A PSA to all Michigan Football fans

While Michigan football did pretty much everything right on the field on Saturday in the 56-10 win over Hawaii, some things off the field kind of put a damper on the blowout.

As we all know, coming into the Hawaii game, there was an active QB competition taking place between previous starter Cade McNamara and backup JJ McCarthy.

After the game ended though, it was crystal clear that JJ McCarthy deserves to be the starter for Michigan long-term, as he ooh-ed and ahh-ed his way to an 11-12, 229 yard, 3TD performance against the Rainbow Warriors.

On the other hand, Cade McNamara struggled mightily to really get into any type of rhythm and move the offense down the field for points (for the second game in a row).

All of that was very disheartening, as we heard all off-season about how Cade’s command of the offense had improved, but it didn’t translate to GameDay.

What was mainly disheartening though were the amount of Michigan football fans booing and jeering at Cade McNamara’s struggles, seemingly basking in and praying for his downfall.

I didn’t go to the game, but the boo birds were definitely audible enough to hear through the tv screen I was watching, and I must say, all the fans that did that, shame on you.

We should never boo our own athletes that we root for. That’s like rooting for the enemy. If you aren’t backing up the team and the players, then who are you really rooting for?

(It was extremely disappointing to see this happen with Jadyn Davis in attendance as well. What will he think of a fanbase so willing to turn on its players?)

It was pretty obvious to everyone watching that Cade McNamara’s confidence right now is shot, he’s really shook up out on the field, lost his confidence, and the booing from the fanbase just is unacceptable.

Does this excuse Cade’s performance? No. He’s a veteran. He was voted captain. He had ample opportunities to keep his starting spot but ultimately didn’t take advantage. That’s on him.

What’s not on him though is the fanbase turning on him, turning him into the villain of the team.

Cade led Michigan football to its most successful season in damn near two decades, he beat OSU for the first time in a decade, and this is how the fans treat one of their own?

He literally ushered in a new era and a breakthrough era for Michigan football.

It’s like these fans have amnesia. I know last year was last year, and every season is new, but that OSU win is still fresh in every Michigan fan’s mind (even nine months later) I’m pretty sure.

No longer will beating OSU seem impossible, and no longer will the playoff seem impossible. Michigan could get there again this year, but Cade was the catalyst for that last year.

This can’t turn into a Spencer Rattler-Caleb Williams type situation where the fed up QB publicly calls out the fans for their behavior like last year with Rattler.

That’s what this could eventually turn into for Michigan. Not saying it will happen but it can.

It’s okay to be pro-JJ McCarthy (as I’ve been this entire time) but it’s not okay to be anti-Cade. I’ve always been pro-JJ but have never wished ill-will on Cade or prayed on his downfall.

Let’s all be better folks.