Schoonmaker retweet on team culture--will bring a smile to your face
I don't think every tweet by one of our athletes is thread-worthy, but in light of the unpleasantness yesterday surrounding the Erick All situation, I thought people would appreciate this one.
My biggest concern yesterday was the possibility that there were some cracks in the unity of the team (the team, the team). And there might be. But damn if this video and retweet didn't make me feel much better about things this morning.
December 6th, 2022 at 11:42 AM ^
SCHOOOOOOOOON
December 6th, 2022 at 11:46 AM ^
Would love for Shooooon to come back next year, but that is me being greedy. Make the best decision for yourself Shoon, and thank you for bringing your best to Michigan!!!!
December 6th, 2022 at 11:57 AM ^
This is the way. We only get them for such a short period of time, and - while we wish we had them longer - we should want them to be rewarded with what's best for them.
Go Schoon, and go blue!
December 6th, 2022 at 1:17 PM ^
Would looooove Schooooon back, but whatever is best for him.
Totally understand Cade transferring and wish him the best, he'll always be a part of the turn around from 2021...HOWEVER, he was absolutely acting entitled at the beginning of the year. Expecting to start due to confidence is one thing, expecting there to be no open QB battle with a 5* (that could run and with a better arm nipping at your heels) was at best oblivious and at worst smarmy and smug.
He started moping around and complaining in the presser about the competition even before he lost it and in many ways his play on the field was a reflection of that attitude. Hopefully it's a learning experience for him to always keep improving but also to accept when the better man wins the job. I know many don't like to hear it, but his attitude was shit ever since Harbaugh announced the "tryout" in the two games.
Regarding All, no info on what happened and why he is leaving, but one should always go out in a classy way - never burn bridges. The Harbaugh connections run deep in the NFL and best not to sling arrows back at the University - I'm sure Jim would give him a glowing review regardless of his transfer decision, so long as he isn't shitting on the program on the way to the portal.
Shit happens, injuries happen, circumstances happen. I'm 100% certain Blake wanted to play against OSU and in the playoffs (still praying there's a 1% chance!), but I'm also certain Blake was D. Edward's #1 fan against OSU and Purdue - despite the fact he might have lost the Heisman by missing those 2 games.
Life is uncertain and a violent, injury ridden sport like football even moreso....it's often very cruel how it plays out - but can be taken as an important life lesson used for motivation and perspective, or one can just become bitter - which often ends up poorly.
December 6th, 2022 at 1:54 PM ^
I'd be moping too if I was the first QB to beat a full strength OSU in 20 years, made the CFP and then lost my job. Cade's a winner and he handled it better than 99.99% of people his age would have. Leave him be.
December 6th, 2022 at 2:04 PM ^
He may have handled it better than some, it's a stretch to say 99.99%, but if you're the captain of the team there's no room for that. Being frustrated when alone or with friends and family is fine not at a presser, in public or around the team.
December 6th, 2022 at 2:20 PM ^
What did Cade do at a presser?
December 6th, 2022 at 2:27 PM ^
He said something to effect of "I was surprised that there was a competition for the QB job this year." Not the worst soundbite, but it wasn't a helpful thing to say, and frankly after the Georgia game he shouldn't have been surprised.
December 6th, 2022 at 2:57 PM ^
Sounds more like inartful phrasing or slightly more honesty than ideal, rather than an intentional shot. These guys are young adults selected for playing football, not professional PR flacks.
December 6th, 2022 at 5:36 PM ^
Best response of the day Bo!
December 6th, 2022 at 11:56 AM ^
In that video and at other times, I've often seen Harbaugh telling players he loves them. That's so great to see. Those kids need to hear that as often as possible. Imagine Brian Kelly doing that.
December 6th, 2022 at 12:10 PM ^
worse... imagine brian kelly doing that while he's dancing with them.
nevermind.... don't imagine that.... I apologize
December 6th, 2022 at 12:13 PM ^
Not to bring up old, now-irrelevant shit, but the biggest reason I've never been able to buy the narrative from rivals that Harbaugh somehow manipulated COVID cases in the program to "duck" Ohio State in 2020, is that I'm not able to believe Harbaugh would screw his players out of games they've worked their asses off to play, just to avoid an OSU beatdown and, as many suspected, his resultant firing that would follow. He played the game himself and understands everything these young men put themselves through and have sacrificed, and he loves them. He wouldn't take their dreams from them.
I'm tired of Harbaugh being called an asshole by opposing fans, like it's unique to him. Saban is an asshole. Dabo is an asshole. Urban was an asshole. Coaching college football isn't really a profession for nice guys. You're just mad that Michigan no longer has Brady Hoke to kiss ass and apologize for one of his players putting a small piece of metal in the Spartan Stadium turf. Tough shit.
December 6th, 2022 at 12:16 PM ^
Correction: Urban is, not was.
December 6th, 2022 at 12:51 PM ^
True, I just wanted to emphasize the fact that he is not, at present, getting paid to coach football.
December 6th, 2022 at 12:59 PM ^
Double Correction: Urban will always be.
December 6th, 2022 at 1:18 PM ^
Yeah he’s a dick and so isn’t Brady Quinn in rewatched the championship game and there’s not a doubt in my mind based on the reactions on set that the bs with coaches mic wasn’t staged they even had a tech guy fucking with the mic before he started to talk. Quinn’s got a shot Eaton grin and coach looks at Meyer and Meyer looks like a greasy fix in the hen house. Pathetic small men.
December 6th, 2022 at 1:14 PM ^
You don't have to be a lip reader to know he's saying "I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" in this photo
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December 6th, 2022 at 1:49 PM ^
He loves his familaye!
December 6th, 2022 at 12:41 PM ^
More like
=)
December 6th, 2022 at 11:43 AM ^
"Hey look, there's another one" "love you" It sure looks like they love their coach! Although winning does do that!!
December 6th, 2022 at 12:57 PM ^
Pretty tough for a team to go 13-0 if there is a lot of internal strife
December 6th, 2022 at 11:43 AM ^
Here's an embed of the original tweet, so you can watch the video without having to leave here.
December 6th, 2022 at 11:43 AM ^
"who's transferring/going pro early" season sucks. At least we're in the playoffs, so we don't have to play "who's sitting out the bowl game" too. Nice to see some positivity. Come back, Schoon! The NFL sucks anyhow.
December 6th, 2022 at 11:47 AM ^
It will be interesting to see how many players sit out ‘bama’s bowl game.
December 6th, 2022 at 11:50 AM ^
Who’s sitting out the playoffs? Jaxon Smith-Nijigba
December 6th, 2022 at 12:19 PM ^
His reasoning makes sense though. He's barely been a contributor this year due to a nagging injury. You bet he'd be on the field against Georgia if he'd been healthy all year. Might as well continue doing what he's done all year, get as healthy as possible, and go pro.
December 6th, 2022 at 1:43 PM ^
If he is in fact healthy he should play. If not, then skipping it makes sense. But if healthy, skipping a playoff game is selfish and wrong, period. I supported the guy skipping bowl games-they are meaningless. But he is hurting his teams chances to win a competition they'll remember all their lives.
December 6th, 2022 at 2:25 PM ^
“Healthy” and “ready to play” aren’t the same. If he’s 80% and hasn’t had any live snaps with his team in over 2 months…. Probably not a lot of good reasons to be in the playoff game, and a lot of downside risk.
December 6th, 2022 at 4:09 PM ^
Yeah. He's reinjured himself twice now trying to come back to play. I'm not even sure there is even much of a decision to be made here.
December 6th, 2022 at 11:43 AM ^
I wouldn’t be too awfully concerned. It sounds like maybe the EA situation was more about the individual and his current injury situation, than the culture of the team.
December 6th, 2022 at 11:48 AM ^
Also, "parting shots," though classless, are understandable because the player/coach is leaving for a reason, and if it's not 100 percent their idea, it makes sense there's sour grapes.
December 6th, 2022 at 12:13 PM ^
Totally. It does make you wonder what he’s thinking/what transpired to send him out the door.
December 6th, 2022 at 12:44 PM ^
If you want to take a parting shot, take a parting shot. Otherwise keep your mouth shut and move one. This vague, half assed, passive aggressive hinting bullshit is the worst and reflects poorly on the person doing it.
December 6th, 2022 at 12:11 PM ^
From what I have read - All didnt listen to UM/Medical staff and went and had surgery at some clinic in Florida. All thought Harbaugh would help him get cleared to play after the season, and Harbaugh basically said he cannot go against UM medical. All felt slighted, lied to and felt like Harbaugh turned his back on him....leading to the tweet.
We may never know the issue but shit happens. Let him leave, maybe be successful, and hopefully he never has a back issue again.
One thing I would not ever question is culture. Getting rid of Ed W, and a few other bad eggs did wonders for this team. Moore, Clink, Hart, Jim, hell everybody on the staff have built a great TEAM.
Some guys will want to play more and leave, some will be pissed others won the job vs them, in the end its a business. These kids are learning that very quickly that they need to do whats best for them.
December 6th, 2022 at 1:11 PM ^
Assuming this is the cause of the saltiness...to me it sounds like All went against medical advice from the organization that has to clear him to play, and mad that Harbaugh didn't somehow overrule UM Medical.
IIRC, ever since Shane Morris (if not before), the chain of command on medical clearance to play runs thru the UM Health System outside of the athletic department entirely.
That's on purpose to protect players' health from coaching conflicts of interest.
Ondre Pipkins and Ben St. Juste are 2 more examples of that independent decisionmaking.
It's literally not Harbaugh's call, and there's nothing he can do to change the decision of the medical staff.
December 6th, 2022 at 3:15 PM ^
This post led to me watching a video of the shane morris incident again, because it's always good to look on the bad times to keep perspective. That led to me finding an interesting comment on the video by a former player:
"Played under Hoke. He held grudges. He didn’t like rich rods guys nor did his staff. Devin was clearly the best qb but he didn’t back him at all. That whole staff should be investigated. Mattison was a snake as time has shown."
His commenting name was that of a former player too, it was a comment made a month ago, not sure why anyone would fake it.
December 6th, 2022 at 4:18 PM ^
I know All was close to the Harbaughs, and while Jim was encouraging him to listen to the medical staff and let himself heal before resorting to a surgery that might disqualify him, if Erick and his dad were set on getting the procedure I could see Jim telling him to do what he thinks is best for himself and he supports him.
Perhaps they thought that meant Coach would/could try to override UMHS and now they feel misled.
December 6th, 2022 at 11:43 AM ^
I'm convinced.
Now let's just wish All the best in the future and get ready for TCU.
December 6th, 2022 at 11:44 AM ^
I am not sure what All is referring to in his tweet and if it is or is not a shot at the football program. What I do know is that you can have a great culture and still have student-athletes that are not happy for whatever reason.
We are dealing with 100+ athletes even when culture is great it is not perfect.
December 6th, 2022 at 11:54 AM ^
Yeah, imagine trying to make 100+ different people all happy at the same time. It's nigh impossible and it honestly would be weird if every guy felt like his best interests were recognized.
The one part of this situation between All, Cade, etc. is how the knives have come out attacking them from a subset of the fanbase. People can be "disappointed" in the sense that they wish these good players stuck around longer or left in a way they feel matches their sentiments better but I've seen a number of people questioning their leadership and character and it just feels gross.
December 6th, 2022 at 12:58 PM ^
Pointing out that McNamara was obviously mad about losing his job and that his response was to pout his way through this season before transferring, and that he left without expressing any gratitude to anyone at Michigan or any public support for his former teammates, is simply discussing the truth. Although his disappointment is understandable, the way he conducted himself didn’t reflect positively on his character or leadership. Neither did All’s firing shots on his way out.
December 6th, 2022 at 1:16 PM ^
pout his way through this season
What was the pouting? I missed it. Or did you just mean his comments at the beginning of the season about the competition?
December 6th, 2022 at 1:23 PM ^
Pretty sure he means not attending games as a captain while injured because he lost his starting spot. Which people can excuse away but it looks like he had sour grapes and left the team.
December 6th, 2022 at 2:28 PM ^
He was at the games prior to getting surgery. And he can’t/shouldn’t take a spot on the travel squads. Unclear whether there have been any home games since where he is healthy enough to stand around a whole game on the sideline.
December 6th, 2022 at 1:26 PM ^
Oracle just takes every chance he can to shit on Cade because he prefers McCarthy. He posts the same sorry takes over and over despite no real evidence.
December 6th, 2022 at 1:37 PM ^
Do you remember how often we saw Ronnie Bell on the sidelines last year, after his injury, congratulating and encouraging his teammates? Did we ever see McNamara doing anything like that, despite the fact that his teammates elected him as one of their Captains? I didn’t. As I said, I understand his disappointment and would also understand if he harbors animosity toward Harbaugh. Even before McCarthy came along, Harbaugh first chose Milton over McNamara. But his teammates didn’t make those decisions. They were just trying to win games. He’s still a young guy and wisdom (hopefully) comes with maturity. I hope at some point he realizes he could’ve handled this challenging situation better.
December 6th, 2022 at 2:13 PM ^
"I was confident in the way I performed over camp. Definitely felt that way. However, it's just not my decision. So, whatever it is, whatever my role is, I'm honored that my teammates recognize me for the role I have currently and that's about it."
December 6th, 2022 at 2:29 PM ^
He was definitely on the sidelines in street clothes for multiple games.