Snowflakes: The Fans

Submitted by akim on

I saw a lot today.  I saw special teams make plays.  I saw defense try to stand their ground despite 3 and outs by the offense.  I saw lots of poor playcalling, in my humble opinion.

That’s not what this is about.

I saw a stadium of fans boo their team in front of 4 commits and 15 prospects. (it was probably meant for the play call, but how would they know?)

I had to listen to an idiot next to me talk about how he thinks Devin Gardner is the worst QB in the world and that he wanted him to get injured so that Morris would play.

After I got home, I saw a thread polling fans about cutting their support for the program.

For a school that prides itself in being one of the best, to me at least this seems like a low point for the fandom.

Brady Hoke is doing an excellent job of recruiting, and he has an aspect of aggressiveness (fakes, going on 4th down) that we have not seen in the past, and I think we like it.

Greg Mattison’s defense created the Heininger Certainty Principle, and who can forget the drastic improvement in guys like Jake Ryan and JT Floyd?

I’m not happy with Borges, but I do think that we will improve in a couple years, given the opportunity.  Borges seems unable to adapt to an RPS situation where Rock is more like clay and is really weak but scissors is made of titanium as he doesn’t want to keep throwing out the same thing (would this make paper the bubble screen?).  Once we have the talent and experience to execute reasonably on run and pass they will put up points (I hope).

If you want to fire Brady Hoke, you are asking for a decade of mediocrity.  Who would want this job where 2 coaches have been fired in 6 years (one of them being the “Michigan Man” that everyone wanted after Rich Rod)?  Even if you hate Borges, I'd prefer to keep it to the message boards and support the team on the field.

 

There is a reason why the team touches the banner at the start of the game. 

 

None of this would be possible without the support of the fans.  250 consecutive games over 100,000 was a mark reached today.  That is another record for Michigan, but in the midst of that, I guarantee that the one thing that will end this program is if the fanbase gives up on their team.

I’m not asking you to not get upset when things don’t go well; that’s what makes sports what it is.  The highs would not be highs unless there were corresponding lows.

 

I don’t know I was feeling really bummed after the game and thought I’d start a thread for the first time.  Hopefully there’s not too much hate because that would make me a bit sadder.  I was gonna add some crap about work and how I've seen people get frazzled when they don't perform and get fired eventually, and others rebound with proper support, but now I am tired and I just want the day to end.

I’ll end off with the words of someone wiser than myself.

"We want the Big Ten championship and we're gonna win it as a Team. They can throw out all those great backs, and great quarterbacks, and great defensive players, throughout the country and in this conference, but there's gonna be one Team that's gonna play solely as a Team.

No man is more important than The Team. No coach is more important than The Team. The Team, The Team, The Team, and if we think that way, all of us, everything that you do, you take into consideration what effect does it have on my Team? Because you can go into professional football, you can go anywhere you want to play after you leave here.

You will never play for a Team again. You'll play for a contract. You'll play for this. You'll play for that. You'll play for everything except the team, and think what a great thing it is to be a part of something that is, The Team. We're gonna win it. We're gonna win the championship again because we're gonna play as team, better than anybody else in this conference, we're gonna play together as a team.

We're gonna believe in each other, we're not gonna criticize each other, we're not gonna talk about each other, we're gonna encourage each other. And when we play as a team, when the old season is over, you and I know, it's gonna be Michigan again, Michigan."

TheLastHarbaugh

November 10th, 2013 at 6:41 AM ^

LOL.

Every time you make this point it's fantastic and highlights the absurdity of it all.

Boo the football players? "YEAHUHHH! THEY WERE TURRIBLE! I PAID GUDT MONEY NOT TO SEE THIS GARBAGE! I'LL BOO ALL I GODDAMN WANT! RABBLE RABBLE!"

Boo the band? "...Uh no...they're just kids. Why would you ever do that?"

somewittyname

November 10th, 2013 at 1:13 AM ^

Hypothetical: Say you're a fan of this team and you pay a lot of money each year to see them play. This team has shown for 1.5 years absolute ineptitude at running the football. Now say you're in a tight game and get a critical turnover deep in the opponent's territory. You've had some success passing the ball and you're averaging about 1 ypc on rush attempts over the last game and a half. Well, naturally your offensive coordinator dials up two straight runs to set up 3rd and nine. You go on to kick a field goal and end up losing by 4.

Now say this is essentially a pattern for three years. Does the fan have any legitimate gripe or should s/he just be happy that they could experience such an event because in someways it was legitimately mind blowing?

MGoLesher

November 10th, 2013 at 12:57 AM ^

The fans have every right to boo tonight, ecspecially with the amount of money that some people (like my Dad) pour into season tickets year after year. The fans were sending a message, and I hope that the players realize 90% of the booing was going towards Hoke and Borges, and not directed towards them (although I can't say they haven't played boo-worthy lately).

WolvinLA2

November 10th, 2013 at 1:06 AM ^

Stupid argument - see above.  If you dad only wants to spend his money on tickets to an event where he knows the outcome will be good, tell him to go to a musical.  But in sports, your team is going to have bad games and bad seasons.  There is no promise on the ticket saying your team will play well.  That's the risk you take.  

Whatever.  I forgot how much this blog sucks after a loss.  I'm tired of defending this team.  If you guys all think it sucks, stop going.  It will be much easier for me to get my tickets.  

Deep Under Cover

November 10th, 2013 at 11:15 AM ^

But really, your argument is weak.  There is no gaurantee of a positive outcome, true, but there are expectations of performance.

If you went to the concert of some up-and-coming band and they sounded dreadful and didn't even play their top hit song, would you be entitled to a refund?  No, they didn't promise to play well, nor to play their hit song.  You have every right to boo their asses off stage, though.  

Even this is not a perfect analogy because Michigan football is a tradition, not a one-hit-wonder band.  People pay good money to get in line for tickets, then pay big money to actually get the tickets (I know from experience), and people have legacy and history tied to the program.  If you paid big money year over year to even get to see the above shitty band, would you feel robbed?

Booing that game was a warning.  Most people are not going to cancel their season tickets immediately because of Borges (they have a lot invested in them already), but with their purchase they have bought a voice in the program, like it or not.  Booing loudly on broadcast TV sent a message right to Brandon about what people think, even if he could deduce it on his own.  Boo == unhappy customer == potential loss in revenues (if not immediately, in the future).  I see nothing wrong with it.

I have a feeling the players know they are not the ones being booed.

sFX

November 10th, 2013 at 1:05 AM ^

If David Brandon insists on talking about Michigan football as a product then this is what happens when the product is expensive and doesn't meet expectations.

Mattinboots

November 10th, 2013 at 8:42 AM ^

Oh yes he is. His job, as he sees it, is to develop the brand and that is what he is trying to sell to people. The problem is the product isn't very good. You can advertise all you want, but if you're product is defective, your customers will not be happy. We are, effectively, a very expensive Domino's pizza - lots of advertising for a piece of cardboard with cheese and sauce.

Black Socks

November 10th, 2013 at 1:06 AM ^

Let's say you're Mgosurgeon.  During your last three surgeries you keep messing up and your patients die.  Do you tell the affected families that you need to execute better over and over?  Or do you educate yourself to get better and do a great job next time?  Right now we are at the state where Mgosurgeon keeps killing his patients, and some of the hospital staff is mad that patient families are complaining.  

aiglick

November 10th, 2013 at 1:08 AM ^

Honestly if we were able to organize it the entire stadium should chant a message like "execution, huh?" or "bubbles please". That at least would let the players know it isn't them we are mad at primarily but rather the coaches.

It will never happen but wtvr.

mscharbo15

November 10th, 2013 at 1:20 AM ^

I find the notion that wins = happy with product and losses = upset with product to be interesting. It makes sense; wins are usually well-played games and fun to attend, and vice versa.

But say Nebraska fumbles that 3rd and goal touchdown, Michigan recovers, and M holds on to win 13-10. Was the day suddenly an enjoyable experience and worth the exorbiant price? Are the boos persona non grata since, well, they delivered a victory (however meaningless and shallow it might be)?

I'm not sure. I can only speak for myself, and I can confidently say that the booing would have still been justified because it's not even about the scoreboard. It's about the inane coaching and generally terrible football that's been going on all year, regardless of whether or not Michigan happened to squeak past Nebraska in a game neither really played well enough to win.

UMxWolverines

November 10th, 2013 at 1:09 AM ^

I hate to break it to you, but at the root of this football program is one thing...MONEY. Hard earned money people have been shelling out for years of watching mediocre football. This program has won FOUR conference titles since the national title season. 

I'm as loyal as they come, but it's coming to the point where people aren't going to shell out the more and more money Dave Brandon keeps asking for each year when the product on the field gets worse and worse and the home schedule is garbage next year. At least during the Rich Rod years there was always the hope that we would eventually turn a corner. Now we know what to expect. 

ThadMattasagoblin

November 10th, 2013 at 1:14 AM ^

Sending DB an email does nothing.  I'm sure he sits back and laughs at the peasants sending him emails about how bad Borges is.  100K booing after we run up the gut for the 40th time resonates more.

Gob Wilson

November 10th, 2013 at 1:39 AM ^

I wonder if the players are starting to feel they are being blamed and "thrown under the bus".This attitude reminds of the situation at Stanford in 2006 (1-11) where it was always the player's fault and errors were punished on Sundays with brutal post-game workouts. Before the big game against Cal the players met with the AD and asked for Harris' head.

I often wonder what the feeling is in the lockerroom. I'd feel better about our situation if I had a feeling that the players felt we were going in the right direction. So, I wonder if the players have been lost by the coaching staff. They had to know the boos were for the coaches... I feel for our players. We should not be this bad. If the players give our coaches a vote of confidence I would feel a lot better about letting this play out for two more years.

Kennyvr1

November 10th, 2013 at 1:52 AM ^

We have been living in mediocrity for over the last 60 some odd years. Right now I only feel bad for the fans who didn't want a coach just like Lloyd and Bo in regards to how they coach not to lose rather than playing to win, but this is what most of you wanted. Michigan arrogance has been a crutch for quite some time and doesn't seem to be going anywhere soon.

uminks

November 10th, 2013 at 2:04 AM ^

I was expecting a gradual improvement in this team! But the opposite has occured. This team has regressed in many ways since the ND game. The coaches are to blame not the players. I would never boo the players but the coaches have this team learching back to the dark RR days, something I thought would never happen. I guess we give Hoke and company another year or two but I fear the same 4 or 5 loss seasons are in store since the coaches show no improvement in development! When we lose Lewan and Schofield, how in hell is the OL going to imrove.I just see an 8-4 season next year, so do we keep Hoke & company? It may be an improvement from a possible 6-6 this season. Tney probably will lose again to OSU and MSU! When do we start over again?

McSomething

November 10th, 2013 at 2:34 AM ^

is our biggest problem with recruit retention right now? Are you kidding me with this shit? Fans are gonna boo after obviously shitty playcalling. Don't like it? Too damn bad.

vablue

November 10th, 2013 at 3:58 AM ^

In my opinion, real fans don't boo their own team. And if I was a recruit I would think twice about going to play in front of home town fans that would boo you. We all freely accept that hearing the crowd and experiencing the atmosphere of a UTL game helps recruiting, so it's seems pretty obvious that hearing boos would also have an impact.

McSomething

November 10th, 2013 at 5:01 PM ^

anyone with any amount of football sense can see and understand what the booing is about. Football recruits that are at the game and have been following Michigan at all this season can see the fans are frustrated because of highly inept playcalling putting the team in a position to fail. Those same recruits are more likely to play somewhere else because of THAT reason far more than fans booing their own team's shitty playcalling.

jmblue

November 10th, 2013 at 5:06 PM ^

I was at the game yesterday.  Some of the booing seemed aimed at the playcalling, but there definitely were people around me specifically booing Gardner.

It's bullcrap.  Contact the AD if you're mad afterwards, but during the game, just offer positive support.

McSomething

November 10th, 2013 at 5:13 PM ^

So people are supposed to fucking cheer when off-tackle left is called yet again, for absolutely no gain AGAIN in critical situations? Bull shit. 100,000 booing fans is gonna reach Brandon's ears a whole hell of a lot quicker than a few angry emails he is likely to disregard anyway.

TheSacko221

November 10th, 2013 at 5:57 AM ^

Is the only means fans have to express displeasure. Recruits aren't going to avoid a school because if booing fans. Recruits have coaches and people in their corner who will see our coaches lack of execution and ability to develop guys. That will keep recruits away.



My issue is we are year three and the best contributors are still Rich Rod guys minus Funch and Butt.

Blue in Yarmouth

November 10th, 2013 at 6:35 AM ^

But I get from the title that you are upset with the fans for booing the team and the general stupidity you heard from fellow fans. I agree in part with what you're saying if that's the case. 

I don't have an issue with booing during the game we just watched as I'm fairly confident that people were not booing the players, they were booing the coahces, and I thnk they deserved every bit of that given what we witnessed. The problem, of course, is that the players may not understand that is what was going on and think the fans were booing them. The recruits may have thought they were booing the team as well and think "I don't want to be part of that".

I understand the fans being sick of what they are seeing on the field, I am as well, but we have to think about what the players perceive the booing to be about. I would never (and I mean never) boo a player for UM. The coaches on the other hand are fair game and with such little ability to emphasize your displeasure with said coaches, booing is probably the only thing the fans feel they can do to let this staff know how disappointed they are with what is taking place on the field.

If there were another way for fans to hold the coaches "accountable" (as Hoke likes to say) I'm sure most fans would probably do that, but booing is probably the best they feel they can do at this point. I mean, we all know what letters to Dave Brandon do...you get patronizing responses (not that I think they have absolutely no effect if enough are sent) about how much he knows and how little you do. 

TheLastHarbaugh

November 10th, 2013 at 6:37 AM ^

The fans that were around me were pretty good. Having some nice conversations. Talking about how the O-Line needs to improve along with Devin's decision making before we can see any real success offensively. There was one jackass who we all told to cool it yelling, "Fuck you, Devin Gardner."

The booing was shameful.

TheLastHarbaugh

November 10th, 2013 at 6:56 AM ^

To exapand upon the booing thing...

I'm sorry, but anyone that boos Michigan can get the fuck out. We don't want you here.

You're not a real fan.

Go find some other program to "cheer" for.

I don't care if you've donated $500,000,000 to the AD.

I don't care if you're a vampire wizard who has attended every single Michigan football game since its inception.

We don't want you here.

We don't need you here.

Michigan football will be just fine without you.

Don't let the door hit you on the way out.

Blumanji

November 10th, 2013 at 8:40 AM ^

The coaches do not get to live in a fantasy world where everyone pretends to be satisfied with their product. Michigan has every possible advantage with the exception of not being located in the South. People like you are like battered lions fans that will pay large sums of money to continue enabling a shitty product. Michigan has a management problem and fans certainly are paying enough to have the right to express themselves. Welcome to the real world.

Blumanji

November 10th, 2013 at 8:54 AM ^

I guess this Michigan grad and fan of 25+ years doesn't have the right to be a fan anymore. Make sure the door is gentle when it hits me on the way out.



If my last statement is lunacy, I have no faith in the future of this country. I am so sorry that booing is so hurtful to you. On the bright side, I hear women really love guys with a softer side.

TheLastHarbaugh

November 10th, 2013 at 7:37 AM ^

I am a Hoke apologist...

And a Rich Rod apologist...

And a Lloyd Carr apologist...

And a Gary Moeller apologist...

And a Bo Schembechler apologist...

et al...

If you think everyone who has supported the last, oh I don't know, 4 or 5 Michigan coaches is an "apologist," then maybe you just have to come to terms with the fact that you don't like Michigan football very much.

mGrowOld

November 10th, 2013 at 7:02 AM ^

There was lots of booing around me in section 3. There were also a lot of people standing and pointing at the press box as the did it so there was no doubt in my mind where it was aimed at.

I didn't boo but I will let my friend Dave know today he's going to have to pay for Borges's salary from some other idiots paycheck from now on. I'm out as a season ticket-PSL paying-customer.

BlueGoM

November 10th, 2013 at 7:08 AM ^

In general I think people were booing the coaches for not trying something at the end of the 1st half. I don't recall other instances.

However, This isn't the first time fans have booed.  It won't be the last. 

As far as Recruits and players - they want the big stage, they want national tv, they want 100k fans in the stadium they play in - they are going to have to realize that when they are on that stage, and fail to perform... people are going to notice.   It's not high school anymore.

I will quote Brady Hoke himself - " this is big boy football. "  Fans boo because you aren't performing well?  Deal with it.  Play better.

 

Wendyk5

November 10th, 2013 at 9:13 AM ^

I didn't mind us booing when there were 19 seconds left in the 2nd quarter and we took a knee. Clearly, that was booing the call. But there was another instance when Derrick Green got stuffed for a loss or maybe got a yard - after way too many Fitz losses for yards - and people booed. There was a shot of him up on the screen pulling off helmet looking up at the stands. That was bad. 

Amutnal

November 10th, 2013 at 7:17 AM ^

I would Boo the shit out of Al Borges. I still love Michigan and spent 8 years of my life there. Who made you gatekeeper of the Michigan fanbase? People should not boo players, I agree with that. But these coaches need to be held accountable, even more so at this level. The coaches know why people were booing.