A Maize-Nificent Finish For Michigan! Wolverines Stun Badgers 27-25!

I'll admit it. I very nearly gave up on this team today.

It's not that I didn't expect a slow start for the Wolverines this year, but I did expect noticeable improvement from week to week.

At first, I was getting ready to say that Michigan had finally hit rock bottom. Michigan had a horrible first half, but ended up giving us one of the best games in Michigan history. An instant classic.

It didn't start out that way, though.

After turning the ball over more than a half-dozen times against Notre Dame, I expected Michigan to have learned some ball control.

Instead, the Wolverines gave that dreadful performance a fitting encore. They promptly came out against the ninth-ranked Badgers and turned the ball over five times in the first half. 

Michigan's offense was absolutely dreadful in that first half. Most of their plays resulted in negative yardage.

If there was one bright spot in that first half, it was that Wisconsin was only able to score 19 points off Michigan's five turnovers.

I'll say this. Michigan's defense has to be recognized as one of the top defenses in college football even better than Wisconsin's. It was a monumental task for that Wolverines defense to hold Wisconsin's offense to 19 points in the first half when you factor in the turnovers.

At halftime, I struggled with turning the TV off and getting some chores done. After all, it very well could have been 35-0 at that point. However, my experience as a Detroit Lions fan told me to stick it out.

I don't know what got into this team after the half, but Michigan was completely different. It was Jekyll and Hyde.

The Wolverines defense locked down in the third quarter and held Wisconsin to multiple three-and-outs. Then Threet took it from there.

Steven Threet is the kind of quarterback Michigan deserves. A Michigan fan since birth, Threet played with the passion and determination that a fan of this team can't help but love.

Michigan hadn't had good field position all day, so when Threet started on Michigan's 15-yard line, it was par for the course.

Now, here's where I started noticing a pattern. Remember strength and conditioning coach Mike Barwis saying his team would still be running at full speed late in the game? He was right.

Threet led the Wolverines on an 85-yard drive, capping it off with a 26-yard touchdown pass to freshman tight end Kevin Koger.

Wisconsin got the ball back and promptly went three-and-out. The Badger defense had been on the field a long time during Michigan's last drive and Michigan was happy to take advantage.

Michigan again marched right down the field. Threet was accurate and sharp, and Brandon Minor capped the drive with a 34 yard touchdown run.

The Big House was starting to wake up, and boos turned into cheers. Threet was walking back and forth pumping up the crowd, and you got the feeling that Michigan wasn't losing this game.

Wisconsin quarterback Allen Evridge came right back out and threw an interception to John Thompson, who, with a horde of blockers, ran it all the way back for a touchdown.

Michigan would go for the two-point conversion, but failed. It didn't matter, though. Michigan would take a 20-19 lead and it was pandemonium at the Big House.

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