Kinda OT: Advice from "significant others" of MGoBlog posters on "do you shut down after a loss?"

I don't listen to WTKA all week. I don't watch ESPN all week. I don't watch anymore games on the same Saturday as a loss. I don't go to any sports-related websites all week. It's best to just go into sports blackout mode until either the day before or (obviously) day of the next game.

My wife and I met at UM. 

We keep alcohol on hand in case our guys lose.

We keep alcohol on hand in case our guys win.

My wife asks if I'm ok, then her and the kids scuttle off quietly to other areas of the house I am not likely to visit while I drink until I sleep. Though sometimes she offers some oral assistance to help me feel better. Amazing woman now that I think about it.

My kitty tells me I need to wrestle with more cloth mice and climb up the furniture. Maybe she's right.

has never helped the situation ever. if one of the women reading this could explain that to my wife I would very much appreciate it.

I did until two things happened. One, 2008-2014. Two, I became a father. Your four month old doesn't understand Michigan just lost a heartbreaker. She just wants you to sing and play with her.

beat Michigan with a last minute FG in 1988 (Miami scored 17 points in the final 8 minutes to steal that one)  I pretty much went for about a two hour walk on the RR tracks, didn't talk to my girlfriend for 3 days, told her I had been "studying" when really I had been sulking in a dark room with the shades closed not wanting to talk or see anyone.

 

 

I'm much better now though :)

 

If they lose, depending on how they lose, I won't watch any more football that day but it definitely frees up time for the wife and kids.

that it's just football and the world continues to spin. So I take a deep breath and move on, externally. internally I do not.

Definitely has changed since I have had kids.  Have a 3 and 1 year old at home.  Takes the sting away because after the loss its daddy and me time.  

Puts things in perspective.  5-6 years ago I was a train wreck all the way until Monday.

 

I already know that watching the MSU/OSU game tomorrow after ours will be tough to do, but it will be IMPOSSIBLE if UM loses at noon.

 

 

My wife is Australian and tolerates about 5 seconds of my yelling at the TV before she gets mad. At that point my daughter likes to walk in and ask "you mad bro?"

After State I smoked two cigarettes at the same time and didn't say a word for an hour and a half. I may not have a significant other. Hard to see why really.

The WORST thing she can do is try to make me feel better.  I just want to be a seething ball of anger for a while, vent with a friend who is feeling the same way-and be a functional human again after a couple hours.  Or the next day, in the case of MSU this year.

My girlfriend is not from this country so she has minimal understanding of football, but she's learning. When Blake dropped that snap and chaos ensued, she shot me a quick glance, got up off the couch and left the room without saying anything. Smart move, she knew enough. 

My wife just picks up the car keys and heads to her mothers for the day or sometimes for the night. On my 3rd TV since RR was hired. I think u get the picture

Big losses are tough like ND, OSU, MSU but losing to Alabama was no suprise in that opener two or three years ago because I was really hoping it would be a game. But, the ones that hurt take me back to my family we would go to Cider mill /pumkin patch, of course disc golf, movies, go for a ride, whatever. Just as long as I can get my mind off the loss. Basically killing two birds with one stone. Getting out with the wife and kids and believe me the wife knows what I am feeling  and she will help me get that loss off my mind. she would buy me an ice cream (the only time besides B-day that I eat ice cream) that is code for sorry hunny your team lost. Makes me remember that this is only a game and in twenty years from now are we gonna remember that goal line stand against Minny two weeks ago? Probably not IMHO.

And we make baked goods. Mild substance abuse may be involved. 

Also: long walks. 

 

I really get way less mad now than I used to, though. I think a lot of it is A. age, and B. realizing that a lot of my anger stems from an addiction to sports coverage, which is pretty easy for me to stem once I recognize it. 

It helps that both of us are ardent Wolverines. If/when there is a loss, no more sports - TV, computer, phone, whatever. We used to think it would be okay to watch some other sport, but that evil scroll crawling across the bottom always brings back the foul mood. Engaging in something physical like walks, raking leaves, working out helps. We also cook together. Don't recommend this if being around sharp knives is a danger!