Letter to fans from Jim Hackett
Link for larger image: https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CRnSxwsWwAA_um_.png:large
October 18th, 2015 at 1:01 PM ^
Wow. Just Wow. Great letter from Hackett. It should never come to this.
October 18th, 2015 at 1:07 PM ^
however, sad that it's even necessary.
October 18th, 2015 at 1:25 PM ^
Agreed. Shocked this is remotely necessary. That said, I think the letter is very, very, well written.
I'm assuming the player in question is the punter, which is ridiculous: he was having a GREAT game before that. Had the longest punt among FBS schools this season so far IIRC, in fact! He got a bad snap, and he tried to do too much because he was doing well so far. And had a bad moment. The team put him in that unfair position. The same team that put him in the position for the 80+ yard punt. This team came as close as you can get to winning without winning. Michigan State had the lead for exactly 0 minutes and 0 seconds of game time, in fact.
To pick on that poor kid is unfair and destructive. He's a GREAT punter, and to get into his head is not just mean-spirited and not consistent with Michigan, it's just plain stupid and self-destructive as well.
October 18th, 2015 at 2:35 PM ^
October 19th, 2015 at 12:22 PM ^
And I have a strong suspicion some are from Sparty fans.
October 18th, 2015 at 1:11 PM ^
We need to all be mindful of this school is and isn't about. And Mr. Hackett's message clearly says what this team, program and school are all abour: winning with respect and doing it the right way. Those who make hateful and spiteful comments and do so anonymously to a person via social media are ignorant cowards, and don't understand what competition is all about.
October 18th, 2015 at 3:30 PM ^
While I found this to be a terrific letter, I was astounded and saddenned that he felt the need to compose it.
Few lay people probably take Michigan football more seriously than I, but, people, it IS a game. It can be a pleasant diversion from the rigors of real life, or, in this case, a source of heartbreak.
In this case, I'm sure no one feels worse than Blake, himself. Yet the outcome could have been different had other players made some plays or if the coaches had made different decisions before that fateful final snap.
Ridicule? Death threats? Are you kidding me? Get a grip!
It's just so easy to post anonymously in this day and age ... and say something that you would never say if your name needed to be attached or say if you had to do so in person - particularly to the face of the target person.
October 18th, 2015 at 1:01 PM ^
October 18th, 2015 at 1:02 PM ^
Maybe we should follow our leaders on this one. Well written piece.
October 18th, 2015 at 1:05 PM ^
A year ago the AD was telling people to find a new team and have a happy life while we we won 5 out of 12 games.
A year later, the interim AD is standing behind the team and telling people to support the players after a miracle fluke loss to a top-10 team. Michigan has won 5 out of 7 games played this year.
What a difference a year makes.
October 18th, 2015 at 1:35 PM ^
October 18th, 2015 at 3:09 PM ^
October 18th, 2015 at 1:05 PM ^
Great letter. Thanks Mr. Hackett for leading our Athletics Dept. with dignity and class.
Thanks also for not using this opportunity to push a 50% off Michigan Stadium concessions coupon for the upcoming Rutgers game.
October 18th, 2015 at 1:56 PM ^
October 18th, 2015 at 1:07 PM ^
my God I just got chills reading that letter.
October 18th, 2015 at 1:07 PM ^
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October 18th, 2015 at 1:10 PM ^
October 18th, 2015 at 1:11 PM ^
Well, that was booze does in games like this. Some of them are real jerks, especially when they are drunk. Your Dad is more of a Wolverine than those jerks.
October 18th, 2015 at 1:24 PM ^
A person's true character often comes out when drinking. Hopefully karma was alive and well last night for that foolish person.
October 18th, 2015 at 3:23 PM ^
October 18th, 2015 at 3:23 PM ^
October 18th, 2015 at 4:36 PM ^
a lot of other stuff comes out of a person when they are drinking besides character
October 18th, 2015 at 1:14 PM ^
This behavior and attitude sucks beyond comprehension. I hate that student with all the hatred I can muster today (much hatred was spent on the game yesterday). Tell your father that this Michigan alum is thankful for his support.
October 18th, 2015 at 1:15 PM ^
Is there a worse joke than Wal mart Wolverine? I'd say the majority of all fanbases actually didn't attend the school they root for. It's one thing when it comes from MSU fans because it's just a childish insult that rivals use, but our own blood saying it... geez.
October 18th, 2015 at 1:22 PM ^
It's more of a compliment if you think about it. For one, it shows that they're jealous that zero people care about them outside the border of MI.
There are very few people who didn't go to state that are fans of theirs. Outside of MI, they're non-existent.
Darren Rovell, who I do not care for, has a great quote on this dynamic-
“Michigan is a top-five program internationally,” Rovell said. “If I’m walking in New York City and I see a Michigan State hat, I guarantee he or she went to Michigan State. If I’m walking in New York City and I see a Michigan hat, I’m not so sure — that’s the difference. Michigan is a brand that people buy because it’s Michigan or they know someone who went to Michigan. It’s not the same with Michigan State.”
October 18th, 2015 at 1:15 PM ^
with the whole "Walmart Wolverine" label. Paging Sylvester McMonkey McBain
October 18th, 2015 at 1:15 PM ^
October 18th, 2015 at 1:27 PM ^
Was he ordering the "Bacon & Jalapeno Mac And Cheese", perchance?
October 18th, 2015 at 2:12 PM ^
Bacon Jalapeno mac and cheese does sound great, and probably better after 5 or 10 ice cold beech wood aged budweisers.
October 18th, 2015 at 1:34 PM ^
has to hear that crap. Just like that "If you are not a Michigan grad you are a peasant" sign I saw yesterday during College Gameday - absolutely classless.
October 18th, 2015 at 1:49 PM ^
October 18th, 2015 at 2:15 PM ^
But who bays there gear at Walmart? It is Michigan and we shop at Meijers, signed all us poor misguided masses.
October 18th, 2015 at 2:17 PM ^
Being a Michigan man or woman has NOTHING to do with pedigree. It has EVERYTHING to do with the condition of ones heart. When you become a Michigan man or woman it's because you tied your heart and spirit to and out of love for the University and what it represents!!!
Your father is more of a Michigan man than 1,000 graduates who would make a comment like that.
October 19th, 2015 at 8:35 AM ^
My Dad is from upstate New York. He graduated from Georgetown in the late '60s. Growing up, he was a fan of the Yankees and (football) Giants. College atheletics weren't really on his radar, because he simply didn't have a local team of any prominence.
In the early '70s, he moved to Ann Arbor. He showed up right in the middle of the Ten Year War. All of his acquaintances in the area, all of the friends he made, themselves die hard sports fans like my father, were naturally Michigan fans, many of them also naturally alumni. He experienced Michigan football as Bob Ufer and Bo Schembechler. My Dad is a passionate guy, and it didn't take long at all for him to be swept up in it and become a Michigan fan.
That's what I was born into. Some of my earliest memories are of my mother (a Michigan alumna) taking my brother and me to watch the Michigan Marching Band practice. I remember gathering with friends to watch Michigan in the Rose Bowl. I remember being incensed that Desmond Howard was blatantly tackled in the endzone, but no interference was called. I remember Tim Biakabutuka dismantling Ohio State.
I remember being immersed in Michigan fandom, and feeling that passion my Dad, even moreso than my Mom, had for Michigan. I asked my Dad a few years ago what he'd do it Michigan ever played Georgetown in the NCAA tournament, and the answer wasn't at all surprising: he'd root for Michigan, and wouldn't think about it for a second. Converts are sometimes the truest believers.
I got lucky. I wanted to study Computer Science, and I desperately wanted to attend the University of Michigan. That Michigan is an excellent CS school was a stroke of good fortune. It's the only school I ever applied to, and the only school I ever considered attending. It took me three tries (don't slack off in high school, kids, it matters!), but I was eventually admitted to the University of Michigan and graduated in 2005 with a Bachelors of Computer Science. If it weren't for my Dad's passion for Michigan, it's unlikely it would have turned out this way.
Anyone who says my Dad isn't a real Michigan fan is an ignorant jackass of truly shameful proportions. Guys like my Dad and your Dad are the guys who are raising the next generation of Michigan die hards. They're the guys who raise kids who spend their entire childhood with one dream: to attend Michigan. They're the guys who make Michigan fandom special, guys whose love for the University is a pure love, a love not of any obligation to an alma mater, but a love of something good and great for its own sake.
When I was preparing to attend Michigan, I had a conversation with another woman who was taking the placement test for French. She mentioned that her whole family were Michigan fans, but she was the first person in her family to attend Michigan. They were so proud of her, and she was proud of herself. And rightly so.
I salute your Dad for his decades of Michigan fandom. It's guys like him, and families like this woman's, that give Michigan that special status for so many of us from such an early age. GO BLUE!
October 18th, 2015 at 1:09 PM ^
October 18th, 2015 at 1:09 PM ^
Damn right.
October 18th, 2015 at 1:10 PM ^
There is great leadership at the University of Michigan.
October 18th, 2015 at 1:10 PM ^
Some members of this fanbase need to be called out.
October 18th, 2015 at 1:11 PM ^
It also shows that leadership is paying attention to important matters on the ground!!
I'm going to apply that technique as a manager.
October 18th, 2015 at 1:12 PM ^
I pray for the team and Blake. Sports can be cruel enough with out all of the garbage heaped on in addition. No one wanted to make the right play more than the kid(s) that practice their guts out for this team.
They'll be fine, if we let them.
October 18th, 2015 at 1:13 PM ^
Now, can we just focus on beating Minnesota???
October 18th, 2015 at 1:13 PM ^
from games.
Blake and the center made a mistake. It happens. They are human. Attacking them is beyond the pale of acceptability and a clear violation of the fan code.
October 18th, 2015 at 1:28 PM ^
October 18th, 2015 at 1:41 PM ^
to blame anyone? Both teams played their guts out. That was a rough game. Every play was a multi-car accident.
Meanwhile, I sat on a recliner, drinking rum & coke. And now I guess my role is to figure out how to evenly distribute blame? What a life.
October 18th, 2015 at 1:14 PM ^
Can't imagine what Blake is going through right now, especially as he is only 7 games into being a part of the Michigan community. He needs everyone's support not their threats. Great letter by Hackett, but like noted above, terrible it was even necessary.
October 18th, 2015 at 1:14 PM ^
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October 18th, 2015 at 1:24 PM ^
Your avatar does show true class...............
October 18th, 2015 at 1:22 PM ^
October 18th, 2015 at 1:23 PM ^
1. I am heart broken for the TEAM!
2. I am heart broken for the Coaches!
3. I am heart broken for the Fans!
Go Blue!
October 18th, 2015 at 1:25 PM ^
Who the fuck is making these comments anyways? Can someone out them so we can just take em behind the woodshed and deal with them already?