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January 4, 2011July 27, 2011

2011 M Football Bowled Over, M 14 MSST 52

The Mississippi State University Bulldogs dominated the young Wolverines at will in establishing their football superiority in the Progressive Gator Bowl in Jacksonville, Florida on New Years Day. This completes the 2010 season on a sour note. For Michigan, it should have been called the Regressive Gator Bowl as it was the worst Bowl loss in Michigan football history. The Wolverines are now 19 and 21 in Bowls.

This was the Wolverine?s first Bowl game under Coach Rodriguez, and some hoped it a chance for redemption of coaching reputation, and a chance to prove team improvement. It was thought that the Wolverines could compete with a mid level SEC team. That proved untrue.

Unfortunately, game day completed on a note too familiar, as the Wolverines were embarrassed 14 to 52, and were competitive only for the first quarter. It was 14 to 31 at the half, and the game was essentially over at that point.

MSST played well, and they proved too much for the Wolverines in all three phases of the game. Whether that should be stated as all four phases of the game (including coaching), will undoubtedly be decided by AD David Brandon in the very near future.

In my opinion, Coach Rodriguez did not add the needed positives to his body of work to gather sufficient traction for longevity as the University of Michigan Football Coach. He is after all, 15 and 22, and 1 and 11 against ranked teams. Opponents have consistently scored more than 34 points against the Wolverines this season.

Outside of the beautiful weather, and perhaps the hospitality of the folks managing the event, not much went right for the bumbling Wolverine offense, defense, or special teams. This beat down was only a surprise offensively as the Wolverine?s echoed their usual defensive body of work this year when facing some of the better teams on their schedule. They could not stop the run game of a one-dimensional running team. Fourteen points by this offense, usually capable of far more, is certainly sub par.

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Denard had an ordinary day (for him). He had 256-yards passing and 58-yards running. Statistically, that is not that bad of an ?ordinary? day, with two TDs. But an errant pass helped seal the Wolverines fate. Make no mistake that he has had a brilliant and record setting season. He has 4,272 total offensive yards, and that is a school record. He has had a spectacular season. But the Wolverines needed more from him on Saturday to entertain a victory. And he needed more weapons helping him.

Denard has not proved a winner against the better teams. That will come next season as he hopefully gets more help from his friends. It will be worth the price of a ticket to watch him. There is no question he is the team MVP.

Saturday I had hoped a healthy Denard could make us competitive, but he could not. The running game was stuffed. Yards after catch were denied. He simply did not have enough offensive help, and the offense has sort of become a one trick pony. The offense could not convert several critical 4th downs, or attempt 3-point FGs because they simply can?t kick them. Obviously our scheme is well scouted by this time of year.

Other turnovers, and dropped passes also hurt, as did penalties, not to mention decent defense by MSST, and 481-yards and 26 first downs by their offense.

It was no surprise the defense played like they have played all year. It was no surprise they had trouble lining up properly, sometimes appeared confused, remained ineffective tacklers, had an inability to stop third downs, or corral the lumbering, but mobile Bulldog quarterback. Not surprising that they yielded record numbers of points today as they have over much of the season. They let out a short dump pass for an 81-yard TD. They confirmed again that they are among the worst defenses in the Big Ten, and nationally.

Sad to say that is a fact and some played hard all season, and they had some moments this season, but overall the team defensive results are still nothing but poor. No question, the worst defensive season in Michigan history.

Was it all because of injuries and young players? Or is some of it because of scheme and ineffective coaching? Or is it some of both? Do you believe that the defense has headed in the right direction the past three years? Certainly the offense has taken some strides, has seen measurable improvement, but defense and special teams remain special disasters.

As expected, the special teams were no blessing again. A punt was blocked, a short field goal missed, but Martavious Odoms returned from a broken foot in good form on KO returns.

The first half started off well enough, with Denard weaving runs of 22 and 24-yards. An 11-play, 73-yard drive was completed with a 10-yard TD pass to Roy Roundtree. M 7-MSST 0.

MSST immediately answered with an 11-play, 79-yard creation featuring a 4-yard TD pass. It was 7 up and I thought the shoot out was on.

MSST then blocked a Wolverine punt, and hit a 42-yard FG to break the tie. M 7-MSST 10. It seemed a happy event that they were held to a field goal.

M answered with a beautiful 27-yard TD pass to Odoms. Perfect throw and catch. M 14-MSST 10.

Michigan was unable to score again so the expected shoot out never materialized. The Wolverines fueled the Bulldogs scoring frenzy with an interception. The Bulldogs never looked back as they produced a couple of long drives for scores by half-time to produce an overwhelming 14-31 deficit.

MSST didn?t need any more scores to win, but they engineered more long TD drives after halftime and an 81-yard screen pass to end the thumping at M 14-MSST 52.

To start the second half, M?s defense stopped the Bulldog?s opening drive, but to no avail. The Wolverine?s offense had been solved, and it could not score. And the defense had no more stops. The embarrassment was complete.

Everybody wonders if loss should, and will signal the end of the Rodriguez era. Wonders if there will be hurricane winds of change in Ann Arbor regarding the entire coaching staff, if it is the end of the Rodriguez era, and is the dawn of the Harbaugh, or Hoke, or whoever wants the punishment, era. Many fans are on board the Harbaugh train.

There are compensations even for losing coaches. RR would take 2.5 million out the door, more than the lifetime earnings for most of us. In that sense he would go out a winnerfrom Ann Arbor.

They say only the hairdresser of a lady that colors her hair knows her true hair color, and only David Brandon knows for sure if Coach Rodriguez and all of his staff will continue to be Maize and Blue.

Logically, we should know the why and who of it in a few days. I would think the waiting period has to be over very soon. At no time has AD Brandon made a strong statement of support for RR, and this has fueled speculation that change is imminent. The lack of positive results has caused that speculation to ignite like a magnesium fire, and burn intensely.

It is sad to think that RR has come to this point as chief of the Wolverines. I have always wanted him to succeed, because I want the Wolverines to succeed, but it is my obligation to report it as I think it is. My uninformed guess is that there will be a change of all or part of the football staff.

Coach Rodriguez came to Ann Arbor with a few cans tied to his tail, factions at Michigan tied on other cans, and some of the press has missed no opportunity to slur him and the program when and where it can. Makes you want Coach to succeed, but it is a wins and loss business and he is not winning, nor effectively competing. Some sort of signature win continues to elude him. The defense is not any better than the two prior years.

I will support whatever David Brandon does. He has a lot at stake in this call, as it will likely be the athletic director?s biggest career decision. It will be a decision that may determine his legacy. It is hard to see how he will satisfy all of the factions.

In any case, Saturday?s game was a sad end to a throw away season even though it was a 7-6 season and therefore showed a bit of improvement in the win/loss column over the two previous season under RR?s tutelage. It seems a sad punctuation mark to end the careers of seniors such as Schilling, Mouton, Rogers, Dorrestein, Webb, Ezeh, Ferrara, Banks and Patterson, who obviously would have preferred a win to remember. They will have to pack it away and forge ahead in the real world now.

As always, I thank you for reading this column and visiting the site. Hopefully next year will be a better season, but for sure it is going to be most interesting.

I can be emailed if you like at oldblue@cablespeed.com. I enjoy hearing from you, whatever your opinions, and I hope the New Year brings you all the health and happiness you need or want.

Go Blue!

November 19, 2008October 19, 2013

2008 Michigan Football Book Review- War as They Knew it

Michael Rosenberg of the Detroit Free Press has written an outstanding book about the competition and complicated relationship between Woody Hayes and Bo Schembechler. So much has been written about these two that you might think there aren’t too many more tales to tell about these titans of college football but this book manages to entertain.

This book is unique in that Rosenberg takes time to place the men in the context of their times. Their experiences on the football season are told in parallel with massive cultural changes engulfing the nation during the late 1960s and early 1970s. And there is plenty of football as 10 year conflict between the two coaches plays out.

There are disappointing revelations about each program. Drug use was rampant on both teams and Woody Hayes had a penchant for tantrums that sometimes resulted in physical abuse well before the incident that ends his career.

Woody comes off as a tragically flawed figure who reveled in his role as teacher, author, and builder of men even as he was unable to control his own temper. Bo loved playing the media even though he trained as a broadcaster prior to his coaching career.

As a Michigan fan I learned more about Woody Hayes than Bo Schembechler while reading this book. His rise and eventual fall was earily reminscent of another infamous coach, Bobby Knight. In both cases, taleanted coaches evolved into bullies because people in their respective institutions refused to reign in their meglomania until it was too late.

It was particularly sad to read how Woody Hayes had lost the respect and became a figure of ridicule among his later teams.

I recommend this book for fans on both sides of UM/Ohio State rivalry. Even people who aren’t rabid sports fans would enjoy it as a character study of two men who believed that the discipline of football was a tool to prepare their players for life just as the culture around them glorified individualism

Podcast with Author Michael Rosenberg

October 11, 2008October 19, 2013

2008 Michigan Football- Toledo 13 UM 10

Declining Expectations

Offcial UM Press Release

UM/Toledo Commentary Podcast

Detroit News- Toledo shocks Michigan

Detroit Free Press- Worse than loss to Appalachian State

ESPN- Struggling Michigan takes first loss to MAC team, off to worst start in 41 years

Ann Arbor News- Upset special: Toledo tops Michigan at The Big House

October 14, 2007October 19, 2013

Michigan Football 2007-Michigan 48, Penn State 21-Toughening Up

The Michigan Wolverines displayed fortitude, aptitude and effort on both sides of the ball Saturday for 59 minutes while humbling Purdue’s Boilermakers 48 to 21. The Boilers were left steaming and clanging ineffectively before a Homecoming crowd of 110,888.

Even the run right or left on first down play calling that had seemed to contribute to Michigan recently being among the statistical bottom feeders in Big Ten scoring offense, and some other offensive categories, was abandoned at times, with much success.

With temperatures in the low 50’s and blue skies mixed with fleecy clouds, it was a perfect autumn afternoon in Ann Arbor to tailgate, listen to the Blast from the Past (Michigan’s musical has beens from prior bands), and the current Marching Band. I never grow tired of Temptation and the Hawaiian War Chant.

It was a great day to enjoy a victory over a team recently ranked 23rd in the nation and a definite stumbling block on the Maize and Blue road to a Big Ten title. Purdue’s fine Marching Band was not on scene, nor was the much admired and missed “Golden Girl”.

Prior to this game, most Michigan fans wondered how we would fare against Coach Tiller’s usually productive “spread” offense. Not to worry. Coach Tiller’s lack of success against the Wolverines in Michigan Stadium was to continue.

Michigan fans witnessed the finest Chad Henne performance of the season, He was a sterling 21 of 28 for 264-yards, 2 TDS and no interceptions.

Both the offense and defense played well for a 31-7 Wolverine lead at the half.

Credit the Boilers that they did not give up and produced not one but two successful on side kicks, and scored TDs on a couple of drives with little time left in the game. Both the resulting scores came late against Michigan’s reserves. Since those onside kicks and drives came against reserves, and in the last minute, they really are not indicative of the game as a whole. This was a good, old fashioned, country butt whuppin.

Perhaps, the successful onsides happened because Michigan had failed to put in a “hands” team, with Carr explaining that his “hands” team was cold since they had not been in the game for fifteen minutes, so he did not put them in. I suppose to avoid risk of injury. He also said it would give people something to complain about. I agree with that. They should and will complain about those two errors and resulting scores.

Otherwise the special teams acquitted themselves well enough, allowing no really big run backs, except one early one which approached really big. With KC Lopata hitting a couple of FGs and Mesko hitting some towering punts and Wright kicking kick offs to the short returners instead of to the proficient Purdue deep returners (after getting burned a little bit first), they seemed more proficient than usual. At least one FG was nearly touched, but it went over the cross bar with room to spare. Lopata’s FG kicks looked strong. Brandon Minor had a 35-yard KO return to set up an early field goal.

While it was still Hart on first down for little gain on some occasions, they did toss it downfield to Manningham who had an outstanding game after returning from the “dog house”. He snagged 8 catches for an outstanding 147 yards. This ties his career best number of catches.

Mike Hart had 102 yards on 21 totes, and a couple of TDs. Another outstanding day, a record seven 100-yard games, but again leaving the game nicked, limping off not to return. Carlos Brown replaced the also nicked Brandon Minor who had replaced Hart at TB and had the best day of his career. In contrast to Hart, Brandon Minor came off the field on the cart. Carlos Brown demonstrated his speed on an outstanding 29-yard scamper for a TD, scored another TD, and totaled 66-yards on 13 carries. Minor and Milano also rushed, but not as successfully as Brown.

Both Hart and Henne are over 1,000 yards for the season.

Henne hit a variety of receivers besides Mario, with Adrian Arrington having 6 receptions for 55-yards. Mathews, McLaurin, Moundros, Butler, Hart and Clemons all snared one or more aerials.

Michigan’s first possession of the game started with a Henne roll out and nice pass to Carson Butler for a first down and 13-yards on the first play of the game. While our offensive coaches were not exactly riverboat gamblers Saturday, this seemed a better offensive scheme, and the results show it. It was an efficient plan, and more importantly, a convincing winner.

As unlikely as it seems, special teams breathed first life into Michigan’s effort early. Stevie Brown, on special teams, grabbed a loose Purdue punt that had glanced off the back of a Boilermaker, and ran it into the endzone, but it was considered down and called back. Michigan had great field position with the ball at the Purdue 31, and subsequently Chad hit Mario with a perfect 24-yard strike for the first TD of the game. KC Lopata converted all EPs on the day. M 7, PU 0.

The vaunted left side of Michigan’s offensive line let a blitzer through and Henne was blindsided and separated from the football. The result of the recovery was a short Purdue drive for their only meaningful TD of the day. M 7, PU 7. So much for our early advantage as worry began to replace elation.

M stalled, but Lopata hit a strong 34-yard FG. M 10, PU 7. Maybe this field goal unit is beginning to jell.

Purdue fumbled on their 26, and M capitalized on an outstanding 10-yard run by Mike Hart in which he was on a pile, maneuvered off, and without touching down, twisted and propelled himself into the into the endzone. This was in the south endzone, so I got a good look at it and it was an amazing effort. Ruled a TD on the field, the review confirmed. M 17, PU 7. Vintage Hart. Again and amazing effort.

In the early second quarter, the Wolverines and Boilers exchanged punts. An end around by Mario, a couple of catches by Greg Mathews, and nice Hart run, a penalty, and another Hart run for 8-yards, and the Blue looked at a 24-7 lead with 5 or 6 minutes left in the half, and the Wolverines were rolling. This was confirmed when Brandon Harrison grabbed a Purdue pass, and sprinted to the Boiler 21. The crowd was alive with anticipation, and they were certainly not disappointed by a perfect Chad Henne toss to Mario of 21-yards for a TD. Great throw and catch. M 31-PU 7.

Offensively and defensively it was a great half of Michigan football. This was the kind of performance that restores confidence and enthusiasm.

The third quarter was unremarkable except for the injury to Brandon Minor and a late 35-yard Lopata FG. M 34-PU 7.

The fourth contained some offensive fireworks with Carlos Brown scampering 29-yards into the north endzone. M 41-PU 7. Jamar Adams made an interception and Brown ran another TD in. M 48-PU 7.

Purdue then got their two last minute consolation TDs mentioned above for a final score of M 48-PU 21.

Michigan had a total of 459 yards to Purdue’s 292, passing for 279 and running for 189.

All in all an outstanding performance all around except for the last minute.

All the defensive wounded that were thought before the game to able to play did, except John Thompson, including Will Johnson, Chris Graham, and Brandon Graham. Brandon’s return surely helped Shawn Crable’s effectiveness, and Shawn had a good game, as did Terrence Taylor and the fast improving Obi Ezeh. LB Chris Graham led the defense with 6 tackles. Adams and Harrison both had interceptions.

The OL wounded did not return and Schilling and Ortman manned the right side of the OL and appeared to do a credible job.

What more could we ask for? We are still in the Big Ten race, but with successive challenges looming. At Illinois is a nasty place to play. A night game, this one will be broadcast by network television. The Illini will be energized by their recent difficulties at Iowa.

Hopefully we will not get Zooked, but will continue to improve. It ought to be a great game.

Go Blue!

Andy Andersen

September 16, 2006October 14, 2013

Michigan Wolverines 47 Notre Dame 21- Vindicating Victory

The eleventh ranked Wolverines outplayed the second ranked Fighting Irish in South Bend Saturday to earn their first season opening away game victory in seven tries. The Wolverines outplayed the overmatched Irish in nearly all phases of the game, in their stunning and surprising 47 to 21 upset of the Irish.

What a relief it was.

Those anticipating a close game, and the Notre Dame magic and gremlins, were disappointed for the ball bounced Michigan?s way today. Their skill and effort made it so. So much for the luck of the Irish, at least on this occasion.

Players that we had hoped would step up did as ND was held to twenty-four net yards rushing. Prescott Burgess for example appeared to me to have his best game as a Wolverine. The entire defense, and especially the defensive line featuring Branch and Taylor, along with Crable, gave Heisman Trophy hopeful Brady Quinn fits all day. Early, when Michigan?s offense was still sputtering and the game undecided, they were there. Late, when ND was pressing, they were still there. LaMarr Woodley capped the Michigan scoring with his TD gallop down the sidelines. This opportunity was gratuitously provided by Brady Quinn, when he let the ball slip from his grasp as he cocked his arm to pass. Quinn tried to cover, couldn?t, and LaMarr scooped it up and completed every defensive players dream of a fifty-four yard TD run. The Wolverine DBs were tattooing the Irish. Morgan Trent started on one corner and his speed was obvious. He made some mistakes, but contributed to the victory.

Sure Michigan performance wasn?t perfect, but they didn?t have to be to beat the mistake prone Irish. Five ND TO?s. Michigan?s stiff defense caused many of those errors. While the Blue made some mistakes with late hit and interference penalties, and Chad Henne threw an interception while trying to avoid a sack that ND turned into a TD to knot the score at seven up in the first quarter. He more than made up for that with three beautiful TDs to Super Mario to put the game out of reach. They were as nice as any you?ll ever see.

He otherwise played well under pressure and ND stadium is a pressure cooker. Chad passed for two hundred twenty yards, on thirteen of twenty-two, with three TDs and only the lone aerial miscue. I don?t recall a more masterful performance against Notre Dame in Notre Dame Stadium ever by a Wolverines quarterback. He displayed poise, smarts, ability, and performance maturity.

Chad clearly played better than the very disappointed Brady Quinn. Fortunately he didn?t have to face the defensive line Quinn faced. Quinn was twenty-four of forty-eight with three TDs and three interceptions. Respectable numbers, but three interceptions and two fumbles destroyed Irish hopes for victory.

Mario Manningham went a long way toward making Michigan fans quit yearning for Braylon Edwards by running great routs and making outstanding catches all afternoon. He had four catches for one hundred thirty-seven yards with a long TD of sixty-nine yards. A great performance. He and Henne were usually very much in synch. When Mario fell into the band after his last TD in the first half, he hurt his wrist, and came out in the second in a light cast. He endured the sideline for a time, cast aside the cast, and caught a great 1^st down pass. Michigan has found a go to guy. Yes, Virginia, there really is a downfield Michigan passing game and it alive and well. I heard Jamie Morris talk last Tuesday and he said it existed, but I was still concerned until the performance today.

The Wolverines even avoided costly special team mistakes, although it was a surprise Steve Breaston didn?t break more. One reason was the Irish punter. He is outstanding in distance and hang, and the ND coverage was outstanding. Steve had some nice first down runs, but seemed to drop some catch able balls. Yet, he is going to tear someone up this year. There will be plenty of opportunity to come.

The scoring went like this:

Prescott Burgess grabbed a pass that bounced off the ND receiver?s hands, and rambled thirty?one yards to six points. Rivas converted. M 7, ND 0. Michigan never relinquished this lead.

On the very next possession, Chad threw an interception setting up a three-yard ND pass for six. EP converted. This was a stunning change of circumstance. M 7, ND 7.

Later in the 1^st Quarter Mario gathered in a 69-yard TD, using speed and deception to gain the advantage over the DB. He was wide open. M 13, ND 7 after a failed EP. It seemed to me this could be a problem later.

Not to worry, the Wolverines got great field position from a ND miscue and drove twenty-seven yard for a Hart two-yard leap into the end zone. This kid is a player. M 20, ND 7 and the second quarter hasn?t even started. What a great start, but the great coaching of Charlie Weiss and arm of Brady Quinn still seem a threat.

Chad and Mario soon eased these fears a little, by driving fifty-four yards in six plays, featuring a twenty-nine yard TD pass to Mario. Rivas converted. M 27, ND 7.

This was a nice and unexpected lead, but there was still that sneaking suspicion that ND would battle back.

With about two minutes left in the half, Chad tossed Mario another one for thirty-two yards, culminating a nine-play fifty-two yard drive. Rivas converted. M34- ND 7.

Notre Dame answered by marching seventy-two yards in eight plays and scored on a four- yard pass. This drive was very disappointing as it seemed possible it put a little gas in the Irish tank. M 34, ND 14.

Half over, with a commanding Michigan lead of 34 to 14. This was a great Michigan football performance, offensively and defensively. But that late Notre Dame drive seemed too easy and seemed a bad omen for the second half.

In the third quarter both defenses caught up, and Michigan was held to two Garrett Rivas field goals of twenty and thirty-three yards. M 40, ND 14. At this point I had forgiven Rivas for the missed EP as it now seemed immaterial. I could not tell from the tape whether it was just a low kick or leakage that caused the block.

In the fourth quarter, ND managed a nice eight play, eighty yard drive, ending with a twenty-eight yard TD pass. M 40, ND 21. Will Michigan fade?

LaMarr Woodley erased some of any remaining heat, with his recovery of Quinn?s fumble and long jaunt for a TD. M 47, ND 21.

As a Michigan fan, it just doesn?t get much better than this.

This game against ND, as always, was on a big national stage, was against a team of wide national interest with genuine and impressive traditions of its own. All the rewards of winning football, such as national respect were at stake, including a shot at a BCS bowl. The game was against a much hyped, if over hyped, program and Coach. M was matched against a team that is a prime recruiting competitor of the Wolverines, and it was a game in which Michigan was a huge underdog. Michigan was a team with a recent history of ordinary play away from home, a team that in the recent past had played many close games and lost some they shouldn?t have, had lost major bowls recently. They were deemed by many of their most stalwart fans as perhaps a program on the way down.

The football lesson the Irish received Saturday is proof that the program is not on the way down. This win vindicates as wise the moves that Coach Carr made in this off-season. Such as the appointment of Mike DeBord as Offensive Coordinator, and Ron English as the Defensive Coordinator, Ron Lee as DBs Coach, Steve Szabo as LB?s Coach. Also, last year?s acquisition of Steve Stripling seems sound in light of the way Michigan is playing defensively. It appears the change in conditioning has also been beneficial.

This may mute some of the criticism of the program for a while, at least till the next loss, and will certainly improve the esteem in which Chad Henne is held among the Big Ten?s Quarterbacks. It will provide a launching pad for a run for the Big Ten title.

I don?t know about you but I am happy as hell with this one. Granted it is only one game, but it was a big one. You know that defense is genuine, just as you knew in 1997 that the defense was genuine early in the season, when they pummeled Colorado.

Thank you Wolverines for providing an old fashioned country thumping to the Irish. Michigan has never scored so many points against the Irish.

Admittedly, they can throw all this away with just one loss before Ohio State. The Big Ten season will start next week and those pesky Badgers will clutter up Michigan Stadium next Saturday with those big W?s on their helmets and all that red and white. It is also possible that Notre Dame is more of an average football team than anybody thinks.

It will be interesting to see what the Irish are able to do to stymie that productive Spartan offense next week.

Now for a final word on Notre Dame. They have a great program, a great football tradition with sound academic standards. I actually like their fight song. The Victory March approaches the Victors in quality, their helmets and uniforms look good, but those homer NBC broadcasts are hard to stomach. They extol the greatness of the ND players, even when they are losing etc. with canned adulation. Come on, NBC, you can do better.

I am anticipating the reception the fans will give the Blue next Saturday after this Saturday?s program win. Enthusiasm has been restored. Seven and five is history. It is a great way to start the Big Ten season.

Thank you Wolverines, and?.

Go Blue!

Andy Andersen