Home
i'm an actor, not a reactor

Primary links

  • About
    • $upport (lol)
    • Ethics
    • FAQ
    • Glossary
    • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
  • MGoStore
    • Hail to Old Blue
  • MGoBoard
    • MGoBoard FAQ
    • Michigan bar locator
    • Moderator Action Sticky
  • Useful Stuff
    • Depth Chart By Class
    • Hoops Depth Chart by Class
    • 2017 Recruiting Board
    • Unofficial Two Deep
    • MGoFlickr
    • Diaries, Windows Live Writer, And You
    • User-Curated HOF
    • Where To Eat In Ann Arbor
  • Schedule/Tix
    • Future Schedules (wiki)
    • Ticket spreadsheet
Home

Navigation

  • Forums
  • Recent posts

User login

  • Create new account
  • Request new password

MGoElsewhere

  • @MGoBlog (Brian)
  • @aceanbender
  • @Misopogon (Seth)
  • @Aeschnepp (Adam)
  • @BISB
  • @EUpchurchPhoto
  • @FullOfTwitt (Fuller)
  • Hail to the Victors 2016
  • MGoFacebook
  • MGoPodcast
  • WTKA
  • Instagram

Michigan Blogs

  • Big House Blog
  • Burgeoning Wolverine Star
  • Genuinely Sarcastic
  • Go Blue Michigan Wolverine
  • Holdin' The Rope
  • MVictors
  • Maize 'n' Blue Nation
  • Maize 'n' Brew
  • Maize And Go Blue
  • Michigan Hockey Net
  • MMMGoBlueBBQ
  • The Blog That Yost Built
  • The Hoover Street Rag
  • The M Zone
  • Touch The Banner
  • UMGoBlog
  • UMHoops
  • UMTailgate
  • Wolverine Liberation Army

M On The Net

  • mgovideo
  • MGoBlue.com
  • Mike DeSimone
  • Recruiting Planet
  • The Wolverine
  • Go Blue Wolverine
  • Winged Helmet
  • UMGoBlue.com
  • MaizeRage.org
  • Puckhead
  • The M Den
  • True Blue Fan Forum

Big Ten Blogs

  • Illinois
    • Illinois Loyalty
    • Illinois Baseball Report
  • Indiana
    • Inside The Hall
    • The Crimson Quarry
  • Iowa
    • Black Heart, Gold Pants
    • Fight For Iowa
  • Michigan State
    • The Only Colors
  • Minnesota
    • GopherHole.com
    • The Daily Gopher
  • Nebraska
    • Corn Nation
    • Husker Max
    • Husker Mike's Blasphemy
    • Husker Gameday
  • Northwestern
    • Sippin' On Purple
    • Lake The Posts
  • Notre Dame
    • The House Rock Built
    • One Foot Down
  • Ohio State
    • Eleven Warriors
    • Buckeye Commentary
    • Men of the Scarlet and Gray
    • Our Honor Defend
    • The Buckeye Nine
  • Penn State
    • Slow States
    • Black Shoe Diaries
    • Happy Valley Hardball
    • Penn State Clips
    • Linebacker U
    • Nittany White Out
  • Purdue
    • Boiled Sports
    • Hammer and Rails
  • Wisconsin
    • Bruce Ciskie

Links of Note

  • Baseball
    • College Baseball Today
    • The College Baseball Blog
  • Basketball
    • Ken Pomeroy
    • Hoop Math
    • John Gasaway
    • Luke Winn/Sports Illustrated
  • College Hockey
    • Chris Heisenberg (Class of 2016)
    • College Hockey Stats
    • Michigan College Hockey
    • Hockey's Future
    • Sioux Sports
    • USCHO
  • Football
    • Smart Football
    • Every Day Should Be Saturday
    • Matt Hinton/Grantland
    • Football Study Hall
    • Football Outsiders
    • Harold Stassen
    • NCAA D-I Stats Page
    • The Wizard Of Odds
    • CFB Stats
  • General
    • Sports Central
  • Local Interest
    • The Ann Arbor Chronicle
    • Arborwiki
    • Arbor Update
    • Ann Arbor Observer
    • Teeter Talk
    • Vacuum
  • Teams Of The D
    • Lions
      • Pride of Detroit
    • Pistons
      • Detroit Bad Boys
      • Need4Sheed
    • Tigers
      • Roar Of The Tigers
      • Bless You Boys
      • The Daily Fungo
      • The Detroit Tigers Weblog
    • Red Wings
      • Winging It In Motown
      • On The Wings
    • Michigan Sports Forum

Beveled Guilt

Site Search

Diaries

  • New
  • Popular
  • Hot
  • This Month in MGoBlog History - April 2008: No Spring Game at the Big House! Hockey loses to ND in the Frozen Four!
    Maize.Blue Wagner - 4 days ago
  • Thirteen unlucky minutes (TL;DNR-This is a bit of rant about the refs)
    docwhoblocked - 2 weeks ago
  • Fan Satisfaction Index End of Season Bball Survey
    OneFootIn - 3 weeks ago
  • How likely are we to revert to the mean?
    Bo Glue - 3 weeks ago
  • It's time to avenge Villanova's 1985 NCAA tourney upset over Michigan
    Communist Football - 3 weeks ago
  •  
  • 1 of 2
  • ››
more
  • This Month in MGoBlog History - April 2008: No Spring Game at the Big House! Hockey loses to ND in the Frozen Four!
    Maize.Blue Wagner - 1,429 views
  • 14 Months Ago: The Fire Beilein Threads.
    stephenrjking - 237 comments
  • This Month in MGoBlog History - April 2008: No Spring Game at the Big House! Hockey loses to ND in the Frozen Four!
    Maize.Blue Wagner - 9 comments

MGoBoard

  • New
  • Recent
  • Hot
  • SIAP: U of M Dearborn Bball Team Needs the Money Cannon!
    1 replies
  • Ibi Watson to Dayton.
    16 replies
  • NFL Draft Eve Debate
    47 replies
  • Scrimmage Observations
    70 replies
  • Quote from Nebraska A.D.
    76 replies
  • PSA: 2018 FOOTBALL SEASON TICKET UPGRADES
    7 replies
  • More MSU takes. From USA Today
    59 replies
  • OT: National Park Week; What's Your Favorite?
    159 replies
  • New Q&A with Cam McGrone, video
    3 replies
  • Rice Commission recommendations to be released today
    77 replies
  • MBB: Wake Forest grad transfer PG Keyshawn Woods commits to OSU
    20 replies
  • Harmoniously OT: UM Men's Glee Club in AZ
    17 replies
  • Coach B w Andy Katz podcast
    3 replies
  • Michigan Alumni Club Scholarship Golf Tournament featuring Honorary Chair Glen Rice - This Saturday in Miami!
    5 replies
  • Hello? Boring Tuesday POSbang Happy Hour Thread
    115 replies
  •  
  • 1 of 6
  • ››
  • OT: National Park Week; What's Your Favorite?
    159 replies
  • Rice Commission recommendations to be released today
    77 replies
  • More MSU takes. From USA Today
    59 replies
  • NFL Draft Eve Debate
    47 replies
  • Ibi Watson to Dayton.
    16 replies
  • Scrimmage Observations
    70 replies
  • Quote from Nebraska A.D.
    76 replies
  • SIAP: U of M Dearborn Bball Team Needs the Money Cannon!
    1 replies
  • PSA: 2018 FOOTBALL SEASON TICKET UPGRADES
    7 replies
  • MBB: Wake Forest grad transfer PG Keyshawn Woods commits to OSU
    20 replies
  • More evidence of awful culture at MSU, volleyball this time
    62 replies
  • New Q&A with Cam McGrone, video
    3 replies
  • Hello? Boring Tuesday POSbang Happy Hour Thread
    115 replies
  • A piece of U-M broadcast history ends tonight.
    29 replies
  • Harmoniously OT: UM Men's Glee Club in AZ
    17 replies
  •  
  • 1 of 6
  • ››
  • Belleville coach Jermain Crowell mad at UM again
    244 replies
  • "Being Not-Rich at UM" Guide
    168 replies
  • OT: National Park Week; What's Your Favorite?
    159 replies
  • The Evolution of Commerce - What Industries are Dying, What's Thriving?
    148 replies
  • Pep Hamilton on Shea: Can extend the play, make all the throws, plus other QB's
    129 replies
  • In-state recruiting rankings update
    125 replies
  • OT - Jalen Hurts possibly looking to transfer
    121 replies
  • Notre Dame Spring Game: analysis from M n B, video
    119 replies
  • Hello? Boring Tuesday POSbang Happy Hour Thread
    115 replies
  • Nebraska football
    105 replies
  • OT: Map of college stadiums that sell alcohol
    96 replies
  • Karsen Barnhart - did we cool on him?
    92 replies
  • OT: College Football video games coming back
    90 replies
  • UCF Knights unveil 2017 championship banner
    89 replies
  • Michigan Vs Notre Dame in 131 days
    83 replies
  •  
  • 1 of 6
  • ››

Support MGoBlog: buy stuff at Amazon

Space Is A Big Place

By Brian — August 29th, 2008 at 4:05 PM — 14 comments

This picture evidently has a grip on me.

bo-bump-don

It was the centerpiece of the letter from the editor in Hail To The Victors 2008 and the desperate, searching column following the Post Apocalyptic Oregon Game. And why not? It’s perfect for this place and time.

On the right, Bump Elliot, fired/resigned/retired but at the press conference introducing his replacement. He looks like he wants a sandwich and is thinking about asking that guy off camera if he could get one, but he knows that losing to Ohio State 50-14 is not the kind of thing that helps the sandwich acquisition process.

On the left, Bo Schembechler. He looks like Bo. He is obscurely confident, staring at something. Maybe it’s a wall. Maybe he’s thinking about making that wall the best damn wall that wall can be. Maybe it’s a pair of pants, and Schembechler is devising a motivational method that will get the pair of pants to tailor itself into the best damn pair of pants it could be. It is not a sandwich, or Bump Elliot would be looking over there. It is probably not an elephant or a meerkat or any sort of African land mammal. Other than that we don’t know.

In the middle, Don Canham. In marked contrast to the men flanking him, Canham is sporting an expression of crystal clarity. Staring off into the middle distance, he draws his mouth tight and hunches forward. “God, I hope I didn’t screw this up,” he thinks. In a moment he’ll speak into the thicket of microphones in front of him, introducing the man to his right and hoping against hope that this man from Miami of Ohio can beat back the Buckeye menace. Together they will build an empire.

We are all Don Canham now. Rich Rodriguez comes in with a wildly successful pedigree but promises to finally tear down the culture of Bo’s program, to replace it with something uncertain. This has caused apprehension in some, joy in others, and disdain verging on hatred in a select group.

The program risks changing into something people drift away from because it has drifted from them, or, worse, something that you only wish you could drift away from. It also promises fireworks and fun and victory and a feeling that’s something other than that thing we’ve felt so much before. Other fanbases go through this every five or ten or fifteen years; for us it’s been 40.

I could welcome it, I guess, or celebrate it, or proclaim inevitable dominion over the land. But I don’t feel like it. Nor do I feel like fretting over imaginary scandals future. Like Canham, I just hope it works.

space

Here goes nothing. Go Blue.

  • Login or register to post comments

Comment viewing options

Select your preferred way to display the comments and click "Save settings" to activate your changes.
August 29th, 2008 at 4:42 PM
#2
Chunks the Hobo
Chunks the Hobo's picture
Joined: 07/22/2008
MGoPoints: 4065
Sandwiches

I think the reason Bump can't find a sandwich is because Woody Hayes ate it for him already.

Top
  • Login or register to post comments
August 29th, 2008 at 4:43 PM
#3
NCWolverine
NCWolverine's picture
Joined: 06/30/2008
MGoPoints: 130
We own Space!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QX4Sp0OsY-w

http://www.everydayshouldbesaturday.com/2005/12/08/your-schools-promotio...

...and our fast electrons will take us even further into Space than anyone has been before.

GO BLUE!

Top
  • Login or register to post comments
August 29th, 2008 at 5:22 PM
#4
mth822
Joined: 07/03/2008
MGoPoints: 25
There are traditions that

There are traditions that take time to build. What the former coaches built is worth keeping. But to improve or add to is now the utmost concern. I would say that tradition will make greatness out of any coach or player. But it took many coaches and players to lay that framework. The symbolic rebirth of a program is coupled to a new stadium being built.

 In the words of Yoda,"Death is a natural part of life. Rejoice for those around you who transform into the Force. Mourn them do not. Miss them do not. Attachment leads to jealously. The shadow of greed, that is.”

It's time move on as a program and forward as well.

Top
  • Login or register to post comments
August 29th, 2008 at 5:35 PM
#5
travelingblue
Joined: 07/08/2008
MGoPoints: 116
Space Travel

Well if it's a space journey that we are about to embark on, then I'm glad a guy like Zaphod Beeblebrox is our pilot. It worked 40 (and a 110) years ago.

Top
  • Login or register to post comments
August 29th, 2008 at 5:50 PM
#6
ameed
Joined: 07/01/2008
MGoPoints: 188
In other nerdy words

On the eve of the new era, Aragorn would tell us:

"Hold your ground, hold your ground! Sons of Gondor, of Rohan, my
brothers! I see in your eyes the same fear that would take the heart of
me. A day may come when the courage of men fails, when we forsake our
friends and break all bonds of fellowship, but it is not this day. An
hour of woes and shattered shields, when the age of men comes crashing
down! But it is not this day! This day we fight! By all that you hold
dear on this good Earth, I bid you stand, Men [Champions?] of the West!"

Top
  • Login or register to post comments
August 29th, 2008 at 6:53 PM
#7
Emil Faber
Joined: 07/06/2008
MGoPoints: 122
Or, for the Blue Hairs

This day is call'd the feast of Crispian.
He that outlives this day, and comes safe home,
Will stand a tip-toe when this day is named,
And rouse him at the name of Crispian.
He that shall live this day, and see old age,
Will yearly on the vigil feast his neighbours,
And say, "To-morrow is Saint Crispian."
Then will he strip his sleeve and show his scars,
And say, "These wounds I had on Crispian's day."
Old men forget; yet all shall be forgot,
But he'll remember with advantages
What feats he did that day. Then shall our names,
Familiar in his mouth as household words,
Harry the King, Bedford, and Exeter,
Warwick and Talbot, Salisbury and Gloucester,
Be in their flowing cups freshly rememb'red.
This story shall the good man teach his son;
And Crispin Crispian shall ne'er go by,
From this day to the ending of the world,
But we in it shall be remembered,
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers.
For he to-day that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother; be he ne'er so vile,
This day shall gentle his condition;
And gentlemen in England now a-bed
Shall think themselves accurs'd they were not here,
And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
That fought with us upon Saint Crispin's day. 

  (Henry V, 4, 3)

Top
  • Login or register to post comments
August 29th, 2008 at 9:38 PM
#8
Blue Durham
Blue Durham's picture
Joined: 06/30/2008
MGoPoints: 5296
Thanks

Very reflective, Brian.  Take solace that all of the previous seismic shifts in coaching have gone well.  And just look how well it has worked for Notre Dame... er scratch that.

Excellent quote, Emil, I also thought of it myself reading Brian's post.  In the play, Henry V states this before the battle at Agincourt.  Historically, Henry V and the English, outnumbered 4 - 5 to 1, lost less than 100 men to the French's 7,000 to 10,000 killed.  Lets hope the M - Utah game results in a rout on par with that.

Top
  • Login or register to post comments
August 29th, 2008 at 11:43 PM
#9
Pfax
Joined: 07/21/2008
MGoPoints: 1
I hope I didn't screw this up...

I think what WoJo said is especially prescient.  The Michigan fanbase is about to find out what not having Bo or Lloyd is like.  7-5 might have been a bad year before, but a 7-5 year this year would keep me pretty satisfied.  I just hope, god forbid, if we have a bad year, that it's a speed bump and not the river Styx.

 All in all, I am excited, though.  There's something nice about watching a team fight on game to game, and not being a bitter bunny demanding an annual B10 championship that won't happen.

Top
  • Login or register to post comments
August 30th, 2008 at 7:34 AM
#10
mth822
Joined: 07/03/2008
MGoPoints: 25
Gameday is a eward for the

Gameday is a reward for the players and work for the coaches. Today there are players on the field who think they'll be SO monumental to the success of Michigan. And then there are players, Zoli, Lopata, Graham, Morgan who know they will counted on. There are usually some unlikely heroes though. That goes to you George Morales!

Top
  • Login or register to post comments
August 30th, 2008 at 10:27 AM
#11
Walmart Wolverine
Joined: 08/25/2008
MGoPoints: 65
Presser

Interesting.  From the pic, the only electric media coverage of the Schembechler hiring came from the four local tv stations.  With Rodriguez the national media pushed the local guys to the walls.

Top
  • Login or register to post comments
August 30th, 2008 at 11:00 AM
#12
bamablue
Joined: 06/30/2008
MGoPoints: 2
Picture

I think Canham has gas.

Top
  • Login or register to post comments
August 30th, 2008 at 11:13 AM
#13
Don
Don's picture
Joined: 06/30/2008
MGoPoints: 70412
Gas

Yup, Canham has just raised one cheek off the couch and is about to let one rip.

The thing that's always struck me is how old Bo looked at a young age. In that photo, he was only 39. He looks like he's 50. 

Top
  • Login or register to post comments
August 30th, 2008 at 11:15 AM
#14
ThePrivileger
Joined: 06/30/2008
MGoPoints: 17
well

go blue

Top
  • Login or register to post comments
August 30th, 2008 at 12:18 PM
#15
brown
Joined: 07/01/2008
MGoPoints: 90
Can't watch the game

Until after a wedding... Should I check the score immediately and then watch, or keep myself in suspense and watch the whole thing

Top
  • Login or register to post comments
Powered by Drupal, an open source content management system
Theme provided by Roopletheme; sidebars adapted from Chris Murphy.