Muggles (from a players perspective)
I had read about some people being upset that athletes use the term muggles and I wanted to clear it up that we (or at least the players I know) do not do it to be mean or cause divisions.
I dont know who came up with it but we thought it was funny because we all you the fans and us the players represent all the same colors and we are all on the same team but just different people. We all bleed blue so we never thought it might hurt peoples feelings because I love Harry Potter I even went to the theme park back home thats how much I love it. Muggles are not even the bad word in Harry Potter but I dont want that to excuse it if there is confusion.
We are not trying to seperate ourselves or be superior its a lot of stress and long hours and jokes get us through.
November 5th, 2014 at 9:41 AM ^
and there seems to be large agreement... I have no problem with the use of "muggles" or "civilians". The problem occurs when an athlete or former athlete questions a "muggle's" right to have an opinion on the athletic department. I know the gameday experience has diminished under Dave Brandon. I don't need to be a college athlete to have an opinion on that.
That said, I'm also offended when fans pull the "but we pay the bills" card on college athletes (I've seen this several times here on teh board"). That flies for the pros, but not unpaid college athletes.
November 5th, 2014 at 10:22 AM ^
It's a bit disingenuous to treat this as "Mealer doesn't respect fans' opinions and questions their right to have one" - Mealer was upset that a fan opinion (held by many fans), which he disagrees with, carried more weight than the opinion of those in the athletic department (coaches, staff, players). That said, as a Muggle, I still think that firing DB was the right decision after the e-mails were confirmed.
Absolutely agree on the BS of "we paid for it" but don't treat us like customers hypocrisy.
November 5th, 2014 at 1:54 PM ^
I do think the "Muggle" term is probably pretty flexible in its meaning depending on context. Further, I'm thinking Mealer probably didn't have the most favorable definition in mind while commenting on Brandon's dismissal. Still you make at least a good a point as mine.
November 5th, 2014 at 9:42 AM ^
Man, nothing you post is OT. Thanks for the perspective and all the hard work you gave to the fans and our beloved university.
November 5th, 2014 at 10:56 AM ^
So, did Fr. Lombardi simply arrange the transfer of this account following the retirement of Benedict XVI? I mean, that's how the twitter account worked, so it would make sense. But Francis you should identify yourself, man.
November 5th, 2014 at 9:45 AM ^
November 5th, 2014 at 9:56 AM ^
No one ever questioned any of that, you were all just running around still butt-hurt from a losing season (and a rough 6 of 7 years for Michigan fans) that you wanted tear up anyone opposing the mgomob.
But the actual comparison would be this: athletes are to the AD as science students are to the Dean of the Science (pick your discipline of choice) School. Athletes have vented some frustration saying they might have a little more inside knowledge of the AD than students (or fans) that aren't athletes. Sounds reasonable to me. What if the Dean of the engineering school had some real issues, but the students all loved him, and the athletes and and media joined together to have him kicked out? They may have been doing the right thing, but I wouldn't have any problem with the engineering students lodging a complaint or two. I certainly wouldn't have lost my shit like 80% of the posters on this board.
November 5th, 2014 at 10:09 AM ^
November 5th, 2014 at 10:50 AM ^
I see your argument but I don't agree. It goes back to what value each individual places on which thing. It's possible in an alternate universe people are more concerned with Engineering than football, because that's what is educating the future leaders (in that discipline) in the state of Michigan.
In any case I don't think the distinction is important - this is an obvious thing and shouldn't be dimissed due to minutiae. The feelings of the people are what led to the statements made, and those would be similar in each scenario. This is the equivalency that matters.
November 5th, 2014 at 11:27 AM ^
For this topic, I think we should focus on the universe we live in.
November 5th, 2014 at 9:59 AM ^
Thats whats up. I take my stocking cap off to that. I loved playing football and everyone at U of M, the doctors the scientist the english teachers the engineers and the students that sing in plays it is all of us and that is why I came to Michigan. It is a family even so we are all different.
November 5th, 2014 at 10:02 AM ^
You're the best.
November 5th, 2014 at 9:43 AM ^
Thanks Mr. Smith. I appreciate you stopping by and dropping a word about this. I know it's gotten a lot of fans riled up.
But does that mean football players play Quidditch on their free time?
November 5th, 2014 at 9:52 AM ^
November 5th, 2014 at 9:59 AM ^
I wish.
November 5th, 2014 at 9:44 AM ^
For clearing some of this up Mr. Smith.
November 5th, 2014 at 9:52 AM ^
but here is the reason I (and lot of other fans) are still upset. In one word "context".
If Mealer comes out and says "We love them crazy muggles in the stands. They rock." nobody would take that in a wrong way. Instead he used in the context of calling a whole bunch of people ignorant. Do you see why things went south rather quickly?
Now contrast this to what the Seattle Seahawks do...they call their fans the "12th man". That is how you embrace the fans and make everyone feel ONE.
November 5th, 2014 at 10:02 AM ^
I am going to talk to him and I dont think he know how it affected people. We all say things when we are frustrated or we had a couple drinks that we really dont mean.
I get it now with the context how it can be out of place and your example helped a lot
November 5th, 2014 at 10:07 AM ^
Can you please come be the blocking coach? I don't care who is rushing the QB, I want Vincent Smith (or a RB coached by VS) stopping the dude in his tracks :-)
November 5th, 2014 at 10:22 AM ^
Weather you know it or not all the tactics or different techniques I know had been taught by our own Running Back coach Fred Jackson.
I wouldnt mind being an assistant if I still got time to garden.
November 5th, 2014 at 10:24 AM ^
I meant after Fred is done coaching.
November 5th, 2014 at 11:13 AM ^
November 5th, 2014 at 9:32 PM ^
We are having a lot of big things coming up very soon. One thing I learned in this process was Golly theres a lot of paperwok. We will have new news very soon.
November 5th, 2014 at 9:54 AM ^
If the football players played Quidditch, Denard would obviously be the Seeker, but Vincent Smith would absolutely be one of the Beaters because you'd 100% want him watching your back.
November 5th, 2014 at 10:05 AM ^
We should be a quidditch team next Halloween. That would be dope we could get Jersey and everything. Ooooh. Maybe we should do something for next year Halloween.
November 5th, 2014 at 4:20 PM ^
November 5th, 2014 at 9:55 AM ^
Here's a double finger guns to you Mr. Smith. We always appreciated your blocking wizardry.
But one question: What kingdom is Hogwarts in? Is it say, closer to Winterfell or to King's Landing?
November 5th, 2014 at 10:00 AM ^
Please don't ever mention Harry Potter in the same post as Game of Thrones.
November 5th, 2014 at 10:02 AM ^
blueblueblue.
Now go go do the deed in the name of the red god.
November 5th, 2014 at 10:03 AM ^
You get to mention both but I don't? Muggle.
November 5th, 2014 at 10:10 AM ^
This reminds me of playing "Bloody Mary" as a kid. You really don't want anything to happen...
...but deep down, you kind of do. For the sake of science.
EDIT: Intended as reply to DesHow.
November 5th, 2014 at 10:07 AM ^
I had to google Winterfell and I don't know
November 5th, 2014 at 11:03 AM ^
Wow, all these negs for a simple joke. Some folks really need to stop taking thing so seriously.
November 5th, 2014 at 9:55 AM ^
. . . Worse
November 5th, 2014 at 9:58 AM ^
Thank you MrSmith
And hey, it looks like you've been coaching up Justice Hayes on the finer points of sticking one's helmet into the chest of the opposing player in pass pro. He's getting better! Now teach the rest of the RBs!
November 5th, 2014 at 10:07 AM ^
BINGO. I gave him a couple pointers and let him know. It will all come to him.
November 5th, 2014 at 10:01 AM ^
Thanks for posting Vincent! It is really great to hear from a player's perspective and I understand most people don't mean for it to be as insulting as it has come across. I think it is great for you to post for issues like this as it can help to calm the masses.
I also love that you made that picture your avatar, awesome.
November 5th, 2014 at 10:01 AM ^
Thanks for stopping by and providing the explanation behind the term, MrSmith. Like others, I recognized the Harry Potter reference but as the books were only beginning to come out when I was at Michigan, I had no idea how it came into usage among athletes, but I see it now and it makes sense. Actually, it's a pretty apt description presented like this.
November 5th, 2014 at 10:12 AM ^
I had to look up Apt, but you right. I think after reading everyones replies I get that it can be looked at bad or good.
November 5th, 2014 at 10:08 AM ^
to have Vincent come out and mix it up with us. You were such a joy to watch on the field and its awesome to get your perspective and your inputs on the board. I hope we get to discuss things a lot more moving forward. Thanks so much!!
November 5th, 2014 at 10:13 AM ^
I am ready. I just need to get used to posting and I hope to be talking with you all more in the future.
November 5th, 2014 at 10:16 AM ^
an interview or an in-depth Q&A in the future, maybe by one of the MGoStaff.
November 5th, 2014 at 10:14 AM ^
November 5th, 2014 at 10:24 AM ^
The real deal but I have to go back to work soon.
November 5th, 2014 at 10:30 AM ^
Do you have a twitter handle, MrSmith? Trying to find it, but can't...
November 5th, 2014 at 10:16 AM ^
November 5th, 2014 at 10:22 AM ^
November 5th, 2014 at 10:28 AM ^
So thats fine but then he goes and expresses those feelings on Twitter. Twitter really should have a breathalyzer component.
November 5th, 2014 at 11:39 AM ^
November 5th, 2014 at 4:18 PM ^
No, thats called self-deprecation and its totally different than fan-deprecation. your example would work if Mealer called players "muggles."