Team 137 - Game 12 - Michigan vs. Ohio State

It seems like just days ago when College GameDay took to the air for its first regular-season broadcast on September 3rd from Lambeau Field.  Michigan and Ohio State were ranked #7 and #6 respectively in the Preseason AP Top 25, and all eyes were on November 26 and the match-up at The Horseshoe.

It’s been a long, strange trip for Team 137, but the Big Blue Khaki Bus has made its last road trip of the 2016 regular season.  It arrived in Columbus earlier this week, and the men aboard are a focused bunch.  The #3 Michigan Wolverines bring their 10-1 record to OHIO to face the #2 Buckeyes, who also sit at 10-1.  And I really hope you’ve got lots of bacon in the fridge and an extra stress ball lying around, as both will come in handy for Saturday’s early start.  Well slap my ass and call me Sally!

That’s right folks, The Game 2016 is here, and Coach Jimmy and his dirtbag compadre from Columbus are ready to rumble.  And while we’ll break it all down in due course, let’s start with Big Blue’s shaky defeat of Indiana last weekend and properly set the stage for this weekend’s festivities.

Michigan vs. Indiana – The Recap

Big Blue approached the IU game with a handful of unknown variables … x-factors that could sway fate, such as whether backup QB John O’Korn was ready for the start or whether inclement conditions would adversely affect the gridiron action.  And then there was that stunning Louisville upset on Thursday night … a possible signal that the upset-barrage may not be over, with some spillover perhaps to come before the end of Week 11.

Can O’Korn was almost mediocre, but solid enough to play mistake-free football and position Michigan for a 20-10 victory over Indiana to give Team 137 its 10th win of the season – a feat UM has accomplished in back-to-back seasons now for the first time since 2002.  And in doing so, Coach Harbaugh became the second-fastest Michigan Head Coach to 20 wins (behind only Fielding Yost in 1901-02).  Let’s break it down.

The Michigan Offense

Harbaugh and his OC Tim Drevno spent quite a bit of time last week thinking about how to position John O’Korn for success … and they obviously came up short.  Johnnie Boy went 7-16 for 59 yards, and he was particularly rusty in the first half.  But then he turned on the jets on a 3rd-and-8 in the third quarter and eluded two defenders in a 30-yard run that set up Michigan’s first TD, RB De’Veon Smith’s 34-yard run that gave the Maize and Blue a 13-10 lead.  

Smith rang the bell again on the very next drive with a 39-yard TD run, increasing the Michigan lead to 20-10.  And then the snow began to fall … Big Blue outscored IU 17-3 in the third quarter, which is all it took to seal W #10.  Smith had a career-high 158 yards and two TDs and showed unexpected explosiveness in leading the UM attack.  

Michigan’s two leading receivers on the day were Grant Perry and Jehu Chesson with 2 catches apiece.  Ty Isaac, Amara Darboh and Khalid Hill each added one reception, and those numbers provide some perspective into the conservative approach Harbaugh took with O’Korn under center and flurries swirling around the Big House.

The Michigan Defense

The Michigan defense held Indiana to 255 yards of total offense, more than 200 yards below its season average (467.3). Indiana focused on the run game but the D held the Hoosiers to less than two yards per carry and 64 yards for the game. 

Ben Gedeon had 9 tackles on the day, Dymonte Thomas had 8 and Ryan Glasgow and Mike McCray each notched 7 on the afternoon.  Stribling and Peppers each added 5 tackles and, as a whole, the defense dominated, accounting for 3 sacks and 12 tackles-for-loss.  UM held IU to 1.8 yards-per-carry on the ground and Indiana’s 10 points marked its lowest scoring output of the season.  Big Blue has held each of its last three opponents to under 14 points, and while the offense has been less explosive of late, the D has kept its head down and played its game.

Yes, the Hoosier game was stressful, even scary at times.  As I sat with the muckity-mucks up high in Big Warde’s box, anxiety permeated the room … there was an uncomfortable quiet for the entire first half, as folks inhaled maize and blue M&M’s, waiting for a pick-up in the action.  Then O’Korn had the big run to set up De’Veon’s score, and by the time the fourth quarter arrived, a sense of calm had returned … a feeling that Michigan had done enough to pull out this win, yet a relative unease of what the performance meant for the contest in Columbus.

As always, the most important game is the next one.  Indiana is behind us, and it was a win … next up, The Game. All eyes on Columbus, as here comes the big one.  Move over The Simpsons, I need some couch space … time to strap in, as this should be a doozy!

Michigan vs. Ohio State – The Preview

Ah, Urban Meyer and his Buckin’ Fuckeyes … the time has come. The Game … 2016 Edition.

Ohio State enters this game ranked #2 in the land, somehow having gleaned the spotlight from the national media and most of the so-called “experts.”  OSU’s lone loss came at the hands of Penn State, 24-21, on the road in Happy Valley at the end of October.  As for its 10 wins (OSU is 10-1 overall, 7-1 Big Ten), the kids from Columbus are averaging 43.8 points over the course of the campaign and have impressed in lots of ways … and yes, the fact that 12 of last year’s starters left OSU for the NFL last season makes Urban’s run even more impressive.  This is yet another strong Buckeye team with loads of talent all over the field.

QB J.T. Barrett leads the offense, having thrown for 2,300+ yards and 24 TDs (and just 4 INTs) this season.  RB Mike Weber, Jr. has crossed the 1,000-yard mark and racked up 8 TDs along the way (with an impressive 6.3 yards-per-carry average), and Barrett himself also has rushed for 700+ yards and 8 TDs on the season (at a 4.4-yards-per-carry clip).

WR Curtis Samuel leads a receiving corps that also has put up big-time numbers – Samuel has 790 receiving yards with 7 TDs (he’s also got 7 rushing scores, by the way … yeah, these Buckeyes are versatile, and their stars are omnipresent and ubiquitous when it comes to covering the field from a variety of angles).  Noah Brown and Contre Wilson also catch lots of balls, and it’s clear that the UM D is going to be tested both up front and out wide.  

It’s also clear, however, the UM will remain untested when it comes to street-smarts, classroom-smarts or any other kind of smarts out there – in case you didn’t see it, this is the third consecutive year where Ohio State failed to fulfill tradition during the week leading up to The Game.  You see, it’s become OSU lore to eliminate the letter “M” from campus buildings, street signs, building signs, wherever they can … but that’s right, for the third straight year, Buckeye Nation was unable to deliver … fucking priceless and absolutely reflective of Buckeye brainpower.

The UM/OSU series dates back to 1897 (UM won the first game, 34-0), and this is the 112th meeting between the programs.  Michigan holds the series edge, 58-47-6, but the Buckeyes are on a 4-game win streak against Big Blue, which includes last season’s bitch-slap at the Big House, which Ohio State won 42-13.  But this is the first time in ten years that UM and OSU meet with both programs in the AP Top 3.  

It’s hard to forget that 2006 game – dubbed the “Game of the Century,” the first time in the historic rivalry that the teams entered the matchup ranked #1 and #2 in the nation.  In an offensive shootout, #1 OSU beat #2 UM 42-39 in Columbus.  The Buckeye’s claimed the Big Ten title that year for the first time outright since 1984 and proceeded to get thrashed 41-14 by Florida in the BCS national-title game; UM, meanwhile, went to the Rose Bowl and got equally destroyed 32-18 in a game I had the great misfortune of watching in person (can anyone say Mike Williams?).

Lloyd Carr and Jim Tressel coached that game, which just makes this weekend’s contest all the more interesting, as Jim Harbaugh vs. Urban Meyer is far more hype-worthy.

And as we approach the final game of Team 137’s campaign, it’s worth acknowledging and appreciating those men in Maize and Blue who likely will play their final regular-season game in the Winged Helmet this weekend.  Senior RBs De’Veon Smith, Ty Issac, andKhalid Hill … Senior CBs Jourdan Lewis and Channing Stribling … Seniors Taco Charlton, Ben Gideon, and Mike McCray holding down the D-Line … and, of course, beloved Senior TE Jake Butt have put in their time in Schembechler Hall, and now they prepare for what comes next in life … some will play on Sundays, while others will take their Michigan degree and do great things in the world … in business, in athletics or elsewhere, likely in leadership positions, making an impact with how they spend their time. 
 

Winged Helmet alumni tend to do big things … they become CEOs of great companies, they become doctors and lawyers, they serve their communities, and they always give back … particularly to the University of Michigan, the place where it all started.  It’s what makes us proud to be Wolverines, as for every Tom Brady and Desmond Howard, there is a Dave Brandon, a F. Stuart Wilkins, or a Gerald Ford who went on to became President of the United States … no, I know, back when that title exuded credibility and competence, whereas now it more resembles a fat chipmunk chasing a forever-elusive nut through a rainforest in the pitch-black dead of night – yes, a mockery wrapped around a buffoonery, all stuffed inside a poorly-prepared turducken (and a Happy Thanksgiving to all!).

Beyond the seniors, there is, of course, Jabrill Peppers.  #5 is special, and his time on campus unfortunately has come to an end.  Dubbed the “Swiss Army Man”, his jaw-droppingly diverse talents on the field are rivaled only by his award-winning smile and magnanimous personality … and by the way, in case you didn’t know, he backs the shit up with his off-field pursuits – just check out The Bleacher Report’s latest piece on the Michigan star and you’ll understand.  Notwithstanding the impact of Stud Jimmy, Peppers’ presence in the locker room and on campus has been a force behind the revitalization of the program and the newfound enthusiasm for Michigan football – he put a player’s face on a brand that many couldn’t shoulder the responsibility to bare, and for that, Blue Nation is grateful.

Time and again, he’s stepped up and hit it out of the park when his number has been called – which is why, come next spring, one lucky NFL team is going to provide him with a uniform and an opportunity like very few others that exist on Planet Earth today. And while his first-round-draft status is all-but-assured, his Heisman candidacy remains influx – a thought that may inspire Coach Harbaugh to Release the Beast this weekend, to let Peppers show everyone what he’s got.  We’re gonna see him run it; we’re gonna see him throw it; we’re gonna see him return it; fuck, we may even see him kick a field goal or two, particularly if Kenny Allen continues to over-promise and under-deliver.  #5 will be gone next year, and Camp Michigan in its entirety will cheer for him to succeed at the next level … but he’s got one more Saturday left in him … one more legacy-defining opportunity to put that brand again on his back and carry it to Indianapolis and the Big Ten Championship Game.

But these games are about more than individual players.  As Bo said, “No man is more important than the team.  No coach is more important than the team.  The Team … The Team … The Team.”  Team 137 meets OSU on Saturday, and the Maize and Blue are ready to play Team Michigan football.

Yessir, per tradition, The Greatest Rivalry of the Century (ESPN’s name, not mine – and yes, it does bring back to memory some great SportsCenter commercials ) will kick off at Noon Eastern on Saturday – as if we needed another reason over Thanksgiving weekend to crack the nachos while the clock still says “am.”

This is the second time Jim Harbaugh and Urban Meyer will face off under these circumstances, and while that youth is refreshing, it can’t help but remind us of those great Bo Schembechler / Woody Hayes battles in the ‘70s … the Ten Year War.  Given the immediate success experienced by both Harbaugh and Meyer and their current institutions, it’s certainly feasible that we’re looking at the Ten Year War, Part II … another decade of Big Ten dominance culminating in the epic finale of The Game.

Through 2010, Michigan and Ohio State have decided the conference championship on the field between themselves on 22 different occasions, and The Game has affected the determination of the Big Ten title an additional 27 times.  This year’s contest will be no different, and the stakes never have been higher – the winner heads to Indy to face Wisconsin for a shot at the College Football Playoff.

This one is HUGE … and Blue Nation is ready. Fuck, this game’s even big in Taiwan … in case you didn’t know.   Both camps have this game circled every year, and we both know how lucky we are to have Jim and Urban facing off, mano a mano, sideline to sideline, every late November for the foreseeable future.  These guys are among the best in the business, and they both have insatiable appetites for winning.  This is going to be a slugfest – a mix of hard-nosed, Big-Ten defensive football with flashes of offensive brilliance by some of the game’s best superstars.

The so-called experts see the Buckeyes one touchdown better than the Wolverines at The Horseshoe, and that’s no surprise. Let’s be honest, Kirk Hirbstreet is far more vocal than Desmond Howard (with less substance and weaker public-speaking skills … again, the power of OSU), and society’s mainstream culture tends to accept the louder and brasher over the well-educated and informed (I know, the similarities between college football and our country’s executive leadership never cease to amaze).  

This one will be closer than those experts predict, and it’s going to come down to who wants it more and who gets the bounces and calls necessary to secure victory. THIS IS MICHIGAN, FERGODSAKES … and it’s a new era for The Game.  Coach Harbaugh has his boys prepared, focused and ready – from their muscles to their minds.  He was embarrassed last year at home, and he knows what it takes to win.  

Harbaugh went 2-0 against OSU as a starter, but no one expects him to repeat his guarantee of a Blue victory in advance of a big showdown in Columbus – Blue Nation certain remembers November 17, 1986, when QB Jim Harbaugh promised reporters that his Wolverines would beat the Buckeyes en route to the Rose Bowl.  Michigan won that game 26-24, and Harbaugh’s been hated on campus in Columbus ever since.  Jimbo’s given Buckeye Nation enough to resent since that comment; now he knows better.  But we know he feels it … we know he smells victory (over and above the other not-so-good smell that tends to overwhelm upon entry into Columbus) … and we know how much he wants it.

The early prediction is now in … Michigan 24 - Ohio State 21.

Go Blue!

Team 137 - Game 11 - Michigan vs. Indiana

So that happened.  Yup, Michigan lost.  And it’s perhaps the best thing that could have happened to Team 137.  The loss is irrelevant for Michigan’s post-season hopes (we’ll get to that), yet it provided a necessary reality check to a team that has yet to taste defeat … no doubt Coach Harbaugh’s post-game verbal bitch-slap had an impact as well.  Big Blue fell 14-13 to unranked Iowa in a game that featured classic Big Ten football … it wasn’t pretty, and the edge went to Kirk Ferentz and his Hawkeyes by way of a last-second game-winning field goal … there were few other interesting highlights.

As for the post-season, let’s just say that last weekend’s college-gridiron activity appropriately followed the unexpected upset of last Tuesday night’s presidential election -- a fitting conclusion to what had been a rather dumbfounding week.

Week 11 saw #2, #3, and #4 teams in the AP all go down for the first time since 1985 – oddly enough, the only other time in recorded history that we’ve seen such a pattern happened to be when Harbaugh himself was quarterbacking a #2 Michigan squad that also fell to Iowa on a last second FG.

Out in ACC-land, the #2 Clemson Tigers fell to unranked Pittsburgh in a shootout in Death Valley. Pitt K Chris Blewitt (best kicker name ever?) drilled a 48-yard field goal to stun Dabo Sweeney and the Clemson faithful, 43-42. Meanwhile, in the underwhelming Pac-12, USC had itself a statement game on the road upending Heisman hopeful Jake Browning and his Washington Huskies, 26-13.  In the newly released CFP rankings, Alabama remains at #1, OSU rises to #2, Michigan stays at #3 despite the loss, Clemson drops two spots to #4 and Washington drops two spots as well to fall to #6 and out of playoff position. Heisman frontrunner Lamar Jackson and Louisville sit patiently at #5 (but Bobby Petrino and his Cardinals now find themselves embroiled in a bit of a scandal … what, someone questioning Petino’s integrity?), but fell to Houston Thursday night this week to add further volatility to the ride.

Looking at it from a Big Ten perspective, the Michigan loss creates some interesting drama at the top of the Big Ten East.  UM, OSU, and PSU all sit at 6-1 in conference play and will be jockeying for the top spot during the final two weeks of conference play.  Here’s the deal – if Michigan beats IU and OSU, UM heads to Indy for the title game, likely against Wisconsin … no different than was the case before last Saturday’s shakeup at the top.  If OSU beats UM, however, that’s where the drama ensues, and honestly we don’t really give a shit in this appropriately biased forum.  Sooooo … ain’t no difference in our world – Big Blue needs to win out and in doing so will control its own destiny.  Ok, enough post-season speculation, as that’s what Mike and Mike are for, not this M Den.

Let’s break down the performance in Iowa City and then look ahead to this weekend’s rebound match-up against the visiting Indiana Hoosiers.

Michigan vs. Iowa – The Recap

While Michigan’s Saturday-night stumble made the national headlines, Blue Nation emerged from the cornfields with far greater concern than notching its first L of the season; the Maize and Blue seemingly lost its go-to QB, Wilton Speight, for the remainder of the season with a broken collar bone  … and that’s a bummer. 

The latest update from Harbaugh is that he refuses to rule Speight out for this weekend’s game, as he considers his status day-to-day. While many have speculated that the diagnosis effectively ends Wilton’s season, Jimbo maintains that he hasn’t received that news from the doctors and that he’ll continue to monitor progress closely. O’Korn, however, is still tapped to be under center should #3 not be ready to go. 

The loss itself is of no surprise to close followers of the program, as the Big Ten is a tough place, and Iowa is a tough team.  While the Hawkeyes came into the game unranked due to some embarrassing performances earlier in the season, let’s remember that this team was pre-season AP #17, and 11/12/16 is a date that had been circled on the Schembechler Hall calendar since the schedule was announced.  We lost to a good team … no, we didn’t play top-notch Michigan football, but we also met a strong opponent, and the result was a battle ‘til the end … one which we lost, even if by a slim margin.  

The Michigan Offense

UM OC Tim Drevno’s unit finished the game with just 201 yards, its lowest output of the year. QB Wilton Speight went 11 for 26 for 103 yards (his lowest output of the season) and an INT, and again underwhelmed … until he decided to go all “tough guy” on us and play with a broken collar bone, which appeared cool but was actually fucking stupid … reminiscent of any other story in the national news of late?  Anyway, well done, Wilt, as your immature machismo likely cost you your season and put Team 137’s fate in the hands of John O’Korn … John O’fucking who?  Right, John O’Korn.  Let’s examine.

O’Korn was a 3-star recruit out of Huntingdon, PA who led St. Thomas Aquinas to the Florida state title as a senior. In his first year at Houston, he won the starting job and ended up winning the American Athletic Conference’s Freshman of the Year award after throwing for 3,117 yards and 28 TDs in 11 games.  

He committed to Michigan as a transfer in 2015 after a change in direction at the top of the Cougar program.  Johnnie Boy sat out last season due to NCAA transfer rules, spending the entire year running the Big Blue scout team and living with fellow St. Thomas Aquinas alum, Jake Rudock (last year’s UM QB).  O’Korn was slated to replace Rudock, but Speight engaged him in a competitive race during spring ball and ultimately won the job, much to the surprise of Blue Nation.  He’s the closest thing we have to a dual-threat QB, with enough speed to make things happen and the ability to throw the rock.  He’s served dutifully in the back-up role for Team 137, appearing in 8 games and going 13 for 18 for 114 yards and 2 TDs.  The O is ready for O’Korn, and it believes in him as a leader and as a guy who can put the team on its shoulders and win games … ok, maybe that last part is a bit of a stretch … time will tell.

Kidding aside, there’s some merit in comparing the O’Korn situation to that other national-news story.  Pundits are quick to write off UM’s title shot with Can O’Korn at the helm, much like how most American pundits doubt the ability of the free-world’s new leader (by the way, it still amazes me that The Simpsons predicted a Trump eventual presidency all the way back in 2000 … funny how the writers expressed their regret for the comical speculation in the episode following the election).  However, in the immortal words of Lloyd Christmas, “So you’re telling me there’s a chance!”  Yes, Lloyd, there’s a chance.  This guys has competed at the highest level both in high school and college and has the best coach in the game by his side (unlike that new ‘tard in Washington, who chose Steve Bannon as his co-head-coach …Come on, Man! ).

We live in a country where you’re innocent until proven guilty (unless your name is Nasir Kahn and you're the protagonist in The Night Of, in which case you’re fucked).  To that end, Blue Nation must give O’Korn a shot to prove his worth, just like the American people need to give Señor Small Hands a fair chance until performance proves otherwise (granted, Bannon wasn’t the strongest shot out of the gate, but it was only move #1 in the chess game that is the presidency).  Sure, the consequences are vastly different – the fate of the free world vs. a national-championship run on the football field, but the same logic applies.  After all, O’Korn doesn’t need to “make Michigan great again,” as Coach Harbaugh already did that … he just needs to continue to play mistake-free football and listen to Coach Jimbo and the rest will take care of itself.  Fuck, if only we could get Harbaugh to replace Bannon as the White House’s Chief Strategy Officer, this country’s struggling ship would be righted before you could say ‘Gina.

Back to Kinnick Stadium, the Wolverines ran the ball 35 times for 98 yards, and a 2.8 ypc average won’t get you far in this league.  Big Blue did score on two of its first four drives, but it scored only once in its final eight possessions, and that makes it hard to win in the Big Ten.  Yes, the Wolverines’ 77 second-half yards were due in part to an effective Iowa front seven, but blame also has to fall on the coaching staff for not identifying the right course during halftime to come out and dominate in the second half.

Chris Evans led the Blue ground attack with52 yards on 8 carries, while De’Veon Smith and Jabrill Peppers also saw backfield action.  Jake Butt led the Wolverines in receiving, with 4 catches for 39 yards, while Jehu Chesson added another two grabs for 30 yards … no, neither number impresses … further evidence of what happens when the Michigan O underperforms against a strong Big Ten defense.

The Michigan Defense

Iowa managed just 230 yards of total offense, but it was enough to get the job done.  QB C.J. Beathard passed for just 66 yards, as the Hawkeyes wore down UM with a consistent and effective ground attack. Jr. Akrum Wadley ran over the Blue D, gaining 115 yards on 23 carries and also hauling in 5 receptions for 52 yards and a TD. Wadley was the bulk of the Iowa offense, accounting for 167 of 230 yards, and Harbaugh and company could / should have adjusted at the half to contain #25. 

Dymonte Thomas posted 10 tackles to lead Big Blue, with Ben Gedeon adding 9 and Mike McCray 7 … all in, not a bad defensive showing for Don Brown’s crew putting aside the inability to adjust to contain Wadley’s studliness. 

After all, Channing Stribling did have a gorgeous interception inside the two-minute mark that should’ve sealed the deal ... the offense couldn’t convert a first down … the defense couldn’t hold … ball game.  The defensive line acknowledged post-game that the piss-poor run defense it exhibited against Iowa simply won’t fly moving forward.  Coming into the final home game of the campaign, rest assured the D will be fired up to regain right the ship and remind people why it’s one of the best in the land.

Michigan tallied 14 first downs to Iowa’s 17 … UM was 5-15 on third down while Iowa went 4-16 … Big Blue posted 201 yards of total O to the Black and Yellow’s 230.  The biggest statistical differences in the game were that of time-of-possession (Iowa won by five minutes) and turnovers, where Iowa gave the ball away once to Michigan’s twice … those slight gaps proved the difference, and the Hawkeyes came out on top.  We learn from experience, and no doubt lessons will come from last weekend’s visit to corn country.  But we keep our heads up and look to fight the next battle … and that’s against Indiana this weekend.  Let’s get it on.  

Michigan vs. Indiana – The Preview

This weekend the Wolverines get to rebound with IU at the Big House.  The boys from Bloomington come to town with a 5-5 record (3-4 Big Ten) and little less than a hope and a prayer at competing with the Maize and Blue after last weekend’s let-down … rest assured that Coach Harbaugh has his men ready to pounce.

Harbaugh gives credit to the IU D and calls it aggressive, athletic and fast, but he also knows his job is to make sure the team responds, and respond is what UM will do come Saturday afternoon.

IU’s wins have come over FIU, Ball State, Sparty, Maryland and Rutgers, while it’s fallen to the likes of Wake Forest, OSU, Nebraska, Northwestern and Penn State.  QB Richard Lagow has thrown for 2,800+ yards on the season with a 61% completion rate and a 17/13 TD/INT ratio, and his strongest weapons include RB Devine Redding (56 carries for 901 yards and 5 TDs) and WR Nick Westbrook (44 receptions for 793 yards and also 5TDs).

This is the 65th meeting between these programs in a series that dates back to 1900 (Michigan won that game, 12-0).  UM holds the overall edge by a count of 55-9, and Michigan is on a 20-game win streak against IU -- last year’s game saw UM come out on top in a shootout 48-41 down in cow country.

This year we’re at the Big House and Big Blue is primed to post big numbers.  Plus, to add fuel to the Michigan fire, Big JC will be on hand Saturday – no, not as an Honorary Captain, as it’s Senior Day in A Squared.  But a simple presence (with Mrs. Go Blue, of course), in those foofy Club Seats reserved for out-of-town boosters who can’t help but continue supporting their alma mater, the Maize and Blue is bound to get a boost.  It’s sure to be a food-infested frenzy leading up to the on-field action, but the gridiron activity should satisfy as much as those Count Twists.

As for the food prospects, it’ll be business as usual, but of course … likely with a few twists baked into the plan … sorry, “twists,” as in “surprise delights,” not as in those delightful Charley’s Count Twists, which already are on the agenda – oy, the salivary glands start pumping just at the mere mention!  A panoply of options await at Pizza House, some waffle fries and the best soda in town at the joint previously known as Red Hot Lover’s, a healthy handful of visits to Zingerman’s, a Frita Batido and more than a few stops at Espresso Royale for that perfect latte served in the familiar tall glass.

But of course, the writing of this very blog happens, in large part, at Zingerman’s during these campus weekends.  Pink Floyd playing overhead … breakfast and lunch both hit the table as the hours pass by … people-watching competitive with anyplace on Earth and a vibe that’s hard to find outside of Ari Weinzweig’s joint on the corner of Kingsley and Detroit in Ann Arbor’s Kerrytown district.  Exiting I94 at State Street and starting the drive towards campus brings joy, peace and a sense of belonging … a place that always will feel familiar … like returning home for Thanksgiving break during your freshman year … your bed never felt so good, and that’s the feeling that sweeps over me as I find my way towards central campus.

We’re in the midst of an epic football campaign, and that’s cause for celebration.  But as I re-acclimate to the Ann Arbor lifestyle (backpack, flannel, the works!), I find true joy in the simple fact that Ann Arbor has played such a meaningful role in my development as a person and in the formation of my family, long ago and current day.  Returning to our roots is special, and never should go unappreciated.  Now let’s get on with the food train and bring home a W on Saturday!

The early prediction is now in … Michigan 45 – Indiana 10.

Go Blue!

Team 137 - Game 10 - Michigan vs. Iowa

Nine weeks in and Big Blue is rollin’ … undefeated through a weaker-than-average schedule, comfortable with its positioning in the polls, and focused only on the upcoming opponent, just as Coach Jimbo preaches.  Strap in, folks, as this movie is starting to get good, and the fight scene at the end is going to be epic … it takes place in Columbus, and it will require fresh popcorn.

Michigan rolled Maryland 59-3 in a one-sided ass-romp last weekend, and with the W against former Wolverine D.J. Durkin’s squad, Big Blue is 9-0 (6-0 in the Big Ten) and remains ranked #3 in the land.  This weekend the boys board the Big Blue Khaki Bus once again for a road trip to the scenic Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City … ah yes, the beauty of our nation’s Midwestern cornfields in the late-fall crisp air … 

… right, something like that … so says the guy from the Good Coast … who originally hailed from the Windy City and thus a shout out to the World Champion Chicago Cubs … hot damn, the best baseball I’ve ever watched, the most exciting setting for a Fall Classic and a town that stressed, prepared, kept faith and ultimately celebrated in the classiest of ways.  Game 7 was an instant classic, and the Cubs and the city of Chicago celebrated in grand fashion with 5+ million people joining an event that earned the designation of the seventh-largest gathering of humans in history.  And to cap it all off, Bill Murray’s appearance on SNL with a handful of the Cubs’ rock stars performing Go, Cubs, Go in front of a national audience to commemorate an occasion some thought may never come (including John Oliver from a memorable Daily Show episode  circa 2008). 2016 as a whole has been a clusterfuck wrapped inside a shitshow tossed haphazardly in the overhead cabin of a Spirit Airlines regional jet, but the Cubs winning the World Series was a bright spot and demonstrated once again the power of sport and the tremendous impact it has on the human spirit.

Sorry, back to football … let’s unpack the Terrapin beating and then look ahead to the Hawkeyes in the only important game on our calendar … the next one.

Michigan v. Maryland – The Recap

Michigan dominated this game from every angle … no surprise given the boys played a high-school team from crab country.  The offense clicked on all cylinders and the defense absolutely stifled anything Maryland tried to do with the ball.  Big Blue ended the game with at least 50 points for the fourth time this season, and according to the guys in the stats booth, UM has as many 50-point wins against FBS opponents this season (3) as it had during the entire RichRod and Fat Man eras combined.

The Michigan Offense

The Maize and Blue posted 660 yards of total offense and scored on its first three possessions on drives of 91 yards, 84 yards and 80 yards – that’s right, this one wasn’t close from the start.  

Wilton Speight had a career day, throwing for 362 yards and 3 TDs (two passing and one rushing), and his 292 yards through two quarters set a Michigan record for first-half performance by a QB.

De’Veon Smith continued his beastly ground assault with 3 rushing toads and a total of 114 yards on 19 carries.  And the pass-catchers did their job as well.  Jake Butt caught 5 balls for 76 yards and became UM’s all-time leader in career receiving yards for a TE (1,521 yards), and Amara Darboh added another four catches for 74 yards and a score.

UM OC Tim Drevno is in control of this unit, with of course Big Brother Jim watching over his shoulder like Trump watching Melania vote – nope, I’m not going there … I have thoughts on what’s transpired this week (big surprise), and I know you don’t particularly want to hear them, so that’s fine … fuck, ok, I’m going there, but just in a toe-dipping way as nobody wants this to get out of control.  suffice to say, the sun rose Wednesday morning and it even set last night … I have no time for those who cried themselves to sleep Tuesday night fearful of what to tell their kids when they awoke … I understand the wide array of concerns and we should all just take note that we had the chance to choose from between two mockeries of political candidates ... USA! USA! USA!  Enough already … we move on and we know that we’re the best country in the world for an array of reasons – just ask Will McAvoy … sorry, but that scene is just so good that it deserves mention whenever the opportunity arises – and that fact won’t change anytime soon (notwithstanding my mother’s fears to the contrary).  

Speaking of Aaron Sorkin, while I love the man’s way with words and his ability to entangle believable characters in real-world settings, his Vanity Fair piece is just another example of this over-reactionary diarrhea of the keyboard … yes, the new guy in the Oval Office is, in Sorkin’s words, a “douche nozzle,” but markets rallied in part because people understand that Campaign Douche Nozzle is likely way different than President Douche Nozzle, and anyone who believes he’s actually going to be able to ship all Muslims out of the country could benefit from sitting in my son’s 7th-grade History and Government class.  We live in strange times, indeed … and as Sorkin reminds, America’s best moments often come right after the type of dire straits in which we’ve found ourselves since Election 2016: The Shittiest Show on Earth got underway last year.  Full steam ahead … let’s make Will McAvoy proud.

Back to the gridiron, UM OC Timmy D. has been play-calling for opposing defenses that more resemble the Little Giants than big-time college-football programs, but he’s made the right moves and kept his squad focused on performance … and the numbers don’t lie.  The Big Blue offensive machine is ready to attack whatever is thrown its way, gaining momentum as the final lap approaches, and it’s gettin’ exciting.

The Michigan Defense

I know that we’re playing against chumps, but it’s quite a sight watching the Maize and Blue D swarm the field with speed, power and focus … nobody has come close to executing a sound offensive game plan against this team with the exception of Colorado, who only was able to do so in the first half, until Coach Harbaugh and his lieutenants changed course and found the path to success against a tough Buffalo team.

The Michigan D racked up 13 tackles-for-loss and 3 sacks against Maryland, and Delano Hill added two INTs for the books in an overall stifling defensive effort.  Maryland entered the game averaging more than 250 yards of rushing offense per game, and Don Brown’s guys held the Terp ground attack to just 78 yards on the day.  The Michigan D held an opponent under 10points for the fifth time this season, as it continues to demonstrate each Saturday why it’s one of the best in the land.

Michigan vs. Iowa – The Preview

This weekend, UM travels to Iowa for a game that many thought would feature two Top 10 teams for a late-fall Big Ten match-up.  Instead, we have en fuego Big Blue facing off against a Hawkeye team that has far underperformed expectations.

Iowa enters this game 5-4 (3-3 in the Big Ten) and it’s easy to forget that the Hawkeyes were sitting at #13 in the AP just six weeks ago … Kirk Ferentz’s squad fell out of the AP Top 25 after a major Week 3 upset loss to North Dakota State and it’s been trying to regain its footing ever since.

This is the 60th meeting between these two teams, with UM holding a heavy series edge, 41-14-4.  The series dates back to 1900 (a contest Iowa won, 28-5) and the Hawkeyes won the last meeting, in 2013, by a score of 24-21.

This Saturday Big Blue returns to the scene of that 2013 loss … Kinnick Stadium.  And while Iowa HC Kirk Ferentz can take comfort in yesteryear’s result, he knows this isn’t the same team – it isn’t even the same program – that the Black and Yellow took down three years ago.  

Iowa’s five wins came against Miami (OH), Iowa State, Rutgers, Minnesota and Purdue, and its four losses included powerhouses North Dakota State and Northwestern as well as Wisconsin and Penn State.

Sr. QB C.J. Beathard leads the Hawkeye attack and has thrown for 1,380 yards this season (11TDs / 4 INTs), mostly to his two favorite targets, Riley McCarron (30 catches for 336 yards and 3 TDs) and Matt VandeBerg (19 catches for 284 yards and 3 TDs).  The Iowa backfield includes two dudes who have rushed for a combined 1,200+ yards on the season (Akrum Wadley and LeShun Daniels), but by and large these guys all are no-names who bring little more than hope and prayer into this weekend’s match-up and … as a wise man once said, “hope is not an adult strategy.”

The Big Blue Bus continues to roll this weekend, as the smart money is on Michigan to emerge with its 10th regular-season win and continued momentum in the national race.

The early prediction is now in … Michigan 38 – Iowa 14.

Go Blue!

Team 137 - Game 9 - Michigan vs. Maryland

Team 137 continued the campaign last weekend with a road victory in East Lansing, and Paul Bunyan returned to Ann Arbor, to its rightful resting place in between the annual in-state gridiron competition.  And with Sparty in the rear-view mirror, Big Blue finds itself in the home stretch.  A couple of puff pastries combined with a tough road game in Iowa City, and Michigan should find itself undefeated heading to The Horseshoe for the much-anticipated Harbaugh/Meyer Round II.

But let’s not get ahead of ourselves, as there’s still quite a bit of football left to play.  I know, the first College Football Playoff rankings were released on Tuesday and Michigan came in at #3 (behind Alabama and Clemson), and that means people start their yabbin’ again about post-season activity.  Yes, Texas A&M snuck into the top 4, which brought its own share of controversy to the discussion, but we just need to remember that this “list” will come out every Tuesday for the remainder of the season, and a lot can and will change between now and then. Let’s let playoff talk be just that – talk – for the time being, and let’s focus on the task at hand each and every week … effective execution will lead us to the promised land.

Remaining in the present, Week #9 is here, which means the University of Maryland Terrapins visit the Big House to play the role of Team 137’s latest victim.  Let’s recap Sparty and set the table for the Terps, as things are heating up in college-football land, and Blue Nation is ready for the final lap.

UM v. MSU – The Recap

In 2007, as part of the pre-game “dialogue,” Michigan RB Mike Hart jokingly referred to Michigan State as “little brother,” a slight that inspired Sparty to reel off 7 victories in the next 8 meetings between the teams.  Ouch.

But anyone with a younger sibling knows that sometimes they need to be put in their place.  Like when little bro’ inappropriately tries to hang with the big kids, or acts out in a way that makes him look out of his league.  That’s when you go into his/her room and open up one of them cans of whoop ass … the kind that hurts … the kind that returns appropriately hierarchical equilibrium to the family dynamic.  

That’s exactly what happened last weekend in East Lansing … Big Bro Blue put hand to ass and returned the Great Thumb State to a sense of “normalcy.”  And hot damn it felt good!  Now, while it wasn’t as dominating a performance as we would have liked against a team that clearly has struggled to reach mediocrity this season, a road victory against MSU is never something to take for granted.  Thank you, Team 137 … from Mike Hart … from all of Blue Nation.

Big Blue is 8-0 (5-0 in the Big Ten), and Team 137 now finds itself in the home stretch before The Game on November 26th in Columbus.  Harbaugh and company scored every time they touched the ball in the first half, holding off a strong Spartan start.  And while the second half wasn’t the Maize and Blue’s best football of the season, the boys held tough together and stuck it out for W #8 – UM 32 MSU 23.  Let’s break it down.

The Michigan Offense

The Big Blue O put up 436 yards of total offense (244 through the air and 192 on the ground) and it was more of the same for UM OC Timmy Drevno and his gang.  QB Wilton Speight went 16-25 for 244 yards and one INT, another mediocre performance that got the job done mostly mistake-free but didn’t impress anyone outside of East Lansing.  

Running-back-by-committee got us over the 100-yard threshold, with McDoom (53 yards), Higdon (44 yards) and Smith (38 yards and 2 TDs) all contributing meaningfully.  And #5 added another 22 yards on the ground, including a TD scamper that looked more like a Yab-a-dab-a-doo than a Saturday-afternoon play by a college safety.

Speaking of #5, according to ESPN Stats and Information, this is how Jabrill Peppers spent his day by positional play count: 42 plays at LB, 12 plays at CB, 9 plays at Nickleback, 6 plays at QB in the Wildcat (my personal favorite), 1 play at Safety, 1 play at Halfback and 1 play at WR.  And oh yeah, he returned a kick and a punt, just to keep himself warm during breaks in the action.  He’s making his way up the Heisman-contender list, and last weekend’s performance shows why.  Moreover, Jabrill was clocked at a 3.7 40-yard-dash time during his fumble-return-for-a-two-point-conversion … I know, he had a running start and so it’s not the same as the NFL combine, but damn this kid can boogie!

As for the receiving corps, it was a career day for Amara Darboh, whose 8 catches were one shy of his lifetime best and whose 165 receiving yards bested his career high and counted as the highest total for a Michigan receiver against Michigan State since Braylon Edwards’ 7 grabs for 103 yards and 2 scores in 2003. #82’s performance kicked him up a notch when it comes to the list of top college wide outs.

The Michigan Defense

The Michigan D gave up 401 yards of total offense, which was the most yardage this unit has surrendered this season (topping the 331 given up to Central Florida in Week #2).  But 231 of those yards came in the fourth quarter ... not an excuse, just an observation.

MSU QB Tyler O’Connor went 7-14 for 84 yards, a TD and one pick, as UM DC Don Brown’s unit was effective but not dominating.  MSU inserted redshirt freshman QB Brian Lewerke in the fourth quarter, which gave Sparty a boost and put the Green Machine into striking distance … that is, until Big Boy #5 Jabrill Peppers offered a signature sack on fourth down inside the Big Blue red zone.  

Delano Hill notched 11 tackles, with Mike McCray adding 8 and Jabrill another 7 (including a key fourth-down 8-yard sack) for the Wolverines defensive unit.  This unit will be able to coast for another couple of weeks, but it better have its shit together by the time the Khaki Bus departs for the shit-swamp otherwise known as Columbus.

Michigan v. Maryland – The Preview

Maryland enters the game 5-3 (2-3 Big Ten) after impressive wins against Howard, FIU, UCF, Purdue, and Michigan State, and losses to Penn State, Minnesota and Indiana.  And we’ll see a familiar face on the opposing sideline this weekend as former UM Defensive Coordinator, D.J. Durkin, leads the Terps out of the tunnel as the new Head Coach in College Park.

Terrapin QB Perry Hills has thrown for 1,070 yards and 10 TDs this season with just 3 picks … fairly efficient for a no-name from crab-ville.  RBs Ty Johnson and Lorenzo Harrison carry the load in the backfield, with D.J. Moore and Teldrick Morgan handling wide-out responsibilities … yeah, don’t worry, as you haven’t heard of any of these guys, and there’s a reason for that. 

This is just the 6th meeting between Michigan and Maryland.  The series dates back to 1985, when Michigan beat the Terps 20-0 in a game in which Jim Harbaugh went 16-20 for 196 yards and 2 TDs and also rushed for 32 yards for the Maize and Blue.

Last year’s battle saw Michigan beat Maryland 28-0 in College Park, MD … this weekend won’t be that close.

But before closing, what self-respecting sports fan could ignore the sheer history-making effort that saw the Chicago Cubs Fly the Ultimate W after an extra-innings 8-7 victory over the Cleveland Indians in Game 7 of the World Series?  After 108 long and suffering years, the Cubs did it, and the party is on … particularly for some deserving old folk!

At a time when most people are focused on The Shit-Filled Cornucopia That Just Keeps on Giving 2016 and are glued to the incessant rhetoric our ‘round-the-clock news cycle provides, it was truly something to behold to see the masses in America take an evening to watch a baseball game. The game itself was nothing short of exhilarating, as the Indians clawed back from a 5-1 deficit, scoring 3 runs in the 8th, to send the game to extra innings … and it was filled with drama and the best-damn-baseball-coverage team in the business in Joe Buck and John Smoltz dissecting it for us pitch by pitch.  And then, after a rain delay seemingly sent by the Ghost of Harry Caray that had been resurrected from a seance conducted by Steve Bartman, the Cubs regrouped and scored two runs in the top of the 10th, ultimately edging the Indians 8-7 to claim the title of World Series Champs.  

The celebration in Wrigleyville was epic … a people united, never having lost hope, returning to the top of the podium after an historic drought.  You can’t help but smile.  Moreover, what’s better in sports than a drunk Bill Murray interviewing a drunk Theo Epstein?  Choruses of Steve Goodman’s Go, Cubs, Go will ring through Chicago’s North Side for some time to come, as Goodmans’ Dying Cub Fans Last Request is more meaningful now than ever – no, that’s not an SNL skit mocking the Chicago accent, but might as well be … so good.  Party like it’s 1908, Chicago … it’s well-deserved and long overdue.

Back on the gridiron, we do have that game this weekend in Ann Arbor, and I imagine there will be more than a few Cubs’ fans in the audience.  Michigan football is cruising, and the train continues this week as the journey towards Columbus rolls on.

The early prediction is now in … Michigan 48 – Maryland 7.

Go Blue!

Team 137 - Game 8 - Michigan vs. Michigan State

Homecoming weekend in Ann Arbor was the way it was meant to be – fun-filled festivities on campus, hoards of alumni crossing the diag while grasping nostalgically at their youth, and an ass-kicking at the Big House.  Damn it feels good to have returned to that beautiful place called “normal.”  

The Michigan Wolverines pummeled the visiting Fighting Illini last Saturday and further solidified their position high atop the college-football ranks.  Through seven weeks of the 2016 college-football season, Big Blue is ranked #2 in the country and it’s pretty hard to find a deeper, more complete, more exciting team than our Wolverines.  When the final buzzer sounded, Michigan claimed its seventh consecutive victory of this season, 41-8 … a lot to a little, once again. 

And as Halloween draws near, the men who done maize and blue board the Big Khaki Bus once again this weekend … this time headed down Interstate 96 to East Lansing, a true Midwestern armpit. Yup, the annual battle for the Paul Bunyan Trophy is here again, but this time with an aura of revenge … revenge for the debacle that was last season’s 27-23 MSU victory in Ann Arbor.  I know, you’re welcome again, but even if you’d deleted the imagery from your brain, you’ve seen it a dozen times already this week in pre-game hype for Saturday’s contest at Spartan Stadium, and I feel your pain.

But hang on, we’ll get there … first let’s unpack the whoopin’ Big Blue put on the kids in blue and orange, and then we’ll tee up the battle of the Great Thumb State.

Michigan v. Illinois – The Recap

Coach Harbaugh wasn’t kidding when he promised the team would maintain focus and not fall victim to bye-week complacency.  That much was very clear when Big Blue came out of the tunnel fired up with a ten-play, 75-yard drive capped off by a Jake Butt TD reception off Jimbo’s “Train” formation.

With baseball legend Hank Aaron continuing Harbaugh’s Parade of Captains program in an impactful way, the stage was set for another Big Blue blowout … and it was … it was Michigan early and often … all day long.  And when it was all said and done, perhaps the most interesting storyline of the day was that this was the first college football game ever coached by two coaches who previously had coached in the Super Bowl … while that may be “just-below-average” on your cocktail-conversation cheat sheet, it does say something about the afternoon on the gridiron.

The Michigan Offense

On the offensive side of the ball, UM OC Tim Drevno’s game plan was well-executed and effective.  The Maize and Blue gained 29 first downs and the unit notched 561 yards of total offense (291 yards through the air and 270 on the ground).  UM won the time-of-possession battle -- 42 minutes to 18 minutes – and all was working in the offensive schematic.  I know, it was Illinois, and that’s like beating your preschool nephew in chess, but the balance and flow impressed.  

Wilton Speight went 16-23 for 253 yards and two TDs in three quarters of play, and he continues to execute mostly mistake-free, which is all we can ask given that Harbaugh continues to operate without his own guy under center.  Speight threw TD strikes to Jake Butt and Tyrone Wheatley, Jr. – yes, the Redshirt Freshman son of RB Coach and former Michigan RB, Tyrone Wheatley. And no, he doesn’t run the ball like his old man (who doesn’t remember that ridiculous 250+-yard performance against Washington in the 1993 Rose Bowl?), but he’s a strong TE with talent and a long history with the game … talk about succession planning for the departure of the Great Ass Man at the end of this season!  

Running back-by-committee continues to be the ground strategy, with 14 UM backs carrying the ball for a total of 270 yards. Karan Higdon led the pack with 106 yards on 8 carries and a TD, with De’Veon Smith notching 76 yards on 18 carries and a score, and Ty Isaac adding another 35 yards on 10 touches.

Out wide, Amara Darboh caught 5 balls for 99 yards while Jehu Chesson added 44 yards with 3 catches.  Jake Butt pulled in 3 snags and a total of 11 different Wolverines caught a pass from a Michigan QB.

The Michigan offense is clicking on all cylinders as it prepares for the second half of the season.  And while it’s true that we’ve put up numbers on units that better resemble those Little Giants (but hard to forget the Annexation of Puerto Rico that won the game for the pesky kids in red, white and blue) than that of a real college-football program, we play the hand we’re dealt and so far we’ve played it pretty damn well.

The Michigan Defense

UM DC Don Brown’s Michigan D – ahem, excuse me, I mean the #1-ranked defense in the country – was stellar in the first half against Illinois, pitching a shutout and holding the Illini to ZERO pass completions.

The Michigan D dominated on all fronts … and I know, it’s Illinois and therefore not a real judge for a defensive performance.  But when a Michigan unit performs to potential, it’s cause for celebration, let’s not forget how many times Big Blue has had the talent but not the execution-capacity … there’s not much more we could ask for from the defense right now, so let’s appreciate the bitch-slap and look to stay focused as we move into late fall.

And speaking of late fall, yet another unpredictable weekend unfolded in the immediate rear-view mirror.  Yessir, those Bucking Fuckeyes fell from grace on the road in State College to the unranked Nittany Lions and the Ghosts of JoPa Past. Hence the UM boost in the AP Poll to #2.  Alabama beat Texas A&M in impressive fashion, Washington looked solid yet again, and Clemson continued its winning ways.

But the weekend ahead is all about the Big Ten … Wisconsin plays host to that team nobody is talking about yet continues to climb in the polls – Nebraska -- which continued its undefeated streak by disposing of Purdue 27-14 and putting itself in position to emerge from the less-than-impressive pack called the Big Ten West to represent in the conference championship game in Indianapolis on December 5th.  The Cornhuskers have a big two weeks ahead, on the road at Camp Randall and then a trip to Columbus.  Oh yeah, and there’s also that game in East Lansing this weekend … yes, we’ll get there.

And while things are heating up in college football, it’s also World Series season, and this year the Fall Classic brings even more to the party.  The Cubs seek a World Series title for the first time in 108 years, and if that weren’t enough of a human-interest story, Joe Madden and his boys are up against another lonely, desolate baseball history in that of the Cleveland Indians, who haven’t won it since 1968.  Baseball history in the making … the greatness of late-October baseball.  All this onlooker is hoping for is to see Wild Thing Ricky Vaughn, throw out a first pitch and be greeted at the plate by amigos Pedro Serrano, Roger Dorn and of course the greatness that was, is and always will be … Willie Mays Hays.  That and for the Cubbies to bring a title to Wrigley … for fuck’s sake, hasn’t Steve Bartman had to live with this monkey for long enough?

I digress.  Michigan is 7-0 for the first time since 2006 heading into this weekend’s battle for the Paul Bunyan Trophy, and the time is now.  Michigan is in position to contend, and the second season starts this weekend at Spartan Stadium. Let’s get it on!

Michigan vs. Michigan State – The Preview

This is the 109th meeting between these two teams, and Michigan holds a 68-35-5 advantage.  The teams first played in 1898 and have met almost every since 1910 … the rivalry was truly created when Sparty joined the Big Ten in 1950.  And we’ve seen some doozies over the years, that’s for sure.

Like the 1997 AP Top-15 matchup featuring #5 UM and #15 MSU, where Big Blue won 23-7 behind Charles Woodson’s memorable one-handed pick on the sideline … or Clockgate in 2001, where poor home-field clock management cost UM the game in a contest UM radio announcer Frank Beckmann called “criminal” … or Chad Henne’s comeback victory in 2007, when he threw TDs to Greg Matthews and Mario Manningham in the final 8 minutes to bring UM back from down 24-14 to seal a 28-24 Big Blue victory.  And the list goes on … and while tempting, we’ll hold back, as we all have people to see, places to go and shit to do … point being, this is a great football rivalry and one that plays out in many families around the Great Thumb State.

Moving to present day, Michigan State opened the season ranked #12 and had Uncle Mo on its side after a 36-28 win on the road in South Bend against #18 Notre Dame.  But Sparty then proceeded to shit the bed on more than one occasion, falling 30-6 at home against Wisconsin, 24-21 on the road at Indiana, and then dropping three gross ones in a row at home against BYU (31-14) and Northwestern (54-40) and then on the road at Maryland (28-17).  This train went off the tracks a month ago and Sparty has gone from “contender” to “pretender” in short order.  But don’t be fooled, UM/MSU is a no-joke game … a serious affair … where anything can happen.  Like, um, last year (I know, painful … and it’s even worse in LEGO formation). 

And given how strong Michigan has been out the gate this year, we know that the Green Machine would like nothing more than to spoil the Big Blue parade.  Yes, MSU is 2-5 on the season (0-4 Big Ten) and on a four-game skid, but it’s won the last three in this series and this is a rivalry game.  But let’s not get carried away, either, as MSU is but a fraction of what it once was, and Michigan should be able to leave Spartan Stadium with that lumberjack trophy in hand.

QB Tyler O’Connor leads Sparty under center, and let’s just say that this is no Kirk Cousins.  He’s thrown 11 TDs and 6 picks in his 6 games and this fifth-year senior’s football career likely ends at the conclusion of this season.

MSU RB LJ Scott has racked up 464 yards so far and is poised for a strong finish … he’s averaging 5 yards per carry and is joined by Gerald Holmes in a Green and White backfield that has notched just 8 TDs in 7 games.

R.J. Shelton has pulled in 35 catches for 541 yards during the campaign, with an average of 15+ yards per carry and 4 TDs.  The rest of the receiving crew has been uninspiring, if not sporadic and inconsistent, tallying a combined total 8 TDs.

The MSU offense averages just over 23 points per game, while the defense is allowing 29+ by opponents. Special teams has been a bright spot with kicker Michael Geiger going 19/19 on extra points and 5/8 on FGs this year.  MSU’s biggest threat is the three-headed monster of O’Connor, Scott, and Shelton, but other than those mediocre weapons, Sparty has looked merely like a shell of the former Big Ten powerhouse.

Las Vegas opened with Michigan as an 18-point favorite, and the line since has moved all the way up to 24 (making it the third-largest spread in the series since at least 1980, after 28 in 1992 and 26.5 in 1991).  I don’t know, that seems a bit aggressive for any UM/MSU match-up.  Numbers aside, it’s hard not to like Big Blue in this one, as the revenge factor coupled with Harbaugh’s and the pure balance of power on both sides of the ball … talent + focus + revenge = UM victory.

The early prediction is now in … Michigan 35 - Michigan State 14.  

Go Blue!

Team 137 - Game 7 - Michigan vs. Illinois

It’s late October and there’s excitement in Ann Arbor … and no, it’s not because of a particularly strong apple-picking season, although we all get a little giddeyup in our step with a glass of Dexter Cider Mill cider in hand (gotta love those late-fall Barn Dance memories).

Nope, it’s because Big Blue continues its ascent in the national polls and currently finds itself undefeated and ranked #3 in the country after further shake-up at the top during the Blue bye week.  It’s been a decade (almost to the day) since Michigan last was ranked this high once the leaves began to change – October 21, 2006 to be exact – and Blue Nation is ready … after all, it’s been expected since the day Coach Jim said yes … maybe it’s a bit earlier than some thought, but it’s here and it sure feels good.

The Maize and Blue enjoyed some extra rest during the bye week, although we’re not sure whether any of them actually broke a sweat in the beat-down they put on Rutgers last weekend.  Up next … the University of Illinois for Homecoming 2016.  Let’s break down the W over the Scarlet Knights and then set the stage for this weekend’s Big House matchup against Lovie Smith and his Fighting Illini.

Big Blue is rolling … all aboard the Khaki Bus!

Michigan v. Rutgers – The Recap

Last weekend, the Maize and Blue Bus headed East for a showdown with some kids that claimed to play Division I college ball in New Jersey.  Harbaugh and company showed up looking for a Big Ten football game … Rutgers instead greeted them with a busload of high-school players trying to compete at the next level, albeit highly unsuccessfully. 

And let’s be honest, from the opening kick, Rutgers’ chances at victory were about as good as the Outer Banks facing Hurricane Matthew. But the beating couldn’t have felt good, and to make matters worse, Rutgers had invited more than 200 recruits to attend the game as special guests to experience the athletic prowess of the Scarlet Knights in person… doh! 

Ah yes, the golden age of television, when social commentary is best delivered by animated characters from places such as Springfield and South Park, and binge-worthy obsessions hit the small screen more regularly than Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson hits the big one.

As for those pesky cartoon types, a quick shout out to The Simpsons, which aired its 600th episode this week and is on track to pass Gunsmoke as the most episodic television show in history sometime during the 2018 season.  Whoo-Hoo!

Moving on to the more current “stuff,” I just finished my newest small-screen binge, HBO’s The Night Of, and holy Bejesus, Batman!  Some long-form travel hit the calendar and so I decided to make this my next mini-drama to attack … the eight-episode HBO series that only has one season seemed within reach, and I went for it.  And it hit me hard ... a prison/legal drama that exposes the underworld of survival in the American prison system, and does so while highlighting the changing nature of a Pakistani boy who becomes transformed by the process.  Richard Price, Steve Zaillian and their team ask us to consider how our society treats people whose journey includes such a life experience ... and the answers are hard to come by (not only for questions involving our complex legal system, but also for the f-ugly foot fungus that haunts John Torturo in his performance of a lifetime – gross and hard to watch, at times, but intense, thought-provoking and emotionally riveting).  This intense examination of typecasting is real to the bone, and it’s disturbing as fuck to see how “the inside” may actually look … the only question is whether it’s coming back, and if so, in what form, as it’s hard to imagine where it could go in continuum.

Near-term late-fall travel means some new stuff to explore … maybe Narcos … maybe Westworld … maybe Difficult People …  who knows … and of course catching up on The Blacklist, my guilty pleasure … I just can’t get enough of Reddington and his shenanigans, although after just one episode this season, I’m fearful that Redd may have joined Fonzie in jumping that proverbial shark, which would be a shame … but I’m not there yet, so let’s wait and see how the rest of the season unfolds before casting any undeserving aspersions.  

Sorry, I digress.  Where were we?  Right, Big Blue gridiron. Michigan beat the scarlet pulp out of Rutgers, a fucking lot to a wee-bittie little – 78-0, to be exact.  This game was an ass-kicking wrapped around a bitch-slap and smothered in a mucho-grande dose of whoop-ass … it hit the record books as Big Blue’s second-largest margin of victory in the modern era (the largest was UM’s victory over the University of Chicago (yes, the original Monsters of the Midway), 85-0 on October 21, 1939, and the Rutgers game was full of all sorts of interesting facts – like the fact that six Michigan players had more individual yards (in passing, rushing or receiving) than all of Rutgers did on the day … or the fact that Rutgers punted 16 times or that the Wolverines scored 11 TDs.  The list goes on … and it’s accompanied by a plethora of sad images of the afternoon … a fucking lot to a wee-bittie little, that’s the punchline, and we’ll take it.

Both teams started slow, and then Michigan brought the opening excitement when N.J.-native Jabrill Peppers took a snap at QB and ran the ball 63 yards downfield to set up Michigan’s first score, a Ty Isaac 4-yard run.  #5 Peppers then had a punt-return TD called back – kindling for a young Heisman fire? – and the Wolverines got on a roll.  Speight to Chesson for 30 yards …14-0!  Fumble-recovery-lead-to-red-zone-start … Peppers for a 7-yard option score at QB … 21-0!  And then it got out of control.  Harbaugh finished the first half by going for two after a Khalid Hill TD, and tacked on two more quick scores to put Michigan up 43-0.  Big Blue then came out and won the second half, 35-0.  Ouch!

The Michigan Offense

Wilton Speight went 6-13 for 100 yards and a TD and retired early to make room for John O’Korn and Shane Morris.  Chris Evans posted a team-high 153 yards in Big Blue’s 481-yard rushing attack – an 8.6 yards-per-carry average is ridiculous in today’s FBS environment.  Five different Wolverines recorded rushing TDs, including a two-spot for All-Ridonkulous-Team stand-out Jabrill Peppers.

And while we jest about Heisman hype this early in the campaign, this kid could start at a handful of positions on Offense, Defense and Special Teams and at any of them be in the top 5 in the country respectively.  As Bo always said … The Team, The Team, The Team … it’s not about an individual performer, and that’s true … but it’s hard not to marvel at this beast of a student athlete.

The Wolverines had 23 first downs and 600 total yards on offense (119 through the air and 481 on the ground) and controlled every element of the offensive attack from the line of scrimmage and beyond.  Again, consider the competition … but this was the Michigan offense we long to see coming out of Schembechler Hall.

The Michigan Defense

Rutgers put up 39 total yards on offense, and that’s all you need to know about the Michigan defensive effort in New Jersey. The D Line notched tackles and sacks across the board and the secondary spent more time thinking about that upcoming fall-break excursion to Dexter Cider Mill than defending wide-out threats.

Yes, the Rutgers game felt good on every level … and yes, we knew going in that it wouldn’t be close, but no one predicted it would be that grotesque … especially Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse.  For those who didn’t catch the buzz, the Ruth’s Chris Ann Arbor location released a promotion inviting Michigan fans to come in for a meal and receive a discount of the number of points by which Michigan beat Rutgers … all fine and good from a human-interest perspective, but the fact that Ruth’s Chris reneged on the deal because of the ass-pounding is weak sauce.  Unlike the local steak shop, Coach Harbaugh, who was seen dining at Ruth’s Chris just days later (by the way, with a glass of milk to accompany his steak … maybe the grossest news item of the UM/Rutgers cycle?), lives up to his end of the bargain … that’s how he was raised and that’s how he rolls … and that’s why Big Blue crushed the bejesus out of Rutgers last weekend … drop the mic.

Michigan v. Illinois – The Preview

This is the 95th meeting between Michigan and Illinois on the gridiron, with Michigan holding a commanding lead, 69-23-2.  The series dates back to 1898, when Michigan won the series opener 45-0.  More importantly, this weekend is Homecoming in Ann Arbor … which means bashing in an Illinois car in the diag, featured match-ups in both the Mud Bowl and the Nose Bowl and hoards of older Wolverines walking around campus looking nostalgically for another great slice of Back Room for the walk through the diag.  Michigan is 88-27 in the last 115 Homecoming games at the Big House (including a 10-5 mark against Illinois during that run), and this year should be no exception to the general trend of lopsided Maize and Blue victories.

The Fighting Illini come into this game 2-4 (1-2 Big Ten) – and yes, college football in Champaign-Urbana has been on more of a decline over the last five decades than Trump’s polling numbers of late.  The program finished first in the conference and won the Rose Bowl in 1963 and hasn’t won a major bowl since.

As for that over-sized oompa loompa and his manipulate-the-system-driven nightmare of an opponent, I have little time or interest in any extended coverage this week of the election (yes, what some call Lice On Rats On A Horse Corpse On Fire 2016), but suffice to say we’ll be seeing / hearing / reading a lot more over the next six weeks … which is good, as we’ll all get a little bit dumber in the process ... but just to throw one more fun tidbit out given the TV proclivities of this panelist, if you haven’t yet seen the Will & Grace take on the election, it’s worth checking out … and no, not necessarily for its message or the way in which it’s articulated, but just to see Jack and Karen on screen together bantering about over today’s trials and tribulations of both the masses and the classes … good stuff.

Anyhoo, back to Illinois football … the off-season hiring of former Chicago Bears Head Coach Lovie Smith was met with excitement by the locals in Illinois farm country, but so far it’s been more of the same misery as Illini fans have seen for the better part of, well, forever.  

Illinois’ wins this season came against Murray State in the season opener at home and last week on the road against the lowly Rutgers.  In between, the Illini have fallen to North Carolina (48-23), Western Michigan (34-10), Nebraska (31-16) and Purdue (34-31 in OT).  Scoop of chocolate, scoop of vanilla … don’t waste my time.

QB Wes Lunt leads the Illinois offense with 840 yards on the season and 6 TD strikes.  The backfield is flush with guys no one has heard of who have relatively meaningless stats on the season (Kendrick Foster, Reggie Corbin and Ke’Shawn Vaughn have together rushed for just a little over 700 yards).  Malik Turner leads a relatively innocuous receiving corps, but his 29 grabs for 400+ yards and 3 TDs merit attention by Harbaugh and his defensive experts.

Big Blue is focused and ready for its next victim, as Team 137 is aware of its surroundings in college-football land and is focused on keeping pace with those in its general vicinity.  

And while it’s important to hone in only on the task at hand, no doubt others will engage in postseason speculation as we turn towards late fall, and so we must take it in stride.  Yes, Michigan is in the hunt … but no, it’s nowhere near automatic that the Maize and Blue roll through the rest of the runway unscathed and poised for post-season action.  Let’s just hang on there, Andy Staples of Sports Illustrated , and focus on execution each week and see what happens.

As for the state of college football today, it’s starting to crystallize and thus the increased noise by those talking heads of what may come when winter sets in.  Bama and OSU sit atop the polls, with UM nestled in at third after Clemson needed OT to survive NC State.  Slick Nick looks better than anyone else around (what else is new?) … Urban Meyer smells worse than anything trolling the gridiron (again, what else is new?) … Coach Harbaugh keeps his khakis pressed and his boys in execution mode … and Clemson clearly completes the top four as it stands today.  But none of that matters if you slip up on the field … Jesus, Tim, can you please focus on the task at hand?  Yes, Illinois, sorry … it’s getting late in the season and I’ve had more than my few cups of joe by now … the feet are startin’ to move and sometimes it’s just hard to stop … you know, like Mike Newhouse said, “I just want to dance!”

My dancing shoes are on this week, that’s for sure. Big Blue opened as a 28-point home favorite – the number now sits close to 36 with most Vegas “experts,” and I wouldn’t be surprised if it continues to climb.  Team 137 is hitting its stride at the right time of the season, and Coach Harbaugh knows better than to allow his troops to lose focus.  The talent, drive and worth ethic all are there … and the coaching simply is better than the competition.  It’s a great time to be a Michigan football fan.

The early prediction is now in … Michigan 48 - Illinois 7

Go Blue!

Team 137 - Game 2 - Michigan vs UCF

And they’re off!  Faster than you could say, “Jumpman in the house,” Michigan football is back and the 2016 campaign is underway. Team 137 opened the season with a 63-3 thrashing of the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors at the Big House last weekend, and the khakis appear to be in working order.

And speaking of that Jordan guy, yup, MJ was in the house, serving as an honorary team captain as the Maize and Blue became the first football program, college or pro, to don the Jumpman mascot … and let’s just say the Jordanesque image looks perfectly fitting next to the Block M.  MJ spoke to the team Friday night and engaged the guys in a casual Q&A session as part of the pre-game festivities.  Who’s got it better than us?  That’s right … Nobody.

This weekend Big Blue welcomes its second patsy to Bo’s Place, the Central Florida Knights and their most-intimidating stature.  But let’s not get ahead of ourselves … first, a “quick” recap of the Hawaii ass-romping, and then we can address Monty Python’s Knights Who Say “Niee!” in due course.

Michigan v. Hawaii – The Recap

The 60-point win marks Michigan's largest margin of victory in more than 40 years (since UM’s 69-0 thumping of Northwestern on October 18, 1975).  It’s been 45 years since Big Blue last hung 60+ on consecutive opponents; but with a Central Florida defense that ranked last in total defense in Division 1-A last year, I like our chances.  Michigan Mania at its finest … Go Blue!

Coach Harbaugh played 17 true freshmen on Saturday, a program record for a season opener and a sign of the talent he attracts and the manner in which he develops it.  Big Blue dominated all over the field, from a diverse offensive attack to aggressive defensive schematics … and it was a thing of beauty to watch.

Tim Drevno’s offense stumbled out the gate, but ultimately found its groove thang as it racked up 63 points on 512 total yards.  Jr. Wilton Speight got the nod at QB and opened the contest with a lame-duck INT that gave much of Blue Nation the shakes.  But #3 settled in and led Big Blue to three first-half TDs and a 35-0 lead at the break.  He finished the game 10-13 for 145 yards and three touchdowns – an underwhelming season opener even with three toad strikes.  John O’Korn and Shane Morris also saw late-game reps and didn’t disappoint, which many think could lead to continued controversy in QB-land.

Starting RB De'Veon Smith left the game in the first half with an apparent rib injury – curious, did anyone notice?  Yeah, me neither.  Harbaugh has a handful of versatile backs who are virtually inter-changeable – watch for Harbaugh to use that dynamic as a sword rather than a shield as the season unfolds.

After Smith went down, Ty Isaac and Chris Evans picked up the slack.  Isaac grounded and pounded the Hawaii defense for 52 yards on nine carries, while Evans rushed for 112 yards on eight carriers with two TDs, including an impressive 43-yard carry that found the end zone.  Michigan rushed for a team total of 306 yards on 39 total carries … not too shabby, but this was Hawaii, so let’s not get carried away.

As for the passing attack, Jehu Chesson and Amara Darboh each caught three passes in an underwhelming overall performance but one that focused more on new guys getting on-field experience rather than pushing the stars.  Jake Butt grabbed a nice catch-and-run TD in the second quarter, but again, Harbaugh and OC Tim Drevno focused on doling out reps for the newbies, with true Frosh Sean McKeon and Devin Asiasi both seeing playing time at TE.

The O-Line showed well, paving the way for Michigan’s 306 rushing yards and not allowing any close encounters with its QB.  Several linemen saw playing time, again allowing Harbaugh and Drevno to get a glimpse of some newer faces in a game setting.

Big Blue totaled 26 first downs, going 7-7 on 3rd down and aggregating 512 yards of total offense (206 passing yards and 306 on the ground).  Speight threw that early pick and then cleaned up his act, with that gaffe the lone turnover on UM’s balance sheet, evidencing solid ball control and an offense that’s primed and ready for the big stage.  

The Defense

The Michigan Defense, under new Defensive Coordinator Don Brown, dominated Hawaii in a way that made me feel proud to wear the Maize and Blue.  Again, this wasn’t Urban Meyer and J.T. Barrett that we stuffed for a gain of nil, it was those Rainbow Warriors from Opakapaka-land, but still, the Blue D gave up a total of 232 yards and accounted for a pair of scores on interception returns by Delano Hill and Channing Stribling.  LB Mike McCary notched nine tackles while Jabrill took credit for eight and this unit showed why it’s among the best in the country (plus, Jabrill’s Hawaiian Hurdle is sure to make the season’s highlight reel).

Up front, Chris Wormley, Ryan Glasgow and Rashan Gary prevented Hawaii from establishing much of a run game, but I get it: pride for an effective defensive front against Hawaii is like bragging about winning the Twister Tournament at the annual Green Acres Retirement Community Carnival – impressive on paper, yes, but not a market comp when you consider the likes of our Big 10 brethren.  The D-Line had no sacks, which is concerning, but the group should gel over the first few weeks and find its groove before the conference campaign gets underway.

The secondary accounted for two pick-sixes, which sounds lovely, but the unit was exposed later in the game by Hawaii’s quick-slant routes and that can’t happen as we move on from the short bus and start to play real teams.  Granted, All-American DB Jourdan Lewis did not play Saturday due to a "slight injury" – and take it easy, all of you conspiracy theorists!  No, Lewis wasn’t suspended … just ask Coach Jimbo and see how he responds (seriously, this is one guy you don’t fuck with, I don’t care where you run into him, dark alley or stark daylight … and if you’re going to confront him, you better make sure you have your facts straight or he’ll tear you a new one a la Will McAvoy on Occupy Wall Street’s Shelly Wexler.

I miss The Newsroom … just sayin’.  But I’ve re-engaged, thanks to that beautiful-if-all-consuming-and-therefore-lifestyle-changing dynamic called raising children.  Yup, my oldest’s pre-overnight-camp TV binge was Sports Night , and he caught the bug.  After inhaling Aaron Sorkin’s first TV sitcom in its entirety, I suggested he move on to higher drama, and we watched together the first season of The West Wing… yes, one of the all-time greats of the small screen … we befriended Josh and Sam again and said hi to Donna racing through the hallways … we spent some time with Charlie and Mrs. Lanningham and got to know Leo better than most 12-year-olds know important government figures.  We were told why America cares if India and Pakistan go to war, and we learned lessons from the likes of Lord John Marbury and President Bartlett himself. 

And while the original white-house drama intrigued and inspired, the search for more current-day examples led to the house’s rediscovery of The Newsroom.  Yes, I did mention that other show --#FU2016 -– but firmly stated that we couldn't go there yet, as NC17 isn’t appropriate for pre-Bar-Mitzvah types.  We finished Season 1 last week and it’s better the second-time through; or maybe it’s just particularly poignant now because of that America's Shit Salad Fuckstravaganza 2016.  Honestly, the opening scene of the pilot is one of the best dramatic scenes in the history of TV … you tell me, Why is America the Greatest Country in the World?  Sooooo good.  Whatever it is, for those who miss Will and Mac like I do, check out this glimpse of how Will McAvoy sees today’s political mess … yup, you’re welcome … enjoy!  So much more TV … so little time.

Sorry, where were we?  Right, conspiracy theorists and Jourdan Lewis.  Sorry, TMZ, but just a minor hamstring annoyance, no Chris Brown Brown or Kardashian drama here. Lewis is slated to play against UCF this weekend and will be back to All-American form in no time.

The Big Blue D came to play and combined with the offense to truly shut down those kids from that state way out in the Pacific.  And while Michigan rolled in high fashion, the rest of college football got underway in a weekend of excitement and close games that shook up the rankings more so than in any opening weekend on record. 

Not to take us too far off-path (although what else is new?), but fans couldn’t have asked for a more thrilling opening weekend on the college gridiron.  For the first time since 1972, two teams in the top five fell, with #3 Oklahoma losing to Houston, 33-23, and the Big Ten’s very-own Wisconsin Badgers taking down #5 LSU at Lambeau in a game that pitted Big-10-style vs. SEC-style football, with Bucky Badger claiming the W when the buzzer sounded.  Clemson eeked out a victory at Auburn, 19-13, and #10 Notre Dame also fell victim to an upset at the hands of the unranked Texas Longhorns.  Once again, we see that word parity surfacing in the discussion.  And with Michigan, Ohio State and Iowa all winning big on opening day and Wisco taking down the Tigers in Packer-land, rest assured the Big 10 will represent in this year’s title talk from now until January.

But let’s stay focused, and that takes us back to Michigan and to this weekend’s Game #2 at home against Central Florida.

Michigan v. Central Florida – The Preview

They first started playing college football at Central Florida in 1979 but the program has matured somewhat of late.  First-year Head Coach Scott Frost brings his Offensive Coordinator experience from Oregon to the American Conference and hopes to continue positive momentum with a program that won its conference title just two years ago.

The Knights come off of a 38-0 victory at home against South Carolina State (yes, that’s a real team), and they stop in Ann Arbor before heading to face another Big 10 opponent in Maryland next weekend.  I hate to break the news to Coach Frost, but the stop in the land of Count Twists will be painful, as the Knights have to face Coach Jimmy’s boys on Saturday at the Big House.

No time or reason for a deep dive this week, as it’s another Cupcake War match-up in the making, with Michigan expected to out-wit, out-coach and out-last Central Florida across every metric. Yipekayeeeeeee motherfucker! 

The early prediction is now in … Michigan 45 - Central Florida 7

Go Blue!

Team 136 - Game 10 - Michigan vs Indiana

Bloomington Bound

The Michigan Wolverines returned home from a scary Halloween trip to Minnesota and welcomed the Rutgers Scarlett Knights to the Big House with open arms ... puff pastry tastes good after a tough work-out, and let’s just say that Minnesota required Big Blue to exert more physical effort than was anticipated. 

And the Scarlett Knights didn’t disappoint … Coach Harbaugh and company controlled this contest from the beginning and come out a 49-16 winner.  Michigan moves to 7-2 (4-1 Big Ten) and #14 on the charts, and Ann Arbor hosted yet another fine football frenzy for 2015 Parents’ Weekend, with the Head Coach once again leading the animated charge.

Big Blue packs its bag this week and heads to the cow pastures of Indiana to face the Hoosiers – the start of an all-important two-game road journey before closing out the campaign at home against that low-class Meyer guy and his thug crew.  

Let’s dissect the Rutgers win and then look ahead to Bloomington ... perhaps making a few stops on the way.

Michigan vs. Rutgers – The Recap

Nearly 110,000 people descended upon the Big House to watch this early-November match-up, including Casa Carson in its entirety.  That’s right, the family bus was packed and we exited at State Street for a three-day campus adventure. 

Let’s just start with the fact that campus adventures are different with three kids under the age of 12 than with a handful of guys and zero responsibility.  So the late-night Rick’s sessions followed by Mr. Spot’s and a game of zonk didn’t happen this time … nope, instead we got family time with the women’s gymnastics team and father-son bonding on the courts with a couple guys from the tennis team … we got a tour of the National History Museum and some quality time walking State Street and South U., … we got family dinner with Professor Rubadeau at Zingerman’s Roadhouse (by the way, among the best of Ann Arbor’s new eateries since the time I left town – those sweet-potato fries … serious) … we got family time in at Amer’s State Street, where it all happened for this wonder-duo … we got an early Zingerman’s dinner -- post-game and pre-crowd – because the latke is ridonkulous any time of day) … we got quality time at the Big House and we got a Michigan football victory, which is really what counts (ok, that and the Zingerman’s).  And best of all, we got pure family togetherness in one of the best places on Earth … talking about the life that was for us, the life that is for so many today, and the life that will be for those time spent in Ann Arbor has not yet come … the power of Michigan, -- on the field and in the classroom, in the Diag and in the research lab, at the Union and at Zingerman’s.  Buildings get renovated and some new commercial establishments move in … but the bones are what they are … and they inspire, engage and activate upon arrival … at least for this member of Blue Nation.  Some of the best old memories came from A Squared twenty-five years ago … and some of the best new memories come from family weekends like these. 

Sorry, I digress … football and Rutgers, right.  Michigan was sloppy, at times, on defense and gave up bigger numbers than it should have, but in the end Big Blue dominated offensively and outpaced the Scarlett Knights in a big way.  Let’s break it down.

The Michigan O

The Big Blue offensive machine posted a trifecta of season highs – (1) points (49); (2) total yards (487); and (3) passing yards (337) – in an unleashing of gridiron firepower.  QB Jake Rudock threw for 2 TDs and a career-high 337 yards in his 18-25 outing.  He stood tall in the pocket, delivered sharp balls and took his fair share of hits, including sacrificing his body for the team on two different scoring occasions.  This was Rudock’s best game of the season … granted, it came against the league’s second-worst defense, but he did his job and led his team to victory.

After missing an opening-drive field goal, Michigan scored TDs on the next five possessions -- the gloves came off and the Michigan machine rolled.  Tight End Jake Butt had four catches for a career-high 102 yards.  Amara Darboh and Jehu Chesson contributed out wide, and De’Veon Smith led Big Blue in rushing with 15 carries for 73 yards and a score.  The balanced attack worked and Timmy Drevnor’s offense simply ran over the opponent, the way it’s supposed to be in Ann Arbor.

The Michigan D

DJ Durkin’s D had no trouble handling Rutgers, who played without star receiver Leonte Caroo.  Scarlett Knights’ QB Chris Laviano finished the game 11-26 for 97 yards and one INT.  Rutgers posted 225 total yards, but excluding a 54-yard run from Robert Martin in the first quarter, the Scarlett Knights failed to amount a consistent attack.

Jourdan Lewis set a Michigan single-season record after two more pass breakups (he now has 19 on the year, topping the previous mark of 18 set by Malin Jackson and Leon Hall).  Chris Wormley had 4 tackles (two of which were sacks) and earned Defensive Player of the Game honors for his performance.  And  Jabrill Peppers, although pulled from the kick-return team do to an apparent leg injury incurred in practice last week, was all over the field, as always, including an incredible come-from-behind tackle on Rutgers’ opening drive that had everyone in the AD’s Suite talking about this kid’s speed and potential.

Big Blue’s convincing win kicked it up a few spots in the national polls and positions Coach Harbaugh for success with a two-game win streak and Uncle Mo on its side.  The MSU loss stings less now … although how sweet it was to see Sparty go down in dramatic fashion in Lincoln on Saturday night.

And hot damn!  What a crazy place college football has become this season … yeehaaawwwww … who’s havin’ fun?  Come on now.  Just look at this weekend alone … MSU goes down in flames on a blown call, Arkansas goes for the win against Ole Miss and gets it with a 2-point-conversion at the buzzer, Florida State chokes itself out of the picture and the ‘Bama / LSU game draws 11+ million viewers on national TV. So here’s where we are as we approach the final lap of the 2015 season.

‘Bama moves up to #2 after it took down LSU Saturday night, with Clemson remaining at #1 and OSU at #3 … the Golden Domers benefit most from LSU’s loss and move into the top four.  Iowa jumped from 9th to 5th and looks like it’s seriously interested in post-season action, with Stanford also rising significantly from #11 to #7.  Baylor and Oklahoma State remain the Big 12 stand-outs, with a collision course set for next weekend, with the victor likely to contend a national title.  Michigan and Michigan State stand separated by one slot, but are moving in different directions – Sparty fell 6 notches after its “unfortunate” loss in Lincoln (the call may have been horseshit, but that’s the way the ball bounces, and it couldn’t have happened to a finer institution), and Big Blue jumped 3 spots after its home slaughtering of Rutgers.  Crazy finishes are the norm, great rivalries are taking it to a new level and the excitement of college football’s Final Four is driving a lot of energy into the final lap of this year’s race.  Here’s some juice for those who need to engage in the playoff-speculation conversation … as for me, it’s bear down and eyes on the road … college football has entertained all season long, and this weekend will be no different ... but focus is necessary for success, and it’s game time … Those Who Stay Will Be Champions (well said by Harbaugh’s ’86 boys).  Bring on the Hoosiers!  That’s right, we’re bringing the Hurricane plus the kitchen sink … yippee kaye motherfucker!

Michigan vs. Indiana – The Preview

This game is huge for both sides … for Big Blue, Coach Harbaugh needs to continue his winning ways to stay in the hunt in the Big Ten East … and in Bloomington, the Hoosiers need two more wins to become bowl eligible (pathetic given that IU started 4-0, but an overall positive for a program that sees Bowl games about as often as Greg Hardy is praised by the National Women’s League … a gross story about Hardy and the fact that he’s still suiting up on Sunday’s is testament to America’s broken value system and the ridiculous impact professional football has on our society due our “gambling problem” and other competitive dynamics. I know, it’s still way too early for any serious bowl-game speculation … but the idea of Michigan and USC bashing helmets at the Rose Bowl on New Year’s Day certainly is intriguing.

Michigan opened as an 11-point favorite, and that’s an aggressive call for a team on the road in Indiana’s cow pastures.  IU is 4-5, having dropped 5 in a row after starting perfect in its first four.  Coach Kevin Wilson’s squad played Ohio State close back in October (losing 34-27 at home against the Buckeyes) and played Iowa close last weekend, falling 35-27.  But then there’s IU’s 55-52 loss to Rutgers at home smells worse than that really scenic part of I5, right near Bakersfield.

Indiana comes into the contest ranked 120th in the country in total yards (surrendering 504 yards per game) and ranked 115th in points allowed per game at 37.  And while those numbers look appetizing on paper, Hoosier Nation played OSU and MSU close and this is, without doubt, a potential trap game for Michigan and it makes me nervous.  IU features a powerful offense on its best day and it certainly would like a victory over Big Blue, particularly given that the last time that happened was in 1987.  Michigan is 54-9 against IU in the history of the rivalry and has no intention of reversing the recent trend of 19 straight UM victories (IU has beaten UM just once since 1967).

The early prediction is now in … Michigan 38 - Indiana 10.

Go Blue!

Team 136 - Game 9 - Michigan vs Rutgers

Welcome to Movember Michigan Madness

 

Two weeks later and the Sparty hangover is but a bad memory … like waking up and not really remembering what happened between pre-party on Greenwood and the 2am Mr. Spots’ nastiness.  You sleep it off and at some point the memory is a blur … moving forward is the best strategy.

The boys arrived in Minneapolis focused on bringing home The Little Brown Jug after an aberrational 12-month stint in the Land of 10,000 Lakes.  The Gophers brought game, and the Michigan Defense apparently got distracted on a trip to the Great American Mall and showed up 59 minutes and 52 seconds into the contest … later than we’d like, but in time for a goal-line stand for the ages.  Big Blue found itself 18 inches away from losing on the final play … again. 

But karma does strange things, and this time the Maize and Blue snatched victory from the jaws of defeat, and somehow came away a 29-26 winner.  Michigan moves to 6-2 (3-1 Big Ten) and has its sights set on the match-up with Rutgers this Saturday at the Big House.

Halloween is a festive time of year at Casa Carson and in the ‘hood, and this year was no exception … costumes as always, and the newest home-décor addition coming in the form of mailbox decoration – yes, Mrs. Go Blue hit it out of the park with the move … well played on Homewood, with friends all around football on the screens … and a Michigan victory sealed before the trick-or-treat expedition commenced.

Yes, that random school from New Jersey comes to town for Parents’ Weekend … and amidst significant over-eating and over-purchasing of Michigan paraphanalia (“Did you see that Michigan glass light switch?  We definitely could use that in the guest-house maid’s room … yeah, maybe we should get two?”), the football team needs to build momentum as it enters the season-ending sprint that culminates with the Bucken Fuckeyes later this month – and speaking of Urban Meyer’s posse, gotta love the continued impressive integrity of his young men.  From Maurice Claret to JT Barrett and his arrest this week for operating a motor vehicle under the influence, Coach Meyer continues his thug ways with thug players.  But here’s something to consider on the field … if you’re Cardale Jones, are you confident that you’re the guy until you show that you’re not?  Or are you second-choice sausage and just a stand-in until the newest Buckeye criminal is back on the field?  Will be interesting to see what our favorite underworld ringleader does with his starting QB slot in the weeks to come.

First things first, Movember is here and how fitting that those boys from the Jersey Shore are in town.  Stop, we need to focus to ensure forward progress.  Let’s recap The Little Brown Jug and then look ahead to Governor Christie’s boys from New Brunswick.

Minnesota Recap

The short of it all is that karma came back to work for Coach Jimbo as Minnesota gambled and lost … and I don’t mean Clark Griswald style, no, more like private-plane-lavatory-gone-wrong style.  Victory, Michigan.  Gopher HC Tracy Claeys chose to go for the win rather than the tie, at home, at the buzzer, and the Michigan D stuffed a QB-sneak attempt at the goal line like I’m gonna attack that Frita Batitos spicy chorizo this weekend in A Squared.

That’s right, the entire Go Blue family makes the trip, as fall committee meetings occasionally align with kids’ school calendars, and when they do, the bus gets packed up and the team heads East to confront sub-60 temps and some moisture in the air … ah, refreshing.  And as for the timing, this weekend marks the 22nd anniversary of when my life changed by meeting Mrs. Go Blue on that fateful Parents’ Weekend Saturday at Amer’s State Street … what’s the expression: #luckiestmanalive. And to go back with three happy and healthy kids and experience Ann Arbor with them simply represents the Circle of Life for this Wolverine … Party of Five, Casa Carson style … Pizza House and Zingerman’s, here we come.

The Little Brown Jug is back in Ann Arbor with a bit more drama than anticipated … onward and upward.  Let’s break it down.

Michigan Offense

The Michigan offense went into survival mode when QB Jake Rudock went down in the third quarter with what Coach Harbaugh has called a rib/torso injury – Rudock practiced this week and seems like he’s ready to suit up and attack those gold-chain wearing kids from Snooky-ville. 

So Steady Jake from State Farm goes down and Coach Jimbo turns to Wilton “Freight Train” Speight as next in line, a move many of us have questioned since the beginning.  What is it that Harbaugh has against Shane Morris?  The kid gets knocked down last year, a kerfuffle envelops the situation culminating in the coach being fired and this young lad seems to be collateral damage.  He was much-loved on the way in and talked about quite a bit as a stud pocket passer that would fit well into the Michigan system and snubbed Alabama and a host of others to wear Maize and Blue … first a nuisance of a one-year transfer arrives from the sticks of Iowa and now dude named Wilton steps in front and has Coach’s eye?  Can anyone say Ryan Mallet?  Although this kid isn’t the same kind of trouble Mallet was in the locker room … I hope Shane keeps the colors and doesn’t look elsewhere, as he’s due his time under center one of these days.

Anyway, “Freight Train” Speight gets the keys and leads Big Blue down the field for the important touchdown when he hits Jehu Chesson in the back of the end zone for a 123-yard score to put Big Blue ahead 27-26 … 29-26 after Speith connected with Amara Darboh for a successful two-point conversion.  As much as we can talk about Shane Morris’ missed opportunity, Freight Train got the job done and performed under pressure in a big-time situation.

Overall a ho-hum offensive performance that saw a mediocre passing attack against an average defense and an underwhelming Running Back by Committee performance that saw senior Drake Johnson lead the way with 55 yards on 10 carries. 

Perhaps the highlight was Jabrill Peppers’ first offensive TD as a Wolverine … the kid lined up in 92 plays over the course of the day, including seven offensive snaps.  He plays both ways and is a massive threat from the punt/kick-return position … look out, as he’s gonna blow some shit up during his time in A Squared.  

He floats on defense, somehow almost always in the vicinity of the ball, and he has speed and power on offense and special teams, making him a threat in a multitude of situations … plus, his moves are nastier than Nastier than the recent trend of celebrity post-spotlight facial hair … I don’t know, is it me or is Letterman looking more like the Unabomber than a former late-night talk-show hero?  And then there’s Jon Stewart and his new HBO deal sporting like his best Saul Berenson (approaching the mid-point of the season and our buddy Howard Gordon and company are still going strong, putting our quality content week after week and having all of trying to figure out the Carrie / Alison dynamic … all we know is that it’s probably gonna end with a bang, and this household is still watching), and I’m itching myself just looking at the pictures. 

On the topic of TV, gotta give props to Jimmy Kimmel for his annual Halloween gig while at the same time acknowledging that at least a portion of Jimmy Fallon’s ridiculousness comes from a little heavy hand on the liquor cabinet … no surprise there, but cut-up hands and a chipped tooth and it’s maybe a little out of control … uh, anyone have directions to Promises in Malibu?  And then there’s good-old Jeb Bush making us uncomfortable yet again when he announces that he thinks Melissa Benoit is “pretty hot” as Supergirl in the hottest new show of the season – first the “warm kiss” he offered on national TV and now this sophomoric commentary … sorry, it’s fucking gross.

The Michigan O was average, at best, but Speight’s late-game performance was worthy of continued support … but let’s kick it up a notch this weekend, guys, as the unit has to get stronger to compete late into the season. 

Michigan Defense

The Michigan D came into the game #2 in total yards against, yet the unit looked more vulnerable than a Louisville hoops recruit walking into a Capri Sun pre-party before late-night festivities commence in the Cardinal underworld … right, like Coach P had no clue what was going on … I mean, just look at the guy’s coiffe and you know otherwise.

DJ Durkin’s boys gave up 461 yards of total offense (6.8 yards per play!) -- 318 passing yards on the Maize and Blue and 144 rushing yards … this group looked exposed for the first time all season, and the reaction was frustrating to watch … occasional loss of focus, a half-step behind and some total missed plays.  I mean, let’s be honest, fellas … if we don’t get back to business on defense, we’re goin’ be awfully red and raw after OSU is through with us … ouch.  

All that being said, the end counts for a lot, and as they say in golf, there are no pictures on the scorecard.

On the final drive of the game, Minnesota converted a 3rd-and 17 with a screen pass and then a 4th-and-4 WR slant before Mitch Leidner found Dre Woltitorsky on a 22-yard reception down to Michigan’s 1 yard line … the call was 100% correct on no TD … 1st and Goal, Minnesota.  For some godforsakenly-unexplicable reason, Coach Claeys goes for the win, and his QB sneak is met by Joe Bolden, Ryan Glasgow and others on a defensive front that simply was stronger than its opposition … kind of like the Royals’ run through October.

Congrats to Kansas City for the World Series victory – not sure whether you’ve heard of Kansas City, but it’s another Midwestern city with no noticeable identity … honestly, it could be St. Louis, Indianapolis, Milwaukee or, yes, Detroit City, whatever … same shit, different state bird.  But inside a city of less than half a million people, 800,000 fans showed up for the celebratory festivities … impressive for a small town, and fun to see sports take over a community on an occasion such as this.  Oh, and then there’s the pure joy that comes with watching a NY team get a whiff of championship aroma and fall short … aren’t pics of unhappy NY fans the best?  Granted, it’s more fun to watch when it’s your own team beating up on NY – as it was for me in the ‘90s with Jordan and the Bulls running over Starks, Oakley and the rest of the thug-heads that wore blue and orange and praised Spike Lee as their greatest cheerleader.  But it’s always uplifting to see NY fans suffer, particularly at the hands of a mid-market team with lower payroll and fewer resources.  Go Royals!

The Michigan D showed up at the end and secured victory for Big Blue … and that counts.  But come on fellas, the red-and-raw Buckeye feast sounds like a bad time, so let’s focus and find our way to total defensive domination.

Michigan vs. Rutgers – The Preview

Michigan enters the game 6-2 (3-1 Big Ten) and Coach Harbaugh sees late fall as full of opportunity.  One more home game before back-to-back road trips and finally a return to the Big House to face Urben Meyer and his latest group of degenerate youth.  This weekend Rutgers makes it first journey to Ann Arbor since joining the Big Ten in 2014, and we expect Big Things from Big Blue on Game Day.

Coach Kyle Flood and his Scarlett Knights bring a 3-5 (1-4 Big Ten) record into town with a squad that really makes you look at the Big Ten and think, “powerhouse” … yeah, like looking at Tom Jones and thinking “pop star” – did anybody else catch wind of this ridiculous news nugget?  Apparently, 1970’s pop-star Tom Jones now believes that he’s African American and is out to prove his theory… seriously, at 75 he felt the need to confirm this long-time fan suspicion … I know you wrote a book and all, but go charter a fucking yacht and sail the Aegean Sea, or take up bocce ball, or golf, whatever … but inserting yourself back into daytime talk-show life through this angle is nothing short of creepy.

Anyway, Rutgers may not look the part of the Big Ten, but the Scareltt Knights qualify as a conference opponent and we’re excited for their visit – the NJ kids got pounded by Wisconsin 48-10 last weekend and lost 49-7 to Ohio State two weeks ago and Coach Jim spells blood in the water.

QB Chris Laviano has struggled these last two games– yeah, that’s like saying that VW has had a rough go of it of late – and more is to be expected when the Jersey Boys see what real Big Ten Beefycake looks like in person … no, not Sorority Night on South U. (oy, did he really go there?), more like Joe Bolden and Ryan Glasgow pumped up and geared on … pow! 

Yes, big question as to whether WR Leonte Carroo returns from the ankle injury that kept him out last weekend, as his presence on the field was a huge reason Rutgers played Sparty close a few weeks ago.  But more baggage looms on the Rutgers sidelines, as HC Kyle Flood was suspended earlier this season for “inappropriate advocacy” on behalf of a kid who he wanted eligible but who, shall we say, wasn’t sufficiently cutting the academic mustard … yes, this Rutgers team a real mess as it heads into late-season play, and that doesn’t bode well for a trip to the Big House.

Michigan opened as a 21.5 point favorite and that number looks small given the match-up on paper. Michigan needs to be perfect until Uncle Buckeye comes a knockin', and it doesn't look like the Scarlet Knights will get in our way. 

The early prediction is now in...Michigan 42 - Rutgers 7

Go Blue!

Team 136 - Game 8 - Michigan vs Minnesota

Reflection … peace … Gopher-hunting

Ah, late fall.  In some parts, leaves are turning and apple-picking is a popular weekend activity.  In the land of fruits and nuts, we wear cardigans at night and look forward to East-Coast travel to see those spectacular fall colors.  But that’s okay, as we know it’s fall because grocery stores have extra supplies of cheap candy and every other billboard is for a Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte.  Halloween decorations permeate my ‘hood (we’re a little nuts, and proud of it), and I’m fired up about late-season college football.  Boo!

I know … your response: “Wait … what?  How can you be fired up about college football after that shit-show of an ‘unfortunate’ ending two weeks ago?”  The answer: reflection.

Oh, don’t worry, we’ll get to that train-wreck of a finish … but hang on.  The bye week (or opportunity week, according to Coach Jim) came at the perfect time … time for reflection … time to consider where we’ve been, where we are and where we’re going … time to take inventory and consider next steps … time to move on.  Namaste!  

The process, although painful, proved therapeutic, and we move forward.  Michigan football is back, Blue Nation is louder than it’s been in a decade, and Team 136 is focused on the most important game of the season … the next one. Coach Harbaugh is settling in for his first Ann Arbor winter in as long as he can remember, likely recalling days of walks in the snow to Pioneer High School dreaming of life in the big leagues.  Reflection is healthy … time heals most wounds.

So let’s reflect a bit on the travesty that was Sparty, and then let’s move on, looking ahead to this weekend’s match-up against a good Minnesota team. I don’t know about you, but I can’t wait to get back to football … enough of the Twitterverse commentary and social-media mockery of our last outing, let’s play ball.

Michigan is 5-2 and ranked #15 in the country … we’re still in the Big Ten hunt, and the drive is there to continue to outperform.  This weekend is all about The Little Brown Jug, the prize that goes to the winner of the annual battle between the Wolverines and the Golden Gophers from the Land of 10,000 Lakes … and the Wolverines are ready to kick some gopher ass … Did someone say, gophers?  Let’s get it on.

Michigan v. Michigan State – The Recap

Fine, Sparty first.  For those who may have been living under a rock the last two weeks (or who have been catching up on Homeland, eager to join the rest of us in watching Carrie Mathison navigate her way through the doldrums of the US government and its clandestine operations in the Middle East), Michigan lost the annual in-state-rivalry game to Michigan State, 27-23, in front of a 111,000+ packed, and ultimately stunned, Big House crowd. Yes, Michigan led 23-21 with 10 seconds left and Big Blue’s Special Teams snatched defeat from the jaws of victory in a still-unbelievable manner …

FUCK, LET’S JUST GET THIS OUT OF THE WAY NOW.  AHHHHHH!!!!!!!! I mean, this requires an extensive rant, so stay with the program and keep up or get the fuck out, I really don’t care.  With 10 seconds left in the game, Michigan has the game all but won, and Coach Harbaugh decides to send his punt team out onto the field with the ball near mid-field as his preferred approach for putting the dagger into Mark Dantonio’s squad.  UNDER WHAT RATIONALE DOES COACH HARBAUGH LINE UP IN PUNT FORMATION?  AHHHHHHH!!!!!!  Seriously, think about it … you line up in punt formation and at least three really bad things can happen: (1) a bad snap leads to an “unfortunate” ending … yup, we saw that one play out in real time, and let’s just say the result wasn’t ideal; (2) a blocked punt returned for a touchdown; or (3) a punt return for a touchdown.  And to add fuel to the fire, you have an Australian kid as your punter … yes, we all love the legs of these Aussies and Brazilians because of their soccer or rubgy prowess, but the fact that these kids can’t spell the word PUNT is a problem.

So for starters, Coach Jimbo makes his first real mistake on the job.  What do you do instead, you ask?  Well, how about taking a knee?  Or a run up the middle for three yards?  Or you could get cute and have your QB take the snap in shotgun formation, run backwards for 20 yards and throw the ball as high and as far as possible so as to drain as much time off the clock as feasible?  It doesn’t matter … anything but PUNT was the right call.  And yes, “anything but punt” means you give MSU the ball back with somewhere between three and five seconds on the clock, and you give them one more chance at a miracle.  Let’s best honest, we have the best defense in the country and our secondary has been sharp all season … if MSU beats us Kordell-Stewart-to-Michael-Westbrook style, that would have sucked … and it would have been 100 times better than losing the way we did.  AHHHHHHH!!!!!!! 

Ok, I’m done … and no, I don’t feel any better … I'm pissed, frustrated and angered by the whole situation … in case you can’t tell.  I think the best articulation of the clusterfuck stuffed inside a shit-fest glazed with an ass-blast frosting was the Sklar brothers’ NFL piece last week (well produced, DN) … funny guys back in Ann Arbor and funny still today.  But I’ve been meditating again (yes, that’s just how we roll in the land of fruits and nuts), and I’m healing … reflection. 

True, a win over MSU would have put Michigan in the Top 10 and positioned Big Blue for a run at the title … but we dismissed that Tom-Foolery speculation earlier this season and we’ll do so again now.  The idea of Michigan losing just three games this season – to Utah, Michigan State and Ohio State – was hopeful, to say the least, just two months ago … but that’s where we sit as we approach November, and we need to focus to finish strong. 

College football continues to amaze and entertain, and the fact that this season has been defined by game-winning plays on special teams (hello, Florida State) is further evidence that endless hours drafting ridiculous copy about a bunch of guys throwing around a piece of leather in the Great Hand State is time well spent. 

The loss to Sparty doesn’t put us out of the race for the division, which still would be a coup for Harbaugh and company.  But Coach Jim is un-phased … focused on the next game.  As he said after the game, “we played winning football,” even if we didn’t get the result.  This guys’ a fucking rock … it’s not hard to believe that he starts his days with wind-sprints through Ann Arbor – he’s got his head on straight (maybe a little tighter than advised in the manual), and he has his men ready to move forward.

As for the game on the field, he’s right … Big Blue showed up and played at least close to potential.  Let’s recap … quickly, as it’s painful, I know … and then let’s move on … for good.

Michigan Offense

The Michigan offense was effective, even if uninspiring, against MSU.  QB Jake Rudock went 15-25 for 168 yards … mostly plain vanilla … but importantly he avoided any turnovers and kept his team in the game from start to finish.  Michigan moved the chains on 4-13 third-down situations, including five straight failed conversions to end the game … yeah, that probably could use some work, Coach.

No heroics by Jake Butt … WRs Jehu Chesson and Amara Darboh barely combined for 100 yards … and running-back-by-committee was quiet, aggregating less than 100 yards and with two rushing TDs coming from senior fullback Sione Houma (who?).  No, the offense didn’t turn the ball over … but the unit certainly didn’t live up to its potential either … we don’t need fireworks from this group every time it touches the ball because of the strength of the Big Blue D, but we could use more than we got, that’s for sure.  Then again, State’s D was strong and definitely played a role in Big Blue’s lackluster offensive performance.

Michigan Defense

On the other side of the ball, DJ Durkin’s D showed well against a strong Spartan attack.  MSU QB Connor Cook was 18-39 for 328 yards and a TD against the nation’s top-rated defense, improving his career record to 30-3 and inserting himself into the Heisman talk with the win (I know, really?). 

WR Aaron Burbridge had 9 catches for 132 yards (the most any receiver has put up on Big Blue all season), a very strong outing.  But the Spartan rushing attack amassed less than 100 yards all day, evidencing Big Blue’s defensive up-front strength. 

Willie Henry earned Defensive Player of the Game for Michigan, with 5 tackles (3 for a loss) and 2 sacks, although his Unnecessary Roughness penalty in the third quarter was inexcusable and hurt his team.  And speaking of penalties, Coach Jimbo likely will be making his boys run extra this week, as 8 penalties for 70 yards is horrible, particularly when considering that half of those flags resulted in first downs for MSU, including that Willie Henry call.  All that being said, the Targeting penalty on Joe Bolden that resulted in his ejection was total horse-shit … the Big Blue blogosphere was blowing up after that call, and rightfully so (even Michigan-haters were disagreeing with the call) … penalties rarely are the reason a team wins or loses, but they certainly didn’t help our cause against Sparty.

Michigan Special Teams

As for Special Teams, well let’s see … senior kicker Kenny Allen added a trio of field goals, which seems miraculous for a Michigan kicker given recent years’ performance … and that Aussie punter hit an 80-yarder in the first quarter, which was the longest punt by any player in the FBS this season.  And while all of that’s great … there was that punt-attempt-gone-bad to end the game which caused some discontent among the masses … AHHHHHHHH!!!!!! 

Reflection … meditation … peace … we move on.

Michigan v. Minnesota – The Preview

This weekend Team 136 takes on the Minnesota Golden Gophers in one of the oldest rivalries in college football… the battle for The Little Brown Jug, a piece of earthenware traded between these two schools each year since 1892.

ESPN’s Saturday-night spotlight will pit #15 Michigan against an erratic Minnesota team, one that hung tough against #5 TCU in the opener (falling 23-17) but got blanked by Northwestern (27-0) and lost 45-28 to a mediocre Nebraska team.  The Golden Gophers come in 4-3 overall (1-2 in the Big Ten) and vulnerable to a Michigan rebound.

The Little Brown Jug currently resides in Minneapolis for just the fifth time since 1967 after last year’s 30-14 Minnesota victory, where the Golden Gophers held UM to just 171 yards at the Big House.  Michigan leads the all-time series 73-25-3 and is looking to bring the prize back to Schembechler Hall.

Minnesota brings in a balanced offensive attack that will test the nation’s best defense. QB Mitch Leidner has a 59% completion rate this season and has thrown for 1,310 yards and 7 TDs (but he’s been picked 6 times, which is a stat that makes Jabrill Peppers and company salivate like late-night hosts watching The Donald perform in a presidential debate).  WR KJ Maye has a team-leading 33 catches for 350 yards and 3TDs, and he’s complemented by RB Shannon Brooks and a mild-to-decent ground game.  But this Michigan D is crazy strong, and we expect it to put a stop to the Golden Gopher offensive arsenal.

Michigan will have to create running lanes to break through the Golden Gopher defensive middle, with LBs Cody Poock, Jack Lynn and and De’Vondre Campbell all waiting to stop the Big Blue ground game.  But a combination of a steady Jake Rudock performance with a ground game that at least keeps the Minnesota D honest gives Big Blue the edge and positions Coach Harbaugh to start another upward swing.

Michigan comes in a 13.5-point favorite and the experts have this one right yet again.  Coach Harbaugh seems calm and focused, but we know he’s pissed.  The boys who wear his colors have been trained to come across un-phased, but we know they feel the pain of Sparty and will throughout the duration of this campaign.  There’s a lot of rage under those coaching clipboards and under those uniforms, and it comes out Saturday night against a Minnesota team that doesn’t know what’s coming.

The early prediction is now in … Michigan 35 – Minnesota 3.

Go Blue!

Team 136 - Game 6 - Michigan vs Northwestern

Coach's First Homecoming

Like a pre-teen settling in on Day 3 of a Disney Cruise, Coach Harbaugh and company are figuring this thing out … players and coaches are more familiar with each other, game-day strengths and weaknesses are more apparent and everyone appears more comfortable with the surroundings … that’s right, folks: zippity-doo-dah, zippity-a …  my oh my we are on our way!

Michigan comes out of College Park, MD with a 28-0 victory and a 4-1 record as it returns home to face Northwestern Saturday at the Big House – Coach Harbaugh’s first Homecoming game.  Big Blue relied on its D to pitch back-to-back shutouts for the first time since 2000, and Coach Jimmy is starting to like the feel of his Block M cap.  Coach, who continues to limit pre-game on-field activity and other related game-day distractions, even hosted Brother John for a sidelines visit and what appeared to be some casual hang time – yup, lots of Har-bro references this week … yada yada yada … sorry, just felt the need to add one more.

Game Day was a success, with Michigan winning its conference opener and looking ahead to the tough part of the schedule – next up is Northwestern and Homecoming.  Michigan has won four consecutive Homecoming games and looks to continue the streak at the Big House against Pat Fitzgerald’s Wildcats on Saturday.  But hang on, let’s recap the Maryland win and get a little jiggy with it before preparing for those pesky purple cats from the land of Buffalo Joe’s.

Michigan vs. Maryland Recap

The festivities were underway early on Saturday due to Hurricane Joaquin, whose bark fortunately was far worse than its bite (so says the guy who fled the Midwest for the soft surroundings of Brentwood), and the Big Blue was focused on getting Coach Jimbo his first Big 10.  The offense puttered along, generating enough big plays to at least show a quality gap on the scoreboard … and the defense was more fierce than a competent freshman’s commitment to live on Central Campus, stymying every part of the Maryland attack and taking Big Blue to 4-1 on the season.

The Michigan Offense

The Michigan offensive attack was mild, at best, Saturday afternoon.  Two big plays boosted the group – Drake Johnson’s 31-yard screen-pass TD and Jehu Chesson’s 66-yard jet sweep that immediately followed – but otherwise the performance was flat and about as interesting as a long-winded novel about the history of maritime biology. 

QB Jake Rudock went 16-32 for 180 yards and a TD and a pick … more underwhelming than anything M Night Shyamalan has done since the Sixth Sense.  Chesson had four catches plus the sweep TD but otherwise was quiet, Amara Darboh had only 3 grabs for 27 yards, and I Like Jake Butt had 4 catches for just 61 yards.  The pass game was barely noticeable, save for the one or two big plays that contributed to the ultimate blowout, and that’s not going to cut it as we approach late fall.  And speaking of Jake Butt, he had that ridiculous one-handed TD catch in OT against Northwestern two years ago and he remembers how good it tasted … he’s ready for another big game and we’re looking for numbers out of our favorite Big Blue Butt this weekend.

As for the ground game, last week’s stand-out DeVeon Smith didn’t make the trip to Maryland due to the foot he injury he suffered against BYU, but that running-back-by-committee approach sufficed, with Drake Johnson leading the effort with 72 yards on 14 carries and a TD while also adding a 31-yard TD reception.  True, the next closest running back had less than 30 yards … and that’s weak … especially against a Defense that could have come out of 1960’s Haight Ashbury as its mascot’s name suggests … fuck, Phil and his chicken legs could have blown holes through this defensive front.  I mean, Michigan managed only 43 rushing yards in the first half, 20 of which came on a fourth-down Rudock scamper, and the ground attack only improved those numbers when passing no longer became necessary late in the game.

Big Blue had two fumbles in the first quarter (Rudock and also Ty Isaac the guilty parties), and that can’t happen when the offense isn’t pulling its weight in the first place.  A total of 3 turnovers on the day is an ugly number and something that Coach Jimmy really has to work on to ensure his team is positioned for success as the campaign continues.  The Michigan O was able to escape the East Coast with another lackluster performance … we like a strong D in Ann Arbor, but we need something better than Michael Keaton’s Dream Team to line up on offense or this forward progress will end quickly with bigger and better teams on the horizon. 

The Michigan Defense

DJ Durkin’s Defense continues to dominate, having its way with opponents like a group of stoned seniors attacking Mr. Spot’s after a productive dollar-pitcher night at Rick’s. 

Big Blue limited Maryland to 105 total yards on the day, picked off Terps QBs 3 times and allowed 0 points for the second straight week.  Maryland earned seven first downs all day and went 1-18 on third-down attempts … hot damn! 

UM has allowed a total of 14 points in the last four games, and the Big Blue D is among the highest-performing defensive units in the country, ranking second nationally in total defense.

 Fifth-year senior linebacker Desmond Morgan led the squad with nine tackles and a pick, and Joe Bolden and Mario Ojemudia each added 6 and 5 tackles respectively – although the Ojemudia injury is worrisome … sounds like Coach Durkin is going to have to fill a gap, and quickly, and apply some of that special-sauce gel that makes it all fit together nicely and perform like a Wolverine machine.  The D-Line was in the zone and the result was total domination; we need that to continue as opponents get stronger and we enter late fall.  

And CB Jabrill finally broke loose for a semi-long punt return, going 31 yards and showing his highlight-reel potential … one of these days, he’s going to find a hole and go all the way and that little tune will piddle out of your mouth … da na na, da na na.

Michigan vs. Northwestern Preview

Warm-ups are over … it’s time to focus.  Pat Fitzgerald and his Northwestern Wildcats come to town this weekend, with Michigan State the week after – Coach Jimmy and his boys need to be ready.  And let’s not get ahead of ourselves … these aren’t your grandmother’s Northwestern Wildcats. 

Most of us remember Northwestern as the doormat of college football back in the 80’s and early 90’s … high graduation rates, low level of talent on the football field … and not a lot of care for football.  But the school grew up towards the end of the last century and figured out that football could be a strong value-add to the platform instead of a distraction, which is how it had been viewed in parts of ivory-tower academia.  And then the purple cats went on a roll, winning three Big Ten championships or co-championships since 1995 and having been “bowl eligible” six out of the last seven seasons.  Coaching, infrastructure, recruiting and commitment all are relatively new concepts for Northwestern football, but they’re smart in Evanston and they’re figuring shit out pretty well.

 Yes, I remember the day when Northwestern was an automatic W on the calendar … regardless of what was happening in Ann Arbor, Dyche Stadium in Evanston was less intimidating than that one-credit Dinosaurs and Other Failures course we took to satisfy our Natural Sciences obligation.  Then Pat Fitzgerald arrived … first in uniform and then on the sidelines, a decade-long wonder-story that has seen the program develop and improve by leaps and bounds … yes, it’s had its fair share of politics and drama, but isn’t that par for the course in the business of college athletics at the Big Ten level?  The death of Randy Walker in 2006 really brought this place together, and AD Jim Phillips’ focus and strategic thinking is taking Wildcats Athletics to a new level ... now, whether that’s to Tier 1 Big Ten level, who is someone from Ann Arbor to judge, right?  That being said … no, it’s not.  But it does deserve respect, and more than a smidge … it also comes to town with the higher national ranking and an undefeated record.

 But take it easy, Director Phillips -- you’re gaining momentum, fine, but you’re not competing on America’s Got Talent.  Apparently, Northwestern administration misses the days of glee club and ballroom dance as popular extracurricular activities and is encouraging football players to “create atmosphere” in the program … on the sidelines, in the locker room, on Saturday-night library dates, fuck if I know.  I mean, I thought this was college football and the goal was winning, and doing so as a team if you played for that guy named Bo.  Putting players up to dancing stunts to permeate social media seems like an idea hatched by a Washington think tank that’s trying to figure out how the real world works – I know, it’s ridiculous to the point of comedy … yes, the kid does show flashes of Elaine Benes brilliance, but puhlease. 

Anyhoo, the Wildcats bring a 5-0 record to the Big House, and while that resume includes patsy walkovers against Eastern Illinois and Ball State, it also includes wins against Duke and Minnesota, plus the impressive opening-week 16-6 home win over then-#21 Stanford.  This team has a steady offense and a solid defense; Coach Harbaugh needs his A game to get this W.

 Northwestern redshirt freshman QB Clayton Thorson went 14-19 for 128 yards against Minnesota last weekend and scored two touchdowns in the win.  And for a young and immature kid from Wheaton, IL, Thorson has had a strong start to the season – he’s 64-113 for 711 yards with 4 TDs and 3 picks.  Granted, he’s no Brett Basanez (oy) but Big Blue’s D needs eyes on #18 in Purple.  Justin Jackson contributed 120 yards on the ground in the Wildcats’ 27-0 win last weekend, and he has 636 rushing yards on 136 carries this season -- #21 also needs close scrutiny by the Wolverine defense.

The Northwestern defense has been strong, solid and difficult to for opposing offenses to figure out.  Perhaps it's the increased entering-freshman median SAT score, but the NU coaching staff has put a system in place that’s worked.  The unit has allowed only three TDs in five games and it limited Minnesota to 173 yards of total offense, shutting down all of the Gophers’ fourth-down-conversion attempts.  Yup, the NU D is for real and needs to be taken seriously.  And this one should be a defensive battle, with points few and far between, and full of intensity and positive energy. Purple brings heat to the Big House, but not enough to take down the Maize and Blue fire, as Coach Jimmy is ready for his first big conference test of the season. 

Michigan has won 8 of the last 10 against Northwestern, falling to the Wildcats only once in the last ten years (21-14 at the Big House back in 2008).  Last year’s 10-9 Michigan road win came with high drama … De’Veon Smith led Big Blue with 121 yards and a TD and Michigan came out with a win only because Northwestern’s Trevor Siemian slipped attempting a two-point conversion with seconds left in regulation … the Wildcats went for the win rather than the tie – an unconventional approach at home that backfired.

 These two teams both enter the Big House Saturday afternoon with hopes of continued progress … a potential statement game in the making on both sides.  The experts think Michigan comes out on top by a touchdown, a seemingly aggressive number given the recent history of this match-up, perhaps reflective of Coach’s first Homecoming and an excepted emotional boost in favor of the home team. 

Michigan leads the overall series 56-15, but it faces a Northwestern team that’s strong and deserving of its increased national visibility.  But it’s not that strong … it’s gonna take a lot to take down Coach Jimmy at home in a game of this magnitude … and Purple doesn’t bring enough to get the job done.

 The early prediction is now in.  Michigan 21 – Northwestern 10

Go Blue!