The University of Michigan is one of the few schools of it's ilk that does not have an official mascot...although my homie Mike could make a strong case for one. Heading into this weekend's match up with rival, and BCS ranked Michigan State, the Wolverines should adopt Rodney Dangerfield as their mascot. You know...the one most famously known for getting no respect? Michigan has every right to feel disrespected...after being slotted at 22 in the initial BCS rankings. Or do they?
The powerhouse sports networks agree with the BCS...citing Michigan's inconsistency, turnover proneness, and close calls against "inferior" opponents as their rationale. All of those facts are...to date...irrefutable, and must be the reason that Michigan dropped in the polls two weeks in a row after winning their game (which...you must admit...doesn't happen often once, let alone twice). Maybe the 2007 loss to Appalachian State is still fresh in the voter's mind.
But supporters from Ann Arbor to Antarctica could plead a different case.
The Michigan Wolverines are 6-1, with their lone loss coming on the road....by three points....in quadruple overtime....to a divisional opponent. Supporters could point to the fact that Michigan has a win over a then top 15 ranked school (Notre Dame), something that other one loss teams (Texas A&M 12th, Texas Tech 15th, Oklahoma St 18th, and Louisville 19th) can't claim. Other schools have 2 losses with no wins over a top 15 opponent (LSU 13th, South Carolina 14th, and UCLA 20th). The Gamecoks even lost to an un ranked Tennessee team two weeks ago. Further evidence that the BCS poll should be the first official poll of the year.
But I digress.
Back to Michigan...for better or worse...the only one who can change their "Rodney Dangerfield" persona is them....starting in East Lansing on Saturday. The Wolverines have two nationally televised games remaining...one against 4th ranked and undefeated Ohio State. Michigan can still win the Big Ten regular season, and conference bowl championship, thus ensuring their slot in the Rose Bowl. Are the Wolverines a 1 loss team that's getting no respect from the voters and national media? Or are they overrated, and lucky to be ranked at all? We will soon find out if the national pundits...or rabid fan base is correct. As soon as Saturday.
follow @plcolter
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment