The Clans. The Factions. Defined.

November 14, 2020 /

[Ed. Reposted for reference only during the November 2020 free fall. Originally published January 2011.]

The toxic factions.  The divided clans.  There’s been much talk of the Michigan fanbase over the past few years since Lloyd Carr departed.

I’ve tried several times to etch out what “we” look like at a given point in Michigan history, and not only is it difficult (perhaps impossible) to peg, the groups change as we move through time.

That said I decided to take another crack at it and I enlisted the help of the great Craig Barker of The Hoover Street Rag and frequent contributor Lew.  Before diving in too deep Barker suggested the following to put the Michigan football fandom in context.

Generally speaking there is a 80-10-10 split on all Michigan fans:

  • 80% are casual fans. They’ll watch Michigan when it’s on TV. They’ll perk up their ears if Michigan is being discussed on ESPN, and their take on the Wolverines is heavily influenced by the Angelique/Wojo/Rosenberg/Snyder/Sharp takes.
  • 10% are serious fans. They’ll not only watch Michigan, they’ll seek out highlights. They crave national opinions on the team. They engage in some discussion of the Wolverines on their Facebook/Twitter accounts.
  • 10% are obsessives. This is the MGoBlog crowd and people who are actively trying to sway and influence other fans. Michigan is so much of their identity it hurts.

That’s about right.

As far as those toxic factions?  Try this on for size:

the_Michigan_factions

[Ed. one note: this might be better represented as Venn Diagram [Rebellion goes ‘schwing’!] but that’d be a bear and I’m trying to watch a hockey game tonight.]

Thanks again to Craig Barker of The Hoover Street Rag for the input and much of the text on the final three specialized groups.

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50 Comments

  • @navratil

    January 14, 2011 at 6:26 pm

    Rebellion/Fierce Pragmatist here. I don't think there's anything in one that contradicts with the other: pissed at Brandon, hoping like hell that Hoke brings the next Wolverine NC.

  • formerlyanonymous

    January 14, 2011 at 7:18 pm

    I can remain suspect, as long as I'm never convicted. Or so every career counselor tells me this.

  • Greg from MVictors

    January 14, 2011 at 7:22 pm

    Decatur: "But in spite of all temptations, To belong to other nations, He remains a Michigan man!
    He remains a Mich…….i..gan man!"

  • VictorValiant

    January 14, 2011 at 7:39 pm

    Fierce pragmatist here too, so why are we considered just 1%? are we the type that this blog attracts? recount! the hanging chads were not counted!

  • Greg from MVictors

    January 14, 2011 at 7:43 pm

    are we the type that this blog attracts? – Kind of. And here's a thought: dudes commenting on posts at 6:45 on a Friday (like me) are a unique subset of the Michigan fan base, no?

  • Duffy

    January 14, 2011 at 7:46 pm

    I think I'd like to think of myself as a fierce pragmatist, I don't know if others would agree with that, maybe that with equal mixes of cotton pickin' & the in rod crowd.

    Awesome post , thumbs up for you.

  • @cdbarker

    January 14, 2011 at 8:59 pm

    Victor, it is entirely possible that blog folks are more likely to be fierce pragmatists, and the numbers may grow as people come around on Hoke or realize that Rodriguez was not the worst coach ever. It's arguably the most fair minded group, but it also annoys people because they feel like we (as I categorize myself here) didn't choose a side.

  • dayooper

    January 14, 2011 at 9:23 pm

    Fierce Pragmatist, yup that's me. As a semi regular poster on victors and reader of mgoblog, I agree that a lot of blog readers are in the same category as I am. Most Victors poster are just pl

  • Mustelid

    January 14, 2011 at 9:38 pm

    Cotton Pickin'. I liked RichRod as a person and wanted it to work out, but the horrific defense and lack of compettiveness against good teams wore me down. Something snapped after the PSU game. Two weeks to prepare for a so-so team with a completely unproven QB, and we put up a stinker. Hoke is winning me over.

  • Michigan Girl

    January 14, 2011 at 9:46 pm

    As a Champions Lot parker, I'm a clearly Second Estate but Fierce Pragmatist fits as well. Loved Hoke's presser and hoping for a competitive team against 'Bama in '12.

  • wolverron

    January 14, 2011 at 10:03 pm

    i hate to think i'm part of the masses, but i'm probably a Cotton Pickin' Blue. i think it's my "queme los barcos" attitude towards everything (in life).

  • Trubluguy

    January 14, 2011 at 11:22 pm

    I feel most akin to the Bo Clan, but I have a Cotton Pickin' Blues attitude about the future. I hope for the best for and from Brady, even though not my choice, since he is a genuine guy and good coach.

  • Mustelid

    January 15, 2011 at 12:46 am

    For himself has said it,
    And it's greatly to his credit,
    That he is a Michigan Man!

    THAT HE IS A MICHIGAN MAN!

    For he might have been a Buckeye,
    A Vol, Longhorn, Ilini,
    Or perhaps a dread Spart-an!

    OR PERHAPS A DREAD SPAR-TAN!

    But in spite of all temptations,
    To belong to other nations,
    He remains a Michigan Man!

    HE REMAINS A MI-I-I-I-I-I-I-CHIGAN MAN!

  • San Diego Mick

    January 15, 2011 at 4:05 am

    So if you're formerly anonymous, how come I still don't feel like I know ya, you know? I felt compelled to ask.

    I'm mostly in the that 45% category, "Cotton Picken", however, I feel like gots a little "Rebellion" and "Bo Clan" persona too. Love the Hoke hire, I have a feeling our recruiting is gonna get back to the level where we were always in the top 10, if not higher.

    This guy can really charm people, stop people in their tracks (Drew Sharp), and has a great energy, when he's in the room, you know it. But to me, the most important reason it works for Hoke is because he's genuine and I think it's very cool that the U-M Coach has that going for him.

  • zyxwvut

    January 15, 2011 at 4:35 pm

    I've never been part of the Rebellion, the Corduroy Jackets, the Second State, or trusted in RichRod unreservedly. At times I could be comfortable in any of those other groups, but ultimately I'm Cotton Pickin' Blues. Defense wins championships, Lloyd advanced the Michigan tradition, the RichRod experiment deserved four years minimum at the outset but he'd become far too toxic after Wiscy-OSU-banquet, and I'm totally behind the new guy — GO BLUE!

  • Other Craig

    January 17, 2011 at 4:38 pm

    Great post Greg. I would like to see the Venn diagram version too. I think the Carr faction is a subset of the Bo Clan and it seems to me that most the Rebellion were Rich Rod supporters. Wow, now that I think about it, this might become really complicated…do you know anything about set theory?

  • John Sharp

    January 17, 2011 at 6:24 pm

    Man, I think I fit in several categories, not just one particular group.

    I do believe RR was the wrong hire, but supported him.

    I am a life long UM fan who will support whoever the coach is, and believes fans have no say so in decisions like the coaching, are allowed to be upset, but shouldn't waste their time on being negative, and wanting UM to lose so someone gets fired.

    YOU SHOULD NEVER WANT MICHIGAN TO LOSE, EVER. GO BLUE!

  • WolverineQonas

    January 17, 2011 at 7:05 pm

    Count me in as another member of the Rebellion/In Rod We Trusted.

    Also that last 10% where Michigan defines my identity so much it hurts.

  • 12thCav

    January 17, 2011 at 7:44 pm

    Decatur is best summed up by one of LSU fans on TigerDroppings regarding Les Miles. "He's a retard -but he's our retard"

  • nkasuku

    January 17, 2011 at 7:46 pm

    Excellent and ridiculously funny piece. I think of myself as a member of the "Rebellion" who is now a "Fierce Pragmatist." I was so tired of the "play not to lose" approach of Carr, and clamored for a paradigm shift within Schembechler Hall. But the foundation of my faith in RR began to crumble after the Penn State game and completely destructed after Wisconsin. While I would have liked to have seen an out-of-the-box hire, I'm comfortable with Hoke, who I think will do just fine.

  • DECATUR CLAN UNITE

    January 17, 2011 at 8:40 pm

    100% Decatur Clan. Maybe it's the eternal optimist in me, maybe time on the debate team taught me how to convince myself as much as anyone else of virtually anything. Either way, it's who I am.

  • Misopogon

    January 18, 2011 at 10:16 am

    This is wonderful.

    I only ask that you expand the chart. For each faction we should have pre-game activities, and post-game food choices, and where you'll find each section during a home game/away game/bowl game. Dammit, there goes my morning…

  • profitgoblue

    January 18, 2011 at 10:59 am

    This is an outstanding analytical tool. Possibly one of the best posts I have read on any blog during the past 2 months of "coaching change" discussions. In my opinion, the biggest significance of the firing of Rodriguez and hiring of Hoke was to reveal the fanbase's "true colors." Its been interesting (to put it nicely) to see the factions reveal themselves and their dark sides.

  • st barth

    January 18, 2011 at 12:53 pm

    I'd like to think that I'm in the Corduroy Jacket with Patch clan but, frankly, I can't wait to see Hokedick™ fail & be terminated.

  • Greg

    January 18, 2011 at 5:26 pm

    I am 90% part of the rebellion and 10% in RR we trust. I also agree with a previous poster about a different mindset at Schembechler Hall. Carr was indeed getting just maddening all throughout the 2000's.

  • springor

    January 18, 2011 at 9:53 pm

    I suppose I would've been a member of "The Second Estate" if my Michigan degree had brought me the level of income to cover a parking spot in the Champions Lot. But I am content as a "Fierce Pragmatist.

  • Jamess

    January 19, 2011 at 1:47 pm

    Decatur Clan member here to say: Divided we cannot stand but if these clans should unite. We will form a power greater than ever seen before by the big ten, the BCS, or all of College football!!!

    UNITE THE CLANS!!!!
    GO HOKE!!!!!
    GO BLUE!!!!!!!

  • Lew

    January 20, 2011 at 12:11 am

    Time to stand up as a proud Lloyd Loyalist. I wouldn't say I feel revenge for the way Coach Carr's assistants were treated during the RR transition/tenure, just validated. It wasn't broken. (I suppose this makes me a validated Fierce Pragmatist as well, but I digress.) Coach Carr gave us champions to be proud of year after year. Hopefully, he'll be more visable during the Hoke era because he's one of the true Leaders and Best. Go Blue.

  • Ren

    January 20, 2011 at 10:05 am

    Where my Cotton Pickers at?!

    There's a bit of the Lloyd Loyalist in me, too, I suppose. Either way, I'm definitely one of the ones who is very optimistic because of Hoke! I wouldn't be anywhere near this enthusiastic if we had Less "fluke-ish win over a now 6-7 team" Miles.

  • Brewonsouthu

    January 20, 2011 at 5:17 pm

    Hoka-Hey Coach Hoke!: Best Name, Best Character, and hopefully, Best Coach: I had to stop and think about this hire for a while — having hoped for a rocket-shot coach like Jon Gruden, or Chip Kelly. Hoke’s won-loss ratio gave me alot of pause.

    But I watched Brady Hoke’s first press conference, and the man has genius. You cannot help but like him, just to hear him speak. He is a very compelling character, with a palpable, intense combination of genius, integrity and humor. Hoke’s no preacher, but he’s clearly decided he cares about what he leaves behind in his rear view mirror.

    This hire is a major step forward for Michigan. Michigan is known for athletic and academic excellence, and those who love Michigan know that we have been blessed — until three years ago — with Head Coaches of great character. Until RR — he of the wraparound cool, sunglasses, looking like a prison guard out of Cool Hand Luke. RR was – at a glance – a corner-cutter, all angles, pursed-lipped and seething. He lost huge credibility with his staff, and people all over Ann Arbor, with his schoolkid lies to the NCAA.

    But first things first: Brady Hoke may have the best coaching name in all of college sports. Brady. Hoke. Bear. Bryant. Fielding. Yost. “Urban Meyer” is interesting, the way a block of ice is. “Bobby Bowden” is pretty good — but not as good as Brady… Hoke. There is no name like it. Savor it. It even calls to mind the name of a racehorse — maybe a Kentucky Derby winner from the early 30’s? And Hoke even looks and acts like a racing guy, a walker or trainer you’d see around the barns, relentlessly devoted to his horses. Brady Hoke. And the name suits the man.

    Then there’s the way he looks. Quick look from one angle, and it’s a heavy Karl Malden. Then from a different angle, Buddy Hackett, that old comedian from the Johnny Carson show — and Brady has the same self-effacing, slightly unhinged rapid-fire, sometimes high-pitched delivery Hackett had (though Hoke seems to keep the hinges on the door; Hackett commonly blew off both of them.) From another angle, he has the gut-over-belly look of a character-actor movie sidekick. (Unless Judy gets him on a diet soon, he’s going to need the next-biggest collar size pretty quick.)

    But here’s why I’m won over: it’s obvious that he has a huge impact on the people around him, which is the result of two things: respect, and affection. By all accounts, he will not lie, and will also be honest when it hurts. He brings back integrity to Michigan, which had been our No. 1 asset until Rich Rod came around. So — for making this hire — let’s congratulate Dave Brandon. The process was unwieldy, and the delay may not have been just unnecessary but also a big self-inflicted wound from which Hoke and his staff may have some difficulty recovering; but it is a good hire, and Brandon deserves strong praise.

    Let’s pull out that Oglala Sioux incantation now, as a blessing and a thanks: Hoka Hey, Coach Hoke!

  • TuffLynx

    January 22, 2011 at 8:31 am

    This piece is hilarious. All the more for how accurate it is in reflecting the factions among Michigan fans. I am probably one of the Cotton Pickin' Blues with a heavy does of fierce pragmatist. I want strong play on both sides of the ball, but an emphasis on defense. I also want a squeaky clean program that teaches the players to be Michigan Men. But most of all, I just want to beat Sparty/Notre Dame/Ohio State and win the Big Ten.

  • Mustelid

    January 29, 2012 at 7:27 pm

    Funny to look at this again after a year’s time. I hope “st barth” has come around on Hoke by now.