At some point, every warrior comes to the revelation that we are more like our enemy than we ever want to admit. For Michigan fans, things have been tough. But for those of us old enough, we remember the pain of the 90s, the emptiness of the Earl Bruce years as we searched for another Woody, the pain of watching John Cooper repeatedly steal defeat from the jaws of victory, until finally, the renaissance of Jim Tressel and the decade of the Buckeyes.
Michigan fans sit where we did at the end of the 90s. They are at the end of an era filled with pain and disappointment. An era which at the outset held such hope, such dreams, only to be dashed repeatedly during recent years. The Michigan seniors who returned, passing up the fortunes of the NFL and boasting of a national championship are now battered and injured. Yet today, the injuries will not matter. Regardless of the pains that ail, this is the big game. A failure to win today will live with them until the day they die.
If you saw the HBO special about The Game, a former Michigan player (I don’t remember who) discussed the term Schadenfreude, a German term translating to pleasure taken in the pain of others. He told how he has releshed in the schadenfreude of a victory over Ohio State.
Today is a day for the Buckeyes to secure their schadenfreude for years to come. If the Buckeyes can send LLLLLLoyd Cooper into the sunset without a final victory, if the Buckeyes can keep the boisterous Mike Hart, Chad Henne and the rest of the Michigan seniors from the experience of a win over Ohio State, they will deliver a malicious joy that will be hard to match.
With that in mind, I direct you to a post by one of the best college football bloggers on the internet, Brian of Mgoblog. Brian has written an amazing post describing the current state of today’s Michigan fan. And I send you to this post not to express my schadenfreude at his suffering but to remind us all of the joy, the pain, the dreams, the dashed hopes and the memories that this game evokes.
Michigan is facing the end of an era. Next year, possibly with current LSU coach Les Miles at the helm, will start a new day for the Wolverines and new challenges for Ohio State Buckeyes. There is no question that Carr has lost his grip on the Ohio State/Michigan game. We all know that Michigan will recruit a coach in the same way that Ohio State recruited Jim Tressel. The number one priority will be to find a coach that understands the importance of “The Game” and knows how to prepare for a game like no other in college football.
The sun sets today over an epoch in college football history. And while I’ve enjoyed our recent dominance, the next could bring on battles reminiscent of the Ten Year War. Tressel has it in him, I believe the next Michigan coach will also.
So for now, during a brief ceasefire before the final battle, I ask that you cross enemy lines and tend to the wounded. Brian is a great writer and he truly captures the feelings embodied in this glorious battle.
When you return, it is back to battle stations. Bring on the game, bring on the Wolverines, bring on the schadenfreude of a glorious victory in their own house. For this is the day of the Ohio State/Michigan game!
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Annapolisbuckeye,
I’m sorry but I don’t understand why Hart, Long, and Henne are/were so revered by michigan fan. michigan, average at best over the last 4 years, and just losing to THE Ohio State Buckeyes for the 4 time in a row? Come on?
I don’t understand Brian’s ramblings and longings to have these guys so well placed in michigan history when so many of their previous teams were so much better. And in this long history of great rivalries, history and players, this 07 team was yet a blip on the map.
All of those michigan seniors coming back kind of reminds me of a certain QB from Tennesee, who now plays for Indy, who came back after his Jr. year just to beat Florida. And that, too, never happened in 4 years…
After LLLLoyd sat Hart and Henne last week and sacrificed a win against Wisky just so they could be in good health to take on the Buckeyes in and effort to win the Big 10, michigan fan should be embarrassed. Yet, I don’t think they even get it. History and tradition have been lost on this current group of michigan players and fans.
They are simply striving for mediocrity.
While I feel ever so slightly for Brian, I don’t appreciate what LLLLoyd did last week against Wisky. And if Tressel ever does what LLLLoyd did last week to win the Big 10 he should just step down. Woody and Bo would both be rolling in thier graves.
Good riddance LLLLoyd. You ruined your legacy with me.
Alan
Yeah, I’m pretty torn here. Brian writes such a good piece but at the same time, it is so good to see all of them suffer so badly.