Scarlet & Prey: Michigan 49, Rutgers 16 | Sights & Sounds

So much changes from one season to another, but we haven’t seen anything like this.  Even in 1969, Bo inherited a squad that went 8-2 including 8 straight, and was in the top 10 during the entire month of November. Even Yost’s perfectly perfect 1901 debut was preceded by a 1900 team that was no slouch. To head into a game against a team who beat you last year as 4 touchdown favorites and beat them by five– feels damn good.  Sure, it was an imploding Rutgers squad and it was far from perfect, but it’s all good.

With the circumstances of the evening now there’s a shot at not only a top-tier bowl game, but there’s also possibly more.   To the sights and sounds:

Game Program.  Another one out of the park (and the hand model is Costanza-esque!):

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MSU and the East Divison.  State got f*cked, we got fluked, so be it.  I give us around a coin toss chance of beating both Indiana and Penn State to set up The Game.  Either way, the Ohio game will be epic but wouldn’t that be something?  But I’m worried enough about those two games to think about anything or anyone else.

Refs.  Ok, State really got screwed.  A theme of these games continues to be the crappy refs and the crappy replays.  I’m sick of it.  I propose we get rid of one of them – the replays.  Let the crappy refs call the game and let’s let the chips fall and let us get back to our miserable lives. I’m ok with the consequences (including Michigan incorrectly losing the ball on the first play of the game Saturday).  I’d rather have: 1) my time, 2) my sanity, and 3) the flow of the game back.  Caption contest winner dedicated to the refs:

hand

Mood and Uniform Timeline.   Put The Mood at 86. I’m wearing Michigan stuff at brunch on Sunday and so should you.  No updates to the Uniform timeline but note that added to the list of freaks with decals inside the stripes are Desmond Morgan (HT: Mike of the #THC) and Jourdan Lewis.  STOP!

Jabrill Hand

Too soon???   North end zone in the final seconds of the State game.  This is right after the MSU guy grabbed the ball.  I can see your O-face, click to enlarge if you can deal with it:

o face

The guy in the bright maize M sweatshirt in row 1 middle is my favorite.   He dropped his head immediately after State grabbed the ball, flashing instantly through the 5 stages of grief:

o face

Kickoff Grab. Props to the gent in the first row of Section 13 who snagged the kickoff and immediately tossed the pigskin up the stands to head out of the stadium.  I’m not sure if it made it out?   Well done either way.

A: The preferred tie brand of M head coaches and Jeopardy champions. Q: What is Van Boven?  Check out J! on Wednesday for the return of champion John Schultz and his VB tie.   John is not quite at Craig Barker of The Hoover Street Rag status as a J! champion, but I’ll be watching this week.

So onto next week.  Let’s sink the Bismarck and the Hoosiers in Bloomington – Go Blue!

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