Yes, We Do Suck Right Now, OR How I'm Getting Through This Fall
"You show me a good loser, and I'll show you a loser" - Alan Johnson, Peep Show
While I know Michigan is really terrible at the footballs this year, there is a shift going on, at least in my mind, and I think several of you have noticed it too. This is not about schemes, or coaches, or Ws and Ls. It's about how we view each game; how we view each loss; how we view each win.
The fear element is gone. Remember that tinge in the back of your head before the App State game? Before OSU '04? That nagging feeling in the back of your head that, every game Michigan played, we should win, not we could win; that we somehow were 'owed' the game and, since "We're Michigan" it's somehow 'crushing' when we lose. Our fears were paralyzing. I think that's one of the reasons there was so much apathy from fans.
When we won, we weren't soaked in joy. We were soaked in relief.
Yes, we now have moved away from the FEAR side of the Life Line, and the only remaining direction to go is toward LOVE.
Now, this doesn't mean I think it doesn't suck to lose, and I think it would be a very bad thing if we continue to post up 3-9 seasons. However being as catastrophically bad as we are this year has had a few interesting effects. Other than about a week of a few MSU students/alums being MSU students/alums, no one is really 'excited' they beat us, broke losing streaks against us, etc.
When PSU beat us, Happy Valley was completely dead. No one even cared. When MSU beat us, I got exactly zero text messages from State fans. I generally get about 7 from them when we lose to them in basketball, and most of said friends care about football just as much or more than they do about basketball.
Now the fear element is in their corner. Could you imagine being a BCS Bowl hopeful team and then lose to a 3-8 team? Football is a strange sport, and crazy things like that happen *cough* USC *cough*.
Next week, I get to watch us play tOSU with no real fear. I am pretty damn sure we will lose to the Buckeyes in epic fashion, sealing a 3-9 season and a 5th straight OSU loss. If a big play or two keeps the game close, I get to hope we win, not fear we lose. It's liberating, and it's exciting, especially with the roulette wheel of a team we have in almost every aspect of the game.
Bring on next Saturday, and bring on next season. I, for one, am excited about it all. Who knows? The underdog spirit in football is one of the most powerful of any sport. Buck the Fuckeyes!
November 15th, 2008 at 5:06 PM ^
At least OSU can't hand us the record setting 8th loss anymore
November 15th, 2008 at 5:12 PM ^
woooo.
November 15th, 2008 at 6:53 PM ^
You are right, they can hand us the record setting 9th loss.
:-)
November 17th, 2008 at 5:08 AM ^
It will be the record setting 9th loss of the year.
November 15th, 2008 at 5:12 PM ^
A sane fan... Thank god....
The sky isn't falling... We'll be fine...
November 15th, 2008 at 5:23 PM ^
i was filled with joy today, thinking we were going to beat northwestern. there was a bit of fear that we'd lose, naturally; but still, I was cheering for the seniors, cheering to battle a tough one out in the rain, cheering for michigan football that i know and love. i was one of the biggest skeptics of the new scheme, but i'm buying in. we're at the ground floor of something special. put your brick in the wall and enjoy, or at least engage, the process.
some of us loved the tigers when they dropped 119, and it made the next years that much sweeter.
things are coming together, slowly no doubt, but it's happening. i believe.
November 15th, 2008 at 6:40 PM ^
I hope to all available deities that Michigan football does not put together a 10 year stretch like the tigers did. But, I couldn't agree more that, as a fellow tiger fan, the pain made the sweet sweeter. That's a great reminder.
November 15th, 2008 at 7:46 PM ^
thank you, nice post. it is interesting to not care if they lose. I, like you, used to be terribly nervous before every game, but this year has certainly changed that. It's relaxing, really.
Let's just sit tight for next Saturday, anything can happen, let's support the team and enjoy the game. It's nice to be the underdog.
P.S......you had a good thing going and you had to ruin it with that buck the fuckeyes bullshit. Leave that kinda stuff to MSU, OSU and Illinois.
November 15th, 2008 at 8:56 PM ^
Normally I'd agree, but the thought of our seniors (both fourth- and fifth-year) going winless for their careers against OSU is still extremely worrisome to me. If the game is close going into the 4th quarter, I (and I imagine all of you, despite your claims otherwise) will absolutely be on pins and needles.
November 15th, 2008 at 8:59 PM ^
I completely agree that I will be 'pins and needles.' Filled with the hope we could win, not afraid we'll lose. That was my whole point.
November 15th, 2008 at 9:23 PM ^
So if we lose a heartbreaker, you'll just slap your knee and say "What a jolly good show"? I call bullshit. It's OSU.
November 15th, 2008 at 10:03 PM ^
No, I'll say "Yup, saw that one coming... bring on 2009!"
November 16th, 2008 at 2:45 PM ^
Interesting introspection, boarder.
Just for bullshitting's sake, I have to wonder if the cause of your shift in attitude is the result of the win/loss record or of something else, culturally. Namely, I think of Carr's style of playing "not to lose" as opposed to Rich Rod's playing "to win." Perhaps this changed mentality has seeped into you, as well?
I can't say much else on it, personally, as I don't have any experience with the "fear" side, or the sense of entitlement you described. But what you write may be true of a great many fans. I like the optimism. Welcome to the light side!
November 17th, 2008 at 2:41 AM ^
Great post, I feel the same way
November 17th, 2008 at 10:19 AM ^
Like my toes during the 4th quarter of the NW game, I'm numb to this whole season. And, too, like my toes, I will regain feeling, but it's going to take a little more than sitting in Crisler for an hour after the game.
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