WTKA Roundtable 12/27/2018: Caring Some
Things discussed:
- Peach Bowl apathy: if the players don't care it's hard for us to.
- How do they schedule Florida again?
- Florida isn't great but could beat a depleted Michigan team, which would really depress the fanbase
- NFL departures: Hill leans coming back, Long leans going pro, Gentry probably pro
- Will we see some freshmen? Would like to see McGrone once this year.
- Craig Ross rekindling his friendship with Scot Loeffler
- Basketball school: Crisler is filling up against meatball teams for the first time since Cazzie
- Is this team for real? North Carolina got whupped here and beat Gonzaga
- AF game fixed some of the concerns from the other tomato cans
- The new defensive mindset is a weird thing to old tyme Michigan fans
- Personnel vs. coaching: defense, free throws, CM possessions
You can catch the entire episode on Michigan Insider's podcast stream on Podbean.
Segment two is here. Segment three is here.
THE USUAL LINKS
- Helpful iTunes subscribe link
- General podcast feed link
- Direct download link
- What's with the theme music?
Any comments on football, Mr. Apathy?
December 28th, 2018 at 7:36 AM ^
I, for one, am excited to see what Stueber can do. 11 wins would be great and am hopeful that Harbaugh and Hamilton let Patterson and the receivers go for the win. December 29th Spring Game!
December 28th, 2018 at 7:38 AM ^
If you say you don't care but you'll be depressed if they lose. . . there's a possibility you care.
December 28th, 2018 at 1:30 PM ^
I was depressed on November 24th, no matter what happens on December 29th, I'll not be depressed. Apathy has no term limits.
December 28th, 2018 at 7:44 AM ^
Bo was always good at finding a few guys with giant hearts to cement the Team mentality. I confess I am wondering if the transfer/bowl game opt outs represent a toxic core that has limited this team in its toughest contests.
December 28th, 2018 at 8:23 AM ^
I’m not sure it’s comparable, but could be I just don’t want it to be.
December 28th, 2018 at 8:32 AM ^
I'm pretty sure most of the players and coaches actually care about this game - it would be nice if the MGoStaff acted the same way
December 28th, 2018 at 11:24 AM ^
No Fee Fi Fo Film - Florida Defense post? Is there going to be a preview post? Enforced apathy is a bit over the top.
Sure glad the staff isn't actually playing the game (beyond sheer capability of course).
December 28th, 2018 at 1:00 PM ^
Seriously - that one FFFF was THREE WEEKS AGO. Where are the game previews? Any practice updates? WTF?
I have spent plenty of time in the BPONE, but this site's attitude is bordering on fandom malpractice. If they don't want to talk about football during bowl season, while the basketball team is playing nobodies, then what's left to drive traffic for readers? Maybe move the board posts to the main page and put the occasional staff created content on the sidebar.
I don't get it.
December 28th, 2018 at 1:33 PM ^
The head coach is apathetic to his best players choosing not to play. The players who've been interviewed said they're good with players choosing not to play. I'll give you this, Chase Winovich cares.
December 28th, 2018 at 1:39 PM ^
I sincerely doubt that the head coach is apathetic. He chooses his words carefully and he's not about to throw players under the bus- there is nothing to be gained by that.
December 28th, 2018 at 8:51 AM ^
The gap between the perspective of the players and coaches and that of the fans is unmeasurable. That fans somehow continue to believe that these games have anything to do with them-and even seem to think that the games somehow revolve around them...is mind-boggling to me-leaves me shaking my head. I will just keep repeating this because clearly we all need to be reminded, myself included, that these games are about the players and their quest to play well. Cheer for them...be disappointed for them but otherwise do your best to observe and appreciate the effort and skill that the players bring. They are competing hard and making great effort to do their best.
December 28th, 2018 at 10:58 AM ^
I respectively disagree. It is because of the fans that Michigan football is such a big deal such that we can fill up a 100,000 seat stadium, buy tons of sponsored merchandise. create large TV ratings and allow the university to provide first class facilities and fund scholarships for a full range of athletic programs. We can argue about the (in) adequacy of player compensation (and we have) in other threads- but this is very much about the fans who are the lifeblood of the program.
December 28th, 2018 at 9:02 AM ^
I plan on skipping the bowl game and taking my wife to a movie then early dinner for our anniversary. Priorities.
December 28th, 2018 at 9:52 AM ^
Just kidding man. Happy anniversary!
December 28th, 2018 at 1:48 PM ^
Yet you bothered to log in to Mgoblog, listen to the podcast, and then post a comment at the bottom. Right.
December 28th, 2018 at 9:09 AM ^
I’m really tired of this sites apathy towards the football team. Sorry if that’s controversial and I still enjoy and appreciate mgoblog, but it’s the way i feel. I suppose I will visit sites like Wolverine Wire more often where they have good information about the team.
December 28th, 2018 at 9:17 AM ^
I get why it exists tho. When you're fully invested emotionally in something and then the OSU game happens it's hard to keep a happy face on things.
Couple that with what appears on the outside to be apathy on the part of the team towards the game and you've got the makings of another potentially ugly loss.
They'll be back next spring as we all will, fully emotionally invested and hopeful for better days. But right now i cant really blame them for feeling like they do.
December 28th, 2018 at 9:26 AM ^
Perhaps. But when it’s your job to cover University of Michigan athletics, and football has and always will be the biggest interest to your customers, I don’t feel like apathy is the best way to go. Maybe that’s just me.
December 28th, 2018 at 9:41 AM ^
100% TK.
I'm angry with this site over its unrelenting effort to diminish this game. Not that the opportunity ever presents itself, but I'd decline an invitation to share a beer with some of the talented writers who produce MGoBlog content. They're not sports fans, they're Michigan grads employed to write about sports. It bleeds through in everything they write.
There are better places to read about this game. Sites and blogs that dont treat a NY6 bowl game as a nuisance. That kinda seems like it would be an issue for a Michigan sports blog, but MGoBlog seems content pissing in our cereal at every opportunity.
December 28th, 2018 at 11:35 AM ^
It's not a issue of blame, but responsibility. This site is no longer just Brian's hobby as other people are dependent on it for income. It's a job now and I don't know of too many jobs that allow a lack of production due to not being "fully emotionally invested".
December 28th, 2018 at 12:50 PM ^
Am I missing something or is the content on this site still free?
December 28th, 2018 at 12:37 PM ^
I'm gonna see if I can try this at my job.
"Ya see, boss, I'm just not fully emotionally invested in this project so I'm not gonna do it and instead complain about how stupid and insignificant it is."
December 28th, 2018 at 2:21 PM ^
If you owned your business and worked for yourself you could absolutely do that as often as you liked.
Now...your customers might have a different opinion.
December 28th, 2018 at 5:08 PM ^
Your employees might also see it as a bad sign for their future...
December 28th, 2018 at 9:52 AM ^
I haven't listened yet - were Sam, Ira, Ed and Craig apathetic about the game, or was it mostly Brian? If it's most of the group, you can't really blame MGoBlog, IMHO.
Personally, I'm actually excited to see the team play another game, even against Florida, but BPONI has me dreading a loss.
December 28th, 2018 at 11:28 AM ^
No Ed, at least in first segment. Apathy was limited to Brian - Craig & Ira identified reasons why they wanted to watch.
December 28th, 2018 at 12:08 PM ^
Color me unsurprised.
December 28th, 2018 at 9:29 AM ^
I didn't really see Gentry as an NFL player, but if him getting drafted is what it'll take to get Shea to throw to someone else then so be it.
December 28th, 2018 at 10:03 AM ^
McKeon went from 31 receptions in ‘17 to 14 this season. I could be wrong but it seems like he dropped a few balls this year and they minimized him in the passing game. For everyone complaining that we only threw to the Tight Ends and not the WRs, I think McKeon would disagree. It would be nice to see Shea show some chemistry with McKeon. I saw Wisconsin use a TE screen yesterday that was classic Harbaughfense. It would be nice to see that again.
December 28th, 2018 at 1:16 PM ^
Doesn't matter if McKeon develops chemistry with Patterson because he'll drop the ball. He's proved that he's not a reliable pass catcher for 3 years now. He's had his chance.
Time to see what Eubanks and Muhammed can do.
December 28th, 2018 at 10:35 AM ^
Gentry. Probably looks attractive on paper, but he needs another year for sure.
December 28th, 2018 at 10:18 AM ^
Will there be no Florida fee fi film or did I miss it?
found Fl offense but not the D
December 28th, 2018 at 10:34 AM ^
I am looking forward to seeing some of the younger guys with larger roles like Hutchinson, Jeter, Ross, Thomas, Steuber, and hopefully a healthy Black.
December 28th, 2018 at 10:37 AM ^
Kill the basketball/football school thing with fire. Please. It's beyond tedious.
December 28th, 2018 at 10:38 AM ^
One non apathetic player is Winovich. There’s an ESPN piece on him deferring surgery to play Saturday. He alone makes it worth watching.
December 28th, 2018 at 10:50 AM ^
Have been a little surprised to see that my attitude- excited to see Michigan play our bowl and fretting about whether we win or lose is such a minority position here. Was glad to hear that Craig Ross, at least, feels the same way.
December 28th, 2018 at 11:36 AM ^
We've now gotten FOUR front page deep dives into our hockey team at the break and almost nothing on the bowl or OSU games.
That tells you EVERYTHING you need to know about where the MgoStaff's head is at.
December 28th, 2018 at 12:42 PM ^
And the hockey team seems to be decidedly mediocre at best.
December 28th, 2018 at 12:12 PM ^
Why is it people think the team doesn't care about the bowl game? Because a handful of players are sitting out?
So the rest don't care? I would imagine the rest of the players are very excited to wash the OSU taste from their mouths.
December 28th, 2018 at 1:10 PM ^
The idea that Florida is not good needs to end. They are ranked 10th and have had a bowl practice season to further adapt to Mullen. This will be a very good team we play this weekend.
December 28th, 2018 at 1:56 PM ^
It's a Michigan fan tradition to dismiss the caliber of our bowl opponent out of hand. I've been observing it since 1970, and it's every bit as prevalent now as it ever was.
You'd think that after 25 bowl losses since then that Michigan fans would be a bit more cautious in chalking up a win before the game is played, but that's what fans do.
December 28th, 2018 at 1:13 PM ^
The offense in 2018 for Michigan seemed TE-centric and yet TE also seemed like a weakness. It certainly could be said that when the offense struggled that was also paired with various TE's dropping passes. Including Gentry--who seemed to be one of a stable of TE and not even always the main one. Additionally, I cannot think of a game in which I thought any given TE was unstoppable or causing significant issues for the defense. Which makes the idea of Gentry entering the draft early perplexing.
His draft slot would be based entirely on size and potential, I would assume.
I like Gentry. He seems like he could be really good. He just hasn't been yet. Has he?
December 29th, 2018 at 8:33 AM ^
We should all be looking forward to Michigan football today.
Starting tomorrow, there are ~240 days until the next Meeeeechigan game.
Comments