I'm sorry guys...I just can't get excited about this game.
After reading so many posts regarding the excitement building towards the game, I for one can't watch this year.
Michigan football was the first love of my life. Even before I understood what the game of football was, I understood the emotional swings of wins and losses. Why, it's still a family joke - when I was a kid I would storm up the stairs and solk in my room for a hours if Michigan lost. Even then, the success and failures of a few men in winged helmets vastly altered my emotional state.
Through the years I learned the game, played and coached it to the best of my ability; all while my love for Michigan football matured and grew. I got to be pretty even keeled - don't get to high or low for anything. Still, on cool autumn Saturdays I revert back to that 3 year old watching the game. Yasy year was tough but understandable. This year is emotionally draining. That is why I won't be watching the game come Saturday. I don't want to see the hurt on the faces of the players and coaches should we fall short of a victory. I don't want to watch the fans file out as if they just attended a funeral. I don't want to see inconstancies of our offense and defense on national TV as announcers talk of the program as if it’s fallen on ill times and left for dead.
Mostly, I don't want to hear how RichRod needs to be fired, or how he's not a Michigan man or a good fit for the university. I’m tired of a few speaking for the masses judging Michigan football by looking back, not forward. I don't want to hear anymore about predetermined terminations or definitive transfers. Sick and tired of it all – of allegations and lame writers with personal vendettas!
And I'm tired of the heartache endured each week.
It's been a long time since we've felt the warmth of an OSU victory. Nothing would be better than to send the seniors off with their first victory over our arch rivals; everyone with Blue blood deserves it.
But this year, I am taking a rest. Instead, I am going hang with some service men and women and cheer for Army as they play North Texas.
November 19th, 2009 at 3:59 PM ^
If you lose, eh, you didn't expect to win.
If you win, you'll never forget it.
The one "risk" here is that we'll get blown out early. As bad as the last two years have been, we've been in every game at halftime.
November 19th, 2009 at 4:00 PM ^
I will be sure to take a picture of the big house for you from the 50 yard line after i rush the field on Saturday.
November 19th, 2009 at 4:04 PM ^
vehemently disagree with you. If you went through last year and watched all the games this year should've been easy. I think all of us are disappointed so don't think you're special in that regard.
The only thing I thought of when I read your post was my father. He is as big of a Tigers fan as there is. My whole life he has watched every game that he could if he wasn't working. I, however, was not.
Before the last couple of seasons the Tigers were a laughing stock and my allegiance went to the RedSox bc of my love for Pedro when I was in 7th grade. This outraged my father but what was he going to do?
Anyway, a few years back I was home for the Summer and the Tigers were in last place and were unbearable to watch. I came home one evening and there was my father, watching the Tigers lose another. I was baffled and for some reason it angered me. So I asked him, "why after all of these years of watching a losing team do you continue to watch and support them"?
I will never forget his answer and it not only showed what kind of person he was but was a great life lesson for me. He said, "This is the team I grew up with. I first met your mother at a Tigers game. If you or your sister faced hard times and needed my help should I turn my back on you two? The ship will be righted one day and when it is I will look back at these times and smile knowing that I was there for good, bad and in between".
The same thing will happen for us and when those good times come the ones who stuck it out will appreciate it more than the ones that didn't. If this team has felt like family to you as it has to me then you owe it to them to watch and cheer. For all of you going I will see you at The Game. Listen to the Uf as I did and your tune will change.
Go Blue!
November 19th, 2009 at 4:53 PM ^
"If you went through last year and watched all the games this year should've been easy. I think all of us are disappointed so don't think you're special in that regard."
I disagree. The losses this year have been harder. Everyone (or at least everyone who was realistic after the first two weeks) knew that last year's team was awful and didn't stand much of a chance in virtually every game. I still watched every game. If we lost it still bothered me, but by the end of the season it bothered me less and less. This year the losses have been a lot harder to take, especially the close ones (MSU, Iowa and Purdue). That's the pain that comes from losing games that you had every chance to win but lost because of essentially one play gone awry. I'm probably not explaining that very well, but it is what it is. I wasn't disappointed last year, but this year is definitely different. However, that still hasn't changed my level of optimism and whether I was going to watch any of the games. I've believed we could win every game this year and I still believe that about Saturday's game.
November 19th, 2009 at 5:08 PM ^
year was harder bc we didn't have a chance in most games and it was over before it began. It's a lot harder to watch an entire game when your team is down the entire time. We've been in most games this year so it has been more enjoyable. Exciting games going to the wire are better than ass whoopins.
November 19th, 2009 at 6:04 PM ^
I agree, but I was more so commenting on the frustration factor. It's more frustrating to me to lose a game that we should have won than to lose a game that we had no chance of winning.
November 19th, 2009 at 6:22 PM ^
I guess my frustration last yr was due in part to all of the hype and how all of my friends were talking about the spread n shred. I was expecting more last year and when it went south the way it did I was extremly disappointed. I was expecting it this year and have been pleasantly suprised with some games.
November 20th, 2009 at 9:36 AM ^
Yeah, as with most everything, perspective makes all the difference.
November 19th, 2009 at 4:06 PM ^
Mary Sue is gonna have one big-ass sour look on her face Saturday night as she faces the deluge of emails and voicemails from apoplectic M fans and wannabe boosters demanding an immediate housecleaning.
November 19th, 2009 at 4:12 PM ^
The "sky is falling" reaction is ridiculous. Yeah, it sucks to no end that Michigan is in a lifetime (for most of us) low but you are living in a fantasy land if you thought that it would never happen. Every program has experienced a lull at some point in the past 20 years. We've been spoiled by Michigan's success and what do you want to do after two down years? Give up on them?
Don't you even think that it is a tad bit ironic that you, a lifelong Michigan fan, are packing it in? This is the time when Michigan needs the support from it's die hard fans and you have decided that you aren't even going to bother watching the OSU game. Man...... if Sparty had fans like you, they would have folded the football program years ago.
November 19th, 2009 at 4:13 PM ^
I can't wait to go back to the Big House this Saturday! I love going to Ann Arbor every gameday when I have tickets to the games. And as a Michigan fan I can't wait to see my first Osu Michigan game! This is the greatest rivalry in the history of sports next to Yankees vs Red Sox! Legends were made in this game, heroes rose to immortal symbols in this game. This game defines the words hate respect and tradition.
It's the rivalry anything can happen! Osu can still lose man they still have to play us to win! And if our players buckle down, have fixed the errors and filled the gaps then damn it we can play with these bastards and beat them too bro! Have some faith dude your team needs you the most this Saturday! This team needs everyone's support! This game for all we know might turn out to be one the of the greatest college football games and one of the biggest upsets of the season. This game isn't just a game it's history. I can't wait to be there this Saturday! GO BLUE!
November 19th, 2009 at 4:20 PM ^
apologize to your pussy when you want to come crawling back and we dont take you back.
November 19th, 2009 at 4:34 PM ^
I am going to watch every second of this game(including the commercials).
Thanks for pulling me out of the dumps.
I love posting!
November 19th, 2009 at 4:40 PM ^
We may be outmanned...hell...we may be outgunned...SO WHAT! LETS GO GET'EM.
November 19th, 2009 at 4:56 PM ^
can all MGoBlog members get some free burgers?
November 19th, 2009 at 4:54 PM ^
If you can't get excited about this game there is something wrong with you!
November 19th, 2009 at 5:04 PM ^
True fans watch every game regardless of whether they expect to win or lose. They certainly do not skip their biggest rivalry.
We are probably going to lose on Saturday. I expect that my Saturday will consist of getting up, walking over to the stadium, yelling and getting pissed off for several hours, and then spending the rest of the day reflecting that I would rather have taken a Physics exam every day rather than have observed such a brutal loss to OSU. But I'm still going to go because being a fan means that you stick with your team even when all they do is crush your hopes and cause you pain.
November 19th, 2009 at 5:50 PM ^
My friend and I are driving 11 hours from Montreal to be at this game, and then driving 11 hours back. You BETTER get excited.
Most likely, we'll be tailgating at the golf course. Look for a dark blue Benz GLK truck with a Quebec licence plate, with Rush blasting through the speakers. That'll be us. We should have beer and other beverages.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZcfnGaX-BdQ
November 19th, 2009 at 6:31 PM ^
I think Michigan can win. I think Michigan will not win.
This game kind of reminds me of the awful feeling of taking an exam that you know you aren't prepared for. You are not looking forward to it and you are expecting the worst.
November 19th, 2009 at 6:35 PM ^
I've read this very long post and thread, and my only reaction is that there are too many negative people who think the sky is falling around here. We can win this game. We might not, but we can, and we couldn't say that with a straight face last year. We're at home and the crowd will be fantastic. We've improved and we have something to play for. That's enough. Go Blue!
November 19th, 2009 at 7:38 PM ^
This post is so ridiculous. That's all I can really say.
I mean I knew there were people out there like this guy and those who agree with him, but what in God's name would possess him to post this here!?
"Um gee, I can't watch Michigan football anymore because we lose. But don't worry, if we win I'll watch it on Tivo and be as excited as the rest of you!"
Sorry pal it doesn't work that way. Like Brian said, loyalty to your team is a personal choice. You can be die-hard forever, or you can be fair-weather and it will taste a little less sweet for you the rest of your life. But hey, the only person who will ever really know what type of fan you are is you.
UNLESS, you post it on MGOBLOG and try to bring everyone else down to your level. Thanks!
November 19th, 2009 at 8:20 PM ^
protect the ball and make stops on defense. sounds simple..but it helps.
November 19th, 2009 at 8:57 PM ^
You deserve you be neg banged to infinity. Why would you even post this? If YOU aren't excited, keep it to yourself because the rest of us are!