Considering how Michigan lost to their in-state rivals from East Lansing, you have to imagine nobody feels worse about the loss than Michigan punter Blake O’Neill. O’Neill fumbled away the football into the hands of Michigan State’s Jalen Watts-Jackson, who then returned the fumbled ball into the end zone for a game-winning touchdown as the clock expired. Michigan went from a certain winner to a loser in stunning fashion that will be put in the same category of some of the craziest finishes in college football history, and O’Neill must have felt sick about it.
As is the case in this day and age, O’Neill quickly became the target of outraged and venomous Michigan fans, because some fans are stupid and vile. there is no defending those who attack a college student following an unfortunate loss, and Michigan Athletics Director Jim Hackett took it upon himself to come out and attempt to put an end to it in a public letter coming to the defense of O’Neill.
The comments directed at O’Neill from some bad eggs come at the end of a week that also saw Michigan State landmarks defaced with graffiti in Michigan colors (and yes, there was some green painted on Michigan’s campus as well), but they also serve as another reminder of just how far overboard some fans will go when it comes to sports.
You can read the full letter below;Dear Michigan family,
This Saturday’s game continued to prove the progress that we are making in our football program.
This isn’t only the way I feel the morning after a sudden change of euphoria took us to a heartbreaking loss. I know that many feel this - we are proud of our kids.
I know that all of our friends believe in what they saw for nearly 60 minutes of that game. This team left nothing on the field but its best effort.
The quality of Michigan football filled the chilled air.
Today I awake to the shocking reality that our community who care so much about this program would send hurtful, spiteful and vicious comments to one of our students. To be clear, such comments come from a small minority, none of whom are reflective of our institution.
The program I know at MICHIGAN speaks about the team, the team the team. The people I have been associated with my whole life around this fantastic program - some whom are living and some whom have passed on - would never, I repeat never, spread blame.
As our head coach said yesterday, "…this outcome will steel our spine.”
That means all of us.
I’m asking that our community not lose this game twice by condoning thoughtless comments and remember the Fielding Yost comment that this is the “Michigan of ours.”
Go Blue
Jim Hackett
Helmet sticker The Wolverine.