Why do I (we?) do this to myself?
I was absolutely devastated after the MSU game. I truly can't think of a stronger word than devastated. I had a two mile walk back to my car, and I was 100% soaked - had I jumped in a pool it would not have made me more wet. My phone was waterlogged and was completely destroyed. On Saturday night, I literally had nightmares about the game. Sunday was no better. By Monday, I had regained some semblance of functionality, and by today, I felt decent, at least somewhat like myself again. Then the US debacle happened, and the World Cup I've been buzzing about since the final whistle against Belgium in 2014 evaporated into thin air.
I truly don't think I have ever had such a profound combined reaction to a pair of sporting events than I've had toward the MSU game and the World Cup failure. I don't know if this is normal or if I'm unique in terms of the depth of my misery (and I suppose the validity of this question hinges on the answer to that question), but... for all of you who are like me: why do I do this to myself? Why do you do this to yourselves?
For Michigan, it's been 13 years since the last Big Ten championship, 20 years since the last National Championship (for reference, I am in my early 30s, so this drought is especially significant when compared to how long I've been alive). On the USMNT side, we've never been relevant in international soccer, and the successes worth celebrating have been few and far between. Clearly, the ratio of success to failure among the teams I'm most passionate about is grossly skewed toward the negative.
So I guess the question is... what keeps you coming back? Why are you still here 3 days after a gut-wrenching loss hitting F1 and begging for more? I am genuinely interested in hearing responses from others who consider themselves to be in the same boat as myself.
(To those for whom this delves too far into the realm of the touchy-feely: feel free to neg away. As you can see, I've been registered here for quite awhile and never bothered much with the pursuit of points)
October 11th, 2017 at 1:14 PM ^
I would neg you to bolivia if I could
October 11th, 2017 at 1:40 PM ^
I have asked myself that at various times in my life when the outcome of a game affected me so much that I ended up feeling embarrassed about it.
I am in my 50's now and more mellow about things. What I try to do now is this:
When my team wins, I allow myself the illusion that it matters.
When they lose, I remind myself that it doesn't.
Thus, I still enjoy wins but get over losses quicker.
October 11th, 2017 at 2:06 PM ^
1984 First time at THE BIG HOUSE! BO vs Jimmy Johnsons Hurricans. Winning 30-10 going into the 4th quarter, lost 31-30. I'll die a Michigan fan but that loss hurt more Saturday! I wish them all the best but I am done with it.
October 11th, 2017 at 2:09 PM ^
I honestly wonder that myself sometimes. OSU and MSU could beat us 100 years in a row, alternate winning the national title every year, and what would it actually change? Nothing. Michigan could win 10 straight national titles and beat MSU/OSU by 100 points every year, and what would it change about our lives, in the grand scheme? Absolutely nothing. This is just a damn game.
At the end of the day, why we care comes down to a couple of things:
1) It's entertainment. Or at least it is when the team is winning.
2) That whole "being part of something greater than yourself."
3) With the world around us seemingly going further to shit every passing day, sports are an escape. Or at least they were before the whole stand/kneel for the anthem debacle. But it allows us to talk about something far more pleasant than mass shootings, wildfires, hurricanes, which country wants to nuke us into oblivion, and so on.
October 11th, 2017 at 2:28 PM ^
I'm like the OP re Mich football,when I coached HS basketball & fantasy football.Pretty sure that's not healthy but I'm way to old to change now.Just think how difficult it is for the players & coaches to bounce back 7 days later and perform at a high level.
October 11th, 2017 at 3:34 PM ^
Because Michigan football is a religion.
October 11th, 2017 at 4:08 PM ^
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQ7oqmikZDQ
The new Michigan anthem?
October 11th, 2017 at 4:47 PM ^
When we lose to Sparty, the thing that helps me cope the best is to delude myself into thinking that next year we'll really throttle them. And hey, if we can get a decent QB starting, maybe '18 will be the start of a new era for the rivalry.
October 11th, 2017 at 4:50 PM ^
I was pretty mad at the MSU game but I was through the roof for last years Ohio loss.
Of course I didn't go through the elements I was losing my shit in the privacy of my own home.
October 11th, 2017 at 4:53 PM ^
I agree with the others here. There are ebbs and flows. These are what I remember looking back.
Desmond's catch against Notre Dame, and Steve breaking his jaw at mid field in the same game. I watched Terrell Buckley beat up Desmond in the FSU game, then Howard's punt return against Ohio State, his Heisman ceremony, then losing to Washington.
Wheatley jumping the pile.
Biakabatuka's 300 yard game and the destruction of Eddie George and Cooper.
When I was a kid, a man named Charles Woodson came into my hometown and literally broke our high school quarterback's neck on a sack (fractured vertebrae). Then he committed to Michigan and tore a swath down the middle of everything I hated and became my childhood hero. His freshman year INT, sophomore year campaign.
He went into Happy Valley, kicked the hell out of Penn State. Daydrian Taylor laid it on the line, Woodson crossed it. Woodson continued his reign against all comers, destroying David Boston, making their special teams look like amateurs on the punt return. The Heisman ceremoney, then finishing the one thing Des didn't do - win it all in the Bowl.
Brady shutting the door on Alabama. Terrell's catch against Virginia, Braylon, Chris Perry, John Navarre getting his Ohio State win. Chad Henne's name getting announced on opening day. Manningham was "OH. Wide open."
The horror. Oregon was even worse. On the way out a busker was playing funeral music next to the Natatorium. Henne, Hart and Mallet doing what they could against OSU in just one game worse than this past Saturday's.
Manningham's catch against Penn State, destroying Florida in the gator Bowl. Jamar Adams upending Tebow.
Brandon Graham ending the MSU running back. Minor against PSU.
Denard's first play from scrimmage and tate's run-in against ND. Denard and Gallon bringing them back under the lights. Gardner's will against ND. Gardner fighting on one foot against Ohio State, and nearly closing it out.
Rudock ripping Florida, Chesson's kickoff return against Northwestern. The crowd chanting DEFENSE after the Northwestern shutout. Jabrill's punt return against Colorado.
This year so far it's been the evisceration of Florida, the defense stomping anything in it's path. Rashan Gary's QB hit, Devin Bush destroyer of moving objects.
If you can't get up for some of these insane moments then I don't know what to tell you. This season will endow you with a lifetime of unforgettable memories. Trust me. Worse Michigan teams than this one have beaten Ohio State and left an imprint on me forever.
October 11th, 2017 at 5:01 PM ^
You know, the problem with the weekends which involve a Michigan loss is that I try to get out in front of these sorts of threads, but rapid fire deletion seems to encourage more and often worse threads to replace them. At some point, usually Monday morning, I let some through because it becomes clear that people can't help themselves.
All that being said, I love Michigan as a fan and as an alumnus - that's what keeps me coming back, pure and simple. It might make me a glutton for punishment in the eyes of a few, but for my alma mater, I will take the punishment.
October 11th, 2017 at 5:04 PM ^
October 11th, 2017 at 6:06 PM ^
October 11th, 2017 at 6:17 PM ^
October 11th, 2017 at 6:55 PM ^
The highs of winning are great. OTOH, the lows of losing suck. Neither one lasts forever though. If it lasts longer than Sunday to Monday, I ask myself why? I usually come to some conclusion that Michigan football gives me some sort of identity. It’s especially evident to me after playing MSU. A win injects lots of pride into me as if I were the one that went out and won the game. A loss causes me to hang my head low very low and feel almost embarrassed for being so passionate about one team. It takes a self lecture reminding me this is simply a game and entertainment. I have a family to lead and support. If I can’t handle my team losing then it’s time to hang it up. I had to do the “hang it up” thing with the Lions about 6 years ago and life has been great.
October 11th, 2017 at 11:46 PM ^
but that was in 1978 and it was due to my thinking they were not doing their all to give us a competitive team. I don't think I could ever hang it up w/UM but its different. First, i think UM does what it can to assure us we'll have the best team possible and I'm convinced they do it within the rules. Yes, they've made some bad hires but given the length we've been playing and the relative short list of coaches during that period, I'd say they get it right most of the time and I think they got it right this time. I have, however, had to change my thinking when it comes to dealing with losses. After a win, I'll soak it in as long as the feeling last but I never bust balls like I did in the past. However, after a loss, no matter to whom, I give myself no more than a half hour to mourn. There are times, admittedly, this is difficult but I keep reminding myself it's over and yes, it's worse with FB. But I've been so much better when I cut this deal with myself because it wasn't just affecting me but my family as well. It is a game. I did not play one play. I am certain the players, most of them just having reached the age of majority, did the best they could and i won't blame them nor the coaches for the hour's effort. It's easy to dump on coaches, but as a former coach I will tell you, they work their asses off. There are days where they are just off, sometimes a bit, sometimes more. Then there are days where its obvious the opposing coach just did a better job during the entire week. You admit it and come back stronger the next time you face them.
October 12th, 2017 at 3:58 PM ^
I can sympathize with the OP in this case. Age definitely plays a factor regarding one's experience as a Michigan fan. I was born and raised in Ohio but chose to be a Michigan fan for whatever reason at a very young age. I've been a diehard fan ever since but surrounded by Buckeye fans my whole life. I started as a fan during the mid 90's when it was "great to be a Michigan Wolverine." However, the emergence of Tressel started a changing of the guard that has lasted since 2001. Then Dantonio came along in 2007 and the year after we hired Rich Rodriguez and things really went into a tailspin. Outside of the 2006 season and perhaps last year when we were at least in the CFP conversation all year, there haven't been that many bright spots and in both of those cases we still lost to Ohio State. In the last 16 years, we've seen exactly 2 Michigan victories over Ohio State. That's pretty torturous if you ask me.
The other really bothersome aspect of being a fan the last few years has been an inability to win close games. When I was younger, it seemed like Michigan found a way to win close games most of the time. I don't know the stats back then so I could just be remembering what I want to remember, but there's no denying that in the last few years, Harbaugh era or not, we have mostly come up short in any kind of close game. The only coin flip type of games that we have won with Harbaugh were Indiana and Minnesota in 2015. Last year's losses were downright painful and none more so than the Ohio State game.
With all that being said, I still sincerely think that the program is heading in the right direction. A win over Indiana is pretty much necessary though at this point. If this team manages to finish 10-3 and get just one signature win I would be pretty happy with that given our limitations on offense. If the offense can manage to limit turnovers and play "Tressel ball," then running the table is not out of the question, albeit still not likely.