I'm right there with M-Dog. It is gloomy. Michigan just seems to have this unique way of exasperating their fans. Losing is just as much a part of the game as winning, and everybody gets that. But the way in which Michigan loses sometimes just leaves you dumbfounded. Poor clock management is one prime example. You just scratch your head trying to figure that one out.
This season was particularly frustrating, probably because we did beat Wisconsin, Michigan State, and Penn State, the table was set for beating OSU, win a Big Ten Championship, and make the playoffs, and it all flamed out so horribly, capped by a beat down in the bowl game.
Michigan is a unique program, with its rich tradition. It's part of what makes its fans so loyal. Sure, there are all the things people say - no national championship since '97, lackluster record against rivals and in bowl games, etc. But for those who love the Maize and Blue, you persevere. It just takes the wind out of your sails when you see the season end like it did.
There are a lot of fans who know more about the intricacies of the offense and can break down Patterson's play, but here's my take. He instills more confidence and consistency play to play than there's been in a long time. With Speight and O'Korn (especially) and even Dennard and Devin Gardner, you never knew what was going to happen. A brilliant play followed by a head scratcher. There were a lot of expectations put on Patterson's shoulders this year, and he played generally pretty well. Especially that stretch after the Notre Dame game, up until Indiana. When the offensive line couldn't protect him, he struggled. A lot of his passes were under thrown and cost some scores. A lot of dropped passes did the same, usually in really key situations. Off the field, he always seems uncomfortable in interviews, like he wishes he was somewhere else. Pretty humble guy, it seems. Doesn't look for the limelight. Really loves his teammates. Cares about the program. Who knows how good he would've done in those losses had he had better protection and better offensive game plans. Not an elite QB -- some of them make it look so easy -- but I think he played hard, did his best, tried to be a good leader, and is an improvement over years past.
Well, there was the Northwestern game, down by 17 and they came back. Granted, it was Northwestern, but they're scrappy and it was on the road. That showed some grit, and that they could come back after being down three scores.
There hasn't been much talk of it, just a mention here and there, but did anyone else find the whole Revenge Tour thing troubling? Like, don't f*ck with karma, skip the whole revenge concept, keep your nose down, your mind focused and play good football one game at a time. It seemed like the more the Revenge Tour took root, with T-shirts even, things started sliding sideways. Rutgers. Indiana. Then OSU. Michigan players have always seemed to be pretty level, down-to-earth, no-hype kind of individuals. Chase is great, but the minute I heard "Revenge Tour" for the third time, I got a bad feeling.
The excerpt is:
"I don't know how they [Michigan] prepared," he [Gardner-Johnson, of Florida] said, "but I don't think they prepared too well."
Understatement of the day.
Wow. Four hours and a bottle of Tequila since the game ended and I'm actually MORE depressed. It's going to be a long seven months before that barn-burner of an opener against the Middle Tennessee Dental College Fighting Hygienists.
Apoplectic. The only word I can think of to describe how it feels to be a loyal Michigan fan and watch that game. Like probably a lot of the faithful, I'm split: one side is just resigned to sigh, suck it up, and focus on next year after another season of back-to-back wrenching season-ending losses. The other side wants to stack all my Michigan apparel, my banner, the Big M coasters, and that Wolverine Teddy Bear in the fire pit, pour on the kerosene, light a match, and send it all up in smoke.
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