Wisconsin 48, Michigan 28: A comprehensive guide to Saturday's coverage
Wisconsin running back Montee Ball plows into the end zone for a fourth quarter touchdown, his fourth of the game, during Saturday's 48-28 win over Michigan at Michigan Stadium.
Lon Horwedel | AnnArbor.com
Who needs the reigning Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year?
With leading rusher John Clay on the sideline, Wisconsin used steady doses of Montee Ball and James White to win at Michigan Stadium for the first time since 1994.
Ball ran for 173 yards and four touchdowns, White added 181 yards and two scores and the Badgers took another step toward a Rose Bowl berth with a 48-28 win over Michigan.
The Wolverines, meanwhile, struggled to find an offensive rhythm in the first half and fell behind 24-0 by halftime. The much-maligned defense gave up 558 yards of total offense and special teams missed another field goal attempt.
The lone bright spot? Denard Robinson set two NCAA records.
The sophomore broke the record for yards rushing by a quarterback, previously held by Air Force's Beau Morgan, and became the first player in NCAA history with more than 1,500 rushing and passing yards in the same season.
“It doesn’t mean anything to me right now," Robinson said of the record. "We’re getting ready to play Ohio State, and that’s it.”
Before heading full steam into Ohio State week, here's a compilation of AnnArbor.com's coverage of Saturday's game against Wisconsin:
Post-Game Coverage • Scoring summary and boxscore.
James White, with a Badger shaved into his hair, carved up the Michigan defense for 181 yards and two touchdowns on 23 carries.
Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com
• In his running gamer, Bigelow says that Wisconsin defensive end's J.J. Watt flinging Denard Robinson's shoe was rather symbolic.
• Jeff Arnold writes that the Michigan offense struggled to find rhythm, couldn't get rolling until the second half.
• Mike Rothstein reports that Darryl Stonum, Craig Roh became a part of a long list of injured Michigan players.
• A 2-3 punch: With Wisconsin star John Clay out, James White and Montee Ball dominate for the Badgers.
• Our game day notebook includes: Michigan's kicking woes continue, a record-setting day for Denard Robinson and more.
• After the game, the Wolverines quickly turned their focus to Ohio State.
• Bigelow passed out game balls, giving highest accolades to the Wisconsin offensive line.
• Police eject 36 people from the Big House, cite 13 for having alcohol in the stadium.
• Freelance writer Lisa Carolin talked to fans on Saturday, and many of them support coach Rich Rodriguez.
In-Game Updates • AnnArbor.com photographers Melanie Maxwell and Lon Horwedel have a full day's worth of photographs combined in this slideshow:
• Michael Rothstein and Rich Rezler hosted a live chat from the Michigan Stadium press box. That transcript can be found here.
• Jim Knight provided live updates. Check them out here.
• Ultimate Fighting Championship president Dana White meets Rich Rodriguez, watches game.
Around the Big Ten (click on score for complete game recap)
Ohio State 20, (21) Iowa 17: Terrelle Pryor rallied his team from behind and Dan Herron scored the game-winning touchdown with less than two minutes remaining. Pryor passed for 195 yards and rushed for 78 more, including a key fourth down, 14-yard scramble for a first down on the go-ahead drive. But it was Herron's bruising 1-yard touchdown run with 1:47 on the clock that gave the Buckeyes their fourth straight win and kept them in a tie for the conference lead.
Illinois 48, Northwestern 27: Mikel Leshoure scored twice and rushed for a school-record 330 yards -- all headed in the same direction -- as the Illini rolled at Wrigley Field. The teams were looking for publicity when they scheduled the first football game in 40 years at the old ballpark - and did they ever get it. The Big Ten announced Friday the schools had agreed on several rule changes because of safety concerns, including offensive plays ran only toward the west end zone. An interception return by Northwestern was the only touchdown scored in the east end zone.
Michigan State 35, Purdue 31: Kirk Cousins scored on a 3-yard run just two plays after a blocked punt to cap a 22-point fourth quarter as 11th-ranked Spartans pulled out a win at Spartan Stadium. Michigan State (10-1, 6-1) entered the fourth quarter trailing by 15, but drew within 31-28 with just under seven minutes to play. Purdue was forced to punt deep in its own territory and Denicos Allen blocked the kick with 5:19 left, giving Michigan State the ball at the 3-yard line.
Penn State 41, Indiana 24: Matt McGloin threw for 315 yards and two touchdowns as the Nittany Lions rallied at FedEx Field. Derek Moye had six catches for 90 yards for Penn State (7-4, 4-3), while the special teams broke the game open with a touchdown on a blocked punt in the third quarter. Indiana (4-7, 0-7) has now lost five straight to fall out of bowl contention. Ben Chappell threw for 235 yards, two touchdowns and an interception in the loss.
Check out plenty more Michigan State coverage from our colleagues at MLive.com.
Comments
Peggy
Sun, Nov 21, 2010 : 8:04 p.m.
I new it would happen to RR, "what goes around comes around"
leaguebus
Sun, Nov 21, 2010 : 7:35 p.m.
Send the defense to the Michigan Rugby club spring practice starting in January. The Rugby guys can teach them how to tackle. Most of the big Wisconsin runs had several defensive players bounce off the runner behind the line of scrimage. If the D had made these tackles, who knows what would have happened.
RobbiesBoyfriend
Sun, Nov 21, 2010 : 5:58 p.m.
LG, I think maybe Greg Robinson needs to go to summer camps next year and learn something about football
theteamtheteamtheteam
Sun, Nov 21, 2010 : 5:52 p.m.
First of all congrats to D.Robinson on a record setting day. He sure did earn it however records don't mean crap if L was the end result. It's becoming more and more painful to watch this team on Saturdays. I laughed when the line was 4pts for Wisky. Are you kidding me? This is the "New Michigan". RR experiment in Ann Arbor is failing. This team not only physically not ready for the big stage but MENTALLY. They can compete with ILL, IN, Minn, some MAC teams.....but not the BIG DOGS in B10. This offense is fun to watch against crappy opponents but they failed miserably against the BIG BOYS. Turnovers, penalties, horrible defense and last but not least a PATHETIC KICKER. After 11 weeks of competition, where is the progression of this team???? Us fans are sick and tired of the same old excuses and listening to RR B.S. HE WILL NEVER WIN A B10 championship or a "NC" at MICHIGAN. He's tricky offense works in the Big East conf. and not Big 10. Speed helps but the bottom line SIZE and STRENGTH dominates. He DOES NOT UNDERSTAND THE B-10 or the Rivalry. Tressel, Bielema, Ferentz, Danantonio, Fitzgerald, Joe Pa..all these coaches has either played or held a coaching position in B10 before becoming the HC. Tressel been dominating the conference and M since his arrival. He was very successful at Youngstown university which is a lower division but coach previously at OSU under Earl Bruce and has deep roots in B10 and OSU. HE KNOWS RIVALRY and so other coaches. It's really really sad that when I was watching the game with my 7 year old nephew whose all dressed in Michigan gear and watching the Badgers pounding the Wolverines looked at me sadly and said: "What happened to Michigan Wolverines?"
tzgoblue
Sun, Nov 21, 2010 : 3:54 p.m.
For those that think true MI fans should not be negative, then you should take a look at what is really happening here. Nick Saban took over an average team at best, he won immediately with the the existing talent or lack there of. Jim Harbough took over a program that had been terrible forever, he has won relatively quickly as well. The new coach at Miss St took over a team in one of the strongest conferences in the country and is winning and is competitive against the best teams in the SEC. We have RR who has 2 losing seasons out of 3, can't come close to being competitive against the average or elite teams in the B10, struggles against the weak teams on the schedule, has lowered the expectations of some hard headed fans that think he will figure out how to turn this mess around. One thing most fans still supporting RR have in common with him, both are hard headed, excuse making individuals that have no grasp of reality. I am one of the most dedicated UM fans that there is, I drive 300 miles each way to every home game (I have season tickets), I wear my UM colors everywhere except to work (not allowed). So I don't want to hear how I'm not a true fan because I'm sick of this crap. I coached and played this game. I know how to watch the detail of a game. There has been no improvement in 3 yrs against good teams, our offense is not great like some think. Look at what teams did to us in our 4 losses, they didn't allow our offense to do anything until they were ahead comfortably and then they began to play soft. Our defense is exactly what Lou Holtz said it is "the worst in the country". RR brought his buddies with him from WV and they don't have a clue on how to coach players to be competitive in the B10 nor do they know how to recruit players that can compete in the B10. If Brandon gives RR another year he is only delaying the obvious for another year. A new coach and staff will not take 2 or 3 years to turn this around if Brandon hires someone that understands the B10 and better yet understands the actual meaning of the MSU, OSU, and ND games. It will take an actual Michigan Man to excelerate the process, but it can be done.
heartbreakM
Sun, Nov 21, 2010 : 1:47 p.m.
@LG and madblue: I have been a frequent critic of RR (though I credit him whe I think appropriate). Nothing he has done in his 3 years, though, leads me to think that he (1) understands Michigan football and its rivals (2) can coach in the B10 (remember, he is 6-17 so far in just under 3 years after the previous coaches barely lost that many in a decade or more) (3) can coach defense (4) can represent the UM well (5) can improve his teams over the year That is all criteria to maintain your 2 million/year job and he has failed. How many more years must the alumni and supporters of UM put up with before he is shown the door? Do we wait until DR graduates? Do we wait until he replaces GR and gives the new defensive staff time? (BTW, his former defensive coordinator is having some success at Syracuse which was really left bare by......our current D coordinator) If the players that RR are really that good, as his supporters claim they are, then a good coach will be able to mold them into football players who know how to play. RR has NOT proven to be that man. I base my comments on past results, not on future potential, because potential is mythical. Results are actual.
clarklaker
Sun, Nov 21, 2010 : 1:28 p.m.
I will take the rebuilding as long as we get the right coach.As for now i am fighting with the thought of renewing my season tickets to watch this crap
madblue
Sun, Nov 21, 2010 : 1:10 p.m.
LG, you seem to be the most reasonable person that has posted a comment all yaer. All the haters want RR fired, so another coach can come in and totally change things again. That will be another 2-3 year process, and like you said LG, they will want that guy gone too. We made a bowl game this year. I know that's not what we really want but it's still improvement. We need, I repeat, need more talent on defense. We have one NFL caliber guy on defense which is Mike Martin. Chris Spielman pointed that out yesterday. Martin gets double teamed all the time which makes him almost irrelevant at times. Most experts had UM at 7-5 and that's where we will be. Texas is bad this year because of the talent level, now Mack Brown is on the hot seat. Are you kidding me! Rome wasn't in one day so please give the man time!
LG
Sun, Nov 21, 2010 : 12:50 p.m.
I'm very disappointed in all the Mich. fans that hate RR. He is part ot the program with 100 young men as his children. All you fans that complain about the progress of the team you need to take time off during the summer and go to these football clinics and learn football. It will take 3-4 years for Miles and Harbaugh to rebuild a program. After 2 or 3 years of losing all you guys will be complaining about those two. Be patient folks. I see progress. I'm very surprised about your conduct toward Michigan. GO BLUE!
stunhsif
Sun, Nov 21, 2010 : 12:02 p.m.
Where did all the U of M fans/posters go the past two weeks? Only 12 comments thus far, guess they are sick of their teams poor performances week after week. Go Green Go White
theteamtheteamtheteam
Sun, Nov 21, 2010 : 11:52 a.m.
First of all congrats to D.Robinson on a record setting day. He sure did earn it however records don't mean crap if L was the end result. It's becoming more and more painful to watch this team on Saturdays. I laughed when the line was 4pts for Wisky. Are you kidding me? This is the "New Michigan". RR experiment in Ann Arbor is failing. This team not only physically not ready for the big stage but MENTALLY. They can compete with ILL, IN, Minn, some MAC teams.....but not the BIG DOGS in B10. This offense is fun to watch against crappy opponents but they failed miserably against the BIG BOYS. Turnovers, penalties, horrible defense and last but not least a PATHETIC KICKER. After 11 weeks of competition, where is the progression of this team???? Us fans are sick and tired of the same old excuses and listening to RR B.S. HE WILL NEVER WIN A B10 championship or a "NC" at MICHIGAN. He's tricky offense works in the Big East conf. and not Big 10. Speed helps but the bottom line SIZE and STRENGTH dominates. He DOES NOT UNDERSTAND THE B-10 or the Rivalry. Tressel, Bielema, Ferentz, Danantonio, Fitzgerald, Joe Pa..all these coaches has either played or held a coaching position in B10 before becoming the HC. Tressel been dominating the conference and M since his arrival. He was very successful at Youngstown university which is a lower division but coach previously at OSU under Earl Bruce and has deep roots in B10 and OSU. HE KNOWS RIVALRY and so other coaches. It's really really sad that when I was watching the game with my 7 year old nephew whose all dressed in Michigan gear and watching the Badgers pounding the Wolverines looked at me sadly and said: "What happened to Michigan Wolverines?"
lefty48197
Sun, Nov 21, 2010 : 10:23 a.m.
Let's see: Big strong offensive linemen pushing "quick" defensive players right out of the way, so that their 240 running backs can carry the ball and go anywhere they want to. That formula has been winning football games for over a century. Look at RichRod's "innovative" offensive. It gets record setting numbers for their "one trick pony" yet they still get slaughtered on the scoreboard. Will anybody in Ann Arbor ever wise up and realize that their offense means NOTHING. IT DOESN'T WIN FOOTBALL GAMES! What good is that offense, or the coach that brought it for that matter, if that offense doesn't win games? Isn't winning the whole point of playing the games?
Cash
Sun, Nov 21, 2010 : 8:53 a.m.
And unmentioned at AnnArbor.com, eight miles away: http://www.emueagles.com/news/2010/11/20/FB_1120105636.aspx
MGradMSUMom
Sun, Nov 21, 2010 : 7:36 a.m.
The picture caption reads Purdue 48 UM 28. I long for the days of strng UM defense.
St8rBoiInMN
Sun, Nov 21, 2010 : 12:18 a.m.
Yeah, let us know how that Buckeye thingy turns out for ya next weekend. I can't believe you still have RRod for a coach...
Sean T.
Sat, Nov 20, 2010 : 11:58 p.m.
Another poster predicted this earlier when he said Wisky would go up big and then take their foot off the gas. He also mentioned that we would score and try to make it look close but the true damage would already be done. We are truly lucky that Purdue didn't have their starting QB last weekend because back to back losses hurt too long.......Damn it! Now we have to play the Buckeyes.
Jaxon5
Sat, Nov 20, 2010 : 11:28 p.m.
Wisconsin did it right when they transitioned to Bielema. They didn't change the whole system, they didn't fire the coaches who had knowledge about how to recruit and win in the Big Ten, and they didn't bring in a head coach who focuses only on offense. They outsmarted us is what they did. And then they went out and beat the stuffing out of us.
2sweetblue
Sat, Nov 20, 2010 : 10:59 p.m.
OSUbeBetter................. I seriously just spit the Pepsi out of my mouth laughing so hard. Great story man LOL!!!!!!!!!!
OSUbeBetter
Sat, Nov 20, 2010 : 10:17 p.m.
By the way, I made my daughter cry a little bit today, Shes a Michigan fan like her little girl friends at school. I nealt down beside her and told her i had a bad bit of news, she looked at me with a concerned look and i told her that Michigan got creamed really really really bad today, She ran off. I did however let her know that Ohio state and Michigan State both won very hard fought games, and i told her that the Wisconsin coach took pity in Michigan and DID LET MICHIGAN SCORE some points in the second half of the game. She was grateful for that.
OSUbeBetter
Sat, Nov 20, 2010 : 9:58 p.m.
Heres your comprehensive break down of this Saturday (And next Saturday) Michigan gets beat bad by any ranked team. Michigan gets manhandled by guys who are both bigger AND faster. Michigan cant do anything right. Michigan is the worst defense in the nation (Lou Holtz). Michigan has an inept coaching staff. Michigan cannot compete in the big ten.
Ben
Sat, Nov 20, 2010 : 9:51 p.m.
Okay, sure we may need a "revamped team" with more speed. But guess what... to get to a NC or more, you still have to win in your conference. You cannot win in the Big 10 relying on speed alone. Look at what Wisconsin did to us today, they RAN, they had SIZE and they had skill. We have speed and athleticism, RR traded out all of our size to make a faster offense/defense. While this may work down south, where it's the norm, up here in the north it's a recipe for disaster. I would really like to see RR gone, but I know he'll get another year. God help us.
trigg7
Sat, Nov 20, 2010 : 9:22 p.m.
I said WISKY by 17. M is great for $$$ in on, but you keep telling yourself your more than a cup cake for the real BIG TEN teams.