Michigan football team upsets No. 18-ranked Notre Dame on late Tate Forcier touchdown pass, 38-34
 “Tate comes walking (over all nonchalant) and says, ‘Oh, I forgot to brush my teeth,’” Rodriguez marveled. “That’s what he’s thinking about as we’re getting on the bus and getting ready to come over to the Big House. … He’s a unique individual.” Forcier’s poise paid dividends Saturday as he led a dramatic two-minute touchdown drive, throwing the game-winning 5-yard pass Greg Mathews with 11 seconds to play as Michigan stunned the 18th-ranked Irish, 38-34.
Coming off the losingest season in program history, the Wolverines are 2-0 for the first time since 2006, when they nearly played for the national championship.
“It couldn’t have been any better the way we beat them,” Forcier said.
Making just his second collegiate start, the 19-year-old completed 23 of 33 passes for 240 yards and two touchdowns. Most impressively, he shrugged off his first career interception late in the fourth quarter to lead the game-winning drive.
Trailing 34-31 with 2:13 to play, Forcier marched Michigan 57 yards in nine frantic plays. He completed six of seven passes on the drive - his only misfire was a drop by LaTerryal Savoy - and threaded a pass to Mathews along the goal line in front of two Notre Dame defenders.
“I just saw man-to-man and I took my best matchup,” Forcier said. “I knew Greg could make the play and I got him the ball and he did the rest.”
Mathews, the intended target on Forcier’s interception, finished with team-highs of five catches and 68 yards.
“I just felt numb,” Mathews said. “I didn’t know what to do. I just felt numb, but the referee reminded me to be smart and it made me think of Coach Rod saying hand the ball to the referee and celebrate with your teammates. And that’s what I did.”
Michigan nearly squandered a 31-20 second-half lead when Notre Dame scored two touchdowns in the final 10 minutes.
Armando Allen’s 8-yard run put the Irish ahead 34-31 with 5:13 to play, but Notre Dame (1-1) couldn’t kill the clock on its second-to-last drive.
Irish coach Charlie Weis elected to throw twice in the final three minutes, and the resulting incompletions left Michigan with two timeouts for its march down the field.
“They weren’t going to just sit back there and let us run the ball,” Weis explained. “You have two choices, you run the ball just to make them use their timeouts or you try and win the game.”
Brandon Minor led Michigan with 106 yards rushing on 16 carries in his return from an ankle injury.
Notre Dame quarterback Jimmy Clausen was 25 of 42 for 336 yards with three touchdowns for Notre Dame, which had two 100-yard receivers (Golden Tate and Michael Floyd) and a 100-yard rusher (Allen).
Tate scored on touchdowns of 4 and 21 yards, and Floyd had seven catches for 131 yards before leaving in the fourth quarter with a leg injury.
With games the next two weeks against Eastern Michigan and Indiana, Michigan has a chance for its first perfect September under Rodriguez, who was flanked by his father and several friends at his post-game news conference.
“It’s two wins, two good wins," Rodriguez said. "It’s still a long way to go, but if they stay humble and hungry and keep getting better, then some of that national respect that all of us want, our fans want, our players want, we’ll get it."
Dave Birkett covers the University of Michigan football team for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at davidbirkett@annarbor.com
Comments
Jon
Sun, Sep 13, 2009 : 7:13 p.m.
Hills(?) Go back and review your distorted SEC fantasyland history. Your posts reads like you raise pitbulls and juice them up on liquor and crank! Michigan has throttled SEC teams, especially in Bowl games. They have wiped the deck with Alabama twice, most recently in 2000, in the Orange Bowl, Mr Brady's last game as a Wolverine before he decided to pick up some Super Bowl rings. Also, Michigan blasted Spurrier and Tebow in Carr's last game as head coach on January 1, 2008 and before in 2001. Big blue also manhandled the Razorbacks in 99 or 98, in the Citrus Bowl. In fact, the only loss I recollect to an SEC team was to Tennesse in 02, I believe. The LSU Tigers are nothing in history, class or tradition when it comes to these two programs. Michigan at seasons end would be more than happy to take your bayou bengals out to the woodshed, should we be so fortunate enough to face them in a bowl game. Run to the "Hills", troll!
jro0627
Sun, Sep 13, 2009 : 9:20 a.m.
LSU fan...you need to check your history....Michigan owns the SEC!!!!! I believe we are like 30 something and 5 or something like that! Our big 10 brothers may struggle against the SEC, but we own the SEC! GO BLUE!!!!
GoBlueinNEPA
Sun, Sep 13, 2009 : 7:49 a.m.
Hills LSU a top 5 program??? LOL!! You've got to be kidding me. You're lucky to be a Top 5 SEC program. You had a couple decent coaches come down and pull your team out of the scrap heap and now you think you got something. When did you start rooting for LSU, 1999? Or was it 2000? You certainly don't know your LSU history that's for sure. Why don't you try google, it might 'splain a little bit about your "top 5" program. Thats some real funny chit right there!
bigblue
Sun, Sep 13, 2009 : 4:35 a.m.
i told you guys to look out for 10 wins and a BCS bowl for MICHIGAN! do you believe me now! oh yeah how 'bout cmu!...LOL... sorry sparty!
NorthMaple
Sun, Sep 13, 2009 : 12:21 a.m.
Hills, quit being a troll. UM proved it can hang with the SEC when we beat Tebow's crew in Lloyd's final bowl. Give Rich Rod some time, and we'll be back there before you know it.
Hills
Sat, Sep 12, 2009 : 9:26 p.m.
GoBlueinNEPA, No rational football fan would have thought Miles would have taken the U-M job. Why would he take a a huge pay cut and leave a Top Five program to go and coach at the second best team in the Big Ten? That whole situation made no sense at all. Add to the fact that the majority of the best HS athletes are in the South, there was never a question he would not leave LSU. Only a delusional, uninformed U-M fan would have thought otherwise. I hope that description doesn't fit you. As it stands, U-M's #3 choice might have been the right one after all. But I'd wait a while longer to be sure. After all, U-M fans got a huge boner after beating a Top Ten ranked team last year. I think your remember how the season went after that, don't you?
GoBlueinNEPA
Sat, Sep 12, 2009 : 8:46 p.m.
Great game for the program. While I hesitate to get too excited, because it's so early, it is so much fun watching football on Saturdays again!!! LSU eh? You were just worried we were going to take your coach.
tulsatom
Sat, Sep 12, 2009 : 8:38 p.m.
Looking back on the game dispassionately, the U-M offense is much improved and deserves the game ball because they moved the ball very well. However, the U-M weaknesses on defense were exposed today. ND scored 34 points and had nearly 490 total yards of offense, and U-M's offense only made one turnover so it wasn't like U-M's offense was putting U-M's defense in bad situations. The U-M pass rush was almost non-existent unless they blitzed, and the defensive backs were on the short end of many mismatches. U-M must improve on defense in order to contend for the Big Ten title but I don't know if they have the personnel to do it, but I sure hope I'm wrong. On the bright side, Coach Robinson has them tackling better in the open field than I've seen them tackle in several years. Enough analysis. Like most have said, it's a good day to be a Wolverine fan.
Hills
Sat, Sep 12, 2009 : 8:14 p.m.
azwolverine, I'm an LSU fan, so it's a stretch to say U-M is better than that. After seeing some SEC football in person the past few years, nothing else is like it...nothing. Watching the Big Ten is like watching high-level high school after seeing a game in Baton Rouge or elsewhere down South. I will say this, U-M looks much improved. I will also say that I wouldn't get too jazzed up over a 2-0 start, although after a 3-9 season it is pretty easy to do so. If Tate doesn't get busted up like McGuffie did, he looks like he might be a pretty good QB to build around, certainly in that style offense. I'm still sceptical of the durability factor of some of these small, fast players RR likes.
ummsw
Sat, Sep 12, 2009 : 8:05 p.m.
Go Blue!!!!!!! Best game since UofM beat MSU in 3 overtimes in 2004 at the "Big House"....
Artichoke
Sat, Sep 12, 2009 : 7:52 p.m.
Sweet. Get lost, Irish.
azwolverine
Sat, Sep 12, 2009 : 7:32 p.m.
Hills, Obviously you're not a Michgigan fan. I'm sorry. You know, your talk is just that...talk. On the field, Michigan is back to winning football games. I don't know who your team is, but I know this...Michigan's better.
OneWolverine
Sat, Sep 12, 2009 : 7:26 p.m.
Yep I Know Someone who made alot of money today in Vegas! :>) Drinks are on me tonight! For all you Irish Fans Ill buy you a can of Red A** Sauve that should make ya feel better!
Hills
Sat, Sep 12, 2009 : 7:25 p.m.
I don't know which is funnier; boasting about "upsetting" a team ranked 23rd, or being ranked so far below 23rd that your victory over that team is considered an upset. I hope that this year's "upset special" ends up being more meaningful than 2008's version, aka Wisconsin.
obamayomoma
Sat, Sep 12, 2009 : 7:22 p.m.
ND WAS RANKED 18 NOT 23 PAR FOR YOUR REPORTING ACCURACY. THE KID MICIHIGAN HAS AT QB IS TERRIFIC. I HAVE NEVER SEEN A TRUE FRESHMAN PERFORM SO WELL. THE BIG TEN SHOULD BE REAL PROUD OF THAT OFFICIATING CREW. THEY WERE TERRIBLE. AND YES ND HAS A LEGIT BITCH BUT IN THE FINAL ANALYSIS ND SHOULD HAVE PUT MICH AWAY AND THEY DID'T. ME THINKS CHARLIE TUNA IS HISTORY AFTER THIS UNACCEPTABLE LOSS.
ypsijake
Sat, Sep 12, 2009 : 7:18 p.m.
ha ha golden taint and the fighting overly religious. what were those ND students doing to each other, lifting themselves up like that? i thought they were supposed to pass them up and down the aisles but it didn't appear that way. Finally, can we agree to give Rich Rod a chance and stop trying to force him out (free press)? yes, definetly a great day to be a Wolverine. I've always liked CMU better than State too and now I know why.
jrock154
Sat, Sep 12, 2009 : 7:13 p.m.
tulsatom, u r dead on it was so awesome to c Holtz eat his words... the PTI guys got some crow to eat too... Both of them said Mich was a bad team and ND should beat them!!
tulsatom
Sat, Sep 12, 2009 : 7:06 p.m.
I think Weiss outcoached himself in this one, especially at the end when he stopped the clock by passing on 2nd and 3rd downs, which gave U-M enough time to get the winning touchdown. I have to give ND credit -- they had a nice gameplan but they made too many unforced errors and they will probably blame the timekeeper at the end. This definitely an instant classic!
michiganmiked
Sat, Sep 12, 2009 : 7:03 p.m.
I'll never understand rooting against conference opponents (MSU, OSU, etc.) outside of the day UM plays them. Esp. in today's BCS scenario where SOS counts. I'll be pulling for an undefeated OSU to roll into A2 in November. That said, great win today. Tate already put his stamp in the UM annuls. Barring a complete meltdown, there should be no further talk of who starts games at QB this season.
UMthicknthin
Sat, Sep 12, 2009 : 7:01 p.m.
It's a great day in the Forcier (Force), it has seen the end of Obi Wan (Notre Dame) and will soon see the end of the rebellion (OSU). Darth Vader It's always a great day to be a Wolverine, but today is even better than great!!! What a game!!! We have a team that won't quit. HAIL!!
tater
Sat, Sep 12, 2009 : 6:58 p.m.
What a great game and a great day. I wonder how Weis feels right now? I wonder how Jimmah feels right now, getting outplayed by a freshman during crunch time? And I wonder how they feel up in EL right now? Last week was nice, but I think today will be remembered as the official arrival of Tate Forcier and the day the program officially turned around.
Hills
Sat, Sep 12, 2009 : 6:55 p.m.
It was a very entertaining game to watch. What a great win for U-M. As an added bonus, area Wal-Marts can expect huge sales increases in sportswear sales in the coming weeks.
tulsatom
Sat, Sep 12, 2009 : 6:54 p.m.
Tate plays like he has icewater in his veins. Unfortunately, Cissoko was beaten like a drum for most of the game but Notre Dame has a good QB in Clausen and good wideouts so maybe I shouldn't be so hard on him, but there are things that U-M definitely needs to work on in order to improve. Can someone tell me why Will Campbell isn't playing more? Injury? Discipline issues? Or is VanBergen just playing better? I'd appreciate your thoughts on that. Overall, I am happy for Coach Rodriguez and the team. They have really come together. Thank you, Free Press!
azwolverine
Sat, Sep 12, 2009 : 6:52 p.m.
WE'RE BACK!!!
ohiowolverine
Sat, Sep 12, 2009 : 6:47 p.m.
I have been a Michigan fan for over 50 years and this was the best game against N.D. since the 1986 game, Michigan 24 N.D. 20. There is no reason the wolverines shouldn't be 4-0 when they hand little brother another loss. All in for Michigan, Go Blue, Wear Maize. Rich Rod for coach of the year.
Kubrick66
Sat, Sep 12, 2009 : 6:46 p.m.
How sweet it is.
willievrine
Sat, Sep 12, 2009 : 6:45 p.m.
Yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! UM beat Notre Dame! Central Michigan beats Msu! Now all I need is for USC to obliterate the Bucks! It doesn't get any better than this! It's a great day to be a Wolverine! Heck, who am I kidding? Every day is a great day to be a Wolverine! Shades of Coach Beilein. Bot programs are rebuilding ahead of schedule.
tulsatom
Sat, Sep 12, 2009 : 6:43 p.m.
What a game and what a finish! Tate and the team showed a lot of heart out there today and wouldn't be denied. Do you know what was priceless to me? Listening to Lou Holtz after the game trying to explain how and why Notre Dame lost after previously proclaiming that Notre Dame would be National Champs and how he was even saying at halftime that Notre Dame was a much better team than Michigan. Absolutely priceless.
blueiniowa
Sat, Sep 12, 2009 : 6:42 p.m.
I haven't been this happy for slapping the Irish since the Todd Collins last-second victory! Thank you for an incredible game.
1bit
Sat, Sep 12, 2009 : 6:40 p.m.
Go Blue! Congrats to the players and coaches on the great win!
MjC
Sat, Sep 12, 2009 : 6:35 p.m.
It's GREAT to be a Michigan Wolverine (so far this year)!!!!