• Charmed I’m Sure | Michigan 38, Northwestern 31

    Win 902 will be remembered for a long time and Brady Hoke is clearly a bit charmed.  While Treezy’s ridiculous catch will naturally be the play everyone remembers, that comeback required quite a couple mistakes by Northwestern and few great plays to set up Gardner’s heave and of course to win the game in overtime.   First, let me grab my retro-spectacles to ensure my vision is 20-20.  That’s better…I can see clearly now.   For openers, Northwestern took that delay of game penalty on 4th down on the U-M 44.  They should have just punted it there and not sacrificed the five yards.  Then, with the ball at midfield, the punter hit a short, line-drive right into Gallon’s hands which is just about the worst thing that can happen.  I’m assuming that Fitz told his punter to get the ball off quickly to avoid a block, but Hoke outflanked him by setting up the return to the surprise of a few folks including Brian Griese up in the ESPN booth.   Then Treezy somehow was singled covered down the field before the lucky tip and the epic grab.   To Michigan’s credit, props to Hoke for calling the punt return.  Heck, he even putting an extra man back there instead going with the block.  Next, after Roundtree’s grab, cheers to the offense for…

  • Dr. Sap’s Decals – Northwestern Style

    Ed.  Steve Sapardanis aka “Dr. Sap” is back with his decals.  This week I added the Editor’s Pick & added a bit to the Fan Award.  Here are the picks from Week 1, Week 2, Week 3, Week 4, Week 5, Week 6 and Week 7 and Week 8 and Week 9. OFFENSE ROY ROUNDTREE – I’m sure most of you had the same reaction I did with Roundtree’s performance on Saturday – IT’S ABOUT TIME!! We knew he had it in him, it was just a matter of WHEN he would have his breakout game. Not only was he targeted more times against Northwestern than he was all year, he drew THREE pass interference calls – I don’t even know if Desmond had as many in one game. Welcome back, Treezy! DEFENSE KENNY DEMENS – He didn’t play a perfect game but he did make the tackle of his life – TWICE! It’s a play and situation you dream of as a kid growing up playing Pop Warner Football. Demens not only made the big stop to win the game on 4th Down, but he also made the stop the play before on 3rd Down! OUTSTANDING! SPECIAL TEAMS BRENDAN GIBBONS – We’ve called him, “Gibby” and “Lefty” but I think we should just call him “MONEY!” Eleven field goals…

  • Sugar Bowl Postgame: Hoke, Denard, Junior Hemingway

    Photo via MVictors.  Transcript Via Sugar Bowl media relations: Allstate Sugar Bowl Michigan Post-Game Press Conference Head Coach Brady Hoke Quarterback Denard Robinson Wide Receiver and MVP Junior Hemingway Place Kicker Brendan Gibbons THE MODERATOR: Welcome to the official postgame press conference for the 2012 Allstate Sugar Bowl.             We’ll begin with Michigan head coach Brady Hoke. We’ve been joined by Denard Robinson, Junior Hemingway, and Brendan Gibbons.             At this time I’m going to turn it over to Coach Hoke, a few thoughts on the game, and we’ll open the floor for questions.             COACH HOKE: You know, thank you. It was a great college football game. Two teams who played extremely hard, two teams that played for each other. I think Virginia Tech and Coach Beamer, they did an excellent job, when you look at how they defended us a little bit and then offensively and then you look at the Michigan Wolverines and how our guys stayed together, complemented each other.             We talked about playing 60 minutes of Michigan football. We played about 63 and a half, I think. So I’m just real proud, real proud of our seniors, real proud of how they took this football team last January and molded it and did a tremendous job.             And we always have a tremendous legacy…