My final diary
*Edit* sorry for the edit, but i had to rush off to practice, i meant to say one more thing... If you have a problem with me, feel free to drive south, till you hear someone screaming, but you better ask somebody first, and bring your friends.. (joking of course, i would never advocate violence)
Over the past year i have been posting less and less mainly for a couple of reasons
2. Old dogs/new tricks.... Most people dont seem to be interested in being positive if they are by nature negative, and vice versa.. As i expressed last year (http://gsimmons85.blogspot.com/2008/11/unbelieveable-fandom-in-new-world-order.html ) it was becoming LESS enjoyable for me to watch michigan last year becasue of trying to temper the negativity around here.. Although its fun when we win, i have a hard time being around people that dont enjoy the process as much as the result. If you are like that, that is fine, its my choice to move away from it.. I actually feel bad for people that have so much passion about things that they know so little about. I admire the fact that many of you love football, in particular michigan football as much as you do. I just wish people could learn to enjoy being a fan, and not try to comment on things they dont have a clue about. but to each his own i suppose. Im sure some of you regret not being invovled in football growing up, or now, like i do about not trying to play at Air force, i know it must be hard to not be able to effect the outcome like you wish you could. Coaching is fun, football is fun, playing is fun, and being a fan is fun.. fortunatley for me, i get to see it from all the sides. As a coach i get to be crazy psycho, so that allows me to be calmer as a fan, i suppose.
3. Lack of need.... The whole purpose i had around here was to offer a different perspective. THere are others around here now that can offer that same perspective, i might not always agree with those people, i think that just shows that there are many ways to skin a cat. Without knowing the call sheets, the techniques being implemented, and the terminolgy, its impossible to know exactly what is going on, but there are others around here now that offer as much insight as i could.
Not that i will be missed, but being narcissistic like i am, i felt like telling people that i wont be posting around these parts anymore. I think this past weekend really made me realize how bad people are at second guessing. Maybe when football is no longer my career i will be able to look at being a fan differently but right now, i am struggling with taking my view point and consolidating it with this blog. I choose to believe that people that know more about something than I do, will make the right descions.. My inclenation when i see s descion that i dont understand is to assume that someone knows something i dont. If I (with 20 years of experience, and a list of who's who among coaching circles knowing who i am) can not arm chair Qb, why cant others? Is something that i wont understand, and thats ok. this just isnt the place for people like me.... Just like i assume that pilots know more about flying then i do, michigan coaches know more about michigan football than i do..
I cant be around people that question coaches on every matter and who's first thoughts are "what is he doing?" It is like someone disrespecting my profession every day. Are there bad coaches? yeah im sure there are, do coaches make mistakes? yeah sure they do. But in both of those questions nobody on this blog is qualified to answer, no matter how much football you watch...
Morn me not, for i am not dead, just not going to post anymore...
unless i do..
Later
G
"Morn me not, for i am not dead, just not going to post anymore..."
Isn't that from John 4:13?
Ann Arbor is a classy broad.
"Get off my plane!" - Ricky Stanzi, Air Force One 2
gsimmons, it was good while it lasted, and I wish you well in your other endeavors. Before you leave, I think we need to settle a few things:
Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to go enter the witness protection program.
The Wolverine Liberation Army- saving Michigan fans one dick joke at a time.
gsimms.
hope you're happy now.
Infinity can only happen once. Think about that.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UwGXMryTbwE
He's just leaving us to squabble amongst ourselves, shaking his head in disgust.
LOOK WHAT YOU DID! THIS IS WHY WE CAN'T HAVE NICE THINGS IN THIS HOUSE!
The Wolverine Liberation Army- saving Michigan fans one dick joke at a time.
Unlike some of the other posters, I think that not only is there room for more than one coach/ex-coach on here, it is desirable. Having two or more coaches on here debating makes us all smarter about football because, as you say, there is more than one way to skin a cat (there's no one coach who knows as much about the west coast offense as Bill Walsh AND as much about the run and shoot as June Jones AND as much about zone blitzing as Dick Lebeau AND on and on and on). In addition, it points out to the rest of us laymen that even professionals can disagree. This is the interesting part to me, and takes us more into what it might be like behind the scenes in the offices at Schembechler Hall. Many coaches with their own backgrounds and abilities, discussing strategy and tactics. That's the stuff.
So, I at least hope you'll continue posting responses to Brian's blogs and Steve's diary, or others more sabremetrically based, or any you want. (I just don't read those as much. ;)
Enjoy the family and good luck with everything.
I enjoyed your insight. I agree with you completely about the armchair quarterbacks and whiners. Good luck to you sir!
that this is a perfect place for fans to vent their frustrations. It is a perfect place to call into question anything and everything relating to Michigan football. It is a great place to learn more about a sport that is endlessly complicated. Discussing all points of view about my favorite team is exactly why I come here so often. If you can't stand other people's opinions (no matter how ridiculous they might seem to you), then you shouldn't post here.
You are absolutely right that none of us have enough information to be making comments like "I would have made a better decision." But if I just watched a game where our punter goes for it on the three yard line (15 yards away from the LOS) when it's 4th and inches, I'm gonna be confused. This confusion will lead to frustration, and a good way to find out about it is going to this site. I don't know what happened on that play, but discussing it helped me to cool down.
I have always valued the kinds of people who are open to new ideas, and that allow other people to bring new insight to them. Just because someone isn't an expert in a particualr field doesn't mean they can't have good ideas about it. In fact, sometimes you gain a fresh perspective from these people. Discussion in this type of forum has never been available in the history of mankind. If it is not for you, then I think you should move on. No hard feelings, adieu, and Go Blue!!!
Nothing wrong with new ideas, but one of the great fallacies of our time is the notion that everyone's opinion or idea matters. It's not true. Some people are just idiots or maybe they just don't know what they're talking about on a particular issue.... they should be ignored at all costs.
Frankly, giving them a voice or any degree of empowerment is entirely counterproductive to society. The world needs ditch-diggers... so let's put 'em to work and keep 'em off the interwebs. Let's keep the net present social value of this blog in the positive. Big G leaving is a major hit to that.
That's right, Dude. 100% certain.
And you illustrate yet again this iron law of nature: he who chooses a handle that is in ALL CAPS is always a flaming asswipe.
you'll be missed.
GSimmons, you're analysis over the years has been informative and really quite interesting. It's nice to see so many of the old school guys on to bid you farewell.
Good luck with the season.
"If the haters they don't hate you then you're doing something wrong" - David Cone
GSimms, you live in North Carolina right? I live in Charlotte, so if I hear anything about a certain "Simmons" I'll know who they're talking about..
Twitter / The Fifth Quarter
Good luck man. Liked reading some of your posts, and while I may not agree with all your rationale for leaving, they are yours and your decision. Best of luck this season and beyond.
keep rocking that hair band music from your american muscle car.
Always been a pleasure G-- been MGoFriends as long as I've been here, and hate to lose a familiar name. But I can respect the 'spending time with the family' thing, so by all means best of luck.
Ever consider just showing up here and throwing your 2 cents?? You know, it is possible to just drop comments and not have to be the authority on coaching philosophy.
As always, the offer to re-brand your team's uniforms is an open standing invite.
"I will fight, 'til I'm dead, with a Winged Helmet on my Head"
this. i think simmons was trying to be a key contributor too much and took the criticism personally as a result. being a general commenter isn't so bad and can offer a lot to the site.
Good luck with the coaching and thanks for all your posts. I learned a lot from them.
and best of luck with your endeavors.
"Yeah, well, you know, that's just, like, your opinion, man." - J.Lebowski
You will be truly missed.
I know exactly what you're talking about wrt the ignorance that many fans bring to the table. Perception is sometimes reality, unfortunately, and the perception is that football is a simple game when, in fact, it is amazingly complex. People don't realize how many years of study it takes to become even a competent coach. If people questioned their doctors in the same manner and with the same regularity as their favorite teams' coaches, there would be thousands of malpractice suits filed daily in every courthouse in America.
I also empathize and sympathize w/you wrt the time demands of coaching in addition to the duties of an adult in every day life. Given your responsibilities outlined in the OP, I'm surprised you were able to post at all on any blog site.
I wish we both had the time and opportunity to talk ball together.
Standing ovation, sir.
I feel like I never really knew you, ya know?... I mean, Brian pointed at you at the spring game, but I just walked away...
Seriously though, good luck.
not just "douchey" MGoBlog user, but now TRUSTED MGoBlog user
I also felt the same way after seeing all of the arm-chair quarterbacks questioning Rodriguez whether it be on this site, facebook, wherever and I don't even know anything about football and I completely agree with you. No one has any idea WTF happened on the sidelines or how people were acting.
We will miss you GSimms I really appreciated your analysis and I will be sure to go over to your site even though it was generally over my head.
Good luck with everything and good luck in your career you're a good one.
"A house divided against itself cannot stand"
A bit dramatic idn't it?
or uh, Duder, or El Duderino if you're not into the whole brevity thing.
GSimms, I hope you fly!
Despite the numerous, valid reasons for leaving, maybe it's better to put this decision on the back burner for now. You have provided us simple fans with a lot of valuable insight and information, and as you can see most people here appreciate that. An expression I read once says, "To share your invention with the world is not simply generous, it also shows your intelligence." Thank you, and hope to read from you again.
The old man Gsimms is clearly frustrated that someone more knowledgeable than him in defense (Steve Sharik) has stepped up, and has been posting much more insightful comments.
He is also apparently not happy with the second guessing posted here by Brian Cook, the #2 poster on this site. Since this happens to be Cook's blog, Simms is going somewhere.
I say good riddance.
Your ego is way bigger than your knowledge; we're better off with Sharik than you.
I'M THE MAN
...but I absolutely reject the notion that we're better off w/me than gsimmons.
I do not approve of your message.
Perhaps when you take your head out of your behind, you'd like to make a delightful apple crisp. You need a recipe? I have one right here:
Ingredients
* 1 lemon
* 3 pound(s) Granny Smith and/or Golden Delicious apples, peeled, cored, and cut into 1-inch wedges
* 1/3 cup(s) (plus 1/4 cup) packed light brown sugar
* 2 tablespoon(s) (plus 1/3 cup) all-purpose flour
* 1 teaspoon(s) ground cinnamon
* 1/2 teaspoon(s) salt
* 1 cup(s) old-fashioned oats, uncooked
* 4 tablespoon(s) butter or margarine, softened
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. From lemon, grate 1/2 teaspoon peel and squeeze 2 tablespoons juice. In 13" by 9" glass or ceramic baking dish, toss lemon peel and juice with apple wedges, 1/3 cup brown sugar, 2 tablespoons flour, ground cinnamon, and salt until apples are evenly coated.
2. In medium bowl, mix oats with remaining 1/4 cup sugar and 1/3 cup flour. With fingertips, blend in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Press crumb mixture into clumps and sprinkle over apple mixture.
3. Bake apple crisp 30 to 35 minutes or until apples are tender and topping is lightly browned. Cool crisp on wire rack for 10 minutes to serve warm, or cool completely (1 hour) on rack to serve later. Reheat if desired.
the most random response to asshattery I've ever seen.
Well done sir, well done indeed.
----------
the Original Deathbacker:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DyxdEv_XDjs#t=3m32s
...apple crisp.
requirement of being a Michigan Man is to, obviously, have male genitalia.
Change your handle. Now.
...was hilarious. Also, random, but I never bothered to look, and it was awhile ago- aren't you the guy who is going to a far-flung African nation (I apologize, I can't recall where precisely) for work and was asking about a bar to watch the PSU game? What ever came of that?
This is what I was referring to, which he never answered and never said whether he was even serious about. http://mgoblog.com/mgoboard/michigan-game-coverage-algeria
Wow, really?
Are you a park ranger at Yellowstone? Say hi to Yogi Bear for me.
Sorry- I was asking that of JG2112. There was a thread like 2-3 weeks ago where he asked about it, and I was asking what came of it, that's all. I shouldn't have juxtaposed that question with my response to his calling out of the guy and me saying it was funny, I suppose. Prose FAIL on my part.
EDIT: Here's the thread I was referring to. http://mgoblog.com/mgoboard/michigan-game-coverage-algeria
Can you smell what the rock is cooking? Hint, the answer is a banhammer.
Are you a park ranger at Yellowstone? Say hi to Yogi Bear for me.
are a douchebag.
...the Canadians make up for it with their emotion and classic ice-dancing skill.
You are such a fucking asshole it boggles the mind. Unfortunately, you and all the other MICHIGAN MEN who have swarmed this MICHIGAN MEN'S ROOM of a discussion board once the team started losing have the cacaphonous voice. You are legion.
What? This board is turning into Scout and is driving away a lot of the good posters.
I didn't know that on Brian's own site that he was the #2 poster....
This board is becoming more scout/mlive-y every day..
"A house divided against itself cannot stand"
sorry wrong spot
www.gsimmons85.blogspot.com
If you do have time, can't you just post elsewhere? I agree the last few days were filled with so many armchair quarterbacks it was irritating... but that is the right of the fan. How we react to them is what matters.
I personally enjoyed your posts and would read them if you posted your own weekly blog.
Do Something. If it works, do more of it. If it doesn't, do something else.
gsimmons85.blogspot.com
ill still do stuff there from time to time
www.gsimmons85.blogspot.com
Thanks GS for your insight and depth of knowledge. As just a regular fan, I really appreciated your understanding of the game and your patience explaining things. It was good to have a rational voice in the sea of last year's difficult season for M.
Best of luck with your coaching future and this year's team. We were fortunate to have your input. You'll be missed.
Go Blue!
Thanks for the time you did put in here. Best of luck with your coaching and family.
There are no corners in space.
I always enjoyed your posts.
But good luck.
Where's Charlie Bauman when you need him?
You will be missed. It just got a lot less sane around here.
So long and thanks for the quality insight. Enjoy the kid-raising while they're still kids. We only get worse with age.
That's right, Dude. 100% certain.
It is the same everywhere. If people actually knew how to complain about how we are building our particle accelerator, they'd bitch about how we are doing it. But they don't. So I can say pretty much anything I want and they go all deer in the headlights.
But football. Everyone has played touch football in the back yard. Go long and don't stop. Look like you are going long then stop. 2 greatest plays in all of 9th grade touch football. Thus, they think they know something. Thus they think they can do it better.
Sorry to see you go.
Let us know if/when you make the jump, and how it goes for you.
big gulps eh...
"Begin with the end in mind."
-Lloyd Carr