Wolverines Move Forward

Submitted by maizedandconfused on

Statement: 
Resolute and devout Michigan fans have been asking themselves the same question all week.

Will 2011 be 2010/9?

From talking to other entrenched fans and the general dismay of this board, it seems we truly feel we might be standing on the abyss of enduring another soul crushing collapse. This would entail another off-season of "What ifs",  "What nows" and "Who's to blame".
The underlying issue we have as a Michigan fanbase, and one that defines us above most other programs is simple.

  • We have won. 
  • We know we can win.
  • We expect to win.
  • We expect to win championships.  

Nothing is more undermining than having expectations dashed to pieces on the rocks of reality in such dramatic fashion. The echoes from that initial season of transition has revereberated through the program, a constant reminder that hope stands alone on tenous support.
Assertions of "This time will be different" were the rally cries of yesteryear, fallen silent on the death throes of six contests that were at best pedestrian.

For the first time in nearly a half decade, the Michigan fan has stood up against adversity and seen what it is to fail. They have seen what darkness stands beyond the of light of hope and, rightly so, are a tentative fanbase. A colleague of mine voiced my feelings best:

"It is difficult to hope when it seems we are constantly a minor misstep away from swirling around the drain. It is much harder to say  'We will win' than to say ' We wont '  and be suprised when we do".

The Michigan fan has started to accept that winning is not inevitable. That mediocrity is the norm.

Shame on you. This is Michigan Fergodsakes.
I challenge all of you to hope.

For Martin, for Woolfolk, for Koger, for  Van Bergen.
They have sacrificed blood sweat and years for the program and each and every one of you.
For an 11-1 season.
For a first of many BTC.
For Brady Hoke to get his first win of seven in a row against Ohio. 
For Mattison's Marauders to show people a thing or two about Michigan Swagger.
For Michigan to show Nebraska who really was the better program in '97.
For Danny Hope to realize that Snake Oil has restocked.
For Ferentz to see that Michigan will take your best shot and hit you in the mouth.
For Zook to keep on Zookin'.

Finally, I challenge each and every one of you to this.
Remember what it was like to be a kid
Stand in awe again of Michigan Stadium and the titans that defend it.
Celebrate the wins, forget the losses.
Mostly, remember that a day of Michigan Wolverines standing toe to toe on the gridiron is a day worth celebrating.

Hail. To. The Victors.

lbpeley

October 24th, 2011 at 1:56 PM ^

but don't want to get murder fisted for making its own thread: Why the hell can I not click on posts that have been negged? I'm signed in, haven't had my status change that I'm aware of. C'mon! I wanna see what the d-bags are posting!

Moleskyn

October 24th, 2011 at 2:04 PM ^

I'm having the same problem. My guess is it's due to the JS issue Brian mentioned.

If you really want to be able to see the negged posts, just change the threshold in the Comment Viewing Options to include posts as low as -1.

sheepdog

October 24th, 2011 at 2:19 PM ^

This is still our year to win double digit games.  MSUs play the last two weeks has really shown us that we can hang with a really good team, and should have won it.

Looking forward to taking care of business against Pur, Iowa and Ill.

Neb and OSU - we are bringing our best game yet.

go blue

LB

October 24th, 2011 at 2:39 PM ^

On top of everything else, as important as football is, if it becomes everything, what have we become? 

As nice as it would have been to not have to listen to the in-state noise from a few people, it was unlikely we were going undefeated this year. In fact, unless I'm mistaken, it has been some time since our last undefeated season. I am confident we won't see a repeat of last year. I refuse to call out any players, but there are a few spots where we need a change or a few pounds. Those things will happen, but not overnight. 

AlbanyBlue

October 24th, 2011 at 3:00 PM ^

Finally, I challenge each and every one of you to this.

Remember what it was like to be a kid

Stand in awe again of Michigan Stadium and the titans that defend it.

One of the best things ever written on this board. In a nutshell, this is what caused me to become a Michigan fan as a kid.



 

Pasadena_Blue

October 24th, 2011 at 3:06 PM ^

I agree with above.  Onward and upward for us.  I think that Michigan is actually in an interesting situation as we have been humbled in a lot of different ways over the last 4 years or so.  The Horror, the entire 08 season, Toledo, continued losses to tsio and MSU.  These are things that we hadn't necesssarily experienced before.  However, now that we have, I think we have a chance to remain more level headed and also more aware of how to never take anything for granted.  You can be sure that those Seniors out there don't want their last season to end that way, and many of them have learned through those items above as well.  I have a great feeling they are going to turn up the intensity to a whole new level and bring us some amazing memories in the weeks to come.  GO BLUE!!!

BlueLotCrew

October 24th, 2011 at 9:33 PM ^

Ummm, we already had that shot to show them in the bowl game in 2005. As you recall, we screwed the pooch. I'm still waiting for Tyler Ecker to lateral the ball to Breaston on the 11 yard line.