2009 Michigan Wolverines Are Who We Thought They Were

Last Saturday was a chance for Michigan Football to prove the skeptics wrong.

It was a chance to prove that the win over Notre Dame wasn't a fluke, that indeed this team might just be Rose Bowl worthy, should the Hawkeyes win out.

Surely there were expectations for this young Michigan squad this year. They were low expectations when measured against previous Michigan teams, but there were expectations nonetheless.

Michigan was predicted to be a six or seven win team, finishing fifth in the Big 10 and humbly accepting a third-tier bowl game against the MAC champion.

Those predictions took a hit before Michigan even took the field for the first game of the season amidst allegations that coach, Rich Rodriguez violated NCAA practice rules.

So when Michigan rushed out to a 4-0 record, many eyebrows were raised. True freshman quarterback Tate Forcier, was being called a Heisman candidate, and the team was being called a conference title contender.

Then came the overtime loss to Michigan State and suddenly we weren't sure what to make of the Wolverines.

Suddenly, their 4-1 record was inflated with wins against Eastern and Western Michigan, and that Notre Dame game might have just been luck.

But here was an undefeated Iowa team with a win against Penn State, bringing with them an opportunity to quiet those doubts.

A night game, on the road however proved to be too much to overcome for an inexperienced team. Tate Forcier was knocked out at a crucial point in the game with a concussion, and the speedy but raw, Shoelace Robinson faded down the stretch.

The following week gave Michigan brief reprieve as FCS cupcakes, Delaware State came into town. After a 63-6 shellacking, Michigan was still feeling pretty good at 5-2.

So it was here, that Michigan would get a real test of measure. Notre Dame may have been a fluke. Michigan State and Iowa were tough road games. So here was a legitimate team in Penn State. They would make or break Michigan's season.

This game would determine if Michigan was the fifth place team many predicted they would be, or something more. If you want to be mentioned among the best of the conference, you have to beat ranked teams at home.

Instead, Michigan was systematically blown out. It started out great, with Brandon Minor smashing his way downfield, punctuating a bruising drive with a touchdown and giving Michigan a 7-0 lead.

It looked like we might have a game on our hands.

Michigan however, would only score three more points for the remainder of the game, while Penn State with Daryll Clark and Evan Royster cruised along, doing no wrong and rarely having to punt.

Now we know. 

Michigan is who we thought they were. At 5-3, barring a complete collapse, Michigan is a bowl team, but they aren't much more than that. It's possible for them to win three of their last four games and finish 8-4 which might get them a New Years Day bowl, but that would seem to be the ceiling for this team.

8-4 after all is what Michigan fans were upset with under Lloyd Carr. It is Rodriguez's burden to surpass that on a consistent basis

They must beat Illinois on the road, and they must beat Purdue. Wisconsin and Ohio State are the rubber games, but after Penn State's dismantling of this squad, Ohio State doesn't look quite as winnable as it once did.

Penn State was Rich Rodriguez's 20th game as coach of Michigan. Through 20 games, he has comprised a record of 8-12. The 2008 debacle aside, Michigan is showing signs of becoming the dominating team that the new coaching regime envisioned.

This program demands excellence though. The win over Notre Dame was nice, but when you're the coach at Michigan, you are expected to consistently beat the Michigan State's and Iowa's. As recent history has shown, you're also expected to beat the Penn State's as well.

Rodriguez will be given another mulligan this year, but all excuses come off the table in year three.