Video: Absolute class from JJ McCarthy when asked if he was hoping to be able to go up against Cade McNamara

Submitted by The Harbaughnger on November 28th, 2023 at 11:24 AM

Note: The tweet/video won't embed for some reason- I'll try to do that in a comment below. Here's direct link to video: https://x.com/bradgalli/status/1729354533615100167

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Most here are familiar with the way Cade McNamara treated JJ: Ignoring him, being completely disinterested in mentoring him, holding the internal battle to be the starter higher than The Team, The Team, The Team.

JJ easily could have taken the bait to make it personal, to make jabs with tones of revenge/payback- but as we all have seen time and time again, that’s just not who he is. Instead he showed nothing but class, humility, and respect (when disrespect would have been beyond understandable). He went out of his way to maintain the highest level of sportsmanship.

Here's the quote when asked if he was hoping to be able to go up against Cade McNamara:

“I was, I wanted to just be able to see [Cade] again. It’s just amazing to be able to see how both of our journeys turned out. And it was obviously at the forefront of our mind at the beginning of the season to have that chance to play Cade and Erick again. Just to be able to see the guys at the end of the day, because two great guys, it'd just be awesome to be on the same field with them again. It’s pretty cool. Even though they’re not playing, it will be great to see them."

It’s a testament and golden reflection of:

  • the program
  • the school
  • the intentional culture
  • the kind of players Harbaugh and all the coaches consistently bring to Michigan (because JJ certainly isn’t the only player with outstanding character like this- M is loaded with them!)
  • and, the way Harbaugh/coaches lead by example, showing these young men what it really means to be a Michigan Man

Cheers to JJ, all of  team 144, Harbaugh, and the coaches. (Lock Harbaugh up with a contract extension already- preferably LIFETIME)

ALSO: BEAT IOWA

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Lou MacAdoo

November 28th, 2023 at 11:53 AM ^

Some people can't help themselves. They can't hide their true feelings. I'm sure a lot of athletes hold onto these grudges and it helps to motivate them to continue to grind and push to that next level. People like Tom Brady can hide it in an interview and say the right things. Cade doesn't seem to be able to or doesn't care. 

Joined: 10/16/2011

MGoPoints: 6398

Blue in Paradise

November 28th, 2023 at 11:41 AM ^

I don't really care what Cade or Erick say or do.  Those two guys were absolutely instrumental in turning around the culture in 2021 and actually winning the key games that turned around the program.  I will always remember that and wish for the best for both of them.

They are on a team that is playing Michigan this week for B1G Championship - what do you want him to say?  They probably both feel like they need to prove themselves to their new teammates and coaches and fans.  Hopefully they get healthy and can help Iowa next year.

Now if they start a fight or something outrageous happens on Saturday - I would reassess but I don't see that happening.

Joined: 08/14/2016

MGoPoints: 36794

jmblue

November 28th, 2023 at 12:08 PM ^

They were certainly important players for us that year, but I'm not sure I could say Cade was "instrumental in turning around the culture" given how he acted toward JJ before the season.  Giving your backup the cold shoulder because you’re afraid he’ll take your job isn’t a very team-first attitude.

Joined: 11/07/2008

MGoPoints: 102810

lhglrkwg

November 28th, 2023 at 12:36 PM ^

I'm gonna say Cade was probably a net negative to the team's culture. I think we all know who the 'culture' guys are right now. Guys like Mikey, Barrett, Corum and guys who have been here playing their roles for years like Harrell and Quentin Johnson. I am quite certain Cade was a negative to our locker room...but our locker room is so strong that you wont hear our guys be dumb enough to say that to any media

Joined: 07/03/2008

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Ernis

November 28th, 2023 at 12:00 PM ^

You know, I really have no ill will toward Cade and wished him the best upon his departure. Can't blame him for wanting to start somewhere. Dude is a player and he was a major part in beating a solid buckeye team in '21. I know, I know. A lot of people want to downplay his contribution to the W. That's bullshit. Cade is second or third best QB we've had under Harbaugh, about tied with Rudock, worse only than JJ, in my non-scientific, non-measured perspective. But I'm pretty sure if we had Speight or O'Korn (or pick basically any non-Denard QB we've had since the Carr era ended) in that game, we lose. Cade got it done. Props.

That said, holy cow does he come across as a bitter, resentful dick, based on some of these comments and the whole giving JJ the cold shoulder thing. So maybe we are dodging a bullet getting him out of the locker room, in addition to the overall upgrade with JJ.

Thinking about that diary on the transition around 2020, and the culture shift, Cade seems to be carrying a lot of the toxic baggage that permeated our space in those days. I hope he can pull his head out someday.

Joined: 09/23/2008

MGoPoints: 11480

JohnCorbin

November 28th, 2023 at 3:24 PM ^

Major part.

 

Hassan had 5 tuddies.

Cade had 0, and a pick.

 

How many passes did we throw in the 2nd half?

 

We won that game in spite of Cade, not because of Cade. We could've put Edwards in at QB and had the same outcome.

 

The rest of your comment, Mrs. Macnamara, I will not address. But Cade wasn't some phenom quarterback at Michigan. He was the most ready to play on the roster at the time he was here.

Joined: 07/12/2011

MGoPoints: 435

AZBlue

November 28th, 2023 at 12:23 PM ^

Push whatever narrative makes you feel better re: Cade.  In my opinion he has well earned much of the ill will from M fans since his departure.  

That said, I watched a bunch of that interview on YouTube and while it was mainly Iowa-centric and Cade doing self-promotion (i.e how he "chose" M over Alabama etc.), he DID say "Michigan" at least a few times prior to that 10 second clip people are posting. 

Joined: 09/14/2008

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lilpenny1316

November 28th, 2023 at 1:04 PM ^

I hope this can start to put an end to the Cade apologists trying to justify or rationalize his behavior last year. Him and his family did not handle the QB competition gracefully. And because of their entitlement, Cade missed out on two more CFP appearances and a chance to improve his NFL chances. I mean, he left us for Brian Ferentz. That's not the sign of rational thinking.

Joined: 11/19/2009

MGoPoints: 61836

goblu330

November 28th, 2023 at 11:30 AM ^

Doesn't Cade mean Xichigan?

Seriously, come on dude.  "That other team?"

You play for Iowa, you are basically the Washington Generals this weekend.

Joined: 01/07/2022

MGoPoints: 32123

bsand2053

November 28th, 2023 at 11:52 AM ^

People frankly have him more credit than he deserved* but he threw that all away cause Pops told him he shouldn’t have to compete for a starting spot on a football team 
 

*he of course does deserve credit for his contributions but there’s a reason he was cyaned at one point.  Haskins, the oline and Hutchinson were the engines of that team, along with two of the best assistants in the game who should have been Broyles finalists, Macdonald and Moore 

Joined: 04/14/2010

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robpollard

November 28th, 2023 at 12:01 PM ^

I guarantee JJ did not mean it in a "ha, suck it -- your team is not as good" or any other kind of negative way. He is not petty. He does not have the mind of a message board poster (which some succesful athletes do, such as Kevin Durant). The dude is 100% positive and centered on putting out good energy & love at all times. It’s quite amazing for anyone, let alone a 20-year old.

You can see it in his comments post-OSU – he didn’t focus at all on how his former dream school “had it comin for not recruiting him” or whatever, just on how Michigan was the best place for him and the greatest place in the world in general.

I’m sure he means “Cade’s journey has been a success – his new team made the B1G Championship” and that’s it.

Joined: 06/03/2009

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SWFLWolverine

November 28th, 2023 at 12:29 PM ^

I have heard Sam and other insiders discuss how JJ uses the fact that Ohio State rolled with Kyle Accord as his motivational drive to prove Ohio State wrong. He may be too classy and media savvy enough to not rub it in their faces, but I will bet you, to some degree, he feels like they can "suck it" and that he will use it as motivation in the Big10 Championship Game.

I hope the whole team uses Cade and Erick antics leaving town as additional motivation to go out and bury this Iowa team....like scoring a couple TDs on D and having a return for a TD.

Joined: 07/28/2010

MGoPoints: 2348

robpollard

November 28th, 2023 at 12:36 PM ^

Certainly he uses it as motivation -- he's a competitor. He has organized his life around that. The point is he never says it or focuses on it publicly; that's not the way he operates. And in the end, he is a relentless positive person. So, again, there is zero chance JJ was throwing any shade at Cade during his interview on the Big Ten Network. 

Joined: 06/03/2009

MGoPoints: 13966