Internecine Big Ten Wars of Words in the blogosphere

We love this.

College Football News' "Tuesday Question" this week queried its writers with this statement---'the most overrated team going into 2005 is...'

Pete Fiutak, Wisconsin alum and otherwise head honcho at CFN, answered back with Meeeeechigan.

He may be right, but never one to back down from controversy, mgoblog fired back, mostly going after the inconsistency of the argument but also ruffling Fiu's feathers after perhaps making the thing a bit personal ("silly last name").

Well, thanks to the wonders of the internet, Fiutak answered back in mgoblog's comments section---

This blog was e-mailed over to me. You might have at least asked for my thoughts before this scathing attack on the publication. First of all, you have to understand the idea that a great record doesn't necessarily mean a team is great. Just look at teams like Boise State and past teams from mid-majors that run up records against average schedules. Most college football fans can't grasp this idea. Second, check out some of the other publications. TSN has Michigan tops in the Big Ten in every offensive category. I'd like to see other instances of "making crap up". Fiu, CFN

Anyway, there was some further discussion in the comments forum.  Good stuff.  Sounds like a lot of hay was made over a small issue, but it's good to see the parties discuss things, and for a prominent media member like Messr. Fiutak to defend himself to a critic in the blogosphere.

Update on Tuesday, June 7, 2005 at 09:51PM by CFR

PS---What happens when Boise beats Georgia and has another great bowl game against another very good team in a bowl this year?  Will they still be incapable of being seen as on par with so many big-name but overrated programs (ahem, Georgia)?

Louisville may very well have been the second best team in America last year, and snuck by Boise by the narrowest of margins in perhaps the best game of the entire bowl season.  Both squads are legit, and it's an insult to claim that they're just your run-of-the-mill mid-majors who pop up from time to time but can't make it on a national stage. 

In other words, please don't confuse them with Colorado State or  Northern Illinois, when they're really more comparable to the great BYU squads that won a national championship, beat Miami, etc.

As for Michigan, are they overrated?  Well, it's not like Michigan year-to-year really varies much.  They run the same offense and defense for the most part, substituting similar talent over time.  It's bland as oatmeal, but its good for top 10 finishes annually.  This year's squad looks a little better than most Michigan teams, and there are young offensive stars who add a little excitement and hype.  Expectations are pretty high this year, and Michigan is likely to come close to meeting them.

Comments

[mgoblog]

I don't understand the Bronco hype. They have an offense that does really well against the WAC teams they face (and did, admittedly, demolish a good Oregon State defense)... but their defense doesn't appear capable of slowing down good teams. I don't understand their last season. 69-3 versus Hawaii then turn around and go to two OTs with a horrible SJSU team. Blow out a decent Pac10 team in Oregon State, just squeak by a horrible Tulsa team. I just don't see them being a team that has a prayer of winning the SEC or Big 10 or Pac-10. Could they beat Georgia? Yes. Would I bet on them? No.

A whizbang offensive scheme can make up for a severe talent deficiency... but there's no substitute for athletic talent on the defensive side of the ball.

re: Fiutak. I totally take back the bit about his last name.

[Drug Pusher]

Mgoblog, notice which of those 4 games were home and which were away....