no more refereeing threads

Submitted by Brian on

use any of the billion extant. that is all 

MGoBoard

Clarence Beeks

November 28th, 2016 at 8:49 PM ^

The shame of this is that the one that was just deleted (with the USA Today article) was probably the most relevant of them all. Like it or not, and it's clear that some of you really don't like it at all, his issue IS taking hold nationally and the Big 10 WILL have to answer for it, no matter how much they say now that they'll say no more. So many people saw what happened (remember: record ratings) that there is just no way it's going to "go away". Not going to happen.



Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad

Joined: 09/06/2008

MGoPoints: 22814

blue in dc

November 28th, 2016 at 9:29 PM ^

Ideally some of the passionate Michigan fans on this site could help apply pressure to make that happen. Expecting the big ten to be transparent about having a proccess to ensure that refs are competent and unbiased does not seem like to much to ask. It frusrtates me that the organizers of what is unquestionably the best collegiate sports blog out there's reaction is not: "how can we channel the frustration of the Michigan fan base for constructive change", but rather just throwing up their hands and saying, no more threads. While more threads on Mgoblog is clearly not going to make a darn bit of difference, this blog does have the power to help mobolize for change. I work in a public organization and gave seen first hand that public pressure does make a difference (unfortunately I am an engineer who helps respond to that demand for change, not a communications/media savvy person who has clue one about how to mobolize that change). I am hopeful that someone with those skills does have a passion to use them on this issue and that if such an idea should come forth that Brian and company will soften their stance and allow it to be featured somewhere prominently on this site. I know that many on this site scoff at the idea, but I continue to believe that when many people take up a common cause, they can make a difference. If the message that is conveyed is not that Michigan got screwed in this particular game, but rather that as fans of the big ten, we expect that some of the millions of dollars we all collectively spend on big ten sports to be spent on ensuring that officials for all sports are competent and unbiased, I think the message would resonate with fans of other big ten teams too. It won't change the outcome of Saturday's game, but it sure would be great to do something beyond bitching on mgoblog to help ensure it doesn't happen again.

Joined: 01/22/2011

MGoPoints: 20401

Clarence Beeks

November 28th, 2016 at 9:46 PM ^

I think so. Was that on the nickname thing? What you just wrote here is probably the best example of the "no politics" and perhaps "no OT" rule that could be made. Michigan is what unites us, so that's what we should be talking about! Go Blue! Make a difference!



Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad

Joined: 09/06/2008

MGoPoints: 22814

blue in dc

November 28th, 2016 at 9:57 PM ^

But it would violate the no-politics rule. ;). my conclusion from that last exchange was that you'd be an interesting guy to have a beer with, because even though we would likely disagree on many things, your passion and knowledge on the topic we were debating was paired with a willingness to be open to questions and respect opposing viewpoints. For a hint, I believe it was in the weekly summer offtopic post on cars. The topic of the post was green cars, you can probably figure out how both of us egged each other on to go downhill from there.

Joined: 01/22/2011

MGoPoints: 20401

Clarence Beeks

November 28th, 2016 at 10:21 PM ^

Ah yes. Another topic that we can both agree on: beer and open questions and respect for opposing viewpoints. I really do like to debate, but I truly always try to be factual and rational about it! Interestingly, most of my good friends and I agree on very little when it comes to politics, etc. but always discuss things well and remain good friends.



Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad

Joined: 09/06/2008

MGoPoints: 22814

Clarence Beeks

November 28th, 2016 at 9:37 PM ^

The way I know that this is resonating deeply (not specifically the spot or even one call, but the lack of transparent and accountability by the Big Ten) is the amount of pure outrage I've seen just from friends of mine who are fans of other Big Ten teams (Wisconsin, Rutgers, and Illinois) and SEC teams (Alabama and Tennessee). The amount of anger I've seen from non-Michigan fans is really eye opening to me. That's what makes this "let it go" mentality by a segment of our own fanbase the most convening.



Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad

Joined: 09/06/2008

MGoPoints: 22814

Squash34

November 29th, 2016 at 12:56 PM ^

I was amazed to skim through the redit thread of the game and find most the people telling osu fans to be quite because the refs won the game for them were from other fan bases. My favorite was a bama guy, saying "congrats the history will always remember osu as the winners of this game, but that does not mean a third party intervention was needed for the win." That is paraphrased, but you get the jist. He went on telling them that they will lose in the playoffs because they won't have officials that are blatently one sided. I think, when you see other fan bases speaking up like this, you simply can't just let it go. Although, I might think that because of my world views about injustice and corruption.

Joined: 09/13/2016

MGoPoints: 3062

Maison Bleue

November 28th, 2016 at 10:58 PM ^

I completely understand the sentiment, but feel like if we simply move on it will just keep happening. Michigan's opponents have not had an offensive holding penalty called against them since ILLINOIS!!!! Arguably the best DL in the country does not get held for five(!) games and 2 OTs?

Joined: 11/30/2012

MGoPoints: 23291

1 percent

November 28th, 2016 at 9:01 PM ^

That's literally not the case. The 5th thread down is locked because people started talking one of those "literally anything else in the world's" First, this is a Michigan sports blog Second, it's not OT season Third, no religion or politics even if it was. If I wanted to talk about anything else in the entire world I'd go to a different neighborhood.

Joined: 09/09/2010

MGoPoints: 11273

1 percent

November 28th, 2016 at 9:30 PM ^

Ummmmmmm ... Not sure if you're being serious at this point. If you are then you clearly don't know the rules of the blog. Lemme help! Lemme help! "What's the offtopic policy? In the offseason, offtopic posts are tolerated. During football season they are discouraged and may be subject to removal depending on how alert the moderators are ...." It then tells you what's off topic and "other things in the entire world" you can't talk about.

Joined: 09/09/2010

MGoPoints: 11273

Squash34

November 29th, 2016 at 1:08 PM ^

Is that we, as a society, have been conditioned to look at people pointing out injustice is "whining" or as something that is embarrassing/ makes the person bring up injustice look bad. Sure, this is just a football game. But, it is really a microcosm of the real world we live in. So many things are rigged in certain peoples, or groups ways. Yet when you talk about it you are classified as a crazy person, or a whiner in this case. I think people are taking this especially hard because they are fed up with corrupted rigged systems. They may not even know this consciously, but I think that is at the subconscious roots for many of us that refuse to let it go this time.

Joined: 09/13/2016

MGoPoints: 3062

TIMMMAAY

November 29th, 2016 at 4:38 PM ^

Never change, Dudeness.

The same hivemind that turned on you last week is upvoting the shit out of basically the same comment now. I fucking hate all the "posbang!!!" threads, drinking threads, and other nonsense that is A-Okay to post at any time. It's just noise. But a real issue like this one gets tamped down.

Again, I can see some possible (and good) reasons for doing so, but you have to give us more than just "no more, because I said so". The readers are the heart of this blog, just like the fanbase is the heart of Michigan Football. We saw what happened when the fans had had enough of the bullshit from Hoke and DB.

Don't offend your core customers, it's just bad for business. When you treat the readership like children, the natural reaction is to be offended. That's just how it is.

Joined: 09/08/2008

MGoPoints: 56284

MichiganMAN47

November 28th, 2016 at 8:55 PM ^

I've given my time, energy, and money supporting the program and university. To see the best Michigan team in 10 years get screwed by an OSU fan ref infuriates me beyond belief. That crew didn't even have the appearance of objectivity. We need to organize the faithful and expose what happened to the public. We should run a campaign to raise money and run ads exposing this travesty. The players worked their ass off for MICHIGAN! I will never be silent about what happened on Saturday. Those players deserve nothing less than the Michigan community using its full resources to change the conference leadership or officiating. I am tired of the bitching and moaning threads too for the record. Can we have a thread about how to organize for change?

Joined: 02/24/2015

MGoPoints: 3216