Jon Jansen goes after J.J. and some of the players. "Read the room" He says.
Jansen on his radio show goes after J.J. that he put himself above the team. Then about the train formation, he leaves it open that maybe Harbaugh and or the staff had the players do it. This isn't the first the first time that he's done something like this. Last year, he blamed the Michigan players for the tunnel incident, then walked back his comments later. I guess he likes the radio gig, and doesn't want to piss off Valenti.
Here is the podcast. People can judge for themselves.
September 6th, 2023 at 11:11 AM ^
Nothing has been taken out of context more than Bo's "Michigan Man" comment.
Bill Frieder tried, before the NCAA tournament, to resign after the NCAA tournament to take the Arizona State job. Bo Schembechler, the athletic director at the time, told him to pound sand and promoted Steve Fisher, not because he went to Michigan -- he didn't -- but because he didn't have one foot out the door. He was a Michigan man, not an Arizona State man, which Frieder had become upon agreeing to coach there.
Bo didn't go to Michigan -- he went to Miami (NTM). Moeller didn't go to Michigan -- he went to OSU. Lloyd Carr didn't go to Michigan -- he went to Missouri. Brady Hoke didn't go to Michigan -- he went to Ball State, where he was coaching prior to accepting the Michigan job. Heck, for that matter, neither Crisler nor Yost went to Michigan, and they both have rather well-known arenas named after them.
Clearly being a Michigan Man does not require being an alumnus.
September 6th, 2023 at 11:36 AM ^
Lloyd Carr didn't go to Michigan -- he went to Missouri.
I thought Carr went to Northern, so I looked it up. Technically we're both right. He spent his first three years at Missouri, and his final year at Northern.
Brady Hoke didn't go to Michigan -- he went to Ball State, where he was coaching prior to accepting the Michigan job.
Also technically correct--he did coach Ball St. prior to coaching M--though a little misleading, as he left Ball St. for SDSU, and then left SDSU for us...
September 6th, 2023 at 12:02 PM ^
Ah, yes, I'd forgotten about Hoke's interregnum at SDSU.
And, yes, of course you're right about Lloyd Carr and Northern. I remembered that as soon as I read what you wrote. :) I'd say that Carr pioneered the grad transfer except that NMU is D-II so I don't think there'd have been any eligibility issues anyway.
Still, the point is -- prior to Harbaugh, you have to go back to Bump Elliott to find a coach who attended Michigan -- and even he started his career at Purdue.
September 6th, 2023 at 10:56 AM ^
Well yeah, but did you see his wife's hairdo?
September 6th, 2023 at 11:50 AM ^
No, but you've got a nice ski mask
September 6th, 2023 at 10:48 AM ^
To split hairs: the Train formation itself wasn't (or shouldn't be) controversial. It was holding up four fingers during it that was.
The Train is awesome and I'd like to see it every game.
September 6th, 2023 at 11:53 AM ^
I don't think you're wrong. I do think that nearly everything about michigan football is better when that portion of the fanbase is taken less seriously (if at all).
September 6th, 2023 at 1:50 PM ^
If Harbaugh had done something egregious like ignored weird, vaguely sexual hazing practices, then maybe publicly supporting him would look pretty tone deaf. But the allegation is that he spent time with recruits during a dead period. Against the rules? Yes. Worthy of chastising? No.
September 6th, 2023 at 9:18 PM ^
And the similarly minded 10 million viewers who recognized the tongue-in-cheek humor about “free Harbaugh” or the train. It’s just harmless fun around a suspension that most people view as ridiculous, targeted action by the NCAA. If he laid down and refused to move until police removed him or set himself on fire at the 40 yard line, that would deserve Jansen’s scorn.
I think the overall point is the same as Brian’s summary about this team: they see the fun, and even joy, in playing football. Jansen missed the point.
September 6th, 2023 at 9:47 AM ^
These sports talk guys around here have got some mighty thin skin.
September 6th, 2023 at 9:48 AM ^
"Read the room" is what commentators say when they don't have anything substantial to add to the conversation.
September 6th, 2023 at 9:49 AM ^
It's also a case of irony, in that, Jansen himself needs to "read the room."
September 6th, 2023 at 10:51 AM ^
Sparty put a concussed player out on the field a la Hoke last weekend, Deion Sanders treated college players like developmental league employees, Hugh Freeze somehow has a P5 job again, Miami is under investigation for blatant "pay to play" schemes, Georgia staff and players are recklessly speeding all over Athens, the TV networks just demolished the Pac-12 in the name of $$$, the NCAA reduced the length of games to sell more ads, Northwestern allowed hazing and harassment for a decade, and Tennessee is skating by despite being caught handing out literal bags of money,
and YET it's Michigan players who need to "read the room" because the NCAA lost a PR battle over a fucking cheeseburger?
September 6th, 2023 at 11:02 AM ^
It's worth noting that all those people you mentioned also got roundly criticized for doing those things. Is the suggestion that Michigan is the only program it's not ok to criticize?
I have no idea what "boomer ass shit" means, by the way. I guess ... older people believe in standards, but us modern folks know the rule is, "get away with it if you can!"
September 6th, 2023 at 11:24 AM ^
Is the suggestion that Michigan is the only program it's not ok to criticize?
Tell me, where in the comment did I say that? I'm saying that being upset that JJ and the players decided to have some fun and support their coach (who again, is being accused of lying about a fucking cheeseburger) is so innocuous that choosing to be upset about it is frankly just weird
September 6th, 2023 at 11:37 AM ^
Okay, Zoomer.
September 6th, 2023 at 11:45 AM ^
I wish it was shocking that nobody at all is talking about MSU putting a concussed player in the game. When Hoke did it, we told Sparty fans to be glad of their national image being nonexistent, because it happening there would get no coverage. Well, here we are!
September 6th, 2023 at 12:54 PM ^
I didn't listen to the radio segment but gleaning from what the OP mentioned and the comments here, I have to wonder just how out of touch he is with the current team. I think we're all open to objective analysis and inserting opinions but who is he trying to reach with a statement like "read the room".
For all intents and purposes, Jon Jansen likely doesn't even have a spot in the "room" per se and if he was expecting an invitation after these comments, I don't think he's going to get one. As someone who calls games for UM and is involved in covering the team through different media outlets, I don't see how this positively shines a light on himself. I'm thinking he should try Jansen Vision to review his own dialogue of team...
September 6th, 2023 at 1:17 PM ^
Don't you mean "for all intensive purposes"?
/s
September 6th, 2023 at 9:52 AM ^
He’s learning from rico and valenti. Those guys are so insufferable, especially rico. That guy should get his voice box taken out bc he’s uneducated idiot
September 6th, 2023 at 9:57 AM ^
Kinda incredible that the main sports reporters here hate Detroit sports. I don’t mind Mike but I can’t stand Rico… he doesn’t bring anything to the table and just belittles everything the Lions do
September 6th, 2023 at 10:06 AM ^
Rico is the ultimate clown.
September 6th, 2023 at 10:08 AM ^
I've long said that Detroit is to troll sportswriter hacks what Kenya is to long-distance running champions.
September 6th, 2023 at 11:42 PM ^
Be little is what these Whovillians do best. At least when Tom Thumb isn't ranting.
September 6th, 2023 at 9:53 AM ^
Sports and radio personalities in Michigan are very sensitive to any allegations that there is a "blue wall" in Michigan sports media so they go out of their way in every circumstances to disparage anything Michigan when they get the chance. This has been happening for years and you just get used to it. Valenti also has heavy influence at 97.1 so much of this is to push his narrative.
In general though, people are taking the "Free Harbaugh" and train stuff way to seriously. These are kids giving a shout out to their coach. Harbaugh is serving a disproportionately long suspension for ridiculously insignificant NCAA violations because he won't sniff their throne and they hate him for it.
The players thinks it is BS because it is BS and everybody knows it. They should do the train when they line up every play on Saturday.
September 6th, 2023 at 10:03 AM ^
Perfectly said. I wish these idiots actually had common sense and weren’t afraid to say it
September 6th, 2023 at 9:53 AM ^
Jansen must love the Michigan Daily
September 6th, 2023 at 10:09 AM ^
is it time to put the band on the Daily list?
September 6th, 2023 at 9:55 AM ^
Some news people do this right before contract negotiations to increase their options. It is a trade between money and ethics and money wins too often these days. Having questions is one thing but clickbait without context or substantiation leads to half a story like JUB's RR tome.
September 6th, 2023 at 9:56 AM ^
While Jansen does a good job on the game calls, he's not a great talk radio personality. He's pretty one dimensional in general. Only knows football and is too much of a get off my lawn kind of guy.
September 6th, 2023 at 10:04 AM ^
couldn't believe he was defending UM's credits transferring policy this morning. Of course using arguments that only made sense for those on academic scholarships, not athletic.
September 6th, 2023 at 11:08 AM ^
Jansen is an employee of the AD and a voice of the AD. He’s toeing the company line and spouting the AD’s position on credit transferring.
September 6th, 2023 at 11:43 PM ^
This.
September 6th, 2023 at 9:57 AM ^
Must be a slow news day.
September 6th, 2023 at 10:00 AM ^
Jon isn't really best known for his intelligent arguments. Don't really respect his opinion on anything that isn't technical offensive lineman technique. I've listened to him enough on 97.1 to come to that conclusion.
September 6th, 2023 at 10:01 AM ^
Let's ban him!
September 6th, 2023 at 10:03 AM ^
Sure, the entirety of the college sports universe is--in many cases quite begrudgingly--on the side of Michigan and Harbaugh here. But on the other hand, one of our homer media members has decided to be inscrutable and holier-than-thou. It's important to achieve balance in all things
September 6th, 2023 at 10:03 AM ^
Sounds like Jon Jansen is an asshole. I have an idea: let's never speak of him again, esp. when he has stupid things to say.
September 6th, 2023 at 10:04 AM ^
JJ wasn't "sobbing into tissues" he was teasing his coach and the situation they were in, and the ran exactly 1 play saying "We accept that you are suspended for this game, but we're still thinking about you coach."
Accusations that Harbaugh instigated or approved of either the shirt display or the Train without proof? Somebody's desperate for attention, and it ain't Harbaugh.
September 6th, 2023 at 10:04 AM ^
JJ wasn't "sobbing into tissues" he was teasing his coach and the situation they were in, and the ran exactly 1 play saying "We accept that you are suspended for this game, but we're still thinking about you coach."
Accusations that Harbaugh instigated or approved of either the shirt display or the Train without proof? Somebody's desperate for attention, and it ain't Harbaugh.
September 6th, 2023 at 10:14 AM ^
It’s been discussed here and elsewhere before, but don’t many of the Carr players not like Jim? Could just be another example of that popping up.
September 6th, 2023 at 10:23 AM ^
Many of the Carr players hate everything post 2007.
September 6th, 2023 at 10:28 AM ^
I still find it funny that the Carr players that do the most complaining didn't do anything of importance, like beat OSU, win the B1G, or win a Rose Bowl.
September 6th, 2023 at 10:36 AM ^
Except Brady Hoke, who is both pre-2007 (Carr's staff) and, of course, post-2007.
Never mind the Carr players falling over themselves praising Hoke when he was hired. Old timers may remember all the new sock-puppet accounts on this site doing the same thing.
September 6th, 2023 at 8:54 PM ^
Carr himself also doesn’t really care for Michigan anymore. I’ve mentioned it before, but I was not surprised in the least bit when his grandson picked Notre Dame. No surprise his guys don’t like anything after him. I’ve asked Hart about this but he doesn’t want to really talk about it. If Hart becomes head coach one day, it would definitely help bring some of those guys along that were at U of M around the same time as him.
September 7th, 2023 at 7:50 AM ^
Carr himself also doesn’t really care for Michigan anymore.
What's the evidence of that? Doesn't he still live in the area?
That his grandson chose to go to a different top-notch school and try to forge his own path is no proof or indication that Lloyd Carr doesn't care for Michigan.
September 6th, 2023 at 10:38 AM ^
"don’t many of the Carr players not like Jim?"
What's ironic is that a not-insignificant portion of Schembechler/Moeller-era players hated Lloyd Carr with a flaming hot passion.
I've generally enjoyed Jansen's color commentary during games but this comment about JJ is unadulterated bullshit. Of all the players on the team who are making it all about themselves, McCarthy is one of the least likely.
Jansen can leave the color commentary to somebody else and just become an asshole radio personality who bags on Michigan full-time. Sounds like he'd be good at that.
September 6th, 2023 at 11:47 AM ^
They create controversy to get people to listen. Don't give them the satisfaction. Just tune out and let them cater to the Sparty crowd. Let them enjoy their echo chamber of irrelevance.
September 6th, 2023 at 10:18 AM ^
I’m not going to give that podcast a minute of my time, but if he thinks JJ “misread” the room because of his “Free Harbaugh” shirt, then Jansen is an idiot. These are kids who have developed a close relationship with a mentor and father-figure who they believe has been treated unjustly. Since when did we start thinking that college students should shut-up when they witness an injustice?