So Now How Are You Going To Act?

Despondent, as I have been since the Notre Dame game.  I do think his position was reasonable and definitely made me feel less worse about myself as a fan.  After all, we're all fellow alumns (or will be).

Coach Moeller used to say, "Character is what you are in the dark" meaning, your true colors are most visible when nobody is around to see how you act.  Unfortunately, keyboard commandos are the norm in the internet age.  As the blog has grown, so has the brigade of virtual "tough guys".  I'm willing to bet not one of those people would have the guts to confront a player face to face.

writes all the insulting posts on this board.

:-)

I'm going to act exactly the same way I have been. Support the players as best I can and understand that from their perspective they're frustrated too. Sometimes we all say things that we shouldn't when we're in those types of situations, even to other family members that we care about.

I bleed blue, like so many others here, and I choose to rise above the division/faction creating mindset and realize that no matter what we're all a family and we need to press forward to a brighter future together, regardless of the various frustrations we all might have along the way.

Forever GO BLUE!!

I'll continue wishing Brady Hoke the best as he looks for a new job, and for our interim or future AD success in hiring a top tier coach. I can't imagine any current player that would consider transferring because Jim Harbaugh was the new coach. As a matter of fact, I imagine the best remaining realistic recruits would jump at the chance to play under him.

I will be the same as always: be honest and don't throw players under the bus.  Remember they are out there giving everything they have for the Maize and Blue.  

Not any different.

Treat people with respect. Yeah I might be dissapointed in them but I don't bash players or say they suck. I wish sometimes they did better but, let's be honest SO DO THEY. No one like under preforming. For whatever the reason might be they haven't lived up to expecations. They're still people and they deserve our respect. No matter how to you take the Muggles thing it doesn't give you a right to bash a student athlete all over the internet. 

Let's also be real not one of you would have the pair to say it to their faces. So if you wouldn't say it in person you probally shouldn't say it on the interwebs. 

...I'll be a smartass.

early in my career in the AF, never write anything in an electronic medium that you wouldn't be afraid to say in person or have to be "called to the carpet" for afterwards.  I don't always comment/post with that in mind, but I try most of the time.  Opinions aren't always pretty or popular, but if you can defend it then you have at least a leg to stand on.

1.  It's been common knowledge for a while now that Vincent Smith reads the blog and has solicited the readerships' help in the past with some of his charity projects back home.  I think we've also confirmed that Martavious Odoms has been a reader as well.

2.  If you stick to the blog's code of conduct with regards to discussing players, then you really have no reason to worry about whether you're going to offend any player who might be reading the blog.

- Example 1 - "Player X's performance last game was disappointing for Reasons A, B, & C" - Good

- Example 2 - "Player X sucks and I wish we had never recruited him!" - Bad

Stick to that and you'll be fine.

Won't change anything.  I have pretty much always supported the players and outside of indisputable evidence I always give them the benefit of the doubt and realize they are college students(or HS students if we are talking about recruits).  They put a ton of work into this sport and risk serious injury and I think they deserve all the support we can give them which includes top of the line coaching.

I have no issue being critical of Hoke and Brandon because as Hoke says "This is a big boy job" and they should be able to handle and expect criticism, it's part of the reason they make millions of dollars.

The players deserve better than Hoke/Brandon and it can be hard to see that when you are on the inside.  The majority of fans here want what is best for the program/players and I know a lot of former players aren't happy either.  Would be nice if some of the older former players helped inform the players as to what the fans concerns are because it's not obvious while you are still in school. 

Anything you write on a public forum like this is going to be read by many different types of people.  And in the case of MGoBlog, many people.

So I would hope that we always post with that in mind.  Post like all those people are in the same room as you and you'll be fine. 

I know that some guys we're recruiting are reading this blog, at least it's a pretty good assumption.  And some of the things I've seen posted here on some kids make me wonder if this is why they eventually go elsewhere.  I've tried to think a lot harder before writing things about recruits now and try to be positive whenever possible and not say something that a high school kid might misconstrue. 

He, and a couple other players (as I'm sure there are plenty other players and recruits in the shadows), have been around on this blog for a while now, and while their main focus has been their charity work, they have occasionally contributed on other topics once in a blue moon.  So, it's been no secret to many on here that our words are being watched by players.  Obviously they are smart individuals and aware of (and have seen) the best and the worst out of Michigan fans.  I don't think anyone here has to change what they say or the feelings towards the program.  

The mods will continue to keep things in order as far as gross disrespect goes, but everyone is entitled to their opinions and even someone like Vince possibly looking over our shoulders at what we write shouldn't affect that, lest the blog becomes untrue to itself.

If one person gets that, it will be worth it.

This isn't news.  Recruits check the blogs, websites, etc, as well.

I have always assumed players, former players, etc. follow and probably comment on this site. Some of the opinions are so slanted towards coach Hoke that only a player or someone who lobbied for him would take that stand.

Props to VS for his comments.