Back up your talk

Submitted by KRK on

I will say this in regards to anyone who was okay with the booing.  If you will tell me honestly that you would walk up to one of the players at half-time and boo them to their face, by yourself, then I think you are an asshole but at least you're owning up.  If you feel it's okay to boo or insult or curse the players and you would be willing to do that to their face then I guess I can live with that.  I have a feeling that most of you would not and you hide in the see of a mob where you are nothing more than an empty face.  I've always felt that if you are going to say something about a person, you had better be willing to say it to their face or else you are a coward.  I would not have booed, I would also not be able to do it to their face.  Those players do things that you, in your greatest day, would not be able to do.  You can not even imagine the feats they are capable of and for that reason alone you have no right to boo.  There are many others, like the fact that they are kids and inexperienced and I could go on and on.  The simple fact is that if you booed the team or think it's okay to boo kids, then ask yourself if you would be willing to do that to them in the tunnel, to their face, by yourself.  If not, you are not a fan, you are a coward.

Comments

Undefeated dre…

September 29th, 2008 at 4:37 PM ^

I think the boo is acceptable in extreme measures -- e.g., after 21 total yards of offense in a half and -7 passing yards (very hard to do).

The booing isn't directed at individuals -- it's collective. A collective "I'm displeased with your performance." Who's to say that the booing didn't drive Terrance Taylor's halftime speech?

I would *never* boo a kicker for missing a kick, or a player for not making a play. But following a half of utterly putrid football, I will boo.

I'd go a step further -- as a player, I would rather leave the field to a loud chorus of boos than to incredibly half-hearted cheering. Boos show that the fans care.

ShockFX

September 29th, 2008 at 4:43 PM ^

"Who's to say that the booing didn't drive Terrance Taylor's halftime speech?"

Just (if these things were entities) common sense, logic, and everything that a non asshat would consider before uttering something so amazingly idiotic.

cfaller96

September 29th, 2008 at 5:10 PM ^

The booing isn't directed at individuals -- it's collective. A collective "I'm displeased with your performance."

Spin it all you want, but it's not cool to do it to college kids, collectively or individually.  Nobody- not you, me, or even USC fans- is entitled to a "pleasing" performance by college kids.

Yet that is the implication of your 'displeasure expressed as booing' meme that you just floated there.  You seem to think that somehow the kids owe you a performance that "pleases" you.  Bull.Shit.  If you're so displeased with their performance, then vote with your pocketbook- don't buy any more tickets.  I'm sure the players and the other fans would be satisfied with that.

Musket Rebellion

September 30th, 2008 at 9:50 AM ^

You have to realize that the big deal here is that you are booing 18 - 21 year olds. These kids aren't getting paid million dollar lump sums to play football. Some are hoping to one day make millions of dollars, but most are there to play football and get a great education. You booing them reaks of classlessness and the mental incapability to deal with a poor performance. I hope someday you have kids (do i?) and that they are completely inept at sports. Someday they'll be playing some sport, and they'll suck, and I hope right at that moment that I am there booing into a megaphone.

KRK

September 29th, 2008 at 7:57 PM ^

People booing was what caused TT to get motivated?  Yeah, you go ahead and justify it like it helped the team.  I still ask you to go and boo the team collectively, to their face in the locker room by yourself.  If you aren't willing to do that then don't boo at all.

mooseman

September 29th, 2008 at 4:38 PM ^

After reading the long justifications for booing and how it actually helped the team, I suggest we boo when the team enters the stadium.

Imagine how well they will perform after touching the banner to a chorus of boos!

WolvinLA

September 29th, 2008 at 4:41 PM ^

Where is biakabatookus? He is a coward. The two guys in the apartment next to me are recent ex-UM football players. One was a LB and the other was a DE, and they are brothers. I'm sure both of them made mistakes on the field, and I would gladly arrange an opportunity for someone to come over and boo them to their faces. I would even sell tickets.

Dan Man

September 29th, 2008 at 7:44 PM ^

If you cannot see the difference in booing a HORRIBLE team performance (WAY beyond a "few mistakes") from a hundred rows up and walking up to someone face and booing them, then I'm afraid you'll never be able to consider my point with an open mind.  Let's say in fantasy land I met Threet at halftime, I'd probably say, "dude, you're playing like shit! Get your act together."  (I'm sure he heard worse than that from his coaches, by the way.)  If I were in the stands, I can't really say that, can I?  "Boo" is the equivalent.  It's OK to boo, you idiot.  These aren't harmless pussies, they're football players.  For Christ's sake...

KRK

September 29th, 2008 at 7:58 PM ^

I would love to see you walk up to Threet and tell him he played like shit.  Because he knows that your opinion matters and that you could do better.  The coaches can do that because they are coaches, you are a fan.  A observer with an interest is all we are.

anup414

September 29th, 2008 at 5:19 PM ^

I was at the game and saw plenty of people booing and disappointed, but I also saw an equal amount of people cheering the team into the tunnel. People from other schools and media outlets are going to make a big deal that Michigan booed their fans because they love taking shots at us. This year, they have many other things to take shots at us about. Family values, coaches yelling, forcing players to transfer, etc. - which is all complete bullshit and makes all of us very angry. So let's not give the haters more ammo to take shots at us with. Please stop talking about booing! *Other schools don't have blogs nearly as amazing and comprehensive as this one and I am sure they come here for information all the time.

turbo cool

September 29th, 2008 at 5:48 PM ^

why does everyone feel the need to beat this into submission? why can't we just enjoy the victory? if you're booing your favorite team, let alone the school that you follow and/or graduated from then you're not a true fan. however there will be people regardless who will boo. you can't stop them. they're idiots so just cheer louder.

KRK

September 29th, 2008 at 8:03 PM ^

No, I wouldn't call you an asshole immedietley.  I would tell you to shut up.  Then after a confrontation insues (which I'm sure it would) I would call things along the lines of "asshole" but I might be more creative. 

bdubya

September 30th, 2008 at 1:32 AM ^

If you want to boo someone, go boo an NFL team. Boo a team that has given up, boo a team that is made up of professionals getting paid millions of dollars, boo a team that can buy new players when things go wrong. Don't boo a group of kids that are playing their hearts out and only gaining 21 yards. Somehow, I don't see how that would help.

imafreak1

September 30th, 2008 at 9:11 AM ^

" Those players do things that you, in your greatest day, would not be able to do."

Hold on, I can fumble a kick off (or punt OR PUNT I say!) as good as anyone.

See fellas, it's a joke. Because we're happy. Because we won!

Hooray!!

Anyone who refuses to be happpy (an extra p for extra happiness!) can come tell me to my face or else they are coward.

Michael

September 30th, 2008 at 3:53 PM ^

I think the larger issue here is the fact that the majority of the Michigan fan base does NOT advocate booing the team. Those of you who do engage in booing need to realize that the overwhelming majority of people who are affiliated with the University - students, faculty, alums, and THE TEAM - think it reflects poorly on our school and our football program. It makes us sound like complete morons (SEC fans).

Think about all of the fan bases, professional and otherwise, who have bad reputations. Now think about HOW they earned those reputations - by being BAD FANS. The Eagles are a prime example - their fans will BOO anything and they are widely-regarded as one of the worst in all of sports.

ts

October 1st, 2008 at 5:36 AM ^

Sometimes the Big House is too big.

Most of the reasons for not booing cited here seem just as wrong to me as booing in the first place. Booing isn't wrong because the players are young or amateurs. It isn't wrong because it reflects poorly upon the university or negatively affects recruiting. It's wrong because they're your fucking team. It's like booing your mother for trying to make delicious chocolate chip cookies for you because she accidentally burned them.

Anyone who boos their own team in any situation sucks (I'm looking at you Lions fans). You can boo the officials when they make a bad call or the other team for anything including just showing up, but when your team is sucking hard, you sit in silence and suffer. You might worry about Michigan's perfect record against MAC teams getting shat on by Toledo. You may text little brah regarding the availability of your Motor City Bowl tickets. But you don't boo the home team. Ever. If I didn't grow up on this shit I swear I would have given up a long time ago and picked a random MIAA team to follow.