The State Of Our Open Threads: After Notre Dame
So, this will be a relatively short summary since it is only one game and there isn't much point in charting one game, and of course, I know that many of you are wanting to get right back to LSU / Miami. Some of you won't care, of course, and I don't care that you don't care because that's the sort of person that I am and we're going to report out on this stuff anyway.
It was a less than thrilling game, needless to say, and there is much to rightly criticize, but how did we do in our first game thread in this iteration of MGoBlog? Well, the results are interesting.
Some highlights:
- 272 fucks
- 121 shits
- 43 damns
That was across 2,380 total posts (713 total tracked words) across two threads, so when all tracked words are taken into consideration, we get a Swearing Efficiency of 3.43, which actually historically translates to numbers more often seen in stressful victories. We may need to revisit which words we track in Year 4 or Harbaugh.
There were also 38 uses of "fire", about 10 of which were actually directed at Harbaugh, and 65 mentions of the offensive line, which was...well, we've talked about this at length on the boards as it is. We also had 40 people say "suck", many of which were directed at the offense and 70 mentions of "Harbaugh". I'll let people guess how people were talking about our coach.
So, we'll see how all this shakes out versus WMU - it takes a while to get all this data now.
September 2nd, 2018 at 8:07 PM ^
I said it after last season and I meant it..Football is dead to me...I only watched some of the game game from pre to post but not any more..after the first 10 mins I knew nothing had changed..Football is a annual dissapointment and I turned all my attention to a team, you know, that WINS banners...Basketball...Cant wait for BB to start..
September 2nd, 2018 at 8:36 PM ^
Football is dead to me! (Says the first person to respond to a post on a Sunday following a game during football season)
September 2nd, 2018 at 8:40 PM ^
Don't come back.
September 2nd, 2018 at 8:58 PM ^
Yeah, I’ve sort of done the same thing. I stopped expecting good things from Michigan football. Unfortunately it’s in my DNA: my parents met at UM, I met my wife at UM, etc. It’s the only thing I care about outside of my friends and family.
But I’ve stopped treating it like a life and death situation. It hurts, and I feel like a traitor at times, but it is what it is, and I’m certainly not going to root for anyone else.
September 2nd, 2018 at 9:08 PM ^
Your name fits.
September 2nd, 2018 at 8:09 PM ^
Runyan is now a four letter word in our house, so you might start tracking that one, too.
September 2nd, 2018 at 9:10 PM ^
I cannot believe Runyan was considered a lock to start at one of the tackle positions all offseason, like it was that clear he was our best option. The guy cannot play at this level, period. It is really scary to think he was that much ahead of everyone else at the position.
On that note, Ruiz looked absolutely terrible yesterday as well. I did not see him move anybody in the run game. On passing play, he looked just as lost as Runyan on stunts (the Patterson fumble was 100% on him as he was running away from an unblocked rusher). If by some chance he did recognize the correct guy to block in time, they didn't stay blocked for long. On top of all of that, he looks really slow. Expecting him to execute a second level block looks like it will result in a lot of busted plays. I understand that was his first college start at center, but that was a really bad performance. Another guy who received a ton of hype in the offseason and looked like he didn't belong on the field.
September 2nd, 2018 at 10:02 PM ^
It's hard to imagine that starting a true freshmen even would have been a worst result. How can the coaches honestly believe Runyan gives them the best chance to win? That makes you question their competence.
September 3rd, 2018 at 7:05 AM ^
Be careful what you wish for. I remember when JOK was the most popular QB on the team until he actually got to play.
September 3rd, 2018 at 8:48 AM ^
Let’s Digress. How could Joke give them the best chance to win?
Between the O line and the QB decisions, not just about the starters, but who gets recruited, who gets offered, and who they really push to get.
The QB and O line recruiting has been poor at best, abysmal at worst. Western has had better QB’s than Michigan for about the last ten years. Central had a tackle taken #1 in the draft. We apparently don’t have a tackle on the roster other than true freshmen.
The recruiting has been awful. Shea looks good, but he will be running for his life all season.
September 2nd, 2018 at 8:20 PM ^
It's hard not to get bent out of shape about this team, especially when we expected to see improvement from the off-season to last night. I'm trying to stay rational here and remind myself that it's only one game, and this team can really put together a nice string of wins before running into another quality opponent. By that time, I'm hoping the pieces of the puzzle come together. Optimism will be the death of me.
September 2nd, 2018 at 11:53 PM ^
It's our fault for thinking things would be different this season.
September 2nd, 2018 at 8:29 PM ^
Fuck!
September 2nd, 2018 at 8:29 PM ^
Guys this is frustrating. I wanted Harbaugh here and was so pissed when Brandon didn’t go after him. Fast forward, Hoke is fired and Jim is hired. I was so thrilled and thought it was just a matter of time before we’d be competing for B10 chanpionships. I don’t know what I saw last night and I don’t know what’s happened to our coach. He’s a shell of himself. It’s almost like he has lost confidence in himself. He has to turn this around right????
September 2nd, 2018 at 8:42 PM ^
It's clear everyone has caught up to Jim and his new old-school offense. Tried to go spread at times but when that is the change-up and you only do basic things that every single other team in CFB does, not exactly a tough assignment to stop it. I think it's time he swallows his pride and hires the Don Brown equivalent of an OC and let them run that side of the ball instead of trying to do it himself.
September 2nd, 2018 at 9:21 PM ^
I’m sorry, but I’m not buying this. I think any offensive scheme works if your players are executing. The problem is that our tackles aren’t anywhere remotely where we need them to be.
September 2nd, 2018 at 8:31 PM ^
I could just drop 272 more F bombs in this post and get our numbers up to 544, but I will refrain.
...still scratching my head, now 24 hours removed from the nightmare. PTSD still going strong.
September 2nd, 2018 at 8:33 PM ^
I didn't type it, but I probably said FULLBACK 20 times. Where's the fullback? Bring in the FULLBACK! Is Ben Mason going to play this year? Fullback?
September 2nd, 2018 at 8:47 PM ^
We have a spread-to-pass QB with a two-TE, I formation power running game offense. The identity crisis continues.
September 3rd, 2018 at 9:30 AM ^
Exactly.
UM's O reminds me of the Borges era where we had a plethora of sets but a limited number of plays out of each and opposing teams had no problem defending them.
I mean, was ND actually afraid that Shea might pull the ball and run on the read options? He's mobile in the regard he's not John Navarre but he's no Denard.
C'mon!
But, honestly, it doesn't matter what we run with this O line. Recruiting and development have both stunk. Hopefully, Warriner can turn the tide but it's certainly not a one year fix.
September 3rd, 2018 at 9:54 AM ^
It was so refreshing when Dylan, in one of his first plays, held on and ran around the edge for a gain of 3-4 yards. Shea had that run open a few times and gave it up.
September 2nd, 2018 at 8:36 PM ^
I'm sure our QBs and RBs said just as many swear words to the OL last night as we did in those threads.
September 2nd, 2018 at 8:48 PM ^
I said a lot of things I'm not proud of. That was just such a disappointing performance.
September 2nd, 2018 at 9:25 PM ^
In the moment, so did I, man, so did I.
It was not good, but unlike a couple radicals on Twitter and indeed here, I am not throwing in the towel. Indeed, the washing is at a bit of crossroads here this weekend, so throwing towels would merely create a bigger mess.
September 2nd, 2018 at 10:45 PM ^
My towel is in my throwing hand, but I have yet to toss it. After last night I can't see any way possible we will have a chance to beat any quality team. We looked completely lost offensively. I am leaving room for a turn around...not likely...but possible.
September 2nd, 2018 at 9:02 PM ^
Just fix the OL. Please.
September 2nd, 2018 at 9:28 PM ^
The threads are acquitting themselves well.
September 2nd, 2018 at 9:40 PM ^
I was born and raised in Michigan until moving South in 1985. I grew up a HUGE Michigan fan through Bo, Moeller, and Loyd Carr. I can honestly say a few things about the state of the program without having to say one cuss word or demand the firing of Jim Harbaugh. Like everyone that has posted in this website, I too was shocked last night and it was not because Michigan lost. I expected a very tough game regardless of the hype put out by the University of Michigan's PR department the entire Spring and Summer. What is most notable is the change in the demeanor of Coach Harbaugh. He looks weary, tired, worn and emotionless and the team played like it. I noticed it when they first ran out on the field and was concerned about how flat and emotionless the team looked. Frankly, I am still surprised we only lost by 7 points as poorly we played. Michigan's defense will be fine this season as evidenced by their play in the second half. The offense, however, it the main problem once again and it's not the QB. In fact, Patterson is being limited to a pedestrian high school scheme and it is very surprising coming from Harbaugh himself. The passing game is absolutely pathetic and that is on the million dollar coordinator Pep Hamilton and Harbaugh himself. On another note, Harbaugh has really changed from his first two years and he seems aloof and disconnected from the program. This makes me wonder if he is really pondering a return to the NFL after this season. Losing Saturday night is NOT the end to still having a great season and they have 4 weeks to tune up the offense before the weight of the schedule hits. I hope this happens because college football is much better with Michigan in the picture.
September 2nd, 2018 at 10:05 PM ^
Totally agree. Harbaugh was so intense in Year 1. It's like they put him on Xanax or something.
September 2nd, 2018 at 9:44 PM ^
I am about there. Record the game and watch it later, maybe. Or just read the articles and watch the 3:00 minute replay. We need a new OC equal to Jedd Fisch. Pep is not good.
September 2nd, 2018 at 9:59 PM ^
The whole fire Harbaugh talk is a joke. The guy has his team winning the games he's supposed to win - we couldn't even do that with the last two coaches!! And the next hurdle is to fix the offense and start beating the teams ranked higher than us (on the road, at home, whatever). I'm cool with waiting. I'm pretty sure the guy who took a team to the Super Bowl knows wtf he's doing. And let's be honest - if it wasn't for bad luck, Harbaugh would have none at all. Probably the most competitive time to ever take over this program in the history of the B1G.
And as for this season - we're only one game in! Everybody take it down a notch. In fact, just stop watching/listening to sports for a few days until kick-off next Saturday - social media is so toxic - there is nothing good coming from any sports sites especially in the comments.
I think people forget that the team that lost to App State ended the season by being the only team to ever beat Timmy Tebow in a bowl game. This team knows what they have to do to right the ship. For some reason I got exited beyond belief when Shea completed that first pass while he was rolling out to his right on the first drive. How many years has it been since we've seen that pass completed?! Whatever - the whole 'I know better than Harbaugh' or "I'm giving Harbaugh one more chance" rhetoric is insane and this fanbase should know better.
September 2nd, 2018 at 11:13 PM ^
What objective evidence do you have to back up your statements? You think Jim Harbaugh is a great coach and took a team to the Super Bowl. Wonderful! Now he is Michigan's Coach and I could give a bleep how he did at Stanford or the 49er's.
So far, JH tenure is a razors edge away from being labeled no better than Hoke. Dude was hired and paid a King's ransom to beat OSU, MSU, compete for B10 Titles, win Bowl Games, and get us to the play offs. He isn't getting paid $8,000,000 a year to beat MN or Rutgers. Dude has only beaten teams he was supposed to beat and has yet to win a game of significance.
September 3rd, 2018 at 12:25 AM ^
Before Harbaugh, we couldn't even get a coach to beat the teams we were supposed to beat. Jesus, we lost to Toledo at home. How is that not being objective? And at least now - we are being competitive in these marquee matchups. Going to Dallas for that Alabama beat down and going to South Bend for a shutout and being in NJ for that Rutgers game were massive embarrassments. I was at them all - it sucked. At least now, we have some footing and aren't getting mopped up. Harbaugh is giving us a chance to win in EVERY game we play (with the exception of that first OSU game). No previous coach since Carr can say that - and Carr was the one who got beat by App State. People seriously NEED a reality check. Who is to say that we aren't a player or two more away from getting over the hump. That player or two might be sitting on the bench right now and stepping up to play in the coming weeks.
September 3rd, 2018 at 12:56 AM ^
We were favored last night and against Sparty last year and didn’t win either. Spare me the winning games we’re supposed nonsense.
September 3rd, 2018 at 1:26 AM ^
And we were a heavy favorite over South Carolina in a Bowl game where we blew a 19-3 second half lead.
September 3rd, 2018 at 5:05 AM ^
Ok - let's talk bowl games.
Lloyd Carr 1-2 in his first three bowl games.
Brady Hoke 1-2 in his only three bowl games with a 31-17 non-competitive loss to KSU. Didn't even make it to a bowl in his last year.
RR Lost 52 -14 in his only Michigan Bowl appearance. Oh and before RR got here, we had a 40 year streak of consecutive non-losing seasons.
Harbaugh 1-2 in his first three bowl games with with our biggest bowl win and 2 close losses. Again - this guy always puts out teams in a position to win.
You can't rewrite the past thinking we are going to get something back that we had before - when this is what we had before. Bo never won a Natty. Bo had a 5-12 record in bowl games. We love Bo. Bo is God. Bo gave us winning and stability. Bo gave us Gary. Gary was great. 4-1 in bowl games. Gary F'd up. Lloyd took over and took us to the promised land. None of this happened over night. Carr 6-7 in bowl games, but he got us the Natty. My point: just pump the brakes on all the negativity with Harbaugh after 1 game this year. This team was clearly capable of winning that game - they just needed to execute. They didn't. Get over it - it's a bunch of 18-22 years olds who are getting challenged to play better next week. Let's see if they get better. We knew when it was time for RR to go, we knew when it was time for Hoke to go, we shouldn't even be thinking about having this discussion about Harbaugh - yet here we are. We've become that fanbase that we like to make fun of.
September 3rd, 2018 at 10:01 AM ^
UESWolverine....Harbaugh is giving us a "Chance" to win every game against quality opponents? If he really is giving us a "chance" then eventually Harbaugh would get some wins against ranked opponents. Currently, the only "chance" Harbaugh is giving us is the chance to not get blown out by ranked teams.
September 2nd, 2018 at 10:01 PM ^
Fuck we played bad. Shit we sucked worst than fuck. Damn, who calls a worse fucking shit game than Pep Hamilton. There, that is my open thread.
September 2nd, 2018 at 10:15 PM ^
Seriously, Harbaugh needs to set the game plan and call all the plays. Pep Hamilton stinks again this year like last year. Firing Drevno was only half the issue.
September 2nd, 2018 at 11:26 PM ^
I grow tied of this LSA - who the fuck cares?
September 3rd, 2018 at 8:16 AM ^
Well, fortunately you're talking to a person who doesn't care that you don't care. I am a nice, caring guy like that.
I mainly do this for my own catharsis, but if it entertains others, that's cool too.
September 3rd, 2018 at 12:37 AM ^
Of course come in third quarter, the poor squirrels powering MGoBlog got tired. I gave up trying to post all my f-bombs because a site kept taking forever to refresh. So for almost the entire second half I just shut the computer off and watched the game without commenting.
September 3rd, 2018 at 1:22 AM ^
Michigan fans thought we were getting the Wolverine equivalent of Bear Bryant returning to his alma mater.
It's looking more like Bennie Oosterbaan instead.
September 3rd, 2018 at 10:04 AM ^
I agree with you Don. I don't understand people who think that Harbaugh was hired to "play with integrity" and "keep the tradition alive that Bo created". Heck no!!! Dude was hired to beat OSU, MSU, compete for B10 Titles and Playoff spots. You don't pay a Coach that kinda dough for any other reason.
September 3rd, 2018 at 2:53 AM ^
This board is embarrassingly full of crybabies and idiots. Fortunately the team won't quit as easily. Hopefully the idiots don't chase off Harbaugh before the ship is righted. I'll worry in year 5.
September 3rd, 2018 at 5:09 AM ^
Exactly! And it's not only this board, all of the Michigan socials are loaded with toxic comments. These people are out of their minds.
September 3rd, 2018 at 7:18 AM ^
Michigan football is fine to watch and root for, but it's now in the same category as Texas.
September 3rd, 2018 at 11:47 AM ^
Agree completely. Saturday was one game. People need to relax. Damn.
September 3rd, 2018 at 12:54 PM ^
You realize how much talent we lose next year? Recruiting hasnt been good either.
I swear you pie in the skyers don't even know the fundamental make up of the team you cheer for
September 3rd, 2018 at 7:15 AM ^
Michigan fans should sue the summer of 1994 Excalibur bartender.