Whatever
1/1/2018 – Michigan 19, South Carolina 26 – 8-5, end of season
[Marc-Gregor Campredon]
I don't know how people get mad about this shit still. I just turn off, because for the last decade Michigan football has been either a disappointment or in a brief interim period that sets you up to be disappointed. But yes many many people still get fucking furious about Michigan football for some reason.
I'm tired of talking about it. I'm tired of this cycle that always seems to be at the bottom. I'm tired of this toxic-ass fanbase screaming at stuff. I could muster some takes, I guess, but I've already said them and anyway they seem beside the point. December was nice since it lacked football. 2018, so far, is bad because it had football.
In a situation like that I'd rather not talk about football. Especially because I have nothing left to say. Maybe it'll be better next year. Maybe it won't. Either way it's a meaningless distraction on the way to the grave. Eat at Arby's.
January 2nd, 2018 at 10:26 AM ^
January 2nd, 2018 at 10:27 AM ^
Everyone is going to pretend that they're above being upset about our football team now? That you're all fucking zen when we blow huge leads with mind numbing mistakes, coached by a group making $20M? How long ago was Brian throwing water bottles at people in the stands? Now the UFRs get skipped if we lose?
January 2nd, 2018 at 10:32 AM ^
Don't know about you, but I was mad for about 10 seconds, turned over to LSU-ND, got more mad than I did about Michigan when ND scored that last TD, then flipped over to a Chappelle's Show marathon on Comedy Central and moved on with my life.
I used to be a water bottle tosser with this program. I would be fuming for a week after a loss. In school, I would pretty much not have a fully functioning voice from August until November.
Michigan Football is no longer a point of anger in my life. I'm done worrying about this shit. Hell, I didn't even overly enjoy any of the four games I went to this year. This stuff is just demonstrably not as fun or engaging as it used to be.I've realized my emotional well-being should not be tied up in a football game played by college students.
January 2nd, 2018 at 10:42 AM ^
I also just realized that another benefit to the early signing day is that I don't have to care about signing day in Feb and can quit giving a shit about Michigan football on Jan 2nd.
January 2nd, 2018 at 10:43 AM ^
And yet another reason why I'm glad I've never cared one bit about following recruiting.
January 2nd, 2018 at 10:44 AM ^
You should have just kept the Deuce on, then youd've watched UCF beat Auburn. That was much more fun than watching ND win a game...
January 2nd, 2018 at 11:49 AM ^
That game made me feel better.
You want to talk toxic fanbases? Go hang with Auburn right now.
The only non-toxic fanbases are those that don't care.
Pick your poison: Empty stadiums and low TV ratings, or UNACCEPTABLE!! idiots on the internet.
Those are your choices. There is nothing different about Michigan.
January 2nd, 2018 at 11:25 AM ^
January 2nd, 2018 at 1:00 PM ^
100% agree with this Bando: "I used to be a water bottle tosser with this program. I would be fuming for a week after a loss. In school, I would pretty much not have a fully functioning voice from August until November" (me too) and "Michigan Football is no longer a point of anger in my life. I'm done worrying about this shit. Hell, I didn't even overly enjoy any of the four games I went to this year. This stuff is just demonstrably not as fun or engaging as it used to be" (also me too).
I watched the game in my basement all dressed up in Michigan gear and other than having to deal with countless text messages from my OSU friends & co-workers once the game was over my angst left with it.
January 2nd, 2018 at 11:02 PM ^
January 2nd, 2018 at 10:32 AM ^
No. I think what Brian is saying - and I agree - is that we're BEYOND being upset. This team has been mediocre - at best - since the early 2000s. We're into our second decade without a B1G championship. We've NEVER played for a national title since the BCS era began.
And Harbaugh doesn't seem to be any better an answer to the malaise than Lloyd, or Rich Rod, or Hoke.
January 2nd, 2018 at 11:37 AM ^
I don't think Brian would agree with that last part. I think he just recognized that this wasn't going to be the year, and a year of trying to explain that to the fans desperate for a championship has worn him out.
January 2nd, 2018 at 10:42 AM ^
But yesterday I was in the stadium watching the implosion up close, and I didn't emote one time. It just happened in front of my eyes, but I'd seen this movie before and knew how it ended. So it was what it was and, like many of us, we're numb to it by now.
Brian's right. If it gets better next year, great. I'll be happy as hell. If it doesn't, well, what's new? Nothing we say on this blog, to our friends, etc can change the outcome of this year or years to come. If Michigan wants to get back to relevancy, they have to find a way and do it themselves. Screaming from the mountaintop achieves nothing.
January 2nd, 2018 at 11:07 AM ^
I had 2 emotes during the entire game. One was a "yeah" when Higdon took it down to the one yard line. The other was a disgusted laugh when the punt clanged off DPJ's face mask because ... what else was there to do but laugh?
January 2nd, 2018 at 12:51 PM ^
I agree. This sentiment is coming from someone who has made a blog about Michigan athletics his career. “Whatever” seems like an unprofessional attitude in that case. And before it starts, I get it: I’m welcome to not read this free resource. But the reason it’s grown into a market-cornering behemoth is thoughtful, rational analysis. There are obviously things to be learned from that shitshow yesterday, but because it was a shitshow we get ennui.
Somewhat of a tangent but I’m around Brian’s age and also recently had kids. Teenage/early-20s me could never have imagined not caring deeply about Michigan sports, but life happens and it’s certainly dropped down my priority list. So I get that angle coupled with nearly two decades of downward trajectory of the football program, but man, let’s consider that some people do still care more deeply about Michigan than us and that this blog serves as a place to positively reflect that fandom with intelligent discussions.
January 2nd, 2018 at 10:28 AM ^
And I've had the same view for a while. Sure, there have been times - like after this year's OSU game - when I felt like I'd been pwned.
I should feel worse about not feeling worse about this team and the loss. Our rivals aren't really "rivals" anymore, in the sense that we should count on beating them once in a while. We don't anymore.
I'm totally game with eating at Arby's (TM). Just avoid the cole slaw, however. It's awful.
January 2nd, 2018 at 10:30 AM ^
January 2nd, 2018 at 10:31 AM ^
After having kids, my attention to sports in general waned significantly. I don't find myself getting upset anymore. In college, I would have been throwing stuff at the TV and it would have ruined my week. I have buddies still like that.
At the end of the day, it's a game. There's still a lot of good things you can take away from this team. The defense was pretty darn good given their youth. This is a clean program from all accounts (on/off the field). It's probably my blue lenses, but I always see the other teams getting chippier on the field (SC was dirty as hell yesterday).
I truly feel that Michigan is a solid QB (who is most importantly a good leader) away from being a contender. Go Blue, basketball team looks solid this year too.
January 2nd, 2018 at 10:32 AM ^
January 2nd, 2018 at 10:35 AM ^
January 2nd, 2018 at 10:35 AM ^
Is he staying? any news??
January 2nd, 2018 at 10:52 AM ^
Nah, he transferred to South Carolina on the field after the game yesterday.
January 2nd, 2018 at 10:35 AM ^
Why is the fanbase toxic? Should the fans ignore what was an extremely underwhelming season? Should the fans ignore a total meltodwn to an average at best South Carolina team? Should the fans ignore that Michigan doesn't have a QB? Should the fans ignore that Michigan's 2018 recruiting class is sub par? Should the fans ignore that Michigan's schedule figures to be much more difficult next year? Should the fans ignore that Michigan's offensive playcalling leaves much to be desired?
The fans recognize that Michigan has major problems. That's not toxic, that's viewing things without maize and blue tinted glasses.
January 2nd, 2018 at 10:42 AM ^
January 2nd, 2018 at 10:58 AM ^
Some of the people who can't have a reasonable conversation/analysis about this program are Brian and the "everything is great" turned "nothing matters, nbd, get over it" crowd.
January 2nd, 2018 at 10:53 AM ^
We scored 9 TD passes in a 13 game season. The problems are not Earth shattering and confidence shaking.
We need better QB play. I know the line wasn't great, but they held it together later in the season, Peters lacks field vision and locks into his first target all day yesterday.
You get decent QB play, it changes the entire season. We're bringing in a kid with some talent, receivers will be a year older, and Black comes back.
The sky is not falling (yet).
January 2nd, 2018 at 11:47 AM ^
Seems like we have much better QB options going forward based upon 247composite:
Shea Patterson .9982 5⭐ Pro #1 Overall #4
Brandon Peters .9684 4⭐ Pro #6 Overall #61
Dylan McCaffrey .9435 4⭐ Pro #5 Overall #123
Wilton Speight .8764 3⭐ Pro #23 Overall #427
John O Korn .8594 3⭐ Pro #32 Overall #645
Jake Rudock .8559 3⭐ Pro #23 Overall #627
January 2nd, 2018 at 11:23 AM ^
Michigan is no different than any other fanbase.
There are going to be idiots on the internet after a loss. Just like any other fanbase of a big time program.
Until Al Gore shuts down the internet, get used to it and stop whining about it.
The only non-toxic fanbases are those that don't care.
Go follow EMU if you can't handle that some people care too much and are immature about it.
There are no MGoBlogs for EMU. Problem solved.
January 2nd, 2018 at 10:35 AM ^
January 2nd, 2018 at 11:17 AM ^
This^
January 2nd, 2018 at 11:44 AM ^
January 2nd, 2018 at 12:06 PM ^
January 2nd, 2018 at 10:38 AM ^
January 2nd, 2018 at 10:39 AM ^
So is mgoblog not a thing anymore? Because caring about Michigan football is this blog and it seems like with every year Brian cares way less about it, which is completely understandable and his life but like, that defeats the purpose of this space.
January 2nd, 2018 at 10:48 AM ^
I've been around here awhile and Brian definitely has stepped back from being insanely passionate/angary about Michigan football. I don't know. I kind of see it as self-preservation. The constant lows, and then the highs and lows....it wears. It really does.
January 2nd, 2018 at 11:01 AM ^
He's got a young kid at home. I thought the post summed up our collective feelings perfectly.
January 2nd, 2018 at 11:06 AM ^
January 2nd, 2018 at 1:15 PM ^
January 2nd, 2018 at 10:39 AM ^
a "Whatever" post from Brian? Really? I'm supposed to believe that a guy who spends his professional and personal life running a blog that obsesses about every facet of UM football doesn't care? Pardon me if I call bullshit on this post. Not only do you care, you care way too much. If we go back 3 years to the day, this blog, Sam Webb on WTKA et al were proudly pounding your collective Maize and Blue chests about Jimmy The Savior's arrival in A2. Guess what? He's a mere mortal. He's a good CFB head coach. Maybe very good. He is not elite, however. You all (and all of us) thought you were getting "elite" - and that reality hurts like hell. Whatever.
January 2nd, 2018 at 12:37 PM ^
It's a little early to make this statement based on three seasons, the last one marred by multiple injuries to a key, in some people's minds the key, offensive position. Check back with me in say 2020 and we can have the elite conversation.
January 2nd, 2018 at 10:39 AM ^
If anyone in the AD actually reads this blog they should be very, very worried. Apathy comning from your most ardent section of the fan base is the greatest threat to your business model. Once people stop caring, they ain't coming back. The opposite of love is not hate, it's apathy.
We're navigating dangerous waters here...hopefully we have the right people in charge to get us through.
January 2nd, 2018 at 11:58 AM ^
Yeah, that's exactly what I was thinking as well... how will this affect PSDs and season ticket sales... against the backdrop of next year's home schedule. I am a die hard fan and have had season tickets for 20 years but in truth I am starting to question the expense. It's not that I am not willing to pay to go to the games, but more it's an issue of when I have extra tickets (or someone's stupid wedding to attend) I can't sell my tickets. There's no secondary market; the tickets seem worthless. And if that's the case, then why the hell am I bothering paying the PSDs...
What's worse is that the denizens of today's classrooms are perhaps father than ever from caring about what's happening on the field. For a few years Brandon badly poisoned the well, but we are well on our way to losing an entire generation of donors now.
This blog is definitely the canary in the coal mine. When you strip away the jackasses crankin' ridiculous criticisms and get beyond the dicktooth banter on twitter, you drive to the essence of what's really going on -- even tried and true bluebloods are experiencing apathy. Shit, Brian's usually a good writer ... but (at risk of being banned here) even he sounds broken and it's his job to write about this stuff. He just phoned this one in.
Ultimately if this is what's happening on the outside, I can only imagine how frustrasted and dissapointed players and people are feeling inside of Fort Schembechler. It's pretty definitive now that we are at a turning point -- we just don't know yet in which direction. Personally I still have some faith left to give, but next season should be interesting nonetheless.
January 2nd, 2018 at 1:08 PM ^
Because both my brother and the guy who hosted our tailgate in the blue lot for the past 30 years gave up their tickets last week. My brother had 4 on the 30 yard line around row 25 and the guy who put on our tailgate had 10 tickets scattered around the stadium in groups of two and four. The guy who held the 10 tickets was also a big money donor who had a parking pass in the blue lot (right next to the Wangler/Leach tailgate) so this was quite a shock.
I gave mine up in 2014 and candidly havent regreted it once. I went to the OSU game this year (first game since then) and it was nice but NOTHING like what I remembered from going from 1977-2014. And now the rest of our crew is done.
I asked my brother and the tailgate host why they were stopping. I have a three hour drive one-way but they both live close by (Commerce Lake & Fenton) and they both said the same thing.
It's just not fun anymore.
January 2nd, 2018 at 10:40 AM ^
Isn't Michigan football what this site is pretty much all about? Should we all leave now? You're disppointed, as all we Michigan fans are, but don't be irrational.
January 2nd, 2018 at 11:35 AM ^
I am curious to see if Brian has a followup.
January 2nd, 2018 at 11:40 AM ^
Newsflash: Brian is moody.
Don't freak out about it.
In a couple of weeks he'll post an intensely passionate thread about the position of the laces on the football during a speed option pitch. With graphs.
Then he'll get into a heated argument on the internet with some guy we've never heard of before over something that was overheard by a third party five years ago.
Then he'll write an extremely insightful piece about the essence of life - disguised as a mere Michigan football thread - that will border on pure poetry.
Then he'll go back to not talking to anybody.
That's who he is.
Jim Harbaugh is like that too. He seems to make it work out OK.
January 2nd, 2018 at 10:40 AM ^
January 2nd, 2018 at 10:43 AM ^
I think you might need to re-read Brian's post so you understand it better.
January 2nd, 2018 at 10:48 AM ^
If next year is a complete 5-7 dumpster fire then you'll hear an uproar I'm sure. If we lose our bowl game 52-14 like in 2010 against Mississippi State you'll hear an uproar. For now, I will not stress about this seaon and have faith that next year will be another 10 win season and if not I would be more in the fire and re-hire camp.
If you look at 3 years of games under Harbaugh, only 2 of the losses were out of control. All others came down to a few mistakes (not that I like them) but were very winnable games.
January 2nd, 2018 at 1:42 PM ^
A bit baffling. Sure, you can be optimistic about the future based on the slim margins of our losses, but the fact remains that in a lot of winnable games, we simply do not win them. We find a way to lose, or find a way to let the other team stay close enough to win. It's not just MSU 2015 anymore - it's become a pattern that's painful to watch unfold, even when we see it coming a mile away.
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