Ball State Debacle (Nov. 6, 2006)

BCS RANKINGS:

1. OSU
2. MICHIGAN
3. Loisville
4. Florida
5. Texas

Yes, my heart has started beating again, and I will be the first to admit that this looks bad.....But before we all act like a bunch of lemmings/turncoats/whatever and start circling the "Fire Lloyd Carr" bandwagons, let's examine a couple of facts:

1. Michigan is 10-0 and still ranked #2 in the nation.
2. Ball State Head Coach was an assistant at Michigan under Lloyd from 1995 until 2002. We all KNEW that Lloyd was going to call off the dogs early.
3. The Offense was misfiring on all cylinders - or at least the passing game and Hart being able to hang onto the ball - and they spotted the Birds 9 points.
4. The Starting Defense only gave up 3 points - the other 14 points came with the 2nd string defense in there.
5. I would NEVER want to play poker with Lloyd Carr..........

Think about what impact this has on an OPPOSING team for a minute - and let that sink in. Here's what they are thinking - along with the help of about a thousand sports writers, pundits, etc. "Michigan isn't as good as they were earlier in the season", "Michigan's offense isn't as good as it was", "Michigan's Defense is starting to give up points", "OVERRATED!"......Think about it - if we saw the Suckeyes lose like this - and we kind of did against the Ilini, we would all start thinking the same thing - AND WE WOULD LET OUR GAURD DOWN! No Sir-ree-Sir, Lloyd isn't about to let that happen...... I think this is all part of Lloyd's Master Plan to WAKE UP what had become an unemotional team after the Penn State Victory - Let's face it: The Amaizing Blue was flat against Iowa and Northwestern. Lloyd used Ball State as fodder to build up a head of steam going on the road to Indiana and then on the the Snake Pit - the Home of the Suckeyes. Lloyd gambled with the season last week and did not have a full pad practice on Tuesday.....And they went light the rest of the week. I think he knew they would be flat no matter how hard they practiced and decided to play into the the player's hands....Now, that strategy works - AS LONG AS YOU WIN. And Lloyd sucked the players in, like any good poker player looking to make a HUGE score later, took a huge roll of the dice in order to get their undivided attention and will get their collective butts all week...As I am sure they will be kicking themselves....and I am glad I am not Indiana.

And I think the Master Psychologist has been at work all year getting ready for this run......

On to the MAC

Sparty, I really don't know what to say at this point......We all know you're bad, but just what level of bad are you going to sink to at this point? Isn't there ANY Pride left in East Lansing? Isn't there ANYONE that will rise to the Occasion of Winning one for the Green and White? What does it take to motivate a team? What does it take to fire them up? If these are truly the hearts of champions we are talking about here, I would think that there would be a lot more character and a team up there playing for at least respect.....But, I guess if you are not a true champion, respect doesn't mean that much either.....I pity the coach that has to come in there and try to straighten the mess out that has become Sparty Ball.....I am not even sure that God Izzo can help fix that mess.....Nort with Furgeson, a lame duck Mason, and the other characters in a cast of mismanagement that continues to let what should be a proud program disintegrate around them.....Sparty, I do not see any Bowl games in your near future.....

GATORLAND - Winning ugly against Vandy - It's not about style points anymore....Just win baby. Don't worry about the Louisville thing - Rutgers and Pitt still have a say in all that....and I still think that a Florida Gator team that wins out and clinches the SEC Championship looks more like a Natinal Title Contender than Louisville.....The Creamsicles losing at home did not help your cause....
CORNSUCKERNATION - Well, you shook off OSU and got past Missouri - but can you beat a bowl wannabe Aggie Team?
HOAKIEWORLD - Beating Miami when they're down is what you are SUPPOSED to do....
PSU KITTY KATS - Joe Pa - The MMQ Nation wishes you well.....And stand back further off the sideline if you're too old to jump out of the way, for pete's sake...
CLEMSON - You suck - OVER RATED!!!!!! But Maryland looks pretty darn good.....

MMQ

"What the Mind can Conceive and Believe, the Mind can Achieve...
And Those Who Stay Will Be Champions!"
-Bo Schembechler, University of Michigan Locker Room