This was a strange one at times. Pregame Saturday had more of a feel of a true season opener as last week it felt like fans were still suffering over their hangover following the loss in South Bend. The mood was up, the day was hot but beautiful and it just seemed more lively out there. Then the game started and once again the fans got testy after a few stalled drives in a row, and a few instances where the offensive line seemed overwhelmed or at best, confused. There were even a couple glaring defensive breakdowns.
More and more it does seems to be about what we thought it was – the offensive line. If there’s a shot at a truly great season it’s coming down to the in-season maturity of that group. I’m certain the coaches are taking a hard look..like, this hard:
Sights and Sounds:
He Stayed. That’s Michigan Man Dick Caldarazzo, offensive guard on Bo’s 1969 team, looking great in the blue lot before the game:
Forbidden fruit. Each week this guy taunts the band as they march out of the stadium, imploring them to take a cookie.
Of course your beloved Meechigan Marching Band is supposed to be in Queens guard mode and dutifully march on as if there were no cookies dangling inches away. And yes, for the record I did see at least one gloved paw reach out and grab a cookie, but I’m not naming names (trombone).
Acing the Mace – Speaking of the band, much props to drum major McKenna Thayer Kelly Bertoni for the perfect mace toss over the crossbar as part of the pregame routine, clearly inspired by my encouragement following last week’s miss.
Mood. Based on twitter feedback we’re hanging tight at 78.
What do you mean I’m a funny guy? The Sklar brothers are back in town next week (Friday-Saturday at Ann Arbor Comedy Showcase) and they recently joined Angelique on her new pod, worth a listen especially the part about Harbaugh about 40 minutes in:
[Harbaugh] said to us, “I don’t get it. Anytime I’m trying to be funny no one laughs. And anytime I’m not trying to be funny everyone laughs.” And Randy and I both laughed at that. [Harbaugh] was like, “See..I wasn’t trying to be funny..”
Umm, yeah – that’s Harbaugh. P.S., I’ll be at the Friday 10:30pm Sklar show handing out virtual helmet stickers.
You better don’t. Dude, SMU’s head coach Sonny Dykes got hit with a 15 yard penalty pretty early in the game for saying something obviously pretty brutal to the officials. He must have called the ref a thief?? Oh snap!
Three letter snark. Michigan improved to 3-9 in their last 12 vs. teams with S, M and U in their initials.
Zip It or at least Note It. There was a lot of hubbub about this:
Akron knocks off Northwestern 39-34 for its first win against a Big Ten team since 1894 – yes, 1894
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) September 16, 2018
OK, ok. Look I get this makes me look like history-snob guy but I maintain if you’re going to make this statement, and lots of people did, you have to note that there wasn’t a Big Ten in 1894. Props to BTN’s Dave Revsine for doing as much on The Final Drive. And for the record, the non-conference team Akron beat in 1894 was Ohio State, and the Buckeyes were not a member of the conference until 1912. Has anyone checked if Akron has played and defeated Chicago at any point since 1894? OK now I’m done.
More Whiskey. This game was looong man. And that’s coming from a guy who watched from the pleasant climate-controlled confines of the press box. I tweeted out this during one of the breaks and I got the sense that most don’t know what this is about:
we miss Whiskey now more than ever pic.twitter.com/2XQppF5zLm
— MVictors (@MVictors) September 15, 2018
Here’s the context if you need it, but in a nutshell we used to trot this fellow and watch him chase that ball and it was fun, man. Let’s get a pooch out there again.
Go Blue, Follow MVictors on Twitter
Related:
- We’re Keeping These (talking about serious fandom)
- Mustang Sally Champions | Dr. Sap’s Decals (DPJ, Metellus, #3)
- Calling ‘The Catch’
- Yakety Sacks | This Week in Michigan Football History
- Moeller and Holtz Breaking Down The Catch | Notre Dame vs Michigan 1991
