Same Old Song

I’ve read that book, I’ve heard it all before and I’m GD sick of it. Michigan ONCE AGAIN failed to show up for a big game and, once again, pulled a Michigan and failed to finish. I don’t want to hear ANY excuses – nothing about Bo’s death (we sucked when he was alive), nothing about losing Willis Barringer in the first half (our secondary has been suspect all year – Ball State proved that), nothing about the field being crappy (it sure as hell didn’t seem to bother Troy Smith as he picked us apart AGAIN).

I am so sick of excuses. I am so sick of the devastating losses (especially to OSU). I am so sick of getting the talent and continuously wasting it every damn year. I am so sick of our conservativeness and our unwillingness to ever change or try something new or different. I am so sick of never having that killer instinct, never kicking a team when its down, never going for the throat, never attacking a team’s weaknesses.

Today’s game was typical Michigan – everything on the line and we choke. I’m not going to sit here like a lot of other people and pretend like I’m so proud of this season and I’m happy with the consolation prize of the Rose Bowl (which we’ll probably lose anyway) because I AM NOT. I want to WIN. I want to be THE BEST – I thought that was what Michigan was all about. When I see what we’ve become, I honestly wonder if we would have won our mythical national championship if the system were the same then as it is now. The more I think about it, Charles Woodson was the ONLY reason we won in ’97 (that, and it was the only season since 1902 that we threw to the tight ends).

As I sit here, through yet another thrashing at the hands of the great (and I’m NOT using that word sarcastically) Ohio State, I can’t say I’m all that surprised. I’ve actually grown all too used to it. I do, however, feel bad for Kevin, though, as he’s going through what I went through a few years ago. He’s pissed, he’s swearing, he can’t believe what’s happening AGAIN. He will learn, though, the hard way, that being a fan of Michigan football will rip your heart out.

As for today’s game, I would have rather lost to them 45-0 than to have it APPEAR to be somewhat close. Hell, Ohio State wanted so badly to JUST GIVE US THE GAME but we couldn’t man up and take it. As an aside, after a big turnover, why can’t we be like most elite programs and go for the throat? Instead, we just piss away all our chances. ANYWAY, a close game might mean there could be a re-match in January and I’m sure I’m not the only Wolverine who would hate to lose to the Buckeyes twice in one season.

Well, I could be wrong but I can’t see us winning the bowl game. God knows we don’t perform well in those things, even when they don’t matter like last year’s useless Alamo Bowl against Nebraska. So, it looks like yet another disappointing season for U-M football and yet another season when we get our asses owned by Tressel and Ohio State!

Bo

On Friday, Bo Schembechler died. It’s a terribly sad time for all those in the Michigan family. It’s also way too ironic that he would die one day before arguably the biggest Michigan-Ohio State game ever. He won’t be here to witness what looks to be another great game in this rivalry, a rivalry that he had a huge part in building. I’m not sure how the team and the coaches will fare on the field tomorrow. I suspect either they will play with great emotion and win one for Bo or they will be totally flat due to the weight of this tremendous loss.

When I first started watching Michigan football way back when, it was Bo who defined it. It was his fire and passion that brought Michigan back onto the center state of college football after some rough years in the 60s. When my dream to attend U-M came true in 1991, Gary Moeller was in his second year as head coach but Bo was still around. Shortly after I began working at the athletic department in 1992, I was lucky enough to meet Bo in the mailroom of Schembechler Hall. I was very nervous to speak with him as he always appeared so gruff and so grouchy but, when I introduced myself, told him where I worked and how long I’ve admired him, that rough exterior disappeared. He was sweet and engaging and I went back to work feeling lucky I had the chance to meet him.

All these years later, Bo still was around and you got the feeling he would ALWAYS be around – he seemed indestructible. Even after a brief health scare in October, you still got the feeling that he would beat all the odds and be around forever. But, no one lives forever and he is gone. I joke around a lot with Kevin about how Bo NEVER wanted to throw the ball or about how he fired Ernie Harwell when he was president of the Detroit Tigers but it was always in good fun. I know in my heart that Michigan football, and probably college football, would not be what it is today without Bo.

Rest in peace, Bo! You will be missed! Go Blue!