I'm Nervous. Hold me!
My emotional investment in Michigan football is unhealthy.
My hatred of OSU is unhealthy.
I've been waiting for this opportunity for my favorite sports team (UM football) since the mid 90's
I will go to my grave happy if this team wins tomorrow. They deserve it. We all want it.
Yes, it's just a game, but this university and team mean so much more to me.
We survived Hoke, RR, and the OSU glory years to finally! have this chance.
We fucking need this. The university and team deserves this.
I'm so fucking nervous.
Please finish boys.
I will never bitch about sports or ask anything of the football gods again if they get this done tomorrow.
Hold me.
That is all.
January 7th, 2024 at 4:16 PM ^
I got you boo
January 7th, 2024 at 5:03 PM ^
I got you boo(boo) FIFY
January 7th, 2024 at 9:48 PM ^
Engage the Mechanism.
January 7th, 2024 at 4:21 PM ^
I am in the same mind-state. Let's hug it out.
January 7th, 2024 at 4:21 PM ^
Just do as Stefon does and you’ll be fine
January 7th, 2024 at 4:23 PM ^
Oddly, I feel supremely confident in the team to the point that, deep down inside, I think they will win comfortably. I don’t like this feeling and want to kill it.
January 7th, 2024 at 5:47 PM ^
Approaching two of the last three OSU games and the three previous CFP games, I hoped they would win and thought they could win, but wasn’t entirely confident. I very strongly believe they’ll win this game. I don’t know if that’s good or bad.
January 7th, 2024 at 4:24 PM ^
I have a couple gameday playlists (mostly metal stuff, eminem, disturbed, metallica, etc.) that usually help me feel less nervous and more jacked. Probably time to hit those up because I'm getting jittery as well.
January 7th, 2024 at 5:02 PM ^
Back in high school, our pregame music consisted either of Back in Black or Use Your Illusion. Well, almost every guy listened to that.
The hardest hitter on the team had his own mix tape: The Carpenters, Anne Murray, James Taylor and Abba.
January 7th, 2024 at 5:18 PM ^
As an XC and track athlete, my pre-race pump-up tune was Comfortably Numb by Pink Floyd. (Incidentally, although Comfortably Numb is incomparable and will never be surpassed, Pain by The War on Drugs and One Big Holiday by My Morning Jacket are newer tunes with great guitar solos that I might be using if I still raced.)
January 7th, 2024 at 4:25 PM ^
Not sure how there's still over 24 hours before the game...
I'll take comfort in an incredible season after the game if we lose, but we all want the win. I keep looking for some reason to believe we'll blow Washington out, but I think this looks like a game where we'll have to play our asses off to the final drive. I think if you asked the players they'd want their win to come against a great team instead of being handed the trophy. Go get it fellas.
January 7th, 2024 at 5:15 PM ^
Your comments so amazingly captured mine over the past week. If I can outline and paraphrase a bit:
- Gratitude, win or lose, with how much football joy this team has brought to all of us.
- That internal war between BPONE and feeling that the Penix hype has overlooked how fantastic JJ will be in the blow out.
- But realistically that UW is a great team and this Match of Titans may well come down to the last series.
- And yes, winning against the best will go a long way to wiping away (most but not all) the remaining doubters.
Go Blue!
January 7th, 2024 at 5:40 PM ^
"Not sure how there's still over 24 hours before the game..."
This. How often have I thought, "it would be great if I could make the weekends feel longer than the work week". Holy Cow, I've been busy and time is still just creeping.
January 7th, 2024 at 4:26 PM ^
I will never bitch about sports or ask anything of the football gods again if they get this done tomorrow.
I don't believe you.
Also, since the mid-90s? You mean because the Rose Bowl wasn't in the Bowl Alliance in 1997 or something?
January 7th, 2024 at 4:48 PM ^
Exactly what I thought. No chance.
Checks record. Michigan bball stinks. He will bitch about that in t-minus 5 days. (Not that I blame him)
January 7th, 2024 at 4:29 PM ^
We're going to win. Bet.
January 7th, 2024 at 4:31 PM ^
I'm not wasting a national championship game by being nervous. I'm going to have fun the whole game. If we get down, I'm still going to enjoy every moment. This is going to be beautiful.
January 7th, 2024 at 4:34 PM ^
Great perspective.
Thought about watching it alone, but realized that I'd rather watch a loss with family than experience a win without them around. We'll relish every minute together regardless.
January 7th, 2024 at 4:48 PM ^
2009 March Madness, I was just happy to be there. Winning the first game was icing on the cake. Totally zen during the loss to Blake Griffin. Frankly 2011 was the same, until we really got into it with Duke in the second round. Crushing loss but still felt good.
2013 Final Four I really, really wanted it. Still bitter.
2018 Final Four I just didn't want to lose to Loyola. I didn't frankly expect much versus Villanova so I just enjoyed the run to get there once it got out of hand.
2021 Big Ten Championship...I was so not worried I didn't even contemplate losing. (Same with 2022 and 2023.)
2021 CFP, like basketball against Villanova, I didn't have much expectation. Was just happy to be there.
2022 CFP, I just didn't want to lose to TCU, and thought we could have had a shot against UGA (and really, really didn't want to see OSU again). So now I know what it would have felt like for Loyola to beat basketball in 2018. Not great.
2023 CFP, I really, really want the title. I really wanted the Rose Bowl, really bad. I really want this. I can't enjoy a loss. I can appreciate the team and season, but I can't see being happy sitting through a loss.
January 7th, 2024 at 4:34 PM ^
I also need to be held.
January 7th, 2024 at 4:37 PM ^
Me too man, I'm not gonna be able to sleep tonight.
January 7th, 2024 at 4:39 PM ^
Relax.
I haven't spent the past decade on this blog just to lose tomorrow.
January 7th, 2024 at 4:40 PM ^
I reckon we will be alright.
this is my aural security blanket this year. Shot out to the FCC for missing the profanity on my favorite Nick show.
When in doubt (there is Kreb Zeppelin aka) CHUG!
January 7th, 2024 at 4:51 PM ^
I stopped believing in destiny and any sort of good guys will finally break through crap when I watched Beilein get so close and just couldn’t break through. Freaking slimy Rick got rewarded the one time and we got bombarded by Donte whatever his name was the second time. If anyone deserved a championship it was him. Harbaugh and his staff and these players are good people and do things the right way but they are going to either win tomorrow or they aren’t. Deserving it and winning it are two completely different things. The only BPONE I have left is when it pertains to titles in the major sports. I believe Michigan is the better team but sometimes that doesn’t matter a bit. Here’s to hoping for the best tomorrow night! Go Blue!!
January 7th, 2024 at 4:51 PM ^
I'm a nervous bird.
I can't do a damn thing that I need to do. Everything is frozen in time.
I am walking around humming Rush's Time Stand Still to myself.
January 7th, 2024 at 5:04 PM ^
I’m with ya. I’m 50 and my family has Polaroids of me being a toddler in the snow at the stadium. I’ve been to 23 OSU vs M games (some too young to remember) and was in my season seat when Woodson and Desmond took it to the house. Tomorrow was a day I didn’t think would come and can’t imagine how I’m gonna react if we win. All I know, is if the good lord gives me time to take it all in he could take me after.
January 7th, 2024 at 5:12 PM ^
I remember how sweet the Rose Bowl win was in 1998 for the National Title. It's been 26 years since.
We've all waited a very long time for this game and we're only a few steps from the top of the mountain.
January 8th, 2024 at 12:25 AM ^
What’s odd to consider is that this team has already accomplished more than the ‘97 team. They’ve won more games and have beaten a stronger opponent in the Rose Bowl. I guess the non-con schedule in ‘97 was tougher, but who really cares about that. This team is the winningest in Michigan history already. Those are just facts.
And yet, the structure of the competition is different so there’s now one more dragon to slay on the way to top of the mountain. I have so much confidence in the resolve of this team, but I’m wary of overlooking a determined opponent. I have no idea what to think.
January 8th, 2024 at 5:10 AM ^
That’s the unbelievable part, 26 YEARS! Even after we got Jim I wouldn’t have believed this day was possible. Watching OSU, Bama and then Georgia recruit at such a high level I never thought we’d get there. We ran such an archaic offense and our D didn’t have the speed to match skilled position players. Then Herbert and McDonald and now Minter developed and recruited players that fit their systems. Bring in a carbon copy of Harbaugh at qb and some maulers on the Oline. Couple that with a RB who is probably the hardest working player we’ve ever had and the rest is history. The foundation has been laid and the future is bright. I have no ill will towards Washington, but dammit this is our time! We’ve paid our dues. When Jim said “a title would mean so much to so many” he was dead nuts on. I’ve got two sons who at 24 and 17 never thought this would happen. That all changes tonight….please!
January 7th, 2024 at 5:05 PM ^
Check in, TVH
January 7th, 2024 at 5:09 PM ^
Inhale for 5 seconds, hold it for another 5 seconds then exhale for 5 seconds. Repeat 3 or 4 times. It is a stress reliever.
Do this several times a day, ie tonight and tomorrow.
I don't sleep very well after a Michigan late day or night victory.
We'll see how tomorrow goes.
Keep the faith, think positive. These guys CAN DO IT!
January 7th, 2024 at 5:23 PM ^
Great suggestion. I love Dr. Weil's 4-7-8 breathing method. I do it first thing in the morning and 2-3 times during the day. When I'm done, I always feel calm, relaxed, and energized.
January 7th, 2024 at 7:40 PM ^
Looks more like 4-4-4. Not knocking it, just noticed he doesn't seem to hold for 7 seconds or breathe out for 8 seconds.
January 7th, 2024 at 5:48 PM ^
I did it!
January 7th, 2024 at 5:12 PM ^
This has been a pretty useless day for me, it's all I can think about.
The plus side is this season has been so successful, they don't win tomorrow, I'll live with it.
.. if they win though...
January 7th, 2024 at 5:18 PM ^
Use color breathing. Identify your emotions with colors.
For example, anger is scarlet and grey; contempt is green; doubt is purple; confidence is blue; determination is maize...you get the idea.
Now, do some deep breathing.
As you inhale, imagine the air you're breathing is a positive color. Hold in the positive energy.
Then exhale, imagining the air is one of the negative colors and you're sending out the negative energy.
This really works to enhance performance. I hope it helps you find joy while you watch us win.
==
And...it's not fair to the 20-year old guys on our team to make them responsible for our emotional well-being. I hope they win with ever fiber of my being--it will be a moment I'll remember until I die. But whatever happens, everyone is going to be ok. My coaches always told us, "PLAY FREE." Don't let your emotions hang you up.
GO BLUE!
January 7th, 2024 at 6:09 PM ^
Got it!
January 7th, 2024 at 5:25 PM ^
January 7th, 2024 at 5:38 PM ^
Let the positive vibes flow through you.
Believe brother , believe
January 7th, 2024 at 5:51 PM ^
Win tomorrow night. And then, you can die happy. Or live happy.
January 7th, 2024 at 6:03 PM ^
It could’ve been me writing this post word for word. I’ve been saying the exact same things and feeling the exact same way. Let’s finish this. Go Blue!
January 7th, 2024 at 6:04 PM ^
my wife is excited, She knows while shes at work tomorrow I'll spend most the day cleaning, nervously. It's a pre Michigan game tradition, when watching at home.
Go blue
January 7th, 2024 at 6:05 PM ^
Hold me TomVH
January 7th, 2024 at 6:16 PM ^
Visualization. It works for me 60% of the time, all the time. Seriously, whenever things look uncertain, create a picture in your mind of the outcome you want. When I was standing in the Rose Bowl, I visualized Michigan players and fans celebrating at game end. Do the same my friend.
January 7th, 2024 at 6:28 PM ^
Agree! I’m nervous af and need to be held. My wife thinks I’m silly (which she is probably right). Your first line, OP, about the unhealthy emotional investment is something I struggle with and it’s unfortunate that my family suffers because of it. I have been a zombie for the past 2 weeks and maybe even since mid October. This season has been exhausting lol.
I am a small business owner and mostly work from home but I do have some client meetings tomorrow and can say with 100% certainty I will not be performing at my best or be in the right frame of mind to make any good decisions. The game can’t come soon enough!