Dr. Sap is here share with you his keen eye, his passion for the past, and of course his beloved decals! Sap comes to you thanks to our friends at Underground Printing – I love their ‘Made in Ann Arbor’ collection.
*Lead photo: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports Nov. 21, 2020
Some wins are more difficult than others, and this victory over Rutgers was more difficult than it needed to be. But a win is a win. This team needed a character-building victory in the worst way. Adversity can be debilitating or it can prove to be opportunistic. Michigan buckled…but they battled back and that was great to see. Now let’s talk about those victorious Wolverines!
OFFENSIVE CHAMPION Easy choice here. Cade McNamara was ready when his number was called and #12 played like a fifth-year senior against Rutgers. He was accurate, made plays and never blinked. This kid has moxie and has nice touch on his passes.
The offense needed him. The entire Michigan team needed him. Speed In Space works when the QB is comfortable directing the offense and spreading the ball around. McNamara just might be the right guy for this offense.
DEFENSIVE CHAMPION I gotta go with the guy that got you the game-clinching interception. Daxton Hill is the Guts and Glue of the Michigan secondary. His ability to make plays is much needed back there. And that final play? It reminded me of Thom Darden’s clutch interception against Ohio State in 1971.
It’s rare that a DB gets a walk-off INT. When you do, you definitely get a helmet sticker from me!
SPECIAL TEAMS CHAMPION I’ll say it again: big plays on special teams can provide the necessary jolt of momentum a team needs to take control of a game. Certainly Giles Jackson did that with his 95-yard kickoff return to start the second half.
Is it just me, or does Jackson put you on the edge of your seat every time he touches the ball? The only other player that did that for me was Anthony Carter. That’s right– I’m going there, Jackson is approaching AC-level excitement for me whenever he has the ball in his hands.
His kickoff return was the shot of confidence this team needed. It shook off the doldrums and made them feel they could win this game. Maybe this confidence will be infectious and stay with this team into next week’s game? I hope so!
Stay positive. Think victory!
