I didn’t think anyone put a hand on Fitz all day but he somehow ended up with Herbie Husker blood on his shoulder pads. The beat down was complete. Three phases. Best team performance since Tebow got served in the 2008 Capital One Bowl. Denard seemed to get that extra gear back and was comfortable in the pocket and for the most part made sound decisions. The defense ranks squarely in the top 20 in the country, and inside the top 10 in scoring defense. That numb feeling you’ve had each of the past few seasons is gone. That fear that the young men donning the maize and blue can’t get better as the season moves to November is fading. They’re not only better they are, remarkably, kind of badass. Wow. What else can you say? Ok, fine, some nitpicks: Losing Contain. This team is still has the occasional breakdown defending the run on the corner. It’s about contain and 1-2-3: 1) maintain leverage, 2) keep outside arm free, 3) force runner inside. I’m available for a demonstration, suckers. Half Management. It didn’t come up in the postgame (and why would it?) but the clock end of the half was poorly managed. After all the screw ups we still held a timeout at midfield, why not take a shot at…
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Overwhelming
Michigan 45, Nebraska 17. Now celebrate: More tomorrow.
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Nebraska Pre-Game Photos (including B. Dunn for the recruitniks)
Posting a few photos before the laptop dies. Buckeye commit Bri’onte Dunn in for an unofficial visit. He’s a big lad: Herbie Husker feeling it No problem here. See U-M job postings on Monday. Hoke giving the scoreboard a big “WTF?” Husker players showing some #toughness before the game in shorts and t-shirts Well executed card show – fans had their cards and instructions taped to the seats. If you don’t like it…GO BACK TO RUSSIA!
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TWIMFbH: Buckeye Fumblerooski Fails, Wolverines Prevail (1983)
You know that the Cornhuskers are associated with one of the most famous plays in college football history– the fumblerooski. Is it possible that Nebraska coach Tom Osborne was inspired by Ohio State’s Earle Bruce to call that play in the ‘84 Orange Bowl?? You be the judge. This time we take a look back at the Michigan-Ohio game 28 seasons ago, played on November 19, 1983. As always, you can listen to it out before the KeyBank Countdown to Kick-off on WTKA 1050AM tomorrow, or click play now: [display_podcast] – You can hear all of the This Week… clips here. And here’s the ‘84 Nebraska fumblerooski – pure gold:
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Covering Crisler
A little show and tell. I thought I’d share a few thoughts about the media experience covering hoops as I made it to the Towson game Monday. First, a view from the new media section: The media used to sit in two rows: one midway up the lower bowl (where the students sit today, see the maize rage filling in above) and another just below the concourse in the blue section as well. The perspective was a bit closer in the Blue section before of course, but the new area is more spacious and has a nice angle on the game. I asked a few media vets what they thought of the new space and they seemed pretty good with it. The postgame was pretty interesting. At the end of the game, U-M media relations walked around with a shortlist, asking the press with whom they wanted to speak after the game. I wanted to ask for Jalen but didn’t. Most of the media who hang around postgame then head down on the court, through the tunnel and wind down a hallway (not quite the kitchen in Good Fellas) and enter the Junge Center—the building between Crisler and the Big House. Shortly after the players arrived, spread around the room and took questions for about 10-15 minutes. A few shots:…
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Extra Medium – Michigan 31, Illinois 14
What a relief. Yes, this is a below average Illinois team but it’s still a win in a Big Ten road game and you know we don’t have many of those the past few years. If you were gripping in the second half you weren’t alone—Michigan had many shots to put that out of reach and didn’t until the end of course. Props to Gardner for coming in and taking it home—he deserves a lot of credit for getting it done. Seems like Al Borges got the message to ease off the pro-style pedal a bit and let Denard do his thing. #16 seemed much more comfortable despite the mistakes. I still think he’s missing a gear, but he played a better game and we’ll need him even better against Nebraska. This sets up a nice one next week against the Huskers (I’m so glad they beat PSU)—you’ve got to be jacked for Saturday. Showdown at noon and it’s going to be good. Obviously doesn’t tell the whole story but the NCAA data is nice to see: #11 rushing offense, #33 total offense, #17 total defense, #7 scoring defense. Of course Western Michigan isn’t included. J.T. Floyd (or “T.J.” per the BTN postgame show) turned into Chuck Woodson today, shades of Nick Sheridan turning into to Tom Brady at Minneapolis…
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Great Q Shoe, Great A Super Drew
From Twitter, prompted by a solid question from my man MGoShoe: Response from Drew Henson:
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Dr. Sap’s Decals–Illinois
Matt Wile: 5 decals – for 5 Non-Returnable (Aluminum Beer Can) Kickoffs!* Don’t kid yourself at the importance of these kicks – they forced Illinois to drive 80 yards almost all game and that made a HUGE difference! Fitzgerald Toussaint: 3 decals – 1st QTR 65-yard run, 25-yard run, and 4th QTR 27-yard TD run David Molk: 3 decals – seal blocks on Toussaint 65-yard and 25-yard runs in 1st QTR, seal block on Denard 2-yard TD run in 2nd Qtr J.T. Floyd: 4 decals – 1st QTR PBU, 4th QTR INT (would have given one more for a pick-six!), 4th QTR PBU, +1 editor’s choice, for transforming into Chuck Woodson for this game, wow. Ryan Van Bergen: 3 decals – 3rd QTR sack, and two 4th QTR sacks Denard Robinson: 2 decals – 5-yard TD run in 1st QTR, 2-yard TD run in 2nd QTR. Jake Ryan: 2 decals – 1st QTR TFL, 3rd QTR PASTING hit on QB during option-pitch – outstanding! Jordan Kovacs: 3 decals: 1 for forced fumble in 2nd QTR, 1 for TFL in 3rd QTR, and +1 editor’s choice for actually being Zack Novak and fooling us this whole time. Thomas Gordon: 2 decals for fumble recovery in 2nd QTR and PBU in 4th QTR Michael Schofield: 1 decal for seal block on…
