Curse of... Bo?
I have never been a big believer in sports "curses," but I can't help but notice a particular trend that has occurred in the last couple of years. Let me lay out the scenario first:
It was Novemeber 17th, 2006, about thirty hours prior to Michigan facing The Nameless Terror in arguably the biggest game in the rivalry's history: both teams undefeated, ranked #1 and #2. Michigan had defeated all odds by coming off an extremely disappointing 2005 season to get to this point, and while pressure was building on Lloyd Carr as he had only one win against The Demon of the Ancient World, there was still a feeling of confidence for the Maize & Blue faithful.
And it was at this time that our beloved leader passed.
And somewhere in a different dimension, all the Angry michigan-football-hating-gods had a wild party to celebrate. The party got out of hand, the police were called, and this manifested itself in the form of a giant black hole eating up an entire galaxy, trillions of extra-terrestrial lives were lost...
...and This happened:
yet another loss to DOTAW and Nameless Terror, another loss in the Rose Bowl. Then, in a chance for redemption, one of the most hyped Michigan teams in recent memory with a bonified Heisman candidate RB, a future first overall pick at LT, a 4th year starter at QB, and a couple of future NFL receivers, Michigan lost to arguably the lowest rated team they have ever faced.
Then Oregon finished off a four game losing streak for the first time in... how long?
Then BAM! Wisconsin and Nameless Terror again.
Then 2008.
And my point is, Michigan is now 12-13 since Bo's passing, so I ask: when was the last time Michigan had this bad a record over a 25-game stretch? Maybe I'm crazy, but I just want to throw it out there.
November 12th, 2008 at 12:25 PM ^
it's not like we just switched to a new coach with a drastically new system using players ill-suited for his system or anything like that...
November 12th, 2008 at 12:25 PM ^
You're comparing a fairly small sample size with 40 years of consistent success.
November 12th, 2008 at 12:27 PM ^
we finished 0-2 after Bo died. The two loses were to #1 ranked OSU and to USC in the Rose Bowl. This was followed with a disappointing, yet still respectable 9-4 squad. This years team is bad. It would be bad if Bo were alive too.
November 12th, 2008 at 12:29 PM ^
If any of you buy into this bullshit, send me your name and address so that I can round up Dan Shaugnessy, Bill Plaschke and the rest of the mythical, intangible, curse believing retards and kill all of you together. Because you're idiots. Big idiots. Idiots of epic proportions.
Thanks for the fairy tale, though. If it was in print, I'd wipe my ass with it.
November 13th, 2008 at 12:11 AM ^
As an old-fashioned mystic of epic proportions, I found your post in poor taste... Until I saw the title. Oh, the irony. I lol'd
November 12th, 2008 at 12:32 PM ^
I actually think that App State would have been a top 40 team last year, and if they do go D1, they will be ranked within their first two years. They have something special going on down there, and they are a lot better than people have given them credit for.
November 12th, 2008 at 6:48 PM ^
yeah i thought that last year too. given it doesn't really help as an excuse for our loss, but I thought 'what if they played in the mac' and i think they couldve cleaned up. i mean they beat us and played lsu close one year and average this year. sounds like the possible resume of a good mid-major to me
November 12th, 2008 at 8:49 PM ^
last year didn't they? They changed the rule mid way through the year and voted App st into the AP poll.
November 12th, 2008 at 12:35 PM ^
I hereby lay a curse on every person that peddles "curses" to fill up mind-numbing column inch after mind-numbing column inch.
November 12th, 2008 at 2:27 PM ^
With Dixon at the helm, Oregon was a Pac 10 champ and who knows how far they could have gone if he hadn't gotten a torn ACL. I could point out the hugely impressive win over Florida or the lucky break against Wisconsin, but I guess those would kinda sink the whole "curse" angle you're going for.
November 12th, 2008 at 2:30 PM ^
Uh, I kind of doubt that this "theory" was supposed to be taken seriously.
If it was, then the vitriol is warranted. Otherwise, y'all have some serious pent-up agression.
November 12th, 2008 at 2:57 PM ^
at least one person figured that out.
November 12th, 2008 at 2:54 PM ^
I do not believe this is a curse, but an actual influence by Bo's death. I think the end of that year was effected by Bo's death. We did not seem ready at all in the bowl game. i think there is a chance there was distraction, and this could be true for the OSU game as well. He was the backbone of michigan still to the day he died. He had a freaking office still in Schembechler. The year after I think Lloyd had doubts and stuff but Bo's loss waas minimal last year. I think it did come into effect with the coach search. I do not think RR would be hired if Bo was alive. I think a guy that fits the system more ends up as coach, and we don't lose Mario, Adrian, Mallet, Boren, and mitchell.
November 12th, 2008 at 4:09 PM ^
this is dumb. but for shits and giggles find out how tOSU did after Woody died.
November 12th, 2008 at 6:08 PM ^
We said Michigan is 12-13 in 25 games since Bo died. Ohio State was 12-11-2 in their 25 games after Woody died. They also lost game 26 to go to 12-12-2. If Michigan beats NW, we'd be 13-13 after Bo. Virtually identical in that a win over NW would mean we took OSU's 2 ties and split them evenly with wins and losses. Since I've never looked that up before, that is truly stunning to me.
November 12th, 2008 at 4:17 PM ^
It's a curse alright. I was there. It was placed upon Rich Rodriguez July 11, 2008 in Wheeling, WV. It was a warm night, moonshine was flowing faster than the mighty Ohio River and a variety of critters were roasting on the barbeque pit. Of course Rich (Benedict Arnold) Rodriguez was the topic of conversation.
At some point it became obvious that the only course of action, besides the lawsuit, was a good old-fashioned hillbilly mountain curse. A recent picture of the smiling idiot Rodriguez wearing his new Michigan hat was summoned, a hole was dug on the riverbank in the shadows of the hills of eastern Ohio and then filled with an evil concoction of animal bones, dog poop, pure West Virginia bituminous coal and of course the photo of the traitorous moron.
A variety of curses were applied, mostly old family curses used to bring doom and gloom to someone who has dishonored a member of the clan, in this case the clan was the WVU football family.
After the multiple curses were leveled onto the coach, the participants stood by and solemnly watched the small fire; many immersed in thoughts of what could have been, or should have been.
Suddenly, as if by magic, a warm breeze swept in from across the river. An ill-wind that originated in Ohio. Apparently Woody approved of the curse. The breeze fanned the flames and the small fire erupted into a spark spewing bonfire. In the smoke, illuminated by the light of the moon, the smiling face of Rich Rodriguez could be seen distorting into the face of one who has been damned to hell--the agony and horror was plain to see.
So, please don't blame Bo, he was a great coach and would never do anything to hurt Michigan football. But for those who don't believe in curses, I suspect that sooner or later you will.
November 12th, 2008 at 5:11 PM ^
Michigan played Wisconsin last year with mallet, boren, mitchell, arrington and manningham. Results 37 - 21 loss, looking highly similar to this years team.
Mallet went 11-36 w/ 2 ints
Team Rushing 47 yards.
Time of posession Wisc 38:15 mich 31:45
Highly likely, this year would only be 1 or 2 wins more with Carr and the boys. Last years team was marginal without either Heart or Henne playing.
November 12th, 2008 at 5:33 PM ^
i appreciate the humor but lets not become cubs fans
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