The Anti-Boycott Movement

Submitted by Arizona Blue on

I posted this in the UTL III boycott thread below but think we need to take a step back and think about the impact of the rage movement:

If you truly love Michigan you are going to show the fuck up to games and root on the team. At this point, It’s a foregone conclusion Brady Hoke is out of a job at the end of the year and Brandon is holding on for dear life. Both have done irreparable damage to their careers regardless of attendance / boos.  I promise you guys, we will have blood. Be patient.

 

What is totally unacceptable in my book is abandoning the team.

 

Ya they suck, ya they have shitty coaches, ya it’s not a lot of fun watching them but these young men have worked their entire lives for the opportunity to win football games for Michigan. The seniors especially deserve our respect and attendance. These young men may never play again, and deserve to be sent out with dignity (not to empty stadiums and red Ohio colored fucking t shirts).

 

I would hope that more people on this blog can start to have a little bit of empathy for some of the guys whose careers are winding down and didn’t turn out like they, or we, had hoped (don’t even get me started on the young men with NFL potential who may never get a shot due to coaching indignities).

 

Do what’s right and support the young men

1464

September 29th, 2014 at 4:48 PM ^

If you show the AD that you are complacent with a lack of results and a lack of integrity, then you are empowering Dave Brandon to keep wrapping his slimy fingers around our program.

In just a few short years, our beloved team has been transformed from a stoic and respectable figurehead of college football to that team that gets beat by the Harlem Globertrotters.

There is no longer substance.  It is saccharine. 

It's pop music that was specifically designed to infect us with its incessant chorus, but lacks the songwriting of an advanced third grader. 

It is a turd wrapped in a very expensive roll of sequin encrusted wrapping paper. 

It is fireworks and pageantry at Sea World, when inside the aquarium, a bottlenose dolphin is floating stomach up and everyone within 10 FUCKING MILES can smell that this poor porpoise has been dead for a decade.

But his brain, it doesn't function like normal brains.  His brain sees this dead fucking sea creature, surrounded by glitz and glamour, and he says to himself "What this situation needs... it needs more WOW!!!"

The ONLY way to stop him is to convince his superiors that he is worthless.  If I were to bump into him in the hallway, and suggest that there is more band and less piped in music, he would nod and never pay it attention again, because obviously, only one of us is the AD at Michigan.  He is so tone deaf, that if he were to read this post, he'd consider it an endorsement. 

Keep up the great work, Mr. Brandon!  We'll all see you on Saturday!  I hope you're bringing the water, because I am not allowed.

SFBlue

September 29th, 2014 at 4:10 PM ^

I think you could truly love Michigan and come out either way on the boycott question.  But I agree with you: support the team in the way you think is most appropriate. 

Class of 1817

September 29th, 2014 at 5:01 PM ^

Spot on here.

Run happily with the most appropriate course of action for yourself.

Some people think that a holdout will help in the long run. Others are in support of being there for the players.

Both are looking out for what's best for the University of Michigan in their respective ways. 

Let's leave it at that.

Go Blue.

mich_engineer

September 29th, 2014 at 4:10 PM ^

"At this point, It’s a foregone conclusion Brady Hoke is out of a job at the end of the year and Brandon is holding on for dear life."

 

What evidence is there of this?  Was it the prompt disciple/suspension/firing of Hoke following 48 hours of national embarassment?  Oh wait, they circled the wagons and basically declared that they are not accountable to anyone in any way.  So yeah, the only real power that we as fans have is to show up the program in a way that they have demonstrated actually means something to them, in this case, the 100k+ attendence record (since they are increasingly North Korea-esque in declaring it alive, they must actually care).

mich_engineer

September 29th, 2014 at 4:15 PM ^

Don't get me wrong, I think Hoke should have been fired long ago.  I think that his BEST case scenario is avoiding a complete and utter breakdown of team discipline, and that is kind of a stretch at this point.

 

What I am saying is that, from what we have seen, noise from the rabble doesn't reach the top.  There is no evidence whatsoever that Dave Brandon is going to be in any way responsive to what we as fans think, including that we think that Brady Hoke should be fired.  Essentially, there is zero - absolutely zero - motivation for Brandon to respond to what anyone else wants so long as the big money donors are in his corner.

 

Seriously, I sadly am holding the belief that Hoke is back after this year for that reason.

Everyone Murders

September 29th, 2014 at 4:22 PM ^

Not to be contrarian, but what makes you think that "the big money donors are in his [Brandon's] corner"?  If the players, general fanbase, students, media, and regents are out of patience, why wouldn't the big donors be? 

Do you think J. Ira and Nicki Harris are happy now to have their name associated with Coach Hoke?  I'd be chatting with Mark Schlissel right about now if I were in their shoes.  These donors have big egos, and this tire fire can't sit well with them. 

mich_engineer

September 29th, 2014 at 4:26 PM ^

As has been posted before: http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20140927/NEWS/309289978/pressuring…

 

I hope that I am wrong, that this is simply supporting the establishment rather than personal support of Dave Brandon.  But, if someone with the public presence of Stephen Ross is OK with this train wreck, why not others who have a lot more in common with him than with you and I?

 

Drew_Silver

September 29th, 2014 at 4:34 PM ^

Ross made his comments before the game

Crain's makes mention of UofM's 2-2 record

 

Going into Saturday's home game against Minnesota, Michigan was 2-2, a record that included humiliating losses to Notre Dame and the University of Utah.

 

I doubt his is as firmly in his corner now

Drew_Silver

September 29th, 2014 at 4:38 PM ^

after the ND game did you think that was the lowpoint of the season?

After UTAH, did you think that was the lowpoint?

we really have no idea how bad this can get - but he won't get fired during the season.  I just don't think that is the Michigan way.

It is going to be a long ride till  the saturday after Thanksgiving 

macdaddy

September 29th, 2014 at 4:21 PM ^

Yeah, about this, there's no way Hoke doesn't get fired right? Right? I mean even if we slip through a black hole to some parallel universe where we win out (ain't gonna happen, I know), he still gets fired right? There's no way he survives, no scenario in which he's our coach next year, I need a guarantee here.

psulionstorm07

September 29th, 2014 at 4:11 PM ^

I agree with this.  Never, ever, ever abandon those kids on the field.  Not only are you not going to be very successful (a lot of people would be willing to take your spot and a lot are just not going to participate), but it discourages future recruits from playing for you.

 

Like I said, the best thing to do is to constantly chant to fire Hoke and Brandon.  You'll still be supporting the team, but not the coaches.

thatsmyjam

September 29th, 2014 at 9:01 PM ^

Because I am throwing my tickets in the trash. They're paid for and thus count for the "attendance" number, but the image on TV will speak differently. I wish I hadn't paid for them, because the only way to get DB's attention is with our wallets, and I already emptied mine, cause I'm a dumb idiot. I think chanting has about as good of a chance (pun intended) getting attention as an empty stadium. Good luck whichever way you decide! 

 

psulionstorm07

September 29th, 2014 at 4:11 PM ^

I agree with this.  Never, ever, ever abandon those kids on the field.  Not only are you not going to be very successful (a lot of people would be willing to take your spot and a lot are just not going to participate), but it discourages future recruits from playing for you.

 

Like I said, the best thing to do is to constantly chant to fire Hoke and Brandon.  You'll still be supporting the team, but not the coaches.

allintime23

September 29th, 2014 at 4:12 PM ^

"Yeah they suck, do what's right and support the young men." Everyone needs to take a second before they start a thread. Couldn't this be a post in one of the threads about wearing red to games or not going at all. It's been a bad year. It'll be over soon.

MileHighWolverine

September 29th, 2014 at 4:34 PM ^

This is the first I've heard of wearing red to the games in protest....and I'm actually quite pumped about that idea. Could you imagine that shit show if you alerted the media to what was going on beforehand?

I'm really warming up to this idea and think anyone going to the games should wear red and then tell everyone around them why they are doing so ... maybe by the last home game we can get 50% of the stadium in red.

bchristo

September 29th, 2014 at 4:40 PM ^

The best game that I've attended, over ND UTL's, was our 3-9 year when Michigan miraculously came back to beat Wisconsin.  Ya, at the moment the program is in a shitstorm...yes the calling of coaches being fired is justified.. but, I guess I have to apologize for this, I'll continue to support this team.

Yostbound and Down

September 29th, 2014 at 4:47 PM ^

That's fair if you want to support the team that way, but I guess I'm being aggressively reasonable in saying, in general, there's no "right" way to be a fan of the football team. I have tickets with my dad, cousin and grandpa to the MSU game and I am dreading going, but I will cheer for UM if I do go. But sweeping with a broad brush that people who want to protest aren't fans is pretty shortsighted. I live in AA and I won't be going to a game this year. My money and time is better spent on just about anything else.

1464

September 29th, 2014 at 4:13 PM ^

I'm also taking this time to establish the Anti-Movement Movement.  Just sit at your couch or computer all day, every day.

It's basically just a big fuck you to Play 60.  Malaise has set in, and so help my God, I will be fat and slovenly in an attempt to show everybody how much this situation sucks.

FreddieMercuryHayes

September 29th, 2014 at 4:13 PM ^

People boycotting are supporting the young men.  By demanding that they receive better than they are getting.  You're right, Hoke is gone by season's end.  But it's a long shot that Brandon is fired.  And the fish rots from the head down as they say.  Nothing will get better with Brandon at the helm.  And nothing will remove Brandon unless people stop buying things and showing up for games.  Holding the players hostage in the 'support the players!' plee is exactly what Brandon is counting on so he doesn't lose his job.  Demand better for the players.  Supporting the athletic department will not do that.

Rabbit21

September 29th, 2014 at 4:15 PM ^

The only thing I have to say to that is to go with Genuinely Saracastic's take of getting the coaches out of there does support the team.  They're being let down by the coaches so this is a good way to support their long-term outlooks.

SituationSoap

September 29th, 2014 at 4:14 PM ^

It seems kind of odd to have reached a point where your connection to a product is so irrational that you begin lobbying to other people to continue buying that product when it's not something they want to spend their money on.

 

Dave Brandon doesn't view you as an alumnus, nor a fan. He views you as a customer. One that he thinks he can do whatever he wants to, and still retain your patronage. The only way to send the clear message that he's wrong is to stop paying for the product. 

 

If you're dissatisfied with the product, stop paying for it. If you're not, keep paying, but don't be surprised when it doesn't get better.

readyourguard

September 29th, 2014 at 4:14 PM ^

I've been attending Michigan games for 30+ years and the only boycott I've ever upheld is a boycott of the men's bathroom stalls.  I'd rather risk severe internal trauma than sit on one of those thrones.

93Grad

September 29th, 2014 at 4:18 PM ^

Hoke is a goner no matter what and Brandon may be too.  So as much as I want new leadership, I will be at the Maryland game, because it is still Michigan football and there is nothing better than being in AA in the fall.  I respect everyeone's right to show up or not show up, my tickets are already paid for so I might as well get something out of the cost.

Tuebor

September 29th, 2014 at 4:15 PM ^

If we lose our next 2 games and then get demolished by MSU like I expect will that be enough to get Hoke out or will we keep him around to get blown out by Indiana, Maryland, and OSU too?

JAG333

September 29th, 2014 at 4:16 PM ^

Agreed. I just bought a pair of tickets to Maryland off eBay, so I could go with our friends coming up from Chicago. I'm pissed like everyone else, but my love for UofM is too strong to boycott all the history just because I hate the AD and coaching staff. Fuck Dave Brandon and Brady Hoke. Go Blue forever!

tjohn7

September 29th, 2014 at 4:17 PM ^

An abandonment of this team by not showing up for the rest of the season is wrong.  But not showing up to a specific game, in order to send a message to the administration is in my mind, commendable.  

BlueTimesTwo

September 29th, 2014 at 4:17 PM ^

Of course Hoke is such damaged goods right now that every day that he remains on the job is another day that Michigan sends the message that it doesn't care about the safety of its players.  Losing games and wasting the talent of a bunch of good kids is bad enough, but continuing to damage the reputation of team and the school is even worse.  If the university will not take the appropriate action, then what else can we do?

The University could have actually made some lemonade out of the Hoke lemons if it had been decisive with the firing.  If you wait too long, even firing him will look like a response to the bad PR rather than a response to his actions that endangered a player.

BTW, negative recruiting a team for not playing well is easy enough, but when you can tell parents that their kids will not be safe at Michigan, it will be easy pickings for MSU and OSU.

itsgreattobe16

September 29th, 2014 at 4:18 PM ^

As much as I am ready to see Brady go, I will still give this team and these players my unrelenting support.

These young men have worked hard to be in this position. As fans of the program and/or graduates of the university, we should be able to recognize the difference between calling for a change in leadership and publicly embarrassing 20 year old student-athletes (although one could argue the coaches are already doing this).

Change will come, but any boycott would only make matters worse. Change will come.

BornInAA

September 29th, 2014 at 4:18 PM ^

I really don't think the people that read this site are going to have that much of an effect either way. How many season ticket holders are reading this? 1000? Out of 100,000 seats? Many of the seats are the 50+ crowd and don't read blogs. You might affect the student section, but they already are boycotting.

 

 

JZ

September 29th, 2014 at 4:18 PM ^

At this juncture, it is inevitable that Brady Hoke is on his way out (more a matter of when). 

Therefore, boycotting the games due to disdain of the Coaching/AD disregards the players who genuinely feed off fan support. We are gathered on this site because of our common, and collective, love for Michigan football. 

I will continue attending games because I feel for these players, I respect these players and hope they can eventually succeed. Why punish the players for the mistakes of their coaches? 

CLord

September 29th, 2014 at 4:19 PM ^

I am in this camp.  Boos and lack of attendance impact innocent players just as much as they do the coach and AD.  These are the kids who turned down offers to Ohio and Alabama to work their butts off for us, their fans.   We need to do right by them and respect their efforts by attending the games and cheering for them, in between "FIRE HOKE" and "FIRE BRANDON" cheers which should be happening every 5 minutes or so.