Michigan Wins "Little Brown Jug" 29-6 over Minnesota

No matter how often you are defeated, you are born to victory. - Ralph Waldo Emerson

In a year with only two wins, and losses against rivals Michigan State and Notre Dame, the Michigan Wolverines took a step in the right direction on Saturday.

The Wolverines put together their most complete game of the 2008 campaign. The offense, led by the second- and third-string QBs, moved the ball effectively all day against the Golden Gophers defense.

The Michigan defense, which gave up 48 points last weekend, held the Gophers to six points in their final trip to the MetroDome, where the Wolverines are 12-0.

These are the Wolverines we thought we would see from the beginning of the year, with dual QBs, one throwing (Sheridan) and one running (Feagin) and a dominating defense.

On Saturday, we finally got a taste of what the future might hold. The Michigan offense scored 29 points and piled up 435 yards, while the Michigan defense held Minnesota to just 188 total yards on offense, in Rich Rodriguez's first road win as head coach.

The score could have been much worse if Michigan had turned its five field goals into touchdowns and Odoms hadn't fumbled in the red zone.

Maybe the two most maligned Wolverines this season have been second string QB, Nick Sheridan and Defensive Coordinator Scott Shafer.

Both of these gentlemen will sleep well tonight with their best efforts of the year. Nick went 18-for-30 for 230 yards, one touchdown and zero interceptions. Scott's defense only gave up 188 yards and two field goals.

With nothing left to play for, the Wolverines secured the second oldest trophy in football and will have it for the next three years, with Minnesota off the schedule for the next two seasons.

"We're fighting for Michigan," Terrance Taylor said. "We're fighting for ourselves. Our backs (are) against the wall. No one expected us to come out here and win. No one expected us to do anything. They expected us to give up, just take it laying down. We're not doing that. We're Michigan."

The Michigan defense finally played a complete game and shut down Minnesota, going back to its 4-2-5 formation.

Michigan had briefly tried a 3-3-5 defense that got run out of Indiana last weekend. Simplifying the defense and getting back to the 4-2-5, the Wolverines played with clear minds and quick feet.

Michigan now goes back to Ann Arbor to get ready for Northwestern and maybe more importantly, the last home game for the Seniors and visiting recruits. Then they finish the year against Ohio State in Columbus.

This weekend was a one step forward in the new era of Michigan football.