Michigan Football Game Photos– Michigan 14 Wisconsin 7
M FOOTBALL 2016: SUPERB DEFENSIVE EFFORT THROTTLES BADGERS: 14-7.
Finally the fans in Michigan Stadium got to evaluate this year’s edition of their Wolverine’s against a well-coached and ranked team with talent, grit, a physical capability and aggressive attitude. At game time, M was ranked 4th in the nation.
Wisconsin’s Badgers entered the Stadium as the eighth ranked team in the nation, undefeated in four games. The Badgers held notable victories over LSU at home, and Saturday before last Spartan Stadium rang with the Badger’s victory cheers. The tough Badger’s defense swarmed and smashed the Spartans 30-6, displaying unexpected excellence.
Badger LB, J.W. Watt was outstanding in that game, making 6 tackles, and nailing 2.5 sacks plus 2 QB hurries, again Saturday. Week before last he was the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week. He was outstanding against the Wolverines Saturday, too.
Wisconsin unveiled a Freshman QB in his first start at MSU. He was up to the occasion, tossing for 195-yards and a TD. He was named Big Ten Offensive player of the Week for facing down the Spartans. He did not produce as well against the Wolverines. He threw for 88-yards on 9 completions. He also threw 3 interceptions, with no TDs.
THE REMARLKABLE JOURDAN LEWIS INTERCEPTION: The Wolverines got three interceptions, one of which was by Jourdan Lewis.  That interception was “Woodsonesque” in the difficulty and improbability of its execution. Much like Woodson’s storied side line grab against MSU in 1997, which helped pave his way to a Heisman Trophy. This Woodson catch still radiates and is recalled with awe.
The Lewis effort came as he was airborne and falling backwards and leaping upwards with the intended receiver close behind him, he stretched one arm up and filled his hand with football, caught it against his thigh, and hung on. Harbaugh indicated that he thought Lewis had jumped a tad early, but he hung at the top of the leap long enough to make the grab. Jourdan’s catch will have a similar half- life to Woodson’s.
Continue reading “M FOOTBALL 2016: SUPERB DEFENSIVE EFFORT THROTTLES BADGERS: 14-7.”
Michigan Football Coach Jim Harbaugh Press Conference 9/26/16
M FOOTBALL 2016- DOMINANT WOLVERINES WHIP PSU 49-10.
The Wolverines welcomed Penn State’s Nittany Lions to the Big House Saturday evening. It was a packed house for the first Big Ten game of the season for both adversaries, and also presented the first of nine obstacles that stood between the Wolverines, and achieving their primary season goal, which is capturing their first and only Big Ten East Championship game appearance, and win. The work in progress that is the 137th edition of the Wolverines took another successful step forward Saturday as they decisively whipped the defensively wanting Nittany Lions.
Coach Harbaugh has stressed that each game is now a “Championship Game”. That is accurate, and that is the way the Wolverines approached the game.
The Lions had heretofore usually been a formidable opponent. In the midst of attempting to rebuild their fortunes to a higher, post epic scandal level, Coach James Franklin had the Lions giving their all, but it was not enough. PSU scholarships and bowl eligibility have been restored so the full package of incentives was at hand again for the Lions, but still they struggled to stifle the Wolverines on defense, offense or special teams.
Continue reading “M FOOTBALL 2016- DOMINANT WOLVERINES WHIP PSU 49-10.”
Jabrill Peppers– The Time He Helped Michigan by Not Playing
No players had a larger impact on last Saturday’s game than Jabrill Peppers.
The Michigan safety/linebacker/kick returner/running back dazzled fans in attendance at Michigan Stadium and a national television audience leading the Wolverines to a 45-28 victory over Colorado.
His performance launched him into contention for the Heisman Trophy and bagged him dual Big Ten player of week honors for special teams and defense.
Head coach Jim Harbaugh, who has seen his share of great football players described Peppers as “special” during his Monday press conference.
“…I can’t think of another player like Jabrill. I know there’s not another player I’ve coached like him. The unique thing is all the positions– if you start counting them, it’d be safety, it’d be corner, it’d be nickel, it would be outside linebacker, it would be slot receiver, it would be wildcat quarterback, running back, kick returner, punt returner, gunner, hold-up. That’s 11 or 12 right there, and I know there’s others he could do and do well, but those are all the things he’s done already here for us…and that being said, he’s done them all well.”
But Peppers’ most important contribution to Michigan football may have come from not playing.
Flashback to his first season in Ann Arbor. Peppers came to Ann Arbor in 2014 as the center piece of Brady Hoke’s ultimately final recruiting class– one of most highly sought after recruits in the country.
He was compared Michigan great Charles Woodson and expected to be an impact player in every phase of the moment he showed up on campus.
Brady Hoke admitted that Peppers was in the mix to play more than offense– and seeing him play this season it’s not hard to imagine the impact he could have made as a true freshman.
But early season injuries derailed what might have been the difference for Hoke.
Peppers played in three games before being shut down for the season.
Michigan staggered to a 5-7 finish, embroiled in drama on and off the field that caused interim athletic director Jim Hackett to dismiss Hoke after the disappointing season.
To the surprise of many fans Hackett struggled with the decision.
“This was not an easy decision. Everywhere I go, there is zero question about Brady’s values…Brady’s peers, both active and retired coaches, really respect him. His players love playing for him. He’s done a great job of molding these young men and focusing them on success in the classroom and in the community.
“One could make the argument that we have a very young team and that we’re about to pivot next year into being an extraordinary team. It’s about making sure, then, that Brady has received adequate time to exhibit that arc of improvement that would come from his effort. And I believe Brady had enough time to produce results. And they’re just not there today.”
Hackett shocked the national media by convincing Jim Harbaugh to return to Ann Arbor and it’s been a whirlwind of national hype since.
Hoke, exiled to Oregon can look back at his former team and see that his recruits are leading the way during Michigan’s resurgence.
Could a healthy Peppers have made a difference in saving Hoke’s job? We’ll never know for sure.
Peppers absence due to injury helped put into motion Jim Harbaugh’s return and together they’re working to put Michigan back into national title contention.