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Michigan Wolverine Football Podcast — Game 7 Commentary and MSU Prediction

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In the wake of Michigan’s crushing 21-7 loss to Illinois @pcallihan and @Clint_Derringer dive deep into the team’s offensive struggles, turnovers, and questionable coaching decisions that have cast a shadow over the season. With the team’s bowl hopes on the line, they stress how critical it is for the Wolverines to regroup, simplify their game plan, and focus on running the ball effectively. As they look ahead to the must-win rivalry game against Michigan State, they emphasize the desperation surrounding the Wolverines, urging fans to tune in and engage as the team fights to salvage its season.

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Paul Bunyan Trophy — Looking Back – 2011

Looking Back is a Special Feature by Jeff Cummins

The fourth installment of the series looking back at the football rivalry between Michigan and Michigan State takes us back to 2011. After three years of Rich Rodriguez, the football gods (and Dave Brandon) rescued the maize and blue from the defensive chaos that existed throughout the Rodriguez regime. Brady Hoke was named the new coach, and his team tore through the first six games on its schedule, highlighted by a thrilling comeback victory over Notre Dame. Suddenly, Michigan fans and alumni were looking at the football world through maize and blue shades!

Unfortunately, every party ends on a sober note, eventually. Hoke had long served as an assistant under both Gary Moeller and Lloyd Carr, and he was well acquainted with the nuances of the Paul Bunyan rivalry. One of the quirks of the series is that first-year coaches are often given a rude introduction to the game.

Hoke appeared to have the Wolverines ready to face Michigan State, but Spartan coach Mark Dantonio was obsessed with beating Michigan. Adding another challenge, this game would be played at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing, a venue with a dubious history in the series.

Wearing throwback alternate uniforms, the Wolverines struck first when Denard Robinson scored on a 15-yard run. Michigan got off to a good start, but Hoke sensed a serious threat to his team’s perfect record.

By 2011, many teams preferred to use complicated passing schemes, but the Paul Bunyan rivalry has always been decided by fundamental execution of no-nonsense power football. On this day, Michigan State seized the moment by committing to a hard-nosed running game, gaining 213 yards on 39 carries. After repeatedly probing the Michigan defense, Edwin Baker rammed the ball over the goal line to tie the score in the first quarter. Baker’s touchdown enabled the Spartans to take control of the game, and it also opened up the Michigan secondary, allowing Kirk Cousins to connect with Keshawn Martin for a pair of touchdown passes in the third quarter. Michigan closed the gap when Robinson connected with Roy Roundtree for a 34-yard scoring pass, but that was as close the Wolverines got. Michigan State went on to win, 28-14, for the Spartans’ fourth consecutive victory in the rivalry.

Michigan rebounded from the loss to finish the season with an 11-2 record, topping Virginia Tech in the Sugar Bowl. The victory restored Michigan’s place in the national college football discussion. Unfortunately, the next step wouldn’t be so easy.

Thanks to ESPN, YouTube, and YouTube poster MSUAndyHRCMB for the accompanying highlight video of the game. As always, we own nothing and this blog postis provided strictly for the enjoyment of readers.

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Paul Bunyan Trophy — Looking Back – 2000

Looking Back is a Special Feature by Jeff Cummins

The third installment of the series looking back at the football rivalry between Michigan and Michigan State takes us to the year 2000. Change was everywhere as the 21st century began. The national economy was roaring, and many people invested in Internet startup companies, in spite of the fact that few people really understood how to produce a profit through the Internet. Widespread fears that computers would shut down as a result of the “Y2K bug” proved largely unfounded.

Change was even felt on the Michigan football team. Tom Brady graduated, and he was off to New England, presumably to serve as Drew Bledsoe’s understudy. In Ann Arbor, another Drew, Drew Henson, took the reins as Michigan’s starting quarterback. Henson’s ascendence promised to make the Wolverine offense more dynamic.

In fact, one of the few institutions that was slow to embrace change was the battle between Michigan and Michigan State for the Paul Bunyan Trophy. For decades, fundamentally sound football usually led the way to victory in this series, and that wasn’t about to change. In this game, Michigan mixed the run and the pass masterfully. Tackling machine Larry Foote led the Michigan defense, which shut down Michigan State at every critical point. The Wolverine defense toyed with the Spartans all day, allowing Ryan Van Dyke to throw for 292 yards, but thwarting any scoring attempts. By contrast, Michigan’s attack wasn’t prolific, but it was methodical. Anthony Thomas gained 175 yards on the ground, while Henson threw for 138 yards. In the end, that balance combined with solid defense proved to be the winning formula for the Wolverines, who retrieved the Paul Bunyan Trophy after a one-year absence.

The Wolverines finished the season with a 9-3 record, including a perfect record at Michigan Stadium for the second time in four years. Losses to Purdue and Northwestern kept the Wolverines from winning the Big Ten championship, but they rebounded with a vengeance, finishing the regular season with victories over Penn State and Ohio State. Michigan topped Auburn 31-28 to win the Florida Citrus Bowl, the Wolverines’ third consecutive bowl victory over an SEC opponent.

Thanks to ABC Sports, YouTube, and YouTube poster Pizza Pizzichetti for the broadcast of this game. As always, we own nothing, and this blog post is provided strictly for the enjoyment of readers.

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Paul Bunyan Trophy — Looking Back – 2004

Looking Back is a Special Feature by Jeff Cummins

The second installment of the series looking at the football rivalry between Michigan and Michigan State takes us back 20 years, to 2004. Michigan had won the Big Ten championship the previous season, and the team was entering a new era. Chad Henne, Jake Long and Mike Hart emerged as freshman leaders on a Michigan squad building for the future. Following an early loss to Notre Dame, Michigan started to build momentum, and the Wolverines entered the game against Michigan State firing on all cylinders.

As the game began, Michigan misfired early and often, while Michigan State played inspired football. DeAndra Cobb scored on a pair of long touchdown runs, and the Spartans took a 27-10 lead early in the fourth quarter. Time appeared to be running out on the Wolverines, setting the scene for a comeback for the ages.

Michigan began its comeback with only 8:43 remaining in the fourth quarter. After Michigan got a field goal, Brian Thompson fell on the ball after it bounced off a Spartan, giving Michigan possession. Suddenly, Michigan was playing with a sense of reckless abandonment. With 6:12 left to play, Henne threw what amounted to a jump ball into the end zone, and Braylon Edwards came down with both the ball and the momentum. Now, the Wolverines were buoyed by a wave of positive emotion and energy. Several minutes later, Edwards made an eerily similar catch to tie the score with less then three minutes left in regulation time. Michigan State had one final chance to win the game before going to overtime, but Dave Rayner’s field goal attempt wasn’t even close, and the two old foes went to overtime.

As overtime began, the sun dipped below the rim of the stadium, adding an element of intrigue to a game filled with tension. The teams traded body blows through the first couple of overtime sessions, and then Henne found Edwards on a post pattern to give Michigan the lead. Then Henne connected with Tim Massaquoi in the back of the north end zone to give Michigan an eight-point lead, its first lead of the game. For the first time in the entire game, Michigan’s defense took the field with a lead to protect. After a long, frustrating afternoon, the Wolverines finally had the Spartans where they wanted them!

Fittingly, the game came down to a fourth down play. Spartan quarterback Damon Dowdell rolled out, and threw a pass into the end zone, where Michigan defensive back Markus Curry was able to get just a finger on the ball, redirecting it harmlessly away from the receiver. The Wolverines and their fans felt both exhilaration and relief at the same time, as Michigan pulled out a 45-37 win over Michigan State in triple overtime in one of the most dramatic games the rivals have ever played.

The season ended in bittersweet fashion for the Wolverines. Michigan tied Iowa for the Big Ten championship, but lost to arch rival Ohio State and fell to Texas in the Rose Bowl, leaving Michigan fans with a bad taste in their mouths.

Still, that doesn’t take away from the game that Edwards had. Decades from now, students at that game will tell their grandchildren that they watched Edwards grab lightning in a bottle when Michigan beat Michigan State in 2004. It doesn’t get much better than that!

Thanks to ESPN Classic, YouTube, and YouTube poster RXwolverine for the video of this game. As always, we own nothing, and this blog post is provided strictly for the enjoyment of readers.

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Nothing But ‘Net – Week #02 – 10/21/2024 – Exhibition Game, Take One

Note: Sorry this article is later than the normal Monday morning publication.  I’ve been away from decent Internet coverage (European river cruise) for almost two weeks.  I couldn’t watch this week’s game, but I did follow it live via a stats app.

The University of Michigan men’s basketball team played one (exhibition) game this past week, and they won it.  On Sunday (10/20/2024), they beat Oakland 92-48 in Little Caesars Arena in Detroit.  Since it was only an exhibition game, Michigan’s record is still 0-0.

What Happened?

As I say every year after an exhibition game, it’s hard to tell much about the team after an exhibition game.  Coach May tried plays and player combinations we may never see again.  Still, a few things were obvious:

  • Michigan has a lot of depth and talent this season.
  • Coach May can devise many interesting combinations of players.
  • Michigan isn’t afraid to shoot 3-pointers.

Michigan never trailed in the game, although Oakland did hang around in the early going.  Michigan led 7-2 at the 15:40 mark, but Oakland got within 3 points (10-7) with 13:57 to go.  Michigan started pulling away at this point, and got the lead up to 12 points (24-12) at the 11:07 mark.  Oakland got within 6 points (26-20) with 8:09 to go, then Michigan pulled away for good.  They got the lead up to 22 points at halftime (48-26), and never let Oakland get closer than 20 points during the 2nd half.  They steadily pushed the lead into the 30s, then the 40s, winning by 44 points.  It was a solid win.

Stats

The game stats were pretty good.  Michigan shot well overall (34-for-69 = 49.3%), they shot 3-pointers well (15-for-35 = 42.9%), but they shot free throws poorly (9-for-18 = 50.0%).  They won the rebounding battle (52-33) and the turnover battle (14-15).  They won this game with good shooting and rebounding.  It also helped that Oakland had a miserable night shooting 3-pointers: 2-for-30 = 6.7%

Who Started?

The starters were Tre Donaldson, Roddy Gayle Jr., Vladislav Goldin, Rubin Jones, and Danny Wolf.

Who Looked Good?

Will Tschetter was the leading scorer, off the bench, with 15 points on good shooting: 6-for-8 overall, 1-for-1 from deep.  All that in just 15 minutes of playing time!

Gayle had a good game, with 13 points on good shooting: 5-for-8 overall, 2-for-3 from deep.  He also had 4 assists.  I couldn’t tell from the limited information in the stats app how much of the time Gayle played point guard.

Wolf had a good game as well, with 11 points and 13 rebounds, for a solid “double-double”.  He shot well: 3-for-6 overall, 2-for-4 from deep.  It’s great having a 7-footer who can shoot 3-pointers.  It pulls the opposing big men out to the perimeter, opening up the lane for driving to the hoop.

Goldin also had 11 points, and also shot well: 5-for-8 overall.  Many of his shots were dunks.

Donaldson almost hit double figures, with 9 points.  He didn’t shoot quite as well as the other 3 starters mentioned above: 3-for-7 overall, 1-for-4 from deep.  He did have a team high 6 assists.

Jones had a decent game, with 5 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists.

Sam Walters was the 5th Michigan player in double figures, with 12 points, off the bench.  He was Michigan’s leading 3-point shooter, going 4-for-6 from deep.  He only took 3-point attempts.

L.J. Cason didn’t quite hit double figures, with 8 points.  He didn’t shoot particularly well (3-for-8 overall, 2-for-5 from deep), but he did have 5 rebounds.

Who Looked Not-So-Good?

Nimari Burnett had 6 points, off the bench, on lousy shooting: 2-for-8 overall, all 3-pointers.  He made his first 3-pointer, missed 6 in a row, then made his last 3-pointer late in the game.  Without his 2-for-8 contribution, Michigan shot 13-for-27 (48.1%) from deep.

Who Else Played?

Phat Phat Brooks played for 6 minutes, and scored 2 points.

Ian Burns played in the final minute, and didn’t attempt a shot.

Howard Eisley Jr. played in the final minute, and didn’t attempt a shot.

Harrison Hochberg played in the final minute, but missed both his shot attempts.

Charlie May played in the final minute, but missed his only shot attempt.

Who Didn’t Play?

Everyone who wasn’t injured played at least 1 minute.  The injured players are: Jace Howard and Justin Pippen.

What Does It Mean?

It’s hard to tell much about a team after one exhibition game.  Oakland certainly wasn’t as good as their NCAA Tournament team from last season, so it’s hard to tell how good Michigan is yet.

What’s Next?

This week, Michigan plays only one game, another exhibition.  On Friday (10/25/2024, 7:30 p.m., BTN) they play Toledo in Crisler Arena.  It is rare for Michigan to play two exhibition games in a season.

Toledo was 20-12 last season, 14-4 in the MAC.  They beat some decent teams (Louisiana, Wright State, and Oakland), but they lost in the 1st round of the MAC tournament and didn’t play in the post-season.  They don’t have any noteworthy players, but they have a little height: two 6’10” guys.  This is a game that Michigan should win, but you never know with a new team with lots of new players.  Team chemistry goes a long way, and this team may need some time to develop that chemistry.

Check back next week to find out what happened and why.

Go Blue!