"Michiganing" is the new "Clemsoning"
Jim Harbaugh and the Michigan program are starting to resemble Clemson prior to the current 3 year stretch of immense success that Dabo Swinney and crew have pulled off. They beat the team's they were supposed to beat and lost to key rivals (FSU 80% of the time and South Carolina 100% of the time - 5 in a row!). And both only have gotten blown out once - Michigan against PSU and Clemson against WVU in a BCS bowl. We're always a handful of plays away from being on the other side with a W. A game of inches.
Overall, I'm starting to see my faith in Harbaugh crack a bit, but if Shea Patterson wasn't immediately eligible, there never would have been any expectations this year other than an 8-9 win season. We are an offensive tackle and stud wide receiver away from winning the game yesterday. Black would have made the difference and if the tackles hold the blocks for 1-2 seconds longer, we'd have some big play capability. The defense hunkered down and will be fine. At the end of the day, it's not going to be a championship season, but without Patterson, only the biggest KoolAid drinking fans would have believed it possible. We'll keep "Michiganing" this year, but at least we still have our integrity. OSU, MSU, PSU and Maryland are jokes in that regard. Here's to doing things the right way and patience. Our time will come. The kids are working hard and the coaches will figure this out.
September 2nd, 2018 at 6:57 PM ^
I really do not give a single f*ck about integrity. I genuinely do not. That is not something we should hang our hats on. I care about on field results. That’s it. No that doesn’t mean I condone what happened at any of those schools. But can we please stop with the, “we’re better because we do things the right way” crap?
September 2nd, 2018 at 7:04 PM ^
Exactly. This integrity bit is non-sense. Nobody gives a shit if Michigan does things the right way. A ton of schools have integrity. I’d rather win championships than hang our hats on UM being a clean program.
September 2nd, 2018 at 7:28 PM ^
Then go root for OSU. Because that’s what they tout is winning over everything else.
Don’t get me wrong, I want to win too. But I don’t want to win at the expense of ruining the school’s reputation like so many other schools are content with doing. There are ways to win big and also run clean programs. Beilein has proved that in spades.
September 2nd, 2018 at 9:34 PM ^
Here's the thing. No schools reputation have been danaged. That's the problem.
September 2nd, 2018 at 9:31 PM ^
i don’t look down on non-alum fans generally, but i’m guessing you, and the vast majority of people sharing similar sentiments, didn’t actually go to michigan.
i hate losses and it’s frustrating that we seem to have fallen behind our rivals, but i care more about the university as a whole, and the fact that we don’t let our players/coaches get away with the things that are swept under the rug at msu, osu and psu (among others).
if all you care about is winning why don’t you cheer for msu or osu - they’ve done that at a huge cost to their reputations of late.
September 2nd, 2018 at 10:10 PM ^
I feel the same way. I love Michigan football, but I love the school even more. I love my degree and the opportunities it has given me to be successful. I started dating my wife there. I have so many great memories from my time there and have life long friends I met there. Football is (was?) kind of a bonus, it has been difficult for a while. Doing things the right way, the Michigan way, is most important to me. As tough as it is to go 8-4 on the football I would be infinitely more pissed if there was an institutional scandal...
Lots of football left ( I still think we will win the national championship), but I am a delusional Michigan homer, and I know it. After the Michigan loss to MSU on the fluke punt Harbaugh said "We have to have resolve, steel in our spine and move forward". I love that quote and it has stuck with me. It applies to football, more importantly it applies to life...
September 3rd, 2018 at 1:49 AM ^
Even as a true Sparty, I whole-heartedly agree with your original sentiment: losing sucks, but jeopardizing the integrity of your university, along with its reputation in the name of winning football games is not the way to go. In fact, I appreciate the pride you have for the institution you graduated from, and your unwillingness to tarnish Michigan's image on account of a trivial pursuit like collegiate athletics. Obviously, the legion of Walmart Wolverines out there has a hard time grasping this concept.
That said, while MSU will forever [and rightfully] be associated with the vile Nassar scandal, I think it is disingenuous and wrong-headed to place the university in the same category as OSU when it comes to doing things the wrong way in major athletics. As much as you hate Dantonio or Izzo (if I were a Michigan man, I would too), they are not the monsters many U of M people like to make them out to be.
Admittedly, Mark "the scowler" Dantonio may have the personality of a door-knob and grate on the nerves of the Michigan faithful with his smugness and arrogance, he is not an unethical, snake-oil salesman like Urban Meyer is. Dantonio is not paying athletes or over-recruiting. Nor does he tolerate players that break the law (the list of football players Dantonio has kicked off the team over the years for unacceptable behavior is endless).
And when it comes to sportsmanship, one often overlooked fact is that Dantonio never runs up the score on other teams (aside from Penn State a few years ago). I find it absolutely deplorable that OSU dropped 77 points its opponent last week. That is dirtball SEC shit if you ask me. Given the opportunity, I don't think Jim Harbaugh would do that either.
Once again, I'm sure this missive will fall on deaf ears, but I felt there was merit in offering my two cents on the matter.
September 3rd, 2018 at 2:24 AM ^
What a bunch of B.S. - The story has come out at OSU and has been proven that Urban did everything the right way. No due process for Zach, Urban, or OSU- just the court of public opinion. You've gotten your tail kicked so hard in the last 15 years you resort to this OSU has no integrity thing to make you feel better as your entire school covers for a rapist punter for 3 years. Give me a break. Your turn is coming and I'm not talking about a W in Columbus. This I'm holier than thou load of B.S.
I have so many good friends from Michigan and I truly feel sorry for their suffering. It's not fun and I understand the heartache. I lived through the cooper years. My Michigan friends understand due process, have read the Jeff Snook report on the "victim" and the results of the investigation and think it's BS. They are intelligent adults and not obnoxious idiots resorting to name calling. To most UM fans who have "integrity" I wish your team the best. It's a fun rivalry and the best in college football. To the rest who think they somehow have a moral superiority
I say good luck in life because you are gonna need it.
September 3rd, 2018 at 7:24 AM ^
only a half-literate buckeye stooge (pretty much the entire fanbase) could read that report and come to the conclusion that urbs “did everything the right way”.
admit it, you just don’t care because football is the only thing you’re actually better than michigan at. enjoy your hollow wins at the expense of decency.
September 19th, 2018 at 12:00 PM ^
When a member of the BOT resigns because he's ashamed of the coach and how the BOT pretended that nothing happened, it's pretty clear that things weren't handled the right way.
September 3rd, 2018 at 2:25 AM ^
What a bunch of B.S. - The story has come out at OSU and has been proven that Urban did everything the right way. No due process for Zach, Urban, or OSU- just the court of public opinion. You've gotten your tail kicked so hard in the last 15 years you resort to this OSU has no integrity thing to make you feel better as your entire school covers for a rapist punter for 3 years. Give me a break. Your turn is coming and I'm not talking about a W in Columbus. This I'm holier than thou load of B.S.
I have so many good friends from Michigan and I truly feel sorry for their suffering. It's not fun and I understand the heartache. I lived through the cooper years. My Michigan friends understand due process, have read the Jeff Snook report on the "victim" and the results of the investigation and think it's BS. They are intelligent adults and not obnoxious idiots resorting to name calling. To most UM fans who have "integrity" I wish your team the best. It's a fun rivalry and the best in college football. To the rest who think they somehow have a moral superiority
I say good luck in life because you are gonna need it.
September 3rd, 2018 at 12:40 PM ^
Spare me your own bullshit, pal. If this had happened to Harbaugh you and your whole fanbase would’ve been all over him and helping to fan the flames of the media circus about how he lacks integrity, how Michigan needs to fire him, how he should never be allowed to coach again and how the whole university should be investigated for enabling a DV perpetrator.
But because it’s your coach, and because he never loses to Michigan, he did everything right and there’s was nothing more he could do. It’s a witch hunt, right? If this had happened to Cooper you all would’ve been perfectly happy with firing him.
September 3rd, 2018 at 9:46 AM ^
I care. So don’t say nobody. This world is filled with sleazy people, programs, businesses, etc. I like my football program to be something I can boldly proclaim. I have a block M tattooed on my arm because I’m proud of them. I want them to win every game, but I’m not running from them just because they lose a game. I don’t have to shy away from conversation, I get to hold my head high.
September 2nd, 2018 at 7:33 PM ^
Dude, great post. So true. Except for OSU, virtually every team wins and has integrity. Clemson is a perfect example.
September 2nd, 2018 at 8:31 PM ^
Clemson isn't what you think they are. They are as dirty as it comes. Their recruiting turned around overnight ala Ole Miss. The word down there is the local mega church called the New Spring Church launders the money from the bagmen to payroll the big recruits. All while ol' Dabo puts on his aw shucks I just love Jesus and we're all family jive. When Rashan Gary was down to UM and Clemson they offered to pay off his uncle's house that's right outside Clemson.
September 2nd, 2018 at 9:10 PM ^
If Clemson offered to pay off a house and didn’t get him, makes you wonder what we had to offer in order to get him. - I don’t think Michigan is out there throwing that kind of money around, but you can see it goes both ways when you make those accusations. Michigan has landed a handful of elite players, Gary, Solomon, Ruiz, DPJ, etc.. Either Michigan is doing it too or it’s not as prevalent as people make it seem. I guess it’s possible that everyone but Michigan cheats and we are such a great school that every year we are able to get every top level kid who isn’t looking for a pay day.
September 2nd, 2018 at 9:31 PM ^
"makes you wonder what we had to offer in order to get him"
so your take is that every 5 star is taking money?
September 3rd, 2018 at 9:46 AM ^
They're fools if they don't.
Why is it their job to protect the integrity of the corrupt NCAA that is "taking money" left and right?
September 2nd, 2018 at 10:26 PM ^
I coached high school football in SC for 24 years and you are absolutely correct about the Church. Although I never heard of any money laundering I do know for a fact that we had three players sign with Clemson at one time and our head coach resigned to take a job in the upstate and he suddenly afforded a huge home in a very nice neighborhood. None of us had any direct knowledge of any wrongdoing but we were all shaking our heads wondering how a high school teacher could afford that. I also know that IPTAY is huge in Clemson as well.
September 2nd, 2018 at 11:57 PM ^
IPTAY = I Pay Ten A Year
iptaycuad.com
September 2nd, 2018 at 8:29 PM ^
Yeah Ur right ...Fuck integrity!
You know what UofM needs is a ole fashioned beastiality scandal; I mean all of the "good ones" are taken already, but I bet there's no better way for the program to reassure the "fans" that they are out to win at all costs if they let a few of this sick fucks play.
September 2nd, 2018 at 9:05 PM ^
Anyone that can fuck a wolverine and live to tell the tale deserves our respect.
September 3rd, 2018 at 10:52 AM ^
Haha, I love it.
September 2nd, 2018 at 8:36 PM ^
I'd rather lose some than become what OSU, PSU, MSU...and now Maryland, are. Just my opinion.
September 2nd, 2018 at 8:44 PM ^
Id rather do both than pound our chest about losing the right way.
September 2nd, 2018 at 9:51 PM ^
Thank you.
September 2nd, 2018 at 9:54 PM ^
I feel the same way. Does citing how ethical we are really make you feel better every time we get gutted like a pig?
September 2nd, 2018 at 7:01 PM ^
Sooooo....basically if we fixed all of our problems we’d be super awesome? K.
Here’s to hoping Jalen Mayfield is the next Taylor Lewan.
September 2nd, 2018 at 7:09 PM ^
Don’t understand this comparison. The program trajectories are entirely different. Dabo started downright mediocre his first three years, then became great, then elite. They always improved.
Harbaugh started great, then seemingly regressed
September 2nd, 2018 at 8:22 PM ^
People that looked at things objectively last year predicted a down year, literally anybody that knew a thing about football. Now after a loss to a top 15 team on the road and at night you’re declaring the trajectory of the program and season? One fucking game?
September 3rd, 2018 at 8:49 AM ^
Not one “fucking” game. They’ve won 8 of 16, lol. If that’s not a regression, than what is?
September 2nd, 2018 at 7:12 PM ^
This fanbase is way too toxic after a loss. It's terrible. Yet I'm in here during and after a loss reading comments, idk why. I imagine some are trolls, but there are an alarming number of people that just have no idea what they're saying.
I also do believe there's something to be said for doing it the right way. As an alum, I'd love to win football games. But I'd rather not be a punchline at OSU. If we could guarantee michigaM goes on an OSU like run the next 5 years but comes out looking like a dirty, garbage program on the other side, I wouldn't want it.
September 2nd, 2018 at 7:26 PM ^
Not toxic after a loss..toxic after a DECADE+ of losses to anyone with a pulse. Many of us, arrogantly I know, thought the OL would be fixed in the offseason...color us shocked when we saw the same old shit trotted out on the field last night. For 8 million bucks you'd think it would get better?
Clock management, stupid mental mistakes/penalties, mobile QB gashing (hello 2017 MSU/OSU), defense getting buried early, turnstile O-Line plan, lack of pass pro, QBs getting hammered...the clown rodeo show continues.
It's not the player's fault...IT'S THE COACHING STAFF! WHY IS THE HC SON COACHING RBS MAKING 1/4 MILLION A YEAR WITH NO EXPERIENCE?
September 3rd, 2018 at 8:06 AM ^
Preach brother preach.
Reality is tough to swallow and something 90% of the board refuses to see or acknowledge but you nailed it.
September 2nd, 2018 at 9:16 PM ^
Have we forgotten about the Brenden Gibbons situation? If we were as good as OSU it would’ve been national headlines. Since we sucked, nobody paid attention. Let’s not pretend we don’t have any dirty laundry.
September 2nd, 2018 at 9:55 PM ^
17 losses in a row against good teams on the road.
That is where some of the toxicity is coming from.
I hear what you are saying, but I don't believe this is about one game.
September 2nd, 2018 at 7:13 PM ^
I always thought "Clemsoning" referred not to their rivals, but to the fact that Clemson would lose inexplicable games every year, like games they should win.
Michigan seems unable to pull the upset or win a big game.
September 2nd, 2018 at 7:16 PM ^
We have been doing this for ever. Hail Mary, Horror, The spot, MSU punt game. OT vs Osu. 2006 the game. On and on. Michgan is pretty good at ripping our hearts out.
September 2nd, 2018 at 8:40 PM ^
Yep. It has been a decade or more since Michigan could be counted on to win a big game.
I happened to go to Dick's Sporting Goods just north of A2 today and got into a brief discussion in line with another customer about it being a tough game to watch. The cashier interjected that, 'Michigan looked like Michigan.' It turns out he was an OSU fan, but I had to agree.
September 3rd, 2018 at 12:00 AM ^
OSU fan running a cash register? Seems right.
September 3rd, 2018 at 11:00 AM ^
Michigan fan feeling superior about ethics, SAT scores, and a shitty football team for the past 20 years? Seems right.
You guys are the masters in deflection. You can't control that your team is underwhelming so you talk about unmeasurable, subjective concepts and use that to feel superior. You can have all the national championships in integrity you want, but there is nothing better than backing a team that actually wins championships on the field. You should try it.
September 2nd, 2018 at 7:38 PM ^
Yes your definition is correct. We're not Clemsoning
September 2nd, 2018 at 7:17 PM ^
Integrity should be a base standard. There are no bonus points for not being in a scandal. Winning is the purpose of the game. Win and dont have a scandal should be easy with our advantages.
September 2nd, 2018 at 7:28 PM ^
Michigan is Tennessee&Texas and old Clemson all wrapped up in one with a dash of Detroit Lions topped with a sprinkle of pre World Series Cubs.
September 2nd, 2018 at 7:34 PM ^
That statement is infuriating. Unfortunately it is infuriating because it is really quite spot on. Minus the lions thing. Nobody is the lions.
September 2nd, 2018 at 7:38 PM ^
> GO SUB Cleveland Browns IF LIONS = 0
September 2nd, 2018 at 7:37 PM ^
Yeah okay
September 2nd, 2018 at 7:38 PM ^
Shea isn’t going to make any difference at all with him taking sacks and turning the ball over .. People in here put so much hope into him being the savior but he’s not
September 2nd, 2018 at 7:41 PM ^
The team has acheived nothing since we started 9-0 back in 2016. Since then we have wins against the following teams:
Indiana (twice), Florida, Cincinnati, Air Force, Purdue, Rutgers, Minnesota, Maryland
And lost to the following:
Iowa, OSU (twice), Florida State, MSU, PSU, Wisconsin, South Carolina, Notre Dame.
Notice the common denominator since Iowa 2016? We can't beat teams that have similar levels of talent and coaching. We are 1-9 against these peer programs in this time period (only if charitably putting Florida in this category). One and fucking nine. This is the most damning stat when it comes to Harbaugh's performance. I really do not expect this trend to stop based on what we saw last night.