If you thought the only argument in Ann Arbor was about Lloyd Carr's future, you were mistaken.Don't believe me?
Check just about any Wolverines message board after a game in which true freshman QB Ryan Mallett has taken over for injured senior Chad Henne.
Some fans argue that, performance aside, no one should have anything negative to say about Mallett. After all, he's just a freshman—and with time he'll be one of the greatest quarterbacks in Michigan history.
Others aren't so kind.
Mallett's critics argue that Michigan would have lost several games this season, particularly the game at Illinois, had the youngster been under center for the duration. Yes, he can throw the ball, they say—but he lacks confidence, discipline, and precision.
And with the Wolverines dropping yet another game to an unranked opponent this weekend, the anti-Mallett movement is stronger than ever.
It's not that the Wisconsin loss matters that much in the big picture. With Ohio State falling to Illinois, Michigan can still win the Big Ten outright with a victory over the Buckeyes next week.
But some fans still had their hearts set on a Michigan win over the Badgers, if only to maintain the winning streak that had saved the Wolverines from national oblivion after a disappointing 0-2 start.
For those fans, Mallett's performance simply wasn't good enough. In fact, they've openly stated that Michigan wouldn't have lost if Henne had stayed in at quarterback.
And they aren't alone in their frustration.
Junior wide receiver Mario Manningham was so frustrated with Mallett throughout the game that even the commentators noticed it. At one point, Manningham and Mallett engaged in an on-camera sideline confrontation. Not long afterwards, Manningham gritted his teeth in anger after Mallett threw an interception.
For a short while following that interception, it appeared to the announcers as though no one on the team would speak to Mallett except for Henne and Mike Hart.
Of course, the Wisconsin loss wasn't all on Mallett. His offensive teammates didn't exactly pick him up, and it's not his fault the Wolverine defense didn't deliver at Camp Randall.
You have to wonder if Michigan was looking ahead to the Ohio State. You also have to wonder why Henne (suffering from a shoulder injury) and Hart (suffering from an ankle injury) couldn't tough it out against Wisconsin—a team the Wolverines had to know Mallett couldn't hang with.
Mallett needed a lot more help out there—and, unlike in the Penn State game, he simply didn't get it.
Unfortunately, the young QB has been made a scapegoat by some fans—and probably by some teammates too. As a whole, Michigan looks to be heading back to the college football doghouse, especially if the team doesn't beat the Buckeyes and win its bowl game.
Regardless of how they got to 8-3, the Wolverines are now in a position to see their regular season end just the way it started—with two straight losses.
3 comments Last one added about 1 year ago — Leave a Comment
Anonymous about 1 year ago
this whole bash michigan thing for the past 5 or 6 years is nothing but a crock of shit. everyteam goes through this situation. ohio state lost to michigan 8 out of 10 games in the 90's. nobody says shit about how bad they were. other teams that are in a low point include usc. miami. florida state. nebraska. notre dame. penn state. just to name a few. penn state has sucked for as long as i can remember. nobody bashes joe pa.
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
You Michigan fans are pathetic in believing the Wisconsin game didn't mean anything to you. Had you won the game, you would already be at least co-Big Ten champions and heading to the Rose Bowl. Instead you will lose to Ohio St. and end up finishing 2nd in the conference yet again!
One other thing to remember is that the Badgers played without PJ Hill (except for 2 snaps) due to his lingering injury and without their best wide receiver. Otherwise he would have shoved the ball even further down your pathetic throats just like Ohio St. will do this weekend.
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
the wisconsin game didnt mean anything even if michigan won and then lost to osu michigan would'nt be able to make the rose bowl. and u prb havent noticed michigan were playing without a starting rb and only had our starting qb for only 2 series. plus osu lost to illinois are u serious michigan beat them without henne or hart and manningham came out for a bit. if osu just did there job and won then michigan would be guranteed a spot in the rose bowl win or lose ANYWAYZ ILLINI SHOWED HOW OVERRATED TODD BOEKMAN IS...........................
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