curl06

September 13th, 2021 at 10:33 AM ^

I wouldn't be among the people booing him, but I do get it to some degree. He was a fairly public face of Michigan on social media who saw a decent amount of playing time. So I'm sure a lot of people were hurt that he left... not to mention going to another P5 team that was also on Michigan's schedule. So to that extent, he did it to himself. I'll be curious what the reaction is to Zach Carpenter, when Indiana comes to town (I'm sure VanSumeren will be booed, but not even sure he'll play).

I do wonder though, if it's telling that he didn't have much of a warm welcome from his former teammates. It seemed the defense was extra excited to lay a hit on him. I was trying to watch if I caught him on field after the game meeting up with any of his former teammates, but didn't see anything. Whether any of that means anything, I don't know. I guess I just expected some friendly interactions at some point between former teammates.

Joined: 10/23/2017

MGoPoints: 316

1145SoFo

September 12th, 2021 at 7:21 PM ^

Yea, filing this as a big nothingburger. If you're filming players after fans have been yelling at them for 3+ hours, you prob shouldn't be shocked if they snap back. The twitter fingers calling him personal insults like trash & clutching their pearls are super frustrating.

Joined: 11/08/2014

MGoPoints: 3336

jethro34

September 12th, 2021 at 7:25 PM ^

Here are my thoughts - Giles left because he wasn't thrilled with how things went down with Joe, right? So far it looks like the coaches were absolutely right to show that Cade was going to be ahead of Joe, so I don't see any issue. Joe got a chance to start (which he appears to have lost) so it worked out better for him than it would have here. As Giles looked at our passing game he likely feels like he made a good choice as well, especially considering the injuries his teammates have endured. I think it's unfortunate for everyone involved when a player faces their former team like this. Clearly other players wanted to send the message to him that he is the enemy now, and fans did, too. It's perfectly fine to try to show out and want to prove them wrong, but THIS (and anything similar fans said to him, because I'm sure they did - if not worse) is in bad taste.

To this point it seems like Milton and Giles made decisions that were better than staying here. Michigan isn't sad about Milton. With the Bell injury I'm sure they wish they could have kept Giles, especially for his return skills, but it's not a crushing blow.

Joined: 01/28/2011

MGoPoints: 2366

The Purple Helmet

September 12th, 2021 at 7:52 PM ^

Michigan passed for roughly 50 yards yesterday

im not sure the loss of Jackson can be so easily written off, particularly with the injury to Ronnie Bell

im not buying any reasons about not passing as anything but an excuse for the real reason

there is no passing game at this point

Joined: 08/07/2021

MGoPoints: 555

ColoradoBlue

September 12th, 2021 at 9:10 PM ^

I seriously doubt that he left because of Joe Milton.  I'm sure he left for the same reasons Zack left.  He probably didn't like his position on the depth chart.  Whatever - it happens.  But if it's true that he burned some bridges on the way out, well then I really don't feel sorry for how he was treated.  You reap what you sow.

Joined: 09/14/2008

MGoPoints: 7726

Jeff09

September 12th, 2021 at 7:28 PM ^

I feel like there are things within the reasonable bounds of behavior, and this strikes me as clearly outside of that. OTOH Booing a former player who switched to play for the other team strikes me as within the bounds of reasonable behavior. Just my opinion, I’m sure some will disagree

if he was responding to something specific that would change my view, but without additional context seems like a lame move imo

Joined: 06/25/2011

MGoPoints: 8460

Blake Forum

September 12th, 2021 at 7:35 PM ^

If you heckle guys in a rude/mean/personal/profane way at a sporting event, then you can't clutch pearls when they say something back. I dunno what triggered that response in Giles, but I'll give him the benefit of the doubt, given how much shit athletes get from crowds

Joined: 07/20/2020

MGoPoints: 22213

UMxWolverines

September 12th, 2021 at 7:36 PM ^

He was getting booed all night. I dont blame him for saying something back. I dont understand the notion that fans can say whatever they want and the players cant say anything back. 

Joined: 03/01/2009

MGoPoints: 65635

G. Gulo of the Dale

September 12th, 2021 at 7:42 PM ^

Sources on Twitter tell me that when Giles looked into the stands on the way to the tunnel, he saw his own dog, of the female variety, dressed in Michigan gear.  When your own dog turns on you, after a rough day at the office, that's an understandable reaction.

Joined: 04/01/2013

MGoPoints: 6864

Perkis-Size Me

September 12th, 2021 at 7:47 PM ^

Not the best look, but he’s fresh off being 0-2, embarrassed by an FCS team and getting beat by his old team and coaches, and being booed incessantly by the crowd essentially every time his name was announced. The same crowd that used to cheer him on. So I get it.

If he told that to a little kid then yeah, fuck him. But if he said that to grown adults who were talking shit to him, then I’d say they probably deserved it and there’s nothing that Giles needs to apologize for to anyone associated with Michigan. 

If you’re going to throw shade someone’s way, you’d better be ready to take it as well. If you as a fan are going to talk shit to athletes, especially when they are at their lowest after a loss, then they are entirely within their rights to return the favor and dish shit right back your way. You shouldn’t be shocked when they snap back.

Joined: 11/30/2011

MGoPoints: 106264

b618

September 12th, 2021 at 7:48 PM ^

Rude fan gets rude response?  Gasp!

I'm hoping Giles does well at Washington.

Same for Milton, Peters, McCaffrey, Hefley, Martin, Charbonnet, and others at their new schools.

Joined: 07/22/2018

MGoPoints: 6486

b618

September 12th, 2021 at 11:38 PM ^

No, I don't like anyone badmouthing the program.  Not former players, and not fans.

If I knew it were true, then, sure, my feelings wouldn't be as fond.

I don't know if any of that is true, though.  "I heard that he said X" from posters on a message board isn't reliable information.

Even if that were true, it is piss-poor manners for any fans to be shrieking at him.

Joined: 07/22/2018

MGoPoints: 6486

MMBbones

September 12th, 2021 at 8:19 PM ^

Really? Did he expect a warm hug? He should have expected some negative reaction to him playing against his former team and he should have handled it with class. Playing against your former team without expecting exactly the fan response he received is naive, to say the least. 

Joined: 08/28/2008

MGoPoints: 10037

SD Larry

September 12th, 2021 at 8:11 PM ^

Man, I was pulling for Giles until seeing this video & thread just because he played for Michigan and thought he was a good kickoff return man here.   He may be troubled.  Bad look either way. Really disappointing.

Joined: 10/05/2014

MGoPoints: 41032