2017 Wolverine Amazon TV Show
As the season wrapped up yesterday, I was discussing with the family about how it was going to be a long offseason this year and I was going to try to disengage from reading every single piece of UM-related info, as I've done in years past. My wife asked the question, "Well, what about that Amazon show you said you were excited for"? To be honest, I had actually forgotten about that show.
After the season we've had, I'm actually not sure I want to watch it. There would be some really cool behind-the-scenes things that I would love to see, but there would be way too much that would bring up bad memories. More than other years in recent memory (even during the unspeakable times) this year was one that I want to forget about. So much talent, so many opportunities wasted.
For the board: will you be watching the show? Why or why not? For those of you that will be watching, what do you hope to see? For me, not only was the season a dissapointment but I do wonder how much will be cut out (rightfully so) so as to not shine negatively on the program, or the student athletes; which, makes you wonder how meaty the show will really be anyway.
January 2nd, 2018 at 9:36 AM ^
January 2nd, 2018 at 11:50 AM ^
I've never watched this type of show. I know the NFL does something similar in the preseason. If it shows a lot of practice footage I'm wondering if this show may give some insight into the choice of O'Korn over Peters after the Speight injury.
Is this a case where O'Korn's practice stats did not translate to Saturday games? Could this show shed some light on where Michigan really is as a team?
I may watch just to find out.
January 2nd, 2018 at 1:11 PM ^
More like more questions...
I expect that watching the show will lead to continuously wondering how much this distraction cost us in terms of mentality and preparedness...
Would be nice to know if Bredeson's injury and conditioning coach's firing are related, but I don't have my hopes up for finding out. Seems like at least coincidental in time and subject matter, even if there's no causal relationship.
January 2nd, 2018 at 9:37 AM ^
I'm sure I will watch. It may have been a disappointing season, but that doesn't mean I won't take anything Michigan Football whenever I can get it -- Especially something that will give us some behind-the-curtain flair.
January 2nd, 2018 at 9:38 AM ^
January 2nd, 2018 at 9:42 AM ^
But even if I did I have no interest whatsoever in watching it. The fact that the staff and the AD thought it was a good idea from the beginning suggests to me that the people running things have their priorities skewed.
Fuck celebrity—focus on competence.
January 2nd, 2018 at 9:44 AM ^
Uhh what? Michigan gets money from Amazon and doesn't have to change anything they do. Just let cameras watch them. Why would they turn that down? It's also a great way to let recruits see how the program runs.
January 2nd, 2018 at 9:50 AM ^
people act differently when they know they are on camera. That is a fact.
January 2nd, 2018 at 9:53 AM ^
it was a very bad, short-sighted idea. The team was way too young to bring in that kind of noise. I don't know how much of an effect that it had, but I am quite certain that whatever impact it had was not good.
January 2nd, 2018 at 10:19 AM ^
For a while, yes. But you get used to it. This was going on for 5 months. There are many, many reasons for the struggles this year. A camera crew is not one of them.
January 2nd, 2018 at 10:21 AM ^
But things snowball. A distraction in August can have an effect in November.
It would be one thing if we were a senior laden team that had great leadership who knew how to win and they could guide the younger guys through the distractions. But since we were "the youngest team in America" you have to think this was a bad idea, especially in hindsight even if it is 20/20.
January 2nd, 2018 at 10:24 AM ^
Again, how do you know this was such a distraction?
January 2nd, 2018 at 10:36 AM ^
Because he's one of those fans that expect players to be robots. Like last year, some fans said they lost to Iowa because players were distracted by the election. If a player does anything other than football, they're distracted. Being on camera made everyone forget how to play football, right? Nevermind the fact that these kids have been on film every game since high school.
January 2nd, 2018 at 10:47 AM ^
We lost to Iowa because Harbaugh's hubris of claiming Speight was a heisman candidate after the Maryland game and they he called the Iowa game like he believed his own delusions.
I expect the players to be human, which is why making a reality tv show out of a season where we are "the youngest team in America" seems like a bad idea, especially in hindsight.
January 2nd, 2018 at 10:48 AM ^
Do you really think football games are lost on trivial stuff like camera crews and Harbaugh soundbites?
January 2nd, 2018 at 11:04 AM ^
I think Harbaugh thinks enough of himself to believe it when he claims Speight is a heisman trophy candidate and then call a game like Speight were one. I recall numerous deep bombs that were missed.
Do you really think that having an amazon film crew following around the team had absolutely no effect on the seasons outcome? A single photographer or John Bacon type journalist is very different than a documentary crew.
But as you pointed out disagreement is concern trolling...
We will have to agree to to disagree. I have my opinion and you clearly have yours. I'll note that I've explained my opinion, but you haven't explained your opinion. Your snark was almost as enjoyable as a discussion.
January 2nd, 2018 at 8:53 PM ^
Tubor, ijohnb, all their ilk KNOW this was a bad idea because they can tell you we lost 5 games and looked none too impressive winning several others.
So whatever benefit this attention may have had financially or otherwise cannot be worth it. Doesn't really matter if they're wrong or right, they got scoreboard.
January 2nd, 2018 at 10:25 AM ^
Then you can also assume these youngsters will have an elite sense of how to deal with distractions as seniors. Maybe no matter what this team wasn't going anywhere, so what is another loss or two if it means they are better prepared in 2018/2019/2020?
January 2nd, 2018 at 10:45 AM ^
I'd love for that to be the case because 2018/2019/2020 are crucial years for Michigan football.
January 2nd, 2018 at 11:12 AM ^
Thought you said you divested from Michigan Football this season?
2018/2019/2020 are no more crucial than any other year in the fantastic history of Michigan Football. We could go 0-39 and we would still have fans, boosters, etc. I'd still watch. They aren't shutting down Schembechler hall. We'd be on a new coach with a bright future because we are Michigan fergodsakes and time is a flat circle.
January 2nd, 2018 at 11:26 AM ^
I have emotionally divested, I detailed what that means in a post below. Doesn't mean I've stopped being a fan altogether. Just means I'm not going to put so much emotion into something I as a casual fan have no control over. If we win great, if not life goes on. Probably a much healthier outlook on many things you have no control over.
And if you can't see how years 4 through 6 of Harbaugh's tenure at UM are slightly more important than the previous years I don't know what to tell you. If Harbaugh can't get it done at Michigan with a program full of his hand picked players and coaches then maybe nobody can.
January 2nd, 2018 at 11:45 AM ^
Crucial is not an emotionally divested word. And they are not more important. Most people thought year 1 was important to wash the taste of losing out of the program. Year 2 was important because it said we were ready to play with the big boys. Year 3 is important enough to wash the last two years out of everyones freaking minds and make it seem like Harbaugh is FAILING! Year 4 could be a National Title and then 5, 6 don't mean shit in the grand scheme of it all.
Harbaughs tenure could be defined in year 4, 5, 6, 4 and 6, or 5 and 6. Could be year 7 like Dabo. I'd say year 2 under Harbaugh is already part of that definition.
January 2nd, 2018 at 12:01 PM ^
Crucial for Harbaugh and the program not for me.
As you pointed out about yourself, I too will always be a fan no matter what even if they lose every game. I grew up a Michigan fan (Dad went to school at UM) and have two degrees from the college of engineering myself. If I choose to invest more time and emotions into cultivating other hobbies and spending time with family that doesn't involve sitting on a couch watching TV that is up to me and feel free to dump on me if you disagree.
Dabo won a conference title in year 4 and then followed it up with two 11 win seasons while going 3-6 against Clemson's rivals (SC, FSU, GA Tech) in that three year stretch. If Harbaugh does the same I'll be pleased.
January 2nd, 2018 at 2:27 PM ^
1 B1G title minimum? 3? A playoff appearance? Anything that broad cannot be labelled as "crucial". Is 10-3/10-3/10-3 with zero B1G titles, 2-4 record against MSU/OSU good enough? Is that fireable? You're going to fire Harbaugh after five 10-win seasons in 6 years? To me that would be really freaking good, while disappointing. On par with the Tigers never winning the World Series with Verlander/Cabrera. I also don't want to move on from that era, and onto a Brad Ausmus.
But something tells me you'll be sitting there unhappy, wishing Bo was back. Because this fanbase wasn't happy after last season, when Harbaugh had his record at 20-6 (1-4). The BLUEBLOODS have been ready to pounce since week 2 this year. Waiting for confirmation that this program isn't Alabama yet! Still can't compete with OSU!
If it takes Harbaugh 6 years to get Michigan into a stable place atop the B1G, isn't all of this worth it? 8-5 isn't all that bad if it means that!
January 2nd, 2018 at 3:37 PM ^
I'm thrilled Harbaugh is the coach. I believe he is the coach for Michigan and was born for the job. That said I agree that 10-3/10-3/10-3 with no titles and a 2-4 record against MSU/OSU is good enough to not get him fired, but damn if it won't be disappointing.
Perhaps it is our own fault as fans for putting such high expectations on Harbaugh, but I think it is reasonable to expect a conference title in the next 3 years.
January 2nd, 2018 at 3:47 PM ^
I completely agree that Harbaugh could and most likely will get a conference title in the next 3 seasons. If he doesn't because of dumb luck a, bad spot, whatever, I will be disappointed but understanding. I expect to compete for B1Gs and CoFoPoff spots year in and year out once this program is up and running. I think it's silly to expect that every year right now, but it probably will become an expectation within 3 years if that makes sense.
January 2nd, 2018 at 8:57 PM ^
I can guarantee you that LONG before the losing streak reached 0-39 our streak of crowds over 100K would've ended, along with 90K, 80K, 70K and maybe even 60K.
January 2nd, 2018 at 12:02 PM ^
Jesus Tap Dancing Christ on a Cracker—that's a statement David Brandon would love. Like this program is hurting for cash.
The fact that the staff agreed to this suggests they thought the outside world wanted to see how awesome Michigan football is—it's highly unlikely that they would have agreed to it if they thought the program was collectively going to step on its dick all season—in spite of the fact that we haven't won a single thing of real significance.
You do this kind of thing after you have multiple victories over your most important rivals and after you win championships, not before.
January 2nd, 2018 at 2:49 PM ^
The only thing is documentary did/is going to do is hurt the football program after this travestly of a season. I know hindsight is always 20/20 but I think the probability of it having a negative effect was much stronger than ending well, especially with the film makers need to turn everything into a dramatic event. I wont watch it but I anticipate that everything will be blown out of proportion in terms of the drama and tension associated with playing poorly and losing football games. We damn sure didn't need the money from Amazon, I can only assume whoever signed off on this hoped it would be good exposure for the football program.
January 2nd, 2018 at 9:41 AM ^
Why would they cut anything out? Shows like that thrive on failure. Drama makes things interesting. This year was full of failure and drama. It won't be fun to watch.
January 2nd, 2018 at 9:47 AM ^
This is not the pros, the university will be very diligent in ensuring that the student athletes aren't taking a beating. This show has the potential to be a PR nightmare if not handled with white gloves.
January 2nd, 2018 at 9:55 AM ^
January 2nd, 2018 at 9:55 AM ^
January 2nd, 2018 at 10:11 AM ^
Gird your loins
January 2nd, 2018 at 11:53 AM ^
Great. Turn Michigan football into a fucking reality show. Real Football Players of Ann Arbor.
January 2nd, 2018 at 9:43 AM ^
January 2nd, 2018 at 9:45 AM ^
In my mind, the 2017 season does not exist.
January 2nd, 2018 at 9:46 AM ^
For language, adult content, and frequent disturbing football images.
January 2nd, 2018 at 6:35 PM ^
posts.
January 2nd, 2018 at 9:49 AM ^
January 2nd, 2018 at 9:51 AM ^
January 2nd, 2018 at 9:59 AM ^
No slants, no bubble screens, just a bunch of HB dives up the middle and throwing bombs on 4th and 1. Yeeee haaawwwww!
January 2nd, 2018 at 11:03 AM ^
Did they have those, this year?
January 2nd, 2018 at 11:38 AM ^
There's like 4-5 guys who all seem to have a hand in the OC duty: Drevno, Harbaugh, Pep, and Frey. What a cluster. It's no wonder the offense is so complicated the players can't learn it and yet so dumb that the opposition knows what's coming
On the flip side, the defense has King Mustache and there's no disputing his reign. They are a cohesive, well coached defense. Harbaugh should emulate that
I'd love to see him jettison Frey, Pep, and Drevno, go find your Don Brown of the offense and let him rule it. Harbaugh makes himself head coach / QB coach.
January 2nd, 2018 at 12:39 PM ^
I would like that, but I can't get myself beyond the simple fact that Harbaugh will never give up his offense to some outside influence that (probably) doesn't share the same philosophy. But he does need someone - anyone, really - to be 'in charge' of the offense. He can oversee it all day long, but one person needs to control that entire unit.
January 2nd, 2018 at 9:49 AM ^
I'm a prime subscriber so they already have my money, but I won't watch it. I won't add to the ratings for something I think is a distraction to our program.
January 2nd, 2018 at 9:52 AM ^
Nothing if not an irrational take. How do you know?
January 2nd, 2018 at 9:59 AM ^
said he thinks it was a distraction so he won't watch it. Nobody is going to have Empirical evidence that it was or was not a factor in the season, but people can have an opinion about whether it was a good idea. It is probably more irrational to assume it didn't have any effect. He is far from alone in terms of people who think that was a pretty dumb idea.