Michigan 30, Connecticut 10: Your comprehensive guide to Saturday's coverage
Denard Robinson (16) celebrates with fellow Michigan students following the Wolverines' 30-10 win over Connecticut at Michigan Stadium on Saturday.
Lon Horwedel | AnnArbor.com
Week 1 of the Michigan football season is in the books, and by almost every measure imaginable it had to be considered a success.
A renovated Michigan Stadium received rave reviews and a fireworks-and-flyover opening ceremony, a world record number of fans packed the joint and kickoff was preceded by an emotional walk to midfield by a young man never expected to walk again.
Oh yeah ... and then there was what took place on the field, a 30-10 Michigan win.
Quarterback controversy? Denard Robinson ended that with a record-breaking performance. A sieve-like defense? Inexperienced players stepped up and held the UConn offense to 10 points.
Storylines were everywhere, and AnnArbor.com had plenty of reporters, photographers and videographers capturing the action. Here's everything we compiled wrapped into one neat little package:
GAME STORIES • We'll start with beat reporter Pete Bigelow's game story, which -- not surprisingly -- focuses on Denard Robinson's record-breaking performance in his first start.
• While Robinson thrived, last year's starting quarterback, Tate Forcier, hinted that his days at Michigan might be over. “All you need to know is I’m out,” Forcier told AnnArbor.com's Mike Rothstein following the game.
• Pretty much everybody envisioned Saturday's game being a high-scoring affair. The Michigan defense -- with its untested secondary, and all -- didn't play along, however.
• UConn coach Randy Edsall wasn't too surprised by anything he saw from the Wolverines on Saturday. He says he's seen it all before in his Big East matchups with Rich Rodriguez's West Virginia teams.
• Our game day notebook hits on several topics, including athletic director Dave Brandon's reaction to the game, Carvin Johnson's injury, the record-breaking crowd and some of the football alumni in attendance.
• Jim Knight kept this running string of in-game updates on our site. That feature is available every week here at AnnArbor.com.
GAME INTERACTIVE • Our live chat was, well, lively -- filled with RichRod vitriol even as his team was winning convincingly. There were a few happy campers, too. Check out the transcript here and plan to join us for a live chat during every game. Home and away.
PHOTOS • AnnArbor.com photographers Melanie Maxwell and Lon Horwedel compiled their best images into this slideshow. From the team's pre-game walk to the post-game celebration, it covers the entire day.
THE STADIUM • Reporter David Jesse asked fans -- those in the stadium and in the new luxury suites -- for their thoughts on the $220 million renovation of Michigan Stadium.
• Pete Cunningham provides this video report on the different perspectives of the revamped stadium.
• Juliana Keeping had a rough assignment ... hanging out with people at their tailgate spots. And there's some good ones. Photographer Angela Cesere contributes a slideshow to this story.
BROCK MEALER • And, in the feel-good story of the day, Pete Bigelow recaps Brock Mealer's emotional walk to midfield prior to the game.
AROUND THE BIG TEN • Notre Dame, Michigan's opponent next week, beat Purdue 23-12 in coach Brian Kelly's first game. Quarterback Dayne Crist completed 19 of 26 passes for 205 yards and a touchdown, and Armando Allen and Cierre Wood provided 151 combined rushing yards. The Irish managed just one touchdown in four red-zone trips, including a fumble at the Purdue 8-yard line.
• Le'Veon Bell became the first freshman in Michigan State history to gain more than 100 yards in his first game and the Spartans beat Western Michigan, 38-14.
• Robert Bolden, the first true freshman quarterback starter in coach Joe Paterno's 45 years as head coach, passed for 239 yards and two touchdowns in No. 19 Penn State's 44-14 rout of Youngstown State.
• Sophomore tailback Adam Robinson rushed for 109 yards and three TDs in a 37-7 win over visiting Eastern Illinois.
• Missouri rallied from a 13-3 halftime deficit to beat Illinois 23-13.
• Dan Persa ran for 82 yards and threw for 222 and three touchdowns to three different receivers in Northwestern's 23-15 win over Vanderbilt.
• After a mistake-prone first half, Wisconsin put things together in the second half of a 41-21 win at UNLV.
Comments
Brian
Mon, Sep 6, 2010 : 11:12 a.m.
A great and inspirational rededication ceremony, a great showing by the team, and much reason for hope, if not optimism. Many fans are absolutely giddy. UConn may have been overrated, but so what. Based on the past couple of seasons, we should savor this victory, not for the typical 24 hours, but at least until 3:29PM on Saturday afternoon, which hopefully, will be another step towards a memorable season. Congrats on an excellent day, and GO BLUE!
Valtski
Sun, Sep 5, 2010 : 10:13 p.m.
Great Link Dwayne. I got some good laughs out of that one. I don't like to gloat, but sometimes overly cocky people need to be exposed. Its hard to believe they take this Dez guy seriously out east. What a schmuck.
Tom Joad
Sun, Sep 5, 2010 : 10:13 p.m.
UConn is community college level football... let's hold off the applause until after the Notre Dame game
Tag
Sun, Sep 5, 2010 : 8:35 p.m.
I know this AnnArbor.com. I know UM is THE story and I too am a HUGE UM fan, but I actually graduated from the small green and white school down the street, Eastern. I even checked the Ypsilanti and township page for coverage and as of 6:30pm Sunday night still nothing, nada, zip, zilch. As the "online resource" for Washtenaw county news I think it's disrespectful of AnnArbor.com to have not covered EMU sports whatsoever. BTW Eastern Michigan's home opener vs. Army; they played a pretty good game and lost at the end 31-27.
king
Sun, Sep 5, 2010 : 8 p.m.
Thanks Dwayne. Great link. How many times did he say "didn't see this coming"
Dwayne
Sun, Sep 5, 2010 : 6:23 p.m.
Okay, enough of all the seriousness, time to enjoy the victory. Found this last night on the UConn paper, very fun to read from the beginning, knowing the outcome. Enjoy. http://blogs.courant.com/uconn_football/2010/09/live-uconnmichigan-chat-kicks.html
buckeyebob
Sun, Sep 5, 2010 : 2:42 p.m.
Great win over the UConn "huskies" coach Rod. A couple of more of these and we'll forgive you stiffing folks on contracts you sign; heck beat OSU and you can survive 3-4 NCAA investigations. Everyone loves winner... t
PortageLkBlu
Sun, Sep 5, 2010 : 1:50 p.m.
Rob Roy there is no bar, look boys and girls this isn't a battle in Afghanistan this is entertainment and Michigan won their first game against a predicted decent team in their refurbished fantastically beautiful stadium and that is all there is to it. It was entertaining to say the least my family thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and we all felt a great amount of pleasure at the win thank you very much. Do I think that Mich. will win all there games this year, maybe not but I do think there is another decent team in the big ten and I think Mich. got the attention of a few big ten teams. I will predict that Tate will get playing time this year. I don't know if this young man is very mature but at some point he could very well be needed to step up to the plate and when he's needed I hope he's ready. QB requires dedication and it looks to me like Robinson worked very hard at improving his play and I hope Tate is paying attention.
RobRoy
Sun, Sep 5, 2010 : 11:24 a.m.
Call me cynical, but before everyone starts predicting a BCS chance for Michigan, I'd like to see DR perform against a Big Ten school before getting my hopes up. Its UCONN, not Ohio St people. Have we set the bar that low? lol
PortageLkBlu
Sun, Sep 5, 2010 : 7:19 a.m.
We got the barbecu fired up, Ribs, sausage and corn combined with an entertaining game, what a nice Saturday and that boys and girls is all you can ask for of our Michigan Wolverines.
king
Sun, Sep 5, 2010 : 5:54 a.m.
I figured Tom Brady would have enough to do this weekend but he obviously snuck in the UM/UCONN game as he is seen grabbing DRob's jersey in above picture.
UMfaninNC
Sun, Sep 5, 2010 : 12:51 a.m.
uh, that vandy vs northwestern game isnt the only big 10 vs SEC matchup alabama plays penn state... cmon guys do your research