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 10:29 AM ^
I don't know, but I am entitled to my opinion.
My opinion is that having a camera crew following "the youngest team in America" for the entire season in hindsight was a bad idea. If we were a senior laden team coming off of some real success (conference champions, beating rivals, etc.) then I'd probably be more receptive to the idea. But as it stands I don't think we have the senior leadership in the program to guide our younger players through the distractions that this film crew caused. Until we have a group of seniors that knows how to win I'd prefer we focus on football and not this kind of thing.
I guess you could say I prefer substance over style at this point. Harbaugh has been fun, but I'm ready for some significant victories over good OSU and MSU teams and meaningful championship teams.
January 2nd, 2018 at 10:32 AM ^
OK, so you're just concern trolling. Got it.
January 2nd, 2018 at 10:41 AM ^
Of course, because anyone who would dare have a differing opinion than the great Bando Calrissian is concern trolling.
Enjoy watching the show.
January 2nd, 2018 at 10:45 AM ^
not "concern trolling," as this new phrase is the single dumbest new peice terminology that is being used on this site. He is saying that it was a pretty dumbass move to invite Amazon to capture every agonizing second of a really young team getting their ass kicked all season. Now, what is REALLY great about is that those same players will get to relive the entire season for the entire off-season, and here about all of it again.
But no, you must be right. Nothing bad could have possibly come of it because you say so, and apparently you are somekind of authority on everything because....... ? Why exactly? What are your impeccable qualifications to be the arbriter of anything? You were in the band, like 20 years ago? Is that it?
January 2nd, 2018 at 10:54 AM ^
January 2nd, 2018 at 10:19 AM ^
I too was excited for it but will not be watching it now.
I've also decided that I'm going to renew my season tix but I won't be: going to any road games, no bowl games (unless we make NC game), no extra donations and much less merch/gear.
I still love Michigan Football but its too expensive for where we are right now.
January 2nd, 2018 at 12:22 PM ^
January 2nd, 2018 at 9:56 AM ^
January 2nd, 2018 at 9:57 AM ^
January 2nd, 2018 at 10:31 AM ^
Highest viewership will be from Columbus.
Assuming they have internet access there.
January 2nd, 2018 at 9:58 AM ^
Yeah just too soon... would be kind of like looking at pictures from a funeral - who the hell wants to do that?
January 2nd, 2018 at 10:15 AM ^
January 2nd, 2018 at 10:02 AM ^
January 2nd, 2018 at 10:02 AM ^
I'll watch it as a Michigan fan.
But if you are not a Michigan fan, it will be pretty boring. There is no real storyline there. No heroes, no villains. Just a team that muddled through a mediocre season.
2016 would have been a much more interesting year for them to do.
January 2nd, 2018 at 10:02 AM ^
Fuck yeah I am watching it! This is no more of a distraction than being on TV every single week, being on endless videos for Mgoblue.com, or playing in front of 115,000 fans. Maybe some of you could use it as a way to humanize these 18-22 year olds, and realize that 8-5 is not the end of the damn world.
"I'm not putting another penny into this team until they lose their sense of entitlement," said the most entitled bastard on the internet.
January 2nd, 2018 at 10:12 AM ^
January 2nd, 2018 at 10:14 AM ^
I'll watch at least the first episode. I'm hoping it will give an inside look to the program, and that intrigues me. Even if it shows warts and/or dysfunction. If it's more of fluff material, then I probably wouldn't watch the rest.
January 2nd, 2018 at 10:17 AM ^
I mean, I'll say this: I don't understand a coach who doesn't like the media, will be terse to the point of rudeness, refuses to do sideline interviews like every other coach on the planet, insulates his program from everything and everyone who would otherwise be sympathetic or supportive, yet will allow Amazon to hang around all year and film the whole deal. Harbaugh is is own thing, and we know that, but that doesn't always make it right.
Whatever. I'll probably watch some of it out of morbid curiosity, but I can't say I'm excited nor outraged about the show.
January 2nd, 2018 at 10:19 AM ^
January 2nd, 2018 at 10:39 AM ^
You do what is right for you.
I began emotionally divesting from UM football this season. The Air Force game was the first time game that I didn't watch on tv or attend in person since I was a small child. I went hunting with my brother-in-law (I married his sister) instead, and I loved it. We had a great time and I really enjoy his company. I also skipped watching the Cincy game to take my disabled brother to the Henry Ford museum. We'd usually just sit and watch the football game together, I can tell you that getting him out and interacting in the museum was way more fun for both him and I. I went deer hunting during the IU game as well.
Unfortunately as big ten season rolled around I got sucked in and started watching every game again, although to be fair not anywhere near as closely as I used to. I'd have the game on in the background and be doing something else around the house during the Rutgers, Minnesota, and Maryland games. I even went to the MSU and road tripped the PSU games.
January 2nd, 2018 at 11:38 AM ^
January 2nd, 2018 at 11:49 AM ^
Not to take anything away from you, but this is how everyone should treat sports. Michigan or otherwise. It shouldn't take a frustrating season to make someone miss a game to hang out with family. It shouldn't be some grand gesture to show how you're dissatisified. It should be the norm.
I guess sometimes it takes a bad season to make people realize that sports aren't the most important thing in life. You're not a bad fan if you miss a game once in a while.
January 2nd, 2018 at 12:09 PM ^
I totally agree, but growing up in a household where Michigan football was the only hobby and the way to spend time with family it takes a certain level of maturity to grow out of that and see otherwise. I'll credit my wife with helping me on this path, and she was a letterman at Michigan.
And to be clear I did all those things for me, not in some grand gesture to show my dissatisfaction. I'd like to think that even if Michigan were winning I'd be chosing the same things, although to be honest our struggles against rivals and lack of championships has certainly made it easier. Hence why I advised the poster to do what is best for himself, only he knows what that is.
January 2nd, 2018 at 10:19 AM ^
Yes, to see who I can blame for this year's offensive woes
January 2nd, 2018 at 12:38 PM ^
January 2nd, 2018 at 10:20 AM ^
I have Amazon Prime and there is NO way I would subject myself to watching this trainwreck of a football season again. I really do hope that we do away with all of this cutesy stuff after this year (Rome trips, TV Specials etc...) and just focus on playing football. The only people that are going to enjoy this TV special are the ones tuning in to laugh at our program, and there will be plenty to laugh at. Hopefully this little experiment is over, I see no way how this could be beneficial for our program (aside from generating some more money that we really don't need)
January 2nd, 2018 at 10:24 AM ^
January 2nd, 2018 at 10:25 AM ^
January 2nd, 2018 at 10:30 AM ^
Oh well sorry to disappoint
January 2nd, 2018 at 10:33 AM ^
January 2nd, 2018 at 10:36 AM ^
...that I have been a follower/fan of Michigan football. Right now, due to the last ten years of mediocre to pathetic football, I am psychologically worn out following this team. At this point in time, and I stress "at this point in time", the football team is in need of a lot of work to get it to a championship-level of play. It may begin to take shape next season, but Mr. Harbaugh has to make some significant changes in order for it to happen. I hope he starts to begin the process very soon.
January 2nd, 2018 at 10:42 AM ^
2016 was as close to a National Title run as we have had in any of the other 44 years you've followed Michigan outside of 1997.
January 2nd, 2018 at 11:09 AM ^
January 2nd, 2018 at 11:16 AM ^
And 1973/74 were close too. But a bad ref job at OSU or two and poof, that's as close as we got. Multiple times during his fandom.
But Harbaugh is just soooooooo far away from having this team at that level. 1 year removed.
January 2nd, 2018 at 10:37 AM ^
Whatever
January 2nd, 2018 at 11:01 AM ^
No sense rubbing salt in the wound now. By summer I will be jonesing for football enough that I will be willing to take the pain.
January 2nd, 2018 at 11:11 AM ^
It may offer insights that you hadn't considered or maybe it will confirm all your worst doubts about the program. Either way, it gives a closer examination of the program from which to make a more informed judgment.
We all need perspective in order to see things more clearly whether we feel good or bad about them. I am not a great fan of this documentary style of coverage. In my opinion, It doesn't particularly do much other than to illuminate certain personalities and typically the footage is cut to tell a narrative that may not even fit the circumstances of the team as a whole. I am thinking now of HBO's annual NFL reality show dive with its Hardknocks training camp program.
It's my feeling that most NFL teams usually try to avoid being covered. And I don't recall a recent SB team that elected to permit 24/7 camerage coverage of their preseason.
Now the Big Ten has jumped into it big time. MSU allowed a indepth preseason view last year of its program as part of Fox's Journey coverage and then went on to experience a dreadful season under Dantonio. And now Michigan has taken its turn. Who knows how it impacted their season? We obviously know the results. Guess you'll have to tune in or wait for others to share their accounts about its effect.
I am curious to see it just because I want to see the inside of Michigan's program under Harbaugh. At least then you can see whether your opinion of things from the outside is valid or not.
January 2nd, 2018 at 11:11 AM ^
Not a reality TV guy at all so this doesn't appeal to me even if it's M football.
January 2nd, 2018 at 11:14 AM ^
I have Prime, but need to figure out the TV part of it. I'll do that, and I'll watch every episode. The season sucked, but I've lived through sucky seasons before, and I'll live through this off-season, as well. I'll still be just as big a fan, filled with all the hope.
Maybe its apathy? I don't know... But I realize there is more to life than the game - as much as I live by it during the season, the season is done now. Move on. Enjoy what can take from it, but don't let it ruin you.
It should be an interesting watch.
January 2nd, 2018 at 11:29 AM ^
I'll be honest - this season actually made me more curious about this show, so I will watch it.
I guess I am counting on even a smidgen of insight into the ups and downs that we saw because I like to have that extra dimension of understanding if I can get it. The disappointment may not fade, but if I can walk away with something I didn't know or something that puts a game into perspective, I figure I am better for it.
January 2nd, 2018 at 11:45 AM ^
I will easily be passing, just like I thought Peters was going to do yesterday...
January 2nd, 2018 at 11:46 AM ^
For number of words Peters says on camera? I'm going with 10.
January 2nd, 2018 at 11:53 AM ^
I fucking forgot about this.
Yeah, I'll pass.
January 2nd, 2018 at 12:00 PM ^
The idea that having Amazon around increased the number of cameras is something I have difficultly believing. Whether it is the athletic department or amazon, there were going to be cameras around.
January 2nd, 2018 at 12:43 PM ^
I definitely plan to watch it. Yes, this season was mindnumbingly frustrating and elevated my blood pressure more times than I care to count. At the end of the day though, I love Michigan football and just can't fathom a time where I would not tune in and watch the program. It's just what I've done my whole life.
January 2nd, 2018 at 12:49 PM ^
January 2nd, 2018 at 1:02 PM ^
January 2nd, 2018 at 1:51 PM ^
January 2nd, 2018 at 2:16 PM ^
I'll watch because I want to be more informed about what the hell is going on with the coaching staff so I can be more informed when I come on here and bitch about the offense. Specifically, I want to see the nuts and bolts of how this whole thing worked since our coaching staff seems to be configured in such an odd manner. As I watched the games this season, here is what I assumed was going on: We had (at least) two coaches calling plays (run game coordinator, pass game coordinator, head coach?) and two coaches dealing with offensive linemen while a freshman-heavy group of wide receivers wandered the vast expanse of the practice field like free-range chickens. Meanwhile, the head coach's son slid over to coach running backs with nothing on his resume to indicate he had the experience necessary to be successful in that position. And when it was all said and done, the result was an offense that was historically abysmal. How often does a fanbase have an opportunity to dig in and find out what exactly happened? That's invaluable!
Also, I'm looking forward to the opportunity to get to know the players better as people. I've watched the Amazon documentaries on the Arizona Cardinals and the Los Angeles Rams, and both were very well done. Even though I don't have a rooting interest in either team, I still find myself hoping certain players off both those squads to do well on Sundays because of the chance I had to get to become more familiar with them as people through the Amazon shows. Since Michigan has so many players coming back next season from this year's squad, I know my bond to the 2018 team will be stronger than usual because of this doc.