Props to FSU Fans at Tomahawk Nation
After big wins, I sometimes go over to the opposition's SB Nation to get a feel for how the opposing fanbase is reacting. As you can imagine, there are often a lot of sour grapes and "the refs stole it from us!" Especially among the "highlighted" posts (i.e. the posts with a lot of upvotes).
Not so with FSU fans after yesterday. While some of them complained about the foul disparity, most of them were clear-eyed that Michigan was the better team yesterday and that they were too sloppy to win. Even some of the ref-blamers said that you couldn't pin a blow-out loss on the refs.
One of my Dad's best friends was a professor at FSU (and he gave me an intensive SAT prep course), so I have a soft spot for the 'Noles. Those warm feelings are just a bit warmer after reading their relatively even-handed reactions to last night.
Now let's go beat the Bruins!
https://www.tomahawknation.com/florida-state-seminoles-basketball-fsu-noles/2021/3/28/22355541/michigan-sweet-16-march-madness-seminoles-ncaa-tournament-scottie-barnes-wolverines-cbb-acc-news
March 29th, 2021 at 10:15 AM ^
If you want your dose of ridiculous takes, just go over the RCMB for gems like "if FSU went to the line as much as Michigan, this game could have gone either way."
March 29th, 2021 at 10:23 AM ^
that's because MSU fans are used to fouling the piss out of their opponents but getting the same number of fouls called per team, due to Izzo's tears.
MSU defense in the lane.
March 29th, 2021 at 10:33 AM ^
I surfed a couple pages of that RCMB thread for entertainment. It was disgusting! As much as they said FSU sucked, they were also saying that the entire NCAA is in on the ref show to advance Michigan. It was eye-opening just how much they think the refs favor UM in every game!
And yes, the usual amount of 'Martelli is the real coach' comments... Seriously, one guy said that Leonard Hamilton and JH would cancel each other out, but that Martelli was way better than any assistant FSU had.
I don't know about you guys, but I would've thought MSU slappies knew more about basketball than they apparently do...
March 29th, 2021 at 10:46 AM ^
I'm a Philadelphia native, so I have a ton of respect for Martelli. He had been an institution in the Philly college basketball scene for as long as I could remember. Just a phenomenal guy and very good coach (took the Jameer Nelson led Hawks to the 2004 Elite 8). We are lucky to have him as an assistant.
But if you think Martelli is the reason that this team is a win away from the Final Four, you don't know college basketball (or you're ignorant for other reasons). Heck, Martelli only ever made one Sweet 16.
Again, good coach, but this team's phenomenal play is a clear reflection of the big man.
March 29th, 2021 at 10:49 AM ^
Yeah it’s so strange that all of the sudden martelli is considered John wooden. I don’t want to bash him but the guy spent 20 years going .500 at a mid major with extremely limited tournament success.
He’s a good assistant, knows the game and probably has some connections. But on any other team you’d never hear about him.
March 29th, 2021 at 10:45 AM ^
You'd think they'd have something better to talk about...oh wait they don't
March 29th, 2021 at 11:18 AM ^
Right?! I mean, how's their baseball team doing?
March 29th, 2021 at 11:47 AM ^
You mean Staae is done talking about how Northeastern transfer guard Tyson Walker is going to make them a Final Four team next year? Good to see Izzo realized what the transfer portal is about, and that he can't use that excuse next year!
They are also believers in the "the one call that turned the tide of the game" theory. And also when foul disparity doesn't hold up it's because refs made up for it after the game was determined (obviously after the call that turned the tide of the game.)
March 29th, 2021 at 10:16 AM ^
Same with Reddit. The postgame thread was surprisingly civil and respectful all the way around.
Except for the Sparty trolls. But there were an equal number of MSU-flaired users posting nice comments.
March 29th, 2021 at 10:17 AM ^
Although the live game threads are almost always the polar opposite.
March 29th, 2021 at 10:27 AM ^
To be fair, the live game threads here on MGoBlog are just as toxic. I try to pretend like they don't exist.
March 29th, 2021 at 10:39 AM ^
I much prefer the Reddit game threads to the ones here. It is nice to get third party input as the game goes on.
Often, on here, the threads turn completely toxic towards our own players. The chicken littles come out every time the other team does anything of note.
March 29th, 2021 at 12:05 PM ^
I know, "OMG, the other team made a contested three. We're doomed!"
March 29th, 2021 at 10:40 AM ^
even our nicest uncles get pretty awful when they have a drink or two.
March 29th, 2021 at 10:23 AM ^
They were one of my elite eight teams in my busted bracket. I also hope Norvell or another coach can get their FB team turned around. Cfb is better when they are formidable and we all wouldn't mind Clemson going back to being a middling program.
March 29th, 2021 at 10:27 AM ^
You didn't have Michigan in the Elite 8? Da'fuck kind of Michigan fan are you?
March 29th, 2021 at 10:32 AM ^
I almost never pick Michigan to go far, as some sort of reverse jinx. Plus if Michigan is the team to bust my bracket, I'm totally ok with that. It's a win-win
March 29th, 2021 at 11:12 AM ^
Thank you for your service
March 29th, 2021 at 10:28 AM ^
I will be rooting for them in the future. My bias against FSU always came from the 90s football.
Listening to Juwan talk about Hamilton I was already impressed. Then listening to Hamilton talk in his press conference after the loss, man, nothing but respect. You could tell he was proud of his team this year, even though they were a couple games away from capturing some championships. He didn't lay any of the blame on refs, or his players (wierd guys). Just a loss to a team that played as well as they could play.
Really hope he continues to succeed at FSU. Take down some of those blue bloods in the ACC.
March 29th, 2021 at 11:05 AM ^
I second that. Hamilton is a class act. The reporters gave him an opportunity to talk about the foul disparity and he wouldn't go there. Our players really embraced defending with verticality (not a foul.) FSU defends by reaching, grabbing, and going for the block. I saw one play where they were pressing us and the FSU defender jumped in the air and landed on our guy, but no foul was called because the pass was already made and it didn't give them an advantage. I guess. Still, I think jumping on top of a guy should be a foul regardless of the situation. (See, Leonard Hamilton has more class than me.)
March 29th, 2021 at 10:31 AM ^
I looked at an article in the Tallahassee paper, on Coach Hamilton's response. He too gave Michigan credit, both the players and the coaches.
What also struck me is that, though he did admit his team had strengths and weaknesses to be worked on, he didn't throw any players under the bus.
That struck me for the contrast with Staee's Mr. Izzcuse, who says he takes responsibility but then complains in specifics that make clear which players he blames the loss on.
March 29th, 2021 at 11:08 AM ^
That's becuz
Is-so is a little weasel...
Leonard Hamilton and Juwan are good friends
Leonard Hamilton isn't a little weasel.
March 29th, 2021 at 10:39 AM ^
My unsolicited FSU story. Spring break of my sophomore year we were on our way to some spring break city... think it was Daytona but not sure anymore. Anyway, we stopped in Tallahassee for a night to see a friend of one of our trip mates. Long story short, we ended up staying the whole trip in Tallahassee. it wasn’t their spring break, but we just partied there all week. We drove one day to Panama City, but decided to go back to Tallahassee because the scene was just better. I will always love that college because of that trip.
March 29th, 2021 at 10:42 AM ^
I got into the FSU grad program I applied to Michigan for--and went to Michigan instead of course. So I have a similar soft spot. I loved those 90's FSU football teams. Good stuff.
March 29th, 2021 at 10:53 AM ^
When I was a kid, I liked to record Michigan football games on VHS. This was back before digital video was a thing, much less the internet, so I treasured my library of recorded Michigan games. Anyway, one of the games I recorded was when FSU visited Ann Arbor in 1991 and beat us 51-31. I remember I was home sick from school for part of the week after that game, and re-watched it a couple times (I have no idea why I decided to torture myself like that). I'll always associate Michigan playing FSU with me being sick in 5th grade for that reason.
March 29th, 2021 at 11:35 AM ^
Pick 6 Terrence Buckley M’s first play from scrimmage. Think at one point we trailed by only 13.
Michigan came back to within 25-23 a few minutes before halftime. But then we gave up a long catch-and-run to Amp Lee that led to a FSU TD, and then Grbac threw a pick in the end zone right before the half. That combo killed us.
I also applied to UM and FSU for grad school and chose UM. ...and my first season attending games included that FSU game. That pick-6 to start the game was....deflating, especially after the ND win (Desmond's catch) right before it.
March 29th, 2021 at 10:44 AM ^
I’m pretty sure there are not a lot of Leonard Hamilton defenders.
March 29th, 2021 at 11:08 AM ^
I think FSU is a football school, so anything they get from the basketball program is gravy. They've been doing better in hoops lately. (Sounds like someone we know.)
March 29th, 2021 at 11:36 AM ^
Hamilton's done pretty well there overall, but isn't the best tournament coach. It seems like his program has a ceiling around the Sweet 16, like Painter's at Purdue. But that's still quite good. You could do a lot worse than that.
March 29th, 2021 at 11:00 AM ^
As we talk about the general tone of posts at FSU, RCMB, Reddit, etc. and the assorted toxins that occasionally show up here, maybe some of us should step back and try to learn something from how Juwan carries himself in the public eye. He doesn't throw players or coaches or opponents under the bus and carries himself in a professional and complimentary manner, to the point that he makes all of us proud that he's our coach. We, as fans, appreciate seeing that in opponents blogs and commentaries. Maybe, just maybe, we should try to emulate Juwan's approach. Go Blue!
March 29th, 2021 at 11:00 AM ^
The 1991 football game left a bad taste in my mouth and I didn't like FSU for a long time after that, but the (few) interactions I've had with their fans have been positive.
Actually, it seems that most non-Big Ten fanbases get along fine with Michigan fans. They generally seem to prefer us to OSU fans.
March 29th, 2021 at 11:02 AM ^
Watching the 'bama vs ucla game.... I couldn't help but think if the same crew that officiated the Michigan vs FSU game was there.... both teams were fouled out before halftime. Damn was there a lot of contact happening with no whistles.
March 29th, 2021 at 11:15 AM ^
Well, out of repsoect for your new found respect for Noles fans, I suggest you stay away from Danny Kannel's Twitter
There are always assholes.
March 29th, 2021 at 11:59 AM ^
Not all fan bases are delusional like Sparty or Illinois, and can identify when a team is just better than theirs!
March 29th, 2021 at 12:56 PM ^
Michigan's tournament run is making the big ten conference and media picks for 1st team all conference look silly.
That's good to see. Honestly I found the same when I went to Tiger Droppings after our game with LSU. Sure there were some asshole crybabies but mostly they were downvoted to hell and the main take was the better team won
Yeah rcmb says we always get the worst team when we play them! They can't make a shot! That has nothing to do with our defense?!?! Some people say root for the big 10 teams in the tournament! Meanwhile they can't wait for us to lose!
Not sure why this is worth special mention. We're not in their conference, there's not really any acrimony between the programs, and we blew them out. I'd say the response would be the same with 99% of all other opponents we could possibly face in the tournament.
It's not like it'd be the same if it was a close, hard fought game with controversy or if this was a conference rival.
March 30th, 2021 at 12:14 AM ^
Strange, I do the same, and i found it a boring trip as 99% of the posts were blaming it on the refs.