OT - Coping mechanisms in the Hoke era
Hi Board,
Just want to know how the MGoUsers coped with losses over the past 2.5 years of the Hoke tenure. Don't know if anybody discussed this recently. For me, I never drink after a loss because the hangover the next day will make me feel much worse.
2011 MSU: Packed stuff all day on Sunday because I had to move to a new apartment on the Purdue weekend. Also cursed Borges for 1,200 times.
2011 Iowa: Took a stroll to North Campus after taking wife to Briarwood.
2012 Alabama: Can't remember. Probably watched three movies at home or something.
2012 Notre Dame: Was in DC with wife. Watched the game in Tommy Joe's. Went to a museum on Sunday. Still fuming on Monday.
2012 Nebraska: Can't remember. Plain and simple.
2012 Ohio State: Went to Knight's Ann Arbor and ate a ton of food.
2012 SC: Strangely not upset at all.
2013 Penn State: Was in Northern Michigan for the fall color. Trekked about 10 mi on Sunday.
2013 MSU: Probably go sit at the Diag for three hours this afternoon.
By the way, I think yesterday should definitely be included in next year's Ultimate Ennui Contest, if there is one.
(This is actually my first topic started.)
November 3rd, 2013 at 10:32 AM ^
Under RR, I would be grumpy all day win or lose. I don't know how to cope or feel anymore.
November 3rd, 2013 at 10:33 AM ^
MGoBlog "What are you drinking tonight" threads.
I have been sober for 28 months out of necessity...
November 3rd, 2013 at 10:34 AM ^
November 3rd, 2013 at 10:37 AM ^
November 3rd, 2013 at 11:12 AM ^
That's a good approach. I'm over it in about 10-15 minutes after the final whistle.
And then I go check MGoBlog...
November 3rd, 2013 at 11:29 AM ^
I usually give myself an hour after the game. One hour to sulk, rage, moan, etc. etc.
November 3rd, 2013 at 10:39 AM ^
At least with Denard we had one option.
Having a superhuman came in handy without an offensive scheme or any blocking.
November 3rd, 2013 at 11:31 AM ^
November 3rd, 2013 at 2:30 PM ^
J,
Was thinking the same thing in the 2nd quarter, after something like our 5th sack of the half. People feared blitzing the guy (that means man-to-man coverage on the receivers, with guys backs turned from the pocket) because he could turn it into a 50 yd TD run. Denard could never throw the deep ball like Devin, but at least made you live in fear and play safe.
Last year, I think he was somewhat injured (but not officially) for the MSU game. It was the week after he hurt his elbow the 1st time against Illinois. He still played alright (one late 1st half INT that didn't hurt us) and DID make one huge throw to Dileo - but MSU did not want him running for huge gains on that last drive.
Two years ago, the trash hurricane and 25-35 mph winds kept us from throwing the deep ball to keep them honest. Plus, Molk's head-bobs were used against us.
He sucked in 2010, but our D was horrendous so we would have lost anyway.
November 3rd, 2013 at 10:40 AM ^
Because PSU we should've won.
We shouldn't have beat MSU. We were outmanned and overmatched. Period.
-----
Thinking about basketball has helped, plus I got World Cup 2014 tickets last week so I've been trying to plan a lot for my trip next year.
In the end, what this game did to me, it made me stop caring so much. I still bleed blue, I'm still a diehard, I'll still follow Michigan like a little kid. I'll support them to no end. However, it's just harder for me to get behind THIS team and the shit I have to witness.
1. Lewan's bullshit
2. Hoke's medicore attitude and lack of awareness
3. Borges' inability to limit the glaring weaknesses in his offense until he gets "his guys" in (with experience)
4. Jackson's dropoff as a RB coach
5. Funk's seemingly poor OL coaching
6. The lack of fire that too many guys play with (or without)
7. The fact that we were out phyiscalled...again
8. How we're nice guys...then I look at schools like Stanford and I don't see what they're doing/recruiting that we're not. You don't have to have a bunch of football-first southern guys to win...you can take the "student-athlete" and maul people too
9. How we aren't improving
10. There doesn't seem to be a "bright side"...there aren't "flashes of hope"
November 3rd, 2013 at 11:12 AM ^
What a perfect summary
November 3rd, 2013 at 11:17 AM ^
That is an excellent, excellent post. I could not agree more with your assessment & conclusions.
November 3rd, 2013 at 10:40 AM ^
It's an interesting question actually. Like every other loss for many years, I peruse the stats, watch selected highlights again and quietly move onto either more football or other things. I don't find myself getting genuinely raging upset at football these days - I tend to compartmentalize my feelings and put them into the proper perspective. If I am irritated with the result of the game, I find a way to have a laugh, like the swearing tracker. Of course, beer has helped with that as well.
November 3rd, 2013 at 10:48 AM ^
You, sir, are brilliant and rational. The State of Our Open Thread is the best humor on this site other than Heiko trolling Borges.
November 3rd, 2013 at 10:43 AM ^
I have committed myself to never changing any plans I may have to including watching Michigan Football games (or any sporting event). The less I have invested the less pain I feel. RichRod taught me that life lesson.
To think that I had season tickets for almost 30 years and lived and died by those outcomes.
November 3rd, 2013 at 1:37 PM ^
Me now, and my family prior, have had tickets for over 30 years as well and this will be the last season. The cost benefit analysis is far too skewed in 2014 to rationally keep them.
November 3rd, 2013 at 10:44 AM ^
I read Mgoblog and decided it's still better to lose with Michigan than win with anyone else.
November 3rd, 2013 at 7:33 PM ^
x 1000000. Even though I have no love for some of the coaches, still am behind these players 100% and always will be. Hanging in there in these somewat lean days will make it that much sweeter when the team gets things turned around - I just hope it is soon.
November 4th, 2013 at 7:26 PM ^
Well said!
November 3rd, 2013 at 10:51 AM ^
that when I dir, on my death bed, I will receive total consciousness.
At least I have that going for me...
November 3rd, 2013 at 12:36 PM ^
November 3rd, 2013 at 11:00 AM ^
November 3rd, 2013 at 11:00 AM ^
I watched Northwestern lose to Pelini on a last second hail mary and realized that at least we aren't them.
November 3rd, 2013 at 9:37 PM ^
I expect a close game and with our secondary giving up big passing plays, I could see something like that happening next week!
November 3rd, 2013 at 11:01 AM ^
Did you cope differently before Hoke?
November 3rd, 2013 at 11:24 AM ^
November 3rd, 2013 at 11:35 AM ^
I work at UMHS. I see stuff, even in my limited capacity, that is far more crushing than a football game.
My occasional rants on here(particularly with the Tigers) are nothing more than an in-the-moment emotional release. The days of obsessing over every detail of Michigan football or any sport is over.
I will say this 2014 is a huge year for Hoke. UM returns a lot of guys, MSU loses a ton as does ND. Northwestern loses Mark and Colter. Penn State will be further weakened by sanctions. That year, even with a bunch of tough road games, is setting up nicely for Michigan.
That above is how I cope. First, I place the game in its proper context. Secondly, I look to the future for obsessing on the past in sports is a useless activity.
November 3rd, 2013 at 9:42 PM ^
Our O-line will be even younger and perhaps weaker. May be our defense will start playing better? RB, I hope Green lives up to his talent but I'm having my doubts. And of course Gardner will still throw costly INTs. I'm thinking if there is a turn around year it will be 2015.
November 3rd, 2013 at 11:38 AM ^
I read the blog for a few hours before wrapping myself in my Michigan flag and passing out at about 3am purely out of depression.
Also hockey. Beating Tech was a pretty solid distraction.
November 3rd, 2013 at 11:46 AM ^
November 3rd, 2013 at 11:53 AM ^
November 3rd, 2013 at 12:04 PM ^
November 3rd, 2013 at 1:08 PM ^
November 4th, 2013 at 7:32 PM ^
It would be interesting to examine posts for parents vs. non-parents.
I would think that having kids gives you that big picture view. It also teaches you about the difficulty with "herding cats" and thus may make you more prone to accept the possibility that there really is an execution issue on this team.
I guess alternatively, having kids is tiring and thus you are more grumpy and prone to complaining a lot.
Would be interesting either way.
November 3rd, 2013 at 12:16 PM ^
I think all but the most irrationally optimisitic were half-expecting an outcome like this. After the opening drives of the 3rd (hell after the first half, really) I'd mentally checked out.
I was fine immediately after this game. Only a real gut-punch game sticks with me more than a day or two. Getting crushed by an obviously better team? Eh..
November 3rd, 2013 at 12:37 PM ^
November 3rd, 2013 at 12:40 PM ^
November 3rd, 2013 at 12:44 PM ^
For the 2012 Alabama game i was in Frankfort michigan staying at a cabin with my wife and friends. I had prepared myself for that game and decided to quit watching and the half after seeing how it was going. Went salmon fishing instead of watching the end of the game and caught the biggest salmon of my life... kind of a strange evening.... but memorable...
November 3rd, 2013 at 1:12 PM ^
The wife and I rented Kevin Hart's new stand up, which was ok although he is much more vulgar now. Watched a little of the FSU - Miami game.
November 3rd, 2013 at 2:27 PM ^
Here is your biggest "coping mechanism:" patience.
November 3rd, 2013 at 2:34 PM ^
This year - raking freaking leaves - followed by strong beer.
Last year, Bama and ND, figured those were losses anyway. ND had lost 3 in a row in the final minute to us. Nebraska "coping" - nothing can make anyone forget Bellomy's 3-16-3 performance. OSU? Alcohol and sex are the only coping techniques.
November 3rd, 2013 at 3:39 PM ^
I wasn't a big fan of hiring (and still not a fan of Hoke bc I question his ability to elevate program into elite status. I kind of detatch myself from my fandom and watch it from a neutral perspective. Coming into the season, I knew Michigan was destined for a mediocre season because I have huge questions on the OL and DL. Once Michigan struggled to beat Akron, UConn, I knew that November will be tough for Michigan to get to 8 wins.
I just watched with indifference which is strange. However, when it comes to basketball, I am a huge fan of Michigan basketball and sat through one of the worst stretch of Michigan basketball in Ellerbe era and was mediocre in Tommy Amaker era. I knew Michigan hit a HR in JB and JB will finally recruit the athletes that he always wanted and his system works because he turned nobodies into a star. What he has done with Stu and Novak has been amazing. Remember Jordan Morgan? No one liked him coming out of U of D Jesuit and thought that JB reached on him. Now, he's one of the key cogs to a team that has become a national power. JB has shown the ability to turn coals into diamonds. Hoke hasn't.
November 3rd, 2013 at 6:22 PM ^
November 3rd, 2013 at 7:53 PM ^
are RR recruits. I have yet to see Hoke's player make a significant contribution other than Blake Countess.
November 3rd, 2013 at 8:59 PM ^
Uh, Funchess? Ross? Wilson? Morgan? Bolden? Butt? Chesson? They aren't significant contributors?
Come on, there are a bunch of Hoke recruits getting big playing time.
November 4th, 2013 at 9:45 AM ^
Ross got demoted. Wilson has been meh. Morgan was a RR recruit. Bolden got demoted. Butt is just meh. Chesson is just meh.
What I mean by significant contributions, I mean players who made an postive impact with their plays on the field. So far, it has been far and few in between. The key players are RR's players.
November 3rd, 2013 at 6:18 PM ^
November 3rd, 2013 at 6:41 PM ^
I cope by writing my little column. It's cathartic, and a bit of a shameless plug. But it helps me to put into words how I'm feeling, and really a day later I feel far more calm and reserved. I'm not saying it works for everyone, but when you can just say X sucked, Y wasn't that bad, it makes it easier to cope with a tough loss.
November 3rd, 2013 at 7:00 PM ^
i watch arizona football and laugh at their coach for not getting "it"