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5 Toughest Things About Being A Michigan Football Fan

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By @MattSamFolk

Toughest Things About Being A Michigan Football Fan

Brady Hoke
Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Despite an unrivaled history of excellence, Michigan football has its quirks and has fallen on hard times. The Rich Rodriguez and Brady Hoke eras have featured little of the classic Michigan dominance, especially in Big Ten play. From tough losses to the success of rivals, the Wolverines have floundered under recent pressure and face a difficult identity crisis.

5. Noon Crowds

Michigan Stadium
Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

5. Noon Crowds

Michigan Stadium
Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Although games at Michigan historically kicked off at 1 p.m., the modern football viewing experience has changed. With TV ruling the day, many of Michigan's games against mediocre competition begin at noon. The Big House doesn't keep noise in the stadium due to the way it was constructed, and these noon games generally have the intensity of a tennis match. The old intimidation factor when playing at Michigan Stadium is often missing.

4. “The Horror” (Appalachian State Loss)

Appalachian State
Getty Images

4. “The Horror” (Appalachian State Loss)

Appalachian State
Getty Images

One such noon game took place against then-FCS power Appalachian State. A fifth-ranked Michigan team took the athletic Mountaineers lightly and Appalachian State QB Armanti Edwards famously led perhaps the biggest upset in college football history. More than any other event, "The Horror", as this sad day has been dubbed by Michigan fans, is a clear starting point of the decline of the Michigan football program.

3. Michigan Man Fallacy

Dave Brandon
Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

3. Michigan Man Fallacy

Dave Brandon
Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Legendary coach Bo Schembechler famously said, "A Michigan man will coach Michigan!", in a tirade during his stint as Athletic Director. Since Bo retired as head coach, two of his assistants led the program for 18 years up through 2007. Michigan has preferred to hire internally or candidates with significant Michigan ties. Michigan's stubbornness has kept them from welcoming modern football and hiring on merit rather than personal connections.

2. Losing To Michigan State And Ohio State

Devin Gardner
Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports

2. Losing To Michigan State And Ohio State

Devin Gardner
Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports

Michigan has lost nine of 10 to chief rival Ohio State and five of six to in-state rival Michigan State. It has been a particularly painful stretch for Wolverine fans, made even worse by the success and stability of their rival programs. It's particularly painful losing to Michigan State, who previously hadn't won in Ann Arbor since 1990, and hadn't won consecutive games dating back to the 1960s.

1. The Shadow Of The Past

Lloyd Carr
Getty Images

1. The Shadow Of The Past

Lloyd Carr
Getty Images

Michigan football may be a sleeping giant, waiting for the right coach to right the ship. However, it's difficult to escape the "has-been" feeling when talking about the Michigan program. In modern recruiting, touting distant championships no longer holds as much sway, and the assumed yearly success makes living up to expectations nearly impossible. The Wolverines have to stop doing what once won championships and embrace 21st century football.

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