A Brief Reflection from an Ohio State fan

Submitted by themostbrian on January 9th, 2024 at 10:05 AM

I would appreciate a brief dispensation to comment on this excellent Michigan team.

Today I am genuinely happy for Michigan and Michigan fans. Prior to this season, Michigan was 4-14 in its last 18 bowl games - a stretch of futility that began with a 45-17 loss to Tennessee at the January 1, 2002 Citrus Bowl. Their 4 wins during that run are mundane at best - a 2003 Outback Bowl victory to cap a 10-3 season, a 2008 Capital One Bowl victory to cap a 9-4 season, an 2011 Sugar Bowl victory to cap an 11-2 season, and a 2016 Citrus Bowl victory to cap a 10-3 season.

That's a historically miserable run for any program, let alone the winningest college football program of all time. For comparison, the Ohio State dark years under John Cooper only ran to 3-9 overall in the postseason - and one of those 3 victories was the famous Rose Bowl win against Arizona State, easily the best win Ohio State had in the 1990s.

For many, if not most, sports fans, observing a great rival being subjected to this kind of anguishing, decades-long failure would provoke a deep schadenfreude. And I have certainly experienced that at times over the last 20 years - so I am in no way holding myself above anyone else.

But, for me, this Michigan team is different. It's stocked with truly good kids who stayed through rougher times, developed their talent, and returned to school to win a national championship - JJ McCarthy, Blake Corum, Donovan Edwards, Zak Zinter, Trevor Keegan, Max Bredeson, Kris Jenkins, Junior Colson, Michael Barrett, Josh Wallace,.. and the delightful Mikey Sainristil. It's coached by one of the true greats of the sport as a player and a coach - Jim Harbaugh - who absolutely bleeds Maize and Blue. And it's a team that has endured multiple NCAA investigations while under an immensely critical media microscope (despite zero evidence that the sign-stealing program was a significant departure in scope or effect from what other teams already do).

And, in a still roiling college football landscape marked by immediate transfers and universities-as-capitalist-brands, Michigan has gone a markedly different direction by recruiting within the elite academic constraints of the university, developing lesser talent into elite production over multiple seasons, sticking with an old school I-formation and multiple tight ends offensive attack, and finally winning a title with the lowest roster talent of any national champion in at least a decade.

Contrast this with the Ohio State University's football program, which increasingly feels like a collection of mercenaries who happen to wear the same jersey. And, to be clear, I do not hold that against any of the players - they should do what is best for them to maximize their talent to reach the NFL, no question! But it is refreshing to see a throwback team that genuinely cares about the university, honors the deep history of the Maize and Blue, and has actively chosen to put aside individual glory for the pursuit of something greater as a collective. And, what's more, they did it with immense and carefree joy.

Brian already memorialized this Michigan team best:

"They run like my kids run. My kids do not have keys, or a wallet, or a phone. They do not have objects they carry around every day that represent demands, obligations, responsibilities. Mortgages, credit card balances, texts you have to answer from people you do not want to talk to. Unlike my kids, they do have all of those objects, and all of those demands, obligations, and responsibilities. They've signed up for an order of magnitude more than their fair share by playing football at the University of Michigan™. But they do not seem burdened by it. They are joyful. They run like there is nothing in their pockets, nothing at all."

I will never be a Michigan fan. But I'm not ashamed at all to say that I'm a fan of this Michigan team in this moment.

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HateSparty

January 9th, 2024 at 10:20 AM ^

These guys are generally 3-0 against OSU.  Where were the dark days they experienced? Seemed like an unfunny Monday piece from that whining guy from Ohio.    

Joined: 12/17/2014

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Hab

January 9th, 2024 at 10:22 AM ^

I posted on 11W to compliment OSU, thank them for being a part of the best rivalry in sports--hatred and all--and to look forward to next year.  Got DV'd (expected).  So here's a +1.  Feel free to comment here any time.

Joined: 01/02/2015

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JTP

January 9th, 2024 at 10:27 AM ^

Got be tough for Buckeye fans to watch what happened and think, man I never ever thought they’d beat us and now they have 3 times in a row and then win a NC. No Buckeye fan thought this was even remotely possible, oh and by the way thanks to Ryan Day for the hang a 100 comment one of the stupidest things that one could say to a rival, that was when this huge ship made a big turn!

Joined: 01/03/2018

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jerseyblue

January 9th, 2024 at 10:28 AM ^

BTW over at 11 Warriors they're covering their ears and closing their eyes and yellling "I'm in my happy place!". They think our season is going to be vacated by the NCAA. Serious case of denial over there.

Joined: 12/20/2008

MGoPoints: 8295

Blue@LSU

January 9th, 2024 at 10:29 AM ^

To me, this is what a true rivalry is about. I'm sure it hurt like hell to think like this, let alone write it on a rival's board, but you came and did it anyway. Props to you.

This is a truly special team. 

Go Blue!

Joined: 11/04/2016

MGoPoints: 81182

JMo

January 9th, 2024 at 10:43 AM ^

It's also the difference between this 'community' and the 11w or really any other common fan space (both sides). It's not perfect and there are certainly garbage posters here (and in this thread). But wander over to 11w and it's just a rabid pack of delusional nonsense. I like that the OP took the time to write something. I like that people who told him to 'eff off' are negged. Every fan space on the internet doesn't need to be a forum for people to show their worst possible selves under the guise of "its just sports."

Joined: 12/14/2011

MGoPoints: 21179

themostbrian

January 9th, 2024 at 10:39 AM ^

I appreciate that. I will say that, unfortunately, my comments and perspectives have generally not been appreciated at Eleven Warriors and I've never been a deny-the-evidence-in-front-of-me style of fan. There seems to be something deep in the psyche of a lot of Ohio State fans that I would compare to Manifest Destiny or Imperialism more broadly - "this is all ours, and it must be all ours, and any hint of a critique is tantamount to treason." That is not within me.

Joined: 06/30/2008

MGoPoints: 641

jmstranger

January 9th, 2024 at 10:35 AM ^

An aside: can I get an mgoblog shirt that just says UNBURDENED? Will also take the "Because We Said So" shirt mentioned yesterday on the Punt/Counterpunt post

Joined: 05/23/2010

MGoPoints: 9521

SalvatoreQuattro

January 9th, 2024 at 10:46 AM ^

Thank you for this.

I hope you can understand then why some of us respond so bitterly and angrily to accusations of cheating and the attempt at invalidating what this team accomplished.

I don’t have much respect for NCAA’s rules as they are generally applied inconsistent. I personally think OSU should get their wins back from Tattoogate. That to me what was unfair and frankly, stupid. OSU won the games and the alleged infractions were not worthy of such harsh punishment.

In the same vein while Stalions actions are infractions the goal of them is not. A bizarrely reasoned rule that permits theft but not by a specific method. The advantage comes from the legal theft of signals. So how then can it be cheating?

Joined: 11/30/2010

MGoPoints: 79524

Blue Vet

January 9th, 2024 at 10:48 AM ^

Wow. Well said and gracious.

 

When I was in the Army, about the only people I knew from Ohio were Ohio State fans come to Ann Arbor and apparently determined to be as obnoxious as possible.

BUT the nicest guys I met in the Army, including my best friend, were all from Ohio.

Beyond the constrictions of football rivalry, LOTS of good people in Ohio.

 

Joined: 05/08/2012

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harmon40

January 9th, 2024 at 10:52 AM ^

Thanks for this, I think this is how the rivalry should be, respectful and polite both ways.

Also, you can all start calling us TCUN now - Those Champions Up North

Joined: 05/02/2009

MGoPoints: 5743

stevedore

January 9th, 2024 at 10:53 AM ^

Nice writeup, appreciate my fellow humans regardless of who they root for. 

As a side note, I kinda don't like this idea of "lesser talent" and "roster talent"- this is college football, not the NFL, a group of NFL-size players isn't necessarily one with "greater talent" for college football, and certainly not necessarily a better team. I feel like we need to make better distinctions than what the recruiting star system gives us.

Joined: 05/01/2009

MGoPoints: 762

XM - Mt 1822

January 9th, 2024 at 10:54 AM ^

themost, fine post.  welcome. 

i have been on 11W for years.  went there when earle bruce died to pay my respects.  have had many a solid football convo there over the years....up until the last two.  i wish there were way more people there like you.  the ones i see now are insane, irrational, emotional and toxic - and those are their best qualities.  

football should be fun.  rivalries should be about great sportsmanship and good-natured ribbing.  i wish it was that way with way more of your fan base and with sparty.  

regardless, hat tip to you for great sportsmanship. we could all use more of that. 

Joined: 12/21/2011

MGoPoints: 104446

WestQuad

January 9th, 2024 at 11:07 AM ^

Wow.  Dude you should go solve the issues in Gaza or the Ukraine.  It takes a deep soul to write this about your rival.  I thought Eddie George was great, but I can only admit it because of Biakabatuka.

I appreciate this acknowledgement:

(despite zero evidence that the sign-stealing program was a significant departure in scope or effect from what other teams already do).

I also appreciate the phrase

universities-as-capitalist-brands

I hate referring to Michigan as a brand.  Sure there are marketing departments, but the affiliation should be about the school (and team's) accomplishments and endeavors.  Yeah, you have to get the word out, but an alma mater should be deeper than a brand. 

Great post.

 

Joined: 07/22/2011

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Wendyk5

January 9th, 2024 at 11:16 AM ^

I have one friend who is a Buckeye, with deep roots there -- entire family went there, etc....He actually congratulated me after the Rose Bowl win and it was genuine. He used to give me Buckeye shit all the time. I accepted the congratulations and moved on. Really, what more is there to this? We don't like each other. We're rivals. I appreciate any good will. 

Joined: 11/20/2008

MGoPoints: 68407

AMazinBlue

January 9th, 2024 at 11:16 AM ^

Why can't all fans be this respectful of their rivals?  It doesn't have to be all full of hate. Thank you for the kind words. You have provided proof that there are OSU fans that deserve our respect. 

We are NATIONAL CHAMPIONS!!!!

GO BLUE

Joined: 10/12/2008

MGoPoints: 7197

Parkinen

January 9th, 2024 at 11:24 AM ^

Thank you.  What we sometimes forget, is that the Biggest Rivalry in college football, ( or perhaps in sports,) is always at its best when both teams are doing well.  Both teams benefit when both programs are doing well.   

Joined: 09/09/2013

MGoPoints: 2047

Team 101

January 9th, 2024 at 11:26 AM ^

I am OK with Ohio State people lurking here and nothing the poster wrote was inappropriate but Ohio State people don't need to post here.  This can be posted on the 11 Warriors site.

Joined: 04/15/2013

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