Quote:You're changing your original stance!  Your original stance was that in a rival game they give more effort on the field.  Now you want to talk about being prepared.  You are comparing a D1 school to a school that barely has a program to prove your argument.  

 

Quote:Do you think practices are equally intense for Alabama during Florida Atlantic week and Auburn week? Do you think that Alabama is playing with the same intensity if they are up 14-0 in both games? Maybe sometimes, but not all the time. When playing against an elite opponent or a rival, I think it's far less likely they get lackadaisical.

 

I don't think any of us are saying that emotion is the biggest factor. Talent and coaching are the biggest factors, IMO. I just think that level of opponent is directly related to other facets of the game like preparation, focus, and intensity.

 

When Michigan has a terrible season, there is always that feeling that the season is salvaged "as long as we beat Ohio St.".  Michigan took 11-0 Ohio St. to the wire last year and looked like a completely different team than we saw all season. That Devin Gardner guy that can't play quarterback threw 32 for 45 for 451 yards, 4 TDs, and 0 INTs. There's no way you can watch that game and not think that Gardner's focus and motivation were peaked due to who they were playing.