Michigan, Nebraska and Iowa?

[Jonrn]

The daunted Michigan! Are they? We all acknowledge that Nebby lives in the past and isn't the same as they were in the 1980's and early 1990's. They have been pretty benign since then and not meeting expectations, pretty mediocre going on 2 decades now.

Michigan is in a similar place as they really haven't been meeting "Michigan" expectations for about 20 years. That is a significant amount of time! Michigan used to be the Ohio St of the BIG 10. There was a time in the late 1980's and 1990's that Ohio St. had difficultly beating Michigan. John Cooper coached the Buckeyes from 1988 to 2000. Why was John Cooper fired from Ohio St? He couldn't beat Michigan! Michigan was dominant during this period. Not so much the last 19-20 years! They have been very average.

How average have they been? I was surprised when Rob pulled this stat out and included in his article on Iowa's trip to Ann Arbor. Since the year 2001, Iowa has 152 wins and 5 top 10 finishes. Michigan is very close with 151 wins and 4 top 10 finishes.

Many think that Nebby is living in the past and will not get back to the championship years (at least multiple) they enjoyed in the past. Will Michigan? Two decades is a long time. Iowa has had pretty much mirrored success with Michigan and probably better than Nebraska since 2001. I think the landscape has changed.

People (media) still put Michigan on some sort of pedestal. Are they deserving of that or are they just another nice BIG 10 team now, similar to Iowa? Discuss.

Michigan has won 0.5 national championships in the last 60+ years. They are the most overrated program in history. As much as I hate to admit it, Nebraska has waaaaayyyy more championship history then Michigan. Michigan is an Ohio state wannabe and it’s been that way for most of their history.

 

[Northside Hawk]

And yet with virtually the identical amount of wins since 2001 there are da haters here who will gush about Michigan's athleticism, their schemes, and their tradition.

What da haters will never tell you is that Kirk is 7-5 lifetime against Michigan.

By comparison, Hayden was 4-11-1, Barry Alvarez 3-8.

 

[IowaTeddy]

What I love about that list is not seeing Nebraska in it. They've had a run in the past that was waaaaaay more successful than several of those teams in the list, but due to their own delusional fanbase, they've succeeded in doing what no other team has done in the history of college football--completely torching their reputation, current perception, and recruiting to the ground. No other team has fallen as far, and it's 100% self-inflicted by fans who influence administrators.

I think we are all on the same page when it comes to Nebraska’s history v. current state of their program. Their fans being “stuck in the 90s”, etc. They do indeed “overhype” their team. Their expectations are far too lofty. Their fans project a caliber that their play doesn’t merit.

But to their credit, when they’re getting absolutely embarrassed at home, on national TV, on their big “our program has arrived” moment... the stadium is 100% full of red. They might have been temporarily silenced by the OSU bloodbath, but through the very end of that miserable game, every seat is full. Looking at Kinnick, and even Camp Randall in recent weeks, we can’t claim that.

 

[Northside Hawk]

I think we are all on the same page when it comes to Nebraska’s history v. current state of their program. Their fans being “stuck in the 90s”, etc. They do indeed “overhype” their team. Their expectations are far too lofty. Their fans project a caliber that their play doesn’t merit.

But to their credit, when they’re getting absolutely embarrassed at home, on national TV, on their big “our program has arrived” moment... the stadium is 100% full of red. They might have been temporarily silenced by the OSU bloodbath, but through the very end of that miserable game, every seat is full. Looking at Kinnick, and even Camp Randall in recent weeks, we can’t claim that.

They were leaving in droves by the end of the third quarter in our 56-14 win in 2017. And it was a day more typical of late September than Black Friday.

 

[okeefe4prez]

I guess you can now add Clemson to that list.

Nah, Clemson is really good right now, but even if they win 2 more, they still won't be royalty. They're just Iowa who lucked into a great coach and are in a much richer recruiting region and they have benefited from the falloff of the ACC. Give them 5 years of regression to the mean and they'll be right around that Iowa level in terms of prestige. Same with someone like Tennessee.

 

[Fryowa]

I think we are all on the same page when it comes to Nebraska’s history v. current state of their program. Their fans being “stuck in the 90s”, etc. They do indeed “overhype” their team. Their expectations are far too lofty. Their fans project a caliber that their play doesn’t merit.

But to their credit, when they’re getting absolutely embarrassed at home, on national TV, on their big “our program has arrived” moment... the stadium is 100% full of red. They might have been temporarily silenced by the OSU bloodbath, but through the very end of that miserable game, every seat is full. Looking at Kinnick, and even Camp Randall in recent weeks, we can’t claim that.

If you’re measuring prestige or success or whatever on how many fans are in a stadium, I don’t know what I can tell you man.

90,000 idiots is still 90,000 idiots whether they stupidly spend their money on their state’s biggest embarrassment or not.

You can make an argument that Nebraska fans rate highly in school spirit or rah rah rah, etc., but that in no way ties in with the discussion going on in this thread about program relevance. In other words, they may be loveavle losers, but they’re still losers.

And conversely, you’re really going to blame any college football fan for not wanting to spend three or four hundred bucks to take their family to a cramped, overpriced booze fest when they can watch it at home without having to stand in 45° drizzle and wait a half hour in line to take a piss, then another 45 minutes to get their kids a $15 popcorn? Gtfo.

Spend your money however you want, but don’t bag on people for not being willing to pay their hard earned cash on the shit shows that are major sporting events. This ain’t a 1952 Reds noon game where you get a three foot chunk of bleachers and a box of cracker jacks for a buck and a quarter.

 

[MelroseHawkins]

I think we are all on the same page when it comes to Nebraska’s history v. current state of their program. Their fans being “stuck in the 90s”, etc. They do indeed “overhype” their team. Their expectations are far too lofty. Their fans project a caliber that their play doesn’t merit.

But to their credit, when they’re getting absolutely embarrassed at home, on national TV, on their big “our program has arrived” moment... the stadium is 100% full of red. They might have been temporarily silenced by the OSU bloodbath, but through the very end of that miserable game, every seat is full. Looking at Kinnick, and even Camp Randall in recent weeks, we can’t claim that.

Is that to their credit or is it pathetic!?

 

[MelroseHawkins]

Nah, Clemson is really good right now, but even if they win 2 more, they still won't be royalty. They're just Iowa who lucked into a great coach and are in a much richer recruiting region and they have benefited from the falloff of the ACC. Give them 5 years of regression to the mean and they'll be right around that Iowa level in terms of prestige. Same with someone like Tennessee.

Clemson used to have a run back in the 1980's though.

 

[DDThompson]

Michigan’s modern history mirrors Harbaugh’s short history. Plenty-o-wins. National Championships not so much.

Last championship was 1997.

Previous championship was 1948


They’ve got a couple more decades to reach that drought.

 

[DDThompson]

Yes, but that at least matches the national perception for Iowa. But people have been slow to recognize Michigan's slide, but they are starting to notice lately.

In fact this is not the first time somebody has brought this up. The BTN ran a piece just last night stating that Michigan and Iowa have been roughly equal for the last 15 years, with a lot of details backing it up.

And don't forget after last years blowout losss to OSU, a famous Michigan alumnus tweeted out that Michigan's program is no better than Iowa.

Obvious question is,

What is the average top 10 for programs since that time. Is 5 the average? Or Is it 2? Because there could be a big difference between 5 and 2

 

[okeefe4prez]

Clemson used to have a run back in the 1980's though.

Yeah, I know, but it didn't really matter to the talking heads. They had that one title in like '81, but no storied run of sustained success that anointed them royalty. Aside from '81 they were pretty much like Iowa where they were decent, but couldn't win the huge games with regularity needed to be a big dog. The school and fan base are probably too small, too, for the national pundits.

 

[DDThompson]

Both Iowa and Michigan have been above-average, if you consider strictly what "average" means. Probably better to refer to them as just "decent" or "OK".

So what is average when it comes to programs being in the top 10?

 

[MoseSchrute]

Michigan has won 0.5 national championships in the last 60+ years. They are the most overrated program in history. As much as I hate to admit it, Nebraska has waaaaayyyy more championship history then Michigan. Michigan is an Ohio state wannabe and it’s been that way for most of their history.

No. Michigan has the most all time wins in college football. Nebraska feasted in a sisters of the poor conference for over a hundred years and would have ZERO "championships" if they had been in the Big 10 from the beginning.

 

[MoseSchrute]

I think we are all on the same page when it comes to Nebraska’s history v. current state of their program. Their fans being “stuck in the 90s”, etc. They do indeed “overhype” their team. Their expectations are far too lofty. Their fans project a caliber that their play doesn’t merit.

But to their credit, when they’re getting absolutely embarrassed at home, on national TV, on their big “our program has arrived” moment... the stadium is 100% full of red. They might have been temporarily silenced by the OSU bloodbath, but through the very end of that miserable game, every seat is full. Looking at Kinnick, and even Camp Randall in recent weeks, we can’t claim that.

Worshiping college boys like some kind of religion is nothing to be proud of.

 

[ModebaSan]

Have you seen Harbaugh’s interviews on tv? He acts as if his teeth are being pulled. He struggles to answer even the most simple questions. He looks like a deer in headlights every time he’s at the podium. I’m just wondering what his own team thinks of him after being around him for a couple of seasons. He hires a offensive coordinator over the telephone without even a face to face interview. Who does that? How this guy has ever been successful is beyond me. I guess it’s easy to hire competent assistants and just let them do their jobs and just be the face of the program. The guy is just weird.

 

[dahlhawk]

Michigan does play in a brutal division. Going on the 6th year now. Ohio St is elite. PSU has had a huge talent upgrade starting in 2016. MSU is a very tough program.

Put Michigan in the B1G West and they probably have 3 division titles in the first 5 years since they realigned (2015, 2016, & 2018).

They haven't been as successful in the B1G as they were in the 80s & 90s but they're not in dire straights over the last 20 years.

2006 they were one win from the BCS title game. In 2016 they were an OT loss away from the playoff. In 2018 they were 1 game from the playoff.

Their biggest problem is Ohio St really took off under Tressel & Urban Meyer took it even further up.

Since you mentioned 2016, I have to add my favorite pic while walking on the Kinnick Turf, a very sad Michigan fan who was still standing there long after I left. So, so, delicious!

 

[4thngoal]

They were leaving in droves by the end of the third quarter in our 56-14 win in 2017. And it was a day more typical of late September than Black Friday.

Yeah I used to have a picture of the bridge from the stadium to the north over the rr tracks, absolutely packed at about 3 minutes into the 4th quarter. (Like 2014? 2015? I can't remember. 4 or 5 years ago)
I showed it to everyone. Including my ex's family (they are from braska). I might have even posted it on FB for all my husker fan friends.
Because I get to see the posts about consecutive sell outs, world's greatest fans, blah blah blah.

 

[MelroseHawkins]

Obvious question is,

What is the average top 10 for programs since that time. Is 5 the average? Or Is it 2? Because there could be a big difference between 5 and 2

Good point and question.

 

[oldhawk12]

And yet with virtually the identical amount of wins since 2001 there are da haters here who will gush about Michigan's athleticism, their schemes, and their tradition.

What da haters will never tell you is that Kirk is 7-5 lifetime against Michigan.

By comparison, Hayden was 4-11-1, Barry Alvarez 3-8.

Michigan was significantly better in the Hayden years so you are comparing apples to hand grenades. Hayden was 10 times the coach this guy has ever been based on multiple levels and I’m really not interested in repeating the multiple reasons why yet again either

 

[oldhawk12]

Nah, Clemson is really good right now, but even if they win 2 more, they still won't be royalty. They're just Iowa who lucked into a great coach and are in a much richer recruiting region and they have benefited from the falloff of the ACC. Give them 5 years of regression to the mean and they'll be right around that Iowa level in terms of prestige. Same with someone like Tennessee.

Lol