karma

In 2001, I watched a November game with a bunch of Michigan grads and we all joked about how brutal it is to get pumped over "bowl eligibility."  One of the gals said "I will kill myself if I ever get excited over being bowl eligible."  Of course we laughed, told her she was awesome, and never thought about it again.  

Until 2008.  And again in 2009.  And again in OT against Illinois in 2010.  After we won that game 700-698, I told myself I would never scoff at bowl eligibilty ever again.

This thread is an offering to the Bowl Eligibility gods.  I understand that religion is taboo on this site, and I respect that.  But I respect bowl eligibility more.  Huzzah!

Ok, so I knew -something- was coming sooner or later. I didn't quite know what but it wasn't like I wasn't prepared for more dumb shit. But prepared or not, I am still pissed off to the point that there is a bit of fire in my blood.

Now it's just football to some but to many it is ridiculously personal. I think I fall the somewhat over the top type as far as fandom goes. If I were out and about and by chance I ran into any of these free press clowns I would be telling a flat out lie if I told you punching one of these assholes wasn't in my thoughts and that there would be a 50/50 chance it happens.

But unlike me & my half a brain, many others take there fandom too extreme measures of action. And being that we have one of the biggest fan-bases in the entire country, it would surprise me if sometime in the future you here about a person & or a group of persons inflicting physical harm to one of these writers.

Some people are crrrAzaay. They see red when you play with their fragile emotional state. With all these bullshit problems the DFP created through manipulation of something some find more than near and dear to their heart, more like the center of their everyday existence I wouldn't feel very safe in public, especially around AA during events if I were in that circle of idiots. I am not condoning violence, but I am a firm believer in karma, and if tomorrow I woke up and saw an article stating someone mugged and broke Drew or Mike Rosenbergs nose I have to admit I wouldn't blink and eye. You reap what you sow.

I am as excited as everyone else about the win on Saturday; however I can't help but feel that something awful is just around the corner.  I mean we did beat Wisconsin last year to get our hopes up.  This ND victory could be a fluke.  It doesn't look or feel like a fluke, but Forcier is just a freshman, he could fall apart.

First scenario that I fear.  ND unloads their frustrations on Michigan State and we in turn lose to the Spartans.  This is a very likely scenario and one that would have ND fans saying "see we were robbed", and of course "we are better than Michigan".  As long as we finish out with enough wins for a bowl game, I could live with this happening, but it would sting especially after such a great victory.

Second Scenario, we win out until Ohio State.  Then we proceed to lose a heart breaker at home to Tressel again similar to 2006 in the Shoe.  The pain from being so high and falling so far.  Also, after witnessing the first two games and all the newly created buzz not that far of a stretch anymore.  I think I would prefer to lose to MSU and Wisconsin this year (they owe us one) and beat the buckeyes at home.  Still a scenario I could live with since being so low last year.

Third Scenario, ND beats MSU, we lose to MSU, Wisconsin, Iowa, Penn State, and Ohio State.  Also a feasible scenario.  At 7-5, right where most would have predicted we'd fall this year, but still painful after being so hyped after ND.

I am truly not trying to be a pessimist, but rather a realist about what could lie around the corner for us.  What does Karma have in store for us?

Thoughts?

This is my first diary post, so be gentle. Sorry its so long.

I have been responding with predictions for this year a little bit in some other posts. I thought I was pretty smart when I predicted a 1-3 start. I felt we would improve and end the year 6-6 but barely miss a bowl. Now, everything has changed. I don't know if I have ever been happier about being wrong in my life. I just wanted to tell my saturday story.

I woke up and watched gameday. We were of course picked to lose. I was being optomistic though and thought if it was close I would be happy. My wife and our two kids had moved to Ann Arbor in April for just this sort of weekend. We graduated in 1997 (missing the NC by a year, although I went to the 98 Rose Bowl, story for another time) and have always loved UM. I had a friend in town and was taking my daughter to tailgate with him. Right before the game, my wife was going to pick her up and I was going to the game, my first this year.

At about 12 I get a call from an optometrist I work with in Toledo. I have never gotten called in for an emergency since I joined this practice, but wouldn't it happen today. I was pissed off. A person got hit in the eye with a softball and had blood in his eye. The optom. couldn't get a good view of his retina and needed me to come look. On top of that, the guy went back to the hospital for a CT and I had to wait for it before I could see the guy. I calculated my likely wait, drive time, exam time and realized that my day was shot. Best case, I would miss part of the game and I didn't even have my ticket in hand yet.

As I was driving to Toledo I listened to big ten football on XM and cursed silently to myself. When the patient sees me, he notices I'm in shorts and a michigan shirt and he says "are you going to the game?" "I was," I say. The patient was fine and I got back on the road as soon as I finished checking his eye. I am a superstitious believer in my behavior effecting the outcome of the game so I thought, this has to be good karma and now we are going to win.

I was DVRing the game and I got back halfway through the first quarter (DVR is one of the greatest inventions of all time and essential for anyone with kids) Watched the craptastic display and felt crappy. At least I wasn't watching this in person, I thought. I am not down on our team. I think RR is brilliant and I know we will be awesome soon. I still couldn't believe the turnovers from veterans though.

My buddy, the one who I was tailgating with calls me and says he left the game and meet him at Good Time Charley's. I start to get ready but a funny thing happens. We start moving the ball. I text him and tell  him I will be there in a little while, but I wait and see us score at touchdown. We're only down 12 and Wisconsin can't do anything on offense. I quickly drive over to GTC's and find my friend ON THE PATIO! I thought he would be watching still at least. Through the glass I see Minor break a  long one for a TD. "We have to go inside and watch this!"

At this point, like 12 cute girls dressed in Wisconsin gear with little wisconsin Ws on their cheeks come in and sit right next to us. They are shocked. What happened? they say. Then, bam! John Thompson time. I am freaking out! Greatest feeling ever and why we care about sports. These moments are forever.

Then Threet goes all Vince Young on Wisconsin and the whole place is freaking out. McGuffie TD. Lots of time left. We get ball back and should ice it, but shit! Great punt. Stop them please. Shit! Double Shit!!!! PENALTY! We WIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 Everyone kept commenting on how tired Wisconsin looked. Immediately this is in my top 10 games I have watched. Others, in no particular order

1. Rose Bowl 98

2. Biakabatuka running all over an undefeated OSU team.

3. Driesback Virginia comeback.

4. Beating ND that same year and marching down South U afterward.

5. Minnesota comeback from Navarre

6. 2004 MSU comeback watching on a beach in Belieze during my honeymoon.

7. 2007 MSU comeback

8. 1997 Woodson beats OSU almost single handedly

9. Desmond doing the heisman pose in the endzone against OSU in my first game in the big house