Category: Featured

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M Football 2011-Wolverines Shine-Gophers Pine- Michigan 58-Minnesota 0

By Andy Andersen

First, the Gophers lost their Coach, Jerry Kill, to illness.  Fortunately he was back on the sidelines Saturday, hale and hearty to all appearances.

Then they lost their talented starting QB, the adept Marqueis Gray, to an injured toe, and he could not play Saturday.  They had to utilize Freshman Max Shortell at that critical position.  He endured a very tough afternoon learning about B1G (Big Ten) football, but he showed some skill.  He was 11 of 22 for 104 yards with a long throw of 33.

After that, they had to face an energized and physical group of Wolverines who wanted to get off to a good start on their Big Ten schedule in the new Legends Division.  They did so offensively and defensively.

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M Football 2011-Defensive Improvement-M 28, SDSU 7

By Andy Andersen

In the sport where games are played by college kids using an oval laced ball filled with gas, before large partisan crowds in somewhat ovate stadiums, Michigan has done better than the rest over time.  Better than all the rest.  Over all the time that college football has been played.

As satisfying as that fact is, it does not help them win one more game. Any game.  They have to fight for each win, tradition or no tradition.  They have to do the preparation and work. And according to Coach Hoke, they have to have the teamwork. He says this team has it.

Saturday, the slightly new coaching regime of Brady Hoke and Company gave it another try, and again contributed to the University’s total win column and lore by dispatching the Aztecs of San Diego State University in Michigan Stadium before some 110,000 fans.

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M Football 2011-Eastern Vanquished 10th Time: M-31,EMU-3

By Andy Andersen

The Wolverines have never lost a football game to their immediate neighbors about seven miles east on Washtenaw Avenue.  Wolverines fans did not expect them to lose today either, but at first there was uncertainty.

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This is an Eastern team that is much improved over last year’s version of the Eagles.  They have their fair share of 300 pounders.  They are primarily a one dimensional offensive football team, having demonstrated little passing capability.  They did turn the corner on swing passes.

The list of ex-Wolverines at EMU is now enlarged by the presence of Mike Hart on that staff.  Ron English is making some real progress there and is a respected coach despite his Eagle’s struggles the past several years.

The Eagles are a run first team, they provided valuable opposition for the Wolverines who need to develop more run stopping capability, and who are searching feverishly to develop an offensive threat at tailback not named Denard Robinson.

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M Football 2011-A Football Night To Remember-M 35,ND 31

By Andy Andersen

At first it looked like AD David Brandon had set up the Wolverines to fail on the biggest possible stage, in prime time, under the newly installed lights.  Before over 114,840 energized spectators,  at home, and with ESPN’s game day on the premises.   It looked like the Coach Hoke “honeymoon” was about to end, and worse yet, the team was going to do something it had not done the two prior years.  Get dominated and lose to the Irish.

In the end, as you know, the first night football game at Michigan Stadium ended in such spectacular fashion that even the pre-game honoree, Desmond Howard could appreciate being honored before the game.  Desmond became the first player in Michigan history named a “Michigan Football Legend”.  His spectacular game winning, 4th down, 4th quarter lay out TD reception of an Elvis Grbac desperation pass against ND, happened twenty years ago.

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M Football 2011-Broncos Busted In Storm Shortened Opener- M 34-Western Michigan 10

By Andy Andersen

Brady Hoke’s debut as the Head Football Coach of the Michigan Wolverines was twice interrupted by thunderstorms and heavy rains.  There were also some uncooperative Western Michigan Broncos when the game was on, at least  in the first half.

During the second lightening delay, the  threat of strong winds, hail, much lightening, and cloudbursts, extended the game delay until 7:30 PM.  Before that, the game was cancelled at 1:27 of the third quarter, at 7:10PM.  How about 137 degrees F on the field at the start of the game?

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A football game had never been cancelled previously in Wolverine history.  It was unbearably hot on the field, and stands, for most of the game, until the rains came.  The score at the time of cancellation was 34 to 10, and became the final.  There is no question that cancelation was the appropriate thing to do, for team and fans.

The Broncos were a tough nut to crack in the first half.  They led 7-0 at the end of the first quarter.  It seemed that maybe Michigan’s defense was as inept as last year’s defense.  In the end that did not prove to be true.

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