One Frame At A Time: Penn State Comment Count

Ace

"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.

8. Business Decision

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.

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Comments

Wee-Bey Brice

September 28th, 2016 at 8:19 AM ^

Cute. I never suggested they shouldnt protect themselves. What I have suggested is that they should A) attempt to de-escalate a situation B) be patient enough in those efforts to wait until they can actually verify a gun/threat exists at all, which has repeatedly not been the case. If that's revolutionary then....

The idea of "he mightve been doing ABC but we couldnt be sure so we eliminated the possibility" doesnt work for me the way it works for you. Refusing to follow commands is not a capital offense. 

 

The Oracle

September 28th, 2016 at 8:35 AM ^

How many times in Charlotte did they attempt to get an armed man to put down his gun? You seem to admit the police have the right to protect themselves, but do you condone the rioting that occurred when they did? Cops do make mistakes, and sometimes make poor decisions under stress, but in the minds of most protestors they are wrong every time, no matter what. That viewpoint doesn't allow for much of a dialogue.

Wee-Bey Brice

September 28th, 2016 at 9:04 AM ^

You're all over the place. When did I ever mention condoning riots? 

"Cops do make mistakes, and sometimes make poor decisions under stress, but in the minds of most protestors they are wrong every time, no matter what."

A mistake is forgetting your lunch at home or maybe even running over somebody's foot. Ending a life doesn't fall under that category for me. 

You need to understand that protestors are not a monolith. There are many different views and opinions within. There are extremists as there are in any group and just like you say there are protestors who say cops are wrong everytime, there are supporters who say they're right every time. We can all play that game. But that still doesn't change the fact that we have enough data to know there is a larger issue. 

6tyrone6

September 28th, 2016 at 12:22 AM ^

gun" 15 times. I don't know, I am white and I think if I had a gun in my hand and a white or black cop was yelling at me to drop the gun, I would either drop it or totally expect to be shot to pieces. What is wrong with people? Yes they have his illegally purchased stolen weapon with his finger prints on it and the theif who stole the gun confirms selling it to him.

Is there anyone in the rational world who would think this could turn out any other way even if the guy was white? I know there is racism, and I don't like that. The reason race relations are as bad as it has been in 40 years is because we have leaders, who hint that there is systemic racism in the police force and media that even in this case says "another black man killed by cops". Then weeks later we realize the headline should have read, "black man with record refuses lawful order by back police officer who warned him 15 times before he shot, why did he wait so long?"

The majority of white people are not racist, maybe we aren't able to relate to others situation experiences etc...those people that say racist things to the Nebraska player should be caught and publically humiliated if they cannot be arrested. I  posted before I have black people in my fanily that are taught to hate cops, I believe that is a bad precedant, I think the media and the current leadership are fostering this belief as wel and making the divide wider.

pescadero

September 28th, 2016 at 9:08 AM ^

"So they only shot a man who pointed a gun in their direction because of implicit bias?"

 

No.

They're MORE LIKELY to shoot a black man who points a gun in their direction MORE QUICKLY.

 

"Do you seriously believe that the result would have been different if the man holding the gun had been white?"

Final result, impossible to say. The proceeding to get to a final result? Almost certainly.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKGZnB41_e4

 

6tyrone6

September 28th, 2016 at 11:46 AM ^

saying is a white cop would have shot after 10 warnings whereas the black cop with less implicit bias waited  until the 15th warning. If you really want to make a difference and save black lives as I do, instead of somehow supporting criminals who disobey a lawful order by a officer of the law, we should make it clear that the vast majority of cops are not acting out of racism but are actually trying to enforce the law of the land and keep the public safe. If the media and current leadership would come out and say this, which is statistically overwhelming true, then lives will be saved. Why? Because if you are raised to hate cops and the media, Kaepernick and protestors are saying what you believe to be true, the next time you are stopped by police for speeding, maybe you are so pissed by your brainwashing that you disobey orders, throw a punch or go for the gun, see over 80% of recent shootings being protested. I do not think had the NC man dropped the gun and raised his hands he would have been shot. All that being said yes cops have made mistakes we could argue why, yes cops need more training etc...

pescadero

September 28th, 2016 at 12:59 PM ^

"You are right I don't get the difference. I think what you are saying is a white cop would have shot after 10 warnings whereas the black cop with less implicit bias waited  until the 15th warning."
 
No.
 
Both a black cop and a white cop (on average) are going to shoot a black suspect quicker than a white suspect.
 
 
"An implicit bias is one that occurs outside of conscious awareness and control. Even if you say that men and women are equally good at math, it is possible that you associate math with men without knowing it."
 
 
"we should make it clear that the vast majority of cops are not acting out of racism"
 
The vast majority of cops aren't acting out of racism - but the vast majority of people (cops or otherwise) are effected by implicit (unconscious and generally unknown) biases. Those biases effect the statistical likelihood of a number of things, even without anyone engaging in explicit racism.
 
Take an implicit bias test -
 
"Results from this website consistently show that members of stigmatized groups (Black people, gay people, older people) tend to have more positive implicit attitudes toward their groups than do people who are not in the group, but that there is still a moderate preference for the more socially valued group. So gay people tend to show an implicit preference for straight people relative to gay people, but it is not as strong as the implicit preference shown by straight people."
 

6tyrone6

September 28th, 2016 at 1:50 PM ^

why if I was raising African American children I would say obey cops orders, just as I do with my kids. Just another reason why I say the media, the leadership and Kaepernick are not helping if they are fanning flames. More people will over react and more people will be killed. I think we all know there is bias, just like graviity, makes no difference. If I know there is a bias instead of feeding into it and figting walk away. I think the media needs to show videos of the white people killed by cops, more white people are killed by cops, yes percentage wise young black men are killed way more often and crime statistics show that young black men in general commit more crimes. Societal issues. My point is all we see if black people shot by police, some with guns in their hands!, we see no white people so this false narrative continues. When a white guy is shot by police, me as a white guy thinks it was a guy who deserved it, ie criminal, when a black guys gets shot, we are being trained by media headlines and leadership that it was a racist cop. That can only make thngs worse.

pescadero

September 28th, 2016 at 2:33 PM ^

Ignoring the problem won't solve it, and it's a problem which needs to be solved.

 

"yes percentage wise young black men are killed way more often and crime statistics show that young black men in general commit more crimes."

 

Yes - and statistics show the killing is even out of proportion when adjusted for that.

 

"When a white guy is shot by police, me as a white guy thinks it was a guy who deserved it, ie criminal, when a black guys gets shot, we are being trained by media headlines and leadership that it was a racist cop. That can only make thngs worse."

 

In general - cops in the USA shoot too many people, period.

Being a criminal, no matter how bad, doesn't mean you deserve to be shot. Even if you've killed 100 people, if the cops (or civilians) aren't in imminent danger - their job is to arrest and let the judicial system exact punishment.

I keep seeing "but he had record ten miles long" as though that somehow has bearing on a situation. It doesn't.

Credit812

September 28th, 2016 at 10:37 AM ^

our awareness of those problems has changed.  

Anyone who grew up in a largly african american community knows that unequal treatment of people of color by law enforcement is not a new phenomenon.  Remember Rodney King? Remember the Detroit Riots of 67?  The Watts riots of 65?  There have been countless cases of publicized police brutality over the last 60 years or so.  Driving While Black has been around for decades.  You can argue about one particular case or another, but the data is pretty clear, african-american men are shot by police at a rate far greater than their percentage of the population would suggest.  That's a societal problem

The idea that attitudes about racial relations are somehow manipulated by the media or by politicians is incredibly insulting to the people of color who are the victims of that bias.  You think the protesters are so stupid that they have to be told that they are being discriminated against?  How condescending.  Do you think the members of your family were "taught to hate cops", or do you think they formed their own opinion based on their interactions with law enforcement?  

No, what's changed is that with the change in technology, white america has begun to see the reality that african-americans, and other people of color have had to deal with decades (or more).  

6tyrone6

September 28th, 2016 at 12:44 PM ^

ago. And the boys in my family are 8 and 12 they haven't had any direct involvement with police they are taught by their mom to mistrust and hate cops. Maybe this is the difference between the 1960's and now, then a black criminal  with a gun could be shot by police and the headline clearly said that, and no one protested, now the headlines are clearly different and clearly missleading and riots insue. The NC incident is clear and yet the media and current politicians fan the flames.

As far as the societal problem you state that African American men are shot at a higher rate than white as a percentage of population, they are also arrested for crimes at a higher rate and have more encounters with police because of these statistics. I am saying if these encounters are dealt with by both sides differently there could be less shootings.

pescadero

September 28th, 2016 at 1:03 PM ^

"As far as the societal problem you state that African American men are shot at a higher rate than white as a percentage of population, they are also arrested for crimes at a higher rate and have more encounters with police because of these statistics."

 

Blacks, Native Americans, and Hispanics are shot at a higher rate than white EVEN when you adjust for encounter frequencies and crime rates.

pescadero

September 28th, 2016 at 1:01 PM ^

" You can argue about one particular case or another, but the data is pretty clear, african-american men are shot by police at a rate far greater than their percentage of the population would suggest.  That's a societal problem"

 

...and even if we don't talk about cops: African-Americans with identical qualifications have a significantly more difficult time getting insurance, jobs, housing, loans,  etc.

 

It's a societal bias problem.

74polSKA

September 28th, 2016 at 9:17 AM ^

My experience with trying to "talk about it" is that most of the time people just end up angry at the end and neither side has changed their mind. This issue has so many variables that most people are right about their take on some level. One problem is that we feel the need to pick a "side". Why can't we support police and still be outraged when an officer shoots someone without cause? Why can't we support minority rights and still be outraged when a group selects bogus cases as examples of how their group has been wronged? The biggest issue is fear and isolation. Citizens fearing the police. Police fearing citizens. People fearing each other. We surround ourselves with people who think like us so that we can feel empowered by our united opinion. This either isolates us from concern for people outside our social circles or makes us impotent to enact real change because we don't have relationships with actual people that we could help with our concern. I think there's an answer, but it would be bringing in another taboo topic for this board!

Edit: something wonky happened while I was typing. I did not mean to respond to this post.

Wee-Bey Brice

September 28th, 2016 at 9:32 AM ^

Everybody's viewpoint is shaped by their experiences. I, for one, have had several of each. Im fairly unassuming and i've met some cops who were way cooler than they needed to be, also met some that were gigantic assholes for no reason. I don't own a gun, don't look like I gangbang, don't have a record. So if you can be an asshole to me, you can be one to anybody. That changes your viewpoint. Hell, last time I was in Detroit I sat and watched some be gigantic assholes to someone else for no reason. So, in my case, im more prone to believe that a cop was abusing his power than someone who has never had those experiences. If you've never seen an officer agitate a situation just because they can then you'll find that hard to believe. Problem is people can't fathom things that don't apply to them. It's not just about police relations either, i've noticed that about people in general. When it comes to policing, i think people also tend to stick with their political affiliations stance on the matter. 

74polSKA

September 28th, 2016 at 11:13 AM ^

Experience definitely shapes our opinions of past events and expectations for future posibilities. I also agree that this isn't just a police issue but something that happens on all levels of our lives. My challenge is to live by a set of standards and values and conduct myself in a way that holds true no matter what circumstances I experience.

iceman88

September 27th, 2016 at 5:13 PM ^

As a vet, I really don't mind either one.  It's not like are desecrating the flag or anything of the sort.  A lot of times, college students catch a lot of heat for being really involved with social issues.  College is definitely a time where a lot of young students can really find out a lot about themselves and it is good that they can take a stand against something.  Now as others have pointed out, more has to be done to reall make an impact.

I am very happy & proud that Harabaugh is publicly supporting them as well

Rabbit21

September 27th, 2016 at 5:26 PM ^

I'll worry about it if it becomes an issue with team cohesion, until then I don't really care.  I would prefer the protests took another form as I think they are painting with too broad of a brush, but I get the desire to use a public forum and that there really isn't another forum available to the team that would have the same visual impact.  As long as it is left up to the players whether they do fists in the air or hands over their heart and there isn't pressure put on individual decisions one way or the other, I think it's fine.  

Hail Harbo

September 27th, 2016 at 5:56 PM ^

When I put on the uniform we were all the same color and swore the same oath.  Moreover, we didn't have different salutes for blacks, whites, Mexicans, Puerto Ricans, Guamanians, and Filipinos.  The greatest problem our nation faces is the continued Balkanization of the different groups, a Balkanization that is not merely condoned, but encouraged by the powers that be.

SalvatoreQuattro

September 27th, 2016 at 6:09 PM ^

I am pretty confident in that. We are too lacking in shared values and beliefs, mutual hostility and distrust, vastly different experiences...I see the country eventually splitting into two countries like Ireland/Northern Ireland or as one country with automonous regions like what Spain has. The blame for this goes all the way to the 1650s and the development of race-based slavery. The creation of the concept of race and racism is the original sin that will eventually tear this country asunder.

enlightenedbum

September 27th, 2016 at 6:25 PM ^

The country survived an actual extremely bloody civil war over race based slavery.  It can survive the transition to a plurality white country instead of a majority one.

What I'm concerned it cannot surive is a political press dumber and less numerically literate than the sports press was ten years ago.  The focus on theater and not substance drives me insane, and I think that is also a non-partisan sentiment?

Yinka Double Dare

September 27th, 2016 at 6:51 PM ^

The problem is when they do focus on substance, partisans whine and complain about bias. Of course, sometimes the facts are biased against one position because that position is wrong.

This, combined with the internet (it wasn't always this bad with just cable) has led to a balkanization of news sources geared to specific audiences and many just read sources that tell them that they're right regardless of what is actually going on.

SalvatoreQuattro

September 27th, 2016 at 7:02 PM ^

Only by destroying the rights of black folks. You neglect to mention that most important fact. Unity came because white folks decide to sacrifice the rights of black folks for the sake of national unity. If the North had actually pursued a just Reconstruction the division between white would have remained.

What is happening now are some whites are fearful and angry at the loss of their cultural and political supremacy.The division here is in fact greater than after the Civil War because there is no commonality(whiteness in the case of post-war South) to surmount the political and cultural differences.

There is a mass of armed, angry, and fearful white people in this country. Hillary called them the "deplorables". I call them the unreconciled.Either way, they are a dangerous element within the body politic.



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Hail-Storm

September 28th, 2016 at 12:03 PM ^

Yes, there are many armed militias, but they are spread across the US.  There is no clear cultural, religous, or race split that would be possible.  Communities can be segregated, with majorities of like people, but these are surrounded by other diverse communities.

The best chance this country had to split was during the civil war, where a cler geographical line was drawn between two bodies that were fighting over one specific topic.  

The UP has been trying to be it's own state for years and can't come close to makig it happen.  I don't see the country splitting up in any way possible. 

jmblue

September 27th, 2016 at 7:56 PM ^

 

It can survive the transition to a plurality white country instead of a majority one.

FWIW, the white American population actually is not projected to lose its majority at all. It's the non-Hispanic white population that is.  These two groups are often mistakenly treated as one and the same.

jmblue

September 27th, 2016 at 9:44 PM ^

Well, I don't know what texts you studied, but the declarations of secession made by the Southern states mention slavery as a primary cause.  Have a look at these if you haven't seen them before.  Here's an excerpt from Mississippi's:

Our position is thoroughly identified with the institution of slavery-- the greatest material interest of the world. Its labor supplies the product which constitutes by far the largest and most important portions of commerce of the earth. These products are peculiar to the climate verging on the tropical regions, and by an imperious law of nature, none but the black race can bear exposure to the tropical sun. These products have become necessities of the world, and a blow at slavery is a blow at commerce and civilization. That blow has been long aimed at the institution, and was at the point of reaching its consummation. There was no choice left us but submission to the mandates of abolition, or a dissolution of the Union, whose principles had been subverted to work out our ruin. That we do not overstate the dangers to our institution, a reference to a few facts will sufficiently prove.

Gulogulo37

September 28th, 2016 at 4:36 AM ^

Even when it was about a state's rights on other matters like tariffs, it was about slavery. The North wanted tariffs to protect industry, but the South wanted very low tariffs in large part to sell cotton abroad. How was that cotton grown and produced? Oh, right...

And guys, trust me, I have a BA in History also. Doesn't really get more authoritative than that. Please don't check into things yourselves.

Snowbro

September 27th, 2016 at 6:36 PM ^

So the pain and fragmentation caused by slavery will finally have an impact strong enough, within some 100 years, to finally drive the country apart? And yet an actual civil war could not? And yet Jim Crow could not? And yet segregation, race riots, etc. could not?

That doesn't make sense at all. The disconnect between our "shared values and beliefs", the "mutual hostility and distrust" and the "vastly different experiences" have not changed from this country was started, and perhaps have lessened. What you're seeing today, though, is an inability for a white majority to hide within its own comforts while avoiding those difficult realities, thanks to the widespread availability of cameras (smartphones) and an omnipresent platform on which to share those experiences (social media). You're being forced to publically confront these issues; it's not that these issues are new.

SalvatoreQuattro

September 27th, 2016 at 6:47 PM ^

It makes sense when white see their way of life changing. When they see what they cherish changing. While many will accept it, there is a certain segment that will never be reconciled to this changing America. It is my belief that this segment will in time resort to violence to achieve independence and this time there will be no Lincoln or Stanton to stand in their way. What the Fire-Eaters failed to do 150 years ago white nationalists will achieve because modern America has no stomach for the violence that will be required to put down an insurrection.


Loss of power and cultural dominance are powerful motivations for revolt. If you look at the gun fetish, the fear and loathing of the government, and now the rise of of aggressively racist trolling it should start to become obvious that the far right is an emerging threat to the United States.



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schreibee

September 28th, 2016 at 3:29 PM ^

Well, when I fly oer this land of ours I see vast unoccupied swaths of territory - if armed, segregationist militant reactionary racist militia want to split off and form their own society, seems like there's plenty of space out there. 

I live in CA, in the Bay Area no less - I'm OK with ceding land to these people in states that are overwhelmingly red already - Utah, Idaho, the Dakotas...

Not a bullet needs be fired, they can have it as far as I'm concerned.

THEN, with them out of the voting pool, the rest of us can effect REAL gun control, REAL Health Care reform, get that 9th Supreme Court Justice...the list is pretty much endless.

SalvatoreQuattro

September 27th, 2016 at 6:53 PM ^

A couple of flaws in your post. Firstly, the civil war was the act of a country tearing itself apart. It took extreme levels of violence to prevent the country from dissolving. I don't know if you understand what the Civil War was. Jim Crow and Segregation were the oppression of a powerless minorities. The legacy of which add to the current bitterness I am referring. White dominance made any overt acts of rebellion inert. You cannot compare oppressed minority to a minority within a larger block that has known cultural and political dominance. The two are in no way comparable.



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bronxblue

September 27th, 2016 at 8:47 PM ^

"Other"-ism has literally existed since the first time two different groups of people ran into each other.  It will not tear a nationa apart unless close-minded people allow it (not claiming you are), and I have faith in general human decency that it won't be the case in America.  And all this talk of lack of "shared values" rings far more loudly as "values I agree with".  

Regardless, the fact college athletes displayed their feelings on an issue important and deeply applicable to themselves is good and we should encourage more of it.