What does it feel like to cheer for a dominant team?
UM football is my favorite team/sport. I wait every year, fall into the hype, and am disappointed....rinse, wash, repeat. I don't really have any other sports or teams I follow as a diehard - although I am a fan of UM basketball, it's not an obsession where I follow recruiting, get nervous before games, etc.
As I've gotten older (mid 30's now), my fandom for UM football isn't quite as passionate - maybe due to the constant disappointment and maybe due to age, living with a fiance, etc - but I do wonder, what would it feel like to root for a dominant team.
Anyone here ever a fan of a dominant team like the 90s/2000s Yankees, 90s Bulls, Curry/Durant Warriors, etc? Do you start to take winning for granted?
Also, are Michigan dong punch losses unique? or does every middling program trying to get over the hump experience the same type of pain?
PS...I'm really tired of this shit
October 31st, 2020 at 6:49 PM ^
I live in Columbus. The fans are always on cloud 9 about their team.
October 31st, 2020 at 6:56 PM ^
Ugh, must be brutal to deal with our dong punches along with a bunch of happy cooler poopers.
October 31st, 2020 at 7:00 PM ^
Behind closed doors they snicker. But most of them are just like “so when are y’all going to fire Harbaugh” or “I just miss the rivalry”
October 31st, 2020 at 7:04 PM ^
It's their way of throwing shade.
November 1st, 2020 at 11:55 AM ^
HOT TAKE: Cooler pooping has led to B1G Titles.
October 31st, 2020 at 6:59 PM ^
If I lived in Colombus I'd probably consider adopting the bucnuts after today. I'm 54 years old and I'd like to know what winning is like before I die.
October 31st, 2020 at 7:01 PM ^
Never
October 31st, 2020 at 7:05 PM ^
I hate them too much for that to ever be a possibility.
I could, however, look past all of Urbz filth, criminal enabling, cheating, slime, etc if we could ever get him to coach here. Cognitive dissonance would be strong if he delivered championships.
October 31st, 2020 at 7:10 PM ^
I had a relative who played for them back in the 50s. Didn’t find this out until a few years ago. Had I known that when I was younger, I’d probably have had different allegiance, but I just can’t imagine cheering for any other team. I don’t think I could and mean it. I feel you though.
October 31st, 2020 at 7:40 PM ^
I grew up in Ohio. I just had to be different as a kid.
I mean, and I can't say this enough, fuck Ohio State. But God damn it must be nice to be a fan of a winning program.
October 31st, 2020 at 9:18 PM ^
I became an Alabama fan today. We’re winning 27-0 against Mississippi State at the moment. Yay.
October 31st, 2020 at 9:29 PM ^
Roll Tide
October 31st, 2020 at 6:54 PM ^
I don't mind losing, but to lose to the same tactics against our rivals is getting old. Man Coverage isn't working, so why does Don Brown continue to do that. Why not have a solid defense that can bend but not break all the damn time.
Our corners aren't great but they aren't bad. In this defense, we just make them look bad. Wtf
October 31st, 2020 at 7:28 PM ^
Don Brown is garbage. He's either just a stubborn prick or has a lizard brain, and it's infuriating.
Wonderful...you run great man schemes when you have 2 NFL corners and can blitz all day, not to mention those years we had dominant D-lines on top of it.
Putting our weakest position group (CB) on an island all day, despite getting burned the entire first half and then making no adjustments was ridiculous today.
The day I was done with Don Brown was not any of the OSU losses (which obviously exposed his lack of flexibility, creativity and coaching acumen) but the PSU/Hamler game. When I saw Brown dial up 3rd and long zero blitzes with strong safeties covering Hamler in the slot, I knew this guy was just dumb. Hamler burned us for 2 TDs over the top that game.
Took the guy 3 years to install a functional zone/brackets cover defense and everyone hailed it as some sort of great accomplishment, instead of one of a few base defenses that they should be able to run based on situations. Of course, he forgot to run the zone today.
October 31st, 2020 at 8:24 PM ^
Because were Michigan fer god sakes, it’s the same old BS this program holds on to. Every other program moved on from the 1970’s except for Michigan. There’s a way to honor tradition but live in the present, Michigan just doesn’t know it. Most wins, most fans, most embarrassing losses too.
October 31st, 2020 at 6:58 PM ^
I can't think of any FB program that is overhyped, under delivers and breaks their fan hearts the way Michigan has done over the last 20 years.
October 31st, 2020 at 7:02 PM ^
Tennessee fans would like a word with you.
October 31st, 2020 at 7:10 PM ^
They play in the SEC...nobody expects anything from them, especially since Saban starting dominating. Add in LSU and UGA and Tennessee doesn't have the annual hype we get.
Texas would be a better comparison imo. Notre Dame as well.
October 31st, 2020 at 7:14 PM ^
Fair enough
October 31st, 2020 at 8:07 PM ^
Do we really get that much hype? It seems like most of the national media has a "It's time for Michigan to put up or shut up" attitude every year, and we don't put up to disprove them.
Texas is an interesting one though. There is no reason why they can't be dominant, and for some reason they aren't.
October 31st, 2020 at 6:58 PM ^
I think today was the final straw for me.
I've come to the realization that the program died when Schembechler died. (And I didn't hold Schembechler in super high esteem because I couldn't get past him choking away so many national championship opportunities. But at least he established a floor.) We've been rudderless ever since he died. Sure, we've had some bright spots or good stretches of hope/optimism since but we're actually in purgatory - cursed by traditions which begets high expectations.
October 31st, 2020 at 7:02 PM ^
We are Nebraska and, like their fans, have delusions about being great again. Just don't think it's in the cards for us the game and population shifts have passed us by.
October 31st, 2020 at 6:58 PM ^
Maybe they should have tried Kwity paye at DT.
October 31st, 2020 at 7:01 PM ^
See! Definitely couldn't have hurt our non-existent pass rush. But I'll see what your mom thinks tonight.
October 31st, 2020 at 7:39 PM ^
Arm and hammer works well for your chafed ass, so I've heard.
October 31st, 2020 at 9:34 PM ^
I’ll let her know. She seems fine with just basic spit though.
October 31st, 2020 at 10:01 PM ^
I mean I hope you can just remove the tampax from your colon. Hopefully internal surgery isn't necessary.
October 31st, 2020 at 7:03 PM ^
Buddy,
I suggest you have hobbies. Weather was great today so I went on hike and came back and saw that M lost. It was mildly disappointing but honestly speaking I consider this a game and games are won and lost. So M lost. Big whoop. I also dont buy hype , specially proclaimations that MSU is garbage. I did in denard years and they whooped M. Since then I just believe that unless you are bama or OSU (even these teams have Auburn or Iowa inexplicable losses) that you CAN lose the game. No matter the prognostics.
In the end I think Michigan will improve. Also for whatever reason not everything comes together for M (and that's the case with all teams other than OSU bama and clemson). Next year offense is probably great but then DEs are gone and so on and so forth.
Eitherway. Good to win, sucks to lose but I am not out there playing. Can't dog the kids. Keep improving.
October 31st, 2020 at 7:13 PM ^
I always hated it when people say "go find another hobby" after a football game. I probably don't take the losses as hard as I used to but this is my hobby, at least during the fall/winter. I'm fully aware I can go outside and sniff a flower or pet a goat but I enjoy Michigan football.
Be upset for 24hrs, don't read any sports media things through the week and wait for next Saturday. If there is one season where I'm ok with a few unexpected losses, its this one.
October 31st, 2020 at 7:18 PM ^
Sorry. Didn't mean it that way. Just trying to help OP. Just think of it this way, it's sports. You want team to dominate, but I think we know it's a recruiting dominate world and there are 3-4 teams that will be in conversation. So the rest of the teams can lose any given Saturday. So why worry. And to help with I suggested something that is more consistent (outside hobby you can control etc)
I am mildly disappointed but I am not livid or angry. As I said, great to win, but eh, get better and show improvement. I think it'll be very disappointing if M doesn't show improvement. I think harbaugh teams do improve (see ND game last year etc)
October 31st, 2020 at 7:37 PM ^
See the problem with living in Michigan right now is this: Welp, Michigan isn't good guess I'll go watch the Lio...shit. Welp, guess I'll wait till the Pistons are on. Surely they are good, right? Well at least we have the storied franchise of the Red Wings? OH GOD. SOMEONE HOLD ME.
October 31st, 2020 at 8:07 PM ^
Great post. Weather perfect here in Zanesville. Me and my buddy re poured concrete on my front steps. Wife happy. I didnt even watch the game. Honestly wasnt shocked when I saw the result.
October 31st, 2020 at 9:25 PM ^
Pouring concrete is right up there as watching things getting crushed videos Brian shared. Agreed, awesome weather !
As I said, a bit disappointed, but onwards !
October 31st, 2020 at 7:05 PM ^
Like last week. But almost all the time.
October 31st, 2020 at 7:07 PM ^
It was nice in the 90s and early 2000s
October 31st, 2020 at 7:30 PM ^
Outside of the weird 9-0-3 season in 1992 and the glorious 1997 campaign, we were more good than great back then. From '93 to '96 we lost four games each year, even though we went 3-1 against OSU. We would show up in the big games and then have inexplicable losses like today's.
In hindsight we didn't fully capitalize on the John Cooper years. That was our golden opportunity.
November 1st, 2020 at 6:53 PM ^
I had a few Buckeye friends that I really gave it to back in the 90s during those glorious Cooper years. If I only knew what was coming. And it all started with POS Sweatervest
October 31st, 2020 at 7:07 PM ^
I'm mid-30's too but was definitely a huge fan of the '97 championship team and they were really dominant for that season. Part of dominance in any sport is the feeling that even when your team is losing, they find a way to win.
October 31st, 2020 at 7:11 PM ^
A few years ago, a complete stranger walked up to me, noticed I was wearing Michigan gear, and said "I've got a question for you about Michigan." I obliged and he asked: "so how come you guys can never beat my Buckeyes."
My only retort was to say that Harbaugh would do it eventually. Now I know I was wrong. He will never do it.
October 31st, 2020 at 9:46 PM ^
When random OSU fans come up to me like that, I concede they are better at football. But I remind them we are still the better school. In the grand scheme of things, would you accept an OSU degree just to have a winning football team?
October 31st, 2020 at 7:12 PM ^
The redwings from 95-‘08 were pretty damn dominant. It’s fun.
btw, I am. HUGE penn st fan tonight. Wow would it make my night if they won.
also, Indiana next week better be a bounce back.
October 31st, 2020 at 7:26 PM ^
Why would you care if they bounce back to beat Indiana? The season is over in week 2. We know how it ends. Hopefully the buckeyes put the final nail in the Jim Harbaugh coffin.
October 31st, 2020 at 7:54 PM ^
Fuck psu and and their joepa-loving delusional fans!!!*
*In loving memory of East German Judge's constant posting of this.
October 31st, 2020 at 7:14 PM ^
We will always love Michigan football. Take care of your family and God bless!
October 31st, 2020 at 7:15 PM ^
I'm a Texas grad so I have the honor of getting double dong punched each fall.
October 31st, 2020 at 7:28 PM ^
Yankee fan here. I'm 53 and originally from the Bronx, so I've had highs and lows in NYC fandom (Yankees/Giants/gulp...Knicks). Rooting for those 3-peat Yankees was a beautiful dream. They could be down in a game or the playoffs, but it was fine because you knew they were going to win it in the end. You just...knew. The questions that concerned were how it would happen and who would get it done. In other words, the opposite of how I felt today, when I started looking at the CU/BC game at the half because BC was up 28-10. Here I am, in my lucky Maize block M shirt with the MGoClub Supports You beach towel draped across the loveseat as usual, but I'm checking out the alma mater I didn't even graduate from because, Hey, the ghost of Flutie may be in the house (I met him in the Plex once!), and I had that little enthusiasm in the Michigan team I was seeing in the first half. When Clemson came back, I switched back and Michigan was down 10. And I thought, welp, that's it, we're losing to this garbage MSU team at home. Because I had NO FUCKING FAITH in Harbaugh's Michigan to overcome a 10 point deficit with an ocean of time left.
October 31st, 2020 at 7:31 PM ^
Being 22 and growing up in metro Detroit has been pretty tough. The most “dominant” team I’ve ever gotten to see was probably the early to mid 2010’s Tigers. But of course they failed to ever win the ultimate prize. We also had some pretty great basketball teams but they were scattered over several years. I do vaguely remember the Pistons and Wings, but not much of those years. Honestly it’s reached a point where I don’t care about sports anymore.Winning makes me feel nothing. Even when we sucked under RR and Hoke a loss would ruin my day. I couldn’t even watch the NFL on Sunday. Today I kept the channel on fox, watched MSU celebrate, and tuned into the very next game. I knew my fandom would eventually get neutered, but I did not expect it to happen until I hit my thirties.
October 31st, 2020 at 7:40 PM ^
1997 was tons of fun. The Cooper years felt like very OSU game was an inevitable win for us. I don’t get it.
October 31st, 2020 at 7:56 PM ^
You always crave one more title. Your team wins it all and you think, "What next?" Winning becomes an addiction and you need more of it.
The Bad Boy Pistons won back-to-back titles. But then when they lost in '91 it felt like it was already ancient history. Even now, thinking about those championships is great but I also start thinking about the '88 Finals and how they were thisclose to three-peating. Likewise, while their 2004 title was totally unexpected and awesome, the fact that they "only" won one title somehow seems slightly dissatisfying.
Michigan football climbed the mountain in 1997, but shared the title with Nebraska, so it was satisfying, but not 100%. I felt like we needed to repeat to really prove ourselves. Well, that didn't happen.
In international soccer I cheer for France, the current World Cup champion. They won in 2018 and it was great. But I was a little annoyed that a lot of the postgame coverage focused on how Croatia has controlled play for a lot of the match (which was true). It took away from some of the joy.
Winning the WC means you're the titleholder for four years, which is cool. But you start playing just a couple months later and it seems like everyone has moved on already. The coach (Didier Deschamps) has a very defensive style of play, and a lot of fans don't like it even though he wins. He was under serious scrutiny before the '18 WC and even now, there are fans unironically saying he should go if the team doesn't perform in the Euro next year.
You're never totally happy.
October 31st, 2020 at 7:57 PM ^
Who the hell knows? I'm a Michigan fan.