Apologies to the Board:

Submitted by RedRum on November 19th, 2018 at 10:55 AM

In not my most controlled emotional state, I posted that Hart “Wasn’t a Michigan Man” The topic was removed from the board and that is probably best. The point was a touch tongue in cheek since it was Hart who, without evidence, accused another former player of not being a Michigan Man. Those two men are not facing each other on opposing sidelines- Carr defender wearing IU garb – Jharbs wearing UM garb. I was trying to let the optics tell its own story. I apologize to Hart. He played great for UM and wish him all the success in the world.

I do think there are a couple of things worth noting. If Chase throws his entire body weight on a clearly down and sitting Haskins at the end of a play, I will be the first to voice my displeasure. I want to win the way a 17 year old wants… female attention (to put it nicely); but I absolutely will not be happy if UM does cheap shots. I say this to provide the logical mindset and consistency with which I am going to move to my next point.

Indiana, specifically number 72, played dirty. I am extremely disappointed that the refs didn’t control the game and allowed players to get injured needlessly. That said IU coaches are responsible - 18-23 year olds can make poor decision (as can 40 year olds).  The coaches should be upset with such conduct. They do not appear to be upset. It is difficult to rebuke your employer. It takes a lot of character to put yourself out on a limb and criticize your own team’s sportsmanship. I would expect a Michigan Man to have such character.

Go Blue

CalifExile

November 19th, 2018 at 12:03 PM ^

Are you referring to Hart saying Harbaugh isn't a Michigan Man after Harbaugh threw Bo under the bus? You can disagree with Hart on the point but you're wrong to say he had no evidence to make his assessment. Harbaugh played with Stefan Humphries so he knew that Bo didn't prohibit players from taking difficult classes. Harbaugh waited until Bo was dead and then he lied about him in order to benefit his recruiting at Stanford. Hart wasn't the only Michigan supporter to be angered by that.

trueblue262

November 19th, 2018 at 11:04 AM ^

I think the sooner we all get over the "dirty hits" phase, the better. Now we are questioning Mike Hart? That is until one day when he joins a future staff here, then we will welcome him with open arms. I know this because we did the same with Harbaugh when publicly criticized the university admissions for SA's. People can still love this university while working for another. 

RedRum

November 19th, 2018 at 11:09 AM ^

I respect your point. I'm still pissed about the 2017 Sp8 hit if that gives you perspective into my frame of mind.

I have not problem with Hart working for IU. I guess, for a thought exercise, at what point of losing sportmenship should one intervene? Late hit, probably not. A shove, probably not. Jumping with one's full body weight on a person who is on the ground and away from the play. For me that is getting closer. Taking off a helmet and using it as a ramming weapon? Etc.

I guess at what point would you expect a coach to challenge the conduct of their athletes.  Maybe my standards are too high, but I don't like seeing people injured for no reason. If its clean, its football. No need for extra shit.

1VaBlue1

November 19th, 2018 at 11:05 AM ^

Your original comment, and the attempts at defending it, were absolutely horrible.  Apparently, you realize that.  It takes a lot to come back, admit you were wrong, and apologize.  So I'll let it go - people do stoopid things.

JMac

November 19th, 2018 at 11:10 AM ^

To what degree is Mike Hart getting credit for Indiana's run game?  According to TV announcers it was Hart who was responsible for recruiting their seemingly talented back.  It also seemed as though he was heavily involved in the offensive discussions on the sidelines during timeouts.

LeCheezus

November 19th, 2018 at 12:10 PM ^

I'm going to guess being 6'2" 233 lbs has something to do with that.  Remember Rutgers' guy last year (Gus Edwards) that got us a couple times when he going north/south?  Same size, and side note he just went 17 carries for 115 yards yesterday against the Bengals.

heyyoujesson

November 19th, 2018 at 11:51 AM ^

Your logic is still terrible. Mike Hart is the effing running backs coach. You want him just randomly blowing up on players? That's not his job at all. If anyone from IU were to do that it should be the head coach. Also your apology was completely half ass and not a real apology. That said it makes no difference to me if you apologize it was just a shitty apology. 

JPC

November 19th, 2018 at 11:15 AM ^

It's not like Hart was celebrating when Chase got injured. He has a job to do, and that job is to beat Michigan. If his entire heart wasn't in that job, he would need to be fired immediately. Expecting any more than that from him, or anyone else is stupid and juvenile. 

Goggles Paisano

November 19th, 2018 at 11:18 AM ^

Watching him on the sidelines made me wonder what was going thru his head.  He was obviously rooting hard for Indiana as he should, but I wonder how conflicted, it at all, he was.  

Snake Eyes

November 19th, 2018 at 11:20 AM ^

I didn't see the deleted thread, but are you suggesting that Mike Hart has to openly criticize his boss and the team he works for in order to keep his "Michigan Man" status?  That seems dumb.

djmagic

November 19th, 2018 at 11:25 AM ^

"If Chase throws his entire body weight on a clearly down and sitting Haskins at the end of a play, I will be the first to voice my displeasure."

 

well, it appears he gave # 72 a reason for taking a shot at him.
https://twitter.com/ramzy/status/1064532204053819393

I don't know if this was a response to something that happened earlier, but it's likely what prompted the dirty hit.  Hopefully the coaches catch this, and make it clear to the team that there's no place for this kind of nonsense on the football field.

1VaBlue1

November 19th, 2018 at 11:44 AM ^

You should actually watch that clip.  He looked down to see where to step, and as he was putting his foot down (now looking up towards the sideline) the IU player moved his leg.  Chase immediately raised his foot, lost his balance, and stepped down again to avoid falling.  In no way can that be considered a cheap hit, or an intentional attack. 

Yet the troll says it is because an OSU slappy (Ramzy) says it is.  Move along, troll...

Bodogblog

November 19th, 2018 at 12:05 PM ^

He posted the clip, so presumably he watched it.  This looks intentional to me and many others, and you can just as easily be framed a homer slappy for your explanation. Who knows whether we're wrong or right, but it doesn't look much better or worse than what #72 did to Winovich. The explanation from their side is "playing to the whistle", which is just as plausible as yours for Chase. 

Both of the plays look like garbage to me, it's weak football and they should cut it out. 

Fezzik

November 19th, 2018 at 12:52 PM ^

Come on man. This is not an accident. He never lost balance. He put all of his weight on the lineman's ankle with his cleats. Maybe the sun was in his eyes and a strong wind gust suddenly pushed him to step and walk on the dude's leg?... 

It was a dirty play. End of story. I'm a die hard Michigan fan but good lord man have some balance to your perspective.

Bodogblog

November 19th, 2018 at 12:00 PM ^

Yeah I've avoided a lot of the outrage threads because the hit didn't seem that bad to me.  In context of this ankle stomp, I'm even less concerned.  Chase needs to quit that shit out, right now. 

 

Larger context, I've always hated the idea of a "nasty" player grinding someone into the ground after they've fallen, and it's almost always in reference to OL.  You pancaked a guy, great, go find someone else to block, pancake them.  It would never occur to me to tell that kid to jump on the guy and keep his legs pumping downward.  It's just so stupid.  But it's encouraged at every level today.  Much worse in terms of recruiting, where this type of thing being called a "nasty streak" is ingrained.  Oh, hey a kid who hit the genetic lotto is 6'7" and can move at 280 lbs, so he can knock down high school kids who are half his size.  Surprise.  But now let's encourage him to JUMP ON TOP of that 5'10" 185 lb future accounting analyst and push him into the ground with all of his might.  This proves a lot to all of us as Div 1 coaches.  It's utter nonsense.