Video: Absolute class from JJ McCarthy when asked if he was hoping to be able to go up against Cade McNamara
Note: The tweet/video won't embed for some reason- I'll try to do that in a comment below. Here's direct link to video: https://x.com/bradgalli/status/1729354533615100167
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Most here are familiar with the way Cade McNamara treated JJ: Ignoring him, being completely disinterested in mentoring him, holding the internal battle to be the starter higher than The Team, The Team, The Team.
JJ easily could have taken the bait to make it personal, to make jabs with tones of revenge/payback- but as we all have seen time and time again, that’s just not who he is. Instead he showed nothing but class, humility, and respect (when disrespect would have been beyond understandable). He went out of his way to maintain the highest level of sportsmanship.
Here's the quote when asked if he was hoping to be able to go up against Cade McNamara:
“I was, I wanted to just be able to see [Cade] again. It’s just amazing to be able to see how both of our journeys turned out. And it was obviously at the forefront of our mind at the beginning of the season to have that chance to play Cade and Erick again. Just to be able to see the guys at the end of the day, because two great guys, it'd just be awesome to be on the same field with them again. It’s pretty cool. Even though they’re not playing, it will be great to see them."
It’s a testament and golden reflection of:
- the program
- the school
- the intentional culture
- the kind of players Harbaugh and all the coaches consistently bring to Michigan (because JJ certainly isn’t the only player with outstanding character like this- M is loaded with them!)
- and, the way Harbaugh/coaches lead by example, showing these young men what it really means to be a Michigan Man
Cheers to JJ, all of team 144, Harbaugh, and the coaches. (Lock Harbaugh up with a contract extension already- preferably LIFETIME)
ALSO: BEAT IOWA
November 28th, 2023 at 11:25 AM ^
In contrast, Cade called Michigan "that other team" in his interview.
November 28th, 2023 at 11:31 AM ^
Here's the video embed (couldn't get the tweet to work so uploaded to YT):
EDIT:
Here's link to the video of Cade McNamara that FB Dive posted above as well (looks like the tweet embed isn't working on their comment either):
November 28th, 2023 at 8:50 PM ^
JJ seems very sincere. I hope Cade realizes that it’s better to take the high road than to be small and bitter. He can learn from JJ.
Go Blue! Beat Iowa!
November 28th, 2023 at 11:34 AM ^
For a guy who hasn't really accomplished all that much on his own, he sure seems to have an air of superiority. And after hearing about how he treated JJ when JJ first got to campus, I've just about lost all respect for Cade.
November 28th, 2023 at 11:37 AM ^
If there's one thing I've learned in life, it's that humble-confidence will take you further in the long run than bitter-arrogance. The latter will ultimately lead to a very bad ending one way or another.
November 28th, 2023 at 11:49 AM ^
Absolutely.
If the means aren't sustainable, the ends won't be either.
Mork Dermternio is a prime example of someone who didn't understand this, and even infused it into an entire school's football culture...and wouldn't you know it, the ends weren't sustainable, or, pride comes before the fall.
November 28th, 2023 at 3:43 PM ^
Logged in just to say I'd upvote this a million times if I could. I was a huge Cade fan, so it sucked when the story came out that showed him needing a whole humble pie by himself.
November 28th, 2023 at 11:39 AM ^
The guy is obviously still salty toward Michigan and JJ because he lost his job. Not sure if anyone is giving him PR tips because he just comes off entitled and bitter every time I see him talk Michigan
November 28th, 2023 at 11:53 AM ^
Some people can't help themselves. They can't hide their true feelings. I'm sure a lot of athletes hold onto these grudges and it helps to motivate them to continue to grind and push to that next level. People like Tom Brady can hide it in an interview and say the right things. Cade doesn't seem to be able to or doesn't care.
November 28th, 2023 at 12:24 PM ^
Cade is just a dense dude who honestly doesn't seem able to think more than three inches past his face
November 28th, 2023 at 12:04 PM ^
According to Sam Webb, Cade and his parents leaked denigrating stuff about JJ's play to the media, off the record, in order to help Cade win the QB battle at Michigan. JJ knows all this and is still all class.
November 28th, 2023 at 12:22 PM ^
Total punk ass
November 28th, 2023 at 11:35 AM ^
Pretty lame of Cade there to go out of his way to say 'I know so much about that other team' rather than 'I know so much about Michigan'
I have no ill will toward guys who wanna transfer out for playing time, better opportunity, etc. but Cade is making it really hard
November 28th, 2023 at 11:38 AM ^
He's a captain that quit on his team halfway through the season. I think he's earned some ill will.
November 28th, 2023 at 12:40 PM ^
^^^ THIS ^^^ … a MICHIGAN CAPTAIN doesn’t put himself above the team and run out !!!
November 28th, 2023 at 11:38 AM ^
Has a lot of growing up to do. Hopefully he gets it some day.
November 28th, 2023 at 11:44 AM ^
Dude wants to be a villain, so bad.
Cade just be comfortable in your own skin man.
November 28th, 2023 at 12:18 PM ^
I hope all he know about us doesn't put any of our players at an increased risk of injury. Especially with Tony in the building Iowa should be careful. I would hate to see Ferentz get a suspension as a representative of an institution that is jeapordizing the safety of players.
November 28th, 2023 at 11:41 AM ^
I don't really care what Cade or Erick say or do. Those two guys were absolutely instrumental in turning around the culture in 2021 and actually winning the key games that turned around the program. I will always remember that and wish for the best for both of them.
They are on a team that is playing Michigan this week for B1G Championship - what do you want him to say? They probably both feel like they need to prove themselves to their new teammates and coaches and fans. Hopefully they get healthy and can help Iowa next year.
Now if they start a fight or something outrageous happens on Saturday - I would reassess but I don't see that happening.
November 28th, 2023 at 12:07 PM ^
Agree with this. I just can't get too worked up over some drama (manufactured, real/perceived, or otherwise) involving a bunch of college kids.
November 28th, 2023 at 12:08 PM ^
They were certainly important players for us that year, but I'm not sure I could say Cade was "instrumental in turning around the culture" given how he acted toward JJ before the season. Giving your backup the cold shoulder because you’re afraid he’ll take your job isn’t a very team-first attitude.
November 28th, 2023 at 12:36 PM ^
I'm gonna say Cade was probably a net negative to the team's culture. I think we all know who the 'culture' guys are right now. Guys like Mikey, Barrett, Corum and guys who have been here playing their roles for years like Harrell and Quentin Johnson. I am quite certain Cade was a negative to our locker room...but our locker room is so strong that you wont hear our guys be dumb enough to say that to any media
November 28th, 2023 at 2:08 PM ^
Disagree.
I think the 2021 team would have performed better with JJ.
November 28th, 2023 at 11:43 AM ^
Could that Lululemon logo get any larger??
...it's always looked like a uterus to me.
November 28th, 2023 at 11:46 AM ^
The funny thing is, IIRC Cade was on the other side of this scenario is high school, the young hotshot displacing the established starter. You’d think he’d have more empathy 🤷
November 28th, 2023 at 11:51 AM ^
In 2020 Cade took the job from Joe Milton in middle of Rutgers game. Did Joe treat him like dirt? I have never heard Joe Milton speaking badly or detached about Cade.
November 28th, 2023 at 12:00 PM ^
You know, I really have no ill will toward Cade and wished him the best upon his departure. Can't blame him for wanting to start somewhere. Dude is a player and he was a major part in beating a solid buckeye team in '21. I know, I know. A lot of people want to downplay his contribution to the W. That's bullshit. Cade is second or third best QB we've had under Harbaugh, about tied with Rudock, worse only than JJ, in my non-scientific, non-measured perspective. But I'm pretty sure if we had Speight or O'Korn (or pick basically any non-Denard QB we've had since the Carr era ended) in that game, we lose. Cade got it done. Props.
That said, holy cow does he come across as a bitter, resentful dick, based on some of these comments and the whole giving JJ the cold shoulder thing. So maybe we are dodging a bullet getting him out of the locker room, in addition to the overall upgrade with JJ.
Thinking about that diary on the transition around 2020, and the culture shift, Cade seems to be carrying a lot of the toxic baggage that permeated our space in those days. I hope he can pull his head out someday.
November 28th, 2023 at 3:24 PM ^
Major part.
Hassan had 5 tuddies.
Cade had 0, and a pick.
How many passes did we throw in the 2nd half?
We won that game in spite of Cade, not because of Cade. We could've put Edwards in at QB and had the same outcome.
The rest of your comment, Mrs. Macnamara, I will not address. But Cade wasn't some phenom quarterback at Michigan. He was the most ready to play on the roster at the time he was here.
November 28th, 2023 at 12:06 PM ^
"That other team"? Sheesh. You don't play for OSU, dude.
Anyway. I'm not going to pile on Cade. He was a big part of the 2021 season, and I'll always remember him for that.
November 28th, 2023 at 12:23 PM ^
Push whatever narrative makes you feel better re: Cade. In my opinion he has well earned much of the ill will from M fans since his departure.
That said, I watched a bunch of that interview on YouTube and while it was mainly Iowa-centric and Cade doing self-promotion (i.e how he "chose" M over Alabama etc.), he DID say "Michigan" at least a few times prior to that 10 second clip people are posting.
November 28th, 2023 at 12:56 PM ^
So if Michigan players still maintain relationships with Cade and All, doesn't that mean Cade and All maintain relationships with the Michigan players? Sounds like they're all good, and Cade is maybe just not the best public speaker.
November 28th, 2023 at 1:04 PM ^
I hope this can start to put an end to the Cade apologists trying to justify or rationalize his behavior last year. Him and his family did not handle the QB competition gracefully. And because of their entitlement, Cade missed out on two more CFP appearances and a chance to improve his NFL chances. I mean, he left us for Brian Ferentz. That's not the sign of rational thinking.
November 28th, 2023 at 2:29 PM ^
Being a starter at a power five school is always better than being the back up in terms of draft chances. You think he should have stayed and what told nfl scouts hey look how I can tear it up in garbage time??? Come on.
November 28th, 2023 at 11:27 AM ^
JJ has to be classy but i don't. Have fun being a third string XFL-er, Cade. Burnnnnnn
November 28th, 2023 at 11:30 AM ^
Doesn't Cade mean Xichigan?
Seriously, come on dude. "That other team?"
You play for Iowa, you are basically the Washington Generals this weekend.
November 28th, 2023 at 11:41 AM ^
He helped the team win a B10 Championship and got a degree here (I assume), but he won't say the school's name...lame sauce.
November 28th, 2023 at 11:52 AM ^
People frankly have him more credit than he deserved* but he threw that all away cause Pops told him he shouldn’t have to compete for a starting spot on a football team
*he of course does deserve credit for his contributions but there’s a reason he was cyaned at one point. Haskins, the oline and Hutchinson were the engines of that team, along with two of the best assistants in the game who should have been Broyles finalists, Macdonald and Moore
November 28th, 2023 at 11:47 AM ^
I prefer TTUN (That Team Undefeated in November).
November 28th, 2023 at 5:37 PM ^
I like how they've given in and started calling us The Champions Up North (TCUN).
November 28th, 2023 at 12:04 PM ^
To be fair, the video is a bit cherry picked (as many are on twitter or X or whatever). He says "Michigan" plenty in the rest of the interview and he declines to discuss what happened in 2022 (when he could've used it to burn more bridges/provide even more clickbait).
November 28th, 2023 at 11:35 AM ^
"It's just amazing to be able to see how both of our journeys turned out."
Lol.
November 28th, 2023 at 11:37 AM ^
Yeah, that was nicely done.
November 28th, 2023 at 11:43 AM ^
Kill them with kindness. Brutal, cutting, kindness.
"Even though they're not playing..." translates to me into... YA BLEW IT LOSERS
November 28th, 2023 at 11:46 AM ^
Exactly. JJ knew damn well what he was doing with these comments.
Well played, JJ!
👏 👏 👏
November 28th, 2023 at 12:01 PM ^
I guarantee JJ did not mean it in a "ha, suck it -- your team is not as good" or any other kind of negative way. He is not petty. He does not have the mind of a message board poster (which some succesful athletes do, such as Kevin Durant). The dude is 100% positive and centered on putting out good energy & love at all times. It’s quite amazing for anyone, let alone a 20-year old.
You can see it in his comments post-OSU – he didn’t focus at all on how his former dream school “had it comin for not recruiting him” or whatever, just on how Michigan was the best place for him and the greatest place in the world in general.
I’m sure he means “Cade’s journey has been a success – his new team made the B1G Championship” and that’s it.
November 28th, 2023 at 12:29 PM ^
I have heard Sam and other insiders discuss how JJ uses the fact that Ohio State rolled with Kyle Accord as his motivational drive to prove Ohio State wrong. He may be too classy and media savvy enough to not rub it in their faces, but I will bet you, to some degree, he feels like they can "suck it" and that he will use it as motivation in the Big10 Championship Game.
I hope the whole team uses Cade and Erick antics leaving town as additional motivation to go out and bury this Iowa team....like scoring a couple TDs on D and having a return for a TD.
November 28th, 2023 at 12:36 PM ^
Certainly he uses it as motivation -- he's a competitor. He has organized his life around that. The point is he never says it or focuses on it publicly; that's not the way he operates. And in the end, he is a relentless positive person. So, again, there is zero chance JJ was throwing any shade at Cade during his interview on the Big Ten Network.
November 28th, 2023 at 3:22 PM ^
Well, he is famous for having said "I used to love them. Now I want to kill them" when it comes to OSU. Wouldn't surprise me if he has just become more sophisticated in his communication skills. I think one can throw shade from a place of tranquility and well-earned positivity.
November 28th, 2023 at 11:45 AM ^
I have absolutely no idea if he meant it that way, but that entire statement is hilarious if he was speaking tongue-in-cheek. Masterful job by him that it could be taken either way.