There’s perhaps no greater insight into an athlete’s psyche than seeing how they act following a crushing loss. Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy gave fans a small glimpse into his mindset after the Wolverines’ devastating 51–45 defeat in Saturday’s Fiesta Bowl.
Playing in the College Football Playoff for the second straight year, Michigan (13-1) was unable to overcome a handful of missed opportunities and came up just short in the national semifinal against the Horned Frogs. Instead, TCU (13-1) got the opportunity to hoist the Fiesta Bowl trophy and celebrate on the field at State Farm Stadium, while the Wolverines were sent home one game short of the national championship again.
While the Horned Frogs were basking in the confetti, McCarthy remained on the field and watched TCU players and coaches celebrate. Bruce Feldman of Fox Sports captured the moment, when the Michigan quarterback seemed frozen in observation of TCU’s celebration, with a photo that went viral following the game.
