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M FOOTBALL SPRING 2018-PASS THE REJUVENATION AND HOLD THE KOOL AID

Another highly experienced Coach has replaced Coach Drevno as master of the OL. Ed Warinner, seems appreciated by a struggling offense line position group. They are understandably tired of fingers being pointed at them.  He says his first job is to classify each player into his best OL position fit and then master that position.  While injuries cause the need for multiple position players, players should get one position down first.

This may mean more instant confidence in knowing and doing their job.  There are already some players that know multiple positions, but it looks like everybody will know their own position well. In a recent interview, Coach Warriner expressed confidence that the OL would be solid this year.  I don’t know of a single Coach that would not express that, but I still found it a bit reassuring.  Man sounds like he knows the job ahead of him, and how to attack it.

THE SHEA PATTERSON MICHIGAN STORY IS STILL TO BE WRITTEN, BUT IT IS IN PROGRESS NOW:   Whether that story will be written in games played this year, or playing deferred to next year, the ‘Ole Miss transfer is practicing with the team this spring. Ole Miss has reported their opinion regarding the immediate eligibility of Shea to the NCAA by disapproving. 

Shea feels he was not treated honestly by the now departed Ole Miss coaching regime of Hugh Freeze, regarding the status of Ole Miss after application of NCAA penalties last year.  Shea’s contention is that he was misinformed by the staff of the extent applicability of the NCAA punishment. Ole Miss denied this.  He has appealed to the NCAA for 2018 eligibility through his attorney.

While it would be unusual for the NCAA to grant this kind of exception to a non-graduate player wanting to transfer and play without sitting out a year, it seems to me it would be an equitable action in this case.

The Wolverines staff is expressing quiet optimism. We can only wait and see.  In any case Shea is going to become a familiar and most welcome presence in Michigan Stadium, over his two years of remaining eligibility

The QB room is going to be filled with competitors, making the Wolverines’ offensive future brighter.  We should be careful not to anoint Shea too soon, although all indications are that he is Number One now.  At Michigan, he has a more complex system to master then at Ole Miss, and there could a leap by the QBs competing.  Besides Shea, Brandon Peters, Dylan McCaffery and Freshman Joe Milton are in the mix.  All will give their best in the battle.

New Michigan Coach Sherrone Moore has a large position group of 15 to fill his TE room.  Lately at Central Michigan in a similar capacity, he was very much appreciated there.  He has never had as large and talented group to mold elsewhere, but coaching talented tight ends is not a new experience for him. He has coached some remarkable tight ends. Now Zack Gentry and Sean McKeon are his to educate and guide.  They were the top receivers on the team this year.  Nick Eubanks will compete, but Tyrone Wheatley, Jr. is dinged.

The running backs will be led by the big three.  Karan Higdon, Chris Evans, and Kareem Walker (if he can get it going), are the top three. Freshman Hassan Hankins, and Christian Turner will have to claw their way into playing time.  It will help them if they can pass block.

THIS DEFENSE NEVER RESTS:  Last year’s defense lost many talented players and was very young. How could Don Brown fill the defensive slots effectively with so many inexperienced players was the question last year. That is not a problem this year.  While Mo Hurst loomed large in Michigan’s 2017 defense, and Mike McCray was a solid player, the horses to replace them appear to be on the roster.

The defense this year should continue as the best of the three phases of Michigan Football. This year they return the entire starting defensive unit with the exception of DT Mo Hurst. and LB Mike McCray, who has exhausted his eligibility. 

It may be understatement to say that the defense has not exhausted their capability to field the personnel needed to be one of the nation’s finest defenses again this season.  They remain a study in Brown as Don remains the molder and mentor of stellar defense.  He will tweak it to his satisfation.

Also, nobody builds a defensive line like Greg Mattison.  Bryan Mone is in shape to be a force this year. Appears to be in better shape this year, and he is honing concentration.  Lawrence Marshall, now a Senior, is a well-developed pass rusher. Aubrey Soloman showed continuing ability to draw attention at the nose. 

DE Rashan Gary, may be primed for his best year. Paired with Chase Winovich at the other defensive end, they ought to present a very effective, maybe great, pass rush.

Good depth, that is healthy, more experienced, and hopefully better conditioned is present.  For example, promising DL Donovan Jeter is back on the field, having recovered from last season’s injury, and some say he is having a great spring.  Phillip Paea is there, and also doing well.  There are others also.

The Line Backer corps ought to be outstanding under the tutelage of new Coach Al Washington. Viper Kaleke Hudson, and Devin Bush, Jr. give him two extraordinary talents with which to work.  There is only Mike McCray to replace in the line backing corps.  Jordan Anthony, Devin Gil, and Josh Ross are among the contenders.I have heard good words about both Ross and Gil this year

Last year the Corner Back positions were assumed to be the defensive weak link.  Instead it was a significant strength.  For example, they ended up 4th in the nation at pass efficiency. The corner backs, David Long and Lavert Hill were great. And if uninjured, should be even better his year.  Lavert Hill has a hard to define nagging injury currently.  That is giving Ambry Thomas, who excelled at Special Teams last year with occasional shots at DB, a chance to show his wares at CB now.  Ben Ste Juste has been remarkable at times but has been injured.  Jaylan Kelly-Powell is doing well.  They will likely all help somewhere in the defensive backfield this season. 

Safety was manned by Josh Metellus and Tyree Kinnel.  They did not earn the 2017 accolades of the corners, but they were not always bad, if  sometimes inconsistent.  With another year under their belts they should improve this season.  Some of the group above may be able to strengthen the position, and a Utah Grad Transfer, Casey Hughes, might help shore up Safety play.

THIS FOURTH YEAR IS A BIG ONE FOR COACH HARBAUGH:  He has been more enthused again, as in the two years prior to last year.  He has changed some of his tactics interfacing the players, changed some coaching personnel, among other things.  I am hopeful that his offensive scheme will be modernized, but that probably depends a lot on which quarterback is available to win the position. 

I believe the Wolverines will trend up this season, and that’s no Kool Ade.  The Wolverines need to get into the Big Ten Championship game, and advance.  It won’t be easy,  but the game never is.  It is the time for success.

Go Blue!

 

 

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MICHIGAN FOOTBALL 2017: M SAVES BEST FOR LAST HALF-M-28, PURDUE-10

On Saturday, the Wolverines traveled to West Lafayette, Indiana to meet the Purdue Boilermakers for their first Big Ten game of the season.  This game called an end to the “exhibition” season, as now each game affects the chase for the Big Ten title, and all the other goodies consistent with Big Ten Championships.

The players knew the consequences of losses in Big Ten play, and were well motivated for this important contest.  The Boilers were also steaming, and in the first half outplayed the struggling Wolverines.  The half ended with Purdue up 10 to 7.  Purdue owned the yardage as well as the score, having piled up 179-yards to M’s 131-yards.  While Wilton Speight engineered a scoring drive in the first half, the offense looked off kilter.  The offensive line was as leaky in pass pro as it could be, finally exposing Wilton to damage. In mid first quarter he was leveled, injured, and forced out of the game.

THIS YEAR’S BOILERMAKERS: Excitable first year Boilermaker Head Coach Jeff Brohm, who is noted for his trickeration,  managed a respectable performance in a season opening win over Ohio.  Then came a respectable loss, if there is such a thing, to a good Louisville team, and then they traveled to Columbia, Missouri to take out Mizzou by knockout, dominating 35-3.  Caging the Tigers at home by that score was an impressive feat, even though this was not a vintage Tiger team.

They could throw the football, as evidenced by the fact that 13 Boilers made receptions against the Tigers.  Their defense had been creating fumble recoveries and interceptions.  Their defense had been rising, and over the first three games offensively, they had amassed 583 rushing yards, producing 4 TDs.  They had gained 734 passing yards, producing 10 TDs. 

Those good times ended Saturday for the Boilers with a splat in the second half against the bigger, stronger, and more talented Wolverines. There was a nice throwback pass for Purdue to the QB on the first play of the game.

Starting Purdue Quarterback David Blough had produced 600 passing-yards and 6 TDs before meeting the Wolverines.  He then had a passing completion percentage of 61%, and for this season it was 76%, prior to the Wolverine’s adjustment of his statistics.

A measure of the strength of the Wolverine defense is that he did not fare well Saturday against the Wolverines, and was replaced early.  His replacement, Purdue’s Elijah Sundelar, saw the most Purdue quarterback snaps Saturday.

There was a lot of fight in the Boilers, but the Wolverines defense punished them sufficiently on a hot day, and they paid the price for a couple of targeting hits as their desperation grew, and their poise and prospects waned. Those errors helped enable late game Michigan scoring, as the offense banished their red zone blues.

The Football Boilers are no longer pushovers, especially at home.  They can do more than beat that famous giant drum, display a lovely Golden Girl, and blow train whistles. But on one of the hottest September days in West Lafayette since 2011, the Wolverines displayed their depth and talent to let the steam out of the Boilers.

THE M DEFENSE CLAMPS DOWN. At first, Purdue Quarterback Sundelar was more successful than Blough, but in the second half, the M defense was the star of the show.  They held Purdue to just 10-yards of offense in that half.  Purdue had 30-yards rushing in the game. Purdue was zero for 12 on third downs.  The Boilers had no first downs in the second half.  This was an outstanding performance by a young defense that is fast becoming a well-oiled machine.  This was a team defensive effort.  Mike Devin Bush was active and effective as usual, Kaleke Hudson had a good game at Viper, and the defense line was dominant.  The defensive backfield played well.  Chase Winovich,  and Mike McCray played well.  Rashan Gary continued to draw double teams.

THE OFFENSE SPUTTERED IN THE FIRST QUARTER, BUT RECOVERED: After Wilton Speight’s early injury, understudy Quarterback John O’Korn revived the sputtering M offense by converting three for three red zone opportunities into touchdowns. Two were rushing TDs and one was through the air.

The Tight Ends were often targeted by O’Korn.  M’s Sean McKeon caught 5 for 82-yards, and Zach Gentry caught 3 for 48-yards, and a TD.  Zach Gentry is becoming a notable tight end.

The Wolverines compiled 139-yards rushing, and threw for 284.  Purdue had 30-yards rushing and 159 thru the air.

Spieght was 2 of 4 for 71-yards.  O’Korn was 18 of 26 for 270-yards, and a TD.  His lone interception bounced off Perry’s chest.  Chris Evans had a great game, hauling 14 times for 97-yards, and two TDs, with a long run of 49.  Ty Isaac had a TD.

Grant Perry gathered in three passes for 39-yards, with a long of 23, and Nate Schoenle got 2 for 29-yards, with a long of 15-yards.

THE QUARTERBACK COMPETITION TAKES A TURN:  Understudy John O’Korn was handed the reins when Wilton fell injured in the first quarter, and O’Korn never looked back.  He was 18 of 26 passing for 270-yards and a TD. 

Upon entering the game, O’Korn produced a splendid 13-play, 83-yard drive on five throws and five completions, and he had a remarkable second half.

Many fans have clamored for John O’Korn, and now they have their wish gratified. Most fans will appreciate Wilton’s many accomplishments. He has gotten some fine wins in the past, and it may be the Wolverines will need him sooner or later this year. 

Right now, John has the hot hand, while, according to Coach Harbaugh, Wilton has a soft tissue injury.  We need two experienced, healthy QBs.

Wilton had been struggling for some time now, too long.  John had a fine day Saturday, an admirable day.  He has to do it again. The competition will continue.  The best player will play.  O’Korn has done nothing to prove that he is not the one at this time, but has a lot yet to prove. He will have to prove it day in and day out.  It will be interesting to watch this revitalized competition play out.  It is not every team that can lose its starting QB early and still make the win.

Brandon Peters got a few snaps late in the game. He was one of one for four yards.

HOW THEY SCORED: Michigan’s first score came on John O’Korn’s first drive upon entering the game midway in the first quarter.  His 12-yard TD pass to Zach Gentry culminated a 13 play, 84-yard drive, and the Wolverines were up 7.  What a relief it was.

Purdue quickly answered with a 10-yard TD pass to tie a 7-7.

An M fumble led to a 29-yard Boiler field goal, and it was 7-10 at the half.  That ended the Purdue scoring for the game.

The Wolverines had won the toss before the game so they naturally elected to defend, thereby gaining the ball to start the second half.  Unfortunately, they did little with it for a couple of series.

A defensive stalemate developed, but was broken by a terrifically athletic move by John O’Korn.  On third and six, while inside his own twenty-yard line, he evaded a sack, bolted toward the sideline, and discovered Grant Perry for 12-yards and a critical first down.  The Purdue defense lost its poise, and was flagged for targeting, after Sean McKeon had grabbed a 30-yard pass. The infraction turned a 30-yard gain into a 45-yard gain, and the offense was in business near the red zone.  Later in the series, Evans scampered 10-yards into the end zone for six.

Now 14-10, it finally seemed that the Wolverines might pull off a win.  The defense held.  A long drive was enabled by a nab by McKeon on second and 17, and by Gentry on first and 25. Ty Isaac secured the score from a yard out and it was 21-10.

The capper came on a Chris Evans 49-yard TD burst.  He made a nice early move, and then outraced everyone 49-yards into the end zone.  28-10 went into the books as a hard-earned Wolverine victory.

SPECIAL TEAMS:  The unit performed relatively smoothly.  The punting was substantially improved as Brad Robbins took over that job.  He hit 7 for a 40.6 average.

SPARTANS UP NEXT: After a bye week, the Wolverines will face the Spartans that were demolished at home by Notre Dame Saturday.  The Spartys will want to do likewise to the Wolverines to restore their season.  If they do that, in their book, all has been righted in their football world.  For them, the Michigan game is always the game of games.

Whether it is Speight or O’Korn at the throttle, the Wolverines will have to be at their best, regardless of the Spartan’s record.  The Spartans will battle, put up a good fight. They will be rattling their swords, and desperately searching for Wolverine insults, in the next two weeks.  They have that constant chip on their shoulder.  

Go Blue!

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MICHIGAN FOOTBALL 2017: OFFENSE STRUGGLES, BUT M DOWNS AIR FORCE 29 TO 13

The Football team of the United States Air Force Academy visited Michigan Stadium Saturday, borne on the wings of a hope that they could shoot down the Wolverine’s intention of compiling three straight wins to start this M Football season.

Air Force belongs to the Mountain West Conference. Since Utah left that conference, the Wolverines can still say they have not lost a game to a MWC school.

There was a flyover of four Air Force T-38 Talons, two of which were piloted by U of M grads.

The Air Force parachute demonstration team entered the stadium the hard way in a most professional and eye pleasing manner. They soared in over the North score board, and all landed easily on or near the block M at the middle of the field. It was a perfect afternoon for such a venture.

Air Force walloped Virginia Military Institute (VMI) 62 to zip two weeks ago Saturday. They have had a bye week to prepare for the Blue, and had won seven games in a row. They provided the Wolverines with a real battle, never leading but doggedly staying in the game.

The Wolverines have faced the Air Force only three times, and have won all three. M won in 1964, 2012, and last Saturday. This series is just developing. It had a worrisome aspect in that the AF utilizes cut blocks more than most others, and runs a unique scheme that takes special preparation. Fortunately, to the best of my knowledge, no M player was injured by a cut block.

AIR FORCE FOOTBALL WEAPONS: Not the least of their football weapons is their Head Coach Troy Calhoun. His unusual triple option, run from multiple formations, basically ignored the pass except for one completion that went for 64-yards for a score. His defense engineered a system the Michigan Offensive Coaches did not solve to score a TD until the last moment of the game. Five Wolverine field goals instead of TDs helped propel Air Force to keeping it close, and close it was for most of three quarters plus. Four of the field goals were a result of red zone failures by the M offense, and the fifth by the offense stalling before they got to the red zone.

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Both Harbaugh and Speight credited Calhoun defense scheming ability to disguise defensive schemes as a problem for M’s offense.

Junior Arione Worthman is a man worth a lot to the Falcon offense as a quarterback.  He was just one of seven passing, but the one completion was for sixty-four yards and a TD. An integral part of the Falcon ground game, he took a beating from the Wolverines, but kept after it. He ran 21 times for 56- net yards, with a long of 34.  He had thirty yards of losses.

STATE OF THE WOLVERINES AFTER THREE VICTORIES: Many thought pre-game that this game could very well be a trap game due to the Falcon’s triple option scheme, and the Wolverine’ inexperience with that system. While M nailed Florida, and Cincinnati pretty convincingly, and won against the Falcons, there is still concern about the fact that the Michigan offense is still not a well oiled machine under the guidance of the now experienced QB Wilton Speight. The offense has continued to sputter at times this season, in addition to some difficulties it had at the end of last season. In the first game this year, against Florida, Wilton threw two pick sixes. One of them may or may not have been his fault, but one was unquestionably his fault. These errors gave Florida a lead to the end of the first half.

Wilton came back splendidly in M’s first drive of the second half against the Gators, and the Wolverines played a good enough game to drive home a convincing win over a prominent SEC team, but he displayed his perplexing habit of missing open receivers, and high throws. The defense was M’s best unit on the field, and Special teams were OK against the Gators.

Saturday before last, against Cincinnati, Wilton and the offense sputtered again. This time it was careless fumbles and not interceptions. Only one fumble was recovered by the Bearcats, but Wilton’s error swung the game momentum gathered from M’s long opening TD drive, plus Kinnel’s pick six, to momentum favoring Cincinnati. This continued to spur the Bearcat’s momentum in their first drive of the second half. A potential blow out became, for a while in the third quarter, a struggle for survival.

It wasn’t all Wilton’s doing. The offense could not produce short first down conversions in the second half against the Bearcats multiple times.  The young right side of the offensive line did not look as good as it did against the Gators, both against the run and in pass pro. There were 68-yards of penalties as Wolverine special teams came apart. While Quinn Nordin was again highly reliable as a field goal kicker, some of special teams regressed. There was a shanked punt for short yardage, and a punt hit an M player in the back for an unnecessary, and most untimely turnover. The room for improvement on special teams against the Bearcats was as obvious as it was necessary.

Against the Air Force this Saturday, lack of TDs in the red zone became the problem. Four times the sputtering offense couldn’t score from the red zone. Once they faltered from farther out. There was only one TD in the game and that was late in the fourth. Again there were some drops by receivers, errant throws, fumbles, errors by the offensive line, plus an odd play. Wilton twirled to the opposite direction after receiving the snap, fast and neatly, a great athletic move, and ran towards the West sideline, where he tried to flip the ball to a receiver in or near the end zone. A defender got his hand on the flipped ball so it was deflected, and made available for interception. Fortunately, it hit the ground and was dead. Wilton had made a brilliant change of direction, and dash towards the goal, only to let the ill-advised flip pass spoil the play.

Wilton hit 14 of 23 attempts for 169-yards, and no TDs or interceptions. The offense made its living rushing 42 times for 190-yards and just one late TD.

I did not understand some of the play calling. Why all the fade routes that Wilton continues to miss? Where were the tall tight ends. Time out management seemed to rear its ugly head at times. Useless penalties continued to happen. Seven for seventy-two yards exceeds the previous high this year.

Wilton Speight is a smart football player, a good representative of the Wolverines. At this time, it is obvious that the coaches feel there is no one better currently on this roster than Wilton at the QB position, or you would see the better player at the helm on Saturdays.

I trust he can get his difficulties sponged out and begin to produce at his best again. Hopefully his confidence will not sag in this slump, and coaching can remedy his mechanics. That big jump expected between first and second season has been delayed, but it needs to become reality, soon. The Big Ten season looms with Purdue next and MSU after that.

SATURDAY’S SCORING: First Quarter: M’s Quin Nordin hit a 35-yard field goal to make it 3-zip. A Ty Isaac 32-yard scamper was part of an 11-play 58-yard drive. A score, but a red zone failure, all the same.

AF answered with a 35-yard FG to tie it up, 3 each.

Second Quarter: Nordin hit a 26-yard FG, and it was 6-3. A 37-yard Peoples snag helped get the Wolverines to the Falcon 8 yard-line, where they stalled. Obviously, a red zone failure for the offense.

AF answered with a 50-yard FG to knot it at six again.With 3:18 in the quarter, Nordin hit again, this time on a 49-yard shot. Wilton Speight fumbled as he was sacked. Wilton tried to continue to throw the ball as he went down. M’s Nick Eubanks covered it at the Air Force 35. This FG made it an uneasy 9-6.

Third Quarter: Donovan Peoples Jones made the play of the game with a sterling punt return of 79-yards. It was now 16-6. He ran like he had radar. Crossing the field from side to side, he stayed in bounds along the eastern side line on his way into the north end zone. This was a return that would have made Peppers proud. Afterwards Jones said “I mean, it just opened up like the Red Sea. They did a great job of not clipping, and let me change the field. They did a great job of blocking and not holding. It just made my job very easy”.

This was the first M TD on the day, and the first of Donovan-Peoples Jones career. It will be long remembered. Having displeased the coaches in the way he was letting some catchable punts hit the ground against Cincinnati, and replaced by Perry in the Cincinnati game, he made quite a comeback Saturday. This was his not only the play of the game, but this play made him my player of the game.

The special teams were somewhat a mess last week, but returned with a bang this week. The Wolverines could not have done without their contribution of 22 points, as the game would have been lost. How long can the Wolverines depend on the defense or special teams to score their points remains a question.

In response AF hit its only pass. Unfortunately, it was for 64-yards. Now it was 16-13 and matters were serious again.

Quinn hit a 29-yard FG and it was 19 to 13. After an 11 play, 32-yard drive, the Wolverines stalled at the AF 11. Another red zone fizzle. Again, they couldn’t move the ball further, running or passing.

Fourth Quarter: Nordin was at it again in the fourth quarter, banging a 36-yard FG through to make it 22 to 13. The Wolverines had the ball at the AF 18. Again they could not run or pass in the red zone.

Karan Higdon’s 36-yard TD scamper at 1:02 of the fourth, down the east sideline, made it 29-13, and that became the final. A 24-yard pass to Tarik Black was the big setup play. Chris Evans had a 10-yard run, and a 4-yard run in the 9 play 73-yard game clinching drive. M couldn’t drive it in from 18-yards out. They were stymied in the red zone for the fourth and final time.

HOW THE OFFENSIVE SKILL PLAYERS DID: Running Backs-Ty Isaac was 16 for 89-yards with a long of 32, and a 5.6 average. He was again the best M back, but he danced a little on a couple of critical short yardage plays and came up short. Where is Kahlid Hill on those occasions? Karan Higdon lugged 12 for 64-yards, a TD and a 5.3 average. Chris Evans spent most of the game on the bench because of his first quarter fumble, but got 6 carries of 32-yards. It was ground game day.

Receivers-Tarik Black snagged 5 for 55-yards and a long of 24. Donovan Peoples Jones collared 2 for 52-yards, with a long of 37.

THE M DEFENSE OWNED THE DAY: The defense was again rough and ready. While they gave up a long pass play, likely lulled oblivious to the passing game as some in the press box had suspected would happen, by the prior lack of attempts, they were more than up to this task otherwise. The Falcons had only one completion in seven attempts. They rushed for 168-yards.
Devin Bush and Mike McCray each had seven solos and 4 assists, for a total of 11. Bush had a sack, as did Chase Winovich. Rashan Gary had one half sack. He made his presence felt all game.

BIG TEN OPENER LOOMS: The Big Ten opener at Purdue is at hand, ready or not. This year’s version of the Spoilermakers seems to be very good as evidenced by their convincing win over Missouri last Saturday.

Go Blue!

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M Football 2016 ORANGE BOWL: SEMINOLES NIP BATTLING WOLVERINES 32 TO 33

The 6th ranked Wolverines laid aside the disappointments that a bittersweet regular season afforded, and attempted to build on the many pluses the season revealed for their battle with the Florida State Seminoles, only to be handed another heartbreaking last seconds loss, replete with a controversial no call on an off sides call on M’s last possession. An irritating call, this time the game did not swing on it.

The pregame ended with the stunning announcement that Jabrill Peppers would not play because of a hamstring tweaked Thursday. This hurt the Wolverine cause on several levels. It was too late to plan around his absence. He was very much missed on special teams, as well as offense and defense.
FSU hyper talented star running back Delvin Cook prospered in his absence as he broke a couple of long runs. He rushed 20 times for 145-yards and a TD. He produced 207-yards, and was definitely the player of the game.

Kenny Allen provided the only field position advantage on special teams. He was simply outstanding. He hit three FGs. And his punting was outstanding. One long punt was dropped by the FSY receiver near the goal line, but M had to settle for three.

Peppers was missed in the pass rush, and as an on field leader, and he was also missed in trying to corral the hyper fast Cook. Cook often cooked M’s defensive intentions. He rendered Michigan’s defense mostly ineffective at times in the first and second quarters putting up 20 points to the Wolverines 9 in the first half, The Wolverines played a terrible 1st half offensively, and defensively, scoring no TDs and yielding big plays. They were inside the ten on three occasions and came away with three field goals, while FSU piled up 20 points in the half. M could not stop the spectacular running of FSU’s Cook, or the pass rush of Florida States Defensive line, until adjustments were made at the half, and they utilized quick short passes over the middle. I very much doubted that a blow-out was not in progress as it was 20 to 6 at the half.

They faced a very good Florida State Football team in this prestigious Capital One Orange Bowl played at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Lakes, Florida.

THE LAST GAME OF THE SEASON DID NOT GET ANY EASIER FOR THE WOLVERINES. Ranked 10th in the country, and coached by the colorful and successful Jimbo Fisher, it seemed the Seminoles presented just the ticket to take the Wolverine’s mind off their two critical regular season losses that prevented them from achieving their goals of a shot at the Big Ten Championship, and a spot in the final four. Instead it added a third loss.

They were as disappointed, if not more so, than the fans, by those earlier losses, and probably this one. Many players thought post TOSU that they (Michigan) were among the best four teams in the country. While they had not proved it in late season’s action, the thought endured, and still seemed to be somewhat reasonable, but lessened by their stumble against the Seminoles.

THE LAST HALF: The Wolverines struggled mightily in the first half offensively and defensively, managing only 6 points, while the Seminoles held 20. But they received the second half KO, having deferred. When the drive stalled Kenny Allen supplied his third FG. It was now 9 to 20.

The Wolverines offense was somewhat now revitalized as they loaded their tight ends Bunting, Asiasi, and Wheatley, and gathered a few first downs. Jake Butt had been injured earlier, and was out for the game, but he chugged off under his own power.

TE Bunting caught a couple for 30-yards. With little time left in the quarter, the Wolverines made themselves a break. The defense brought pressure and FSU finally cracked as Mike McCray nabbed a Seminole pass and returned it 14-yards for the TD, diving on a very athletic play into the endzone on a very athletic play and the chase was on. 9 to 20 became 15 to 20. A two point conversion was missed. The defense was now alive and well after yielding 201-yards of offense in the first quarter, FSU managed only 69-yards from scrimmage in the second half.

The big play bugaboo bird kept pecking as Dalvin Cook faced a 3rd and 22, and conquered it by slipping a tackle and speeding 71-yards to the M 13. FSU QB Francois ran a keeper into the end zone and it was 15-27. Now it seemed to be over for the Wolverines.

Now it with a under eight minutes in the fourth, and the Seminoles gave a gift to the Wolverines, hitting a crouching Jordan Lewis with a very dangerous blow to the head. After the penalty, Speight hit Khalid Hill with a laser, and Hill broke the plane for the Wolverine’s first TD. With 5:22 left, it was 22-27.

After a three an out the Wolverines possessed the ball at their 39. Speight saw open field and took off running 27-yards to the FSU . Chris Evans than made the best Wolverines run of the day. His 30-yard run went for 6, and the first Wolverine lead. A Darboh slant for two made it 30-27 with just 1.57 to play.

Next another bite from the big play bugaboo wounded the Wolverine’s chances as FSU’s Gavin returned the ensuing KO 66-yards to the M 34 with 1:29 left. Kenny Allen had been putting KO’s deep enough to prevent treturns, but not this time. A completed screen took it to the 13. A fade into the end zone was completed for six. The Wolverines were again down, this time 30-33. There were just 36 seconds left to tick on the clock. M’s Josh Metellus collared the bouncing ball after the blocked extra point try and hauled it into the Seminoles end zone at the opposite end of the field for two. The final outcome was set at M-32, FSU-33.

THIS COMEBACK WAS WORTH NOTE: This was a Michigan team that had trouble playing its best football for a full game against better opponents this season and this one was no exception. The recovery of the defense and offense in the second half were tributes both to the player’s grit and determination, but to the ingenuity of the half time coaching adjustment.

They didn’t quit, but fought back. The offensive cold spells, and offensive line inability to protect a passer or provide a consistent running game, and the inexplicable characteristic of an otherwise hard hitting and effective defense to give up big plays at critical times was all part and parcel of this team.

Now a part of Michigan Football History, it is time to move on. Even if these things kept this team from progressing and accomplishing as much as we and they wanted them to. They were good team, just not as great as they wanted to be. It has been an exciting season of which players and fans can be proud. The brass ring will come around again. They are a rising team and program.

Now this team and season are a part of Michigan Football History. We will all move on. Even if these things kept them from progressing as a team from good to as great as they wanted to, it was an exciting season of which fans and players can be proud. The brass ring will come around again. They continue to be a rising team and program.

Happy New Year to you, and yours, on every level.

Go Blue!

 

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The “State Of Michigan” Trophy – 01/03/2016 – Drew Montag

It’s back, bigger and better than ever: the “State Of Michigan” Trophy! Get all the information on one of the most heated rivalries in all of college sports: the University of Michigan vs. Michigan State University. Not just the “marquee” sports, but all 20 men’s and women’s sports with head-to-head competition. First, some history:

Back in September 2003, Pontiac started ‘The Pontiac Challenge’, to track the head-to-head competition between the University of Michigan and Michigan State University for the whole school year. They divided the school year up into 3 sessions (Fall, Winter, and Spring), and awarded a trophy to the winner of each session, with the current winner keeping it in the case of a tie.

Not too surprisingly, UM won (or tied) every session for all 3 years that Pontiac sponsored the Challenge (2003-2004, 2004-2005, and 2005-2006). Also not too surprisingly, Pontiac lost interest when the Challenge got too one-sided. So, after the 2005-2006 season, they dropped it, but I picked it up. However, I thought their setup with the 3 sessions and a goofy scoring system could be improved, so I changed it to a single session (the whole school year), with 2 points for each win, and 1 point for each tie.

From 2006-2010, I used Microsoft Excel spreadsheets to track the results. I used the built-in spreadsheet-to-HTML converter in Excel to generate the Web pages, which I then had to upload to my Web site. It was clumsy, to say the least, so I wrote a PHP script, with some Javascript, to use MySQL to generate the Web pages ‘on demand’. I also entered all the old data for the seasons going back to 2000-2001, which is as far back as I can find reliable information.

A quick look at the ‘Season: Summary/Sport: All’ page will show that UM has won the State of Michigan Trophy every year for the last 15 years except once (2009-2010). Even then, it came down to the last contest.

May the best University win!