And mine asks, then why did Ohio State drop so much to increase capacity? Do you think it's just a statistical oddity that the four most successful programs in the Big Ten have stadiums at, or above, the 90,000 mark? Do you not agree that 106,000 X $50 is > 67,000 X 50? Even when the TV pot is split evenly, those with bigger stadiums end up with more money to spend on recruiting, coaches, facilities.
You can build as many seats as you want to. If the on field product is so bad you can't fill them it's just an extra expense. Judging by the BOGO ticket offers this past year I'd say they are officially having trouble selling tickets.
Even with two bad coaching choices they managed to remain above .550. It will be rougher on them because they are in a far better division of the conference and can anticipate losses to Ohio state, Michigan State and Penn State for the next year or two.
This isn't baseball, .550 is terrible in a sport where you get to hand pick 4 of your 12 opponents every year. scUM isn't relevant and what's more...it has zero negative effect on OSU.
Obviously this pains you but, regardless, its a fact.
Ohio State started a season with Joe Bauserman at QB and still managed to become bowl eligible. And to be in the FBSCS with a third stringer calling signals is beyond comprehension were it not so. QB definitely has to be addressed and I don't think anyone knows that better then the Michigan football program. They may get lucky this fall, and like the Buckeyes, begin with a limited QB who turns into a better than average QB, or they may, as you suggest struggle for at least two more years. I still believe that history stands with Michigan. They've been a solid program in the past and they have all they need to be a solid program in the future and if they don't land a major name coach remember how you felt when Ohio state announced that Jim Tressel was the new head coach... Obviously some "big names" didn't think Columbus was the best destination for their future.
The worst coach OSU has hired in the past 70 years was John Cooper (who's name causes me to spit after saying or hearing it to this day). That said, John Cooper >>>>>>Brady Hoke or Rich Rod.
As far as all the hope/get lucky/history on their side stuff it's wishful thinking. Maybe it will happen, most likely it won't. Drawing these obscure parallels between OSU and scUM doesn't reinforce your central point, which is good scUM is good for OSU, at all.
Sorry if researching offends your sense of fairness. As bad as things have been at Michigan - and they've been bad since 2006 - they've still managed to win more than they've lost.
Which again means next to nothing in the sport of football where 1/3 of your opponents are cupcakes every year.
Beyond that what I'm saying can be broken down into two parts: 1) with respect to The Game, Michigan's 2 and 12 run is not unlike the 6 - 13 - 1 streak the Buckeyes suffered through in the 80s - 90s.
Except that it is different. First of all 6-13-1 is a .325 win % and 2-12 is .143 win%. That's a difference. Second, the OSU streak can be laid at the feet of one man John F Cooper who was 2-10-1 in The Game. Every other OSU coach Woody, Earle, Tressel and Now Meyer has had a winning record in The Game.
2) Just as the Buckeyes were able to turn things around because they had money, alum support, great facilities, a 90K+ stadium and history behind them, so till will Michigan ultimately turn their program around and for the exact same reasons.
Maybe, maybe not. See Notre Dame.
There is a big difference in recognizing the probability of a change in their fate and wishing for it because of some misguided notion that it's good for OSU. It isn't.
