The Michigan Wolverines’ Rose Bowl win brought out a predictable response on social media, as many fans threw the word “cheaters” around with glee.
The surprising aspect is the sheer volume of X/Twitter posts using that word in a bid to tarnish Michigan’s 27-20 CFP National Semifinal in overtime against Alabama Monday.
Michigan has spent the past two months dealing with the fallout of the sign-stealing scandal that surfaced in late October and led to the resignation of analyst Connor Stalions, a three-game suspension for head coach Jim Harbaugh, investigations by the NCAA and Big Ten, and condemnation on sports talk shows and elsewhere.
Everyone expected there would be “cheaters” insults thrown at Michigan after the Rose Bowl. No one could have predicted there would be so many. Within about 90 minutes of the game’s end, more than 9,000 posts had the word “cheaters.” Not counted in that total is the posts that didn’t use that word but used “cheating,” “violation,” “infraction,” “vacated wins,” “broke the rules,” etc.
Let’s face it — no matter how the Wolverines fare in the National Championship Game, this ugly tag isn’t going away.
For those wondering when fans forgive a team for that type of violation, ask the Houston Astros, who are still hated by many fans for the cheating scandal that emerged after their 2017 World Series championship. Or look at the New England Patriots, who got busted for filming another team’s coaches in 2007 in so-called “Spygate,” an incident some haters still use to criticize the team.
So the Michigan haters had their way Monday night after the Wolverines’ win.
I love that Cheaters is trending and am excited to see Michigan’s games get vacated.
— Beware Phog (@bewarephog) January 2, 2024
Every time Michigan complains about adversity, a cheater gets his wings!
— Matt Castello (@mcastello32) January 2, 2024
And they say cheaters never win!
pic.twitter.com/agPORDovw6 — John Bowman (@23volunteerfan) January 2, 2024