Michigan Goes Bowling, Records Are Set, Denard's Injury Update and More!
All it took was one snap and a Denard Robinson to Roy Roundtree connection for Michigan to put seven points on the board within 14 seconds of starting the game (75 yard TD pass). It was then that we knew we were in for a treat last Saturday at the Big House, and a treat it was.
132 combined points, 1,251 yards of total offense, 17 touchdowns scored, 3 overtimes, and 5 Michigan turnovers made for one of the most memorable games in modern Michigan history.
To say this win was important is a shameful understatement. Judging by the reaction of the fans, you'd think Michigan secured a Rose Bowl berth instead of just a bowl berth, but for a program that has literally been to Hell and back in just under three years, the feeling is the same.
The implications of yesterday's great win over Illinois are countless, but here's a few things to take away from Michigan's performance.
2010 != 2009
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For those of you who are not computer programming savvy, the != symbol means "does not equal". Yes, finally those echoes of 2009 past can be silenced as it is official that THIS year is NOT last year.
Instead of questions of "Will Michigan make a bowl?", the questions become "What's the best bowl Michigan could get to?"
Rodriguez and players recognize that just making a bowl now isn't adequate enough. They've got to win to improve the quality of the bowl they get to.
Michigan sits 2 games behind the top of the league (MSU, Wisconsin, Ohio State, Iowa) and plays 2 of them to close out the season (Wisconsin, Ohio State) in addition to Purdue. Michigan is highly capable of beating Purdue, and if the Wolverines can manage to surprise either Wisconsin or Ohio State, a New Year's Day bowl is not only in the question, it's almost a certainty.
Should Michigan only win one game and finish the regular season at 7-5, then the Wolverines would be subject to the lower-tier bowls.
The players certainly know what's on the line, and hopefully this crazy win over Illinois gives the players the fuel they need to get through the final stretch of the schedule. No longer is the feeling of victory foreign to the players, as it had been since Oct. 2nd that the players (and yours truly) had the euphoria of a win.
Momentum!
Those Extra Bowl Practices Are Huge
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Going to a bowl means two extra weeks of practice, and for a team that is young all over, that practice is invaluable. Michigan has not been able to take advantage of extra practices in the previous two years, and with a defense that consistently plays seven true freshman, they need all the practice they can get.
The Image Of The Program Is Improving
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Making a bowl game certainly does wonders for the image of Rodriguez's program.
It has, in my opinion, secured his spot as head coach for 2011. With the direction of the program as stable as it has been since Rodriguez made it to Michigan in 2008, recruits will be more likely to commit to Michigan, as they no longer have to fear a coaching change. Also, six wins means tangible improvement from 2009. Improvement is athletic director David Brandon's primary area of concern when it comes to evaluating the program after the season is over.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
Roy Roundtree Breaking Records Sends Message To 'M' Recruits
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The message is simple:
Everyone can contribute in his offense.
Before Saturday, no Michigan receiver ever had a 200 yard day. Roy Roundtree had a jaw-dropping 246 receiving yards on nine catches (including two 75 yard catches). In fact, he was only five yards short of the previous record (197 yards) at half time (Roundtree had 192 yards). Roundtree shattered Michigan's previous record.
This is perhaps most important because the spread offense is typically thought of as a heavily run-oriented offense. Roundtree's record day shows that receivers are still a huge part of the offense. Hopefully, this opens the eyes of some potential receiver recruits and Rich Rod can continue to recruit well in the receiver area.
The Defense Came Up Big
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I know, the defense gave up 65 points—a school record—but consider two things:
1) 20 of those points came in OT, which doesn't directly count against the defense, because the opponent gets to start on your 25 yard line.
2) Michigan's offense put the defense in a bad situation often. Michigan turned the ball over an amazing five times, but the defense was able to do some serious damage control.
At one point, the Illini could have gone up 21-7. In the first quarter, Michigan turned the ball over three consecutive times (an interception, a fumble on the kick return, and another interception.) Of those three turnovers, Illinois came out with only 10 points instead of 21. The defense performed very well in that regard.
Fittingly, the end of the game came down to one play. In the third overtime, Illinois scored to come within two of the Wolverines. The scoreboard read 67-65. Defensive Coordinator Greg Robinson turned to Rodriguez and said "We're bringing it to the house" and Rodriguez nodded in approval. Illinois QB Nathan Scheelhaase took the snap, but Michigan committed four men to the rush, leaving one Illinois receiver wide open in the end zone.
In the end, Michigan's defensive pressure was too much. Three Wolverines converged on Scheelhaase and he tossed the ball up into the air. It was called an incomplete pass, but it might have well been a sack. Michigan had won the game because the defense made a play.
Roundtree May Have Set a Record, But Hemingway's Play Was Clutch
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While not having the distinct honor of setting a receiving record, Junior Hemingway made the best plays.
With just over three minutes left in the half, he caught a pass from Denard and found himself surrounded by three Illini defenders. After breaking the first tackle, Hemingway sidestepped a second one, and then broke another tackle (ironically the same guy that tried to get him down first) and scampered down the sideline for six points to put Michigan up 28-21.
His biggest play, however, came in OT. The Illini were up 59-52 and Michigan had no choice but to score. It was 3rd and 8 and Forcier made a very ill-advised pass that was tipped by an Illinois defender. Hemmingway still had his eye on the ball, however, and managed to snag it as he fell down into the end zone for a TD. Michigan survived to the next OT period.
Fittingly, it was Hemingway who caught Forcier's pass for the rule-mandated two point conversion in the third overtime to put Michigan up 67-59. While Michigan's defense allowed the Illini to score on their ensuing possession, their two point conversion attempt was thwarted, and Michigan survived to win 67-65.
This Game Was For The Ages
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Records that were tied or broken on Saturday:
Total Points:
Both teams: 132
Set by: U-M (67) and Illinois (65).
Previous: 130, U-M (130) and West Virginia (0) in 1904.
Combined 2nd Quarter Points:
Set by: U-M (24) and Illinois (25).
Previous: 35, done four times.
Combined First-Half Points:
Set by: U-M (31) and Illinois (31).
Previous: 55, U-M (55) and Chicago (0) in 1939.
U-M Points Allowed:
Set by: Illinois.
Previous: 58, scored by Cornell in 1891.
Combined Total Offense:
1,237 yards
Set by: U-M (676) and Illinois (561).
Previous: 1,189 U-M (535) and Northwestern (654) in 2000.
Combined Touchdowns:
Set by: U-M (9) and Illinois (7).
Previous: 13, set by U-M and Illinois (1981), Northwestern (2000)
Combined Passing Touchdowns:
Set by: U-M (5) and Illinois (3).
Previous: 8, set by U-M (4) and Florida State (4) in 1991.
U-M Passing Touchdowns:
Set by: Robinson (3) and Forcier (2).
Previous: 5, Cornell (1952), Minn. (1989) and Houston (1992).
Passing Yards, U-M Quarterbacks:
Set by: Robinson (305) and Forcier (114).
Previous: 396, set against Michigan State in 1999.
U-M Receiving Yards:
Set by: Roy Roundtree.
Previous: 197, set by Jack Clancy against Oregon State in 1966.
Source: Michigan's win shatters offensive records | freep.com | Detroit Free Press http://www.freep.com/article/20101107/SPORTS06/101107001/1054/sports06/Michigans-win-shatters-offensive-records#ixzz14d2LajLB
Rich Rod Is Classy
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Updated 11/8/10 @ 2:20 pm
Denard Robinson has been cleared to practice starting today (Monday) and is cleared to play against Purdue on Saturday.
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This story will be much less publicized, as the media will focus largely on demonizing Greg Robinson and Michigan's defense for giving up a school-record 65 points.
But Rich Rod has solidified his status as a classy coach. It started with Brock Mealer, it elevated when the NCAA dropped the only charge that named him, and it was solidified when he listened to Denard talk about how he was "dizzy" and had a headache, and Rodriguez put in Forcier.
Denard gives Michigan the best chance at winning, but Rich Rod—with his job and possible bowl eligibility on the line—still chose his player's safety over winning. There's not too many coaches that would do that. Not long ago, Urban Meyer was playing with Tim Tebow's life by putting him back in the game only 2 weeks after he had suffered a severe concussion.
The Marching Show Was The Best Marching Show, Ever.
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Perhaps a bit off-topic, but this marching show was the most amazing one that I had ever seen. The video doesn't do the entire thing justice, but here's a play-by-play written by Hoover Street Rag.
The show starts with a video of a cyclone picking up the Big House.Then it picks up the Notre Dame Leprechaun. Then it picks up Purdue's "World's Largest Drum." Then it picks up a green block S and in front of said block S is a flaming couch. Then it picks up an angry picture of Joe Paterno, and over the PA, you can hear "COME TO PENN STATE!" from the Big Ten Network ad.
So the Big House lands on "The Wicked Witch of the South", whose socks are scarlet and grey. The Witch has stolen Denard Robinson's shoes, so our hero, Dorothy Hail has to get them back to Ann Arbor for the second half. She then gets a visit from Mary Sue (President Coleman), the Good Witch of the North, who tells her she needs to go see the Wizard who lives in the Sapphire City at the end of the Maize Brick Road. Dorothy is also met by some munchkins, whom she notes remind her of her "Little Brothers in East Lansing."
So Dorothy sets out down the Maize Brick Road where she meets a scarecrow (decked out in Michigan State gear) who doesn't have a brain, having to stand out in fields in horrible places like Indiana, Illinois, and Nebraska. Then they meet a Tin Man who doesn't have a heart, because it broke after he ate so many bratwursts and cheese curds from his work in Wisconsin. Dorothy agrees to bring him along, because at worst, when they get back to Ann Arbor, she can turn him in for the ten cent deposit. Then they meet up with the Cowardly Nittany Lion, who lacks courage because the Big House is once again bigger than Penn State's stadium.
Suddenly, out of nowhere, one of the minions of the Wicked Witch of the South, Brutus Buckeye, attacks our merry band, but they are rescued by Rufus, the Ohio Bobcat, who tackles Brutus and chases him off the Maize Brick Road. The Wicked Witch of the South says "Terrelle Pryor needs those shoes!" and attempts to take them from Dorothy Hail. Then the Wicked Witch of the South attacks and uses her powers to make the Michigan Marching Band spell out Script Ohio. Dorothy has no fear though, as she reminds the witch that Michigan was the first marching band to spell out Script Ohio as a MMB sousaphone knocks the Witch out and O-H-I-O becomes O-H-N-O.
Eventually they reach the Sapphire City where the Wizard turns out to be Michigan drum major David Hines Jr. who tells Dorothy she had the power to go home all along by just putting on Denard's shoes (leave the laces untied) click her heels together and say "There's no place like The Big House."
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
