The New Math

Michigan is not suffering because of the absence of Braylon, they're suffering because they are loosing; they seem to now be a team that believes that all the hype before the season began was just that - hype.

Personally, I believe that Michigan as a whole has tremendous talent - so I don't know why they can't seem to put it together. Perhaps it's poor coaching or lack of leadership from within the team. But whatever the reason, some true change better be under way if they want to salvage this season - because even with this most recent win against Penn, it's not unlikely that we see Michigan drop another two games.

Ok, number of problems here:

1. suffering == loosing. I mean the same thing. Regardless, I don't get your point.

2. Any team would be suffering to loose a brute, offensive performer like Braylon Edwards. You want me to get his stats out for you? I'm not blaming Michigan's losses this year on the loss of Braylon, at all. But his loss still hurts, and its not an excuse. Hence...

3. Again, like I said, the problem is coaching and injuries (which you seem to agree with). Our defense is injury-ridden (though has still managed to step up) and our coaching on both sides of the ball is terrifying.

But still, I don't get your point. You seem to say that Michigan is loosing because they're loosing, but that doesn't have anything to do with Braylon. I don't think it does either (they've got talent a mile high) but loosing him DOES hurt. I certainly think they're likely to drop a couple of more games also.

I dunno, maybe I think you're arguing something when you're not. I'm confused.

Other than I think you read too much into posts... I would like you to know that just because I share an opinion with you does not mean I'm trying to open up a debate.

So onto football played by large boys:

A. When a team is hyped up before they've played a game and then they loose a few key games they were expected to win, they tend to loose faith in their abilities and perform even worse.

IV. While I do believe that in college "one man can make the team" - Michigan should be able to win without him this year. Bring all the stats you'd like... it won't change this opinion. Your original post seemed to say Michigan - Braylon = suffering. I say Michigan + loosing = suffering. TomAYto, TomAHto perhaps.

8. Lack of Leadership takes a struggling team down further. Michigan seems to be faltering here. This could be the coach's fault, or it could just be the mix of players that are currently there.

My culminated point is that Michigan struggled in their first game - one they thought they'd walk through. Then lost a tough game to ND (one they could have one, and perhaps thought they should have). These struggles played into the coming weeks and they lost two games they "shouldn't" have, given their talent this year. This results in a suffering program that has dropped out of contention.

You are confused, but find comfort in knowing that we all are.

Gentlemen:

"Losing" is the suffering of a loss.

"Loosing" is setting things free.

I realize that mentioning this makes me an incurable pedant. But the distinction matters to me very much. Without spelling, what are we? We are savages.

I think if you read it as "loosing" it has a much more subtle meaning - quite difficult to grasp.

I was working more toward the true sense of the Greek origin of the word Luo (to loose or destroy) - saying that the Michigan team has come apart and been rendered useless.

"rendered useless"?

say that to Michigan State & Penn State. Michigan is their own worst enemy now, and my gut feeling is that there isn't a team out there who would be at least slightly worried about playing UM.

okay, okay calm down. I'm just trying to justify my typos..