Former players planning show of support

Submitted by carlos spicywiener on

http://michigan.247sports.com/Bolt/Former-Michigan-players-planning-wee…

Former @umichfootball players are planning a weekend of support for the current players starting tomorrow by going to practice.

— Desmond Howard (@DesmondHoward) October 9, 2014

Former @umichfootball players told me that the "current players need to know we are here for them even if nobody else is."

— Desmond Howard (@DesmondHoward) October 9, 2014

 

Yeah, ok Desmond.

MGoDC

October 9th, 2014 at 8:34 PM ^

It's sort of ironic, because I completely support the players and not the coaches like you said. But irritating things like this and the Brian Cleary rant are making me support the players less. I'm still in full support of them but their "nobody believes in us" attitude acting like we are all fairweather fans who have abandoned them is actually starting to drive a wedge between the fanbase and current players -- at least it is for me.

bronxblue

October 9th, 2014 at 10:21 PM ^

To be fair to the players, lots of Michigan fans don't have that nuanced view of them.  They may say they support the players and not the coaches, but in practice they scream crap at the players and question their toughness/heart/dedication/etc.  Hell, lots of people HERE do that.

And at some point, when everyone is calling for your coach to be gone and wondering why this current crop of players can't win, said players are going to feel under attack.  

mgo한국

October 10th, 2014 at 3:02 AM ^

As a former player (not UofM Football) in such a circumstance, I observed two mindsets in the locker room.  Some players (generally those who put in minimal extra effort) used it (instead of their own willingness to study and train) as an excuse for our team's lack of success.  Others, who put in considerable effort before, during, and after practice, took the hotseat as a personal denouncement of the product of their work.

If players respond as you say, realize that they're hard-working people, and even if others are to blame, (to whatever degree of culpability) they may, due to their personalities, naturally prefer to take the blame onto themselves as motivation to improve their own performance.  Furthermore, it's likely that a number of players respect the coaching staff with whom they train, travel, celebrate, suffer and otherwise bond during most of their time at this point in their young lives.  Team sports select for loyalty, and, from my experience, it's not so easy to be cold and rational as a part of a team playing a violent, emotional sport.

Just be as clear as you can about your grievances and frustrations.  If they hear you, they'll at least understand, whether or not they agree.

maizenbluenc

October 10th, 2014 at 9:24 AM ^

between the guys who have no choice but to work hard because this year (and maybe next) is there last, and they need it to go well to make it to the league, whereas guys who have a few years maybe are more likely to be less motivated and just hope all this shit clears up in time for them to have a successful make or break year?

I get the sense that Fleet, Miller, and DG are the "Don't Give up the Ship" hard workers, and DG definitely has been blaming himself and trying too hard to carry the team.

RHammer - SNRE 98

October 10th, 2014 at 1:52 PM ^

totally agree that there are many out there who claim to be fans who do not have a nuanced sense of the team/AD/coaching staff/admin dynamic at all...

For eg., one random fb friend of mine who "loves Michigan, just not when they play ND" (don't ask, I've tried to figure this out numerous times, to no avail) posted after last week's game: "worst team ever!!"  Now, obviously the outcome of the last game is one we all didn't want to see, but there seems to be a sense among fair-weather fans that you can just say that "Michigan sucks" and leave it at that... which is ridiculous as far as I'm concerned, because if anything, this whole scenario makes me feel terribly for the current players and want Brandon out precisely because of how horribly he is screwing up their only chance to get this collegiate athletic experience; the players all seem like great kids, and there is a lot of talent there, but their leaders are failing them and that is why a change is needed

DealerCamel

October 9th, 2014 at 9:31 PM ^

And the coaches are part of that team.  If nothing else, the players have had it beaten into their heads for the past few years the importance of the team.

So yes, in the players' eyes, if you are against the coaches, then by extension you're against the team as well.  Is that right or fair?  Probably not, but if you're a player then I imagine it's easy to have all this hate flowing around you and feel a little ostracized, even if it's not directed at you in particular.

Yo_Blue

October 10th, 2014 at 9:21 AM ^

I totally understand the player reaction.  Us fans are able to parse the coaching staff and adminsitration from the players.  The players have been hammered with "The team, the team, the team" and there is no distinction to them between the walk-ons, the first string, the second string, the coaches, the trainers, etc. If you boo one of them, you are booing all of them.

go16blue

October 10th, 2014 at 9:43 AM ^

Bingo. I don't see how this is so hard to get from our perspective. Attacking part of the team means attacking the entire team. Isn't that how you would want a team to operate?

And as I said before, the abuse isn't just directed towards the coaches, a lot of it is directed towards the players too believe it or not. When you're getting personally attacked by students and alumni and then someone else goes on to attack your coach, it's much more likely that you take it personally as well.

caup

October 10th, 2014 at 10:53 AM ^

Howard specifically called out the PLAYERS during his rant, using his very conspicuous platform, on College Gameday! He said the only guy trying to be great was Peppers. Complete piling on BS. And NOW he has the nerve to play the "hey at least I got their back even if the fans don't" card?

Desmond Howard, who ya crappin'!

aiglick

October 9th, 2014 at 8:33 PM ^

All right I have just one question and I'm sorry for yelling but:

WHERE THE F WERE YOU GUYS DURING THE RICHROD ERA?

Well I guess the answer was they were undermining the coaching staff.

Wtvr I'm glad they learned from their mistake but if we get an outsider coach next time could they please show this same level of support?

All right thanks.

Edit: This is definitely towards the players but I'm not aware they did the same thing for even the players back then. Maybe I'm remembering wrong. I do appreciate them showing the current players some love even though, again, it's primarily the AD that we're angry with but wtvr no use in getting angry over this.

acnumber1

October 9th, 2014 at 8:54 PM ^

Hey!  I was there too!  Goofy indeed...in my list of 'things I've done as a fan' this falls below most.  Ufer's memorial at Crisler is near the top...the bottom?  It involves South Bend police saying 'we know you haven't broken the law but we have to escort you out for your own protection.

 

ction'.

 

Then again, Michigan football flavor on a cold day in late February can't be all bad!

 

ThadMattasagoblin

October 9th, 2014 at 8:32 PM ^

Those not going to kickoff on Saturday aren't supporting the players. I'm so happy that Desmond and others are doing this. It shows that even when some people spit in the face of the team others will stand up for you.

carlos spicywiener

October 9th, 2014 at 8:46 PM ^

That is horseshit.

If the atheltic department is determined to extract every last dollar they can from wallets of the Michigan fanbase, they're within their rights to expect a product thats worth the money. Which Brandon has definitively failed in delivering, just as he failed at Dominos. I'm not paying top-of-college-football prices to watch a 2-4 team fart all over itself under Hoke's incompetent eye.

It's that simple, if I'm nothing but a walking wallet to you, then you better provide with a real nice experience.

I would go if I was in town, but I would scrape bottom-of-barrel Stubhub tickets to do it, and I certainly see why others wouldn't.

User -not THAT user

October 9th, 2014 at 10:23 PM ^

If Brandon wants to run the AD like a business and treat the fanbase as consumers, by God he'd better be prepared to bring a good product to market.  Consumers speak with their wallets when they are unsatisfied with the product they're being offered; this isn't news to anyone. 

Turning Michigan football into the NCAA equivalent of Domino's Pizza is not something for which anyone should feel obligated to sit still.

 

mgolund

October 10th, 2014 at 9:21 AM ^

I take issue with saying that Michigan football is the equivalent of Domino's Pizza. Domino's handmade pan pizza is delicious. This year, Michigan football is not delicious. I'd liken it to Hello Faz pizza (is that still even in Ann Arbor these days?).

MonkeyMan

October 9th, 2014 at 10:36 PM ^

The problem is that there is no coherent message from the boycotters that has been publicized in any disciplined fashion. So everyone just assumes people are mad about losing.

The post by Mr. Spicyweiner (German name?) gets to the heart of the miscommunication. People are pissed at Brandon's ripping up traditions, carnival atmosphere, and price gouging.

But this is not the message getting out- in fact there is no organized communication by the boycotters. So others have interpreted the boycott as frustration over losing as the sole reason.

The number one rule of social protest (page 1 BTW) is that you have to have a simple, clear message delivered in a disciplined manner. The opponents of the boycott are having a field day filling in the meaning of the boycott. 

It won't be long before the boycotters are labeled terrorists at this rate.

Blusqualo

October 9th, 2014 at 11:28 PM ^

The message about the reasons for the boycott appear incoherrent because there are so many...but they are essentially the same, Brandon is an Ass-Clown.

His initials are D B, coincidence...I think not.

Any player who is standing up to support the team now, but didn't under Rich Rod has the integrity of a tissue in a thunderstorm.

westwardwolverine

October 10th, 2014 at 8:59 AM ^

Its pretty clear and its only people making up the whole "THEY DONT HAVE A CLEAR MESSAGE" creating the idea that there is no clear message:

 

Fire Dave Brandon. Hire a competent Athletic Director who will do all the same good things DB did (not hard) while avoiding the idiotic ones. Allow him/her to hire a football coach based on the criteria that he is actually a good football coach, not based upon knowing Lloyd Carr. 

You Only Live Twice

October 9th, 2014 at 9:09 PM ^

Where are people getting the idea that supporting the team is some grand plot devised by Brandon to split people apart?  Isn't that just a little bit paranoid, conspiracy theory?  What, people don't think that former players or whoever might just choose to support the current team because they feel like doing so? 

This is giving DB way too much power.  And ironically he doesn't have to split people apart.  It's happening without him doing anything.

In reply to by You Only Live Twice

2427_Couzens

October 10th, 2014 at 1:31 PM ^

...does not mean people aren't out to get you.

 

I don't believe DB is purposely creating divisions, but I think you can argue that his actions are doing just that.  After all of his visits, the student athletes are almost unanimously defending him at the same time he's feeling all the heat from alumni and fans. 

 

Having the student athletes all come out for a nice sendoff as the football team leaves for Rutgers is a nice sentiment...but wouldn't it be a better show of support for all studetns to do that?  Was the general student body even notified that such a thing was happening?

 

The student athletes are definitely closing ranks around DB.  What should be happening is that DB and the student athletes/former athletes should be reaching out to bridge the gap. 

MonkeyMan

October 9th, 2014 at 10:39 PM ^

Which brings up my strategy....why not just conduct practice right before the game! Then, just tell the players that we have a visiting group that is here to help them with practice (and a visiting larger group in the stands to watch this practice)

youn2948

October 10th, 2014 at 1:10 PM ^

If Nussmeier gets his deal to click, Gardner either throws to our team or runs and has full control.

The Oline?  Won't maul MSU or anyone but isn't a heaping tire fire.  The secondary has been, get back Peppers Hill and Taylor, and tackle people problem solved.

Utah, Notre Dame, Rutgers, Minnesota aren't awful.  We should have beat 2 of them though.  I couldn't watch most of them.

I'm excited to see the Oline the following 2 years and the team in general if we can not burn it to the ground/let it implode etc.

Whoever we'd hire would inherit a goldmine of talent, I truly believe this.  Can Hoke coach it if we evened out and ended the year on a tear?  Lets get there first and prepare the CC, but lets play the season first fergodsakes.

We all knew this year was going to suck, just not this bad or in these ways.

goblue2008

October 9th, 2014 at 8:35 PM ^

This is a result of Brandon begging the former players to do this knowing about the boycott. He promised all of them free Dominos Thin-Crust with pepperoni. 

mGrowOld

October 9th, 2014 at 8:36 PM ^

I have come to the conclusion that people inside the athletic department are incapable of separating players from the coaching staff. It seems to players and ex-players if you dislike the coaching staff you MUST dislike the players too.

To us fans they are two distinct entities-but to them they are one and the same.

gpsimms not to…

October 9th, 2014 at 8:55 PM ^

any other view and the AD is admitting everyone hates them.  Just like Brandon threw Hoke under the buss over the concussion business, the entire AD is throwing the players under the bus saying that 'terrible, fair weather' Michigan fans hate all Michigan players to take the spotlight off of themselves.

 

I friggin' hate Brandon and his band of B-school* clowns.

 

*And not like the cool B-school people I knew, but like the annoying B-shoolers I didn't know but generalized that they were douchey.