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 The Cornhuskers of the University of Nebraska swaggered into Michigan Stadium, with a player on record as wishing to shut Michigan up. The Huskers carried a 6-2, 3-1 record into the game with them, bettering the Wolverines then 6-2, 2-2 record. The Cornhuskers carried out a 4-1 Big Ten record, while the Wolverines slipped to 2-3.

While Michigan was reeling from a thrashing at the hands of the Green Meanies last Saturday, Nebraska was riding high from a last minute escape at Northwestern 29-24, The Wolverines were riding low having lost two of their last three Big Ten games. To add insult to injury, the Huskers made it three losses in four games for the Wolverines.

With a 2-3 Big Ten record, the Wolverines are effectively out of the race. Coach Hoke on the game: “Yeah, you know frustration because we lost as a team. I mean, I think that’s the frustration that we all have. I’ve got to do a better job coaching this football team. The guys were working, guys were fighting.”

This game provided the perfect opportunity for Michigan’s sagging spirits to rebound, to atone for their embarrassment at the hands of the Huskers last year after Denard’s game changing injury.

Further, back in 1997, the Wolverines had to share a national title with Nebraska because of a lucky catch in a game they should have lost (Missouri), plus the very timely retirement of their famed former Coach and then Athletic Director Tom Osborne. He successfully applied politics to gain the prize.

While it is denied by coaches and players that they ever go galloping down the revenge trail, this kind of stuff is certainly not lost on fans. And then there is the case of their sometimes not so lovable Coach Bo Pelini, was struggling to get off the hot seat before sizzle turned to burn. He had the temerity to lay into his own fans, home crowds. Can you imagine the furor in Ann Arbor if Hoke had even thought of such a public broadside?

But more notable was the defense the Huskers brought to Ann Arbor. They were 70^th in the country in total D. Unfortunately while their defense was among or near the bottom feeders of the Big Ten, the Wolverines offense could manage only one TD against them Saturday, and the Nebraska defense was up to the task.

Devin Gardener was sacked seven times again this week, as M rushed for minus 21-yards. The backs again could not pass protect or run the football, the offensive play calling was often strange and inexplicable, as well as too often ineffective. The offensive line did some sieve imitations again. Late ineffective runs drew strong, very loud boos from the crowd, and their perplexity was understandable. As the conservative plays failed, M’s chances for victory melted. Nebraska out gained M’s 175 total yards by amassing 273.

All game long, Fitz ineffectively rushed on first down. His first half statistics are illustrative of the ineffectiveness of that work. He carried five times for five yards. When they finally threw him a pass, he gained 25-yards. For the game, M rushed for a minus 21-yards. The Wolverines had 36 rushes for a minus 0.6 yards. They gained 46 yards, but lost 67-yards rushing. The Wolverines had a dismal 3 of 15 conversions on third down. Nebraska was about twice that good. As usual the offense did not give the defense a comfort margin with which to work. The requirements of winning this game scoring wise were modest. One more TD would have won it. Two were needed, but we only got half there.

The always loyal Hoke defended the play calling, as one would expect he would: “I like the play calling. I think we thought we could do some things, and we didn’t.”, but to some fans it remains bizarre, and unexplained.

Devin Gardner would not give any quarter in the post- game press conference regarding alleged lack of toughness, simply and inelegantly saying that those critics could “shove it”. Devin has proved himself very mentally and physically tough, even though he seems a little shell shocked now, and holds the ball too long sometimes, which is another offensive flaw. He went 18 of 37 for 196-yards, and a TD. Devin Funchess was the most productive receiver, catching the team’s only TD, while collaring 6 passes for 66-yards. Devin’s running was largely a non-factor in this game.

Cameron Gordon led the defense with eight tackles, a forced fumble, and a sack. In the middle of the third quarter, Cameron separated the ball from its possessor and Chris Wormley recovered it. James Ross III was often noticeable, nailing eight tackles. The offense did not take advantage of this opportunity and left the points on the field as Matt Will missed a 52-yard FG.

Jake Ryan was active. While the defense played splendidly in the second and third quarters, they failed at games end, giving up the winning TD. Should we add conditioning to our list of worries?

It was perceived pregame that the Huskers transported a much more robust offense then defense to Ann Arbor. Their most experienced QB, the gifted Taylor Martinez was injured, and did not start. Freshman Tommy Armstrong got the nod for his 6^th start. And he proved good enough to win, by staging a long drive for the winning TD, with Husker RB Abdullah scoring with a couple of minutes left in the game fir his second TD. Armstrong was 12 of 25 passing. He rushed12 times for 35-yards.

While the Nebraska offense, including the OL, had suffered significant injuries, they had what some considered the best running back in the Big Ten, Ameer Abdullah. He proved a thorn. He carried 27 times for 105 net yards and a TD. He was the one that stated he wanted to shut up Michigan. He commented that our crowd was nasty to him in his last venture into M Stadium. He brought an outstanding 7.1-yard average per carry into the game, but managed only a 3.9-yard average against the Wolverines. He had rushed for 1,108-yards this season. He is a five foot nine inch tall scat back. A key in this game was whether or not Michigan could stop him, and they did not well enough to win. He moved the chains and got the winning TD.

The usual Team 134 questions prevailed again, and then some. It seems we have learned how good team 134 is… and how good it isn’t.

While a Bloody Mary wouldn’t cure the kind of hangover caused by the Spartans, and now the Huskers, it would have taken a last minute Hail Mary to prevail over the Huskers. The Wolverines led 13-10 with a little more than eight minutes to play, but a 14-play, six minute, 75-yard Husker drive lasting over six minutes made it 13-17, and provided an insurmountable lead. M had a couple of minutes left on the clock in the fourth quarter to stage an improbable come from behind win, but the Huskers were up to the task. On fourth and five, a Gardner pass slipped through the usually sure grasp of Drew Dileo, to end offensive opportunity, and the die was cast.

The scoring went like this:

First Quarter:

The Huskers received to start the game, punted, M punted. On their second possession the Huskers hit a 21-yard FG. M-0, N-3. Then a 44-yard drive put the ball at the M six, and Abdullah ran it in for 6. M-0, N-10. The first quarter was owned by Nebraska. They managed 10 first downs to the Wolverines’ zilch.

Second Quarter:

The Wolverines finally put together a 66-yard drive, but stalled, and settled for a FG from 27-yards. M-3, N-10.

While the Cornhuskers throttled M for much of the first half, a 69-yard Matt Wile punt stopped at the Nebraska 3, eventually gave the Wolverines good field position at the Nebraska 42, as the defense had almost got a safety and did not give up a yard on the Nebraska possession after the punt. After M received the punt, they were held to a 4^th and 4 as the last play in the possession. Devin Gardner was sacked as they went for the first down. After a 7-yard completion to Gallon, Devin lost a yard to the Nebraska 36, had an incomplete pass on third down, and then came the sack. A low point for the offense, as the Wolverines were dominated in the first half. The half ended M-3, N-10.

Third Quarter:

M received and made it 10-10 on a 75-yard 10-play drive, largely enabled by a 25-yard pass to Fitz Toussaint, and a 19-yarder to Jake Butt. Somehow a little innovation crept into the series. They only had to convert one third down opportunity in this drive. Devin Funchess caught the 7-yard TD.

Fourth Quarter:

Special teams again provided a lift as Nebraska mishandled a punt, which was scooped up by Dennis Norfleet. With 10 on the clock the ball was at the 25, but the offense bungled the opportunity for a most meaningful TD, being forced to settle for a Brandon Gibbons 45-yard FG. M-13, N-10.

Hopes of victory were dashed as the Huskers produced a long drive, shunned a field goal, and made a 26-yard gain to the Michigan 5. Three plays later they were at the 3, but an Armstrong option left to Abdullah sealed the Wolverines fate and produced the final score. M-13, N-17.

M’s final effort was described above.

An ESPN writer went far afield recently, when he categorized Michigan players as soft, and the team as being of poor character, while he lauded Michigan State as being tough and of good character. M is tough, coming from behind in a number of ballgames this year. This is not the most physically dominant team the Wolverines have ever fielded, but they will get there. They do not quit, have not quit.

Michigan is not “soft”, nor are the players full of themselves as the uninformed writer suggested. I believe I have a pretty good idea what that writer is full of, at least in that piece. But when a losing streak is established, teams, and coaches are subject to a fusillades of criticism, innuendo, and doubt.

There are two tough road games ahead and a tough home game. Possibly they will all be a struggle if recent history is indicative. We will see what the Wolverines can do. Hopefully. what they won’t do is give up. A New Years Day Bowl is still there for the taking.

It appears that Coach Hoke’s future as well as that of his team may be impeded by towing a barge full of heavy offensive woes. More than likely, the offensive line can’t be significantly improved until next year. Seems that if it could be done they would have done it by now. An in season cure now seems unlikely. We shall see.

Go Blue!

The college football melee that annually occurs between Michigan’s Wolverines and Michigan State’s Spartans took place Saturday at hostile Spartan Stadium in an evening battle. Unfortunately for the Wolverines, the Spartans dominated, and left the Wolverines with several burning issues. Like not being a B1G contender this season, and therefore is the Brady Hoke era headed in the right direction?

As a result of winning, the Spartans were forced to harbor the gigantic Paul Bunyan trophy, an award that pales in comparison to the venerated status of the first college football trophy, The Little Brown Jug. This demonstrates the difference in the aura awarded a trophy instantly created by politicians, as opposed to one that grew out of the fan base over a long time. In any case the PBT will sojourn in East Lansing till next year, whether it wants to or not.

Make no mistake, however, that even if the name of the trophy was not on the lips of the coaches or fans, this game was among the most important of any game that either team will play this season.

With winning this game, a possible shot to represent the Legend’s Division against the Leader’s Division in the Big Ten Championship game in Indianapolis was at stake. The Spartans are now well positioned for such a run. In all probability, the Wolverines now resemble an also ran.

The Spartans looked to skate through the balance of their relatively easy season, if the Wolverines couldn’t best them. The Green Meanies avoid the Buckeyes in regular season, and played the Wolverines at home with outstanding success. Now they may get to play the Buckeyes once, but only if the Wolverines can not help it.

The Spartans were undefeated in the B1G prior to Saturday primarily because of the competence of their defense, and they were on a roll. They still are on a roll, again in large part because of that same over powering defense. Michigan lost a record setting minus 48-yards rushing. Devin Gardner was sacked 7 times, 4 times in the 4^th quarter. Devin was 14 of 27 passing for 210-yards, one interception and zero TDs. MSU’s Cook was 18 of 32 for 252-yards, and 2 TDs.

Fitz Toussaint ran 8 times, gaining a net of 22-yards. In his post-game presser Coach Hoke was adamant that the failure of execution extended to other positions than just offensive line, to backs, and tight ends and others also. It surely did, but the offensive line was noteworthy in this respect.
An over the head center snap killed the effect of a couple of first downs, and helped turn the game around in a bad way for Michigan’s offense.

The effort of the Wolverines was considerable and admirable. Devin Gardner took a pounding, but a great effort was there, even if enough blocking was not. After the game, Hoke said that Devin was not injured unless being beat up was an injury.

Jeremy Chesson contributed 3 catches for 82-yards, including a long of 58-yards. Too bad the receivers did not make it into the end zone. Unfortunately none of the catches were carried into the end zone, and the 58-yard Chesson reception to the MSU 22=yard line in the 2^nd Quarter only resulted in a 46-yard FG. Jeremy Gallon caught 5 for 67-yards with a long of 35-yards. Gallon had three catches on the opening drive for 57-yards. Devin Funchess had 6 for 65-yards.

When Gardner had time he threw some nice passes and the receiving corps made some outstanding catches. Defensively, Raymon Taylor had 12 tackles with one TFL and one break up. Frank Clark had 9 tackles.

Michigan constantly lost field position because of deep punts by the Spartans. The Wolverines were dominated on special teams, offensively, and on pass defense, but did a good job against the run until late in the game. The Wolverines could not stop slant/crossing patterns. They let out big passing plays, and otherwise let the Spartans dominate the passing statistics.

The Wolverines were out coached in some respects. Early in the game, M was threatening. They were on the MSU 20-yard line with a third and two. They saddled up and attempted a rush. It was a disaster, for a nine yard loss. Was this a good call?  There was a notable lack of innovation, after a two week recess.

Later in the game, in the second half, the Wolverines had decent field position due to an interception. Devin was additionally sacked three times. Losses and sacks on three straight plays! Fitz Toussaint was out manned in protection and the OL did not block effectively. This was consistent all game long for the OL, as the running game, or more precisely the lack of it, was reflected in that record setting minus 48-yards rushing.

Pregame, this season the usual insults were hurled, and caught by fans on both sides. This was business as usual, maybe more so. The Spartans are practiced and adept at this activity, especially before the games, often less so afterward. Obviously, this year will be an unavoidable exception to that rule.

This pair’s annual smash ups since the 1970s show the Wolverines winning thirty-two games to the Spartan’s 6. Unfortunately for Wolverines’ fans, lately the Spartans have won five of the last six, with the Wolverines only prevailing by a scary score of twelve to ten last year.

M fans rightfully worried regarding M’s recently remodeled interior offensive line, the Spartans inside blitz, ineffective play calling, turn overs, toughness, pass defense, and inability to win consistently away from home. As it turned out, these issues all remain.

In spite of an overall 6-1 record and a conference record of 2 -1, Team 134 had not grabbed an identity. They had been winning somewhat ugly, and now the angst continues, will build. The pass defense stepped into the shadows against Indiana’s prolific passing game. And fell deeper into the shadows Saturday, against MSU. An unfortunate identity is beginning to emerge.

Of course, some M fans had their doubts pregame, as to how tough the Spartan defense really was. We questioned the efficiency of a Spartan offense that also had struggled to score points against some lesser competition. M had scored 297 points to MSU’s 239 this season. The Spartan’s performance Saturday on both offense and defense erased most doubt.

All in all it looked like the Wolverines had their work cut out for them, and it proved out that they did.

First Quarter:

M lost the toss and received. Jeremy Gallon caught a nifty 35–yard pass on the opening play of the game.  This was one of Jeremy’s three receptions on this 54-yard drive. Matt Wile scored on a 49-yard FG. M-3, MSU-0.

MSU got three of their own on after a big 49-yard catch and run on MSU’s first pass play. A field goal tied it at 3-3. MSU hit another FG to make it 3-6 going into the 2^nd quarter.

Second Quarter:

Now it was raining on everyone’s parade as the teams traded punts with Michigan finally scoring on a 57-yard drive that featured a leaping Jeremy Chesson catching a 48-yard pass. Brandon Gibbons then hit a very lucky FG. The ball bounced off the right upright for three, after traveling 39-yards. It was tied at 6-6 at 3:22 left in the second.

Next came the Spartan effort that was a key to the game. They went 75-yards for six, ending with a fourteen-yard TD pass and it was M-6, MSU-13 with 23-seconds left in the second quarter. This was back breaker, in view of the Spartans tough defense.

The field position battle which M was losing would continue in earnest into the second half.

Third Quarter:

MSU received and had to punt four times time, each time improving their field position. Michigan was practicing punting,too.

Finally Ramon Taylor improved field position with an interception, and sprinted 18-yards to the MSU 41-yard line. Now M had some field position. But Gardner was sacked for three consecutive plays. Nothing innovative for the Wolverines offense in that possession, and it was perhaps the final straw, as M had to punt, and a golden opportunity to score was wasted. MSU executed and M didn’t.

MSU did not pass up the ensuing opportunity, but passed 44-yards, and plunged 1-yard to pay dirt. M’s Willie Henry blocked the extra point. M-6, MSU-22.

Michigan then moved the football, but a late interception ended their threat to score. MSU quickly stuck up another on a late TD scamper for six after a 97-yard drive. Final M-6, MSU-29.

Not since the sixties have I seen a Wolverine football team beaten this soundly by Michigan State. There is nothing worse than seeing Coach “Happy”, happy. He and the Green Meanies earned a perfect right this time.

M’s coaches have much work to do. And a little soul searching ought to go with it, as they, team and coaches, have not been able to match their often proclaimed goal of being a physically dominating football team this season, to be a team which can run the football, and utilize the pro set to advantage. They simply have not met those goals. The offense is not improving and the pass defense remains problematic.

Tough loses engender team dissension. The Captains will have to cut that kind of stuff off at the pass.  Last Saturday’s game measured the Wolverine’s physical toughness.  Next Saturday’s will measure their mental state as well.

Next week is another tough competition, as the Corn Huskers invade M Stadium. We will see whether there is a hangover from Saturday, or will, they just come out mad.   It will be an interesting match up.

In any event, win or lose, it is forever good to be Blue.

Go Blue!

OFFENSE AGAIN STRUGGLES TO SCORE TOUCHDOWNS

Michigan’s football team visited the unfriendly confines of Nebraska’s Memorial Stadium Saturday, carrying in a 3-0 Big Ten record, and intent on wresting control of the Big Ten’s Legends Division race from the grasping and capable hands of the Nebraska Cornhuskers.  They had the same goal in mind.  The evening belonged to the Huskers as the Wolverines played their worst offensive game of the year, lost the services of Denard Robinson during the second quarter, got some goofy calls, perpetrated some foolish penalties, and could not manage a TD for six consecutive quarters, even with Denard at the helm. Additionally, they went without  TDs for two more quarters with a besieged redshirt Freshman Russell Bellomy at the helm.  Bellomy threw 27 times for 43-yards, and was intercepted 3 times.  He made a nice tackle after one of the interceptions which prevented a score.

TEAM COMPARABILITIES: The teams were comparable in many respects.  Both are storied football powers.  Both have hordes of dedicated and loyal fans. Both have won multiple National Championships the latest being shared in 1997 by both.  Both have had storied Coaches such as Tom Osborne and Bo Schembechler, with Nebraska sporting a Bo of its own in current Coach Bo Pelini.

They both play in major stadiums with Nebraska’s Memorial Stadium holding over 81,000.  They both had offenses directed by mobile quarterbacks, both with prolific offensive capabilities.  It was Denard Robinson at the helm of the Wolverines and Taylor Martinez leading the Huskers.  Denard’s accomplishments are well known and oft repeated to Wolverine fans, and Taylor Martinez has led the Nebraska offense to Big Ten leadership prior to this game, with a total offense of 512 -yards, a rushing offense of 279-yards, and a scoring offense 41.6 points.  And at that point some divergence is evident.

SOME TEAM DIFFERENCES:

Michigan has primarily been a running team this season, with Denard’s legs the main weapon.   Running back success has been scattered.  They have not had an overly effective red zone offense.  Their primary scoring device lately has been the field goal. Coach Borges stuck with a basic offense against Michigan State, one reason the Wolverine’s total offensive statistics were far less gaudy than the Huskers’.  Nebraska’s was in 3^rd place in the Big Ten, passing for 293-yards a game.  Michigan’s 10th place in passing was far less spectacular, but sometime the passing game has been highly effective in winning.  As when needed in last Saturday’s MSU contest.   Nebraska had run back a punt for a TD, the Wolverines hadn’t.  Michigan was undefeated in the Big Ten owning 3 victories and Nebraska 2-1, having endured a 63-38 pasting by Ohio.  Now they are both 3-1 in the Big Ten, but Nebraska’s path to the Championship game now seems less foggy than that of the Wolverines.

WHAT WAS AT STAKE:

No less than the driver’s seat in the Legend’s Division.  The winner has the tiebreaker, and thus if similar Legend’s records happen, the winner has a leg up toward the title game.  All year Coach Hoke has preached that every game is a Championship game and this one was just that in all aspects.  A win was a big step toward controlling one’s own championship destiny.

That edge now belongs to Nebraska.  The road to the championship game now may include a must win in Columbus.  Since Ohio scored 63 points on Nebraska and we scored 9, how do you expect that to go now?  It seems its going to be tough, very tough, to sled through the rest of the schedule any way but downhill, but anything is possible, especially if Denard is soon serviceable again.  We are still 3 and 1 in the Big Ten.

GAME KEYS:

• Would the Wolverines offense be able to take advantage of the defense of Nebraska to win in case this game turned into a shoot-out? Actuality:  This game did not turn into a shootout as I expected. Again whether Denard was in or out, the only Wolverine scoring consisted of field goals.  Russell Bellomy got a rough introduction to the big time.  3 interceptions and sacked twice. The offensive line did not help him by controlling the Husker blitz  the Huskers had been careful not to throw at Denard, and the backs didn’t pick it up effectively. The receivers helped precious little on a number of occasions, dropping critical passes, although they made some nice catches.  It was obvious that Russell and his teammates were not ready for a circumstance that was well anticipated to arrive sometime in a long, rough season, Denard’s injury.  Denard did not get the ball into the end zone, but had 46-yards rushing and 55 yards passing. The game was effectively over when Denard left the field of play.
• The book on the Huskers was that they were vulnerable to pressure defensively. Acuality:  The defense did make a number of stops, sacked the Husker QB, but the offense was so inept a win kept moving just out of reach. ould the Wolverine defense create turn overs?  Actuality: they did create some turnovers but one was fumbled back, and M’s drives stalled. Wolverine Keith Heitzman recovered a fumble near the end of the second quarter to stop a Husker threat. Desmond Morgan deflected a Martinez pass into the hands of Mario Ojemudia on a great play by both.  But the Huskers balanced this, owning three interceptions.
•  Nebraska had a great fleet of receivers, and Martinez owned an astounding completion percentage, really improving from last year.  Actuality: The Wolverines had one interception, but Taylor Martinez didn’t do anything to hurt his completion percentage Saturday night. Taylor was the most effective QB on the field throwing 24, and completing 14 for 166-yards, and an interception.  Jake Ryan sacked him once.
• Which team would stop big plays?  Or produce them. Actuality: Both teams limited long scoring plays fairly effectively.
• Would the offense be able to produce enough points to stay in the game, and adjust to a more open game without turnovers or penalties blunting the effort? Actuality:  No.  Denard’s injury did not help.
• Could special teams contribute by effectively stopping punt returns and KOs, and produce some significant yardage of their own. Actuality: They did OK.  Jeremy Gallon let a 1^st half punt, a low liner slip through his hands inside the M 10, but Denard and the offense recovered from it.  Could Norfleet contribute? Actuality:  He did not break one, but made respectable yardage returning.. Would Denard again hang out some on special teams?  Actuality: Injury probably prevented any of that. Could the FG kickers hit their attempts in front of a hostile crowd? Actuality:  Matt Wile missed one, but Brendan Gibbons hit three, with a long one of 52-yards among them.
• Could M get ahead early and hold the lead against a team that had recently produced come-back victories against Wisconsin and Northwestern? Actuality:  M went up three, but they were held to another three late, before the half, and by that time the Husker had 7 points to the Wolverine’s 6.
• The biggest question of all was whether M could finally produce a win over a good team on foreign territory, with the same kind of winning elan and effort they have produced under Hoke at home? Actuality: They played their worst offensive game of year in a very high stakes game, and that included the time that Denard was in the game as they scored no TDs.  That is the most obvious problem an offense can have. They have now gone 8 quarters without a TD. Four quarters against a great defense and four quarters against an ordinary Big Ten defense. The onus belongs to the Offensive Coordinator to fix this situation.  He has vast experience, so maybe he can. I have to wonder whether or not this hyper conservative offense is a function of the hurts Denard has piled up over the course of the season.  The hand has been an issue before.   Russell Bellomy was not ready, and one wonders why he did not get more                             seasoning against the likes of Massachusetts etc.  The whole world knows what the Wolverines are going to do on first down, and even if it has failed the last 15 times, here it comes again.  As a result they are often in the position of third and long, facing a blitz. The OL and backs can’t handle blitzers.  All that falls into the lap of Offensive Coordinator Borges.

BRIEF SCORING RECAP:

It is easy to recap the 1^st quarter.  M received, punted, and then M and N traded punches with N held to around 34 yards, and a first down.  Not a fast start, but the defense looked solid.  The quarter was not without dramatics.  A Matt Wile FG was missed after a replay reversed a stunning 55-yard apparent catch by Roy Roundtree.

Nebraska’s offense showed life in the passing game to begin the second quarter producing a 6-play, 72-yard drive for six, and M was playing from behind.  M- 0, N-7.  Coach did not let the defense off the hook in his after game comments.

The Wolverines answered with two Bandon Gibbons FGs, one for 52-yards, and one for 24-yards, and the half ended 6-7.

 Nebraska received to open the third quarter. Mario Ojemudia spoiled the drive by intercepting a tipped pass at the Michigan 46.  But Russell Bellomy returned the favor tossing a pass intercepted at the Michigan 43, and returned 53-yards to the Michigan 4. The defense held, but N converted a 19-yard FG.  M-6, N 10.

The Wolverines offense was stagnant, and a 15-yard personal foul penalty enabled a 51-yard Big Red field goal.  Now hopes are descending faster than a hot air balloon with a hole in the top, and it seems over.  M-6, N-13.  Then came a 31-yarder and it was  M-6 ,N 16.

Finally the Wolverine offense showed a little life.  Bellomy drove them

58-yards on 8 plays.  With an assist from Husker penalties.  A 15-yard Nebraska personal foul and a 15-yard unsportsmanlike were the big plays. Naturally a field goal resulted, but Russell completed some passes.    One passing 1^st down, 3 TO’s, and 0 for 4 third down attempts, tells the Wolverine story for the quarter.  M-9, N-16.

Nebraska put the game away early in the 4^th quarter with a final drive for 6 over the tiring M defense.  3 plays and 47-yards capped a victory in a game with a strange feel to it.  M-9, N-23.

WHERE DOES IT GO FROM HERE?

The Wolverines are still in the Big Ten race, but Nebraska rightfully will be considered the front runner, having disposed of Michigan.  They are a decent, but not a great team, and I think that they will probably lose another game, as they play away form home.  It is notable that they lost their poise for thirty yards of penalties.  That could hurt in a competitive game.

The down side is that now the Wolverines might have to win out.  Perhaps they could beat emerging Minnesota without Denard, perhaps not, but from there on, if they do not have his full services, they certainly could lose to Iowa, Northwestern, and Ohio.

It will be interesting to see how they approach next week if Denard is in dry dock.  Bellomy or Gardner?  I think it will be Russell.  At a recent press conference I asked Coach Hoke how many snaps Gardner was getting, and he said some, and made it very clear that Russell, not Devin was the backup. I think Denard will probably play next Saturday, but who knows.

The Wolverines can suffer fisherman’s remorse for a little while as a big one got away, but it will soon be back to business for them.  They won’t quit, but they will have to deal with adversity, as it is at the door.  Hopefully, there will be some coaching innovation.

Whatever the situation next Saturday, they will be journeying up to Minnesota, to harass the pesky Gophers, while keeping an eye on that Little Brown Jug.

Go Blue!