Look on the bright side ... Boise lost again.
All I could think about today was how it must suck to be a michigan fan right now.
Are you a drug addict? or are you just saying what you think cocaine would be like. I myself am a recovering addict.
I hope being down about the loss won't hinder the great work you're doing for collegefootball bloggers with the blogpoll. I have a feeling you won't let it. Thanks!
Are you out of your skull? You ended your pre-game BGS exchange letter with "you suck, we don't and it isn't fair", and then have the balls and lack of context to complain about a picture of Lloyd and and a totally innocuous personal comeback. You're a baby. That's the correct term.
I feel your pain. You wait all year long thinking "this time they wont fuck it up." And then the fuck it up before the season is barely off the ground. A whole year of hoping is down the tubes.
And Quinn can clearly throw a ball accurately more than 6 yards. I think he's got a range of like 8 or 9. But hey, that 3 yard pass on 4th and 15 was good.
Brian - To be a Notre Dame fan the past decade has been a cycle of continuous cranks to the fruitstand. I don't need to document that here. We were happy, check that, estatic to escape Ann Arbor with a win (our first there in 12 years). I couldn't sit down and write a rational game summary after the final few seconds because I was still an emotional wreck. Perhaps the picture was a bit of a cheap shot, but permit us some celebrating. Calling us small? How many Weis fat/egomaniac/fat/unproven/fat jokes have been on this blog? Most of them were pretty funny, but that's doesn't make them any less of a cheap shot. What it comes down to is that you have a great blog so I don't mind the occasional jabba reference. We try hard to keep our blog fairly rational and even-handed, I don't think you should get worked up when we throw up the occasional "make fun of Lloyd Carr" picture.
My rational, cheap-shot free, review will show up in a few days. Sneak preview: Irish defense/special teams, Manningham, Grady, Woodley = GOOD; Irish offense, Quinn, Henne = SHAKY.
You must be the uber-Michigan-fan. You are the whiniest mother-fucker on the face of the earth. You can dish it out but can't take any of it. Why don't sack up and be a man? 1-3 vs the Delusional Assholes. 1-2 vs Iowa 1-2 vs OSU. But it's all unfair because you didn't really lose any of them. Michigan is the team of the Universe! It's the refs and bounces and the luck and the evil bad guys. And Brady Quinn can't throw a pass longer than 6 yards but you never take shots at anyone do you?
Let me stop being a sarcastic bastard for one minute and clue you in on something that and the national media probably haven't noticed yet: Notre Dame physically beat the crap out of Pitt last week and Michigan this week. It was evident in the way Pitt played last night (and the fact that two OL memebers didn't start) and I'm betting it will be evident for whoever the hell you guys play next week. Physical play is the most underrated piece of the Patriots puzzle (ask McNabb) and Weis is bringing it to ND. Here's one for your analysis - Michigan lost primarily because ND beat them up physically. Watch the tape.
"Good game, Mister"
Yeah Notre Dame won the game, and they deserved to. They played more physically and wanted it more. But geez, some of you domer fans are a real piece of work. Stop beating your chests like a bunch of fucking assholes and show some humility because eventually you will be put in your place.
I was going to come over here tonight and tell you what you already know...UM's coaching staff needs an imagination transplant. So many players. So little putting them in position to make great plays.
Then I watched UGA's coaching staff call a wretched game on both sides, and I lost the moral high ground.
So I'll just sit here quietly.
I was completely unable to do anything today after that game other than sit on my bed, watch an endless litany of other college football games on one of however many channels they were playing (3, I think. Maybe 4), slowly rehydrate, and frantically flip away from any and all Michigan highlights.
Probably that means I have a sickness, but oh well. So it is.
Rick,
Get ahold of yourself man. Beat Michigan up physically? An on what do you base that? Sounds to me like you listened to too many post game remarks from Lou Holtz and Aaron Taylor. What a joke.
Notre Dame is a better football team, no doubt. But if you, or any other rational thinking fan looks at that contest, and has anything to say but "Wow, we could have easily lost that game" then it's time for a mental health check-up.
Great writing, Brian. "Fever Pitch" - Hornby-esque.
i think that the distinction between subtle, humorous witticisms with plenty of "napoleon dynamite" references (ours) and crude, childish taunting (theirs) is perhaps the one thing that truly is in the eye of the beholder----after all, imagine how long it took to come up with "whiniest m____ f____ on the face of the earth"----great job rick!!!
C'mon everyone, NO BODY CAN POSSIBLY BE SUPRISED. At least not if you watch this series for the last 20 years. There is a plan for the M/ND series and it has been noted by many over the years. Who wins and how the game plays out is based on some sort of twisted karma.
It (karma) decides who wins:
I have a much deaper history in mind for this but let's just go back to us beating them 38-0 a couple of years ago. The beatdown itself wasn't what created the bad karma for us that has doomed us for the last two and who can tell how many more seasons? It was the nasty degree of trash talking, stirred by the media (who are BIG karma amplifiers in my mind) that followed the beatdown. We pay for it today and last year in losing close games in crazy ways. Tipped passes are still caught, obvious touchdowns are hesitated on and then miscalled, etc. Just look at what happened to us three times between the 5 and the goal line.
Eventually all of the trash they talk will tip the karma back our way but it may take a while. I know I talked mad smack after the 38-0 win, and if I did, hundreds of thousands of people did too.
Racerblue:
Just for you: "Wow, we could have easily lost that game...."
"...but, had our 'genius' head coach/play caller not decided to scrap the 4 wr sets that gave UM fits on the first drive in favor of an I formation that played into the strength of their D, had Quinn been anywhere near on target except for the 2 TD drives, then we could have won going away"...
The "should have, could have, would have" game works both ways, for both teams. Both teams played some real sloppy football out there, but ND was hurt by it's mistakes less than Michigan was by theirs. Yeah, we're delirious with glee that we won--and you guys wouldn't be if UM won? I wouldn't be as quick to throw stones as you guys are to throw bottles at refs (and our players, and fans...)
Brian--same thing. As if you wouldn't have made some obligatory fat joke about Weis (oh wait, you did that anyways) and rubbed anything in....come on. We could have easily lost that game--but shouldn't have, and thankfully we held on. Maybe I've missed it, but I don't see anyone writing "Michigan Swallows"--though it was reported that "ND Swallows" shirts were most definitely seen at the game. And a picture of Lloyd Carr on BGS's site is considered "small"?
Good game. I'd say sorry about Hart, but he'll be back well before we get McKnight, so I'll reserve my sympathy. Good luck the rest of the season in the Big 10, and see you next year.
I figured out what happened:
Through a computer mix-up, the Michigan coaching staff printed the "call sheet" from the 2004 Michigan / Notre Dame game, and inadvertently called the same vanilla, conservative, play-to-the-strengths of the opponent's defense game plan they called in South Bend last year.
All summer I've been reading about how this year it would be different - this year Chad Henne is experienced enough to handle an aggressive game plan, Notre Dame is suspect in the secondary - UM will exploit them, and big time.
I'm sure that was the plan, if not for that computer - laser printer mixup in the UM Coaching Office.
Fact is, UM had 60 minutes to PROVE it was a superior team than Notre Dame. Fact is, UM failed.
Go Irish!
P.S. I really like your blog, and despite our obvious conflicting loyalites, think you bring a passion to your cause that is the essence of what makes college football special.
Hey. A little smack never hurt anybody... Check your haikus. yeah, the last one. But hey, its cool. Its funny. So that kind of stuff happens, and it probably just hurts a little more and comes off as completely unfunny after a loss. But it's college football, a big rivalry. This stuff happens. It's not like Lloyd pictures haven't appeared on BGS before. It just hurts more after the Wolverines lost. It's kinda like how I could stand the "Rudy Sucks" t-shirts until right after the 38-0 game. It just hurts more. It's the friend that you have a thing with, just punching each other out of the blue. After your girlfriend breaks up with you, it just hurts more. Welcome to college football.
Oh, and rethinking the "Loeffler Low Release Point"? That played a bigger part in the game than I expected. I forget when it was in the game, but UofM set up for a screen. Wide open reciever, 3 man convoy. Henne throws it straight into Abiamiri's arm. Probably would have been a TD.
Wow. Lot's of flaming.
Before, during, and after the game every REAL Notre Dame fan has one simple thought: Fuck Michigan.
Before, during, and after the game every REAL Michigan fan has one simple thought: Fuck Notre Dame.
The ups and downs of this outstanding series merit that kind of thinking. T-Shirts have publicized it well.
Today I get to say Fuck Michigan and feel good (first I get the kids out of the room). Today Brian et al get to say Fuck Notre Dame and feel lousy. That status will flip-flop many times over the years. That's why we love football.
All this trash talk is a lot more fun face to face over a cold beverage. I think I've had enough of blogs (although both these blogs are outstanding).
Go Irish. Fuck Michigan State. :-)
Brian,
For the record, I'm a big fan of mgoblog. I think you've got one of the best college football -- no, check that, one of the best sports blogs on the web.
The picture of Lloyd; well, I didn't see it as I was in Ann Arbor. But it came and went in a hurry. No need to get too huffy.
The "taunt" you mention I read as being directed at Michael Taylor, and overly-rationalizing Michigan fans in general. We all make excuses for games which we lose; Michigan fans aren't alone in this. We rationalize our loss to BC in '93 on almost a daily basis. Take the post as a light-hearted jab at a large target rather than a personal attack on mgoblog or yourself.
You said something wise in our comments section about "keeping a sense of humor"; we'll always try to do that. We have no interest in a flame war with mgoblog; as I said at the outset, we love your site.
Feel free to email (or call; I've sent my phone number) to clear the air and vent, if you'd like to.
Keep up the good work.
Thanks Rick..I'm glad you've seen the light.
This was a hard fought game, not a thing of beauty on offense for either team.
And btw, I didn't condone, and never would the throwing of anything at anybody..not sure why you thought I would.
Brian,
After a big college football game between enemies (or rivals or whatever heated noun you want to use to discribe ND v. UM), there is always going to be a lot of gloating and excuse making by team fans. What a better forum for such banter than fan blogs like BGS and mgoblog...two of the best in the business.
Don't take it personally and lash out at the boys behind BGS. You'll know when you get to know them that they are anything but small. They are actually men of character...especially when it comes to the really important things in life. It's probably a safe rule to not judge the character of a fan by what he says 24 hours after his team beats or loses to your beloved team.
I know if I did, I'd still hate the guys I know from UM who bashed me to no end after the drubbing the Irish took 2 years ago.
Relax...take a deep breath...it's college football. It's all fun. I'm sure that's the reason you started mgoblog in the first place.
Nick, you mentioned karma. Here's karma for you: Michigan fans throw bottles after a call we don't like, and who do the bottles actually hit? They hit a bunch of high school recruits there to watch the game and decide whether they want to commit to Michigan.
If that's not karma, I don't know what is.
Bean Getsoian
Brian,
Though I would like to taunt you on this one, it seems you have taken enough abuse. Being a die hard like yourself leaves room for others to pick apart, and touch soft spots.
It was horrible games for both teams ... I'm thinking Ohio U could have beat us both on Saturday. I look at Lloyd Carr and see someone who has overstayed their welcome.
It's not the end of the season, and as far as I have seen, many are still picking you guys to make a BCS push near the end of the season. Hopefully we will be there as well, and maybe a rematch will be in order.
You really are the most stereotypical UM fan on the face of the planet.
You NEVER lose, not ever. The refs, unforced errors, and bad luck are blamed LITERALLY 100% of the time.
The refs did their best to give you this game on two OBVIOUS non-calls. Thank god for the instant replay guy, because the refs did their very best to hand you the game.
And why do your unforeced errors change the game, but ours go unmentioned? Quinn missed a million WIDE OPEN receivers. If we take unforced errors out of the equation, ND may very well have won by 30 points, so that argument is debunked too.
As for bad luck... luck favors the prepared, and UM was unarguably outcoached.
Sack up and accept a loss for once. Do you even know how pathetic this sounds for the third time in four years? Even if there was some sort of cosmic bias these past 4 years, you would still sound whiny and desperate. Score more than 10 points at home, then we'll talk about the luck of the irish.
thanks for the newflash, sean. you really enlightened us. fact is, UM had a bajillion opportunities to put the game away and didn't. notre dame did not beat Michigan, Michigan beat Michigan. call it whining, call it being a bad sport, but call it like it is. the irish were lucky as hell that UM played like garbage and still managed to keep it close over and over. and over. and over. until the bitter end.
"UM had a bajillion opportunities to put the game away and didn't."
Um, is it just me or were we not up by 2 touchdowns late in the 4th quarter? We consistently failed to keep the ball and run the clock out. Seems to me like ND was the only team that couldn't put the game away, but then again, I'm not on crack.
"Notre dame did not beat Michigan, Michigan beat Michigan."
Oh, so I must have misread the scoreboard at Michigan stadium. I thought it said "ND 17 - UM 10," not "UM 17 - UM 10." Maybe I need glasses.
"Call it whining, call it being a bad sport."
Ok, I will. You're whining and being a bad sport.
Hey, at least you're still the only undefeated team with one loss.
Two obvious no calls?
Yeah, the Quinn "fumble" clearly wasn't, but you're saying that the Henne fumble was obvious at first glance?
You must have X-ray vision.
Yes, it was obvious at first glance. I was on the 40 yard line, about 20 rows up, and even the Michigan fans surrounding me were quite sure it was a fumble.
Oh yeah, and the refs were just a wee bit closer than I was.
I'm not talking about the fact that an ND player came out of the pile with the ball, that was obvious--and irrelevant because that's only one of three conditions that had to be met for it to be an obvious fumble.
I'm talking about whether or not Henne had dropped the ball before crossing the goal or before he was down.
I sure as hell couldn't tell, and I don't know how anyone could tell without watching replay, which is what was done and the correct call was made.
But I guess I don't have your super vision powers. I apologize for my inferiority.
Nice blog, by the way. You represent a key element of the Irish fan base very accurately.
I'm not talking about the fact that an ND player came out of the pile with the ball, that was obvious--and irrelevant because that's only one of three conditions that had to be met for it to be an obvious fumble.
I'm talking about whether or not Henne had dropped the ball before crossing the goal or before he was down.
I sure as hell couldn't tell, and I don't know how anyone could tell without watching replay, which is what was done and the correct call was made.
But I guess I don't have your super vision powers. I apologize for my inferiority.
Nice blog, by the way. You represent a key element of the Irish fan base very accurately.
"I'm talking about whether or not Henne had dropped the ball before crossing the goal or before he was down."
Um, Henne didn't drop the ball because he never really had it. That play was f*cked from moment 1. Like I said, the Michigan fans around me all agreed that it was an obvious fumble.
You don't have to apologize for your inferiority, God made everyone special in their own way.
BTW, thanks for the compliment. I'll be rooting for UM the rest of the year. Here's hoping you go 11-1 and I'm looking forward to another great game next year.
You'd better get your lame excuses ready, next year's loss will be here before you know it.
Coming from a family with several Notre Dame alums, it's always nice to get to know other alums and their interesting ways of publicly representing the school. Good luck.
Hey Sean
If we are talking about obvious calls, hows abouts that Carlyle Holliday 2002 TD? It don't get much more obvious than that. Whether you like it or not, it is a series of bounces and inches.
Or did Charlie Weis have something to do with Hart getting hurt or Grady's backfield dropsies?
Holiday recovered his own fumble and it wasn't even 3rd down in 2002. It didn't have an effect on the game like you think it did.
And Henne never had the snap based on the replay from behind him. He never got possession of it.
"You NEVER lose, not ever. The refs, unforced errors, and bad luck are blamed LITERALLY 100% of the time."
Did you miss the part of the post that mentioned that it was not about rationality, that it was about the feelings we've gone through as a fanbase? Did you miss the part where I specifically mentioned Quinn's errant throws? Or are you just ignoring everything I said that doesn't fit with your preconceived notion of what I am and what Michigan fans are?
OK, so now that we've desperately regressed to talking about a game from 3 years ago, I'll assume I've won the argument about this year's game.
Now, lets talk about that Holiday fumble all those years ago. We recovered it, and it was inside the one yard line. If the refs had called that play correctly, it would have been 3rd and inches, and unlike UM, we can execute a SIMPLE QB sneak in 2 attempts. I'll agree that there was a missed call, but if you think we couldn't have gone 6 inches in 2 plays, you're just retarded.
Oh, and I see you finally played the injury card. FYI, Hart getting injured was the best thing that happened to you all afternoon. He was absolutely WORTHLESS while he was in, and his backup was tearing us to pieces.
If you wanna talk about passes that should have been completed, then you have to include ND, which had WAY more. Like I said, this game would have gotten completely out of hand if ND didn't make so many unforced errors. You can have those 2 drops. We'll take the 6 or 7 overthrown receivers and your unforced error argument results in a 20 point blowout by the Irish.
Brian, this one is for you...
I agree that your mentality is not based on rationality.
"To a Michigan fan, every Irish loss over the past ten years has been due to an unfortunate, ridiculous confluence of unlikely events: fumbles, ridiculous refereeing, blocked punts, hilarious deflected passes, etc. It doesn’t matter if it’s true or not (though it is): that’s what it feels like... And so it is again."
I think that quote is almost impossible to misinterpret.
I do commend you for briefly mentioning Quinn's "unforced errors," but it followed an entire paragraph that bitched and moaned about (1) the deflected pass, (2) UM's missed catches and (3) the injury card.
You sir, are the perfect whiny UM fan. You have never, and will never be beaten by anyone. You will simply beat yourselves or get cheated out of every unfavorable contest. This habit of denial has convinced you that losing 3 out of 4 years does not constitute any sort of pattern.
One more thought...
I would sincerely like to thank the UM student body for handing us Darrin Walls. Excellent work THROWING TRASH AT HIM. We appreciate your assistance in our recruiting efforts.
Also, to the 10 - 15 UM students who drunkenly challenged me to a fight in the street because of my green jersey, I would like to know where you were AFTER the game.
I will believe in Notre Dame if they beat Tennessee and USC... right now... I'll chalk this loss up as Coach Lloyd's annual September fuck up. Notre Dame might have been the better team, but I can only be sure once I see them play someone of consequence... right now they've play a terrible Pitt team, and UofM team which was facing the Lloyd curse of September (which is the equivalent of a Conference USA team).
Boy, Sean, you're even more charming after a few drinks.
I'm about as rabid an Irish fan as there is, and I don't taunt. If I had been on the losing end of a game like that, I'd probably be in the hospital right now, so I feel for the Mich faithful.
The Michgan/ND game is a great one (and I believe that even when we lose 38-0), and I hope it's around for a long time.
Now that this has devolved into an insult contest (which I will not engage in), I'll consider it as a forfeit on your part.
Boy, that was almost too easy.
That's all you've done on every comment, Sean, insult. Go away. Anything further from you gets deleted.
Uh, Sean, you might want to look at who started the insults.
Given your insulting tone on your blog and on this board, there's little doubt that the reason you were threatened by Michigan fans last Saturday was because you were mouthing off and trying to start something.
Your team won. They're 2-0 and ranked in the top 10. Try being happy instead of posting insults at 3 a.m. on a Monday morning.
I can certainly feel your pain. It took seven tries for St. Bobby & the Garnet & Gold Boys to get that Miami monkey off our back most recently - not to mention my early 90's heartbreaks live & in person.
There is a lot of shoulda-coulda-woulda, but I trust you'll be able to pull the jersey on again this week. Right now, it just doesn't feel like you could. I get that.
In a classic battle of the bands, the nation's best fight song just wasn't heard often enough.
But, that is sports. And, like in drinking games, we must all find time to puke & rally.
BTW Nate,
ND dropped the 3 wr sets (yes, that's the set that they hurt Michigan in during the first drive)..because Herrman started blitzing the piss out of Quinn when they showed it later..and Quinn couldn't handle it..
Your offense got owned in the second half, just like Michigan's did in the first half..
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