Treating BPONE with Perspective
There have been far too many idiotic negative posts on this site and overreactions to the first two games. I just listened to Barton Simmons of 247 Sports say that he has Michigan 4th in the B1G East behind MSU as of right now because "MSU has an identity" (yes this was recorded after their loss to ASU).
The negative attitude around this program, both locally and nationally, is ridiculous. Michigan won handily in their first game DESPITE making several mistakes. They won their second game against a good and tough opponent despite making even more mistakes offensively.
When you can fumble 3 times in one game and have a TD called back incorrectly while playing a team who is made to punish those mistakes and still win...that's a great sign. For the team to be able to overcome that and still come out victorious says even more than a loss.
Both MTSU and Army are weird teams with their playstyle and are not the "cupcake" teams like an Akron, UCONN, or Central Michigan. Michigan still won both games and pretty much everything that held them back in those games are fixable.
Keep in mind these first two games were also without our best WR, starting LT, injured DT's, and an obviously hurting QB. The defense has honestly been fantastic given the circumstances they've had to play under (triple option, fumbles). The offense has been an adjustment, but I think they are much closer to the offense we saw in the 2nd quarter of the MTSU game than they are against Army.
Take care of the ball, get some players back from injury, and work out the kinks in the new offense and this team will be fine.
Even if they lose Saturday, the season isn't over. It's only the 3rd game of the year and their first road game against a top 15 opponent. Last year when Michigan went into The Game at 10-1, they still had tough games against Northwestern and Indiana.
This is college football, weird shit happens all the time and you will have frustrating games/wins. The important thing is that Michigan is 2-0 and the framework has been done for this team to truly do something special this year. Just gotta execute, and it starts with Wisconsin.
September 17th, 2019 at 1:46 PM ^
I wonder what would happen on the field if Michigan fans were 100% united in POSITIVE expectation -- not hype, but simply having faith in the guys and the coaches? Would anything be different? Most people would exclaim that fan feelings have nothing to do with performance on the field. I'd agree with that, but these is really no way to know.
But, one thing that I can say with certainty, is that the teams of today have to work a lot harder to "block out the noise" from outside the program than they ever did in the past. I think that is pretty unrealistic for people to honestly think that players and coaches never see or hear what people say about them on the internet. To me that makes me want to know why fans would intentionally make it harder for the team to succeed and attain its goals, even if it's only a marginal and speculative (at best) influence.
The BPONE meme is so disconcerting because it came from the top, from MGoBlog itself, and thus speaks like public "sanctioning" of fan negativity. MGoBlog's popularity, rather than being a place where Michigan fans visit to read news, learn insights, and enjoy Michigan football, has (inadvertently?) become a toxic, venom filled environment in which self-professed Michigan lovers can't stop disparaging the program for all to see -- again, including the players and recruits. How can that be helpful or even neutral?
Secondly, if that wasn't bad enough, and as others have aptly pointed out, posters now clamor over each other trying to "fit in" and posting becomes polarized before the BPONE "Realists" and the Delusional "Homers" wearing maize-colored glasses. The lack of self-awareness is staggering. Everything is a travesty, everything is coaching malpractice, everything is wrong and the logical conclusion is that somewhere out there is someone to make it right. In many ways it's mirroring what's going on in national politics and culture in which there is OUTRAGE to EVERYTHING!
Can we just stop the BPONE meme once and for all, please?!
September 17th, 2019 at 2:15 PM ^
Stringing together some wins against higher ranked opponents might do just that. The team has the power to actually change the narrative by performing on the field. Seems like a more viable solution than expecting the fanbase to unite in positivity while the product remains stagnant.
September 17th, 2019 at 2:21 PM ^
If the players play bad bc of what a bunch of flabby dad bod couch dwellers say on this blog then they're as soft as they look on the field. They and the coaches should shut the fuck up and do better if they don't like what people say. I don't think they give a shit, but if they do then refer to the statement above.
September 17th, 2019 at 2:15 PM ^
C'mon man. Watch OSU and their talent. We suck ass. Sure we'll be 9-3 or 8-4 and a "decent" team, but that's not what they paid Harbaugh for. If only we didn't turn the ball over or blah blah blah. Every year with that shit. Clemson and OSU and other teams don't require any explaining away of shitty play. If we always have to explain shit away every year. We suck. Things need to change. Feeling unlucky and thinking what they're doing will work eventually is 90% of why they suck in the first place.
September 17th, 2019 at 2:17 PM ^
Here's the thing, we've got a number of injuries, a new offensive coordinator, and lost a lot of guys to the NFL on defense. So far the defense looks as expected, but it's hard not to have questions about the DTs. And while injuries are a logical reason for lowered offensive expectations, there is no guarantee Runyan and DPJ are going to ever be 100% this year, which gets even more dicey considering Mayfield is also banged up. And, although there is reason to believe the offense will improve as the year goes on, it's hard for anyone after having watched the first two games not to be disappointed. So, yeah we're 2-0. But, a lot of people had hopes of a B1G title and finally a win versus OSU and anyone's who's seen them play would tell you that seems unlikely. That has as much to do with Day, Fields, et. al being really good right out of the gate as anything, but it's still frustrating nonetheless. At one time teams like PSU & Wiscy were expected wins and now it feels like we're the underdog. Here's to hoping an upward trend to the season.
September 17th, 2019 at 2:25 PM ^
Man I wonder how some of you function in your careers. When you or your team come up short of expectations do you waltz into your bosses office and demand that he have some fucking perspective? Gee boss... If johnny hadnt missed three days of work and sales cuz of some bad tuna we would have made our revenue goal... Boss: you are right Wayne. Let me get out in front of our shareholders and make sure they have some persepctive of why we came up short...... Do you guys really get away with this? You work for more forgiving corporations than I do. If I tried that shit I would be writing an action plan and be held accountable to fix the problem going forward. Injuries are excuses. The only perspective to be gained is that we failed in develpoing depth.
September 17th, 2019 at 2:48 PM ^
Are you suggesting that a college football program should be run like a corporate sales office always worried about numbers and quarterly statements? I'm not making excuses. Surely teams like OSU can handle the injury to a LT or WR better than UM appears to be able to. But, that's part chance. What if the injury was to the QB instead? And, of course they can...they've out recruited UM every year. So, that's kind of besides the point. The problem is we have one of the top teams in the country in our division and they are better than us and our biggest rival. Now, that doesn't excuse ball security, dropped balls, false starts, and offsides calls. But, those are fixable things based on preparation. You can't go back and recruit another LT. FWIW it would be nice to have Hudson & Solomon around at positions of need that were recruited. Unfortunately they both decided to leave.
September 17th, 2019 at 5:16 PM ^
Jim has not enjoyed any coffee yet. He does have a crappy set of steak knives from last year though.
September 17th, 2019 at 5:50 PM ^
I am suggesting we are in our 15th consecutive year of coming up short of expectations and contnously creating justifications for that and framing it as "perspective" is bullshit. We cant justify failures year after year by blaming the same types of adversity that others find a way to overcome at least occasionally.
September 17th, 2019 at 7:32 PM ^
A lot has changed in CFB during that time. The only team north of the Mason-Dixon line to win a NC during that span is OSU and both of coaches who did so are known for not having the highest of integrity. Nebraska, PSU, UM, ND, etc. don't do win NCs anymore. I don't think that's a coincidence. I think UM needs a change in the landscape of CFB before they become a top national team again...something like being allowed to offer more financial opportunities to players that will lure them out of the south. Until then, if you can't out-recruit the OSU's and Bama's of the world, you won't beat them. That's just the reality. It's not an excuse.
September 17th, 2019 at 2:29 PM ^
So tired of this pathetic BPONE-bleating that seems to be constant here.
September 17th, 2019 at 2:47 PM ^
There’s so much nonsense here. We were ‘supposed’ to beat OSU last year because lowly Purdue clobbered them. Because their QB had a lousy record at some facet of his game. Because our D was lights-out. Because, because, because. Everyone’s certain of their prediction, and though sure prediction in football is mostly wishful thinking, that doesn’t seem to stop folks from arguing their perceived brilliant observations until they’re blue in the face.
Turns out very good teams can have bad days, and poor teams can sometimes play out of their minds and win. Or very good teams can put it together at the end of the season and become great teams, like OSU last year.
Did Michigan have a couple of bad days in their first two games, or do they simply suck? We don’t know. Is Wisconsin overrated because they ran up scores against weaker teams? We don’t know.
It’s true that Michigan’s offense made mistakes and looked pretty bad in the first two games. That may, or may not, hold in the third and subsequent games. We don’t know. For those who are convinced that Michigan will lose on Saturday for whatever reason, great, place your “can’t miss” bets now and prepare to get rich!
One of my pals is a Wisconsin fan, and insists his guys will lose on Saturday. They have BPONE of their own. I think people just enjoy worrying about something that hasn’t happened yet as a defense against disappointment, as in, “See, I told you we’d lose.” I guess that makes it so much better.
September 17th, 2019 at 3:00 PM ^
So I am having a potentially serious health scare, and it was amazing to me how little I cared about Michigan football last game. I was just thinking in my head....it would be great to win but let them lose all the games if I have to so I can not have what I could possibly have. Perspective. :)
September 17th, 2019 at 3:01 PM ^
Personally i think Shea got way over hyped when he transferred here due to the absolute mess at that position the year before. The whole offense relies on his ability as a QB. His pocket presence reminds me a lot of JOK. Freaking out in the pocket 1 second after the snap even though there isn't a rush in his face.
September 17th, 2019 at 3:20 PM ^
Our crappy two game performance may have helped us in long run.
Perfect time for a bye week. Got to imagine the team is focused and has a mental edge for the 'improvement week.' Better to play poorly in those games than say, MSU.
I just want to see us peek in November for once under Harbaugh.
Life is too short for BPONE. We'll be ready for Wisconsin. I can't wait for 9:00am pacific time Saturday!
I remember the 97 season, we looked like crap early in the year, until we smoked PSU and never looked back.
September 17th, 2019 at 3:49 PM ^
Underrated comment. As I mentioned in another thread sometimes a team that comes in with so much hype needs knocked down a peg. Doesn't it seem like in all the "revenge years" the team over performs? So is life I guess but before the season start I told my wife "watch them lose 4-5 games this shit always happen when a UM team gets hyped up.
As a former athlete I don't like to get wrapped up in putting too much emphasis on emotion as talent usually does win but there is something to the mindset especially when a team has talent and is under performing. A highly talented team that looks like shit usually has something wrong between the years whereas a shitty team can't just win a bunch of big games by "trying harder".
Anyway yeah..maybe in the end this was a good thing. Call it a revenge tough part II, whatever, who cares let's just get our heads right.
September 17th, 2019 at 3:56 PM ^
Thank you for referencing the one time in the last 22 years that we actually improved as the year went on.
September 17th, 2019 at 4:14 PM ^
We definitely improved through the season in1997, but we did not look bad off the bat either. And certainly nothing close to what we all saw the first two games this year.
September 17th, 2019 at 4:07 PM ^
The irony to me is that it’s actually HIGH expectations that cause people to wallow in the BPONE
September 17th, 2019 at 4:20 PM ^
I treat BPONE with alcohol, but if Perspective works better let’s try it.
Is Perspective something I can get over the counter, or do I need a scrip? I like Fentanyl a lot. Is it like Fentanyl?
September 17th, 2019 at 4:53 PM ^
It wasn’t until earlier this century when one of my children become an undergraduate student in one of the greatest universities in the world, when I became fan of Michigan Wolverine sports, so I never got to enjoy the glory years for Michigan football when top-ten rankings were customary and post-season trips to the Rose Bowl weren’t so rare.
Until some time last December, I had no idea what BPONE meant, but after the devastating loss to Ohio State, I took up another MGoBlogger’s challenge to write a song parody to the tune of Simon & Garfunkel’s “The Sound of Silence”.*
Now that I know that BPONE means “Black Pit of Negative Expectations”, it most accurately describes my life as a long-time fan of the Boston Red Sox and New York/San Francisco Giants, notwithstanding the outcomes of the 2004, 2007, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2018 World Series. Lately, my BPONE has transferred to Arsenal of the EPL. Because of that, I can understand how many fans of the Maize and Blue are trapped inside the bounds of BPONE.
Still, I'm looking forward to the day when the Golden Mountain of Positive Expectations (GMOPE) becomes a thing on MGoBlog.
September 17th, 2019 at 4:54 PM ^
*The Bounds of BPONE (Post-Ohio-State Loss in 2018)
BPONE’s now a hated “friend”
Until these losses finally end.
Thinking victory was deceiving.
All that’s left are months of sad grieving
While they wonder if there’s anything to gain
From the pain
Within the bounds of BPONE
Poor Brandon Watson left alone
In man-to-man instead of zone.
Had they practiced zone since training camp?
They might’ve needed it to be the champ
And surprise OSU with some flash and a tougher fight.
Were they uptight
Within the bounds of BPONE?
Trailed at halftime by one score.
By some luck it wasn’t more.
Defense needed lots of smart tweaking.
Where was the pressure that they’d need to bring?
Thomas, Hill and Long couldn’t stop them through the air.
Were they scared
Within the bounds of BPONE.
Will Hart’s punt went off too slow.
The Buckeyes’ lead began to grow.
Then Shea hurled a pass that seemed untrue.
In just five minutes they’d become unglued.
Forty-one Nineteen, the scoreboard had to tell.
It told them of the hell of BPONE.
Wolverines are now dismayed
‘Bout the way “The Game” was played,
‘Cause they couldn’t stop the scoring
From increasing ‘til it was soaring.
And so the song of the Muppets
Won’t be played at their locker stalls
Or Schembechler Hall.
Slipped up in the bounds of BPONE.
September 17th, 2019 at 4:59 PM ^
Post this again at 3pm Saturday. I dare you.
September 17th, 2019 at 5:44 PM ^
Depending on how the game goes, the guy might look like a genius.
September 17th, 2019 at 5:15 PM ^
No one is saying this team is trash. No one is saying this team won’t win at least 9 games. People are angry because it’s the same offense from last year. It’s year 5 and we need a big season. Recruiting has been struggling recently and we still have not won the big ten. We have to beat Ohio state this year or it’s probably over for this staff. How can anyone justify keeping a Michigan coach that is 0-5 against Ohio state!! That’s why people have been negative. The negativity has been a little over but that’s natural with any fan base that cares about winning championships. Still a long way to go. A lot can change and I’m being very patient. But the clock is ticking
September 17th, 2019 at 5:25 PM ^
What if I told you UM goes into Madison and lays a pretty good beating to Wisconsin..lets say like 31 - 13, then the nation collectively says "ohh, ok then, Michigan is here"
Wouldn't that be nice, just a big sigh of relief for everyone melting down right now. WHY NOT US..PLEASE BABY JESUS
September 17th, 2019 at 6:35 PM ^
September 17th, 2019 at 6:56 PM ^
No excuses. Put up or shut up time for Harbaugh. Michigan is the more talented team. No reason why he cant beat virtually the same Wisconsin team from last year away.
If you wanna be a Big Ten champ you have to win this games. If you wanna be 8-4 or 9-3 yeah lose games like this and make excuses.
September 17th, 2019 at 8:14 PM ^
Shut the fuck up
September 17th, 2019 at 8:49 PM ^
I read a lot of comments; more than I probably should. My BPONE comes from disappointment in coaching. Coaches need to adapt to their personnel and the situation. A lack of adaptivity by coaches is what I have seen over and over.
If Shea is injured and McCaffrey isn't ready, why doesn't the play calling reflect that reality (especially if that is known ahead of time). If Shea is bugging out early or Army is adapting to our reads and RPOs, why not take the easy yards to the outside? There are always counters to a defense. Why don't we burn people on them? Why aren't we screening to our WRs?
When people was stoked about Gattis and his offense, I was firmly in the "I'll believe it when I see it - I have to assume we will get more of the same". BPONE. Still waiting to see it. He's a first time play caller and isn't there yet. Maybe later this year, maybe next year, maybe never. I'll believe it when I see it. Maybe it takes a year to get used to a system, but it shouldn't take Gattis a year to get used to his own system.
September 18th, 2019 at 9:53 AM ^
BPONE came about from the Horror- the App State loss. since then it's been a tough go to be a Michigan fan, and Ohio continually puts a good team together that can just athlete any team to death, as they did last year to a good Michigan team. Truth is, making it through an entire B1G season to the end with no injuries is tough. Seems as though Ohio glides through their schedule, save last year the Purdue game. And Michigan seems to be in the place where the target is on the backs of the Maize and Blue- everyone wants to beat us, and now the mystique is gone for the last 10-12 years since the horror. Ohio hasn't lost theirs, so teams go into their game against Ohio with the expectation that they will most likely lose, but can put up a good fight. Michigan used to be that way.
Now even the small schools smell blood and can envision an upset. It is a mind set. Which, in all my ramblings here, has put all of us as Michigan fans in this Black Pit of Negative Expectations- when we fumble once in a close game- first thing that comes to mind is- here we go again. I was saying that way too much during the Army game. I have since calmed and my expectations have risen again to face a more traditional opponent hoping the coaching staff unleashes the offense and kicks Wisconsin down the rankings. and proves to everyone including its own fan base that the team is CFP worthy again. And pull us up a little bit out of BPONE.
Go Blue! Beat the cheeseheads!
September 18th, 2019 at 1:58 PM ^
I don’t feel that way - my negative expectations stem from watching the team consistently underperform their talent and expectations. Again, I focus on poor in-game coaching and failure to adapt to the opposition. It’s frustrating and demotivating to watch idiotic play calling year after year.