Why do fans take players leaving early so personally?
I'm sure this thread will get negged, but I'm genuinely curious why fans take guys leaving early so personally.
I understand being upset...I'm not playing some high and mighty card. I think it's natural to want your favorite team to be as good as possible and to do that it needs it's best players.
But why do people take it personally, as if someone pursuing dreams is a personal attack on them.
Not a transfer. Not someone who quit...but someone who is leaving to go do the exact thing they came to college to do. It's like...didn't you know what you were getting into? Do you want all 4 year guys?
I just find it weird that in basketball it's accepted. If Todd leaves after one year everyone will wish him well. But in football if a kid leaves after THREE years it gets such a mixed response. These guys are similar talents often with similar backgrounds and with similar dreams...to play pro, not to get a degree from Michigan.
So why is the reaction so different? Why are people such jerks about it when the football player goes?
(Then often it's those same people get soooooooo angry when that player doesn't say Michigan on Sunday football)
January 4th, 2020 at 6:32 PM ^
Because they never accomplish anything while they are here...
January 4th, 2020 at 6:36 PM ^
Then why would you want them to stay?
January 4th, 2020 at 6:45 PM ^
Because that would indicate that they would like to accomplish team goals before they go to the next level.
In basketball, Trey Burke returned to give us a chance to win a NC. Mo Wagner similarly returned after his sophomore year. Fans really respect those kinds of players for putting the team first.
How many Harbaugh guys have returned when they had the chance to make money relative to how many have left at first chance?
January 4th, 2020 at 7:17 PM ^
Taylor Lewan
January 4th, 2020 at 7:23 PM ^
Higdon wasn't Burke or Mo...but he came back and he's said multiple times that if he would've hit 1000 he was gone.
Jourdan Lewis came back.
Levert Hill came back THIS season...crickets.
Kwity Paye is coming back. So is Eubanks.
On the flipside Uche is leaving and no one gives a shit. Nothing like Ruiz or DPJ.
January 4th, 2020 at 8:32 PM ^
Except Harbaugh isn’t a “those who stay will be champions” guy. From the git go he’s been a “firm handshake” guy. And not just for 5th year players. He’s clearly encouraged players to transfer to open up spots for recruits who he hoped would be better. See quarterbacks in particular. Some was so he could even out class size. Some was so he could emulate what Saban has done - recruit 5 years of players in 4 years - although with less success. (see B1G rules)
January 4th, 2020 at 10:50 PM ^
"Except Harbaugh isn’t a “those who stay will be champions” guy."
This is ridiculously stupid. That didn't mean don't go to the NFL. It was about the guys quitting the team because they didn't like the intense practices.
January 5th, 2020 at 12:04 AM ^
It always bugged me when people re use the expression out of the original context to make a point using it wrongly like a "pure Michigan / Bo's rules".
Also it was like 40 years ago. Being Drafted was not the same deal than today.
January 4th, 2020 at 6:48 PM ^
We’re all bitter after the last 20 years. We’d like to hold on to the 5* talent we have, given they never beat OSU, we’d like to think they would stick around to try, and we’re delusional enough to think it would make a difference.
January 4th, 2020 at 6:38 PM ^
unlike some posters who accomplish everything.
January 4th, 2020 at 6:51 PM ^
Because the best recruiting class UM has had in 20 years did absolutely nothing but beat Army in OT and ND is a monsoon. Players don’t compete in meaningful games, players are not properly used, not developed, and play with absolutely no heart. Harbaugh is a cancer and needs to go.
January 4th, 2020 at 7:16 PM ^
?*@$ me. Michigan had to play in the monsoon, too. It's not like they got a dry field and ND got a wet field.
January 4th, 2020 at 7:47 PM ^
You give no credit for being MSU multiple times or destroying PSU and Wisconsin?
But if you lose against those teams you lose a big game?
Make up your fucking mind.
January 4th, 2020 at 8:24 PM ^
GOMBLOG* “is a cancer and needs to go.”
*Fixed for you.
January 4th, 2020 at 8:43 PM ^
*Conveniently ignores Nico Collins stating he chose Michigan over Alabama because of Jim Harbaugh. The Nico Collins who has indicated he plans to stay for his senior year...but everyone hates Harbaugh.
Must be tiring to post so often while recycling the same old shit.
January 4th, 2020 at 6:35 PM ^
It is self pity for latching on to a hype train year after year.
January 4th, 2020 at 6:35 PM ^
Because they're entitled jerks who have far too much of their identity and self-esteem tied up in football.
January 4th, 2020 at 8:19 PM ^
Fans pretend to care about the players but really don't. Fans just want their team to win so they can brag like they did it (i.e. "we really showed them)
When I was posting info on concussions many here said that the data was irrefutable that football leads to brain damage.
And yet they don't mind our "kids" getting this brain damage that much- or they would quit watching UM football.
Fans ONLY care about themselves and bragging.
January 4th, 2020 at 6:36 PM ^
Because the coaches don't develop them or seemingly do anything to engender any sort of desire to do anything besides stay for the minimum required time.
Players do what they think is right for themselves. This is a coaching problem.
January 4th, 2020 at 6:39 PM ^
Listen to yourself..."players do what's right for them."
...you think that's a BAD thing? And why is that a problem at all?
You would want players to do things what's bad for them and coaches to encourage this? Please explain a little further, that is pretty confusing.
January 4th, 2020 at 6:52 PM ^
Listen to yourself..."players do what's right for them."
...you think that's a BAD thing? And why is that a problem at all?
I don't think it's bad at all and I didn't intend to suggest it is - which it clearly isn't. The problem is the coaches doing a shit job developing the players and getting them to buy in to something besides "get to the NFL as fast as possible."
That sort of attitude works at OSU where they're two 5 stars deep at every spot - it most definitely doesn't work when you recruit like Michigan does.
January 4th, 2020 at 7:51 PM ^
Okay if that's the case...then don't get mad if we're not bringing in OSU level talent.
You can't expect to get OSU players but think they're going to have a different mentality about going to the NFL.
January 4th, 2020 at 6:53 PM ^
The players are doing what’s best for them - they are leaving a sorry program in RECORD numbers. #fact
Wait for Dax Hill to transfer. People will lose their fricking minds.
January 4th, 2020 at 7:31 PM ^
As a pretty solid rule, anyone who puts #fact in a post is talking out of their ass.
If you have the numbers to back it up, you would post it.. but you dont..
You'll just continue to move the goalposts onto another argument in classic troll fashion. .
January 4th, 2020 at 6:41 PM ^
Maybe this will improve after Jimmy leaves after 2021. Suffice it to also say there are lots of players leaving early throughout the country.
January 4th, 2020 at 6:54 PM ^
People said that Harbaugh would wear on the team/progam eventually if he stayed long enough. We all laughed it off, but now I'm not so sure.
January 4th, 2020 at 7:11 PM ^
The negs on my post indicate you’re not right.
January 4th, 2020 at 7:18 PM ^
Or maybe they just leave because they have the opportunity, and it has nothing to do about the program one way or the other?
January 4th, 2020 at 8:27 PM ^
Man, going pro early is the new “Coaches aren’t developing them”?
How exactly are they not being developed if they are going pro?
January 4th, 2020 at 6:36 PM ^
Because some fans believe the players owe them something, particularly if they didn’t “live up to their potential”, and especially if the team hasn’t won many meaningful big games recently.
Secretly, they are mostly sad the player is leaving as it’s one more reason we may not improve, but instead of saying that they choose to denigrate the player, the player’s decision, or both.
Sports fandom is a weird thing and every group has its weirdos ?♂️
January 4th, 2020 at 6:44 PM ^
I appreciate the response...this was my assumption but I wanted to leave it out of the OP because I wasn't sure and genuinely curious.
If we are accurate, that's a pretty shitty way to live. I am OBSESSED with Michigan sports, especially football.
But I can't imagine being all upset AT a kid for leaving early. It's not his individual fault Michigan didn't win those big games.
In fact I remember DPJ streaking down the sideline for a HUGE catch versus MSU last year. I remember big time punt returns and TDs, I guess that doesn't count because he never beat OSU.
More than anything...why would you ever have ill will towards a player who wore the uniform of the team you love? (Unless he did something to embarrass it)
And if you want more good players who can leave early...why would you treat the current ones like shit? Clearly it's not an anomaly.
January 4th, 2020 at 6:37 PM ^
They feel personally slighted because of some failure by Harbaugh to meet whatever goal post moving expectations they have and use anything they can to fit their narrative, thus they need to be OUTAGED, most likely because they're miserable assclowns.
January 4th, 2020 at 6:38 PM ^
They have pathetic lives, and Michigan football is all they have.
January 4th, 2020 at 6:38 PM ^
Mostly due to what fans deem as missed "potential," which at Michigan is common. The football program is seen as a disappointment year after year than basketball, so people are okay with players leaving early from the basketball program.
Fans also do not have to weigh said "potential" vs $600,000 minimum staring you at the face within a year if you're a mid-round pick.
Lastly, I don't agree with your assertion that fans don't get peeved at bball players leaving early. See how people reacted to Iggy and Poole leaving. They had the same problems that DPJ has when it comes to fulfilling their talent/expectations vs getting paid. Beilein's last year ended on a bitter note with the offense sputtering, so fans thought it was crazy for said players to leave.
TLDR: More bitter end to a season; greater amount of fans peeved and vice versa. Football has a lot more let downs than basketball, thus more fans get irritated at football players leaving early than basketball players. 90% of fans would leave early too if given 6 figures within 1 year of dropping out of school.
January 4th, 2020 at 6:46 PM ^
Not TLDR at all...your point about Iggy and especially Poole are exactly right.
I guess it applies across the board, doesn't make it any less weird and LAME (to me) though.
January 4th, 2020 at 6:56 PM ^
How you have a successful season
Basketball = how deep you go into March.
Football = Beating OSU and bowl game
January 4th, 2020 at 8:03 PM ^
This is 100% correct.
But what does that have to do anyone's individual decision to start his career and potentially make millions of dollars?
You can only leave early if you hit those marks?
January 4th, 2020 at 6:38 PM ^
There's an old saying, "There's nothing more satisfying than the failure of your best friend."
Kind of along those lines.
January 4th, 2020 at 6:38 PM ^
For all of the aforementioned reasons and We Love UM Football!
January 4th, 2020 at 6:38 PM ^
Yeah it’s kind of crazy to hate on DPJ’s production. Played 2 of his 3 years in a ball control offense with not a ton of targets compared to other WRs in college football.
People also forget that Jim made the decision to not roll with a full time WR coach after getting that huge WR haul. Instead thinking a grad assistant was good enough. IMO kids missed out on an entire year of great insightful coaching
January 4th, 2020 at 6:42 PM ^
People forgot that because that’s not a thing. Who was Jerry Rice’s WR coach? Randy Moss’? Calvin Johnson’s? Certainly those guys are in the Position Coach HOF. I’ll hang up and listen.
January 4th, 2020 at 6:51 PM ^
Probably should just hang up
January 4th, 2020 at 6:43 PM ^
Yep. The 2017 class had 3 different WR coaches.
1. Grad assistant (lol.... like wut)
2. Jim McElwain, who was decent
3. Josh Gattis, poor early season implementation combined with golfing Shea
Edit: Campbell left in 2016.
January 4th, 2020 at 6:39 PM ^
1. Fans pour their lives into it, not just 3 or 4 years. They feel the players owe it to them
2. Leaving early after little production spurs fear that their is a more systemic problem
3. Leaving this late in the recruiting cycle leaves holes at various positions that are unanticipated
January 4th, 2020 at 6:51 PM ^
I agree with half of this...
1. Yes we do...but players can only spend 3-5 (rarely 6) years. It'll never be as long.
2. Agree 100%...I feel this, I immediately go to the depth chart and think "okay...who's next." But I can't imagine having the same personal response towards the player.
3. Everyone leaves this late. I just got an alert 5 min ago that Jerry Jeudy is leaving Bama.
That makes even less sense to me. When guys declare for the draft and don't play people whine, bitch and complain. Now these two guys play...and then leave and people do the same. It makes no sense...they played, that's what we wanted...right?
January 4th, 2020 at 6:40 PM ^
Because they have to change their tattoo.
January 4th, 2020 at 6:41 PM ^
January 4th, 2020 at 6:54 PM ^
Appreciate the honesty and I'm certainly part of that... but it doesn't mean we have to attack and be jerks to guys who leave.
We can be selfish and want our team to be the best and not be assholes to the guys who were the maize and blue with honor.
January 4th, 2020 at 6:42 PM ^
You’re wrong people would be upset with Todd also IF he did not seem to live up to his billing.
Not sure it’s entirely fair or his fault but DPJ was just not a five star, impact player for Michigan. He was good, not great.
Anyway, I do wish him all the success and hope he finishes his degree one day after a successful NFL career
January 4th, 2020 at 6:56 PM ^
I agree...he wasn't a program changer. But I don't hate him for it.
Just because he didn't become Mario Manningham 2.0 doesn't mean I have to be a dick online about it. I just say...he didn't meet my expectations. Which he didn't.