The Rebel Black Dot Song o' the Day: Go Blue!

The University of Michigan Marching Band, "I Want to Go Back to Michigan" from A Saturday Tradition (The Last Angry Wolverine)

Commentary: This time last year, the question was asked, quite enthusiastically, "Who's got it better than us?" The answer was an emphatic, "Nobody!" This year, with the valiant Wolverines of Team 138 set to take the field tonight wearing the godawful uniforms of the epithetless Mountaineers of West Virginia, the answer to the question "Who's got it better than us?" is, well, pretty much everybody.

My meaning in choosing "I Want to Go Back to Michigan" is multilayered. It is emblematic of everything that is wrong with college football today that the University of Michigan is facing off against the University of Florida in the State of Texas, just because the Almighty Dollar says all roads lead to JerryWorld. The "Color Rush" uniforms are a disheartening signal that absolutely nothing has changed in the Athletic Department since the firing of the devil Dave Brandon, that tradition is not welcome inside Schembechler Hall, that there is no deathless loyalty to Michigan & all her ways, only servile obedience to our paymasters at Nike. I want to go back to Michigan physically, to have this game played at "The Big House," Michigan Stadium, or every at Florida's Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, "The Swamp." I want to go back to Michigan chronologically, back to a time when we didn't cringe in anticipation of the next act of Athletic Department jackassery involving screwing with the greatest uniforms in collegiate sport. I want to go back to Michigan philosophically, to revel in the start of each football season, not mope & whine about the latest all-too-predictable outrage. For eight years after the Horror, nothing was right. The coming of Harbaugh & the firing of the devil Brandon seemed to put everything aright, but now we know that was a lie, or rather, wishful thinking. Nothing is right, everything is ruined, & I now know that things will never be like they used to be ever again.

Football is supposed to be a splendid diversion, a little bit of recreation amidst a hectic life; I'm so very, very tired of football adding to my troubles instead of distracting me from them.

Go Blue!