Players appreciation thread

Cosign. I hate to say it, but my passion for this team has faded over the past few years. I no longer get upset when we lose. The only thing that's left is a deep sadness that these players and coaches, who I so dearly want to succeed, are failing. They work so hard, and care so much, only to fall short. It sucks.

I love all of these players. No result on the field will change that or make me stop supporting them or these colors. I'm in this for life. 

I can get behind this. I'm so sick of people bad-mouthing the players in general and DG specifically. He has played so well at times, but he's been let down by this coaching staff and now is just a shell of what he used to be/could've been.

They need to step up. These guys only know how to lose. A reflection of our coaching staff...

And if I hear the words "no heart" one more time, I'm going to club a baby seal and then use it to beat the stuffing out of the offender.

I would think that as a former UM band member that you could appreciate the sentiment expressed in the OP.

Agreed. They obviously are working really, really hard and giving everything to the program, only to be utterly failed by the inept coaching staff. They deserve better, and it's not their fault

I have never booed the effort on the field.  I am constantly amazed at the effort that the players put out on the field every Saturday, not mention all week long and especially in the classroom.  They are to be commended.

I imagine if we saw what they see every day from their coaches that we would all be much less harsh on this staff and especially Brady Hoke.

With that being said, I still feel that the staff is doing these kids a disservice and robbing many of them of the success that they work so hard to achieve.

I feel bad that the results are not there.  Not for me or for the chance to gloat about Michigan's success, but so these young men can experience the great joy of seeing the fruits of all the effort they put in.  As we all get older, those opportunities become fewer and fewer.  It would be nice if they could have more joys in their college experience.

They are definitely out there giving it their all the best they know how, but to say that none of the poor play is the fault of the players is a little shortsighted. These are not mutually exclusive categories.

4 or 5 star caliber if the various rating agencies are to be believed. Much is made about Hoke's recruiting classes being in the top ten year and year out. What is not mentioned is that though the recruits are 4 or 5 star caliber they must be recruited for the right position, system and coachability. 

In other words, it is not the players fault if they are recruited into the wrong environment for their skills. I am sure many of these kids including DG would be very successful in other programs. Hoke and company have turned very talented kids inot medicore players.

Can you imagine how GM and NUss feel today? GM has been successful in almost every program he has been associated with as has Nuss. With what is going on in the program, today and all fingers pointing at the coaching, GM and Nuss's reputations had taken huge hits. Mattison's excellent body of work is now being severely tarnish. Nuss saddled with a less than average OL line coach is paying a price as well. If this continues his aspiration of being a HC is slipping fast.

The program is slowly imploding.

I support the players and always will. That being said, players are responsible for losses just as coaches are. The coaches AND the players are failing on Saturdays. Do I believe we should start booing players, no. I don't even think the boos for Hoke are the right thing to do. Let's just stop pretending the players are giving 100% every single play every single game and and every single day in practice. Their are dozens of examples of teams giving up and failing to put the proper effort into winning. That May or may not be a result of bad coaching, but it happens every year in college and the NFL.

All of that being said, let's support the players 100% because it's the right thing to do, not because it makes us feel better about bashing Hoke every 10 seconds and/or makes us look like respectable fans to the internet community...

I envision most of you in conversations like this:

Random Opposing Fan: "You guys sure are nasty to Hoke."
You: "Yeah he sucks, the team sucks, and I hope Brandon is fired 5 minutes from now."

Random Opposing Fan: "That doesn't sound like a good atmosphere over there in Ann Arbor."
You: "Yeah it is because I say all the time how I support the players so obviously I'm a true fan and support the program because see how good of a person I am!?"

They give 100% and suffer each loss more than any of us.

I find it criminal that with all the money rolling into the athletic program they haven't hired a coach capable of producing the results these players of capable of producing.

So, "Cake Eater:"  

If your post really reflects how you "envision" Michigan fans in conversations, you are in severe need of a visit to the optometrist.

I support and hope for the best for the players - this is why something needs to be done quick with the offense.

The Gardner to Funch pass over and over is going to get them both killed. 

They are already hurt - you can tell. People are screaming for Morris as QB, they will be likely to get their wish when Gardner is out for the season.

Les is more.

we can't forget this is the kid who played out of his mind against OSU and almost won the game on a broken foot. . .The kid's tough, he's got heart, he's an amazing talent.  He just needs to be mentally stronger.   

I wonder what he could pull off if he knows we're all in his corner. . .

 

As a season ticket holder I sit there every week listening to a**holes yelling that Gardner or Green or whoever sucks.  There is no doubt in my mind of how proud these kids are to be Wolverines, to wear the winged helmet.  These idiots have no idea how much work and dedication is involved, physically, emotionally, and intellectually.  I doubt very much that many of these naysayers would last at the Uof M as either athletes ot students.  

Yes I pay full price for my 3 seats and this weekend paid full price for another 4 so that I could have my kids beside me at the game.  Yes I'm a frustrated fan.  I prefer to blame the decision makers here and not the kids fighting their asses off.  

Loving the Wolverines isn't easy, it's expensive, it's painful, it makes me drink more but I could never love another football team like I love this one.

To the kids on this team fight on and I am so sorry that you have been failed by this organization.

https://rivals.yahoo.com/Michigan/football/recruiting/rankings/rank-238…

Ranked #1 dual threat in 2010

other notables

#2 Robert Bolden - Penn St. (not sure if he ever played bug B1G and from Orchard Lake)

#12 Munchie Legaux - Cincinnati

#19 Connor Shaw - South Carolina

#24 Case McCoy - Texas

I support DG, but think he would have been best served staying at WR, and I hate recruiting.

Jourdan Lewis and Devin Funchess both had very good games.  None of them deserve to get booed at home, which has happened now two weeks straight. 

I feel bad for the staff too, though.  The defense has played pretty well and the offensive line has made some improvement.  Like the team, the staff seems to be less than the sum of its parts. 

The coaches and the team know they are backed up against a wall, and know that every move will be scrutinized (even more so than usual).  How hard it must be to go through 9 more weeks like this. 

Jourdan Lewis, Willie Martin and Jake Ryan all played their asses off yesterday.  Frank Clark too.

I was especially impressed with Lewis, not only his effort but his playmaking a well.  He was much improved over the ND game.

...

Our football players work hard.  They risk their health.  They go out on a field and do their best in front of thousands, even milions of people.  That takes courage.  Every one of these young men is a hero.

I hope and pray that each one of them takes what they learn at the University of Michigan and goes forward to make the world a better place.  Godspeed.

 

I don't doubt for a second the players are working their asses off and giving nothing but a full effort every time.  What worries me is results from all the work and effort is not showing up, by and large, in game situations.  Yesterday was a perfect example:  in what way did Michigan appear to be the better team?  Utah out-executed Michigan in every phase. 

Ruins most of my week. Winning makes the shit weeks seem ok.