The Anti-Boycott Movement
I posted this in the UTL III boycott thread below but think we need to take a step back and think about the impact of the rage movement:
If you truly love Michigan you are going to show the fuck up to games and root on the team. At this point, It’s a foregone conclusion Brady Hoke is out of a job at the end of the year and Brandon is holding on for dear life. Both have done irreparable damage to their careers regardless of attendance / boos. I promise you guys, we will have blood. Be patient.
What is totally unacceptable in my book is abandoning the team.
Ya they suck, ya they have shitty coaches, ya it’s not a lot of fun watching them but these young men have worked their entire lives for the opportunity to win football games for Michigan. The seniors especially deserve our respect and attendance. These young men may never play again, and deserve to be sent out with dignity (not to empty stadiums and red Ohio colored fucking t shirts).
I would hope that more people on this blog can start to have a little bit of empathy for some of the guys whose careers are winding down and didn’t turn out like they, or we, had hoped (don’t even get me started on the young men with NFL potential who may never get a shot due to coaching indignities).
Do what’s right and support the young men
September 29th, 2014 at 4:19 PM ^
Also, if you can get Hoke and DB fired, then you can show up in record numbers to support the kids the following week. Also, make sure to point out on social media, etc. that DB and Hoke are the problem, not the players.
September 29th, 2014 at 4:19 PM ^
So when you are getting repeatedly embarrassed on a national stage every Saturday, does doing so in front of 50K rather than 100K actually matter?
Is morale worse for this team if the stadium was half-full instead of 80% full against Minnesota?
September 29th, 2014 at 4:57 PM ^
Sorry...I am still going to the games.
I am not in a financial position to eat money on tickets I've already spent. And as much as I am disappointed as ANYONE ELSE with Brandon, with Hoke, etc., I am going to support the kids. The players who work their asses off all week long, every week -- and that's ONE THING I do believe Hoke on (now, what they are working on may be suspect, but I don't think for one second that they aren't working hard).
Also -- to be blunt -- time is fleeting. I have just turned 40. My dad is 65, going on 66 in January. I go to all of the games with him. How many more do you think I have? I think about that a lot, to be perfectly honest. I enjoy each and every Saturday with my dad in Ann Arbor in the Fall. Nothing beats it. And I know that it won't last too much longer, either. So, I just can't, or at least don't want to, simply "throw away" a season. I refuse to do it.
So, I'll be there in two weeks. Section 17. Wearing MAIZE AND BLUE. Fuck wearing red. And in my opinion, fuck not going. And I'll be cheering for the kids wearing the winged helmet, as much as I think that their commanding officers are severely delusional, and completely incompetent.
As always, Go Blue.
September 29th, 2014 at 4:21 PM ^
I don't know, let's get weird with it.
Instead of boycotting, do the opposite. Everybody show up as early as possible and chant your favorite anti-Brandon chant constantly until the team comes out. Cheer for team, then continue previous chant.
Think of a whole bunch of fun signs to hold up during the game, mostly about fire and firing.
In the spots of the stadium where nobody is sitting, position some of the nearby fans into words that say stuff like "FIRE DB". If you don't have enough people to pull this off, just go with a nice four letter word, like "FUCK". Try hard to get attention of cameras.
September 29th, 2014 at 7:18 PM ^
having the students spell FUCK in the stands is a brilliant idea /s
Are you actually Dave Brandon? That would look great to all the alumni and regents ... God help us :(
Go Blue!
September 29th, 2014 at 4:22 PM ^
I want to believe that's the case. I really, really do. But I am starting to get the sinking feeling that it just isn't going to happen; not this week, not after this season, not until Dave Brandon is gone (unless it is tied to DB's own need for self-preservation).
I have come to believe that Brandon just doesn't give one shit, let alone two, about what any of us think about the state of the program, the coach, noodles, Special K, RAWK MUSIK or anything else. Under those circumstances, he could just as well give us all the finger and retain Hoke.
I hope it is just my cynicism speaking here, but I have come to believe that Brandon will do what he wants while flying a big "F U" flag to the rest of us.
September 29th, 2014 at 4:23 PM ^
All in All, GO BLUE!!
Times get bad. True fans will show their colors and go to the games because this is not the first time a team was bad and the coach deserved to be fired. Support the team and stick it out because it can only go up from here.
September 29th, 2014 at 4:45 PM ^
It can actually get worse. Never under estimate how bad it can get.
September 29th, 2014 at 4:26 PM ^
I do believe Hoke and Brandon should go..
I do not support boycotting games..I will definitely be watching the Rugers game
Let me be the first to predict a Michigan domination over Rutgers. Yes I know Rutgers is
good at at home at night..I expect the angriest Michigan team Ever to step on the field Sat night...Michigan 44- Rutgers 14
September 29th, 2014 at 4:25 PM ^
When the chants started on Saturday, I felt like it was airing our dirty laundry on national TV. I didn't like it.
However, the story about student/fan dissatisfaction are so widespread now, I don't know if that's still a reason not to do it. The laundry is out there.
But still, I'd rather us handle our business out of the spotlight. I get the appeal of using the national audience to make your feelings REALLY known, but there's a cost. Negative crap pulled at games could be misconstrued by the players. Not buying concessions hurts the nonprofits that work there. The schadenfreude we're handing to our rivals with bog showy displays of unhappiness sticks in my craw. You know they will make lots of hay out of any behavior that seems mob-like or thuggish.
September 29th, 2014 at 4:27 PM ^
September 29th, 2014 at 4:27 PM ^
If his dismissal is a foregone conclusion then it should happen today. Having him lame duck the rest of the season will only keep fueling the negative press and damage recruiting. This is hitting a critical mass where a mid-season firing might be the lesser of two evils.
September 29th, 2014 at 4:32 PM ^
has someone started the "fire dave brandon" online petition that we can all sign and send to the regents/president?
September 29th, 2014 at 4:34 PM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
September 29th, 2014 at 5:07 PM ^
I've gotten a lot of questions about this lately on Twitter, but I'll answer here too - this is a Brian / Seth call and it is typically done as an emergency measure, if you will. It is becoming apparent, however, that this might be a period of extended crisis when it comes to content here (52 threads beyond those mentioned in the Sticy were removed by me alone in the first day after the Minnesota game). Putting the threshhold higher for more than a few days might be a good idea at this point, but it isn't my call or JGB's call sadly.
September 29th, 2014 at 4:37 PM ^
September 29th, 2014 at 4:43 PM ^
I'm going to boycott because it is better for these players in the long run. You have to think long term here. I love Michigan and always will but a message must be sent.
September 29th, 2014 at 4:43 PM ^
September 29th, 2014 at 4:44 PM ^
September 29th, 2014 at 5:11 PM ^
go to the tailgate, but not to the game. I am showing up to our tailgate. However, I will not be entering the stadium.
September 30th, 2014 at 12:17 AM ^
that little peeing dude. srsly
September 29th, 2014 at 4:49 PM ^
September 29th, 2014 at 4:54 PM ^
So the argument here is that instead of not going, one should go and loudly voice his or her disapproval?
How is it better on the players to show up and boo and chant for firings?
September 29th, 2014 at 5:32 PM ^
September 29th, 2014 at 4:55 PM ^
Yeah, let's all show up for the games even though we disapprove of what we're watching. That'll show 'em.
In the adult world the fan has little power to exercise. I applaud Brian for what he's trying to do. The only way Brandon gets fired is if it shows up on the bottom line significantly enough for others to notice. You can't take anything for granted in life, and I'm going to boycott going forward until Hoke and Brandon are fired.
They don't deserve another football from this season to put in their shrine to past greatness which they had nothing to do with in the first place. I do feel bad for the players, but unless it gets ugly it won't get better for them.
September 29th, 2014 at 4:55 PM ^
I get where you're coming from, and I think your heart is in the right place, but I disagree.
(1) Effect on the Players - I think the players can handle the empty seats. They have to know that it's an unavoidable consequence of losing and it happens everywhere (e.g. USC recently among others). They're tough enough to survive in D1 athletics, they can take it. Life will go on, and I think empty seats will register pretty low in terms of life priorities (e.g. school, dating, jobs, friends, family)
(2) Protest/Abandonment - Not-attending is not the same as abandoning. These are not small children we are leaving at the mall. Fans like us don't have many cards to play, and unfortunately, not attending is one of the few ways to get the message across that we're sick and tired of it.
(3) Will it accomplish anything? - I think a large enough no-show would accomplish something. It would be unprecedented in the last 20 or so years and will be a big story nationally and locally. It's also something that the Ross' and Brandons' of the world cannot really combat.
Head to head with money and we lose. But head to head with numbers, we win. Then we get rid of these guys, put in some new ones and let the healing begin.
Everyone loves a good turnaround story.
September 29th, 2014 at 5:05 PM ^
Comparing Michigan to USC is your first mistake. We arent USC. We are Michigan. People work their entire lives to attend the school as students and as athletes because Michigan is different. The University of Michigan is a special place. There is nothing more beautiful in the entire world than the passion and vigor for the school that Michigan alum, students and fans exhibit in all aspects of their lives. Seeing the fanbase this divided breaks my heart.
September 29th, 2014 at 5:22 PM ^
My point is that sustained poor performances = empty seats, even at big time programs. I could just have easily pointed to M pre-Bo when like 25k people showed up, but I wanted to use a recent example.
As an aside, I don't see a comparison to USC as fatal. Both culturally unique, elite academically and athletically. Both command major media attention. Both have significant big dollar and blue collar fanbases. Surely cultural and geographical differences, but it's not a huge leap. I'm not pushing for Snoop to be our next HC, I'm just saying that it happens everywhere. It's unavoidable.
September 29th, 2014 at 6:32 PM ^
September 29th, 2014 at 5:08 PM ^
Completely disagree. I support the athletes. Not showing up, is not abandoning. However, I refuse to show any sign of support for this athletic department and football coaching staff. There actions, well in this case, inactions cold have lead to permanent neurological for Shane Morris. I don't buy for one second Hoke's excuses that he didn't see anything. He is the head coach. One of his responsibilities is to know at all times the status of his student athletes. I will go to the walk into the stadium, but I will not enter with them. I want the regents, the president to witness an empty Michigan stadium for UTL III.
You know what I could go. I could go and boo the heck out of Hoke and Dave Brandon. I just cannot do it anymore. I am done with this program. It is not Michigan anymore. We are better than this. So, I am doing what I know best as a Lions fan, not show up. As long as Hoke and Brandon are in the stadium, then I will not.
Finally, the athletes are big boys. They can handle empty seats.
September 29th, 2014 at 5:19 PM ^
There is nothing worse than a frontrunner. You support them when they win. You support them when they lose.
"We're gonna believe in each other, we're not gonna criticize each other, we're not gonna talk about each other, we're gonna encourage each other. And when we play as a team, when the old season is over, you and I know, it's gonna be Michigan again, Michigan."
Some of us have forgotten the face of our fathers.
September 29th, 2014 at 6:07 PM ^
This is one of the few voices of sanity left. You cannot be a Wolverine Devotee and choose to be loyal to the team only when they excel. Boycotting the team would harm the team that some purport to be passionate about. The leadership of the University will not have much of a choice but to make a business-smart decision at the end of the season, and a boycott will do nothing to expedite this process.
September 29th, 2014 at 6:55 PM ^
September 29th, 2014 at 7:28 PM ^
September 29th, 2014 at 8:00 PM ^
I tend to agree. The players don't need to see all those empty seats. But make sure you either wear a t shirt that says Fire Brandon/Hoke or make a sign with the same thing. Can you imagine a stadium filled with Fire Brandon signs?
September 29th, 2014 at 8:39 PM ^
If you are going to boycott, PSU is the game to boycott.
Maryland, however, is Devin Gardner's last home game. And if you think we've suffered . . .
September 29th, 2014 at 9:03 PM ^
Arizona Blue has my vote. This isn't an episode of Dynasty. These boys will always have my respect.
September 29th, 2014 at 9:27 PM ^
September 29th, 2014 at 9:32 PM ^
No one is happy with the current status of the program, but boycotting the game is just going to make UM look bad. If you're not happy, send your letters, don't renew your tickets, etc. There are a million ways to voice your concern in a professional manor, but to walk out on your team is not one of them. The student-athletes on this football team work their tails off and the least we can do is cheer them on. Go Blue!