RHammer - SNRE 98

January 13th, 2011 at 12:39 PM ^

LeDuff is, imho, the best true journalist in SE Michigan, if not the entire state and/or region.  Anyone doubting that should just go back and read his archives at the DetNews... truly great stuff.

Contrary to DBs Dominos leanings and Arbys-Big Chill tendencies, if you listen to the way DB closed the press conference yesterday, Charlie's points here (as echoed by Mr. Hanson) are largely the same; no one here wants us to resemble the corporate money-making athlete machine that is tOSU (or USC under Carroll, etc.). Sure we want championships, and we want to be competitive with and defeat on a regular basis programs like tOSU/USC/Florida/etc. but we also care about the manner in which we win, things like dignity and honor, and that is the point I think Charlie is trying to make.

I am quite surprised to learn he was a former UM cheerleader, however.  This whole thing is quite heavy on the schtick, which is outside the norm for him, but I'd suggest folks read up on his body of work before ripping into him as an arrogant dbag...

jhackney

January 13th, 2011 at 12:09 PM ^

I asked U of M Law Professor Richard Friedman whether Michigan can be both world class university and football power in the modern landscape of money and sports.

"There's no doubt in my mind if we had to move in one direction or the other, I'd rather move in the direction of Northwestern than of Ohio State," he replied.

blueheron

January 13th, 2011 at 12:14 PM ^

Odd ... as a general rule I enjoy Charlie LeDuff's work, but that piece is loose-as-can-be.  Shaky grammar and spelling (Jerry Hanson?), etc.

- - -

Aside: I'm amused that Michigan Men (whoever they are) appear to believe that they're the only ones who:

* try to live up to Midwestern values (whatever TF those are)

* win with dignity

* lose with grace

* work hard (Always a good one ... I'm sure the whole population of California is lazy and drugged out.)

* studies books

* does not cheat (Aside from the SEC, most of the country, right ... ?)

08mms

January 13th, 2011 at 6:38 PM ^

I would say there is something more than that.  There is something unique that comes from spending time at the university, and I think those of us that spent our formative undergrad years there can definitely put some kind of finger on it.  That said, I don't know if that experience is/ever should be necessary in hiring faculty/professors/coaches.  We don't require students to have previous experience with the university to become wolverines, its something that comes with spending time there and becoming part of the community.

mGrowOld

January 13th, 2011 at 12:39 PM ^

My Great Grandfather, Grandfather, Father, Brother and Sister all attended Michigan before me.  I graduated in 1981 and have travelled up from Cleveland every Saturday since 1987 for home games and generally go to one away game a year. I recruited for M here in Northern Ohio from 91-94 under Bob Chemel and can sing the chorus of the Victors loud and proud without any help.

I'd say my Michigan Man credentials are impeccable and beyond reproach.  Can I be coach next?

CompleteLunacy

January 13th, 2011 at 12:51 PM ^

is NOT saying that you're a "Michigan Man". If it exists, it is not a self-fulfilling title. And even if you deserve such a "title", by proclaiming you are one you effectively give up that honor. 

[EDIT: Directed at author of linked article by OP. I didn't read it, but I did see near the end where he said "I am a  Michigan Man"]

rudy523

January 13th, 2011 at 2:05 PM ^

Hoke understands what Michigan is all about, and he knows how far the program wandered during Rodriguez’s tumultuous three-year tenure, both competitively and in terms of compliance with NCAA rules. He not only knows what notes to hit, but believes in them as bedrock principles.

San Diego State’s head football coach Brady Hoke is a fanatic about conditioning and fundamentals and innately suspicious of flash. He doesn’t want to trick you. He wants to trample you. He is the kind of coach who resonates in those rugged places where football is not so much a game as a measure of manhood.

Rest of article: http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/jan/05/sdsus-hoke-fits-maize-and-blue-print/

Sounds like a Michigan man to me

BlueHills

January 13th, 2011 at 2:14 PM ^

In the 1950s when I was a little kid, maybe 5 years old, my father (who didn't go to UM) told me that he wanted me to be a "Michigan Man." He took me to UM - OSU games, when I was so young that all the games meant to me was hot dogs and souvenirs. 

So that phrase goes back a looooong way in my memory. When I got to Michigan, I heard the "Michigan Man" phrase plenty. Plenty. It was part of our identity.

It's not new. It was considered a compliment to be introduced as a "Michigan Man," which actually happened a few times. That's how much it meant to my family, anyway.

Bo didn't invent it. It wasn't invented to undermine Rich Rod. It's always been there, because it's always been one of the best schools west of Harvard to get into. And since generally, schools like Michigan are picky about who they accept, i.e., intelligence, hard work in high school, etc., matter, being a Michigan Man was an acknowledgment that meant something that honestly didn't have much to do with football.

I became a Michigan Man in 1967. We weren't exactly setting the world on fire under Bump Elliott. Our pride didn't come from a bunch of guys on the football field. Really. 

OK, call me a douche. What do I care, at my age being a douche might be the only way I get any... um...well, let's not go there!

There's nothing wrong IMHO with being a Michigan Man. Michigan is more than football. Football is a mere subset of the UM experience. We sometimes forget that.

King Douche Ornery

January 13th, 2011 at 6:17 PM ^

I guess we can resign ourselves to being just like Scout and having the ol' Michigan Man threads until time ends.

BlueHills

January 13th, 2011 at 9:26 PM ^

Really, it's a phrase from another era, an era when just going to college was not for everyone. Then, the "(Insert Name of Prestigious School) Men" thing was big, but only at the best schools. So there were Michigan Men, and Harvard Men, and Princeton Men and all kinds of fancy-university-names-men back then. 

I would like to point out, however, and take it for what you will, that I have to this day never heard anyone use the phrase, "Michigan State Man."

I think it's because that tells the world you were second best...but what do I know? I'm an old man, ranting and raving and destined for the drool cup sooner than the rest of you.