NW halftime adjustment
After reading Brian's defensive UFR yesterday, it seems perhaps some of us overhyped the "halftime adjustment" meme a bit. Maybe. But to be fair, more of the credit for the turnaround from the 14-24 deficit should go to.... me. I spent the first half cringing/watching the game in the back room at DC's Buffalo Billiards in Dupont Circle, where Michigan, I think, has lost every time I've ever watched in that location (don't ask... GF saved the seats, and it was that or stand in a corner). So I envisioned this postgame Hoke press conference:
We didn't play up to Michigan expectations today. But I also just found out some jackass in Washington DC who calls himself a Michigan fan watched the whole game from a spot he knows brings us bad luck. He's not a Michigan Man fergodsakes. He doesn't Get It.
Preventing this impending disaster needed bold, decisive action. I got up, didn't try reasoning with the GF, just explained we needed to go watch somewhere else, or they were gonna lose. So we cabbed it home just in time for the 2nd half kickoff, Michigan rolls 28-0 in the half, all is right with the world.
Even though most of the credit for the big half should go to me, I'm willing to share some credit with other people who, despite being generally well-educated and rational in most respects, turn hideously superstitious during games, assume they have some effect on the outcome, and make necessary adjustments when things are going poorly. Somebody else out there probably did something and deserves some credit. Changed to the right socks. Switched to the right side of the sofa. Switched to the non-HD version of BTN. Somethin'.
So, what was your halftime adjustment? If I have to explain, you obviously don't Get It.
October 14th, 2011 at 12:18 AM ^
Not trying to be a dick, but you had to know this was coming.
Anyways, I appreciate your dedication to your superstition.
Keep up the good work.
Go Blue!
October 14th, 2011 at 1:17 AM ^
I collect those like merit badges anyway. Two more and I think I make MGoBlog Eagle Scout.
October 14th, 2011 at 12:19 AM ^
thank you sir, we appreciate your efforts. well done.
October 14th, 2011 at 12:30 AM ^
scratchy scratch scratch
October 14th, 2011 at 12:32 AM ^
I suggest you watch all M games from your home from now to oblivion.
October 14th, 2011 at 12:36 AM ^
I would totally love to watch all UM games from my home in Bolivia, but you know Comcast-La Paz doesn't carry BTN.
October 14th, 2011 at 7:40 AM ^
Get the bundle/free Sunday Ticket. Also M should be on ESPN/ABC for the rest of the season so your good.
October 14th, 2011 at 12:43 AM ^
I was watching it in a friend who lives nearby's apartment. I too got up and left at halftime and watched the team dominate the rest of the way... so no more leaving my apartment to watch away Michigan games this season.
October 14th, 2011 at 12:48 AM ^
October 14th, 2011 at 12:51 AM ^
My fraternity colors are scarlet and emerald, and I was actually watching a Michigan game wearing a shirt with letters on it for the first half (I was out of town, so that's my excuse) but at halftime, I let out a loud "fuck it" and went and put on my Tom Brady jersey. The girlfriends hipster friends at the University of Cincinnati kept shooting me awkward looks (like they don't ever wear anything odd) but I didn't care and the rest is history.
October 14th, 2011 at 1:36 AM ^
My son took off his Michigan ball cap and flopped it on the table at the half. After we scored in the second half he was going to put it on but I intervened. We had to reposition it as near to the original flopped position to recreate the butterfly effect.
October 14th, 2011 at 3:09 AM ^
I watched the first half at Mongolian Barbecue and got plenty of stares for my noticeable reactions to Denard's picks. Luckily, I traveled back home for the second half and watched my halftime adjustments pay off.
October 14th, 2011 at 3:40 AM ^
I'm not really superstitious, but at halftime I put a dime under my tongue, boiled goats testicles in vinegar and salt, shaved some hair off the neighbors cat and placed it underneath the doormat to my home, dripped hot wax on my left big toe, drank a concoction of licorice root/sage oil/dried thyme, and sacrificed 3 chickens because i was bored.
October 14th, 2011 at 7:42 AM ^
You too?
October 14th, 2011 at 3:45 AM ^
My wife thought my fingernails were too long. In fact, she was picking up on me and my fingernails for a few days by then. I am superstitious and I hated to do so, but I couldn't take it any more and had to cut them before the game started.
During the halftime, I dug up my trash can, picked them up, and placed them nicely in my Michigan mug cup. I think I own the thread.
October 14th, 2011 at 3:47 AM ^
and here I thought boiling goat testicles was gross
October 14th, 2011 at 10:43 AM ^
Wait you really did that?
October 14th, 2011 at 11:45 AM ^
I was eating breakfast...
October 14th, 2011 at 5:44 AM ^
Not so much superstitious, but I went to the game on Saturday, and at halftime I could no longer stand to listen to my buddy complaining about the offense, so I watched the second half from the entrance ramp to our section. I knew we would be alright in the second half, but he thought we were doomed.
October 14th, 2011 at 5:51 AM ^
Are goat testicles something you can get at Meijer, or are they more of a Whole Foods thing?
October 14th, 2011 at 7:14 AM ^
That's where I get chicken feet, too.
October 14th, 2011 at 7:38 AM ^
started watching at Mich bar in another city...left at halftime. Just like magic.
October 14th, 2011 at 7:53 AM ^
I am fairly superstitious but I think you got me beat. I just try to sit still and not move.
October 14th, 2011 at 8:40 AM ^
After Denards third pick I switched from my Nike Mike Hart jersey to the Adidas #1 jersey. I also switched cushions on my couch. Unfortunately, I realized that I had brought a second variable into play which caused me anxiety until we had a good lead. This week my plan is to start on the second cushion with the #1 jersey and go from there. I apologize for my sloppy experimental design.
October 14th, 2011 at 8:48 AM ^
She will get up and leave the room to see if this will improve Michigan's play. If that doesn't work she will experiment with laying down, standing and positioning herself in other seats to find the best spot for us to win. I never gave this creedence, but I find myself wearing the same jersey every game so far this year because it's undefeated right now. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. (oh, and I realize this opens me up for a myriad of "mom" jokes, and that's ok. I kinda like mom jokes...)
October 14th, 2011 at 9:09 AM ^
Has become part of the religion that is Michigan football. She may be more superstitious than I am and has to wear the same outfit as long as Michigan is on a win streak.
October 14th, 2011 at 9:12 AM ^
Every year I buy a new Michigan shirt to wear for football season and as I do was doing things around the house..neglected to put it on for pregame, then when hooking my laptop up to my TV I spilled beer all over the keyboard which caused the track pad to start freaking out so needless to say I promptly went upstairs and put the shirt on..the rest is history.
October 14th, 2011 at 9:12 AM ^
I was able to put my kids to bed, which allowed me to start yelling. That always seems to make the boys play better.
October 14th, 2011 at 9:22 AM ^
I would suggest that DuPont would not be the best place to watch Michigan MANBALL. Georgetown always worked for me.
October 14th, 2011 at 10:32 AM ^
Yep, in my experience there are just too many Super Mutants in DuPont circle. Plus side is you can get a boatload of ammo if you kill them all.
October 14th, 2011 at 10:22 AM ^
While at the game, my brothers and wife yelled at the ignorant NW fan who was shouting obscenities about the fight song during the first half. We also did a no INT dance so Denard would stop making throws off his back foot.
The summation of all the fans voodoo seems to have created energy given to the team.
October 14th, 2011 at 10:40 AM ^
It's all about the negativity. So long as I refuse to believe, "it's different this year" we will win. I have data. Last year 5-0 followed by doom. I thus refuse to be optimistic and will bitch and moan every chance I get. All for The Team.
October 14th, 2011 at 1:12 PM ^
...during the 2009 season.
After deciding to actually be social, I went to Buffalo Billiards for the Michigan State game, Iowa, Penn State, Purdue and Illinois games. Do the math...as fun as it is, that place is cursed
I was in a wedding for the Wisconsin game and I was in Ann Arbor for the Ohio State game, FWIW
NEVER AGAIN!
October 14th, 2011 at 8:06 PM ^
October 14th, 2011 at 10:26 PM ^
And 2-0 when I've been in Germany (but 0-2 in Spain).
For a (not that) small fee, I'm willing to go to either Germany or Montreal for the rest of the season.