Can’t thank you enough for all of these, Seth. For maybe the first time ever, I think I was actually starting to see some parts of this in real time - or at least on the broadcast replays - as they happened during the championship game. Not bad for an old dude who’s not a player, not a coach, just a fan and a UM alum from the Bo vs Woody era at that. The thought bubbles are the greatest. =)
Thanks, Seth. This is, as usual, really good stuff. Every now and again, I’ll notice something I learned from Neck Sharpies when watching a game live. Mostly though, I’m still like the 97% of fans that can’t get beyond the “look!!…ball!!!” stage.
And do you know the worst part? At least last year, after you got trounced by your most hated enemy, you could wander off somewhere and feel your big feelings quietly by yourselves. You had two losses. No one — other than Michigan and its fans — paid you any further attention. But now, because you only have one loss, you’re just on the periphery of the College Football Playoff. You get to be a part of every conversation about the rankings, and you get to hear announcers and commentators and pontificators ending every sentence about your team with, “…but HOLY PULISIC’S BRUISED BALLS DID YOU SEE WHAT HAPPENED AGAINST MICHIGAN?” You have to hang around. You’re the CFP’s side piece, waiting for the Committee to come back to you if things don’t work out with TCU or USC. You’re a four seed booty call.
And my guess is that you’re not 100% sure you want that phone to ring.
Thanks for OW all year and especially for this, BiSB. I know you said “one last time this year”, but I’m on my feet applauding and hoping for an encore.
Many, many thanks for the great breakdown, Seth. Even with everything I’ve learned here over the years, I’m still “just-a-fan”, so in real time it all happens too fast for me to see it, decades of fandom notwithstanding.
The thought bubbles are the clincher for me. My favorite is JJ’s “I-love-it-when-a-plan-comes-together” bubble. I’ll bet he really does think just that. -)
1. Copy and paste it to my son, whose kids are so young he doesn’t yet completely appreciate the humor in it, and
2. Read the whole thing aloud to my wife, who totally DOES see the humor in it.
One other advantage, which is, I suppose, the reason we are here, is in the realm of sports. Yes, playing sports with kids is fun. Playing catch, shooting around in the driveway, and kicking a ball around the yard are rites of passage dating back for generations. I spent a couple of years coaching Little League, and I highly recommend it. It’s an excellent bonding opportunity, and watching kids gain skills and confidence is very rewarding. But that’s not what I’m talking about.
I’m talking about the really fun moments. The moments when you allow yourself the privilege of going full out, for the briefest of moments, against an opponent who is nowhere near your physical equal. Throwing down a monster dunk on an 8-foot rim against a 4-foot tall defender. Swatting a jumper thirty feet into the neighbor’s yard. Nutmegging a five-year-old. Hitting a wiffle ball with your best Barry Bonds swing and flipping your bat like you’re in the Korean Baseball Organization.
Before I left the house for my pre-dawn run (the morning breeze still feels like a convection oven in my neighborhood) I made a mental note to look for Punt Counterpunt when I was done. Burritos. Plato. A cite to an old adage about two quarterbacks. You guys rock. M by a bunch. Go Blue!
The line graph in a "History Of Fuck In The Harbaugh Era To Date" is probably going to look like a roller coaster that’s too dangerous to ride. Yet, here we are. Thanks LSAClassOf2000.
In my first year of law school, one of the Contracts exam questions was a blank page with a single peppercorn taped to it and the word “discuss”. It took me ten minutes to figure out that it was a frickin peppercorn.
Practically nobody under 30 remembers when the Rose Bowl was the best post-season game that a Big Ten or Pac-12 team could aspire to. It won’t be long before nobody under 40 remembers that. Neither the Big Ten nor the Pac-12 is seeking to restore the pre-1998 status quo. Those days are over.
I remember, but it sure is hard to convince my kids that there was a time when such retro thinking was the reality.
An analysis of complete thoughts rather than isolated words or word pairs might be interesting too. For example, were there any/many instances of “would everyone in the ‘fire Harbaugh’ camp please shut the fuck up for at least a day or two” or similar?
So, if the opposing OL has three top 250 recruits who are all cyan’d, why would this result in worry rather than cackling with knowing glee? Asking for a friend.
However, what I don't want to see is Michigan get incredibly conservative. We know from the Rutgers game (and many other games in JH's tenure) that when Michigan doesn't respect an opponent, they stay in the garage and do bland, boring stuff.
This worries me almost as much as the buckeye Death Star, what with five cyan'd starters and two more in the two-deep. This time, can we please come out rested, hungry and crisp and put the game away early?
Being a M fan since the 70s has made me a crazy person.
So, that’s one great looking queso and smoked ruffles seems like a big winner, but “no opponent watch” is just a tease for when it gets posted later this afternoon, right Seth? Right?
My job moved me to Jersey many years ago. I lived here for 10 years before I realized that Rutgers is the state university of New Jersey, and I began to think of it as Jersey State. It's not that much of a stretch. It's a public, state school. It has three campuses. The main campus in New Brunswick would remind you of lots of campuses in the midwest - it's not nearly as urban an you might suspect. There are about 35K undergrads. There's a law school. There's a med school.
Athletics is another thing altogether. College football is not a thing on the East coast like it is everywhere else and it shows. The stadium is half the size of the Big House and, not surprisingly, the facilities are half as good. The stadium is not on the main campus. If you drive, park at the Rutgers Athletic Center (it's the basketball arena; they call it "the RAC") and take the free shuttle bus. You'll find lots of Michigan tailgates going on there.
I've been to all three games at Jersey State. Even in 2014, after that horrible, embarrassing effort, the giddy rutger fans made fun of us, but they weren't total jerks about it. In 2016, a big, linebacker-sized rutger fan sitting behind us gave a Michigan fan a big bro-hug when his team finally made a first down in the middle of the 2nd half. This year, lots of rutger fans came dressed as empty seats for the cold, windy dreaded 345p November kickoff.
In the section where I was, it was the other way around. A big, linebacker-sized rutger fan gave a big bro hug to one of the many Michigan fans sitting all around him. We all cheered. We'll be there again on Saturday.
I think we got to them, boys and girls. The Revenge Tour is having the desired effect.
(/tents fingers). Heh heh heh heh heh heh. i have always been here.
Onward to Piscataway
From Black Shoe Diaries:
Fuck that piece of shit scummy asshole Hairball. Fuck him so hard. Challenging that catch was the weakest shit I’ve seen all season. He can go to hell.
If you are referencing the GSU game, there are very few similarities. GSU had ALL of their starters in, trying to score against like our third string defense. They attempted a bush league FG instead of just trying to go for it.
Harbaugh was running play action passes late in the game and then had EVERY SINGLE starter in on defense, even though we had mostly back up skill guys in. GMAFB. He called a timeout on fourth down and ran a 6 man blitz, up 42, under 3 minutes to play. That is classless.
and very high after. I now realize my comment was too intense. I hate losing though! Regardless, it’s just football. I keep my "fuck Harbaugh" because it’s fun to hate rival coaches but undo the other insults to him.
I also cannot really agree with those people who say something to the effect of "Franklin would have done the same thing". For me, there is a crucial distinction between,e.g., continuing to try to score touchdowns, challenge big calls to maintain a shutout, or even call a timeout to ice a kicker. Those are all things one might do, although I might not necessarily, if you want to teach your team to play a hard every down.
Where I part ways, however, is with the ceaseless taunting on the part of the Michigan players, from the consistent "aping" of Barkley’s celebration (always with his teammates, mind you) to Winovich’s imitation of McSorely’s home-run swing (even though he was not on the field for that play). To me, that speaks to a cultural disrespect for the opponents — further evidence for which can be seen with how Bush behaved last week at MSU, among other things — and it does not surprise me at all that Harbaugh would instill such values in his team. Let alone the entire fanbase, who are somehow so petty to prepare to taunt other schools by engaging en masse in their stadium chants. Trademark assholery all around.
For now, I take solace in the fact that Michigan is a team laden with veterans, even having to go get a grad transfer QB from elsewhere. Meanwhile, Penn State is very young and on the rise. Let’s see how things look for these "fighters" next year…
Recent Comments
Can’t thank you enough for all of these, Seth. For maybe the first time ever, I think I was actually starting to see some parts of this in real time - or at least on the broadcast replays - as they happened during the championship game. Not bad for an old dude who’s not a player, not a coach, just a fan and a UM alum from the Bo vs Woody era at that. The thought bubbles are the greatest. =)
This was settled for the same reason that ANY litigation gets settled - to avoid risk, expense and delay. It’s a legal system, not a justice system.
Thanks, Seth. This is, as usual, really good stuff. Every now and again, I’ll notice something I learned from Neck Sharpies when watching a game live. Mostly though, I’m still like the 97% of fans that can’t get beyond the “look!!…ball!!!” stage.
Logged in just to upvote this ^
Thanks for OW all year and especially for this, BiSB. I know you said “one last time this year”, but I’m on my feet applauding and hoping for an encore.
Many, many thanks for the great breakdown, Seth. Even with everything I’ve learned here over the years, I’m still “just-a-fan”, so in real time it all happens too fast for me to see it, decades of fandom notwithstanding.
The thought bubbles are the clincher for me. My favorite is JJ’s “I-love-it-when-a-plan-comes-together” bubble. I’ll bet he really does think just that. -)
Onward. Go Blue!
Gus and Joel too.
Attaboy Seth. Muppets!
The reference to a $15M deductible was a pretty good Scott Frost joke.
I laughed so hard at this part that I had to
1. Copy and paste it to my son, whose kids are so young he doesn’t yet completely appreciate the humor in it, and
2. Read the whole thing aloud to my wife, who totally DOES see the humor in it.
Best part of Saturday morning. Thanks, guys
Go Blue!
Blake hurdles a fool!
Before I left the house for my pre-dawn run (the morning breeze still feels like a convection oven in my neighborhood) I made a mental note to look for Punt Counterpunt when I was done. Burritos. Plato. A cite to an old adage about two quarterbacks. You guys rock. M by a bunch. Go Blue!
It’s been an ugly month, Coach, but glad to hear you’re staying.
Thanks for all the content, Seth. Happy birthday and happy holidays.
Congratulations, Coach. It wasn’t always easy, but nothing good ever is.
The line graph in a "History Of Fuck In The Harbaugh Era To Date" is probably going to look like a roller coaster that’s too dangerous to ride. Yet, here we are. Thanks LSAClassOf2000.
Playoffs Muppets. Sweet.
In my first year of law school, one of the Contracts exam questions was a blank page with a single peppercorn taped to it and the word “discuss”. It took me ten minutes to figure out that it was a frickin peppercorn.
Add my thanks for the comprehensive rundown.
As for this:
I remember, but it sure is hard to convince my kids that there was a time when such retro thinking was the reality.
Agree completely, Comrade. Still plenty of work to do.
Yep, I’d buy a couple of them.
Couldn’t get onto the site in the bar we were in but now that we’re home:
MUPPETS!
Couldn’t get onto the site in the bar we were in but now that we’re home:
MUPPETS!
You guys nailed it. The cat is clearly both alive and dead. Still…
MICHIGAN IS GOING TO WIN THIS FOOTBALL GAME!
I’m trying hard to believe it.
Thanks BiSB. Always look forward to OW. Happy Thanksgiving.
An analysis of complete thoughts rather than isolated words or word pairs might be interesting too. For example, were there any/many instances of “would everyone in the ‘fire Harbaugh’ camp please shut the fuck up for at least a day or two” or similar?
So, if the opposing OL has three top 250 recruits who are all cyan’d, why would this result in worry rather than cackling with knowing glee? Asking for a friend.
Thanks, BB. Always look forward to your take on things.
As for this:
when he went over the defender, I said “yep, he just hurdled another fool”, causing my beautiful lady to roll her eyes so hard I could hear it.
Nice job, stubob. Trying not to look past this week, but love the sparty analysis.
This worries me almost as much as the buckeye Death Star, what with five cyan'd starters and two more in the two-deep. This time, can we please come out rested, hungry and crisp and put the game away early?
Being a M fan since the 70s has made me a crazy person.
So, that’s one great looking queso and smoked ruffles seems like a big winner, but “no opponent watch” is just a tease for when it gets posted later this afternoon, right Seth? Right?
Thanks, Ian. I always learn a lot from your write-ups.
And not just cites, but working links to the material. Great job.
Frippery defeated.
Go Blue from Daytona Beach.
Beat Jersey State like a drum.
I'm another reader that mostly lurks and seldom posts anything, but thanks for doing these all year Bronx.
I’m in Legal, and I’m here to tell you we were NOT aware of it.
Great stuff guys.
Outstanding.
Bry Mac captured it perfectly. Let’s do this. Go Blue!
…
Last home game this year
Don’t overlook, must play well
Then crush ohio
My job moved me to Jersey many years ago. I lived here for 10 years before I realized that Rutgers is the state university of New Jersey, and I began to think of it as Jersey State. It's not that much of a stretch. It's a public, state school. It has three campuses. The main campus in New Brunswick would remind you of lots of campuses in the midwest - it's not nearly as urban an you might suspect. There are about 35K undergrads. There's a law school. There's a med school.
Athletics is another thing altogether. College football is not a thing on the East coast like it is everywhere else and it shows. The stadium is half the size of the Big House and, not surprisingly, the facilities are half as good. The stadium is not on the main campus. If you drive, park at the Rutgers Athletic Center (it's the basketball arena; they call it "the RAC") and take the free shuttle bus. You'll find lots of Michigan tailgates going on there.
I've been to all three games at Jersey State. Even in 2014, after that horrible, embarrassing effort, the giddy rutger fans made fun of us, but they weren't total jerks about it. In 2016, a big, linebacker-sized rutger fan sitting behind us gave a Michigan fan a big bro-hug when his team finally made a first down in the middle of the 2nd half. This year, lots of rutger fans came dressed as empty seats for the cold, windy dreaded 345p November kickoff.
In the section where I was, it was the other way around. A big, linebacker-sized rutger fan gave a big bro hug to one of the many Michigan fans sitting all around him. We all cheered. We'll be there again on Saturday.
I think we got to them, boys and girls. The Revenge Tour is having the desired effect.
(/tents fingers). Heh heh heh heh heh heh. i have always been here.
Onward to Piscataway
From Black Shoe Diaries:
Fuck that piece of shit scummy asshole Hairball. Fuck him so hard. Challenging that catch was the weakest shit I’ve seen all season. He can go to hell.
Posted by Ben da beast on Nov 3, 2018 | 8:54 PM
Franklin would have done the same thing
Relax
Posted by Joe824 on Nov 3, 2018 | 8:55 PM
I'm sorry, but that is a load of shit.
If you are referencing the GSU game, there are very few similarities. GSU had ALL of their starters in, trying to score against like our third string defense. They attempted a bush league FG instead of just trying to go for it.
Harbaugh was running play action passes late in the game and then had EVERY SINGLE starter in on defense, even though we had mostly back up skill guys in. GMAFB. He called a timeout on fourth down and ran a 6 man blitz, up 42, under 3 minutes to play. That is classless.
Posted by jcross9 on Nov 4, 2018 | 7:57 AM
Yes he would have.
And we’d have rolled our eyes and moved on.
Posted by jesse. on Nov 4, 2018 | 8:49 AM
Barkley TD pass late in the 4th
Against Indiana.
Posted by PSUEnrg02 on Nov 4, 2018 | 9:00 AM
I oddly enjoy your fury
Posted by SubLime on Nov 3, 2018 | 9:25 PM
Got very drunk during the game
and very high after. I now realize my comment was too intense. I hate losing though! Regardless, it’s just football. I keep my "fuck Harbaugh" because it’s fun to hate rival coaches but undo the other insults to him.
Posted by Ben da beast on Nov 3, 2018 | 9:51 PM
Not too intense.
Sounds like some of the thoughts I’ve had were I to speak them.
Posted by SubLime on Nov 3, 2018 | 10:01 PM
Right there with you.
I also cannot really agree with those people who say something to the effect of "Franklin would have done the same thing". For me, there is a crucial distinction between,e.g., continuing to try to score touchdowns, challenge big calls to maintain a shutout, or even call a timeout to ice a kicker. Those are all things one might do, although I might not necessarily, if you want to teach your team to play a hard every down.
Where I part ways, however, is with the ceaseless taunting on the part of the Michigan players, from the consistent "aping" of Barkley’s celebration (always with his teammates, mind you) to Winovich’s imitation of McSorely’s home-run swing (even though he was not on the field for that play). To me, that speaks to a cultural disrespect for the opponents — further evidence for which can be seen with how Bush behaved last week at MSU, among other things — and it does not surprise me at all that Harbaugh would instill such values in his team. Let alone the entire fanbase, who are somehow so petty to prepare to taunt other schools by engaging en masse in their stadium chants. Trademark assholery all around.
For now, I take solace in the fact that Michigan is a team laden with veterans, even having to go get a grad transfer QB from elsewhere. Meanwhile, Penn State is very young and on the rise. Let’s see how things look for these "fighters" next year…
Posted by sctx109 on Nov 4, 2018 | 6:46 AM
Attaboy, Ace!
It must be random. We only went to one game this year and we got the survey.
+1 for “we kinda dominated them.”
Onward.
The folks sitting around us were calling it "mercy rule officiating". Seemed about right.