OT: Chargers blogs?
Look,I'll probably get negged for this, but I was sitting here watching James Harbaugh stan his dad in powder blues and then watching Jim continue being Jim outside of our orbit, talking about pulling his RV up next to the facility and everyone in their press laughing thinking it's a joke, but you and I both knowing there's no way he was joking - and I got sad. I'm excited for where our program is going, I think we're going to be fine - but I'll miss all of that stuff. Then I thought - I don't have a strong NFL alliance, I kinda liked the Raiders as a kid because, well, Bo Jackson and those sick zubaz patterns, then I have flirted with other teams all my life - but my Sundays are mostly catching up from all of Saturday spent engrossed. It will be exciting to see Harbaugh once again building a team and operating within the constraints of the NFL and working with adults on salary - and maybe, just maybe, that could be a thing I follow?
My next thought was to find a home base for such activities. This blog has been integral to my fandom. I have a really, really hard time even being in the same room as another person while a game is going on (emotion is embarrassing) - but over the week afterward, this is where I come to process the event that just transpired. What was said in the podcast after the championship is real - MGoBlog can only be a Michigan site, because only Michigan has Brian, and Seth, and everyone else who have such talent and use that to help us grapple with the emotions football brings out.
It's late, and it's stupid, but I really am sad and wondering - are there any Charger blogs / message boards that maybe do something more than race to report the same damn news everyone already reported? Any place vulnerable and messy with a message board from 1998 where people feel things together? I figure I might not be the only one looking for it.
Or, as most sport message boards would say with a 1 line post:
"Gotta say - kinda liking them Bolts lately - who are ur top 10 follows?"
February 2nd, 2024 at 2:55 AM ^
Yeah man I'm going to be watching the Bolts due to extreme curiosity into how Jim does and just because I enjoy his candor and mental fortitude.
I use more of his quotes every day.
February 2nd, 2024 at 3:17 AM ^
I really want Harbaugh to do well, but I feel pretty confident that he's got a rough road ahead of him.
Justin Herbert is the lipstick on the pig. Outside of that, he's got a team in major cap hell with a bad offensive line and horrible defense (not to mention a washed RB who just averaged 3.5/ypc this season). Not exactly a formula for Harbaugh football. And he gets to build things up while competing in a division against prime Mahomes, Andy Reid, and Sean Payton. I don't know if 5 years in enough time, and I don't know if they'll be patient enough to give him more than 5 years. I can see people clamoring for someone who maximizes Justin Herbert if Harbaugh starts slow and Herbert isn't putting up Mahomes/Burrow/Allen/etc type production.
February 2nd, 2024 at 3:41 AM ^
YES. This is the pain I need. Solidify my fandom with a few salty terrible seasons, a fanbase in uproar, wanting coaching staff blood. Let their marked signs of improvement fall on deaf ears amidst unreal and uneducated expectations. Then let it slowly turn around. Forge my new fandom in the fires!
I try really hard to understand myself. I meditate. I journal. I'll never understand, though, why nothing would lock me into lifelong fandom more than a nice 5-12 season where they show so much promise, get off to a 3-0 start, start getting national media hype, only to go on a terrible losing streak that's an exercise in futility and false starts, followed by 2 wins at the end that show signs of what's to come, but ultimately serve no purpose other than to cost them draft position.
Other than this drive to the national championship, I'm not sure my fandom has ever been more peak than when the only thing we had going for us was just how good the Catlab video with Hoke playing Tuba before the Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl.
February 2nd, 2024 at 7:58 AM ^
Fanbase in an uproar? The Chargers have no fan base.
if the Lions could turn around the Quinntricia train wreck in three years, so can the Chargers. The first year or two will be cap hell but with good drafting by year three things should be looking much better.
February 2nd, 2024 at 8:47 AM ^
I lived in LA for 5 years right after the Raiders left. There was no NFL in LA and honestly no on cared. It is hard to generalize the 9.83 million people in LA County, but they don't follow sports like the rest of the country. I worked in tech and entertainment so most of my peers were transplants and/or didn't care.
February 2nd, 2024 at 9:21 AM ^
I lived in San Diego from 2001 to 2011 when the Chargers were in SD. It felt like the city had a lot of diehard fans and really loved their Chargers. Moving to LA where there is already an NFL team may have made $$$ sense but was stupid from a fan support perspective, IMO.
February 3rd, 2024 at 10:36 AM ^
Spent 5 years in LA. It’s a demographics thing and just plain hard to get to anything under 2 hours. Vince Lombardi couldn’t build a fan base. Not sure it matters in todays world.
February 2nd, 2024 at 10:37 AM ^
The Lions effectively changed ownership and their culture. They got a GM and HC who are simpatico. A lot of risk went into what they did.
Harbaugh is a bizarre dude. He has been out of the league for a decade. Dan Campbell is much more “normal” and has never left the league.
More importantly Sheila Hemp Ford isn’t the Spanos. She has proven to not be a meddler. The Spanos are the Jerry Jones of the AFC.
February 2nd, 2024 at 8:38 AM ^
I think he’ll get them in at least a wild card situation in year 1 due to culture change alone. I’d like to see the guy get the Lombardi so he can say he did it. The problem I see is players getting fed up with his maniacal ways in a hurry. To many egos in nfl locker rooms. Obviously Urbans game didn’t transfer to the pro level, mostly cause Urbans a huge dick! But a great X and Os guy. I’m not so sure how a bunch of millionaires are gonna take to a college staff this day and age. I’ll be watching and rooting, but think he uprooted his wife and kids for years of disappointment for a city that could give two shits about the chargers.
February 2nd, 2024 at 9:46 AM ^
Major difference between Urban and Harbaugh is that Harbaugh played in the league and is already a successful coach. Urban probably thinks he's the smartest person in the room if he's in there with Belichek and Neil Degrasse Tyson.
Chargers lost 8 games last year by one score or less. This is coming off a playoff appearance, so the schedule was tougher. This year they have a last place schedule and if they convert even half of those L's to wins, they'll be in good shape.
February 2nd, 2024 at 9:34 AM ^
NFL rosters can largely be turned over in 2 years. Harbaugh knows the nfl andhas taken over a bad franchise with a far lesser qb than Herbert and overall bad roster according to the pundits. Only to turn everything around the first season. Not suggesting that same immediate success is duplicated. The NFL is the one league where the playing field is as level as possible from talent distribution and roster management between the draft and free agency and player retention or releasing them.
Harbaugh's no nonsense approach identifies who wants to be there and who's riding the wave holding on for paychecks. Hence why I would expect several that weren't putting in the effort before to suddenly be all in, coming in shape and definitively playing much better than before. And many of them won't make it based on the past, they will be let go because of.
February 2nd, 2024 at 10:30 AM ^
Seriously look at what the Lions did this year. Most of that was built on guys drafted in 2021 and later plus a few key acquisitions.
Now the Chargers aren't going to be loaded up on a bunch of first round picks like the Lions got for Goff but they have a coach with a Name and location to sell to free agents.
February 2nd, 2024 at 10:32 AM ^
Brad Holmes has turned out to be a genius drafter. That remains to be seen with the new Chargers GM.
February 2nd, 2024 at 9:43 AM ^
You can turn a roster over pretty quickly in the NFL, and Herbert guarantees they'll be competitive right away. I predict a 9-8 season out of the gate, a division title by year 2, and a Super Bowl by year 3.
February 2nd, 2024 at 10:31 AM ^
I am almost he is going to fall short and that has more to do with Spanos family meddling than anything else.
Tigers don’t change their strips.
February 2nd, 2024 at 12:11 PM ^
I'm just curious if he opens up the offense more with someone like Herbert as QB. Just that just hasn't been his style in general as a coach.
February 2nd, 2024 at 10:51 AM ^
I'm hoping he does really well, wins a SuperBowl in the first 3 years and then retires to become our Athletic Director
February 2nd, 2024 at 3:54 AM ^
Do NFL fans even have blogs like this?
I just realized that I have absolutely no concept of the NFL blogosphere.
February 2nd, 2024 at 4:17 AM ^
I'd been nearing Bills fandom due to their glorious culture and Two Bills Drive - but I've never seen another NFL blog / board that isn't just soulless SB Nation horseshit.
February 2nd, 2024 at 6:07 AM ^
Honestly, does anyone have a blog like this?
February 2nd, 2024 at 7:02 AM ^
We're fortunate. If you're a MAC fan, you might be stuck with this (which isn't bad):
And it needs help:
OK, maybe I spoke a little too soon, but it's they're not much:
https://www.bobcatattack.com/football/
https://overthepylon.boards.net/
I didn't see anything similar for Toledo or Miami U.
February 2nd, 2024 at 8:56 AM ^
I saw the RV quote pop up on my Google newsfeed. I anticipate that I will continue to follow Michigan, and that the more interesting Jim Harbaugh stories will find me. I have faith that the MGoBoard will frequently post stories about Jim Harbaugh, notable alum and a football coach.
If you want more, find a subreddit.
February 2nd, 2024 at 6:08 AM ^
This is the one I followed when the initial NFL talk started again late last year. It was ok in an SB Nation kind of way - but can’t speak to it with any authority
February 2nd, 2024 at 8:46 AM ^
For me, MGoBlog is the standard for blogs. It's going to be difficult for me to enjoy any sports blog that isn't this type of caliber.
February 2nd, 2024 at 5:32 AM ^
I claimed the Lions when Hutch went there. One of my top favorite Michigan players to go through my favorite team. Though, I will not be over joyous with the success currently as I feel it’s insulting for me to become a fan when they are just now good and the fan base has suffered for 30 years. Reddit has a great thread for game day I’ve been on. Maybe the chargers has something similar? I will watch Harbaugh and root for him but it will be lions through and through
February 2nd, 2024 at 9:02 AM ^
and the fan base has suffered for 30 years.
30 years? My man. If only.
February 2nd, 2024 at 5:45 AM ^
The last year has been interesting as the Lions had their best season of my life, corresponding with Michigan’s amazing run. Got to some games. I enjoyed it, but I kinda figured out that the NFL isn’t the same for me. Ford Field inside and out did not feel like the friendly, welcoming crowd we get at Michigan. And when it was all over last weekend, I felt … not much?
Good luck to you chalkeater, but I don’t think Harbaugh’s new gig is going to generate a bunch of new, passionate Chargers fans, even if they start winning. Maybe you should start your own Boltsblog.
February 2nd, 2024 at 5:47 AM ^
Ho-ly shit. All that for “you guys know of any chargers blogs”?
Not to be too entirely sarcastic but Google is your friend and will undoubtedly bring up more results than you anticipate here.
February 2nd, 2024 at 5:55 AM ^
Given the (un)popularity of the Chargers, I wouldn't be surprised if Google doesn't actually have many results.
February 2nd, 2024 at 6:29 AM ^
It's bizarre seeing him be Jim in those colors and even a bit sad but the way I've been trying to get people to move on and understand it is pointing out a couple obvious truths.
First, he absolutely wanted another crack at a Super Bowl and this was true since the day we hired him. He was always on loan and IMHO, had he found the current success he had earlier he would have left earlier. If the 21-23 run had been closer to the norm since he arrived, he wouldn't have made it to 2020.
Second, I don't think it takes an expert in body language or intuition to see a guy that was fairly miserable in the last year here. He loved the players and all that but he just seemed checked-out most of the time after the 2020 season. I really, really think the contract restructure and the NCAA stuff killed his desire to be here. I don't think it was "Michigan" per se but everything that became associated with it in his mind *outside of the players and staff*.
It sometimes makes me think that if Jim was given total control over the program - even above the AD from day one - he may have been a lifer here. Yet, I don't think that even that would have done it when I consider the first point above. Having an AD that basically shit on him unnecessarily hurt those chances in the worst way but even if he was given everything he wanted by Michigsn from day one I think his goal was always to right the ship here and go back to The NFL.
And who can blame him? That's probably point #3. Who can blame him in the current CFB climate? I'd choose The NFL over 2024 CFB if I had the choice. So the question becomes one of how much he really means the nice things he said yesterday. Does he really think Moore is ready? Is he really feeling zero desire to stick it to Warde and UM a bit right now. How and in what way beyond softening the blow are The Chargers and Michigan "one team"? And so on...
Beyond that, it stings and it's odd to see but I wish him well as it seems like he needed this change. He's back to looking and sounding like the guy we hired, IMO. The words are the same but he appears to have a weight off his shoulders that I don't think is very hard to notice.
February 2nd, 2024 at 8:01 AM ^
Jim was checked out post 2020? May we all be as successful when checked out.
February 2nd, 2024 at 8:51 AM ^
He is an elite coach and program head that had a good team and staff. He was also largely checked-out and jaded with the job here. Both can be true and based on a lot of word inside the program absolutely is.
You don't actively seek to leave a place multiple times if you're content at that place. He wants a Super Bowl and was very, very ready to be out of the job as HC of Michigan.
But I'd always take checked-out Jim with the recent results ha. I just don't want the dude to live an unhappy existence just to placate what I want.
February 2nd, 2024 at 10:46 AM ^
If all of us can look outside Ann Arbor, you're gonna see lots of coaches who have NFL chances go and take them. Saban called it quits, BC's head coach became Green Bay's DC, Chip Kelly is openly shopping for NFL OC jobs. Its sucks dealing with NIL and every shady booster under the sun trying to buy your current roster out from under you. It sucks
February 2nd, 2024 at 12:14 PM ^
I definitely don't think he was at all checked out post 2020.
I do think he had one eye on the NFL from the point he beat Ohio State because at that point he felt like he had finally restored Michigan. I do think there's a reason though that the Broncos discussions didn't go anywhere last year and it's because he wanted to come back and coach the 2023 team to the national title.
I also think that Warde did not do a good job of managing the relationship with Harbaugh. But even if he had, it's pretty clear the guy wants a shot at winning the Super Bowl. And I'm sure it eats at him that he got as close as he did and fell just short against his brother.
It also helps a ton that he leaves Michigan in very good hands and in a very good place. Versus where we were as a program when he arrived in 2015.
February 2nd, 2024 at 6:52 AM ^
There are no MGoBolt blogs. You should start one.
February 2nd, 2024 at 7:04 AM ^
RV quote:
“I want to drive my RV out and go to a trailer park down by the water or by Disneyland, the two that I’ve researched that are close to the facility,” Harbaugh said during his introductory press conference on Thursday. “I want to Jim Rockford it for the next couple months until we move to the new facility.
I wonder how many reporters had to look up "Jim Rockford?"
February 2nd, 2024 at 12:20 PM ^
Danny DeVito is taller than I expected
February 2nd, 2024 at 7:59 AM ^
Not sure about blogs, but there are a number of quality Chargers podcasts. The three best are the Lightning Round, Bolt City, and Guilty as Charged.
February 2nd, 2024 at 11:22 AM ^
I feel like I went to a wedding of an old girlfriend that broke my heart.
February 2nd, 2024 at 11:57 AM ^
I can’t root for two teams so I’ll still fervently be behind my Detroit Lions but hope he does well. But should they meet in the Super Bowl, I hope the Lions smack them. Sorry Jim.
February 2nd, 2024 at 12:20 PM ^
The Chargers don't have any fans.
... Although they probably will now.
Jim is going to do great there. I don't even think they realize how lucky they are yet. Hopefully they'll get next year's hard knocks.
February 2nd, 2024 at 3:10 PM ^
I was perusing the Live Thread for Harbaugh's press conference on the Chargers subreddit. Very interesting to see the takes as they happened. A few outtakes:
- I cried
- I think I should see a doc. My bolt hasn’t gone down
- Jim Harbaugh is a level of unhinged that this team sorely needs. I am just ready for next season
- I want to cry. I really want to cry.
- Loved it. Love him. Bolting the fuck up.
- IM SO FUCKING SOLD
- This dude is for fucking real and he's a charger
- I’m ready to run through a wall for that man !!!
- Wefense. I love this man.
- He said "Beef up the run game". I'm in love.
- I wanna run through a wall right now. Every damn talking point he has.
- tough as a $2 steak LOL
- He’s so damn weird I love it
- I'M LOCKED, COCKED AND READY TO ROCK!!
- Not even a Charger fan and I'm fired up
- Harbaugh is weird in the best way. Love it
- I got the biggest grin just hearing him. I’m so happy bolt fam.
- HIM HARBAUGH
- This might be the most I’ve been excited I’ve been preseason as a chargers fan since 2006ish
- This dude is weird as hell. But I like it
- He’s here and he’s spectacular
etc.
February 2nd, 2024 at 4:32 PM ^
I'm certain you'll find similar comments here from December 2014.