Do the losses sting anymore?

Submitted by MGomaha on

I still love this university, program, and team, but I don't feel mad or upset that we lost anymore. Whether or not Michigan won or lost used to dictate my mood for the weekend and into the next week. Now, I'm just ready for the Lions game. It's not that I don't care about losing, but I just feel... used to it. 

 

You guys feeling the same?

SalvatoreQuattro

October 5th, 2014 at 1:52 AM ^

dumbfounded to feel the sting anymore. This team should not be this bad. No way. I've seen untalented football teams. This is not an untalented team. 

Whomever takes over for Hoke will have a team talented enough to compete for a conference championship.

Ron Utah

October 5th, 2014 at 1:53 AM ^

Yes, it stings.  But now it stings in that "I pretty much expected this but I still hate it" kind of way, instead of the "WTF??!!  I CAN'T BELIEVE WE'RE LOSING TO UTAH" kind of way.

To me, this season will hereafter be dubbed The Season of Infinite Disappointment

I expected a near-great defense and a capable offense.  We have neither.

Jevablue

October 5th, 2014 at 1:58 AM ^

Losses sting, and the way they happen affect it a whole hell of a great deal. How anyone with an IQ >0 could come up with that bullshit call upon review against Michigan, at clearly the most pivotal moment of the game without just having made up their mind in advance to fuck Michigan, is beyond me.  So sure, bad calls go this way and that. But we'd like to think the dickheads that review them in super slow motion could watch them and get them right.  And then some of us love athletics because that is one place where mother fucking politics don't hold sway and performance is obvious and measurable.  BUT EVEN FUCKING HERE, this is not attainable. So when you watch a game, you might think that all those hours in the weightroom matter, but not really, because this is the WWF and the BIG has already picked the winner. This orchestration works great in conference, but not so much out...screw the Big.

bigfan2959

October 5th, 2014 at 2:00 AM ^

When I saw the train wreck that was Michigan last year, especially after in the Nebraska game, I just realized we totally sucked, and would suck for the foreseeable future, and then I really just realized we'd sucked or been mediocre at best for quite a while. It was at that point I started to expect to MIchigan to lose. I changed from an I expect us to turn it around mindset to I believe it once I've seen it for a while, and I don't mean a lucky flash in the pan 10-2 regular season, I mean some sustained excellence we have not seen since the 90's. Frankly except for 2006, we have been at best just above average some seasons.

I used to really enjoy watching OSU lose, now I don’t even care about that.  A lot of people are really going to need to find other things to fill their fill their fall Saturday’s. I for one am finding a certain amount of enjoyment in watching this train wreck. It is interesting and humorous along with being a little bit sad.  It is also curing me of this rather idiotic fanhood I have had for several decades, this devotion to a team that has not rewarded me consistently in a decade and a half.  There will probably come a point where the train wreck in no longer interesting and I will completely lose interest.

I completely lost interest in Michigan basketball for about 15 years, after the careers of the five flops.  By the five flops I mean that fabulously overrated recruiting class we had at the end of the fab five era, including the number one recruit in the country Jerod Ward, the group of whom I think never managed anything other than one NCAA tournament playoff win.  It wasn’t until we started 19-0 and ranked number one a couple years back that I actually started to tune in again. 

I imagine unless we turn it around soon myself and most other fans will completely lose interest and not even bother unless the team becomes a real bonafide contender. 

uminks

October 5th, 2014 at 2:11 AM ^

We have an incompetent head coach and assistant coaches as well. There has been zero player development. I kind of wrote the season off after getting shut out 31-0 by ND. I'm just waiting for the reset button to be pushed at the end of the season and Brandon needs to go with all the coaches.

ShariaLawFan

October 5th, 2014 at 2:12 AM ^

Nothing has really stung since Notre Dame 2008 except the Mississippi State bowl loss, the nail in the coffin for Michigan to field an elite team for at least the following seven years.

Sopwith

October 5th, 2014 at 2:27 AM ^

until the Darboh call. I just lost it because that rule is so hideously misunderstood by both officials and fans, and I happen to understand it... I'm just saying.  I understand the going to the ground rule. And that's dandy.  Except he wasn't going to the ground. 

I've accepted that we suck. Getting jobbed I don't accept.

MUUM79

October 5th, 2014 at 2:35 AM ^

Notre Dame was pure anger as i expected to win. Then it turned to denial. There was bad luck involved, we outgained them in yardage and it didnt feel like a blowout, bad luck in missed field goals and turnovers etc.

Utah was finally acceptance that this is just a poorly coached team and finally Minnesota validated all of that.

I fully expected to lose today and got excited that we had a chance but it is what it is... Losses for the remainder of this season with the way things are, are now expected.

mgeauxblu85

October 5th, 2014 at 2:46 AM ^

I'll never forget my first loss at Michigan. My first time in the team meeting room following a loss was 2004 Notre Dame. A player whom was a year my senior turned around to address the freshman "Whatever you do DO NOT make a noise when Lloyd comes in the room". Usually the team meeting room would erupt when Lloyd entered so I wasn't sure if the upperclassman was fooling around. Lloyd entered and the meeting room was as quite as if somebody had died. Lloyd went over the game and then we broke up into meetings on offense and defense. Whenever there was a loss it was serious business down at Schembechler.

I hate watching the teams that followed my experience because there is a lot of smiling on the sideline. After getting the shit kicked out of them these teams have had a great time. Denard did this constantly and he surely wasn't/isn't the only one. Want to talk about thoughness or leadership Brady? Where is the toughness after a loss? Where are your leaders? Is there nobody in Ann Arbor that can set the team straight after a loss? The answer apparently is no.

Maizenblueball

October 5th, 2014 at 4:14 AM ^

Yes, the losses still sting for me, but not as much as they did earlier in the season. Now my expectations are SO LOW that it's harder to be disappointed. I hate seeing mediocre teams beat us, thinking they are the shit. I hate seeing opposing fans celebrating like they just won the Super Bowl, when they just beat a poorly coached, turnover prone Michigan team. Our players deserve better. We fans deserve better. Something's gotta change.

bluewithenvy

October 5th, 2014 at 2:48 AM ^

the fact that the board's uproar is so muted should be an indication of how much stinging this loss does. There should be more uproar. There should be couches burning. You do realized that we just lost to Rutgers right? I watched the game with some friends. He made the comment that losing to Rutgers is like A&M losing to Baylor. This, is Michigan fergodsakes. If we can't even go up in arms with torches and pitchforks when we lose to Rutgers, I think even we as fans have lost our passion. Can we really blame the players for doing the same after this?

mGrowOld

October 5th, 2014 at 5:35 AM ^

Nope. Game ended and we flipped to VUDU, watched "Lincoln Lawyer" and other than me checking the board hoping beyond hope for a press conference announcement for today (meaning one or both of the two stooges were fired) I moved on. Even made a comment to the wife how different this was from the last......oh I don't know.....40 years?

Logan

October 5th, 2014 at 7:13 AM ^

I was at a party tonight with a bunch of people who I know used to live and die by Michigan games. The game was on and competitive but almost no one was really into it, just utter malaise. Everyone just going about their business catching up with friends, chilling at the bar, etc. Hoke has broken us.

maizenbluenc

October 5th, 2014 at 8:41 AM ^

Leave out the sanctions and academic scandal for a moment and hear me out. UNC games are like giant social events. People dress up - like for a formal cocktail party - and pretty much spend the entire 1st half socializing, which moves outside for the second half. Most appear barely aware there is a game being played.

Your post, and several posts from people still going to the games because they love tailgating with friends ... ugh.

gvsujulius

October 5th, 2014 at 7:33 AM ^

I was actually happy to see them lose yesterday because this is what needs to happen. If they would have won you could make an argument the players could rally around Hoke and still have a decent year, unfortunately that is not the case. Brandon is so in love with Hoke that barring a monumental collapse 2-10, 3-9 I think he brings Hoke back because he is his guy and he doesn't want more upheaval. Also, I am so tired of hearing about our 9th ranked defense.... If you are 2-3 no one should be talking about your 9th ranked defense.

Gulogulo37

October 5th, 2014 at 7:44 AM ^

I was more upset at the continuation of the terribly poor service that is BTN2GoInternational.

I was barely upset today. I threw up my hands and said a couple "What the fuck?" but that was about it. It's one thing losing, but if we had lost that game in that way when this season had actually been going well and I had high hopes, I would have been so much more pissed off.

LSAClassOf2000

October 5th, 2014 at 8:13 AM ^

They will always sting for me, but what is interesting for me is how quickly I am able to compartmentalize and store those feelings. I've always had very deliberate, controlled reactions to things (I know, you're shocked), but this season, I've been able to do in about 30 minutes what normally took hours. I think a lot of that, particularly in the last few weeks, comes from expectations being consistently lowered. 

icegoalie1

October 5th, 2014 at 8:32 AM ^

because there is nothing left at stake anymore this season. If we were still playing for something they would hurt like hell. We have been reduced to just hoping to keep it respectable against our two rivals left on the schedule.

Voltron is Handsome

October 5th, 2014 at 8:43 AM ^

It always stings and I get pissed, but not on the level I used to. I have come to realize that we are about the same as MSU under JLS and there is no fixing it until we get a better coach and athletic director.

Michigan Arrogance

October 5th, 2014 at 8:52 AM ^

no. not even a little. and it sucks. it's like losing your sense of smell/taste. There's nothing to look forward too in the fall now except bad weather and thanksgiving. I wasn't planning on watching this game at all, but I was compelled to do it when I realized the game started. I watched most of the 1st half and slowly realized.... WTF am I doing? this gives me no pleaseure at all, I'm just watching what I know is terrible terrible football and at the half I decided to turn it off. I knew what was coming- faint attempt at a comback, just to see the backs of this team break b/c of the prep and coaching and lack of toughness.

it's been that way all year- even the ND game. All off season I was tired of the talktalktalktalktalk. It was year 4, and I knew it was a show me the money-type of year. None of the preseason fluff was worth reading, none of the insider reports got me interested. I'd heard it all before over the last 7-8 years. 4 star this and Senior laden that and youth on the field, injuries at a key position, coordinator changes-didn't matter. It's year fucking 4 and there are no excuses left. This year will tell as all if Hoke can coach a B10 title type team. So I watched that ND game like I watch Vampire Diaries with my wife: expressionless face with a stone cold blank mind just wanting it to be over. I mean, it started with some anticipation- finally Hoke will SHOW us what he's been building to the last 3 years. Well you showed as, Brady.

You showed us the worst fucking coaching job since John L smith and/or bobby fucking williams. But at least the players are trying and the lettermen are supportin you. But you know what, it just shows you that program insiders don't know jack shit about good coaching either. Good coaches fucking win football games. I don't want to hear one more letterman from 19 hundred and dickity-doo wax on about how good of a coach he is. Anyone who says that should have a permanet asterisk attached to anythign they say about football for the rest of their fucking lives.

Hoke will coach the rest of the year b/c he's too proud to quit and Brandon won't have the balls to do it since he's his guy. So I'm waiting until Brandon is gone and/or Hoke get's canned on 12/1. Maybe then I'll be able to smell or taste M football again. This is NOT Michigan under these two clowns.

 

saveferris

October 5th, 2014 at 8:54 AM ^

The close ones do. When you lose to Utah or Minnesota by a couple of scores, all you do is shake your head in bewilderment and chuckle. When you lose a Rutgers game that was completely winnable, it still hurts a little.

NYMICH

October 5th, 2014 at 8:56 AM ^

Only thing I feel is that every loss brings Michigan closer to a new regime.  I'm actually concerned that somehow this team improves enough to somehow convince the powers that be to keep Brandon/Hoke for another year.

Perkis-Size Me

October 5th, 2014 at 9:22 AM ^

Don't be. We have to lose 3 more games to be eliminated from bowl contention. 2 games are away at OSU/MSU, so those are guaranteed losses. Penn State/Northwestern now look like likely losses, Indiana will tee off on our secondary, as will Maryland.

I'm honestly not sure we could beat Purdue or Illinois right now.


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allintime23

October 5th, 2014 at 9:00 AM ^

I bought a pair of nikes this morning. Lebron 12's. I took away my kids under the lights 3 jerseys. I guess I'll keep changing in hopes that soon I see a change.

flashOverride

October 5th, 2014 at 9:15 AM ^

It's hard to quantify whether I care. Since Penn State last year I've been about where I was after the Penn State loss in 2010...I'm still upset, but it's distinctly more annoyance than the anger it once was. "Fuck the rest of this goddamn weekend" has given way to, "Aw, come on, man seriously...eh...oh well."

It's nice to be able to genuinely feel that whole, "It's just a game" sentiment that other people seem to embrace so easily. Of course, it will only last up until about dinnertime tonight, or sometime later this week, when the Tigers are bounced. 

Cranky Dave

October 5th, 2014 at 9:38 AM ^

I taped the game and forgot to tape the show after. The recording ended at beginning of 4th quarter which would have pissed me off. This time I checked the score shrugged and went to bed

karpodiem

October 5th, 2014 at 9:48 AM ^

I am super pissed this morning. This is not 'Leaders and Best', this is absolute bullshit.

Does anyone on this football team hate to lose? Like, really hate to lose? Because when I lost games in highschool I would shake hands then I really didn't want to talk to anyone.

I see players laughing and conversing after the game. I don't get it. 

Soulfire21

October 5th, 2014 at 9:58 AM ^

Pretty used to it, it's been 7 years of the same shit (minus 2011). Hoke is breeding a losing culture around the program, as evidenced by Funchess' wins/losses are just a statistic comment. Do these players actually care if they win or not? Also has there been any team in history that has underperformed as much as us relative to the talent they are recruiting?

joubertly breathing

October 5th, 2014 at 10:10 AM ^

This is how you can stay a fan and still not kick your dog on gamedays:

 

Step one: Lower your expectations.  Really lower them.  Almost expect to lose, then you will be pleasantly surprised if/when they do win.  Be careful with this though, because it might cause you to forget step one.

Step two:  Root for the young guys.  Since they represent the future of the program, look for positive signs for the future.  Hope springs eternal and all that.

Step Three:  Make sure Stephen Ross has no direct involvement with your team.  He is a cancer who has no business (pun intended) messing with athletics.  

NYMICH

October 5th, 2014 at 10:21 AM ^

By just looking at the boards its pretty clear that losses don't sting many people anymore.  It's been replaced by apathy for the most part.  Just look at the threads.  It looks like the comments for the various threads are about half of what they were just a few weeks ago.  Maybe less. Most people don't even care enough to comment, or even logon to the site.  Sad.

ford_428cj

October 5th, 2014 at 10:24 AM ^

Been a huge fan since 75'. I used to get into it so much for wins & losses alike.  Now I just watch with no emotion whatsoever. It really sucks ....