Second occurance of former players calling fans "muggles"
The short version of the comments from said former players were that people not involved with the program created a mob to oust Brandon in order to "feel better about themselves emotionally". The follow up comment clarified "people not involved" to mean "muggles". Then another former player followed up and said "muggles...smh".
I don't know if it's just me, but this is really disappointing stuff to see. I know as an Alum and fan, this alienates me to an extent. I could be wrong, but I get the impression that these sentiments are shared amongst a lot of players. We want the best for our current athletes and students, so for them to express what I take as disdain for fans baffles me.
I guess I'm just looking for other peoples' take on the situation.
EDIT: to clarify, this is not in reference to the original Mealer tweet. This is a separate occurrence in which the comments were made on FB by a different player, not Elliot.
Edit 2: Title updated. I can see how this would be seen as redundant without reading the entire OP
November 2nd, 2014 at 8:14 AM ^
My working hypothesis as to UM performance in the directors cup is that it reflects time trends in population (midwest vs south/west) with the top athletes located in places with weather they don't want to leave (much less family, etc) without good reason. This is just speculation, though.
November 2nd, 2014 at 9:12 AM ^
I don't disagree with your hypothesis but I'd be curious to see how the timing would have lined up for the worst of the trend to hit during his 4 year tenure exactly....in otherwords, what you are talking about is a 20 year trend that seems to have peaked during DB's 4 year window as AD. Does that seem right or are demographic issues more recent and therefore haven't fully played out yet?
Very interesting question.
November 2nd, 2014 at 9:23 AM ^
November 2nd, 2014 at 9:41 AM ^
Thanks....I'll revise my statement to perennial top 10 finishers and since he got here we've tanked...
November 2nd, 2014 at 8:37 AM ^
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November 2nd, 2014 at 7:37 AM ^
I'm a former Lacrosse player (club, before they went varsity) who has had contact over the years with Coach Paul and the athletic department. I agree with a lot of the thoughts on the board about how fan engagement on the football side has been handled. I think their strategy of playing for high margins in "good" years was not smart and a proverbial killing of the golden goose. I also think DB's style in his emails was not flattering, and painted a picture of someone who had a relatively thin skin.
I'm ambivalent about his departure, however, for reasons that I think have to do with some of the muggle comments out there.
I believe that his efforts to build/support other athletic programs at UM with incredible facilities and resources to hire and retain top coaching talent will make UM compete for the directors cup for the next few decades. If I'm right, DB will leave an important legacy of real success.
Many fans won't care; it's all about FOOTBALL and basketball (with everything else on the very outer reaches of their radar). Who am I to judge that? However, I believe Coach Paul when he talks about how DB has not only created a new legacy in lacrosse but has worked tirelessly to support all athletes at UM that has also helped many FB players
How does this relate to the "muggle" comments? I wouldn't be surprised if the athletes, including FB, find themselves on the whole really supported by DB. That, combined with the fact they aren't paid a salary (rather a modestly-paid internship with the hopes of playing on Sundays) commensurate for what they generate for the university and (finally) the fact that their interactions with fans are often skewed to the "jock-sniff" obsessed fans who I would imagine don't represent the whole fanbase, means their viewpoint is skewed.
November 2nd, 2014 at 7:13 AM ^
November 2nd, 2014 at 7:23 AM ^
I seriously wonder if they think the tuition of other students and state taxes pays for all if their scholarships, uniforms, new facilities, and travel. And not football, a little from basketball, those two sports ability to make BTN profitable, and crap tons of FAN donations primarily driven by people wanting to see football success.
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November 2nd, 2014 at 7:24 AM ^
November 2nd, 2014 at 7:25 AM ^
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November 2nd, 2014 at 7:34 AM ^
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November 2nd, 2014 at 7:21 PM ^
Nice try BlueBall. All that logic and reason means nothing cause you werent a player so therefore you opinion means bupkis.
I mean those observations would be increadibly insightlful IF you were a player but you werent so sorry, no soup for you.
November 2nd, 2014 at 7:29 AM ^
November 2nd, 2014 at 8:14 AM ^
November 2nd, 2014 at 9:00 AM ^
...is still called a football game.
You need the players FAR more than the players need you. Miami hardly even has fans. That may have a somewhat negative impact on the players' experience while there but their careers go on pretty much unimpaired.
November 2nd, 2014 at 9:23 AM ^
November 2nd, 2014 at 9:28 AM ^
pretty sure most people's careers would go on unimpaired without the football team, bud.
November 2nd, 2014 at 7:30 AM ^
November 2nd, 2014 at 8:23 PM ^
approximately.
http://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/index.ssf/2014/03/wolverine_footbal…
The football program costs $23 million annually to operate, but generates $82 million in revenue.
That's $58 million, or about $87.50 of the total ticket price (price + PSD/game) going somewhere else.
It's not the football fans that put the football team in the position of having to support $125 tickets.
November 2nd, 2014 at 9:31 PM ^
The university should not sell football tickets at cost when it can get more money to benefit student athletes in other sports.
November 2nd, 2014 at 7:47 AM ^
November 2nd, 2014 at 8:51 AM ^
November 2nd, 2014 at 9:16 AM ^
November 2nd, 2014 at 9:14 PM ^
So don't buy the tickets. Pretty simple.
November 2nd, 2014 at 11:09 AM ^
In case you're unaware, these kids aren't paid for playing (if you think their scholarships are proper payment, you are delusional, as has been covered here many times over).
If you had sent this message to Dave Brandon, he might have replied 'Find a new team to support.' And for once it would have been the absolutely correct response.
November 2nd, 2014 at 7:56 AM ^
You know this is an endearing term and isn't offensive right?
iOS app developer, can we get a beg button please?
November 2nd, 2014 at 10:47 AM ^
EDIT: I removed this because I was drunk when I posted it.
November 2nd, 2014 at 8:06 AM ^
November 2nd, 2014 at 12:34 PM ^
It's not the least bit hypocritical. It's completely consistent. We didn't want the frustrations with the AD and coaching staff vented on the players. We don't want to be degraded and dismissed by the players. It's a desire for an atmosphere of mutual respect as we each play out our roles in the endeavor.
November 2nd, 2014 at 8:27 PM ^
then, yeah, there's going to be some inconsistencies in the things various posters say.
November 2nd, 2014 at 8:17 AM ^
@ShaneMorris_7: No shots fired.. Just saying that we appreciate those who stick with us till the end.
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November 2nd, 2014 at 8:27 AM ^
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November 2nd, 2014 at 8:44 AM ^
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November 2nd, 2014 at 8:53 AM ^
November 2nd, 2014 at 10:07 AM ^
It's been a collaborative effort. Both groups need to engage in some self-evaluation.
November 3rd, 2014 at 9:37 AM ^
The coaches have been booed all year because the coaches are terrible.
If the players think they are being booed, it boils down to the coaches feeding them some "Its us against the world!" bullshit or just the natural feeling of "We're a brotherhood! We're in this together" which blinds them from realizing the guys coaching them are doing an awful job.
The fans have been shit on by the AD pretty much since Brandon took over. We have the highest ticket prices in the Big Ten and probably the worst home schedule. And the team is awful like you noted. You simply aren't going to have strong fanbase support with this scenario.
November 2nd, 2014 at 9:04 AM ^
what isn't shown is that b/t these tweets, Morris had 2 fumbles and a pick
November 2nd, 2014 at 11:26 AM ^
OR, maybe his Twitter account was hacked.
The message he intended to tweet was: Thanks to all of our fans for their continuing support. We’re glad we could give you a homecoming win to celebrate today. Go Blue!
November 2nd, 2014 at 8:20 AM ^
November 2nd, 2014 at 8:21 AM ^
Playing DI football is probably a transformative experience; you and 90+ teammates go through intense training and teambuilding and public scrutiny. I am certain it ends up being the kind of thing that you believe outsiders can't fully understand. It is also probably frustrating at times. So I'd cut the players some slack.
Surely we can be a little more thick-skinned than this. You got what you wanted, didn't you? Brandon resigned. You can't also expect every player to feel gratitude.
I feel like that's the bottom line, at times: We expect players to come here, always play their best, never complain, express nothing but gratitude for their free education, and feel nothing but loyalty and thankfulness for every fan. We expect them to be undying loyal to the program after graduation, too, never speaking a critical word. Oh, until the day when WE are critical of the program or the coach or the athletic department. Then we DO want them to back us up and call out the things we want called out.
I think this is unreasonable.
November 2nd, 2014 at 10:51 AM ^
November 2nd, 2014 at 8:22 AM ^
November 2nd, 2014 at 8:24 AM ^
November 2nd, 2014 at 8:42 AM ^
November 2nd, 2014 at 8:47 AM ^
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November 2nd, 2014 at 8:51 AM ^
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November 2nd, 2014 at 8:50 AM ^
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November 2nd, 2014 at 8:59 AM ^
I would imagine that it's tough as a player to separate yourself from any part of the program, even if it's not working. You have to buy in wholesale. So the criticism of Dave Brandon may feel personal - they are all a unit. If that is how all the players do feel, then that's one thing Hoke has been successful at.
November 2nd, 2014 at 9:02 AM ^
I can't take the whining from some members of our fan base.
"Oh no, athletes use a Harry Potter term to describe non-athletes who have less of a sense of the inner-workings of the athletic department! I feel alienated by these statements by 20 year olds! I'm a 34 year old insurance adjuster commenting on the Interwebs, and it is all about me! Wah!"
November 2nd, 2014 at 9:23 AM ^