play teams that are traditionally good, then your schedule can't be criticized? Is that really what you are saying? Are you serious? Could you enlighten me as to what you think of Notre Dame's schedule then?</p>

42

<p>
[quote]
Michigan's rank is high because they have finished their season, where has other teams still have top opponents to beat, and strengthen their schedule.

[/quote]

I still don't get it. Michigan's computer rank stayed at 1.000 for weeks ... meaning the computer recognizes that it played a tough schedule, doesn't it? Michigan's current rank is at .960 and all but one of its opponents (Notre Dame) have finished their seasons. Do you see any team other than USC that may have a higher score?</p>

43

<p>The problem with A2's logic is that the only team he considers to be worth anything is Ohio State. If you beat anyone else, your win is worthless.</p>

44

<p>I agree with A2Wolves that should Florida or USC win out, one of those teams should be given the edge over Michigan for the Fiesta Bowl. I mean, they would have had to beat a top 5 team to end their season, and that makes them worthy.</p>

<p>This said, I disagree with A2Wolves. Michigan has not merely beaten two ranked teams. We handled two 10-1 top 10 teams. 47-21 and 27-13 are pretty convincing wins if you ask me. Yes, we did not beat any other top 25 teams, but we did play a bunch of respectable teams. Vanderbilt, which so many people ignore, beat Georgia and almost beat Florida. Having beaten 8-4 PSU is not to be underestimated, especially not when you consider that all their loses were to top 10 teams. MSU is not good, but they always play Michigan hard. Iowa was banged up this year, but they too are no pushovers. At Minnesota is not to be taken lightly either. The only weak teams we played this year at Ball State and Central. Michigan's strength of schedule isn't #2 in the nation for nothing. Michigan has played one of the toughest and most bruising schedules in the nation.</p>

<p>I also don't think Arkansas is worthy. I don't care who they beat, whenever you get blown out by 30+ points at home, you aren't worthy of NC consideration.</p>

<p>As far as I am concerned, for Michigan to be guaranteed a trip to the Fiesta Bow, three things must happen:</p>

<p>1) Notre Dame must beat USC
2) LSU must beat Arkansas
3) Finally, Arkansas must beat Florida</p>

<p>If that doesn't happen, we most likely end up at the Rose Bowl, not at all a bad prospect.</p>

45

<p>I think its as simple as a USC loss puts Michigan in the NC game. They are never going to fall behind UF or Arkansas in computer points or the polls, and walloping ND will not drop them below them, so it is going to be USC or Michigan. Why don't we just having a f***ing playoff already?</p>

46

<p>Yea if we had a playoff system, no doubt everything would be so much more clear.</p>

47

<p>
[quote]
I thought the goal every year was to win a championship? Maybe i'm wrong here, I don't know Michigan's goals. I know OSU's goal is to win a championship.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Yeah, U-M wants to be the big ten champion because then they can go to the Rose Bowl. If they get to go to the Rose Bowl because the Big Ten champion got nabbed for a "higher bowl" then being at the Rose Bowl is not as prestigious, but make no mistake: Michigan fans want to get to the Rose Bowl every year that they can. When they make it, many fans feel that all is right with the universe.</p>

<p>Which is kind of funny given how often U-M has struggled there, but no one said U-M fans were entirely logical.</p>

<p>
[quote]
Hey, if I applied in '05 to LSA I would have gotten in too!

[/quote]
</p>

<p>I don't think it's particularly classy for anyone to try to needle you about being admitted or not. However, I want to address the above because many people on this forum claim to "KNOW" how they stack up to the other candidates who apply. That's speculative. It isn't clear to me how anyone knows this except for people at U-M who know how the readers evaluated an application.</p>

48

<p>I don't really care if he was admitted him or not...I was just acknowledging the fact that he went from a I love Michigan fanatic to Michigan sucks and criticizes them nonstop</p>

49

<p>
[quote]
I still don't get it. Michigan's computer rank stayed at 1.000 for weeks ... meaning the computer recognizes that it played a tough schedule, doesn't it? Michigan's current rank is at .960 and all but one of its opponents (Notre Dame) have finished their seasons. Do you see any team other than USC that may have a higher score?

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Michigan is ahead at the moment because Michigan finished at 11-1 and has higher win-loss ratio than USC (11-1 vs 9-1) at this moment. Michigan's computer rank stayed at 1.000 for weeks because for weeks, their win-loss ratio was the best (tied with OSU but their schedule strength is tiny bit better than OSU (ND ahead of TX). Actually before TX's second loss, it's OSU that's #1 in the computer. So now you see how schedule strength comes into play clearly. The fact that Michigan is only.007 ahead in Sagarin ratings even though it has better win/loss ratio shows that the computer already ranks USC higher in schedule strength even before its games against ND (highly ranked) and UCLA (bowl eligible). As for FLA/Arkansas, it's harder to predict if they will pass Michigan since they have more ranked teams but also weaker cupcakes (awful Div-1AA teams) at the same time on their schedule.</p>

50

<p>Sam, Thanks for your explanation. I can see USC passing Michigan in computer rank if they beat ND and UCLA (that's why I said "other than USC"). However, I still don't see how another team can beat us if USC loses this weekend.</p>

51

<p>Sam Lee, you're wrong--Michigan had been ranked higher than OSU in the computer poll every week since the BCS came out.</p>

52

<p>I just somehow thought I saw OSU higher earlier. In that case, MI had been ranked higher than OSU likely because it had 2 ranked team on its schedule while OSU had only one. Anyway, the point is to get the big picture and know how to do the ball park prediction without knowing fully the complex math/stats behind the computer's calculation.</p>

53

<p>umardarr, A2Wolves' transformation was not THAT radical. I do not recall him ever being an "I love Michigan fanatic". Even when he was a Michigan fan, he criticized several aspects of Michigan football, including Michigan's football game day atmosphere and stadium noise. I also don't think he believes Michigan sucks. </p>

<p>This said, I agree that there has been a definite shift in his feelings for Michigan. He seems to have gone from fan to wishing Michigan ill. I have met many people who grew up loving Michigan football, and even after they were turned down by the University, their support for the university's athletic programs never waivered. Sure they would support their schools' athletic programs as much if not more, but they never stopped supporting Michigan. Unfortunately, that does not seem to be the case with A2Wolves.</p>

54

<p>
[quote]
I have met many people who grew up loving Michigan football, and even after they were turned down by the University, their support for the university's athletic programs never waivered. Sure they would support their schools' athletic programs as much if not more, but they never stopped supporting Michigan.

[/quote]

Well, you've just described my S. perfectly. Of course, we are huge supporters of his college's football program since he's a player and had a great experience this season, but S. will never waiver as a Michigan football freak. His own games are played on Saturday afternoons, but he and some other loyal teammates road tripped to A2 for the MSU game since it was a late kick-off. He also hung out on Michigan's campus this past weekend with his buddies to party with U-M friends, watch the big game, and soak up the excitement and atmosphere. He had an awesome time. Does our family have the occasional pang of regret that he's not a Michigan student, that Michigan passed on accepting a legacy kid who's been wearing the maize and blue since he was a baby? Sure we do, but S. is very happy with where he's at and hasn't had a single complaint about his college experience.</p>

<p>However, unlike Wolves, S. is not attending another Big 10 school that's a Michigan competitor. That actually played into S's college decision, knowing he'd be in direct conflict with supporting his own school and his long-time love of Michigan athletics. Reconciling that is easier said than done. So, personally, I would tend to cut Wolves some slack here. He too grew up in a Wolverine household, and I presume the sting of his admissions saga with Michigan is still fresh. Perhaps he should tone it down a bit, but I view the posts as harmless venting and blowing off a little steam.</p>

55

<p>(sort of off topic, but that's pretty typical of me)...</p>

<p>Last year I saw a kid wearing a Washington & Lee sweatshirt, and I went up to him because you just don't see too many of those around here. I asked if he went there, and he said no, he applied but didn't get in--but he still loved the school. I thought that was neat. At his age, I don't know if I'd have been able to keep my resentment from eroding my affections for a school.</p>

56

<p>
[quote]
I don't really care if he was admitted him or not...I was just acknowledging the fact that he went from a I love Michigan fanatic to Michigan sucks and criticizes them nonstop

[/quote]
Let me throw in a hypothetical. You grow up a Florida Gator fan. You are from Gainesville, love the school, and apply. You are a good student, fit the typical accepted applicant, your test scores are in range, your parents went there, and hundreds from your school go there. All your classmates are applying there, similar test scores, similar GPAs, etc. </p>

<p>You apply ED. You get deferred to RD. No biggie, wasn't expecting an early acceptance. Sent in your senior year grades. All A's. Worked hard, took AP classes, showed that you really wanted to get in. Submitted additional recommendations, kept waiting. Your single income of your household gets fired, you take on a job, help out with bills. It's safe to say you've strengthened your application.</p>

<p>Then you're promised a "decision" in early April. It's April 25th and you finally hear a decision. Their decision is a waitlist. You write to them about how thankful you are that you weren't rejected. Add in another recommendation. Tell them you will attend if accepted. </p>

<p>Then you get an e-mail saying "Sorry!"</p>

<p>You go to Georgia. Georgia is a fine academic institution, while not on Florida's caliber, is still strong in what you want to do. You go on campus, and when meeting new friends, they all give you strange looks when you tell them you are from Gainesville. "We don't like them". </p>

<p>It's different. I'm not going to Flagler College. I'm going to a rival school who regularly competes against the school I liked. My current school is giving me a lofty scholarship (I was a "Georgia Scholar", I know there is no such thing)welcomed me in bear arms, given me every oppurtunity to go somewhere in my life, and has some of the most wonderful people ever. There's great school spirit, great athletics, great academics, and all in a great college town. I'm perfectly content there.</p>

<p>Why should I cheer for Florida? What have they done for me? Florida rejected me. They told me, "sorry, not good enough". They didn't welcome me with a scholarship. They didn't answer to e-mails. They don't care about you.</p>

<p>And you see all your classmates, with similar test scores and GPAs, who you have the same grades as and you have been in classes with them get accepted. Then you see minority candidates, your black friend, who got into an Ivy League school even, who you were in the same ECs as, who had lower test scores, lower GPA, and is no different than you other than the color of her skin and her sex.</p>

<p>Why wouldn't you be bitter about Florida? What would motivate you to say good things about Florida? Cause i'd like to hear them. You paid your taxes supporting the school. You fit the typical "accepted" applicant. Your friends all got in. Even people with worse statistics than you got in. Your parents both went there. You improved your grades when it mattered. But the University made you wait 250+ days to tell you that you weren't good enough.</p>

<p>And by the way, Michigan doesn't suck. If they suck, they wouldn't be ranked in the top 5. They just aren't at the level of Ohio State, and probably never will be with Tressel down there and Carr as the coach up here.</p>

57

<p>Clearly we aren't talking about just football anymore...</p>

58

<p>I hear you A2Wolves. Your points are all valid. </p>

<p>Hopefully, you are wrong about OSU being better than Michigan. If Michigan gets a second shot at OSU in January, I think Michigan will come out on top.</p>

<p>I personally think that the OSU vs Michigan rivalry has favored OSU lately primarily because of circumstances. Their QB leadership had much to do with that. I don't think coaching has been an issue. </p>

<p>I still think you will inevitably return to your Michigan cheering form sooner or later. I mean, let's face it, look at the conclusion of your last post:</p>

<p>"They just aren't at the level of Ohio State, and probably never will be with Tressel down there and Carr as the coach up here."</p>

<p>Let us face it dude, Ann Arbor is "here" for you. Maybe justice will be served when you get into one of Michigan's graduate programs.</p>

59

<p>Sorry, I wasn't in a good state of being last night. Windsor is a fun place when you're 19.</p>

60

<p>Dude, that rant was hilarious. You sounded like Jim Carrey on the Maid of the Mist after Evan Baxter was named anchor and Carrey flips out mid-interview. Good times.</p>

<p>And btw, no one's mad at you for disliking Michigan. Some people just get really annoyed because you often do petty sniping and come off as extremely bitter for some pretty silly reasons. (Seriously, man, we all got rejected. Grow up.)</p>

<p>In the words of my main man Stu Scott: Don't hate the player, hate the game.</p>