Michigan's season comes down to one thing: Beat Ohio State
Brandon Graham
After a 4-0 start followed by six straight Big Ten losses, Michigan’s underachieving season has come to this: Beat the ninth-ranked Buckeyes and the Wolverines can avoid their first back-to-back losing records in 46 years.
Oh, how the mighty have fallen.
“Starting off the season strong, you didn’t think that this would happen,” Graham said. “But stuff takes a turn and it’s a long season. It just happened like this.
“What will be a better way than to go out and beat O-State for that last game? That’s just the focus right now and that’s the talk in the locker room, what’s a better way than to go out and to beat O-State to get in a bowl game.”
For players, fans and a program that’s lost five straight to its archrival, there’d be no better ending. A month and a half of misery would be forgotten, and that faint beacon of hope for 2010 would shine bright again.
But there’s a reason Michigan (5-6, 1-6) is tied for last place in what's generally considered a down year in the Big Ten Conference.
The defense isn’t good. The offense is banged up. And coaches, to use Rich Rodriguez’s word, are “reaching” for answers, as they evaluate personnel, schemes and themselves.
“I’m not used to this, and certainly the University of Michigan’s not used to this,” Rodriguez said. “We’re in a process right now of fixing all the problems we have, and, painfully, it’s taken longer than everybody wants.”
Beating Ohio State (9-2, 6-1) would dull some of that pain, especially for Graham and a senior class that’s 0-3 against the Buckeyes and party to one of the most lopsided losses in series history, 42-7 last year.
“We got a lot at stake,” Rodriguez said. “It’s the bowl, it’s our seniors’ last home game, it’s Ohio State, it’s getting a good feeling going into the off-season. It’s all those things combined.
“But I just want our seniors to be able to experience singing 'The Victors' in front of the student section and in the locker room one more time. That’s the biggest goal for me.”
Notes, quotes and leftovers • While most freshman don’t understand the rivalry fully, quarterback Tate Forcier said that won’t be a problem for him. Forcier grew up a Michigan fan and his older brother, Jason, played briefly for the Wolverines.
“I’ve never liked Ohio State, so I’m going to do what I can do and hopefully we’re going to come out with a victory and get these guys to a bowl game,” he said.
• The biggest single play Saturday’s 45-24 loss to Wisconsin was Brandon Smith’s roughing the punter penalty on fourth-and-20 early in the second quarter.
Michigan led 10-7 at the time and Wisconsin quarterback Scott Tolzien wasn’t playing particularly well up to that point. Tolzien threw an interception a drive early and had completed just 2 of his previous 6 passes. Wisconsin ran the ball 4 straight times following the penalty and on second-and-goal Stevie Brown let Nick Toon sneak behind him for an easy touchdown.
The Badgers ran away and hid from there.
“That was really disheartening,” Rodriguez said of the penalty. “I don’t know if our guys ran into each other and ran into him, but geez, we’re struggling to get stops anyway defensively. That’s the same as a turnover, and it wound up hurting us there.”
• Michigan didn’t completely lose steam, however, until John Clay scored the go-ahead touchdown with 1:09 to play on a disputed 1-yard touchdown dive. Brandon Graham appeared to meet Clay in the air just short of the goal line, but replay upheld the touchdown call on the field.
The Wolverines, who won the toss and elected to receive for the first time all year, went to halftime trailing, 21-17, and had to kick off to Wisconsin to open the third quarter. The Badgers scored on their first possession of the second half - and their second, third and fourth, keeping Michigan’s worn-down defense on the field.
“Momentum shifting is something that we’ve struggled with all year,” Rodriguez said.
• One clarification from Saturday: Wisconsin scored all four times it possessed the ball in the second half. The official box score shows a Wisconsin drive starting with 1 second left after Denard Robinson’s incompletion on the final play of the game. Time expired on the throw, so the Badgers never ran another play.
Wisconsin finished the half with 286 yards of offense (21 more than Michigan had the entire game) and 22 minutes, 45 seconds time of possession. The Wolverines ran just 21 offensive plays and held the ball for 7:15 of the second half.
• Forcier on running back Vincent Smith: “I’m so proud of the way he played today. For him being such a little guy, especially in the Big Ten, you don’t see little backs too often. I mean, look at Wisconsin, (Clay's) twice the size of him.”
Clay is listed at 6-foot-1, 248 pounds; Smith at 5-foot-6, 168.
• Don’t laugh (or cry), but Michigan might set a school record for most points allowed for the second straight year. The Wolverines have given up 309 points this season. If Ohio State scores 39 or more Saturday - exactly what opponents are averaging the last four weeks - Michigan will surpass last year’s total of 347.
Dave Birkett covers University of Michigan football for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached by phone at 734-623-2552 or by e-mail at davidbirkett@annarbor.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.
Comments
Maize&Believe
Tue, Nov 17, 2009 : 6:57 p.m.
the people that dont think winning this game will drastically change perspective (blue) are totally wrong.. if ur a "die hard" fan how could you not care about this game to make you feel better... you clearly don't know the meaning of this game for michigan.. GO BLUE!
MikeyP
Tue, Nov 17, 2009 : 12:15 a.m.
I think those pining for RR to be shown the door this year are being unrealistic. What coach in their right mind would come here if we asked them to at this point considering the message even doing that would send? What message is that? That if you don't win right away you're fired, of course. Does ANYONE think that switching schemes now (even switching back to the one we had prior to RR) would lead to our winning again immediately? Of course not! So you'd either have to be utterly clueless or completely apathetic to take such a job offer... neither of which bodes well for the future of Michigan football. Like it or not we're stuck with RR for the forseeable future. I'm of the opinion that, given time, he can succeed here... but changing a system DOES take time. There has been some progress, as long as that continues I think it's a bit premature to have the long knives out already.
groland
Mon, Nov 16, 2009 : 12:39 p.m.
The problem with most of the Michigan fans is they have never lived or experienced anywhere else. Coming form the east, I first noticed the lack of respect for teams like Penn State or the SEC. We have great history and I do wish the team well, but if you want to win you need to be realistic. Personally, I have little faith in RR. he seems like a shady character with little accountability. He blames others when he should be taking the blame himself. The players pick up on this and that is a character flaw that does not bode well for the future.
pardawg45
Mon, Nov 16, 2009 : 12:04 p.m.
Well, after reading the comments, the status of this game (and season) is pretty much exactly where I thought it would be, completely on the side of tOSU. I am as big a Michigan fan as you will find, but after the last few games, I have a disturbing feeling about the outcome of this game. My rational side says that the final score should be 42-17 tOSU, but there is always that "die-hard" side that thinks for some reason we can actually win. All the Michigan fans know we should probably lose and, if it were any other opponent, would admit it. It is very hard to admit that there are many more good players on tOSU, we have lost the recruiting battle every year for the past 6 years. I am not saying we do not have great dedicated players, that are or can be elite players in the NCAA and NFL, I am just saying tOSU has more. All we want is to be back where we used to be and are looking for the scape-goat. It seems that 4 DC in 4 years was not the answer, so now it MUST be the coach...yeah, right. The bottom line is, we need players to want to come to Michigan, so, what we need is all our "fans" to show up to the G-Da** game and support your team! Do you love this team? Do you want it to succeed? Then show some support! Go Blue!
upfromthebighouse
Mon, Nov 16, 2009 : 11:27 a.m.
Any of you "experts" that want to get rid of Coach Rodriguez at this point in time are just ignorant. He has ONE recuiting class, just ONE. This is not the NFL. Even you "experts" must realize it takes at least THREE recruiting classes to transform a program. If we dont start to look like Oregon at that point, then you can go negative on Coach Rodriguez. Go Blue!
15crown00
Mon, Nov 16, 2009 : 10:44 a.m.
Well the Snake Oil Salesman is trying to sell his Snake Oil but nobody except the ultra faithful BLUE BRAINS are buying. Now the BLUE BRAIN TROLLS sound like they're in the land of OZ where things can happen just by wishing them to.It don't work that way.SUCK IT UP,Admit your team ISN'T ANY GOOD,GET READY for the TOILET BOWL,and prepare your psycho babel for NEXT SEASON.
TripleVSix
Mon, Nov 16, 2009 : 10:33 a.m.
For the first time in my adult lifetime, I'm really NOT proud of my WOlverines.
rightmind250
Mon, Nov 16, 2009 : 10:20 a.m.
The Buckeyes must treat it like The Game, regardless. These are desperate times for the team up north, and a win over Ohio State would be just the tonic. That said, this is also a rare opportunity for OSU fans who have yearned to experience The Game in Michigan Stadium. Online ticket sources are flush with dumped ducats from Michigan fans. Hint: wait a few days and see if the prices fall like they should. tmay@dispatch.com
blue
Mon, Nov 16, 2009 : 10:18 a.m.
"Brandon Grahams first Michigan-Ohio State game three years ago came with a spot in the BCS national championship game on the line. His last, this Saturday in Ann Arbor (noon, ABC), will be for something disturbingly more important." How on God's green earth is this game more important than the 2006 game? And this: "For players, fans and a program thats lost five straight to its archrival, thered be no better ending. A month and a half of misery would be forgotten, and that faint beacon of hope for 2010 would shine bright again." Speaking as a die-hard fan, there's no way the month-and-a-half (notice the hyphens) of misery would be forgotten after one win. How dumb do you think we are, Birkett?
Detroitrocks
Mon, Nov 16, 2009 : 9:35 a.m.
Wow - and I thought some of the nonsense tater writes when trolling on MSU sites was delusional! There is a reason why everyone thinks OSU will win, including most Michigan fans. But if you need more, here they are: 1. OSU hates Michigan. 2. They would love to see you sit at home for the holidays. 2. OSU really hates Michigan. 4. Pryor and Boren won't forget all those nice words Michigan fans said. 5. OSU really, really hates Michigan. 6. What is better than embarrassing your rival in their home stadium? 7. OSU really, really, really hates Michigan. 8. OSU doesn't have to play conservative; they can throw everything at you. 9. OSU can't even stand the though of you. I will give you one outside reason why OSU may let you win. If they honestly thought a U-M win would get RR a contract extension, they would tank the game faster that a DR interception.
chosen1
Mon, Nov 16, 2009 : 9:22 a.m.
tater---- u and theo live in a world that isn't reality-based. How on earth would you even think the team that has a clock that lets them know when the next game against michigan is, wouldn't be up for the game? The coach who's first words were about coming up to michigan and making ohio state proud. Ohio State has plenty to play for saturday....michigan has some good recruits coming in and Jim tressel is recruiting some of them, so any chance he gets to show them that ohio state is superior to michigan he will gladly take.... Wake Up....this game is going to be a great one, but if you really believe that osu isn't going to be up for it, then you know nothing about college football
friend12
Mon, Nov 16, 2009 : 8:48 a.m.
I see tater is having reality issues again. What else. Defense is very one dimensional and very easy to attack. OSU will run at UM and pass to the TEs all day because UM defense plays leave the outside open and the TEs uncovered. Has been that way all season. Offensively they get some headway then call bone head plays. All coaching. Robinson starting and W loads the box. A waste of a play. Until Robinson can show some passing capability he has no business in as a QB.
Fresh121
Mon, Nov 16, 2009 : 7:37 a.m.
Once again this site is funny its the same 10 people that hate RR and talk smack on every post find a life you bloggers get off the A2 and go outside it might help you even find a girl but you nerds love your internet..you internet coaches rule...
kerch65
Mon, Nov 16, 2009 : 5:54 a.m.
NO CHANCE thats exactly what these sorry a** wolverines have in beating the suckeyes they just dont play well on either side of the ball and rr should be packed as well as the rest of the sorry as* coaches we need BRIAN KELLY NOW before nd gets him rr and company i will say it since this ridiculous admin, wont YOURE FIRED WOW THAT FELT GREAT
Big House
Mon, Nov 16, 2009 : 5:24 a.m.
God, it's been difficult to watch this team the last two years. At least we have people like Tater (his head is getting bigger now that I mention his name), to keep our spirits high. Now that I'm done with the sarcasm, was anyone else bothered by RR's comments? Hoping to the sing "The Victors" and the off-season? I feel that was Rich's way of saying "I can't handle it". Maybe I'm reading too much into it... Buck the F*ckeyes!!!
DennisP
Mon, Nov 16, 2009 : 2:45 a.m.
Tater says: "RR and his team would get a well-earned respite from the endless drone of Walmart Wolverines who want to criticize everything, blow it up, and start from scratch again" It was Bill Martin who "blew it all up" to "start from scratch again" when he brought in RR. Remember, the big criticisms of Carr from a lot of Wolverine fans (from Walmart to Nordstroms. He couldn't beat OSU. Every year, Tressel was leaving us behind. Martin reacted to that but screwed up the Les Miles hire in spectacular fashion. So, he brought in a master of the "spread" to outdo Tressel. But the "master" is turning out to have little muster. Up until the losses to Purdue and Illinois, I was certain that Martin's little ploy of delaying retirement until September guaranteed RR tenure until 2010. If we lose to OSU (almost a given), I don't think that will hold true. In fact, Martin's lame duck status will make it easier to fire RR if the big money fans (Nordstrom fans) begin to push for it. To get out of the contract $$$ terms, Martin and Coleman will use the NCAA investigation by the law firm UM hired which has very conveniently remained in the background pending the outcome of the season. I believe Martin is falling on the sword by retiring in 2010, but it let's him do it on "good" terms. If RR loses to OSU, I don't think Coleman and Martin will hesitate to broom him if the donors make their displeasure known... and they will. Goodbye RR.
StinkLips
Mon, Nov 16, 2009 : 2:09 a.m.
That sounds like a rather lame attempt to foster the 'everyone's against us' mindset as an extra incentive. First of all, this rivalry needs no 'incentive.' Secondly, if UM isn't getting 'respect' by the media or their fans it's because of their play on the field, not some mythical 'bias.' This whole season and indeed the past several OSU has been lambasted by the media for their inability to 'win the big game' against the SEC teams, USC, and Texas. You say: "OSU has accomplished all it can this season while UM is playing to extend its season." Um...no they haven't. I would wager Beating UM is a pretty important seasonal 'accomplishment' to them.
StinkLips
Mon, Nov 16, 2009 : 1:54 a.m.
"The intangibles are all on UM's side this week. UM is getting crapped on by everyone while OSU is being told theirs is odorless." What are you talking about? Have you been reading the national media's response to OSU's win over Iowa... Jason King of yahoo sports comments: "Conservative, timid play-calling a star quarterback who was more of a facilitator than a factor blunders on special teams and untimely penalties. So maddening were the Buckeyes to watch on Saturday that, entering the overtime period, their fans were actually booing." Gregg Doyel of CBS Sports wrote a piece entitled: "Everybody a loser in Ohio State's disgusting 'victory'" These are but a few, so I hardly think OSU is being told their 'crap' is odorless.
Furious in MI
Mon, Nov 16, 2009 : 1:10 a.m.
Short of the OSU bus crashing on the way to the stadium, I see no possible way of beating the Buckeyes on Saturday. Just a good team playing against a crappy team. That's all. 35-10, OSU.
MikeyP
Mon, Nov 16, 2009 : 12:45 a.m.
Oh, I think EVERY football fan in SE Michigan knows what an "epic fail in the world of mediocrity" is... it is spelled L-I-O-N-S! Michigan is NOT anywhere near that bad! But... they're far closer to that level than I ever thought I'd see. I'm still on the fence about RR. I understand that it takes time to overhaul a program... but after going 4-0 and having a gimme game left on the schedule it's quite unacceptible to not be at least 6-6 at the end of the season, and while I'd LOVE to see us beat Oh-how-I-hate-Ohio-State this Saturday I'm not at all optimistic about it regardless of the "intangibles." OSU isn't going to roll over, rest players or anything like that, their seniors are just as determined to be 4-0 against us as our seniors are to be 1-3 against them. I'm not giving up on RR yet. Next year our offense will be improved and, frankly, our defense can't really be any worse so it really should be improved. The alternative isn't any better at this point... getting rid of RR now would simply mean changing to some other scheme and another year (most likely two) of misery guaranteed. So next year is really the make-it or break-it year for RR IMHO. If he can't make progress in THREE years then there's really ZERO reason to continue the charade.
railroad
Mon, Nov 16, 2009 : 12:04 a.m.
RR coaching scheme is totally different than the old michigan power scheme, therefore he has reinvented the michigan style of how they play the game. He has got to get his components into place before we see the positive change. Off. has scored enough pts to win (should be 7-4) but the def. has not gotten anemic. Unless RR finds an answer to his def. debacale, then his campaign at mich may never see how good his scheme can be. Beating OSU and winning bowl should save RR. Lose to OSU then RR will have to WIN or be a big ten conetender next year(No mediocracy).
aareader
Sun, Nov 15, 2009 : 11:52 p.m.
As Warren Buffett ( a guy with some success in stocks) has said many times ( to paraphrase) when everyone is panicked and baling out that is the time to jump with both feet and make a killing. The same could happen this Saturday when everyone is panicked and NO ONE expects Blue to win. As noted above there are many intangibles going into this game. Major upsets have occurred in the past and it might happen again. Plus the MIchigan Players from the 1969 team will be there Saturday. Not a bad may to motivate and discuss Michigan tradition. GO BLUE!
heartbreakM
Sun, Nov 15, 2009 : 11:20 p.m.
Tater: I don't even know what a Walmart Wolverine. But you seriously have to check into a rehab facility soon, because the hallucinations that you keep posting are showing signs of addiction and trouble ahead.
ritawedaliar
Sun, Nov 15, 2009 : 9:30 p.m.
Tater, You are what is wrong with UM football. You and your type are why rr is in Ann Arbor. You have no concept of how bad the Wolverine program is. The UM program is on an epic fall into the world of mediocrity.
LakeErieMaize/Blue
Sun, Nov 15, 2009 : 9:01 p.m.
So because people don't BLINDLY follow things that they don't like or agree with,they are Walmart Wolverines? If you SUPPORT the Helmet and sincerely want The Winged-Helmet to do good every time they step on the field,then I will accept Walmart Wolverines any day!!Especially now(when we need all the fans we can get)! Always support The Program! It's American to challenge everything else.GO BLUE!!!
GoblueinNE_PA
Sun, Nov 15, 2009 : 7:54 p.m.
For only the 2nd time in my life, or at least as far back as I can remember, we go into a game against OSU and we have absolutely NO CHANCE of winning the game. The only other time was last year. The Idiot has absolutely destroyed the program. The only good thing is that the misery will finally be over. And we can start praying that MSC comes to her senses and does the right thing.
golions34
Sun, Nov 15, 2009 : 7:44 p.m.
The problem isn't the intangibles, it's a more tangible thing. The head coach.