What's your line?

Submitted by canzior on

I'm thinking this is possibly because I'm not a Michigan Alum, but I'm not so moved by what's going on.  2 things have affected my opinions of "fandom."  

1. MSU 2010, 34-17 loss, hanging out in the locker room after the game with the players, Odoms hurt his leg, was on crutches and laughing and joking. Denard didn't play well (AT ALL) and was smiling and taking pics...I was bummed....and they weren't.  I thought to myself, why should I care, more than they do?  My life isn't markedly worse when they lose.  

2. My (former) obsession with reading everything on this site.  And I had to remind myself, that not only do I care about who the President is at a school I do not attend, I am just as interested in the women's softball team, basketball team, gymnastics, hockey, or the volleyball team.  All I care about is 3 hours on Saturday.  That might make me a shitty fan, but it's certainly made me a happier one.  

It's similar to how I feel about celebrities.  Their personal life doesn't interest me, their work does...and I think that ties into the NFL issues a few weeks ago.  How much do you really care about what goes in the personal lives of players?  And if you care, why?  Do you care about everyone's personal life or just those who are famous?  These questions I've asked myself and it all comes back to this:  This is entertainment!  I believe it should bring some joy, and for me, when there is no joy, there is no reason to be so involved.  So I'll continue to watch the games, regardless of record, but my former favorite pasttime of reading MGO will likely halt until the conversation gets back to more of the on-the-field product and less of the things I'm not so interested in. 

But to each of you, your personal investment in Michgian football goes how far?  And what's your line?

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jballen4eva

October 3rd, 2014 at 2:46 PM ^

And I will tell you, it has NEVER worked for me.  Ever.  

My wife's line is way better: "I can tell by your breath that you're a smoker," except when the target is not a smoker, then it's just really hurtful.  

Joined: 11/20/2012

MGoPoints: 3029

Sllepy81

October 3rd, 2014 at 2:48 PM ^

Living in California. I went from top of the world 88-94 to the bottom, I mean rock bottom for multiple years. This is nothing new to me, I'm sure tiger fans can relate, they were rock bottom with us. Look at the men Basketball team during the banned years, I still watched, I watched them lose to the San Fransisco Dons in California in fact. When they lose I tend to cheer for individuals more.

Joined: 01/02/2013

MGoPoints: 7976

One Inch Woody…

October 3rd, 2014 at 2:51 PM ^

I love my alma mater but the program is trapped in a cycle of poor results because the fans attack the football team because of poor results. I have accepted this. I will feel involved again for two things: 1) only when the fans stop taking things for granted and stop equating being Michigan with second = last. 2) I want to see the players on the field actually playing *for* their/my school... I want to see a Novak aneurysm of leadership. I haven't seen the players give a shit about the school and play hard since the 2007 capital one bowl (and maybe Wisco 2008). Once these 2 things happen, I'll be back all in.

Joined: 06/25/2011

MGoPoints: 1434

ijohnb

October 3rd, 2014 at 2:59 PM ^

have been sporadic instances of hard-dedicated play where I thought a Michigan team came and played all in.  They fought to the bitter end against MSU and OSU in 2009.  They came to play against MSU in 2011 and 2012.  They were 100% in the Sugar Bowl.  They really went after South Carolina.  These were not all triumphs but they were instances I can remember feeling like a Michigan football team really brought their helmets.

It is very sporadic though, I will give you that.

Joined: 09/21/2009

MGoPoints: 69986

J.Madrox

October 3rd, 2014 at 3:10 PM ^

What about after Hoke's first year. My memory may not be the greatest, but I am pretty sure the fans were 100% behind Hoke and company after his first season. Heck I believe most fans were still 100% behind him after this second season. I know I personally was able to justify why it was still a good season despite the 5 losses.

I just don't believe the fans have any real impact on the team. Maybe they can amplify a bad situation, but most fans don't turn on the team or coaches until things get bad. This team is bad this year, no amount of fan support will change that. If we had record crowds for both Utah and Minnesota the team would have still gotten dominated.

Fans need to be more reasonable, that is true across all fans of all sports, but give us a good football coach and a well run athletic department and the fans will be happy. If anyone wants the fans excited, deliver something to be excited about.

Joined: 03/15/2013

MGoPoints: 1674

ijohnb

October 3rd, 2014 at 3:27 PM ^

is no fuel because the athletic department has created an atmosphere that treats playing at Michigan as an end and not a means to one.  I don't think it was intentional and I think it was actually well intentioned to begin with but it has now engulfed the entire football program.  I think a few primary things happened in succession that resulted in this.  First, the hiring of Rich Rod and his coaching style and demeanor was seen as a quick and distinct break with Michigan tradition and what made Michigan so special to a lot of people(not saying it was that way, I am saying that is how it was interpreted by many).  That would have been fine if Michigan had won, but we didn't, we lost, and lost bad.  To combat this, it was seen as absolutely impairative that Michigan become "Michigan" again, because the decline in our play and the break with tradition was seen as being the same thing because they happened at the same time.  To combat this, Brandon aggressively sought to restore the brand.  The "this is Michigan" mantra was not Brady Hoke coming up with a catchy line at a good time, it was an honest to god marketing campaign.  It was an attempt to "force" tradition back into a program that had lost it, but it ultimately failed because the biggest tradition at Michigan was consistent, competent football, and you cannot fake that, you cannot "brand" that.  In addition, what followed after the "return to tradition" was really a succession of further tradition breaking far in access of anything that RR did that really alienated fans. 

As it stands now, Michigan players play with a sense of entitlement, they play in a manner that looks as though they believe they have already arrived, because "This is Michigan" and Michigan is college football.  Brandon has not helped matters with the UTL campaigns and the "Superbowl" atmosphere he has noted.  It says, we don't need to succeed, we will just bring success to you.  All of these legends jerseys, air shows, jersey patches, these things diminish the importance of the actual game to the players. They don't need to be great because the number on their jersey and the image on the big screen is telling them that they already are.  

Joined: 09/21/2009

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mGrowOld

October 3rd, 2014 at 3:00 PM ^

Oh good.  It had been at LEAST 15 minutes since the last feelingspost and I was so, so missing them.

Remember everyone.  Putting your thoughts and feelings inside other poster's thread topics is for LOSERS.  If you are a real man (or woman) you create your own unique thread so the world can know exactly what you are feeling.

Cause the world cries out not knowing how you are feeling.

Joined: 10/04/2010

MGoPoints: 212545

J.Madrox

October 3rd, 2014 at 3:04 PM ^

But if I don't start my own thread my opinions and feelings will get buried deep beneath other, lesser posters comments. How is the entire MGoCommunity supposed to know how smart and different my thoughts/opinions are from everyone elses if I don't start my own thread?

Are you saying you don't care how we all feel mGrowOld?

Joined: 03/15/2013

MGoPoints: 1674

DeBored

October 3rd, 2014 at 3:07 PM ^

I see your Biggie and raise you:


..one of them dames was sexy as hell
I said "oooooo I like your size."
she said "my car's broke down and you seem real nice,
would ya let me ride?"
I got a car full of girls and it's going real swell
the next stop is the Eastside Moteeeeeeeeeellllllllll

Joined: 11/14/2013

MGoPoints: 1138

Njia

October 3rd, 2014 at 3:33 PM ^

An 8 or a 10lb line depending on what I'm fishing for. Depends on what rod I'm using, whether I'm trolling, etc.

Mostly trolling, though.

Joined: 09/15/2009

MGoPoints: 35773

Jalm

October 3rd, 2014 at 4:01 PM ^

We will see if the rides are closed at Cedar Point tomorrow due to wind, but probably an hour long line for Millennium Force.

Joined: 10/25/2013

MGoPoints: 2852

Miles was right

October 3rd, 2014 at 8:56 PM ^

notice the players on the sideline too. Getting blown out by MINNESOTA and there they are laughing that bellomy cannot find his helmet...fuck them, and fuck hoke for creating this country club environment. The kids the kids the kids..... Makes me sick. Bo treated them as YOUNG MEN


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