A 47-yard Hail Mary. One extra second. A spectacular JJ Buchanan catch. And a game that went from season opener to near-disaster in a hurry. Michigan is 1โ0, but there are warning lights everywhere.
๐๏ธ NEW UMGoBlue.com Podcast โ โFlirting with Disasterโ
Phil & Clint break down: ๐ What went wrong after Michigan’s opening TD drive โ ๏ธ The concerns surrounding Bryce Underwood ๐ฌ Western’s stunning domination of time of possession ๐ช What the defense did right โ and where it struggled ๐ฅ Whether Michigan can fix these problems before Oklahoma ๐ค And the question already being asked around Ann Arbor: How concerned should we be?
As Clint summed it up:
โ47-yard Hail Maryโฆ Other than that, burn the tape. Move on.โ
Final Score: 13-12, Michigan by 1 over WMU SP+ Projection: Michigan by 25.5 (-24.5) CD Projection: Michigan by 32 (-31)
FIVE FACTORS
GAME 1 RECAP vs. WMU
The offense was abysmal for the entirety of the game, save the first drive and the last four plays. The Wolverines held onto a 44% success rate after starting with 60% success in the first quarter. The lack of run game is the headline that will be buried by JJ Buchanan’s heroics on the final drive. Michigan has to go back to the drawing board with the offensive line and figure out how to get some push inside. Bryce Underwood still struggles to make decisions quickly and accurately in games, but he will be a different player if the Wolverines add some run game success through the season.
The defense flat out ran out of gas. After the Broncos took the ball with 9:00+ on the clock in the third quarter, they didn’t give it back until nearly 14:00 later on the game clock. The Michigan LBs were mixed up too frequently by RPOs, and the interior of the line started to march backward. I still give the defense credit for standing up in the biggest moments. If Western finds the end zone once in this game, they would have been out of reach for Michigan at the end.
Special teams is still not solved, but the punter Cam Brown may have been the MVP before Buchanan put his cape on for the last drive. Brown had 6 punts and averaged 46.7 per kick, with 0 returns. The Broncos still managed to dominate field position, but without Brown, it would have been insurmountable.
There is a lot to learn in this film for a young team. As fans, we will have to let go of this narrative as soon as possible, and some day we can all laugh about Michigan students storming the field after a Hail Mary win over the MAC champs. Kyle Whittingham will remember this night forever, but he has a lot of work to do with his staff to avoid a 2026 nightmare. The schedule is far too tough to have any similar performance by the Wolverines. Go Blue!
Looking Back is a Special Feature by Jeff Cummins Highlighting Key Games
The fifth installment of the series examining the first games of Michigan coaches takes us to 2015. By the end of the 2014 football season, Michigan was in desperate need of change. Once again, optimism had faded into disappointment, with even a tinge of embarrassment. The fan base clamored for a coach who could restore confidence, belief, and success.
That December, a Michigan graduate close to the athletic department sent out a text to a blogger. Heโd just seen a potential coach with the initials โJHโ enter Schembechler Hall. On Dec. 30, 2014, Michigan hired Jim Harbaugh as the next head coach of the Michigan Wolverines. It would be an understatement to say that Harbaugh rejuvenated the fan base immediately.
Harbaugh returned to Michigan as a veritable โprodigal son.โ A Michigan graduate who played for Bo Schembechler in the 1980s, Harbaugh had been critical of his alma mater on occasion. More important, he was a winner who had succeeded at the highest levels, and he brought instant credibility to the Michigan football program.
On Sept. 3, 2015, Michigan entered Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City to begin the Jim Harbaugh era with a visit to Utah. Michigan alumni traveled to Utah in droves, and there were numerous spots of maize and blue throughout the stadium. Local news reports indicated Michigan fans had been spending a lot of money at nearby restaurants, and tipping well. The excitement around Harbaughโs return was palpable, and even Utah residents appreciated the enthusiasm. Once the game began, Utah wasnโt so hospitable.
The Utes had an established roster, and they were able to open holes for Devontae Booker and Travis Wilson, enabling Utah to take a 17-3 lead in the third quarter. Gradually, Michigan woke up. Quarterback Jake Rudock connected with Jake Butt and Amara Darboh for a pair of touchdowns, but the Wolverines were never able to close the gap, and Utah won, 24-17. Still, the tenacity that Michigan showed in the second half made it clear that Harbaugh was the right person to lead the Wolverines, and he eventually led them back to college football Valhalla.
Harbaughโs counterpart, Kyle Whittingham, defeated Michigan for the third team in three attempts as Utah coach. Each time, I remember thinking โI wish that guy was on our side.โ Now, he is. Tomorrow, weโll see his first game as Michigan coach, and get a better idea where heโll take the football program.
Thanks to Fox Sports and YouTube poster College Football Archive for the following broadcast of the 2015 Michigan game against Utah. As always, we own nothing and do not profit from this blog post in any way.
Looking Back is a Special Feature by Jeff Cummins Highlighting Key Games
The fourth installment of this series examining the first games of Michigan coaches takes us to 1995. Before the season even began, 1995 had been a tumultuous year for Michigan. Gary Moeller resigned due to an off-field incident, and athletic director Joe Roberson hired defensive coordinator Lloyd Carr, but only on an interim basis.
Carr was thoroughly qualified to be a head coach, having served as Michiganโs defensive coordinator since 1987. In addition, Carr had been assistant head coach for the past five seasons. Nothing about the job would surprise him.
Still, the offseason left Michigan followers with an uneasy feeling, which only got worse when the Virginia Cavaliers jumped out to a 17-0 lead on a brutally hot day in the Pigskin Classic at Michigan Stadium.
Michigan followers, both fans and alumni, couldnโt be blamed for fearing the worst. Michigan was facing a large deficit in a season opener at Michigan Stadium. Thatโs not the sort of start that develops a lot of confidence.
Gradually, Carrโs Wolverines began to make plays, notably Mercury Hayes, who wrestled a ball away from a defensive back when the game seemed all but lost. Hayesโ tenacity ignited a spark in his teammates, who fought back with what felt like a sense of anger. Was there enough time left for them to pull off a miracle?
With time left for just one play, Michigan had the ball at Virginiaโs 15-yard line. Scott Dreisbach faded back and threw a fade pass into the far corner of the north end zone. Hayes caught the ball, and managed to get one foot in bounds. Just like that, Michigan won. The only time Michigan had the lead was when time had run out. In one play, Hayes made himself a name for the ages among the Michigan faithful, and the Wolverines had won arguably the most exciting season opener in their illustrious history.
The victory also proved to be an outstanding first step for Carrโs Wolverines, and by November, the interim tag been removed from his title. Lloyd Carr was head coach of the Michigan Wolverines, and he was here to stay.
By now itโs common knowledge that Carr led the Wolverines to heights they had not achieved in decades. At the time, it required a leap of faith. After a win like that, Michigan supporters were more than happy to put a little faith in Lloyd Carr.
Thanks to ABC Sports and YouTube poster RXwolverine2 for the broadcast of this game. As always, we own nothing, and we do not profit in any way from this blog post.
Looking Back is a Special Feature by Jeff Cummins Highlighting Key Games
The third installment takes us back to 1969. The previous season would have been considered quite successful by many teams, but a season-ending loss left a bitter feeling for the Michigan football community. Bump Elliott resigned following the 1968 season, and athletic director Don Canham needed to replace him. Numerous coaches and university officials throughout college football sang the praises of Bo Schembechler, prompting Canham to hire him. Few at Michigan knew who Schembechler was, and a local newspaper ran the headline, โBo Who?โ
The Michigan players learned about Bo very quickly. He ran grueling practices that prompted players to question their life decisions. Many simply gave up, but others stayed, and formed the nucleus of a team that would make 1969 one of the most memorable seasons in Michigan history.
Bo also benefited from a talented core of returning players. Elliott might have had difficulty winning certain games, but he built a solid roster, and Bo made the most of it. Michigan benefited from standout performers including tight end Jim Mandich and running back Billy Taylor, as well as scrappy players like nose tackle Henry Hill.
The modern era of Michigan football began on Sept. 20, 1969. Vanderbilt emerged from the tunnel first, but Michigan scored first when Garvie Craw scored on a 1-yard run. In the second quarter, Glenn Doughty took a handoff, broke several tackles and ran 80 yards for a Michigan touchdown to increase the Wolverinesโ lead to 14-0. Michigan won, 42-14, and left no doubt that the Wolverines were in good hands with Schembechler at the helm. There were several bumps on the road as the season unfolded, but Boโs vision for his team was clear: The Wolverines would run when they had the ball, and stop the run on defense. The 1969 Wolverines would go on to earn one of the biggest victories in the history of Michigan football. For now, it was enough that the Schembechler era got off to a good start. Other goals would be accomplished in due time.
Thanks to YouTube poster Jess Chabot for the highlight film of the 1969 Michigan game vs. Vanderbilt. As always, we own nothing and do not profit from this blog post.
