Sporting News - Michigan - Preseason #71

[amazinblue]

I was trying to find something to actually talk about. And, The Sporting News has provided the preseason ranks for Div 1-A.

Michigan's ranked #71 - behind these Big 10 schools - OSU (#2), Wisconsin (#8), Iowa (#13), Penn State (#32), Purdue (#39), Northwestern (#40), and MSU (#50). Indiana (#78), Illinois (#94), and Minnesota (#98) are the Big 10 schools ranked behind Michigan.

Other schools on Michigan's schedule: U Conn (#28), followed by ND (#29). Bowling Green (#66), and UMass (unranked).

I hope ND wins their opening weekend and is ranked in the Top 25 when we play them.

I hope this goes on the locker room wall - and the team focuses on this throughout their summer conditioning and fall camp. My impression is that OSU, Wisconsin, and Iowa are the three toughest games on the schedule - and, OSU is the only one of the those three that is on the road.

[NorCal Buckeye]

I was trying to find something to actually talk about. And, The Sporting News has provided the preseason ranks for Div 1-A.

Michigan's ranked #71 - behind these Big 10 schools - OSU (#2), Wisconsin (#8), Iowa (#13), Penn State (#32), Purdue (#39), Northwestern (#40), and MSU (#50). Indiana (#78), Illinois (#94), and Minnesota (#98) are the Big 10 schools ranked behind Michigan.

Other schools on Michigan's schedule: U Conn (#28), followed by ND (#29). Bowling Green (#66), and UMass (unranked).

I hope ND wins their opening weekend and is ranked in the Top 25 when we play them.

I hope this goes on the locker room wall - and the team focuses on this throughout their summer conditioning and fall camp. My impression is that OSU, Wisconsin, and Iowa are the three toughest games on the schedule - and, OSU is the only one of the those three that is on the road.

Didn't #94, Illannoy, whallop you guys worse than anyone else last year? That ought to be your payback game of the year. Tressel let you guys look respectable in front of our fans at your stadium last year. No need to be mad at us about anything.

[tpilews]

I was trying to find something to actually talk about. And, The Sporting News has provided the preseason ranks for Div 1-A.

Michigan's ranked #71 - behind these Big 10 schools - OSU (#2), Wisconsin (#8), Iowa (#13), Penn State (#32), Purdue (#39), Northwestern (#40), and MSU (#50). Indiana (#78), Illinois (#94), and Minnesota (#98) are the Big 10 schools ranked behind Michigan.

Other schools on Michigan's schedule: U Conn (#28), followed by ND (#29). Bowling Green (#66), and UMass (unranked).

I hope ND wins their opening weekend and is ranked in the Top 25 when we play them.

I hope this goes on the locker room wall - and the team focuses on this throughout their summer conditioning and fall camp. My impression is that OSU, Wisconsin, and Iowa are the three toughest games on the schedule - and, OSU is the only one of the those three that is on the road.

I'm a little surprised that SN put UM that low. But, UM hasn't exactly given them too much reason to do otherwise. Kinda looks like they just took last years rankings from the end of the season and made a few tweaks. I don't think PSU ends as high as they are. Their offense could struggle. Same with ND, although I think ND could have a really bad year. I don't understand the Purdon't love. Even NWU - really?

[bighousemike84]

Kinda looks like they just took last years rankings from the end of the season and made a few tweaks.

Exactly! Thats what all preseason rankings are, a tweaked version of the previous years rankings. Nothing more and nothing less.

[Wolvrin704]

Not surprised we are there. The last 2 years the media were optimistic about UM in the preseason. This year they will be far more pessimistic which will make their success all the more sweet.

I am surprised to see ND that high though with all that they lost.

[amazinblue]

Matt Hayes, one of Sporting News' writers, said the following about the Ranking.

"SN's preseason 1-100 poll is out. About which teams' rankings are you having second thoughts?

Hayes: There are a couple of teams that immediately jump out: Michigan at No. 71, Clemson at No. 61, Cal at No. 62. You make these picks, and a few days or weeks later, you start to wonder what in the world you were thinking."

I don't know if we'll finish as a Top 25 team this year - but - we'll finish in the middle or upper half of the Big 10 - and, we'll go bowling.

[Blue In Ohio]

I have a feeling we improve alot more than that. Last year we were in most every game. The difference was we just could not finish because our roster lacked the depth we needed. The class of redshirt freshmen will help that problem alot along with 2 experienced qb's who know the system. I wouldn't be suprised to see us back in the top 25 by seasons end. We have an older, deeper and much more experienced team then we did last season so the injuries while still a problem won't be as large of a problem. Seemed like the four things that hurt our team the most last season were the injury to our center, Tate's injury and losing our two starting rb's. Losing our center cost us no less than two wins last season if any of you remember what happened after we lost him. The O line will be very good and will push other teams around and the defense despite the loss of grahm will be older bigger and much deeper across the board. Not saying a great defense but likely better than anything we have had the past two seasons. I'd say over the season we give up roughly 40 to 50 less points. Not great by any standard but good enough for us to close out the 3 of the 5 games we were in last season that we lost. Last season the upperclassmen consistently blew assignments and the younger players often got blown off the ball. The extra year of strength and conditioning should help the younger guys alot and the 2nd year with the same defensive coach should help the upperclassmen blow fewer assignments. My outlook is very optimistic if we can start strong and get by ND and UConn. UConn may be rated higher but they play in a much weaker conference and will not have as much talent on the roster than us although they do have a very good coach on the sideline. I like our chances in that game. UConn being big and physical should tell us alot about how we will fare against other big ten teams. If we are blown off the ball all game and they rush for over 200 yards look out it will be a long season.