Brian--I'm not sure if you will read this, but I hope you do.  This blog has meant so much to so many people, and all of the feelings of the journey over the last [x] years (23 for me since freshman year 2001) were largely captured by the voice you provided to us.  This community has meant so much to me as a fan, ever since someone told me in 2007 to check "this blog who's written by an engineer but he totally doesn't write like he's one."

So much nostalgia.  So many feelings.  Such a journey.  Thank you for steering the ship and capturing our heartbeat and influencing our perspective as a significant sliver of the Michigan fanbase.  I was a better Michigan fan because of you and this website.  I found community here.  

This championship is as much yours and as much for everyone in this community as anyone else.  The phrase we all quote so regularly has now come to life:  Those Who Stay Will Be Champions.

Go blue.  

Yesterday, before the game, my wife brought out an old photo of the two of us at the 1998 Rose Bowl, shortly after the birth of our first child. We were much younger than than we are today, it goes without saying. In remembering that day, one feeling - disappointment - overwhelmed the “thrill of victory” even to the present.
 

Michigan won, of course, escaping with a victory beating Washington State and Ryan Leaf the victory felt hollow, even in the moment. We all expected a blowout of Washington State. Just squeaking by didn’t create joy or feelings of conquest to supremacy. I was glad we won, but wished we had done so in a more consenting fashion. I left Pasadena neither happy nor sad. It felt like a missed opportunity. I knew the narrowness of the win opened the door for Nebraska and Tom Osborne to be awarded a share of the national championship. It is possible that Michigan would never have been awarded the title outright but by failing to win a convincing victory, we left the door open for a split vote.

It was a great season but it left a sour taste. This was a feeling I knew well as a Michigan fan from birth. Among my earliest memories, alongside 70 backflips when we beat Navy and Wangler to Carter to beat Indiana, was seemingly endless disappointment, almost always at or near season’s end. I recall listening to Bob Ufer calling away games (before all the games were televised) and the despair I would feel after a late season loss on natural grass at Purdue. We did well against Ohio State for the most part in those days but New Year’s Day games, and especially Rose Bowls, were sources of seemingly endless frustration.

Then came a so-called Game of the Century, just six years years into a new millennium. And only one day after Bo’s death. It all seemed premature. The game was a classic, but again, it ended in disappointment. And then another loss to USC in the Rose Bowl  

I started reading MGoBlog during Rich Rodriguez’s last season, when I thought things could not get much worse. You Raise Me Up? How could it all have sunk so low?

Although hiring Brady Hoke was not exactly inspiring, at least he spoke the language of Michigan football, as Rich Rod never had. Steeped in years of Schembechler speak as a kid, it seemed odd that Rodriguez came in and seemed not to care about the history of Michigan football. Even if it had just been fan service, it would have helped. I had an odd feeling from the beginning. When I saw RR in LA on his first speaking tour to Michigan alumni around the country, I left unsure if he had ever heard of Yost or Crisler or Bo. Maybe it shouldn’t have mattered. And maybe it wouldn’t have mattered if he had won more games. But when he didn’t, it mattered

Hoke at least seemed determined to try to honor past glories. Of course he was in over his head. We knew that for some time and the end was obvious when Shane Morris stumbled around the field after the seemingly nonexistent O line allowed another vicious hit and was then sent back onto the field in the game. I was in the crowd and was among many who booed Hoke that day. I didn’t like booing and hoped the team understood we all directed our frustrations at Hoke, not the players. Yet an overwhelming sense of disappointment was all we could feel that day as we witnessed the end of another coach’s unsuccessful tenure.

But we still had hope, as the turmoil in San Francisco seemed destined to bring Jim Harbaugh home if only Hackett could reel him in. With Harbaugh back in Ann Arbor, the team seemed primed for a return to competitiveness with Ohio State and dominance over Sparty.  

The latter proved fleeting after the Spartans stole a victory at Michigan Stadium in 2015. It was the first game I attended in the Harbaugh era. All I could do was sit there, face down, head in hands, next to my brother, and wonder how that just happened. I had taken a video of the scoreboard, and the cheering crowd just before the last play. It remained on my phone for a time as a testament to dreams dashed.

Then came the 2016 Ohio State game and it seemed that we might never again catch a break. More losses to OSU followed, each one seemingly worse than the previous. 

I may be deluding myself, but I don’t think so, when I say that I stood behind Harbaugh even in 2020. or perhaps, it’s better to say that I saw no better alternative. We were all disappointed, once again, but I still thought Harbaugh was as good as we can. It was probably a sense of resignation, more than support or confidence that we could get back on track.

Then came November 2021. For days I basked in the glow of Hassan Haskins’s running and a curb stomping victory over Ohio State. I watched and rewatched highlight videos accompanied to the tune of Mr. Brightside and I welled up. At last we beat them. And then we crushed Iowa. The loss to Georgia was easily forgiven and forgotten. After all, we beat Ohio State and won the Big Ten. It had been way too long and a loss at the end of the season was not unexpected. Things were finally looking up. 

We enjoyed another thrashing of Ohio State in 2022. What a game! Got a wide open receiver. They said the kid couldn’t throw the deep ball. Donovan Edwards gets past Ransom. Another Big Ten championship. I traveled to Phoenix, but the Fiesta Bowl with my family full of hope and expectation. I spent the third-quarter pacing around the stadium. I couldn’t stay in my seat and couldn’t believe what was happening. I think I was sitting near Brian around the 20 yard line in the lower bowl - if not, he sure looked like Brian. Another promising season that ended in defeat and disappointment. 

I was in the crowd for another Rose Bowl last week. The first one in a long time. It seemed for a few years while I was in school we went nearly every year. I brought with me the memory of the Washington State game. But this time we were playing Alabama and the mighty Nick Saban. I expected to win as I always do (even when my head tells me it is unlikely). And I was joyful and relieved when we pulled it out. I enjoyed celebrating after the game with my now grown up kids and friends. 

And that would’ve been enough, I think. But I am oh so glad my team won last night. No lingering questions. No doubt. National Champions! The best in the land. Best players. Best coach. Best team. We may never see another team like this one, and if I don’t, that will be ok. I’m going to let this one sink in. And I’m going to let go of all the disappointment of the past. Actually, I don’t have to let go. It was removed. This team washed it all the way.

Thank you, Brian. And Seth. And Alex. And mods. MGoBlog has taught me a lot. As has Team 144. I’m a lifelong fan. It’s all I know. It’s deep within me. And today my lifelong devotion has been rewarded. Go Blue! 

Especially happy for Mike Hart and Denard. Also, hoping/expecting they give Chris Partridge his well earned big ten and National Champion ring!

I’ve read this three times and listened to A Better Son/Daughter this morning. May we all remember this feeling. Thank you, Brian.