A plea for class
In the unfortunate event that Nick Sheridan is announced as Michigan's starting quarterback please please do not boo him. As a matter of fact, dont boo anyone. If you must express your disappointment, save your boos for Rich Rodriguez, he will be announced last. Sheridan's lack of ability is certainly no fault of his own. Last year I placed a lot of unmerited hatred upon his head, where in reality it was Rodriguez's incredible lapse of judgement that caused him to start over Threet.
I pray that much of this quarterback "competition" is coach speak. It would be incredibly disappointing if Forcier(or the fleet footed Robinson) has not distanced himself at all from Sheridan, contrary to the promise we all saw in the spring game(and Robinson's explosiveness reported from practice). I really cannot see any reason to start Sheridan, as this would essentially be conceding the season to another throw away year. If Michigan is going to be terrible anyway, why wouldn't Rodriguez get the young guys some experience? There is really no good reason.
I remain excited about the upcoming season. If Michigan can remain healthy on defense(a big if) I think that outside the quarterback spot they are one of the more talented teams in the big ten(not saying much at this point). I pray that we are talented at the qb spot too, but even if we are not it is not the fault of the kids in uniform. Blame the man who put them there.
August 25th, 2009 at 1:18 AM ^
i will not boo sheridan, however, I will start crying.
August 25th, 2009 at 11:38 AM ^
I'm sure he's a nice guy but I too will be weeping unceasingly...or at least until a quarterback comes in to replace him.
August 25th, 2009 at 1:18 AM ^
LOL, awesome. Don't boo the player, boo the coach. There's certainly nothing unclassy about that.
Seriously, it is absolutely unbelievable that people are freaking out because of a quote that was so obviously coachspeak and was then skewed by the media. God forbid our coaches want all their quarterbacks PREPARED to play. Do people even bother to read the content Brian posts on this blog anymore?
August 25th, 2009 at 1:23 AM ^
No, they don't. Also, if you stopped to think about it, you would probably come to the conclusion that Sheridan looked better in practice than Threet did. If you hadn't noticed, college doesn't really have a preseason. You can't really tell if certain quarterbacks are better or not. Maybe that is why RR is so hesitant to say anything about QB's. Sure Sheridan looks good in practice. He looked good in practice last year too. Look how terrible he was in game.
Yeah, let's blame RR for thinking Death was the better option of the poor options he had left. He did not choose Sheridan over Pat White. Lets remember that.
Who keeps making these terrible threads?
August 25th, 2009 at 1:26 AM ^
I agree with not booing Sheridan, but you put "death" in parentheses after his name. Did you add that as sarcasm? Otherwise, you're kind of being classless yourself in doing so.
August 25th, 2009 at 1:32 AM ^
I am pretty sure Sheridan does not read the mgoblog posting board. Also pretty sure it isn't the first time he has been called death on this blog(is this your first time on the website?). And yes, I do draw a distinction between booing a grown man who is making millions of dollars and a kid who shouldn't be put in an impossible position.
August 25th, 2009 at 1:40 AM ^
It's not Rich Rodriguez's job to keep Nick Sheridan out of an "impossible situation." That's the job of Tate Forcier and Denard Robinson. It's entirely up to them to beat Sheridan in practice, to make more plays, to run the offense more efficiently and make it clear to the coaches who deserves to be on the field come Saturday. RR's job is to put the best players on the field. If Sheridan holds his own in practice, or actually, *gasp*, PERFORMS BETTER than Tate and Denard in practice, it's his responsibility to play him. Or should he just be like "Nah, Sheridan sucked in 2008. I shouldn't even consider him at all for 2009. Sure, he knows the playbook better than the other two guys, but he was awful a year ago. Probably shouldn't even let him practice. Doesn't matter if Tate and Denard get hurt, anything's better than putting in the guy who sucked a year ago!"
How would you feel if Tate or Denard performed poorly, lost a game, and RR said after the game "Nick actually practiced better than both of em all week, but we decided to go with the other kids anyway"?
August 25th, 2009 at 1:45 AM ^
How can you be sure he doesn't? You realize that, like 99.9% of college students, the players on the team use the internet right? And that they're told every single day not to read the blogs and forums, etc? And that, like 99.9% of college students, most of them probably do it anyway. So there is a very real chance they read everything you write.
In fact, recruits are known to read the blog after being interviewed by TomVH. Last year, a recruit's (Trevante Stallworth, who ended up at Auburn) father actually signed up and talked to some members here after Tom talked to him. So please, try to watch it.
August 25th, 2009 at 8:54 AM ^
Exactly. I think this is very true and often overlooked on this site. Some people here say some of the stupidest things possible about the players, coaches, and recruits. I just hope it doesn't turn anyone away or off on the program.
This isn't to say that we need to always be positive without any criticism, but I think people need to realize that some of the things that is said on this site will be read by people within the program and recruits looking to potentially sign up with the program.
August 25th, 2009 at 1:51 AM ^
I'm not trying to get into an argument with you. I'm just pointing out that by putting "death" after his name, you're doing yourself an injustice.
My apologies if it came off harsher than how I meant it.
BTW, I'm not negging you, FWIW.
August 25th, 2009 at 1:52 AM ^
First of all, you imply that Sheridan would somehow be a victim if he were put in the 'situation' of being the starting QB. This is stupid. Sheridan is competing for the job. If Sheridan didn't want the pressure and responsibility of being the Michigan starting QB, he doesn't have to play football. This doesn't mean that we should boo him, but we certainly shouldn't pity him should the unthinkable happen and he becomes the starting QB. It's what he wants.
Secondly, you never boo your coach anymore than you boo your players. As a fan, your responsibility is to support the team, and by extension all of its components. Just as it was wrong to boo Lloyd Carr, it is wrong to boo Rich Rodriguez. Just support the team when you're at the game.
August 25th, 2009 at 2:03 AM ^
"I don't mean to slam Sheridan, who's just a guy put in an impossible position trying to make the best of everything. And I don't mean to slam Adam, who seems like a perfectly nice, if insanely optimistic, guy.
That said: were you under a rock last year? Do you remember what happened? I hate Godwin's law right now. I mean, what is your instant reaction to this AnnArbor.com video headline:
Michigan quarterback Nick Sheridan discusses - rather, avoids discussing - what he brings to the table
I know what it is. I know it in my bones. I know it in the bones of my bones. If you try to tell me it's not the cheap, obvious joke I will call you a liar.
I know you specifically disclaimed this sort of response, but… you're not allowed to do that. It is the correct, inevitable response. If Rodriguez chooses to play Sheridan at any point when Forcier is still mobile, that's either a huge failing in judgment or recruiting."
Name that author. Just another guy who doesn't know anything right?
August 25th, 2009 at 2:25 AM ^
What you've just done, Mike from AA, is caused me to switch over and ROOT for Sheridan to win the starting job. If Sheridan is the best QB, he will start, and then maybe your head will explode.
August 25th, 2009 at 2:28 AM ^
Last year, Sheridan was in an impossible situation. He was supposed to be the starting QB after trying to learn a completely new system for an offense that had lost most of its talent to graduation and injury. That is not to say that Sheridan couldn't have done better. Indeed, I felt, like virtually everyone else here, that his performance was unacceptable of a Michigan QB. However, for a walk-on who was never expected to take a snap, it would have be unreasonable to have high expectations. I do not pity him for having the chance to start for Michigan, but I do not have any intention of bad-mouthing him, like you have done, as I believe that he gave his best and it simply was not good enough.
None of this applies to this season, however. This season, Sheridan is competing against two QBs who have skill sets that fit the system and that are almost certainly, greater than his own. However, it is not wholly unrealistic to think that Sheridan may have improved this offseason, and that his knowledge of the offensive system and collegiate experience will enable him to compete with Forcier and Robinson. I do not believe he can beat them out for the job, as his performance last year seemed to indicate that he simply doesn't have the ability to be a competent Big Ten starting QB. However, if he does, it will be because he earned the chance to start, not because he was cornered into it.
Finally, the 'impossible situation' that Brian is referring to is Sheridan trying to compete with two (hopefully) better QBs after last year's debacle while dealing with the media, which has not forgotten last year. That said, I do not feel that it is fair to write Sheridan off, as Brian has done. I give Sheridan a 1% shot at being Michigan's starting QB, barring injuries to both Forcier and Robinson. That said, until the season begins, he deserves that chance.
August 25th, 2009 at 2:29 AM ^
Brian has earned a formidable following by remaining both a passionate fan and an objective observer. I didn't mention it at the time of the aforementioned post, but I will now: Brian strayed from his lane here. People do improve, and we've seen unheralded players make impressive turnarounds. Please, preclude no one from doing so. I do, however, agree with Brian in that probability and history bode very unwell for Mr. Nick (and in joint, the Wolverines) if he is the starter.
Re: Players reading this blog:
Stevie Brown- If you are reading this, ignore that whole "probability and history" thing.
August 25th, 2009 at 3:36 AM ^
As you can probably tell by my absurd point total, I really like MGoBlog and spend more time than I should here. Brian is a hell of a writer who, more often than not, expresses my feelings about the team in ways I never could...
...that doesn't make his epinions fact. He's a dude with thoughts and feelings like anyone else and just because I find him to be the best and most intelligent person writing about Michigan sports doesn't mean I agree with every word he types.
In this case, I think he's made a massive and emotional decision to dismiss any notion that Sheridan might have improved. I disagree on principal here; Sheridan improving is probable and his being in the competition for the spot is likely a combination of that improvement and the coaches desire to have an experienced quarterback. It was generally agreed that Threet was the presumptive starter going into this season before he transferred, I fail to see why that was the case for him but not for Sheridan.
I'll continue to read Brian and value his epinions, though, just like I did when I thought he was wrong about Jeff Tedford being a good fit for our head coaching job or Texas being a great choice for Big Ten expansion. Your epinions, however, are worthless.
August 25th, 2009 at 1:19 PM ^
You're not at all biased in favor of Sheridan, are you? That's actually kind of an honest question, as I never knew whether your hysterically heroic Sheridan avatar was ironic or not.
My opinion, for what it's worth, is that Sheridan most likely improved - to the point that he could be a reasonably serviceable backup for a few quarters. He was a walk-on for a reason, this is not a Disney movie, and he's never going to be good enough to start at QB for a winning team. He's about as fast as Chad Henne, with the arm of a running back on a trick play. If he starts early in the year, it's probably time to shitcan any hopes of a bowl bid.
This is not to say it's unthinkable that he'll be ahead of two true freshman. But what that will mean is that we are without an adequate starting QB for the second year in a row.
August 25th, 2009 at 3:45 PM ^
No, I'm not running around in a number eight jersey or anything. The avatar is meant to be ironic, but it was also meant to symbolize my feelings about Threet (who I had a legit mancrush on) transferring.
The thing about Disney movies, though, is that they're more often than not based on something true. Rudy did get a sack, Vince Papale did walk on to the Eagles, Marshall did manage to win two games with a team made up of freshmen and walk-ons (which is actually more impressive than the movie conveyed as Marshall had only won three games in each of the previous two seasons)... why can't Nick Sheridan, with a good offensive line and an improved receiving corps be a serviceable starter?
Is it likely? Hell naw. Am I going to cry myself to sleep if Sheridan is in the shotgun at the start of the WMU game? Nope.
August 25th, 2009 at 5:48 AM ^
When I was a wee Scout poster last year, UM went through all the decommitments, transfers, and other attritionitis that comes with a transition to a new coach and new style.
Of course, many, if not most, if not all, of the posters there would rip every decommit, transfer, or player who left the program a new asshole up and down and up to and including his family.
I defended all the players, everytime. Really ruffled the feathers of the Scout Message Board Morality Police. I didn't care, I thought they were being hypocrittical, unfair, and downright stupid motherfuckers.
And guess what? I received several PM's from players (or poser, how do I know?), players' family members (or posers, how do I know?), and others thanking for giving these alleged Michigan fans the shit they deserved.
And on Scout, King Beaver has often warned posters that players, recruits, and their families subscribe to and read the boards. I suspect that intranets savvy kids, who are Michigan players, fans, and students, read this here blog as well. It IS one of the most popular in the history of the world.
To think that players don't read this stuff when people from all walks of life do is just plain STUPID.
August 25th, 2009 at 10:36 AM ^
I'm curious as to which players or players families pm'ed you. Was it guys currently on the team, or was it players that decommited?
Also note: If any of these guys are currently on the team and would get in trouble in any way from being revealed, feel free to ignore my question.
August 25th, 2009 at 1:33 AM ^
It's one thing to berate your team or its members in conversation. It's another thing to boo them on the field. Whatever a fan's views are on an individual player or team's performance, they are supposed cheer them on the field.
August 25th, 2009 at 1:29 AM ^
So it's the coach's fault if Tate and Denard don't beat out Sheridan as true freshmen by the first game?
So starting Sheridan in the first game is conceding the entire season? I had no idea that the starting quarterback of the season opener was the determining factor for the entire season.
You learn something knew every single day around here!
I won't boo Sheridan or Rodriguez for this, but I will boo you...
If I'm not mistaken this is already QB thread #2 for August 25th (And it's only 1:30AM)...It's gonna be a long fucking two weeks around here.
August 25th, 2009 at 1:32 AM ^
Oh, just wait until the season starts. Wait until Tate's first interception, or Denard's first fumble, or the first overthrow of an open receiver...
August 25th, 2009 at 8:08 AM ^
That will NEVER happen. Why are you speaking blasphemy?
August 25th, 2009 at 1:37 AM ^
You seem annoyed by quarterback discussion. Is there a position that concerns you more? Wow, I guess I just assumed that people on this site were concerned with Michigan football. What did you want to talk about?
August 25th, 2009 at 2:02 AM ^
...it's the general stupidity of the threads relating to the QB discussion. Debating the merits of experience versus skill and Forcier's and Robinson's respective skill sets is worthwhile. Starting a thread based on a baseless rumor that explicitly criticizes Rodriguez for no reason and berates a QB for no reason is both stupid, and dare I say, classless (which is rather ironic considering the title of this thread).
August 25th, 2009 at 2:09 AM ^
MOAR QB TALK PLEEZ.
August 25th, 2009 at 1:39 AM ^
I take it mike is not a RichRod fan. How about no booing of Michigan in the Big House this year? Had enough of that embarrassing shit last season.
August 25th, 2009 at 2:19 AM ^
Don't boo Sheridan, don't boo Rodriguez. Hell, don't boo C-1.
If Sheridan wins the quarterback competition, he deserved it. Under the current coach's system, Nick was the best. Why would we boo him?
If someone boos Sheridan after being announced starter, I will chastise them. If you boo the person who would do the best for your team, you are kinda wishing the worst for you team.
August 25th, 2009 at 8:46 AM ^
Wait, does the Coner have a new nickname, C-1? I put so much work into keeping up with the in crowd on Mgoblog and now I am flustered because there is a nickname I don't recognize.
Although, I shouldn't be surprised. The Coner is a man of many talents, how could one nickname possibly contain him?
August 25th, 2009 at 9:01 AM ^
i think that was a true original.
seen here for the first time just now.
i was going to suggest Ol' Dirty Coner.
August 25th, 2009 at 12:28 PM ^
Best. Nickname. Ever.
August 25th, 2009 at 2:28 AM ^
if a true freshman takes the first snap I want to know he is worthy. It has only happened twice before so if their name is to go into history, I don't want a few years later that the other frosh was better or Nick was the best. If they earn that spot then I will be happy with RR's choice.
August 25th, 2009 at 3:34 AM ^
I can't think of many...the officials are a good target, any string of total implosions. In general, take it easy on the college kids.
August 25th, 2009 at 3:52 AM ^
1) Why would I boo a coach who knows infinitely more about football than me just because he decides to play a certain player at quarterback?
2) What does booing accomplish? It does not inspire the players to play better. It does not inspire RR to coach harder. It does not help sell the program to the recruits in attendance ("I definitely want to go play for the coach who is being booed before the game even starts! What an awesome atmosphere!"). The sole purpose of booing is to vent your personal frustrations, which is pretty flimsy, in my opinion.
Also, Brian may have stated that starting Sheridan means either a lapse in judgment or a failure in recruiting, but I doubt he meant that you (or anyone) should actively boo RR because of it.
The bottom line is that if you want "class," then don't boo anybody.
August 25th, 2009 at 8:11 AM ^
I'll second jwfsouthpaw's points. The idea of booing a coach for a decision such as which qb to start in the first game is ridiculous. None of us, apart from the coaching staff, watch every practice, and even if we did, we don't know how to evaluate players. Booing Rodriguez for his starting line up decision is a statement from you that you know much more about football than he does. ...and what indeed does it accomplish? Will Rodriguez change his mind about the relative merits of Sheridan, Forcier, and Robinson because some guy who maybe played flag football in 7th grade and now sits in section 34 is booing him?
August 25th, 2009 at 12:30 PM ^
players is ridiculous. However, that rarely happens, at least by fans who sit anywhere near me. Sure, there have been a couple of times, by a couple of people here or there. It's my experience that the booing, especially two years ago, was targeted at the general poor performance of the TEAM and coaches as a whole. That is a lot different than booing individual players.
FWIW, I hope that people on this board who attend the games this year realize that we're not expected to be worldbeaters. We've got a young team with young quarterbacks. There will continue to be growing pains. It should be very difficult for any knowledgeable fan to boo any individual quarterback -- there is simply no expectation of performance so great for any one of them that they should be boooed.
Frankly, I don't expect it to happen. I think many of the posters here are so passionate and so involved that they assume everyone will do as they feel.
August 25th, 2009 at 5:01 AM ^
At least he didn't make this into a diary. +1 for that. I don't think you should ever boo your team (if you're a true fan), especially a college team made up of amateurs. However, you felt you absolutely had to boo someone it would have to be the coach. They are more responsible than anyone else for the success or failure of a college program. That being said the OP does throw Rich Rod under the bus so I can see why some you guys are so upset.
August 25th, 2009 at 6:27 AM ^
I go to games to cheer for "my" team, not to boo them. I save booing for the refs or for taunting by opponents.
August 25th, 2009 at 7:20 AM ^
After the year of infinite suckage, even the old guys who like to jingle keys will punch you in the jimmy if you boo anybody. Period.
August 25th, 2009 at 8:18 AM ^
And that wraps up todays post....you stay classy Michigan.
August 25th, 2009 at 8:53 AM ^
Funny that a post which preaches class ends up with the O.P. racking up all sorts of negative points.
Honestly, I want to see us go 12-0 this year. That said, it will be fun to check in with the blog after a loss this year to see people negabnging each other. NTTAWT.
August 25th, 2009 at 9:00 AM ^
booing made players better?
That is why booing opposing players always confused me.
August 25th, 2009 at 11:58 AM ^
To boo, or not to boo?
August 25th, 2009 at 9:01 AM ^
scored the winning TD against Ohio State. A lot of heads would explode around these parts. I even think some here would boo him regardless.
August 25th, 2009 at 12:30 PM ^
If Sheridan is playing, at all, against Ohio State then Tate better be severely injured and Denard in 2 leg casts.
Respectively.
August 25th, 2009 at 9:14 AM ^
This post just boggles my mind. There is no class involved when you boo the coach for putting, who he thinks and the QB coach thinks, the best QB is on the field.
You do know that if Sheridan starts its because he beat out 2 relatively high rated recruits, a young Pat White clone, and an accurate and mobile QB who enrolled early to study the playbook and get prepared to start on Sept 5th.
So, if Sheridan wins the job its because he deserves to play, and most likely knows more of the offense so the coaches can call more plays and give the defense different looks. That and he gives us a better chance to win.
I do not want Sheridan to start a game ever again during his time at Michigan, but if he deserves to play then he deserves to play. Denard and Tate both will play regardless of how Sheridan does anyways. Lets not get too crazy just yet.
August 25th, 2009 at 10:27 AM ^
terrible thread from a terrible fan...
Sheridan will be the go-to QB for the first few games until Denard distances himself from both tate and Nick.
August 25th, 2009 at 10:28 AM ^
I'll never boo a Michigan player. But there is a serial moose rapist at large in Wisconsin named Nick Sheridan. Are you seriously telling me not to boo him? Do you support raping moose, you sick fuck? I will boo Nick Sheridan, moose rapist, until every raped moose is avenged.
August 25th, 2009 at 12:06 PM ^
The moose were begging for it.