One Frame At A Time: Penn State
"I've been thinking a lot about this over the last four, five, six weeks," Harbaugh said after No. 4 Michigan's win. "Because I am the football coach doesn't mean I can dictate to people what they believe. I support our guys. I think this is something, it's not going away, it's gonna keep happening."
Jim Harbaugh didn't know ahead of time about the pregame display of unity and strength by members of the football team, but hearing his postgame comments, it's clear his players have his full support. That became even more important yesterday, when racist propaganda was posted around campus, prompting a denouncement of the fliers from the University and a protest at the Fishbowl.
I know how our readers feel about getting politics mixed with their sports, so I'll keep this brief, though as Harbaugh said, this isn't something that's going away. As a human being, I was horrified to see what appeared on campus yesterday; as a Michigan grad, I could not be more proud of the actions and statements from the players, the support and response from the program, and the swift action taken by many on campus. I hope we can all agree that hate has no home at U-M. For far more nuanced thoughts on this, I strongly encourage you to read these pieces by MTV News's Jane Coaston, a Michigan grad, and SBNation's Spencer Hall.
And now, let's see that ref take a football to the face again.
[Hit THE JUMP for the Penn State game in GIFs.]
As always, click the links/stills to open each GIF in a lightbox, and don't forget to vote for your favorite at the end of the post.
HONORABLE MENTION
Harbaugh sigh of relief.
Harbaugh fist pump.
Harbaugh can't even.
Harbaugh working the JUGS machine.
Harbaugh disputes spot.
Don Brown is mildly peeved.
Don Brown teaching with aggression.
De'Veon Smith TD.
Fake Peppers jet, Smith rampage.
Jourdan Lewis nukes fourth-down screen.
Higdon TD.
Wormley's first-drive sack.
Saquon Barkley's day, basically.
Darboh YAC, part one.
Darboh YAC, part two.
Chris Evans draw.
Delano Hill impressive open-field tackle.
LaVert Hill's late fumble recovery.
Khalid Hill meets pylon cam.
Hill's TD plunge.
McCray interception.
Very effective Peppers blitz.
Perry hurdles cord.
Stribling fade PBU.
Dancing Yip-Yips.
Asiasi touchdown.
McCray/Hurst TFL.
Winovich sack.
10. Jammin'
I haven't featured a MMB GIF yet this year, and I love the way this one comes to life.
9. Quick Burst
I was very impressed viewing this live when I thought Maurice Hurst had simply worked his way around the center. Then BryMac pointed out he'd also looped around the guard.
I be like dang.
Ow. Good thing Jourdan Lewis has a sense of humor.
Big Toe's big hit wasn't the only blow Lewis absorbed on Saturday—he also took some friendly fire celebrating Mike McCray's interception.
Can't blame Peppers for that one.
7. Timing Is Everything
The still is great on its own; the GIF adds another level when Malik Golden sees the scoreboard and, should you choose to interpret it this way, sheepishly puts his hand down.
6. Punt Returns Are Events Now
I mean, good lord, the acceleration by Peppers.
As many people pointed out on Twitter, Devin Bush Jr. laid a thunderous block to clean up pursuit, and another blocker I couldn't identify actually had a two-for-one.
You're going to have a good time with Peppers in the open field and a pile of prone defenders in his wake.
5. Jumpman-Worthy Celebration
Be like Mike, they said.
Mo Hurst listened.
4. Wiltnard Speightinson
This whole sequence is delightful for a host of reasons, not the least of which is Devin Asiasi sending a defensive back into orbit as Speight dives for the sticks.
3. In The Face
Point-first, too. For the second time: ow.
2. Penn State's Offense, The GIF
I could watch this all day. So could Trace McSorley and Mike Gesicki, by the looks of it.
FRAMES OF THE GAME: THIS GUY
Jim Harbaugh's reaction to James Franklin kicking a 21-yard field goal down 28-0—after a timeout, no less—is so pitch-perfect it required two GIFs. Part one:
Part deux:
In a beautiful moment, ESPN's scoreboard chyron changed PSU's score to 3 as James Franklin was writing something in his notebook. Or, perhaps, he was not writing at all. This next GIF, inspired by a chat with Brian—so, you know, blame him for this—is a reference to The Big Lebowski and not safe for both work and those with more delicate sensibilities. What I'm saying is it contains a sketch of a comically oversized penis. You have been forewarned.
It had to be done.
VOTE
September 27th, 2016 at 4:49 PM ^
The other gifs had heart, but football in the face has a football in the face.
September 27th, 2016 at 5:01 PM ^
We can all rally behind GIFs of refs being unexpectedly doinked.
September 27th, 2016 at 6:28 PM ^
Probably can't dodge a wrench either
September 27th, 2016 at 5:15 PM ^
If you can touch it you can catch it!!
September 27th, 2016 at 5:54 PM ^
Give the man his $10,000
September 27th, 2016 at 8:36 PM ^
"This isn't 'America's Funniest Home Videos.'"
September 28th, 2016 at 9:22 AM ^
September 27th, 2016 at 9:01 PM ^
I'm already dead.
September 28th, 2016 at 9:48 AM ^
I put you on the Judge's Committee and you voted for the stupidest movie.
September 28th, 2016 at 2:01 PM ^
"let's just say it moved Harbaugh . . .
... TO THE BIG HOUSE!!!"
September 27th, 2016 at 4:53 PM ^
Harbaugh's utter disgust with Franklin is one of my favorite things ever.
September 27th, 2016 at 5:05 PM ^
"We prepared all week with enthusiasm unknown to mankind for THIS piece of shit?"
September 27th, 2016 at 5:13 PM ^
I shaved my balls for this?
September 27th, 2016 at 8:59 PM ^
Unrequited ball shaving. The epitome of wasting an unpleasant effort with no payoff.
September 27th, 2016 at 5:06 PM ^
I posted that over on Penn Live for them.
September 27th, 2016 at 5:17 PM ^
It's an instant classic. I can see it getting lots of use in future situations.
September 27th, 2016 at 8:26 PM ^
It's almost like he is thinking "You have disrespected the game of football and you are disrespected me. Now I am going to wreck you"
September 28th, 2016 at 8:42 AM ^
I think Drev's expression is even better than Jim's.
September 28th, 2016 at 11:12 AM ^
You can just tell that he is trying to figure what the hell Franklin is doing and coming up empty with an explanation.
September 27th, 2016 at 4:57 PM ^
i like the hand in the air better than kneeling...... and weren't we all cocerned about social issuses in college...????
September 27th, 2016 at 5:06 PM ^
The problem I have with the hand raising and the kneeling is that for 99% of those doing it, that's where it stops.
You want to make a change, do something about it. Too many of these people kneel or raise their hands and then go home like they're expecting someone else to change the world for them.
September 27th, 2016 at 5:15 PM ^
How exactly should these college football players "do something about it"?
September 27th, 2016 at 5:16 PM ^
know what they're doing with the rest of the time? Presumptuous. Whatever our politics, we all start from where we are. Not a ton of college students have had THAT much time to be activists.
Not gonna ask for your resume, but I can tell you that, in any endeavor I've ever been part of, irrespective of politics, people with knowledge and experience welcome newcomers and offer their help.
September 27th, 2016 at 5:18 PM ^
This is a terrible statement. I would put money down that folks that are in protests marches, or kneeling, or with fists in the air take actions in their lives that help promote the issues that matter to them. I've known many, and each is quite active in leading lives that brings the change they want to see in the world.
Dick Smalley. Seems appropriate.
September 27th, 2016 at 6:00 PM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
September 27th, 2016 at 9:08 PM ^
Stop blaming other people for the problems you created.
September 27th, 2016 at 9:42 PM ^
Yeah! Let's stop blaming systemic racism that has prevented black communities from aggregating wealth since the civil war! Its all their fault they were legally forced to accept lower pay and segregated in ghettos untill the late 60's. Its all their fault that the great recession wiped out an extremely disproportionate level of black wealth! Its all their fault that this country has beaten them down for generations!
September 27th, 2016 at 10:35 PM ^
"A good start would be cleaning up your own community."
This is the weakest argument of all and somehow it gets repeated every 3 damn minutes. NEWSFLASH: Criminals commit crimes, mainly against those in close proximity to them. Applies to every race. To assert that you should have to stop them from doing that before you can ask the Police to not behave like them is absurd. The standards are different for some random Joe off the street who may or may not have even graduated high school than they are for Police, as they should be.
We expect criminals to do crime. We expect police to... police. It's not that far fetched.
September 28th, 2016 at 2:22 AM ^
September 28th, 2016 at 9:37 AM ^
Thanks for sharing your views. The answer is dialogue. But it seems to me that monologues are frequently hurled AT the players who are demonstrating peacefully. Like the monologue that was loudly shouted to Michael Rose-Ivey.
I am more moved by our players off-the-field actions than anything they do on the field. These are young men - amateurs! - who are growing and maturing and considering issues that are of much greater importance than football. They have the courage to simply raise an arm in the air because it is the most public display they can make for a cause they and many others, from all races and backgrounds, believe in. It's their method of asking for dialogue. And they take that risk knowing full well that individuals like yourself who live in a totally different reality, and who purport to call themselves University of Michigan fans/alums, are going to attempt to deligitimize and dehumanize them. I am proud to support them, I am proud Coach Harbaugh supports them, and I have never been more proud to call myself a UM alum.
September 28th, 2016 at 8:37 AM ^
Ok, now it makes sense. You simply don't know what you're talking about. Not complying is not a death sentence nor is it the only reason one can have a negative encounter with police but you can keep pretending that it is, that's fine. Least you could do, though, as a fan of a program with many young black men who grew up with their fathers in place, is stop spreading the nonsense that is "the absent black parents" bs. It's been debunked years ago and frankly it's just not a good attempt at deflecting. Talking about a completely separate and unrelated issue isn't going to change the root of this one. FYI:
"While it is true that black parents are less likely to marry before a child is born, it is not true that black fathers suffer a pathology of neglect. In fact, a C.D.C. report issued in December 2013 found that black fathers were the most involved with their children daily, on a number of measures, of any other group of fathers — and in many cases, that was among fathers who didn’t live with their children, as well as those who did."
I even included a link for you so that knowledge is simply a click away.
September 28th, 2016 at 8:42 AM ^
September 28th, 2016 at 8:50 AM ^
There have been several. Charles Kinsey was quite literally laying on the ground with his hands up when he was shot. Lateef Dickerson was on all fours when the officer damn near kicked his head off. Either way, you're missing the point. Disobeying commands is not a capital offense. You apprehend them and add resisting arrest to their charges. Why is that so hard to grasp? They cant just off you because you didnt do what they said. That's not how the law works.
September 28th, 2016 at 8:57 AM ^
September 28th, 2016 at 9:15 AM ^
Yes, but how many mistakes would it take before you finally said "ok, there's an issue"? I dont know how old you are, but I'm guessing you've lived through many of those "mistakes" if you're at least 30. Id also guess that you understand how not punishing those mistakes opens the door for others to abuse their ability to make those mistakes more often.
I do understand that most encounters don't end up with a dead person. Of course thats not a story, why would it be? That's called doing your job properly. Most people don't end up on the news for doing their jobs unless something goes terribly wrong. But because it goes well most of the time, we should ignore or care less about the ones that don't, no matter how often it happens? That's like saying since a priest has had thousands of encounters with children he didnt molest, we should have no gripe with the 10% he did.
September 28th, 2016 at 9:24 AM ^
September 28th, 2016 at 9:38 AM ^
Split second decisions? Yes. Life or death? No. However, that's the job, man. They knew that before signing up. You can't play the sympathy card for what you were signing up to do. I'll be the first to admit it's a tough job and I personally wouldnt do it. But if you choose to, then you're choosing to handle your nerves and do it right. The Presidency is a tough job but nobody is going to make excuses for him when he makes poor choices. He knew what he was signing up for and it's his responsibility to do it right.
September 28th, 2016 at 9:51 AM ^
kids get left in hot cars for long times and don't die, but we only focus on the times they do. It doesn't make it right.
There are many police forces that do recognize there is a rif between them and the populace they are responsible for. Some have taken active rolls to help humanize both them and the people they serve to help heal that relationship. One of the best stories is this one, where the police force threw a BBQ for the black lives matter movement.
It was a wonderful show of understanding by some great people, and how a civil discussion can happen on tough matters. I do agree that these stories should be just as prominent as the others. I do see and read a lot of articles about police forces and officers going above and beyond what they need to do. If your point was that we need to show the many good jobs that the police do, then I am completely in favor of that. People doing good things doesn't always get the recognition it should.
September 28th, 2016 at 10:10 AM ^
I've also read good things about Dallas PD. Just need the right people in place to get the ball rolling.
http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2016/07/dallas-police/490583/
September 28th, 2016 at 9:41 AM ^
The students on the football field put in a lot of time sacrificing their bodies and time in exchange for an education. They also make others a lot of money while doing so. In addition to the education, they are given a platform from which to speak and be role models. I don't understand why so many people have a problem with them using that platform to help solve an issue that they see and have probably had to deal with. They aren't swearing or causing a scene. they are merely providing a silent statement that has increased the amount of discussion nation wide. Who thought that Jim would be have to answer questions about this mid season? It's because the movement is working to open discussions on the topic. Recognizing an issue is the first step to solving an issue.
This is why there are so many cancer awareness efforts out there. For a long time, cancer was a dirty word, that wasn't mentioned, and cancer treatment progress was slow. By creating an awareness, these players are doing their part. And anyone thinks that they aren't risking anything by doing so, and are not brave, has not read any of the negative feedback that many of these players have had to deal with in the aftermath. I'm very suprised to see many of the responses on this board, but then I really shouldn't, which is a shame.
September 27th, 2016 at 5:25 PM ^
Someone doing this on national TV has a lot more impact than you think. It keeps the issue in the national conversation.
September 27th, 2016 at 5:58 PM ^
How many would do that in the stands, where people will forget who you are by the final whistle or strike? You might get harrassed during the game, but that would be it. Kids, like the one at Nebraska have to deal with idiots harassing them online.
September 27th, 2016 at 6:18 PM ^
"Harassing" = telling him he should be hanged before the game. Lynching as public spectacle.
There's some sick shit going on in this country right now. I imagine people with these thoughts have always been there, but it's closer to the surface than I can remember it.
September 27th, 2016 at 7:24 PM ^
September 27th, 2016 at 8:21 PM ^
Look at us, talking about it.
Look at the national media, talking about it.
Look at our country, talking about it.
Instead of ignoring the questions of systematic inequality and inherent racism endemic to this country, we're actually talking about it. And it's because football players are kneeling, putting up fists, and discussing their experiences as minorities in America.
So, yes, they're successful here.
September 27th, 2016 at 9:11 PM ^
Keith Lamont Scott
He had been convicted of assault with a deadly weapon in two different states and convicted of assault in three states. He had been hit with “assault with intent to kill” charges in the 90s. His record of virtue included “assault on a child under 12” and “assault on a female.
The media spin; “Family and neighbors call Scott a quiet ‘family man.’”
Nothing says “quiet” like “assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill” and nothing says “family man” like assaulting women and children.
Keith Lamont Scott, the latest martyr of Black Lives Matter and its media propaganda corps, was shot while waving a gun around. He had spent 7 years in jail for “aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.”
September 27th, 2016 at 9:29 PM ^
Thank you. I also see the whole "no politcs" rule is slowly withering away on this blog. As long as the comments fall in line with the political views of the people who run the blog, no one bats an eye.
September 28th, 2016 at 9:02 AM ^
I think the mods try to let us have a discussion about major social issues that have ties to sports, as long as the discussions remain civil. I used to think the political leaning was allowed by the mods, but I think it's more an indication of the majority of MGoBloggers' views.
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