Michigan 65, Bowling Green 21: Your comprehensive guide to Saturday's coverage
Michigan quarterbacks Devin Gardner (7) and Denard Robinson celebrate Gardner's fourth-quarter touchdown -- and perhaps answer questions about the severity of Robinson's first-quarter injury -- during a 65-21 win over Bowling Green at Michigan Stadium on Saturday.
Lon Horwedel | AnnArbor.com
It was one of those games that sent everyone in the press box scrambling for the record book.
Michigan's 721 total yards? The second-most in school history, squeezed between the 727 yards gained against Delaware State last season and the 715 racked up in a 1991 Gator Bowl win over Mississippi.
The 65 points? The most since 1986 -- but not even close to the program-best 130 points Fielding H. Yost's team put up on West Virginia in 1904.
Tate Forcier's 12-of-12 passing performance in the 65-21 win over Bowling Green? The first time a Michigan quarterback was perfect in a game he attempted at least 10 passes. Jim Harbaugh's 12-for-13 (92.3 percent) effort against Purdue in 1985 was the previous best.
The last time three quarterbacks combined to complete 23 of 26 passes for 255 yards and two touchdowns, and rush for 184 yards and three scores ... well, not surprisingly, that's not available in the Michigan record book.
But that's what Forcier, Denard Robinson and Devin Gardner did Saturday at Michigan Stadium.
As always, AnnArbor.com reporters and photographers covered the day, from pre-game tailgates to post-game press conferences. Here's a roundup of everything you can find on our site:
Post-Game Coverage • Scoring summary and boxscore.
• In Pete Bigelow's main game story, he writes that no matter who was at quarterback, the Wolverines shredded their record book during their final warm-up before Big Ten play begins next week at Indiana.
• Over the past month, Tate Forcier had been instructed to be patient and remain ready. On Saturday, Jeff Arnold reports that last year's starting quarterback looked as capable and comfortable as did early last year.
• And here's some video of Forcier's post-game comments.
• Fifth-year senior linebacker Jonas Mouton has not-so-silently become a skaky Michigan defense's most dependable player.
• Speaking of defense ... Mike Rothstein reports that the unit had its issues on Saturday, but held its own against Bowling Green.
• Brian Griese was back in Michigan Stadium as a television commentator on Saturday ... sitting in a much more luxurious press box than his father, Bob Griese, used to sit in while calling games. That's the top story in our jam-packed notebook.
• Bigelow hands out game balls, with Forcier leading the way with 3 1/2 (out of 4).
• Vote in our poll, which asks "Which Big Ten-Mid-American Conference game intrigued you?"
In-Game Updates • Photographers Lon Horwedel and Melanie Maxwell's slideshow features images from the team's pre-game walk to Michigan Stadium and right up to its post-game singing of "The Victors" with the student section.
• Jim Knight compiled live updates throughout the game. Relive all 86 points and 1,005 yards right here.
• Rich Rezler and Mike Rothstein hosted a live chat during the game. A transcript of that conversation available for review.
Pregame Coverage • James Dickson put together this video report from the FanFest tailgate, at the southwest corner of Stadium and Main, kitty-corner from the Big House. IMG College hosts the weekly event, which also features a life-sized Charles Woodson bobblehead, courtesy of the Big Ten Network.
Around the Big Ten (click on score for full game recap)
• Ohio State 73, Eastern Michigan 20: Dane Sanzenbacher tied two school records by catching four touchdown passes from Terrelle Pryor the No. 2-ranked Buckeyes scored the most points by an Ohio State team in 60 years.
• Michigan State 45, Northern Colorado 7: Kirk Cousins threw for 290 yards with a pair of touchdowns and Le'Veon Bell ran for three scores as 25th-ranked Spartans rolled to a victory a week after head coach Mark Dantonio suffered a mild heart attack. Dantonio was not on the sideline for MSU (4-0), but the team wore stickers with the letter 'D' on the backs of their helmets.
• Northwestern 30, Central Michigan 25: Dan Persa was 23 of 30 passing for 280 yards and two touchdowns for 4-0 Northwestern, which has won seven straight regular-season games. Jeremy Ebert caught five balls for 83 yards and two touchdowns for the Wildcats. Ryan Radcliffe was 29-of-43 passing for 347 yards and two touchdowns for the Chippewas (2-2).
• Penn State 22, Temple 13: Collin Wagner kicked five field goals before the Nittany Lion offense finally found the end zone late in an ugly win. Senior Evan Royster had his first 100-yard rushing game of the season, totaling 187 yards on 26 carries.
• Toledo 31, Purdue 20: The Rockets entered the game ranked last in the nation in total offense (221 ypg) and finished with 378 total yards in a non-conference win at Ross-Ade Stadium.Austin Dantin threw for two touchdowns and ran for two more for Toledo. Purdue (2-2) was without starting quarterback Robert Marve (bruised knee) for the second straight week.
• Wisconsin 70, Austin Peay 3: The Badgers (4-0) took control quickly, scoring a touchdown on its first seven possessions for a 49-3 halftime lead, and finished with a school record for points. Quarterback Scott Tolzien was nearly flawless in two quarters of action, completing 15 of 17 passes for 217 yards and three scores.
• Iowa 45, Ball State 0: Adam Robinson carried 22 times for 115 yards and two touchdowns and Ricky Stanzi threw two touchdown passes to Derrell Johnson-Koulianos to lead the 18th-ranked Hawkeyes (3-1) at Kinnick Stadium. Stanzi completed 19 of 25 passes for 288 yards and three scores.
AROUND THE NATION • Check out our Top 25 scoreboard, with links to game stories and boxscores.
Comments
Sean T.
Mon, Sep 27, 2010 : 4:47 p.m.
I watched the OSU/EMU game, hoping for an upset but it didn't happen. EMU moved the ball pretty well against OSU but truthfully EMU is actually getting better each week and I'm going to keep my eye on them because I like Coach English. From what I saw they would've moved the ball on us too!
ThoseWhoStayUofM
Sun, Sep 26, 2010 : 11:55 p.m.
"But this makes clear how much weight to place on your other posts about football--ZERO!" That's an ad hominem attack and a logical fallacy. Attack the argument and not the one who happens to be espousing it. This should warrent the removal of the entire comment but of course, arguments that point out the ineptitude of annarbor.com staff are the only ones that ought be removed, clearly. On another note, I could use this statement, using the same logic, to prove that we shouldn't take YOUR opinions seriously either, but in that regard I would be committing the same fallacious argument as you. Nevertheless I have yet to see you propose an argument that holds any water and thus, it may be prudent to simply ignore you on a basis of efficiency.
'96 & '09
Sun, Sep 26, 2010 : 7:22 p.m.
I thought the UConn game was well in control, but we failed to put them away and they crept back to make the score look scarier than it needed to be. This week we might have allowed 21, but we shut them out in the 2nd half (while scoring most of our points). I see that as an improvement in coaching.
81wolverine
Sun, Sep 26, 2010 : 3:15 p.m.
This Michigan offense has made a ton of progress from last year. We now have 3 competent QB's who will only get better. The offensive line is MUCH improved, creating holes, and has a fair amount of depth. And the receivers are also getting better - Roundtree and Stonum are turning into real game-changers. I think the running back by committee is working OK, but it would be great if we could find a "featured back" who is a consistent 100 yard rusher. It's exciting to think of how this offense will look in the next two years, assuming no coaching change. I'm afraid the defense is still a year, probably more like two away from becoming good enough for us to compete for a championship. The reality is the talent level isn't there at certain positions. Linebacker is one where we need to upgrade our recruiting a lot. Next year, Roh will be the only LB starter coming back, and there isn't a lot of promising players waiting in line. D-line might be OK, but it depends on whether they finally get Will Campbell in the lineup all the time. The defensive backs are a hugeproblem right now - poor tackling and being in the wrong position all the time are really hurting the team. Still, time will tell how well they develop. The next two games will tell a lot. Go Blue!
jameslucas
Sun, Sep 26, 2010 : 3:09 p.m.
The Big 10 zebras always have a hard time pre Big 10 schedule. Lets take this week they had to cover up to 10 games, where once the Big 10 schedule starts they normally only cover 5 games.
Sparky79
Sun, Sep 26, 2010 : 1:10 p.m.
The defense is going to have issues all season. The linebackers are inconsistent and the secondary is young, inexperienced, and depleted. Okay Michigan defense haters, WE GET IT. Why keep harping on the obvious? Michigan gives up 21 points to Bowling Green and you act like it's the end of the world, yet Ohio State gives up 20 to Eastern Michigan and not a peep about how they're going to fail in the Big Ten. It's sad that we win 65-21 and you can't even take any satisfaction in that. Nothing is going to change until more recruits are brought in that, like the offense, fits their system, and even then it's going to take two or three years of development until they're truly ready to play and be effective, but I know for some of you two or three years is an eternity and you can't wait that long and we should fire everyone now because that will solve everything... In the mean time I will keep enjoying the offensive showcase and hope the defense can do enough to help win us some games. No sense in getting so worked up each week over something that can't be fixed this season.
RudeJude
Sun, Sep 26, 2010 : 11:35 a.m.
The offense put up quite an impressive show, while the defense looked lost as usual. All those glaring holes are still there, but overall, it was an impressive win. So, was UMass the toughest foe on Michigan's OOC schedule? The next two weeks are going to shed a lot of light on this team, hopefully for the better and not the worse.
tulsatom
Sun, Sep 26, 2010 : 10:57 a.m.
Tater, I hope in my heart that you are right. People can call me a Doubting Thomas if they want, but I will start believing in the defense when I see them stopping teams cand causing more 3-and-dones. Right now, it is up to the offense to win shootouts, and that's a difficult position to put your team in, because the other team may have the ball last sometimes.
azwolverine
Sun, Sep 26, 2010 : 10:48 a.m.
Hey Tater, When RR wins a National Title, get back to me.
RudeJude
Sun, Sep 26, 2010 : 10:14 a.m.
The offense put up quite an impressive show, while the defense looked lost as usual. All those glaring holes are still there, but overall, it was an impressive win. So, was UMass the toughest foe on Michigan's OOC schedule? The next two weeks are going to shed a lot of light on this team, hopefully for the better and not the worse.
tulsatom
Sun, Sep 26, 2010 : 8:21 a.m.
U-M continues to show it has a lot of firepower on offense, which reflects RR's emphasis as a coach. He's done well on that side of the ball. Defense is obviously an afterthought for him to the point where most college football fans realized how bad U-M's defense was before RR did. While he and his staff were out recruiting slot receivers, running backs, and wide receivers by the dozens, the defensive side of the ball resembled Old Mother Hubbard's cupboard, gathering spider webs. In games, the defensive backs on most plays look like they're as confused as they were on their first day of spring practice, and Greg Robinson looks as nervous as a chicken running around inside of a chicken processing plant. My favorite quote of the day came from Brian Griese, when he was speaking of the current U-M team. He said, "Offense sells tickets, but defense wins championships". I think he is 100% correct.
Jarhead
Sun, Sep 26, 2010 : 6:57 a.m.
I think it is folly to compare a teams def this week to last week to the week before. Or comparing what our team did to an opponant to what some other team did to that opponent on a different date. Every game and circumstances are diff week to week. It may be fun, just hardly scientific. BO used to say he could get his team up for three games a year, usually Notre Dame, Mich State, and Ohio State. All other games it came down to playing consistant and making fewer mistakes. Our secondary are feshmen plain and simple. In my group of fans, non of us think Ezah has progressed, (he's a fifth year senior for pete's sake). The reality is he may just be the best we have to offer for that position. We have 3 true seniors and 8 fifth year seniors. Of that crew 2 are injured, 4 rotate in during the game, 5 start. That's your leadership. Woolfolk will med redshirt. That means 10 will be leaving this year. Not a typical graduating class, but it will even out in a year or two. Now if someone posts that the coach should "coach them up", I'm gonna puke. Aw he##, I might as well start puking now. I know you all can't help yourselves.
Jarhead
Sun, Sep 26, 2010 : 6:37 a.m.
ERMG I agree about the refereeing. Have complained for severall years now. In the Conn game I thought Mich got the benefit when the refs spotted the ball. In the Notre Dame game, I couldn't believe the holding Notre Dames line got away with. And so on. Yesterday, I think it was Odoms(?), who got called for blocking below the knees but clearly blocked his guy at the waist. One call dosen't save or kill a game, unless its in the finall seconds. The best we can hope for is the refs are consistant on both sides of the ball and call equally good and bad to both teams.
3 And Out
Sun, Sep 26, 2010 : 3:24 a.m.
Unless you are one to eschew the ever popular "relative score" theory... then you would be apt to believe that based on UMass only scoring 26 on STONEY BROOK after laying 35 on us....then the obvious conclusion is STONEY BROOK DEFENSE > RR's 3RD YR MICHIGAN DEFENSE. Go ahead...call me a 'hater' i dare ya!
azwolverine
Sat, Sep 25, 2010 : 11:09 p.m.
I checked on the UMass score tonight, expecting to see a blowout win in their favor. Instead, they beat something called Stony Brook 26-21.