DetNews beginning to act more like the Freep?
I saw this article today from Angelique S. Chengelis. Seems like it could be written by Mark Snyder. Also, it seems strange that an article about the Victors Rally would be written a week after the fact.........
http://detnews.com/article/20100227/OPINION03/2270396/1004/SPORTS/-Vict…
February 27th, 2010 at 5:47 PM ^
The article sounds fair to me. Honestly, the victors rally sounded contrived and pointless.
February 27th, 2010 at 6:17 PM ^
I'm not sure what was inherently "embarrassing" about it, especially after watching video of the speeches. Just because it is something they haven't done before, doesn't make it a "desperate" event.
To me, it seems like an editor came up to her and said, "Write a story about the Victor's Rally, and you must use the word 'embarrassing' in the title. This is our angle."
February 27th, 2010 at 8:34 PM ^
was Spartyesqe.
February 28th, 2010 at 10:55 AM ^
The rally itself. The articles following it. I sure hope that Brandon proves to be the brand management guru he is reputed to be. Our brand needs a little help.
February 27th, 2010 at 5:48 PM ^
Don't question Angelique. She is the queen of Michigan football
February 27th, 2010 at 5:53 PM ^
It seems like a half-assed op-ed piece, and a really weird one at that. Did the Victor's Rally really stick in her head for a whole week? Suddenly, a pep rally at Michigan is cause for concern? And the great conclusion at the end of the article is yet another call to win more games? What gives?
It's like her editor made her write it, she didn't want to, and this is the column we get.
C'mon Detroit News, you've been better than this in recent years. Don't fall off the wagon now.
February 27th, 2010 at 6:02 PM ^
It's February and not much else to do. Seemed like a strange article by her.
February 27th, 2010 at 6:09 PM ^
She makes some very good points. The "Detractors Not Allowed" statement on the theater screen is actually pretty disturbing. "All In" seems to have come to mean something very different form what I thought it meant. Angelique is right, divisiveness is a bad tactic - it will only raise the bar for what is required to keep RR here.
February 27th, 2010 at 8:39 PM ^
I think the "Detractors Not Allowed" theme was a calculated risk. Yes its a bit hokey, but they probably wanted to have some support solidly in their corner before releasing the NCAA findings this week.
Winning this year will bring the detractors back into the fray. They didn't want the detractors to become one single resounding voice this week. I think it worked.
February 27th, 2010 at 6:37 PM ^
The great Arbiter of Points has brought you back up to 0.
February 27th, 2010 at 6:10 PM ^
So do pep rallies on the Diag, the Victor's Walk before the game, singing the alma mater at half time, and a billion other things college football fans do that have no effect whatsoever on what happens on the field.
February 27th, 2010 at 7:48 PM ^
Again, since when did anybody sing the Yellow and Blue at halftime?
February 28th, 2010 at 12:03 AM ^
Not sure when we stopped (10 years ago?), but in the late '80s through mid-90's, it was sung at every game. How do I know? No one in my section knew any of the words except for the one part where the song stops and every yells, "HAIL!"
Note it was probably sung long before I noted - I just didn't attend any games before that.
February 28th, 2010 at 8:31 AM ^
Well, it was played at the end of every pregame band show until 2001, when Coach Carr asked that the teams be on the field for the National Anthem post-9/11.
To my knowledge, aside from Homecoming, it has never been played at halftime.
February 27th, 2010 at 6:12 PM ^
Football wasn't good
Hockey and basketball were both train wrecks
So yes it was mostly (from my understanding) a rally for football but ya know what Michigan hasn't had a lot to rally around lately.
Michigan fans have to be reminded about THE TEAM THE TEAM THE TEAM and that you should never give up on anyone or any team. Because anyone can be a fan of a winning program (just ask the hockey or football teams before the past few years) but it takes a REAL FAN to be a fan and support a losing team (I'm looking at you Maize Rage).
I see nothing wrong with rallying the Michigan fan base because frankly we need it.
February 27th, 2010 at 6:19 PM ^
How many times do I or the many others that have tried have to say this to you - there is a difference between being a REAL fan of a team and being a fan of the administration of that team. I know many who love the Yankees but hate Steinbrenner. None of us skeptics is not a fan of the Michigan football team. Questioning the administrative decisions, the administrative staff, the coaching decisions, the coaching staff has nothing to do with being a fan of the team. THEY ARE TWO SEPARATE THINGS - yes I am yelling so that you might, just might, hear me.
February 27th, 2010 at 6:30 PM ^
FOREWARNED)
I'M NOT SAYING THAT IT WAS A RALLY BEHIND THE ADMINISTRATION. I NEVER ONCE EVEN MENTIONED RICH RODRIGUEZ IN MY POST. THE RALLY IMO IS A GOOD IDEA BECAUSE MICHIGAN FANS HAVE HAD NOTHING TO BE HAPPY/EXCITED/BEEN ABLE TO RALLY AROUND SINCE APPY STATE. SURE BEATING FLORIDA IN THE CAP ONE BOWL WAS GREAT AND ALL BUT IT WAS THE FUCKING CAP 1 BOWL TO CAP OFF A 7-5 SEASON. HOCKEY HAS BEEN COMPLETELY DISAPPOINTING AND BASKETBALL HAS SUCKED THE LIFE OUT OF EVERYONE.
I want all Michigan programs to win with style, grace, humility and honor. I just want Michigan to win I don't give a fuck who the coach is. Because I think that right now RR gives us the best chance of winning that's my opinion but it will never change the fact that I want this Michigan team (and all Michigan teams TO JUST FUCKING WIN).
I'm going to leave before I have a meltdown goodnight.
P.fucking-S.: I do think that it might have been a ploy to drum up support for Rich Rodriguez before the findings of the report came out. It does seem like it was put up as soon as the meeting happened. Honestly though as I said above and below our fan base needs SOMETHING ANYTHING to rally behind besides Ice dancers (no offense to them).
February 27th, 2010 at 6:41 PM ^
YOU win due TO your ADEPT admixture of CAPS and "FUCKS"
February 27th, 2010 at 8:38 PM ^
things have not been good for a while. We've been spoiled. You need to go to Ashley's a little more often and have a brew. Pick something with a higher alcohol content. It can only help.
February 27th, 2010 at 6:28 PM ^
Did you sell your Ohio State ticket?
February 27th, 2010 at 6:43 PM ^
Are you serious? Honestly, I have come to expect more from you dude.
February 27th, 2010 at 7:03 PM ^
I'm just trying to make a point. Certain things people do to show their disapproval for the administration also have an unintended adverse effect on the team.
February 27th, 2010 at 7:33 PM ^
Selling a ticket to an OSU fan does not show disapproval of the administration. It does show that you didn't think that the quality of the game outweighed the price of the ticket, which means that you are disparaging the quality of the team Michigan put on the field, which means that you are not supporting the team. However, questioning the administration and coaching staff of a team has no adverse effects on the team unless your voice actually carries weight (i.e. you have a significant connection to the team beyond being a fan/alumnus).
Going KGB on every bit of dissent towards the coaching staff is simply stupid and unbecoming of this site. The reason most people frequent this board is to discuss Michigan sports. What is the point of doing that if they can't give an honest opinion? Especially when the opinion is not an expression of lunacy or idiocy, nor in poor taste.
February 27th, 2010 at 7:47 PM ^
Good, I thought I was just too dense to get his point.
February 27th, 2010 at 8:26 PM ^
I was actually in the process of changing the OSU post before responses locked me out. The point definitely could have been made in a clearer way, and I didn't intend to question the loyalty of other posters.
I disagree with you about a person's voice not carrying any weight. Maybe not individually, but the collective voice has a huge impact on the team. If players believe the fans are no longer behind them, it is doubtful that 110% will be given on a consistent basis. There is absolutely nothing wrong with giving an honest opinion, I just wanted to make it clear that dissent isn't doing the team any favors right now.
Getting involved in a coaching carousel (ala Notre Dame) is one of the worst things possible while trying to rebuild a team. This is why I am hesitant to offer strong dissenting opinions until I feel we have actually given our coach the opportunity to win. Next season, we should be reasonably close to having given him that opportunity.
I can see the light at the end of the tunnel for this team and RichRod. The coaches and administration already know they are up against the wall, so constantly harping on them makes us come across as a "fractured" and "weak" fanbase. This is something we must avoid until Rich obtains a little more job security. Once people aren't calling for the coach to resign after every loss, dissent should be given at will.
February 27th, 2010 at 9:46 PM ^
1. I don't think there's any question that the Michigan fanbase unanimously supports the players on the Michigan football team. The dissent only lies with the coaching staff (and let's face it, for good reason).
2. I agree with your points about avoiding the coaching carousel and that is one of the reasons I think that Rodriguez should continue to be our coach. However, if I thought that Rodriguez should be fired, I would certainly not hold back out of fear that it would harm the team. If I thought that it would be detrimental to the program for Rodriguez to continue to be our football coach, then saying so would actually benefit the program (in my view) because my voice would add to the voices that was advocating for what would be a positive change to the program, which would put pressure on the administration to make the said change. When fans express dissent, the ultimate belief is that they are helping the program by attempting to get a necessary change to happen.
February 27th, 2010 at 9:48 PM ^
Do we seriously need to question every single person who is critical of Rodriguez is a true Michigan fan? I hate to break it to you, but Rodriguez hasn't exactly been stellar thus far. Two years, an 8-16 record, and major NCAA violations are not exactly up to Michigan standards. Sure there are mitigating circumstances, but that doesn't mean that he's exactly blameless and nor does mean that fans who are critical of him deserve to have their loyalty questioned.
EDIT: Per your additional statements, I retract the subject question and apologize for the personal attack expressed there.
February 27th, 2010 at 6:16 PM ^
I was a first year alumni the year of Appy State and went to pretty much every game that year. Sure there wasn't a "sponsored" rally after we lost to Appy State but god dammit you wouldn't have known it walking down State Street before the Oregon game. Honestly it felt like we were in the movie Braveheart with the bag pipe guy and all that.
Since Bo died Michigan football has seemed to die with it and so too has the fanbase, their expectations and and a little bit of each of us has died inside. Michigan fans need something to rally upon. (Not sure where I was going with this paragraph)
February 27th, 2010 at 6:25 PM ^
Unconditional support is definitely needed right now. I feel like we are on the verge of becoming a team where the fanbase quits once things get tough each year. This is a bullshit way to approach being a fan.
February 27th, 2010 at 6:18 PM ^
Lets not take every criticism of Michigan football as "acting like the Freep." Yes, the Freep took a cheap shot, but lets not lump that together with every form of criticism.
February 27th, 2010 at 6:27 PM ^
And let's not get into a mentality that unless it's a gush piece it's an attack that we need to retaliate against.
Threads like this kind of hammer home her points about the supporters of Rodriguez being the ones who are screaming the loudest and drawing lines in the sand, creating a silly "If'n you ain't fer us, you ag'in us" atmosphere.
February 27th, 2010 at 6:31 PM ^
I'm just getting sick of all of this honestly.
February 28th, 2010 at 3:16 AM ^
Hurrah for a logical point of view. (To to tunes of the Yellow and Blue)
February 27th, 2010 at 6:28 PM ^
I disagree with her in almost every way.
Carr was the end of the Bo system. It was a pipeline of coaches who always did 'three yards and a cloud of dust' which is the Michigan football I grew up on and learned to love. The same four plays over and over, unless M was way behind and they would allow a bomb to get thrown.
Carr also was not a man who could do a rally. Sit and talk calm, measured football? Sure. Sit and address a law school class on sports ethics? Sure. Calmly discuss what new NCAA regs may mean long term? Sure. Fire up the fans and the team? Never, that wasn't Carr.
RichRod is a new man with a new system. Do I wish he had adapted his spread offense to the skills of his QBs? Sure. Do I wish he had hired the right men to fix our large defense problems? 100% sure. Do I wish Carr had not slacked off getting new blood, and training them, his last two years? The same 100%.
The girl writer crying because RichRod actually tries to fire up the fans is really crying because Carr isn't there. I don't know if she has some daddy issue, or if she is such a stick in the mud that she can't handle a fired up M coach, or what her deal is. I do know her comments are uncalled for.
This is a new coach, not one of Bo's guys, and he is doing new things. If she does not like it she can go write somewhere down south where quiet serious calm men coach.
February 27th, 2010 at 6:33 PM ^
2008 but honestly what "system" could RR have devised that would have fit our QBs?
The only system that I can think of is just 100% "wildcat" so that they aren't on the field.
February 27th, 2010 at 7:03 PM ^
Sorry -- +1 for the "new blood" part and -2 for the '08 QBs. I suppose it's possible that Threet (who, like Sheridan, seems to be a generally good guy) will eventually make something of himself, but the '08 QBs were the worst I've ever seen at Michigan. (I can't remember much before the mid-'80s.)
I can't imagine either succeeding in any system in that season. I'm really tired of hearing that argument and the one that begins with "RichRod didn't have the guys to run the spread." Both place blame unfairly (IMO) on Rodriguez.
February 27th, 2010 at 7:10 PM ^
I agree about the 08 QBs. I had the best seats of my life, middle of the endzone just off the wall, for one of the games.
Sheridan was backed up with his back to me a lot that game. I could see routes open, me, just a fan, and he wasn't fast enough to throw to them or decide to run. It was like he needed an extra three seconds to decide, in an offense where he had only 1.
I don't know what they could have done. Would drop back in the pocket have worked in 08? I do know what we were doing didn't usually work.
Not to blame Sheridan for that season. He was trying. There is no such thing as a spread defense, and our DC just wasn't doing something right.
February 28th, 2010 at 12:27 AM ^
girl writer with all her crying. It must be because of her Dad. I'm sure glad we have a LOUD MAN COACH, OH YEAH!! Because clearly having such a coach is the only way to win.
Seriously, what the fuck? I'm not an RR hater, but I was plenty fucking fired up watching a Michigan team win games under Lloyd Carr. And it's certainly not clear that the team is any more fired up under Carr than RR.
February 27th, 2010 at 6:48 PM ^
let's keep our eyes on DetNews and see if this tone becomes a trend.
February 27th, 2010 at 6:57 PM ^
Thats the only thing I was trying to say by posting this article. Let's pay attention to see how much pressure the editors put on her in the future to be critical.
This thread wasn't meant to become argumentative.
February 27th, 2010 at 7:03 PM ^
So she can't have her own opinions?
February 27th, 2010 at 7:09 PM ^
This doesn't seem like something she would have written in the past. Not casting any judgment right now, but given the fact that DetNews and Freep have the same parent company(Gannett), I will keep an eye open in the future.
February 27th, 2010 at 7:37 PM ^
The DetNews and Freep are designed to appeal to different audiences. DetNews leans Republican, while the Freep leans Democratic. So I doubt that Gannett is going to try to make their sports pages bend the same way too. In fact, it makes more sense to make DetNews a pro-Michigan paper, if Michigan fans are abandoning the Freep.
February 27th, 2010 at 8:51 PM ^
That's why I'm surprised to see her write this article.
Hence, the "wait and see" approach for the future....
February 27th, 2010 at 9:02 PM ^
theres a big difference between an opinion writer taking a negative opinion of rr versus the hackjob the freep wrote and tried to pass as investigate journalism.
even if angelique, or wojo, or any other opinion writer for that matter writes an opinion column attacking rr, thats their job. not every journalist has to be a mouthpiece for the mgoblog community.
February 27th, 2010 at 7:15 PM ^
However, there seems to be as much if not more to talk about in agriculture land. When are the papers going to portray violence on campus for what it is ... it is far greater a concern than stretching and making sure kids get to class. All I am lookng for is balance in the local media. A quick trip to E. Lansing would not be a trip to nirvana. A bit of commom sense from the NCAA wouldn't hurt either.
February 27th, 2010 at 6:59 PM ^
It's odd mostly because she is hating on a pep rally. Even crappie teams that never win have pep rallies. Just seems like a waste of time and ink to me.
February 27th, 2010 at 7:00 PM ^
We shouldn't have to have a rally for football in freakin February. I understand the need to rally the best in support of Rich (For disclosure, I am completely in the pro-Rich camp).
Remember, Angelique didn't write the title, the editors placed the title on the article. Knowing Angelique I am willing to bet she is pretty embarrassed for the title herself.