So Long and Thanks for All the Fish

Submitted by Meeechigan Dan on

A short note to say thank you to all of you as I leave this site for good. I can honestly say that I have enjoyed some of the best moments on the Internet right here where the quality of discourse and the intelligence of all the material is second to none. But the snarky classlessness of this site in general and Brian in particular as it relates to Brady Hoke has asphyxiated the joy that used to accompany my daily visits here.

The thought of years of adolescent digs at a man who is the epitome of everything we have declared is special about Michigan just because his resume isn’t up to incredibly uninformed standards chills me. When I can look on the front page of a site renowned for its cerebral excellence and see an Internet tantrum taking form as “Hoke-y bits” and “healing old wounds iz gud” and “footbaw” – that is if I can get past that moronic banner and its awesome wit “We can has Hoke?” and “SRSLY?!” -  it’s time to look elsewhere.

From 30,000 feet, Brady Hoke is ten times the man of any author on this site and his unapologetic love for this university fortunately is unaffected by the sniggers of non-athletes with electronic pens who sleep in until 11:00am every day.

Have I always wanted Brady Hoke as our coach? No, of course not. I didn’t know a thing about him. By the tsunami of material about our new coach has me electric with enthusiasm, and I will be damned if I am going to rain on my own parade by clicking on a link that has lost its Michigan soul.

maineandblue

January 12th, 2011 at 11:45 PM ^

Gimme some of your tots...

But seriously, Dan, I've really appreciated your thoughtful diaries and comments over the years. I hope you come back when you're ready, and I hope that when some of your frustration passes you'll understand that the snarky or angry/bitter/devastated reactions of mgousers in the past week are due to their love of Michigan.

I'm warming up to Hoke, especially after seeing the presser and hearing that the players seem to like him and hopefully most if not all will stick around (this was my biggest concern with not hiring a big name), but yesterday I wanted Dave Brandon's intestines on a skewer. We done wrong by our last coach, and I'm not thrilled about how Brandon handled the situation...I'm starting to get over it but it will take others a bit longer. We've experienced some emotional losses and have tons of uncertainty here, any way you slice it, and people grieve loss and deal with uncertainty in all sorts of ways. It'll take some time for folks (including Brian) to come to terms and regain equilibrium.

See ya when you get back; otherwise, take care.

slblue

January 12th, 2011 at 11:58 PM ^

Wrote a few days about the same feeling.  Read alot and don't post alot.  But the negativity can be really bad around here.  My wife actually noticed and commented on it.  Life is short.  I'm amazed at how many people are so purely negative and willing to trash.  I think Brian must be simply exhausted at this point.  But he needs to get alot more positive about this stuff.  I mean, this is college sports, not life and death.  Let's have some fun, right?  Brian, please lead us to a happier place with inspiring, supportive stuff, not the nearly constant downer stuff.

The Baughz

January 13th, 2011 at 1:00 AM ^

Nice avatar. I have a framed picture of that hanging in my dorm room. As for the guy leaving, I get what your saying, but people can have their opinions. Some are negative, but not everyone will be on the same page. Im sure Brian will warm up to Hoke. Im sure after watching the presser today, it had to change him a little. It changed me. Im now a Hokeamaniac.

STW P. Brabbs

January 13th, 2011 at 11:05 AM ^

I will not stick around for Lloyd Carr part 2 aka Brady Hoke.

January 11th, 2011 at 9:47 AM

Sorry, didn't know you'd climbed back down from the ignorant-ass statement that the last coach to win Michigan a championship since 1948 was utterly unbearable for Michigan fans.  Maybe you're too young to remember anything Lloyd did before 2007.

My thinking is that the people who are so childish that they're first reaction to something disappointing is "Fuck you guys, I'm taking my ball and going home" ... should just do us all a favor and go home.

WhatTheFekete

January 12th, 2011 at 11:33 PM ^

I agree with much of what you said Meechigan Dan.  

I think that the creator of this site (Brian) needs to police it more to run a more productive site where information can be shared and keep the ass clowns off the site.  

Someone asks a simple question on the board and we get 50 hits and not a single one is productive.  So I hope that things improve otherwise I am right behind you.

MGoShoe

January 12th, 2011 at 11:35 PM ^

...but leaving seems pretty silly.

It would be nice if today's presser started to change the toxic tone that has prevailed on the front page and on the MGoBoard.

Clarence Beeks

January 13th, 2011 at 1:45 AM ^

Yeah, it would be nice if that would happen.  I have to admit, I'm starting to feel the same way as the OP.  The level of discourse on this site has been far below what any of should expect from a site of this caliber.  This should be one of the most exciting times we'll ever have as fans of the program.  This is the type of hire that will absolutely rejuvinate this program, not tear it apart.  It is apparent that some people think that because the process wasn't fair to Rich Rodriguez that they need to act the same way toward Brady Hoke.  That's just silly.  As Michigan fans, we should all be better than that, especially if we really and truly live by the values that we say that we believe.

MGoShoe

January 13th, 2011 at 10:31 AM ^

...especially the part about burdening Hoke with RichRod's poor treatment. As if he had anything to do with it.

It's over everyone. RichRod is gone.  The Spread 'n' Shred at Michigan is gone.  There will be some other system put in place (some version of the West Coast Offense that allows for the QB to get out into space and make plays) and a real, honest to goodness defense will be devised and implemented.

MichiganStudent

January 12th, 2011 at 11:37 PM ^

Take a deep breath and relax. Good God. Its a damn blog for Christ sakes. Aka, a place where intelligent, unintelligent, and everyone in between meet and discuss things (in this case its typically Michigan football). 

WolvinLA2

January 12th, 2011 at 11:38 PM ^

I see where you're coming from.  But I'm not going anywhere.  Your complaints are akin to my coke dealer showing up 10 minutea late.  I'm upset, but I'm not going to stop buying.

blue95

January 12th, 2011 at 11:40 PM ^

With RR it was all hate and "wins will cure all."

With Hoke it's all love and he hasn't coached a game yet. 

I will hold him to the same standard and will pass judgment based on if he wins or not.  Right now my opinion leans toward us rehashing upper-level overratedness and not competing for national championships.

Logan88

January 13th, 2011 at 9:17 AM ^

Agreed....sort of.

I was not a big RR fan at the end and was happy to see him go, but I did not make my judgement until he had three years of FAIL securely under his belt. I will do the same with Hoke: reserve judgement until I actually see the product on the field.  I find it odd that some people who were vehemently anti-Hoke are now saying that his presser (?!?) won them over.

As far as the upper-level overratedness and not competing for national championships, at this point RR has lowered the bar so much for me that I will be positively thrilled if UM can get back to Carr-esque levels of performance.< Sigh>

old fan

January 12th, 2011 at 11:41 PM ^

 

Meechigan Dan,

From one old poster to another, I completely understand what you are saying.   I haven't written much in years, but I enjoyed our discussions a couple of years ago, especially the halo scan days.  You have been one of the original contributors (though won't miss the avatar).  

I am not going to quit the site as you are suggesting you are doing.   However, I understand your feeling.   The banner especially is beneath what this site is about.   I think Brian is a brilliant writer.  I have enjoyed the addition of TomVH and the growth of the professionalism of the site.   However, the tone has devolved.  

Logan88

January 13th, 2011 at 9:21 AM ^

I agree that the current Banner is a disgrace. Unfortunately, it is the first thing anyone (including a curious, potential new poster) sees and is a poor example of the kind of work we can usually count on at MGo.

Please, for the love of God, pull the Banner ASAP! 

ST3

January 13th, 2011 at 12:11 AM ^

hit you on the way out. I never cared for your avatar by the way.

EDIT: Perhaps I was a tad too harsh there. Come back when you, Brian, and the rest of us have had time to get used to the new World Order.

dieseljr32

January 12th, 2011 at 11:41 PM ^

Yeah I agree that maybe Brian was a bit unfair towards Hoke.  He criticized the man before he's even coached one game here at Michigan which is the exact thing he couldn't stand with Rodriguez.

But acknowledge that this is HIS website and he has every right to post his opinion.  He wasn't the only person unahppy with the prospect of getting Hoke but things are changing and I think Brian's opinion of him is changing as well.

Meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeechigan Dan, if you think that you will be able to find as good of information, as in-depth of information regarding analysis, data, and recruiting (for free) you will be sorely mistaken. 

See ya.

BlueNote

January 12th, 2011 at 11:42 PM ^

What has probably upset you is the natural peak of emotion as the program enters yet another significant change.  Most people disappointed by the Hoke hire will probably forget about it for at least a year as they remember that they're Michigan fans and find themselves rooting for him and the rest of the team. 

There are some other issues that may be upsetting you that can only be characterized as growing pains for a site that is visited by more and more fans.  I trust that Brian is always thinking of ways to optimize the site so that we can continue to have a good time here. 

In any event, my prediction is that in about a week you're going to get the itch and find your way sneaking back to mgoblog.