Spring Football Bits Loses Spring Game
Usually this time of year you get some kind of spring game recap. Michigan had a spring game, but this is all you get.
— Michigan Football (@UMichFootball) April 12, 2021
Saturday was a great day to compete!#GoBlue pic.twitter.com/XeYvWF9kfs
What sticks out, other than the uniformz, is the pathetically small amount they’re willing to share with the public. The fanbase’s reaction to this has fallen into three camps:
- I would have liked to have seen a spring game.
- Call me when they win something.
- I don’t want to think about football.
All three are valid. The second and third camps are the BPONE, and were bound to continue regardless of football’s existence. For personal and professional reasons, I fall in the first. If you haven’t skipped to the comments to post something like 2 or 3, you’re probably there with me, and wondering if there’s an explanation.
Lately if you want anything from the football team you have to listen to the Jansen podcast, where Jansen said this regarding why fans and media were not allowed to attend:
The State of Michigan is utilizing the Big House as a vaccine site. So they didn’t want the parking lot to be full of cars. They didn’t want there to be a confusion about where to go for people scheduled to get their vaccine on that Saturday.
…and this on why they didn’t broadcast it:
As I understand it the Big Ten Network had set a certain time that all of the programs needed to say ‘Hey, this is when we’re going to have our last practice.’ And with the uncertainty of the pandemic, with the changing schedules, Michigan just wasn’t able to meet that deadline because they had to move some things around, and it just didn’t work out.
If they wanted to keep it small for the vaccine site—or you know, because last weekend was the peak of the pandemic—that’s fine. That’s not the reason media were expressly prohibited, including those with invites through other means. It’s still more responsible than Michigan State’s decision to invite 6,000 people to Spartan Stadium tomorrow, and one I can support.
[Hit THE JUMP]
But that’s not the reason it wasn’t broadcast. I was watching BTN that afternoon. It was Michigan-Maryland in softball, Penn State vs Indiana in the soccer championship, then Gymnastics in the evening. As much as I like our softball team, if Michigan football wanted that slot, do you really think BTN wouldn’t have accommodated? If they couldn’t, do you think they might have aired it another time?
If BTN really didn’t want Michigan Wolverines football in mid-April, Michigan still had video cameras there, and the power to release far more than one minute and twelve seconds of close-cropped film literally passed through a maize filter. They have an entire media company—IMG—under contract for this.
The truth is you didn’t get a spring game because they didn’t want to subject the players to your negativity. Jansen admits “there’s not a lot to brag about right now” after a 2-4 season, and that’s the truth. Also true is the fanbase is out of patience for Harbaugh’s regime going into a year that’s going to require quite a bit of it. There’s nothing you can do about that but win, and you can’t win a spring game.
There’s nothing to lose either. Spring games aren't for the media; they're for the fans. In safer times, most go to take in the sun as much as the other thing they've been deprived of all winter. They wash over you, at most show you a guy to get excited about because of one play.
I’ve been to and written about spring games for bad Michigan football teams, and still fall for them every year. I saw the 2008 offense slosh around a wet high school and appreciated the defensive continuity. I saw the 2009 and 2010 defenses torched and memorized fan videos of the young quarterbacks responsible. Two years ago I watched the edge of the defense come apart and called Gattis a genius. No matter how bad they were, my reaction to this was going to be clipping plays that show how it might work. In college football, you reckon with reality in November; in April even Hoke springs eternal. The only way to lose is not to play.
The fact that this program somehow found a way to take an L in their own spring game makes me less confident they can beat Western Michigan or anyone after that.
If they’re terrified of having stupid slappies like us get a look-see, their house must be in worse shape than mine after 13 months of pandemic. The various types of interceptions from their various types of freshman quarterbacks must be worse than the ones the transferred former starter opened and closed last season with. The defense’s confusion at a new system must be so recriminating you could make a slideshow of linebackers yelling at each other. Every fade down the sideline must be a replay of Ricky White Day, except the overthrown passes are coming down out of bounds.
But that’s your spring game recap. The only thing we've learned is the football program itself agrees they're unwatchable. They don’t have everything locked down, so I’ll have a final football bits for you next week. Happy commenting.
If this was the first year of a new regime, I could totally understand how this would make sense. But we have dragged this reasoning around pretty much every year under Harbaugh. And it never amounts to anything.
Schematically, it will all be out there after a few weeks anyway. We will only change it if it's something that works, apparently.
April 23rd, 2021 at 11:56 PM ^
I think with this year feeling do or die for Harbaugh, the early season matchup with Washington is a must win. By keeping everyone in the dark this spring (and probably fall) Washington will only have one week to break down one game of tape before they play us. You have to imagine Michigan is going try to win against Western showing as little as possible. Strategically, I think it's in Michigan's best interest to play everything super close to the vest right now. Why give a strong week two opponent an off season to watch tape on your new schemes if you don't have to?
Defense aside, this is also only year three for Gattis. I think it's worth noting that his first couple years had a lot of good players who had experience, but they were recruited for a different style of offense. They tried to marry a lot of Manball (Ed Warinner's run game) with Gattis' speed in space passing concepts. It appears that Jim let Warinner go this off season to create more continuity in offensive philosophy (Moore is a spread guy). My guess is the offense will probably look a lot different this year.
All this is to say, I don't think there was much to gain from the program's perspective by showing the fans what they're up to right now. They need to win games more than anything. If they do that, everything will sort itself out.
I believe the narrative that Michigan is hiding or against its fans is being over blown. I also believe cutting out the noise of outside commentary can be good for those inside the program who are working hard to get things right.
There's a lot of good people at Michigan right now. I'm personally rooting for them to succeed. I don't think I'm alone.
They suck! 6-6 to 8-4 suck in year 7 of Harbaugh’s mess! He needs to go.
If they are better than 6-6 or 8-4, then will you promise never to post on this board again? I mean....if you are THAT confident, then that won't be a problem. Common.....take up that offer. I implore you.
Harbaugh just got re-signed. He's OBVIOUSLY not going anywhere, this season. We don't have any idea what will happen during the season. So, what's the point of your constant "Harbaugh needs to go" comments? What exactly is it accomplishing? It just seems like you have some sort of axe to grind. That's unfortunate, because you USED TO bring value to this board, but you've turned into someone who can give nothing better than "fire Harbaugh" comments.....when that's not an option. That is a shame.
Because he sucks! 2-4 feel good with a Triple OT win over Rutgers?
That have ANY relevance to this coming season? No
Does your "he sucks" comments going to suddenly get the entire football coaching staff fired before September 4th? No.
Are you bringing any value, to this board, lately? No.
Quick reminder....Lloyd went 8-4 in back to back seasons (you know....8 wins, which is the WORST full season Harbaugh has had, so far) before going 12-0. Did those 8-4 seasons indicate that a 12-0 season was coming? No.
Recap: Last year's results have zero relevance in this year's program. Your constant "fire Harbaugh" posts bring zero value and accomplishes nothing.
Your contributions to this board, lately, are on par with a 2-4 (half) season. Should we be happy with your performance?
Like I said.....I USED TO think you were a quality poster. Did your "insider" status go away, so now your pissed? I don't know what it is, but it's obvious that you have some axe to grind.
Don’t let the facts hit you in the face! Not one title. Zero wins over OSU and 3-3 against MSU. You bring nothing of value here!
Lol....the trusty record against OSU stat (which directly correlate with the title stat, by the way).
Man....I guess I was wrong. Your value isn't even measurable. I don't know how I would have ever known that, if it weren't for your comment. Damn, man! Impressive! ? ? ?
Again....what in the hell does ANY of that have to do with anything regarding this upcoming season? How is any of that change the fact that your comments don't prevent Harbaugh from coaching in this upcoming season?
I mean....if he upsets you sooooo much, and the "team sucks" so bad, then why don't you just stop paying attention? Obviously, your "fire Harbaugh" shtick isn't working (since they re-signed him), so try not watching or posting until he's gone. Maybe that'll work! ?
Give it a try! You'll be happier! ?
You bring rumors from paysite message boards here. Maybe just stay there.
Maybe you should be the next football coach?
Your already a negative pussy, all you do is complain and give shit information.
You have to be Brandon brown
April 23rd, 2021 at 10:51 PM ^
Hilarious that you think you can talk about bringing value anywhere. No one is happy with the football results, but the only thing that’s pathetic is the way you behave as a grown adult.
What kind of value do you think that you bring?! Lmao
Did someone hack your account, because this is Maizen shit territory right now.
Umbig11,
I worry about your happiness man!
I have you saved in my favorites bcuz u used to give some really good insight into what was happening with the team. I swear u have been cloned tho bcuz you use to be so humble and nice and now you're always so negative and angry. You went from posting positive messages and everyone always loving when you would chime in. Now you always post such negative stuff and belittle everyone who disagrees with you.
I honestly think you should step away from Michigan Football or something man. It's crazy to see how much you have changed. I will say a prayer for u man and hope that you can once again find your love for Michigan Football. Be humble my friend and always try to find the positive in everything you do.?
April 24th, 2021 at 11:02 PM ^
Quick reminder....Lloyd went 8-4 in back to back seasons (you know....8 wins, which is the WORST full season Harbaugh has had, so far) before going 12-0.
I think we'd all feel a little better about 8-4 if they also accompanied Lloyd's record against OSU.
Recap: Last year's results have zero relevance in this year's program.
I'm gonna disagree with you there. Why are you expecting folks to wipe the slate clean for JH and not be frustrated about the trajectory of the program? You can spin statistics any way you want, but the reality is JH has not beaten OSU, the record against MSU sucks, he's 50/50 vs PSU, has a losing record against Wiscy, has a losing record in bowls, and sucks in November when it matters most. We have a right to be frustrated. And, we don't know what to expect with his resigning. There have been all sorts of speculations of what JH's contract really means and the general board's opinion on that have changed over this offseason. For all we know it's beat OSU & win the B1G or bust. Or it could be this year is a mulligan to see what he can do in 2022. Or it could be anywhere in between. We have no idea. But, we still have the right to hold JH to his last 6 seasons and the right to be frustrated about the trajectory of the program after that many seasons, even if we know we are stuck with him for at least this year. There is at least some chance if he has another season like he did last year that he's gone. I don't think that is that far fetched.
I don't care that we didn't see the spring game.
I DO care that we saw no spring game. I need something (anything) to pin my hopes on after the train wreck that was last season.
I'm planning on watching this football season the way I would watch a bad Netflix series: I'm no longer emotionally invested in the plot, I just want to see how it ends.
Aye, my Michigan football fandom is beginning to resemble my Detroit Lions fandom. I follow them more as a football themed improvisational comedy troupe rather than an actual team.
bewbs
Does "I don't care" fall under "I don't want to think about football?"
I guess you can call it BPONE, but for me it's more like "I'm not going to carry unneeded negativity in my life anymore". I'll still watch and be a fan, but I guess I'm done with the fervor I used to have.
The sport has no parity at the top and until that comes back, there's not much reason to get ANGAR at any specific set of losses in a given year, because Michigan isn't one of those programs willing to win at all costs (and even worse, our arch rival very much is).
As a fan, I would have liked to have seen a spring game. That being said, I'm skeptical it would have done anything to change the public narrative about the team. Whatever you can say about Rich Rod, he was extremely liberal with media access (how many other coaches would have let a reporter follow him around for 3 years?), yet that won him approximately zero points with the public. And Brady Hoke was by all accounts an extremely kind man who was well-supported by AD staff & former players, but that didn't save him from being fired when the team fell apart.
This reminds me of Bo's quote on why he had no use for the media:
"If I'm winning I don't need them, and if I'm losing they can't help me."
Six months from now, no one will care if we had a spring game. If we are winning, all will be forgiven. If we are losing, any good will from a spring game will be gone.
While some people would have looked to find any positive they could about the spring game, plenty of people would have focused on the negative. If you disagree, just look at yesterday’s thread on John Ridgeway. The press and other social media hating on individual players or position groups doesn’t help the team and very well could hurt it. On the other hand, the press and social media hating on “the team”, may not actually be a bad thing. Nothing brings people together like a common enemy, and if this team is going to exceed expectations, they are likely going to do it because they are all in on “the team.” Even further lowering expectations for September 4th is probably not a bad thing from Harbaugh’s perspective.
I still like football. I enjoy watching Michigan play football. The nice part about the spring game is that I will latch on to any vague hope. Without it, not so much.
I like watching football, and I am a huge fan of Michigan, football included. But I haven't enjoyed watching Michigan play football in a while. 2016 was fun, and then OSU and the bowl game happened. 2018 was fun until the Revenge Tour ended with a thud.
More than that, though, Michigan football is boring, outdated, and stubborn, rather than being innovative, fun, and star-driven -- and we've had the stars! It's a chore, especially considering the energy and fun brought forth by the basketball teams, the gymnastics teams....hell, fill in the blank.
This has the makings of a pretty bad season. I hope that it isn't, but I will be surprised if they break .500.
I swear I saw a photo one time of Jack and Jim H. looking at MGoBlog...was that a dream or can someone confirm?
Anyway, if they (or anyone apart of that circle) do read this blog, I can understand not wanting ANY sort of access to their program right now. 1M+ readers and 90% of commenters bitching about the state of everything = Full submarine mode with tinted out windows so dark you couldnt see fingers through the glass.
April 23rd, 2021 at 10:18 PM ^
Full submarine mode with tinted out windows so dark you couldnt see fingers through the glass.
Don't forget the silent propulsion system.
One ping.
Oy! And also ve!
as if yesterday's WTKA roundtable didn't bitch about this enough...
So now that that's outs of the way when do we start preparing ourselves for the over-hyped summer workout notes from "inside sources" that end up causing much of our grief when they turn out to be just hype.
I suspect that the only teams that are consistently 10-3, 11-2 or better are the ones that have institutionalized cheating.
Assuming this is so, it's a choice between being a tier 2 program and cheating. You want top 10 or integrity? Because I don't think there's a space for both in NCAA Div 1 Football right now.
Money has ruined something that used to be fun.
I can honestly say I felt all three reactions this Spring at different times. Lifelong Michigan fan going back to 1989 and I have never felt this way before. It sucks!
I will watch in the Fall and hope for the best. If it were a business, I would have sold or closed shop years ago. A religion is not as easy to walk away from. Hoping for something to cheer for and be optimistic about this year. I do love this team, University, City and everything they stand for.
In order for Seth and the crew to not be incredibly negative about the zeigeist of the football program right now, they would have to be silent about it and it's literally their job to say things about the football team.
please, seth, for the love of god, stop using BPONE. it’s the weakest of sauces.
April 24th, 2021 at 12:05 AM ^
Agree. It’s pathetic.
Spring games are boring.
The simple fact remains that the team has the resources they do because of the support of the fan base. The spring game is a chance for the program to thank the fans for sticking with it. This spring, the program told the fans to fuck off. Do that enough times and the fans will leave. We’re not back to getting 2 tickets with a bottle of coke, but we’re headed in that direction.
Bingo. By the number of email reminders for season ticket renewal I’ve received, I won’t be surprised if they don’t sell them all this year
April 26th, 2021 at 10:33 AM ^
Exactly right. We had 4 season tickets. We renewed 2, and REALLY thought long and hard about skipping those. They get 1 year's reprieve. If there's no sign of hope, then those two are gone as well.
The other sports are fun. I'm happy to buy basketball season tickets, or softball, or women's basketball, or gymnastics, or whatever. Football is not currently fun, and life is too damn short to pay that much for an experience that isn't fun.
I’m almost ready to start watching women’s gymnastics. A sport I totally avoid but damn our women’s team did the university well.
It’s not just about the quality of the team. Sure, it’s fundamentally about winning and losing, but there is value being easy to root for. Think about the early JB basketball teams that weren’t great but played with guts and got people invested. But football seems hellbent on being hard to cheer for; they act like fans are just a nuisance to be endured.
Harbaugh initially did all the stuff like signing of the stars to put eyes on the program and give fans something to latch onto. Now he’s back to the demeanor of the end of his NFL tenure.
You can be Bo, or Saban, etc toward the media when you’re winning, but it’s not so cute when you haven’t won shit and lost a rivalry game to goddamn laughing stock MSU team in year seven. Weirdo savant is tolerable if you’re actually a savant, but right now Harbaugh’s just a weirdo.
April 24th, 2021 at 11:39 AM ^
oh sure, people were ALL IN for beilein - my favorite part of that were the repeated “has beilein reached his ceiling? maybe it’s time to move on” board posts that showed up AFTER he made a national championship game. kinda like the “fire bakich” post earlier this spring.
the moral: message boards are 100% shit. smart people don’t treat them as anything more than a bathroom wall. the only difference is that on a bathroom wall you can’t get the upvotes, so the assholes don’t get encouragement from other assholes.
April 23rd, 2021 at 10:18 PM ^
When does gymnastics season start again?
April 23rd, 2021 at 10:40 PM ^
Harbaugh and his mask boner can’t be gone fast enough for me. I was pretty quick to turn off the games last year. Still haven’t gotten to where I don’t bother turning them on to start with, but one I expect that to happen this year.
April 23rd, 2021 at 10:48 PM ^
Seth is my favorite content creator on this blog by far. Thanks for everything you do here. We hold a lot of the same views on the football team but you say them way more eloquently and often bring serious data to support.
I remain convinced that that this team is going to be TERRIBLE. Not 7-5. Truly terrible. 2008 terrible. I’m desperate to be wrong. I read these articles trying to convince myself otherwise but I’m not finding anything. This week I renewed my tickets because I have hope for the future but that just reignited my internal argument over whether I want to go to any games this year.
April 24th, 2021 at 12:06 AM ^
I actually think they will be better than people think--8-4 is my guess. For all Harbaugh's faults, I think he's a better than average coach who I don't think was well-served by the pandemic (not to excuse him, but he doesn't seem like a guy who adjusts well on the fly).
That being said, the floor for this season is very, very low. If they start the season similar to 2019 (close wins over the non Power 5 schools, blowout to Washington and Wisconsin), I could see the year turn south really quick. Don Brown's defense bailed the team out in 2019. LIke Seth, I'm very unsold on the McDonald hire and am unconvinced the defense could right the ship this year.
April 23rd, 2021 at 11:18 PM ^
Harbaugh is so afraid of fan negativity he chose to neglect the fans?
Brilliant
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