Wolverines Find A Way To Win Again, 36-33, Over The Indiana Hoosiers.

    Saturday, September 26th, 2009. The Big House in Ann Arbor. Indiana Hoosiers vs. The Michigan Wolverines on an overcast autumn day that wrought mist, rain, and a shy sun.  The Hoosiers were 3-0 as were the Wolverines.  This was the Michigan homecoming event and the start to their Big Ten season. 

     To much who is given much is expected. The Hoosiers have turned the tide and proved competitive last year. This year more is expected of their talented team led by QB Ben Chappell who fought a good fight completing 21 / 38 pass for a solid 265 yards. He had 1 INT, and TD passes to round out the 33 points his team put on the board.

    As always the Wolverines have great talent, 40 years of winning history as a bedrock foundation for their second year with Coach Rich Rodriguez. Much is expected of them, always and probably forever. New recruits, second year players, juniors and seniors come to Ann Arbor ready for the big game. Those who stay will be champions.

    Once again the first half was an exciting see-saw battle. The Hoosiers got the ball first and on their first drive score. Two plays later the Wolverines scored on a screen pass to who else, Carlos Brown for the TD. The Hoosiers ball control power offense moved into Wolverine territory several times.

     Each time the Wolverine defense held the Hoosiers to only a field goal in the red-zone and 3 field goals by the end of the first half. Despite an 1 INT by Forcier and  1 FUMBLE by Denard Robinson the Wolverines managed to keep the game close by half time losing by 2 points, 23-21. Whoa-Nelly! Talk about growing more grey hairs.

     Second half. The big question was  would Defensive Coach Robinson's "magic blackboard" yield a strategy to stop an offense that led Michigan in total offense 283 yards to Michigan's 247 before going to the locker room.

     The 3rd quarter opened with a nifty drive with Denard Robinson at QB. They drove the ball in a few plays close to the Hoosier red-zone only to miss a bad snap, which pushed the Wolverines back 21 yards. Punt. Meanwhile the Hoosiers would move the ball down-field at will it seemed, and once again be limited to a field goal to go ahead 26-21. 

    Sadly, the Wolverines gained only 2 positive yards in the 3rd quarter. Ouch! That was due to negative yardage loss due to a second bad snap from center. However, Michigan defense prevailed. Donovan Warren, David Brown, Graham, and others would make plays that stymied the Hoosier offense when needed.

    4th quarter, Michigan loosing.  Defense turns it up a notch. Tate and his offense turns their game up a notch also. Once again the Michigan running game, led by Carlos Brown, with crucial help from Brandon Minor who helped set up Tate Forcier's 4th quarter TD run, backed up by the QB's  successful 2 point conversion, gave the Wolverines the lead.

     Hoosiers drive again, but are limited once more to a FG attempt. The kicker Freeland who was 3/3 on short range goals would have to kick a 42 yard goal. No good. What a break for the Wolverines who had to endure some poor officiating that went against them earlier.

    Other failed attempts by the Hoosier's Chapell, who threw an INT to Donovan Warren, CB, would secure a 4th Wolverine victory with help from Brandon Minor, RB, M. Odoms, WR, and a determined Tate Forcier, QB, who despite some mistakes once again played with resolve and overcame his errors in the end. Michigan 36, Indiana 33.

    Both teams totaled over 400 yards of offense. Michigan made more mistakes that spoiled opportunities to score. Michigan defense held their ground despite being banged up and missing 3 starters in their secondary.

     Michigan's offense: T. Forcier, 11/22 passing for 185 yards 2 TDs, and 1 INT. D. Robinson, QB, 10/43 on the ground, 2 fumbles from the snap but did pass for a TD today!  Carlos Brown ran 13 times for 87 yards, and B. Minor ran 12 times for 50. Forcier's running had less impact today with 10 attempts for only 14 yards.

     A key to Michigan's success was D.Stoneham's kickoff returns, this game: 7 attempts for 225 an average of 32 yards a return. Zoltan Mesko punted the ball again and again deep into Indiana territory giving the Wolverine special teams time to keep the ball in Hoosier territory.

     The bottom line. These young players have a 'will to win' and made it so.

     Next Saturday the Wolverines will go to E. Lansing to play the Michigan State Spartans on their turf. You won't want to miss that one!