Accepted minimum expectations
As Michigan fans, each year we have a ceiling expectation of 13-0 and National Champs. Whenever I am asked by friends and family for my preseason prediction for the upcoming year, this is the answer. However, somewhere down in my gut (which isn't too deep down because I am skinny), I have an "acceptable minimum expectation." At this point in the season, best case scenario would be 11-2, drawing interest from top recruits and stabilizing coaching jobs for years to come. However, what would be the minimum performance you could accept? Here is how my expectations break down: 11-2 ->pure joy and excitement for the inevitable NC's in 2011 and 2012; 10-3 ->same as above but possibly only a NC in 2012; 9-4 ->Happy that we took care of business and likely won a decent bowl game; 8-5 ->My acceptable minimum expectation...we won most of the games we should have, but probably dropped at least one where we were the better team; 7-6 -> Only winning 2 of the last 8 would make me very sad, especially if tOSU is not one of the wins; 6-7 -> My brain would explode at the impossibility of such a scenario.
October 27th, 2010 at 3:16 PM ^
5-7
Seriously.
I'm sick of this "how many wins for you to feel __________".
October 27th, 2010 at 3:20 PM ^
Same here, but I don't think that talk is ever going to stop, no matter how well we do. If we win an MNC, then next season it will start back up again.
October 27th, 2010 at 3:25 PM ^
Exactly. I went to edit my post for clarification but you beat me to it.
I'm in no position to judge acceptability and really no fan is. I'll continue to support the team (coach included) no matter how many wins or loses there are. And I'll be happy that we have an athletic director who won't give in to bone-headed fans.
October 27th, 2010 at 3:56 PM ^
I am not talking about firing anybody here; all I am talking about is my own sanity. I never said David Brandon should do _____ if _____ . I was just pondering my own range of where I'd like to see the team end up, and thought I'd see if anyone else felt similarly. If that makes me "bone-headed" then I sincerely apologize for interupting your very busy afternoon.
October 27th, 2010 at 11:11 PM ^
It wasn't a comment referring to you specifically. You said it yourself: you didn't even reference Brandon. My post was referring to people in general, or really, idiots in general. I didn't say the OP was an idiot.
My problem with this idea/post (again, not you specifically Dr., just this ideology) is that you have fans that put themselves in this condescending position of knowing all and judging what is "acceptable."
My thing is whatever is "acceptable" to you is, like, your opinion man. And frankly, most people's opinions on what is "acceptable" are so misinformed that it embarrasses me that they call themselves Michigan fans.
I wrote a diary in August about a Michigan alum that exemplified everything I hate about Michigan fans. When people talk about "acceptability" all I can think of is that 160 year old alum who says it's unacceptable that we have these gimmicky coaches from WV ruining Michigan tradition.
Check out the diary for complete thoughts on people with idiotic expectations of a sports team of student-athletes. A fucking group of kids playing a sport while attending school.
October 27th, 2010 at 11:49 PM ^
I don't think anybody on here would stop supporting the team if we finish out poorly. I do think there is a difference between supporting Michigan and supporting Rich Rod, if he is not performing to our expectations. If we go down in flames and loose all of our games again to end the season, I would question people's commitment to the team if they still support the coach. Rich Rod is here for Michigan not vice versa.
October 27th, 2010 at 3:18 PM ^
I don't have minimum expectations once the season has started. I live and die for three and a half hours on Saturday and then feel enormously relieved and happy after a win or do my best to stamp down the worry for the rest of the week after a loss.
I've never been someone to bitch about Michigan losing. It depresses me, but I don't really feel like I have any control over it. If Michigan never had a winning season for the rest of my life, I'm honestly not sure if it would change my allegiance at all.
But, I guess to answer your question... I'd be satisfied enough by 7-5 and a bowl game, I suppose. I think we should be able to beat Illinois, PSU and Purdue, but losing one of those games woudln't be too crushing,
Losing on Saturday would be pretty gut wrenching, though. But, I'm starting to feel better about Penn State. I talked to a PSU grad the other day and he seemed to take for granted a Michigan win. PSU fans don't seem to have much confidence in their team this year at all.
October 27th, 2010 at 3:19 PM ^
MGoPolice go!
October 27th, 2010 at 3:21 PM ^
the depth of your gut is actually related to how long your intestines are, rather than your particular volume. each of our intestines are about the same length, 20 feet or so.
i stopped reading after the gut part.
October 27th, 2010 at 3:44 PM ^
"the depth of your gut is actually related to how long your intestines are, rather than your particular volume. each of our intestines are about the same length, 20 feet or so."... Are you serious? That is like saying you had a really DEEP wound; it was 10 inches long. Length, depth and width are different units of measure (http://thinkmath.edc.org/index.php/Length,_width,_height,_depth). I was obviously using depth in this scenario as the measure between anterior and posterior aspects of the.....oh nevermind....it's not like I'm a doctor.
October 27th, 2010 at 3:23 PM ^
I'd be happy with 7-5 and really happy with 8-4. I'd prefer the team not be be home during the Bowl Season.
October 27th, 2010 at 3:54 PM ^
"Looks like we're shy one horse"
"You brought two too many..."
October 27th, 2010 at 7:19 PM ^
"Your friends have a high mortality rate Frank. First three, then two."
October 28th, 2010 at 1:55 AM ^
He's got me hypnotized, I can't look away.
October 27th, 2010 at 3:40 PM ^
I don't think it makes any sense to put a "minimum" expectation for the fans - setting win goals are for the team. I'm a UM fan, and I'll support them (irrespective of the coaches and players) until something horrendous happens. That's the nature of fanhood. Sure, I want the team to win every game, but I supported the Tigers when they lost 100+ games for years, so at some point you are stuck for the good and the bad with a team.
October 28th, 2010 at 10:00 AM ^
Is there not a threshold where you go from thinking that we have had an ok season and you think the team is improving at the right pace?
I agree with those in the comments who say that this topic has been covered plenty of times before. I do not agree with those who say it's an irrelevant discussion.
Surely it's relevant to say something along the line of that if we can win at least 8 games this year, we're on the right track, 7 is about as expected, 6 or 5 is below expectation and should initiate a thorough evaluation of our coaching staff going into next season as we're not improving? Of course the manner in which we win or lose matters as well, but generally speaking, results matter.
October 27th, 2010 at 3:40 PM ^
But I have come to the conclusion that this is definately not Michigan of old. Meaning, we don;t really scare anyone anymore. With that said, the level of talent and ability we seem to have right now, unfortunately, is close to the levle of Indiana. I don;t like to admit that, but if you look at how the season is playing out(with how other teams have trounced Indy) it appears that I have to reevaluate my expectations. I have mentione din other posts, aside from the defense, RR is pretty much on pace with what he did at WVU. The real problem, is his style of fottball and the Big Ten. I am not sure if the propoer adjustments will be made in the next year or so, but after almost three years, I am starting to be doubtful. WHen you think about Mich in the Big East right now, they most likely would be in first! Now, this gets me excited, however, we are in,,,the Big Ten. That is where I get a bit deflated.
I do think we can win another game this year, and get bowl eligible, and maybe take our frustrations out on a team from another league...that is my hope
October 27th, 2010 at 3:46 PM ^
Really?
October 27th, 2010 at 3:40 PM ^
Stop being fucking 10 years old.
October 27th, 2010 at 3:57 PM ^
You're asking at what point the record becomes... UNACCEPTABLE?
EDIT:
At this point in the season, best case scenario would be 11-2...
I'll give you this much: you have a firm grasp on math.
October 27th, 2010 at 4:12 PM ^
Haha...always a strong point of mine :) Clearly, however, based on the feedback in the posts, I need to work on my hypotheticals....
October 27th, 2010 at 4:24 PM ^
No, it's just that the " ____ wins and ____ losses = ________ " equation has been posed an incalculable number of times since the day RR was hired. No matter how you spin it, it's the same basic question. You'll find that a few folks around here have grown rather tired of it.
October 27th, 2010 at 7:59 PM ^
True, this topic has been beaten to death. Most people would ignore it if they didn't want the thread to continue, but there are always your cranky pants posters.
October 27th, 2010 at 9:05 PM ^
I see one hell of a creative wheelie!
(Glass half full)
October 27th, 2010 at 3:53 PM ^
So really, what would you actually do if we bombed the rest of our games and went 5-7? Would you stop cheering for Michigan? Either way, I find your post rather pointless.
October 27th, 2010 at 4:10 PM ^
Obviously I would NOT stop cheering for Michigan, that is crazy talk! I would, however, feel that Michigan could (dare I say should) perform better than 5-7 this season. Do you disagree with that? Sure, the post is a bit pointless, but it is just meant to be a fun hypothetical to spend an otherwise uneventful Wednesday afternoon.
October 27th, 2010 at 4:25 PM ^
win another game and go 5-7, I will still cheer for Michigan, I will be just be cheering for a different head coach.
October 27th, 2010 at 5:02 PM ^
This thread is total rubbish.
I watch Michigan football because I enjoy seeing what happens. It can certainly be thrilling to win...but I have no expectation of wins. Even when the team works hard, plays near perfectly, it is still possible to lose.
And as crazy as it sounds, if the team went 0-12 in a season I wouldn't have any real problems with that because I know that it is just a game and the kids are doing their best (probably working harder than I did at that age) to provide me with something to watch. A winless season might not be much fun, but it would be something I've never seen before and somehow I know that my inner masochist would find something to enjoy even under those dire circumstances.
October 27th, 2010 at 11:59 PM ^
And as crazy as it sounds, if the team went 0-12 in a season I wouldn't have any real problems with that because I know that it is just a game and the kids are doing their best (probably working harder than I did at that age) to provide me with something to watch
You must be an Eastern Michigan fan.
October 28th, 2010 at 9:51 AM ^
Nice level.
October 27th, 2010 at 7:01 PM ^
I would be devastated and lose my respect for Richrod,...But I would NOT stop being a fan. Our present situation of lousy teams is only tolerable if we believe it is temporary . That expectation is what differentiates us from little brother of the last 40 years, when hype sprang eternal, only to crash every year with no REAL basis to support the inevitable hype of the next year. I do not hear Richrod making the reckless boasts that characterizes little brother.I do not hear Richrod arguing with individual players of MSU.I will sit tight and allow him to coach. Only if we suck next year do I panic.
October 27th, 2010 at 7:06 PM ^
As every other Lions fan will tell you, there is no bottom, no end, no floor of perpetual misery, desecration of good things, or absolute hopelessness that your team can reach that will not make you accept them and root for them again. When you think they have reached that point, they will hire Matt Millen, and then re-hire Matt Millen for more money than any other GM makes so he can do it again. Then they'll fire him and you'll say "oh goody, now we can build something!"
There is death -- a family friend has had Lions season tickets since 1960 and finally canceled them this year, admitting to herself that she would probably not survive to ever see them win again. Except some of us are holding out hope that they get the Big Ten Network on the next plane.
There is a point where I may say "fire the coach," but I have a much higher threshold for coach firing than I probably even should. There may come a point when I'll descend to calling for the AD's head. They could tear down Michigan Stadium and replace it with the Pompidou Museum, play in neon outfits with real wings instead of helmet wings, and send the program to Division III so as to focus on academics. But that kid who saw Desmond Howard is never, ever, ever, ever going to let go. Not one shred. I'm rooting for Michigan to win football games until I'm in my death bed, and then I'm going out with my hand in a fist and raised as high as I can possibly get it, and if I can't sing it, I'll be thinking it: HAIL!
October 27th, 2010 at 7:30 PM ^
/End of thread.
October 28th, 2010 at 1:35 AM ^
If there's an MGoBoard Hall of Fame, this should be in it. Beautiful.
October 27th, 2010 at 11:46 PM ^
Sorry to not end the thread after that, but as another new poster hear, I really wouldn't mind someone clarifying the idea of what is and isn't postable? Damnit, I guess I'll start a thread on this....and get negged to death.
October 28th, 2010 at 4:15 AM ^
Things will only improve with time and space! D(defense)/DT>0.
October 28th, 2010 at 9:38 AM ^
I'm still holding out hope for 13-0. And let me tell you why. We're going to run the table the rest of the way and massacre everyone so bad that the NCAA and the University of Iowa and Michigan State will simultaneously agree to reverse the decisions of those games. 13-0.
October 28th, 2010 at 9:45 AM ^
Not because of the two losses. And I wasn't necessarily concerned with the team's record going into the seaon other than hoping they have a winning record and go to a bowl game. What I am disappointed with is the fact the team hasn't shown improvement from game to game. That was what I was looking for. A team that learned from it's mistakes and corrected them to the best of their ability from the next game on. That hasn't happened. The team started off on a fast note and now reality has caught up with them. Playing good teams has been the reason and understandably so. Good teams will point out the weaknesses as MSU and IOWA had done. So now, with a week off to rest and regroup, can the team finally show it knows how to correct some of its mistakes? If past history is a guide, unfortunately no. I hope the team proves me wrong during the next 4 games.
October 28th, 2010 at 4:04 PM ^
...for being late to this party. But it gives me a decent opportunity to cut my image-sharing teeth:
