We ARE Michigan

Submitted by Cold War on

The winningest program ever. Most winning seasons. Most undefeated seasons. The ones who taught Notre Dame how to play football. Holders of the all-time single game attendance mark.

We play in the Big House. We wear the winged helmet. The Victors is the greatest fight song ever. Eleven national titles, and we've turned down five. Forty two freaking Big Ten titles.

Yost. Crisler. Elliot. Schembechler. Oosterbaan. Kramer. Ford. Harmon. Woodson. Howard.

Fergodsake, I'm proud to be a Michigan Man. And oh, yes, our rivals are Ohio and little brother.  Did anyone stop calling us scUM or tsun when things were lean for them? Hell no.

When times are tough, you embrace all of this. You don't toss it away.

We're not the Michigan of old? Always have been, and always will be.

 

 

MGoBoard

Eastside Maize

September 10th, 2014 at 9:50 PM ^

My uncle use to watch UM and sometimes, if I wasn't playing with toys, I would sit down and watch. I became a fan and enjoyed Cooper @ osu & Bobby @ staee. No fairweather here, I just hate talking to people who think football started in 2008.

Joined: 06/09/2013

MGoPoints: 48024

Sten Carlson

September 11th, 2014 at 1:28 AM ^

Hey there Pot, I've got a friend I'd like you to meet ... His name is Kettle. Nothing wrong with knowing where you've been and constantly reminding yourself how high the bar has been set by those that came before you. It's not dwelling on the past, it's providing inspiration for the present and future. Every great organization does the same. For you to call it a negative says a lot about you, and frankly I feel sorry for you.

Joined: 11/16/2009

MGoPoints: -56

Voltron is Handsome

September 11th, 2014 at 7:09 AM ^

Touting past statustics doesn't mean anything to anyone outside of Wolverine Nation. This program has been average at best for the past ten to fifteen years. No team fears playing Michigan anymore. You want to know who is feared? Teams like Alabama, Oregon, Ohio State, LSU, and the like.

Joined: 05/12/2014

MGoPoints: 3908

Sten Carlson

September 11th, 2014 at 9:10 AM ^

I think you're missing the point. Being proud of what the program accomplished in and using those accomplishments as a measuring stick shouldn't be view as a negative. I can promise you every one of the programs you're so scared of have a similar history stat line that they can look to and recite. Further, each one of those programs had a time in the weeds, now is our time unfortunately. It's taking a little longer to find our way out than I'd like, but to me, an understanding and appreciation for the programs history isn't something that is hold the program back. No player or coach walks off the field after a loss and says, "oh will, at least we're still the winningest program of all time." Or when we don't win then Big 10 Championship say, "no sweat, we already got 42 ... " I think the opposite is true. When we lose, the players and coaches look at those 42 B10C's and know that not winning it is unacceptable and strive harder to add to that total. Two different views of the same issue. Glass half full vs. glass half empty.

Joined: 11/16/2009

MGoPoints: -56

UMxWolverines

September 11th, 2014 at 4:17 PM ^

Where do you come up with this stuff? 

''When we lose, the players and coaches look at those 42 B10C's and know that not winning it is unacceptable and strive harder to add to that total.'' I thought we established that in 2011 when it was considered a failure by Hoke and the rest of the team. I've only seen the entire team get farther and farther away from winning a big ten title since.

Joined: 03/01/2009

MGoPoints: 65295

Sten Carlson

September 11th, 2014 at 4:32 PM ^

I am not sure you're reading what I wrote correctly.  What I was trying to say is that knowing that Michigan has won 42 B10Championships, and having it as a stated goal every season, is NOT a negative thing as the poster I was responding to implied.

My point was that every player on the team and every coach, trainer, and staff member desperately wants to make that number 43, as soon as possible, and that not winning it is unacceptable.

Or something like that.

Joined: 11/16/2009

MGoPoints: -56

UMxWolverines

September 11th, 2014 at 5:18 PM ^

I don't think you get what I wrote either. If every staff member and player thinks it's unacceptable that we haven't won the big ten yet under Hoke, why do they seem to not get any closer every year? If they think it's unacceptable they sure don't prove it. Once again...the program is all talk. 

 

Joined: 03/01/2009

MGoPoints: 65295

Sten Carlson

September 11th, 2014 at 7:51 PM ^

"...why do they seem to not get any closer [to winning a B10Championship] every year?"

The Big 10 season hasn't started yet, so unless I am missing something, Michigan has the same chance of winning as every other team does this season. 

Winning any championship isn't the easiest thing in the world, as there can only be one champion as you know.  Maybe your perception is being colored by your rage.

They took a bad beat from a good/decent team, but that game has no bearing on the B10Championship.  It has some bearing on the NC, but I'd be willing to bet that if Michigan won out from here, beating MSU, OSU, and winning the B10C, they'd be included in the 4 teams -- maybe, maybe not.

The point is, everything is "all talk" until you do it, but that doesn't mean you should just stop talking about it.  The goal of the program is to win the B10C, do that, and everything else will take care of itself.

One's goal is to make $1MM a year, but for they past 3 years they've made $800K, $500K, and $450K, are they "all talk" because they say their goal is to make $1MM?  Are they all talk because they say that not meeting their goal is "unacceptable?"  Failure is just as viable an outcome as success, and just because one has failed doesn't mean that they'll continue to fail, neither does success automatically guarantee more success.

It's like your making the assumption that because they've not done it yet they cannot possibly find it unacceptable, because if they did find it unacceptable, they would have done it.  Should they fall on their swords out of shame?  I just don't understand your "all or nothing" mentality.

Joined: 11/16/2009

MGoPoints: -56

harperic

September 10th, 2014 at 11:06 PM ^

We actually held ND fairly well. If not for giving up field position and not being able to convert on offense we may have been praising the defense. Golson had a Heisman performance out there, and while the D could have been better, it wasn't the worst.

Also they switched to a press in the off season, I think.


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Joined: 08/17/2014

MGoPoints: 1616

CLord

September 10th, 2014 at 10:14 PM ^

Love the enthusiasm in the face of just being humiliated and Hoke continuing his road game futility, but can we lose adopting Penn State's silly "WE ARE" cheer?  Always thought "We Are Penn State" was literally the dumbest cheer in all of sports.  No shit you are Penn State.  What's next, telling everyone where you live and what you had for lunch Captains of the Obvious?  "WE LIVE, IN HARRISBURG!"  "WE ATE TWO SPICY WIENERS!"  I mean really...

Joined: 09/11/2011

MGoPoints: -6344

nowicki2005

September 10th, 2014 at 10:28 PM ^

the old Michigan is the problem. tradition eventually falls to new generations and new ideas. its what has always happened in history. The key to sustainability in businesses, religion, a civilization is to change and adapt. We are not changing, we are not adapting. We went backwards going with Hoke, an old school guy who will play man ball with a pro style offense. Pro style is not pro style as most NFL teams are largely spread teams. Spread is pro style yet we want to go backwards? Not changing is the downfall to everything in history.

Joined: 06/28/2011

MGoPoints: 3059

harperic

September 10th, 2014 at 11:04 PM ^

RichRod was a spread master, but didn't work at Michigan because Rich didn't understand Michigan. Spread is working in other places. OSU has done spread, A&M is ripping the SEC apart with Air Raid (not exactly spread but similar). Offense is getting faster every year, and staying smash mouth with passing may not be successful anymore.


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Zoltanrules

September 10th, 2014 at 10:29 PM ^

I'm always supportive of the players and showing school spirit, but name calling when you are a door mat for your rivals makes one look stupid.  I also was ashamed by the whole chicken dance on the PA. You think Bo would have allowed that?

Being the leaders and best doesn't mean reducing yourself to the lowest levels. Prove it on the field and then win with class.

Joined: 08/23/2009

MGoPoints: 20872

DC Johnny

September 10th, 2014 at 10:30 PM ^

and will be begging to jump back on the bandwagon when we take off. DAMN - if I still lived in the area I'd buy as many season tix as we're available - just like Warren Buffett when the stock market tanks ... because it is always temporary ...

Joined: 09/07/2014

MGoPoints: 360

TheTeamx3

September 10th, 2014 at 11:07 PM ^

I'm always pretty positive, but something about Saturday killed my positivity. The last time I can remember feeling the same way was after losing to penn state I. 2009 when I realized we weren't good and that we unfortunately wouldn't be while rich rod was here. Can't help feeling that Saturday was the beginning of the end even though we'll probably end up 8-4 this year

Joined: 05/05/2010

MGoPoints: 470

Qmatic

September 10th, 2014 at 11:16 PM ^

No fan is more important than the team. There is and always will be something special about this program that engulfs us. I walk down State St every day now as a grad student and am just proud to be a part of this University. It's something that I've carried with me my whole life, and will always continue to. I took my vows as a fan years ago, through good times and bad. Yesterday is gone everyone, tomorrow is on the way. Greater things are still to come.

Joined: 01/09/2013

MGoPoints: 32522