Snowflakes: The Fans
I saw a lot today. I saw special teams make plays. I saw defense try to stand their ground despite 3 and outs by the offense. I saw lots of poor playcalling, in my humble opinion.
That’s not what this is about.
I saw a stadium of fans boo their team in front of 4 commits and 15 prospects. (it was probably meant for the play call, but how would they know?)
I had to listen to an idiot next to me talk about how he thinks Devin Gardner is the worst QB in the world and that he wanted him to get injured so that Morris would play.
After I got home, I saw a thread polling fans about cutting their support for the program.
For a school that prides itself in being one of the best, to me at least this seems like a low point for the fandom.
Brady Hoke is doing an excellent job of recruiting, and he has an aspect of aggressiveness (fakes, going on 4th down) that we have not seen in the past, and I think we like it.
Greg Mattison’s defense created the Heininger Certainty Principle, and who can forget the drastic improvement in guys like Jake Ryan and JT Floyd?
I’m not happy with Borges, but I do think that we will improve in a couple years, given the opportunity. Borges seems unable to adapt to an RPS situation where Rock is more like clay and is really weak but scissors is made of titanium as he doesn’t want to keep throwing out the same thing (would this make paper the bubble screen?). Once we have the talent and experience to execute reasonably on run and pass they will put up points (I hope).
If you want to fire Brady Hoke, you are asking for a decade of mediocrity. Who would want this job where 2 coaches have been fired in 6 years (one of them being the “Michigan Man” that everyone wanted after Rich Rod)? Even if you hate Borges, I'd prefer to keep it to the message boards and support the team on the field.
There is a reason why the team touches the banner at the start of the game.
None of this would be possible without the support of the fans. 250 consecutive games over 100,000 was a mark reached today. That is another record for Michigan, but in the midst of that, I guarantee that the one thing that will end this program is if the fanbase gives up on their team.
I’m not asking you to not get upset when things don’t go well; that’s what makes sports what it is. The highs would not be highs unless there were corresponding lows.
I don’t know I was feeling really bummed after the game and thought I’d start a thread for the first time. Hopefully there’s not too much hate because that would make me a bit sadder. I was gonna add some crap about work and how I've seen people get frazzled when they don't perform and get fired eventually, and others rebound with proper support, but now I am tired and I just want the day to end.
I’ll end off with the words of someone wiser than myself.
"We want the Big Ten championship and we're gonna win it as a Team. They can throw out all those great backs, and great quarterbacks, and great defensive players, throughout the country and in this conference, but there's gonna be one Team that's gonna play solely as a Team.
No man is more important than The Team. No coach is more important than The Team. The Team, The Team, The Team, and if we think that way, all of us, everything that you do, you take into consideration what effect does it have on my Team? Because you can go into professional football, you can go anywhere you want to play after you leave here.
You will never play for a Team again. You'll play for a contract. You'll play for this. You'll play for that. You'll play for everything except the team, and think what a great thing it is to be a part of something that is, The Team. We're gonna win it. We're gonna win the championship again because we're gonna play as team, better than anybody else in this conference, we're gonna play together as a team.
We're gonna believe in each other, we're not gonna criticize each other, we're not gonna talk about each other, we're gonna encourage each other. And when we play as a team, when the old season is over, you and I know, it's gonna be Michigan again, Michigan."
November 10th, 2013 at 10:26 AM ^
...Brady Hoke just doesn't careThe complete idiocy of this statement is laughable. I understand the need to vent after a string of piss-poor showings, but c'mon man. Seriously? Brady Hoke just doesn't care?
November 10th, 2013 at 12:15 AM ^
November 10th, 2013 at 12:15 AM ^
November 10th, 2013 at 12:22 AM ^
Do you honestly think Hoke and DB aren't pissed? Do you honestly think they're sitting somewhere right now saying, "You know, I totally wanted to win today but we didn't so no big deal."?
Booing doesn't help. When we don't convert 3rd downs, it's not like Hoke needs the boos to know that that wasn't the preferred outcome. Booing makes you feel better, but nothing more. It sure as hell doesn't make the players play any harder and is sure as shit doesn't make any of those recruits want to be a part of Michigan football. So thanks for being selfish and contributing to the problem.
November 10th, 2013 at 12:31 AM ^
November 10th, 2013 at 12:35 AM ^
I don't care if they are pissed or not. It is their job to put a good product on the field. If they want recruits and fans that adore them, then fix the product. The booing is a symptom, any loss of recruits is a result of the illness. Cure the disease and the issues go away!
Hoke doesn't seem to get it, so I am not sure what he needs at this point! We have seen the same bad game management and play calling all year long. Everyone in the stadium including Nebraska knew it wasn't going to be the "preferred outcome" once the play was run. The only ones who prove to be clueless week in and week out are the coaches!
November 10th, 2013 at 12:37 AM ^
The Boos are a message and the coaches and AD would be smart to listen! The majority of the 112,000 fans made their displeasure known. If that doesn't grab your attention, then nothing will!
November 10th, 2013 at 12:36 AM ^
if i go to a game i am a consumer and if i'm not happy with the product I purchased i am free to express my displeasure, deal with it
November 10th, 2013 at 12:43 AM ^
I didn't say you didn't have a right to do it. My point is that if you care about the program more than just that one game, you shouldn't do it. You're free to disagree, I just think it has negative effects and the only positive is that is makes the person doing it feel better. And people who do things like that are typically very selfish people. If you care more about yourseld and the money you spent than on the team, then go ahead and boo your face off.
November 10th, 2013 at 7:55 AM ^
November 10th, 2013 at 12:45 AM ^
November 10th, 2013 at 8:49 AM ^
"I could drink a fifth of whiskey tomorrow and smoke eight packs of cigarettes, but that doesn't make it a good idea."
Actually Eric I think that sounds like an EXCELLENT idea right now.
November 10th, 2013 at 7:23 AM ^
You have the right to run up to each member of the team and scream, "Booooo!" right in their face in front of their friends and family.
It still makes you a huge asshole.
November 10th, 2013 at 12:49 AM ^
November 10th, 2013 at 7:23 AM ^
Depends.
How many times are we going to lose because we didn't execute properly?
November 10th, 2013 at 12:57 AM ^
November 10th, 2013 at 12:16 AM ^
It would be best if everyone got an intercom that went right to Borges booth because I think many of the boos were meant for him
November 10th, 2013 at 12:50 AM ^
It seemed like some were aimed at Gardner, too.
November 10th, 2013 at 12:52 AM ^
the boo after the two consecutive run plays after we got the ball? I don't think so
November 10th, 2013 at 12:16 AM ^
I don't see this team even being competitive with OSU. No analyst does either. This Nebraska team has given up 200 plus yards rushing to multiple teams this year and we get -20? Embarassing. That's not even close to Michigan football. I reckon several MAC teams could sport a better rushing performance than that. No excuses for that type of performance.
Are fans overreacting? Maybe, but this team was close to losing to UConn, Indiana, and Akron, and just got blown out by a mediocre MSU team last week, and had a terrible offensive performance again this week. The team is playing at an unacceptable level.
If you thought this game was bad for fandom, wait until OSU stomps this team by a few touchdowns.
November 10th, 2013 at 12:16 AM ^
November 10th, 2013 at 12:17 AM ^
We know what Mattison did with a bad defense in his first year. The problem has been the offense for 3 seasons now. In the first year it was Denard running and Denard throwing jump balls to Hemmingway. It wasn't a pretty offense. We have been regressing each year. Next year we lose Lewan, Schofield, Gallon, and Fitz (our most experienced running back).
Please tell me when I can officially panic and run around screaming.
November 10th, 2013 at 12:20 AM ^
November 10th, 2013 at 12:21 AM ^
We haven't won a Big Ten title in 10 years.
Haven't been to the Rose in 8.
Haven't won a Rose in 16.
Beat Ohio once in the last 9.
I don't see it getting better next year.
I know a lot of fans and alumni that are getting apathetic.
November 10th, 2013 at 12:32 AM ^
Tell them don't let the door hit their ass on the way out.
Give me a break people. We are the most spoiled fanbase in the country. For nearly 40 years Michigan Football did something nobody else could say did. Zero losing seasons, 33 straight bowl appearances, 21 conference championships and a national championship.
You know how many elite football programs had losing seasons in that time period? All of them but Michigan. Alabama, USC, Texas, Oklahoma, Ohio, Notre Dame, LSU etc.
It's just Michigan's "time" now. These things are cyclical.
November 10th, 2013 at 12:34 AM ^
November 10th, 2013 at 12:49 AM ^
November 10th, 2013 at 7:27 AM ^
"Hey guys, you know those things that are special and unique about Michigan? Screw them. Let's become like every other cesspool in college football. Yay!"
November 10th, 2013 at 10:19 AM ^
November 10th, 2013 at 12:49 AM ^
In that case. Give Borges a raise and increase ticket prices! This is Michigan fergodsakes. Can't wait for App State next year. #wow
November 10th, 2013 at 12:21 AM ^
Hoke based his entire coaching philosophy on toughness and a physical lines. 3 seasons in and that couldn't be further from reality. The online has been thrown around like rag dolls. The running backs can't break tackles, and the dline hasn't produced a legit pass rush. We all thought Hoke would bring the team back to the glory year of 1997. So far, there's no evidence that its ever going to happen under the current coaching staff.
November 10th, 2013 at 12:24 AM ^
Ive said this before, football in this capacity wouldnt exist if it wasnt for the fact people want to watch it. the coaches wouldnt be paid millions of dollars, the players wouldnt be treated like gods and get free educations or multi million dollar contracts if they make it to the NFL, we are their employers and they are playing for us, this isn't a pick up game with your buddies after the bbq where the only thing that matters is the love of the game, its all about the fans, the fans, the fans. They exist to entertain us, and they should answer to us. if they dont want to do that they can just pay for their education and the coaches can get jobs doing something else
November 10th, 2013 at 12:26 AM ^
November 10th, 2013 at 12:28 AM ^
Pretentious attempt at poetic summary of game. I don't like how fans express themselves during games. Here's a wildly watered-down version of the majority opinion because I'm terrified of offending anyone. Can't we all just be happy? Please don't downvote me or post mean comments.
*tacky invocation of Schembechler*
/thread
November 10th, 2013 at 1:38 AM ^
and landed with impressie accuracy.
November 10th, 2013 at 12:31 AM ^
November 10th, 2013 at 12:44 AM ^
Agree completely
November 10th, 2013 at 8:09 AM ^
So much this.
November 10th, 2013 at 10:14 AM ^
you guys must think we have the dumbest players on the planet
November 10th, 2013 at 12:32 AM ^
I hate arguments that suggest fans don't deserve anything -- that they should just be happy and feel blessed to attend a game in the big house. In reality, people pay serious money to attend these games. I'm not defending booing the team, I wouldn't personally boo unless there were a way to isolate my boos directly for Borges' ears, but nevertheless, this is a business. Fans pay for a product. If no changes are made to the coaching staff, plus the worst home slate in history and increasing prices, I think fans have rights to complaints. It doesn't make them entitled assholes, it makes them people who wonder whether a plane ticket and a $100 ticket is worth watching nonsense. At least we have a new digital billboard outside the stadium.
November 10th, 2013 at 12:51 AM ^
November 10th, 2013 at 12:57 AM ^
Irrelevant. My post was not on how best to contact DB, it was on whether fans should feel any justification in being upset in the program or whether they should always just always feel blessed. You're right though, I'm sure DB would take my call.
November 10th, 2013 at 1:11 AM ^
November 10th, 2013 at 10:31 AM ^
Yes but those messages are not heard. The only way they are heard is if it is on TV screamed by 100,000 people. That sends a message that something needs to get fixed.
November 10th, 2013 at 10:35 AM ^
I think you are 100% wrong on this one.
Sometimes fans boo.
That is a thing that happens, and it happens with a great deal of frequency in the sports world.
An AD waking up and seeing his office's voicemail/email are overrun with messages from 100,000 angry fans? I'm pretty sure that is a thing that never happens and would get his immediate attention.
November 10th, 2013 at 12:37 AM ^
to get my PSD package 3 days after the STaee game and 3 days before yesterday.
November 10th, 2013 at 12:57 AM ^
Lansing - what is the PSD acronym? I'm not a ticket holder.
November 10th, 2013 at 12:58 AM ^
"Preferred Seat Donation."
November 10th, 2013 at 8:02 AM ^