The Fans

Submitted by Supa Hot Fire on

First of all, I would like to say that this collapse in no way falls on the fans. It is completely on the players and even moreso, the coaches. However, as a fan at the game, I noticed a significant difference in the energy of our fans versus South Carolina's fans.

We had a significantly greater number of fans at the game. When we were up 19-3 they were still much louder. Their fans stood the entire game when our's sat. When we scored the cheers were half hearted, while the South Carolina fans seemed to be falling over each other in a see of crazy people. This is definitely a result of the numbing failures of the RichRod, Brady Hoke, and now beginning of the Jim Harbaugh era.

Hopefully next season can bring back the energy our fans had. Last season, the excitement of the better performance was clear, especially in the Orange Bowl where the fans were unbelievable. IMO, the athletic department should provide the maize pom poms for the whole stadium for the two biggest games EVERY year as those always create an unbelievable sight and I would imagine are great for recruiting. Regardless, we need some new traditions or chants to add that will increase our crowd energy and make the big house intimidating next season. Any thoughts on that would be interesting to hear. Regardless, it all start with winning, and until that happens, few things will improve.

 

Some extra thoughts: Fire Drevno. Also, find a guy who can punt farther than 25 yards. There has to be someone better on the soccer team for goodness sakes.

 

EDIT: Absolutely NONE of this is on the fans as I said. I was just saying the sheer difference in noise was shocking and disheartening.

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Sarasota13

January 1st, 2018 at 8:18 PM ^

Until the TD drive SC fans were pretty quiet. After the TD, the noise began to grow and became much louder at the end of the game. They did come back from a 16 point deficit. That is something to cheer about. It’s sort of hard to cheer when your team fumbles the ball 3x, throws two interceptions, misses open receivers, misses coverages and only fields 10 men on a play or two.

Joined: 06/22/2011

MGoPoints: 415

HenneGivenSunday

January 1st, 2018 at 9:54 PM ^

When called to enact positive change, absolutely. Very charitable, knowledgeable, passionate, and loyal. However, when things go poorly, this group eats their young without any hesitation. Not specific to MGoBlog at all, in fact this may be the most rational section of the fan base. We need to be better, and so does the football team. They are separate issues that occasionally influence one another.

Joined: 10/24/2011

MGoPoints: 10983

330blue

January 1st, 2018 at 10:08 PM ^

Oh there was a game plan. It was run the ball constantly while it’s not raining and get down on the scoreboard. Then when the rain came it was desperation pass time. They’ll never expect it.

There was no excuse we all knew at some point it was going to be pretty wet. These nfl coaches sure can game plan.

Joined: 02/16/2011

MGoPoints: 863

24jason

January 1st, 2018 at 8:22 PM ^

Michigan fans are probably realizing just wasted a shit ton of money to watch the same crap that watched all year. there's no excuses to be made here this team underperformed and it's coaching fault this coaching staff was supposed to be better

Joined: 12/03/2011

MGoPoints: 105

lilpenny1316

January 1st, 2018 at 8:27 PM ^

I knew the "new offense" I was expecting to see was not going to show up.  I think we need to put an asterisk whenever talk about coaching comes up.  The defense is good IMO.  But OMG, the offense needs to be retooled.  

Joined: 11/19/2009

MGoPoints: 61836

Jimmyisgod

January 1st, 2018 at 8:23 PM ^

Stadium looked 60% full. I know the weather sucked, but damn, some of the crowd shots were pathetic. Upper bowl was 80% empty and parts of the lower bowl bowl were empty

Joined: 01/24/2012

MGoPoints: 10342

tybert

January 1st, 2018 at 8:24 PM ^

I was at JH's home opener against a very bad OSU (not that OSU) team. The place was loud and hopping for a cheap opponent - and we were coming off a loss at Utah.

We fans have been doing our part for years - there were a lot of fans at home for the night game vs. Minnesota even after a storm delay.

What we need are coaches and players fully engaged 365 days a year - I hate to say it but MSU coaches and players were all-in and focused after last year's 3-9. THAT is what we need this offseason. 

Joined: 11/17/2008

MGoPoints: 8482

LSAClassOf2000

January 1st, 2018 at 8:24 PM ^

Regardless, we need some new traditions or chants to add that will increase our crowd energy and make the big house intimidating next season. Any thoughts on that would be interesting to hear. Regardless, it all start with winning, and until that happens, few things will improve.

I guess my counter to this would be that even back in the day when the stadium had poor acoustics and you could sometimes read in the perceived silence, we still did OK for ourselves. It is a lot louder now and a bit more intimidating, IMHO, but the problems - as have been discussed in many threads this evening - a closer to ground-level, if you will. 

Joined: 01/07/2011

MGoPoints: 130644

Go Blue in Tampa

January 1st, 2018 at 8:31 PM ^

I have been reading this blog for some years now, and recently I have begun to notice why other fans hate us so much! After the game, I walked out and knew that I would open the blog and see "hot takes" like "Fire everyone involved with this" and the like. We have become what everyone thinks we are... entitled arrogant assholes who expect that just because we're Michigan we should get everything, from #1 recruits to national titles. It's been 20 years since I graduated, and this has been the worst I've ever seen this fan base. Neg away, but we as a group need to get over ourselves...

Joined: 06/30/2011

MGoPoints: 281

ih8losing

January 1st, 2018 at 8:47 PM ^

so if we're upset about the current state of the program and would like to see a better product that beats opponents with winning records and makes rivalries actual rivalries again not just losing efforts year in and year out then sure, I'll get over myself as a Michigan fan. Sorry for wanting more. Instead we should all be happy no matter the results, would that be better?

Joined: 12/29/2013

MGoPoints: 15738

Go Blue in Tampa

January 1st, 2018 at 9:21 PM ^

Would I love to see Michigan stomp everyone all the time, absolutely. Do I think that 18 year old kids sometimes screw things up, yup! I knew as soon as I came on here, there would be a ton of vocal fans demanding the heads of all involved. that's what I'm getting tired of. we just spent 10 years from the beginning of the Rich Rod era till now getting to the point where anything short of perfection isn't tolerated. Last I checked, only one team was perfect this year, and they aren't even playing for a title right now.

Joined: 06/30/2011

MGoPoints: 281

taistreetsmyhero

January 1st, 2018 at 8:49 PM ^

other fanbases "hate us so much" because we have sucked for a decade now and yet many fans still think we are "better" than teams that have clearly been more successful over that span of time. the arrogant asshats are the ones who watch that shitfest all smug like, "just wait, Harbaugh has the whole conference right where he wants them. next year is the year..."

Joined: 08/08/2012

MGoPoints: 39396

tybert

January 1st, 2018 at 8:35 PM ^

My senior year at UM, 1985, we were coming off what Bo later called "a dismal season" (6-6 in '84. Expectations were low (we weren't even ranked at the start of the season) - but it was clear during the opener vs. ND that something was different about THAT team and the fans were loud in that game. It continued and peaked vs. OSU to end the season. Perhaps my favorite UM team of all time.

Fact is - complacency ON THE FIELD was apparent from the Cincy game on - fans booed a crappy offense for the 1st time in the Harbaugh era - and when did we ever really light it up all year? Expecting the fans to stand for the whole game and shout when the players are not focused and showing that they have not been prepared to play this season is not going to make the team play better.

The roots of our performance problems on the field this seasons started last January - coaches, players, off-season lifting and strength program, watching tape, new players being prepared to step up. SOME players really did their hard work this year (Winovich, Hurst, Hudson, etc.) for 365 days. 

Tomorrow is the opening of the 2018 season. I expect a lot of better prep work, energy, focus, etc. We (the fans) will do our part next September 8th. Just like the guys coming back for '85 learned the lessons from '84, we have a chance to have a GREAT season and break a lot of curses and losing streaks. 

 

Joined: 11/17/2008

MGoPoints: 8482

M and M Boys

January 1st, 2018 at 8:42 PM ^

And a mascot, free Cokes (sugar high)) for cheering energy. Yeah, that’s the ticket! The M fans PAY PAY PAY (in more ways than one ....) shouldn’t the new strategy include a look at Millions of $$$$ in scholarships and premier salaries??? Bitch away....after today— everyone is entitled to your opinion...

Joined: 01/27/2016

MGoPoints: 7033

Beat Rutgerland

January 1st, 2018 at 8:51 PM ^

If the team stops underpreforming and blowing it the fans will get louder. We all feel PTSD coming on every time we witness a collapse like today. Maybe if Michigan teams spanning the last decade weren't frequently prone to total collapses, the fans would be more enthused.

Joined: 11/29/2015

MGoPoints: 4626

jjelliso

January 1st, 2018 at 8:56 PM ^

This program should be grateful it has any fans at all, given how bad it’s sucked for a decade and how often the team quits during games.

Joined: 10/04/2008

MGoPoints: 3558

goblue16

January 1st, 2018 at 9:39 PM ^

Because the outback bowl is a super bowl for South Carolina and for us it’s shit but unfortunately has become the norm

Joined: 03/28/2010

MGoPoints: 17468

Mforever

January 1st, 2018 at 10:49 PM ^

Michigan fans are the best in sports. Inferior product after inferior product, yet fans continue to fill a 100,000 seat stadium The fans arent the problem. Crap players and coaches are

Joined: 01/01/2018

MGoPoints: 14