Final: Wisconsin football team thumps Michigan 45-24
Wisconsin quarterback Scott Tolzien (16) throws to Lance Kendricks (84) while being rushed by Michigan linebacker Brandon Smith (4) during the first half. (Photo: Associated Press)
Wisconsin 45, Michigan 24: Philip Welch kicked a 28-yard field goal as Wisconsin took time off the clock with 14 consecutive running plays, all by John Clay or Monte Ball.
Wisconsin 42, Michigan 24: Scott Tolzien, who already had 4 touchdown passes, scored on a 1-yard keeper as Wisconsin extended its lead with a 60-yard, 10-play drive.
Wisconsin 28, Michigan 24: Tate Forcier found Roy Roundtree for a 10-yard touchdown pass. Michigan went 60 yards in 8 plays.
Wisconsin 28, Michigan 17: Nick Toon, in a leaping grab over Michigan's Donovan Warren, caught a 15-yard touchdown pass. Toon was the center of the 10-play, 80-yard drive, catching 3 passes for 54 yards.
Michigan 17, Wisconsin 14: Ryan Van Bergen scooped up a fumble and returned it 14 yards for a touchdown. Brandon Graham forced the fumble when he hit Wisconsin quarterback Scott Tolzien.
Wisconsin 14, Michigan 10: Scott Tolzien found sophomore wide receiver Nick Toon for an 8-yard touchdown pass. Wisconsin's 15-play appeared stalled, but a roughing-the-kicker penalty on Michigan gave Wisconsin a first down.
Michigan 10, Wisconsin 7: Jason Olesnavage kicked a 37-yard field goal 30 seconds into the second quarter. Jordan Kovacs intercepted Wisconsin quarterback Scott Tolzien at the Wisconsin 25 to set up the short drive.
Michigan 7, Wisconsin 7: Running back Vincent Smith scored on a 41-yard pass play from fellow freshman Tate Forcier as Michigan responded immediately to Wisconsin's score. Vincent's touchdown capped an 11-play drive that started on the Michigan 26-yard line.
Wisconsin 7, Michigan 0: Quarterback Scott Tolzien hit tight end Garrett Graham with a 22-yard pass as the Wisconsin football team scored on its first drive, going 80 yards in five plays.
Comments
garrison56
Sat, Nov 14, 2009 : 10:03 p.m.
aareader-- Keep drinking your special Kool-aid, friend. "Most programs take more than 2 years or even 3 to come back to expected greatness." God, what an idiotic statement. Are you out of your mind? I have two words for you: Jim Tressel. How many years did HE require? The U of M has betrayed EVERYTHING it claimed to stand for. Mary Sue is stupid--a single digit IQ. In fact, she's a figurehead. If RichRod is not fired within the next two months, the football program is doomed for a long, long time.
azwolverine
Sat, Nov 14, 2009 : 6:41 p.m.
Chosen1, I agree. Even with the "patience" that RR's backers preach, the BEST he will ever do is 9-3. Period. He's a career 8-9 win coach (including 5 losing seasons in his 16 seasons) without Pat White. And that was in the Big East with weak competition. He will NEVER win a national championship anywhere (never has - choked with 'his' players when he had a chance), and will almost assuredly never beat OSU or even compete with them. Tressel is head and shoulders above this guy. Heck, Dantonio is head and shoulders above him. Keep him for another season if it's in some sort of rule book that you must, but beyond that, I'm quite confident he will coach himself out of a job here at Michigan. He's simply not good enough. By the way, Harbaugh and Stanford just hung 55 on USC. THAT is big time!
chosen1
Sat, Nov 14, 2009 : 5:01 p.m.
We are going to be a 8 win team with richrod. That's what he was at WVU until Miami Fl, Boston College, and Va Tech left to go to the ACC. That's a reality that we must face. He got Pat white and changed it around, but that was with a crappy cinci, uconn, and south florida coming in....Big downgrade in talent at the time
BlueFan97
Sat, Nov 14, 2009 : 4:49 p.m.
D21, I agree. The blame should defintely go to the top with Mary S Coleman and the Board. Sad state of affairs...
tomhagan
Sat, Nov 14, 2009 : 4:48 p.m.
Rich Rod has done a terrible job at Michigan. With a shoddy recruiting class and possible NCAA violations coming up.... it is a total loss and time for Michigan to Can Coach Rod and Start over. The talent is there to turn this around with a decent coach. ps: Stefanie Murray of MLive is cute.
D21
Sat, Nov 14, 2009 : 4:41 p.m.
Sorry about my spelling error; shoulders instead of boulders in my other posting.
D21
Sat, Nov 14, 2009 : 4:40 p.m.
BlueFan97, Agreed! Wonder if part of the blame also lies the the houlders of inept Mary Sue Coleman and the Board of Regents?
aareader
Sat, Nov 14, 2009 : 4:35 p.m.
With all of the sadness about Blue not winning a historical look at other college rebuilding football programs look much the same. Most programs take more than 2 years or even 3 to come back to expected greatness. A look at our coaches from RR on down show they have a LOT of statistics in their favor. RR is the Architect of the Spread Offense used today. His success at other programs is positive. Defense Coach Greg Robinson also has a long history of success. Fred Jackson's history is solid. Soooo it appears to me the program will be built with a solid foundation. As more players come in along with the current ones gaining experience I think we will see an improvement to quality bowl appearances and a Big 10 Title sooner than later. The hard part is over. Go Blue!
chosen1
Sat, Nov 14, 2009 : 4:32 p.m.
Here's a novel idea, Suggest to rich that he get a pay reduction until he is able to win. If Rich is honest and a man of his word, then this shouldn't be an issue. He needs to step up and walk away as all the words he has spoken has been nothing but garbage....Barwis= hype machine, no results
BlueFan97
Sat, Nov 14, 2009 : 4:31 p.m.
The one thing I'm really tired of hearing that the cupboard was bare when RR took over. Michigan had more talent when RR got here than at least 7 of the 11 Big Ten schools, yet he's, so far, compiled a 3-12 record, which WILL be 3-13 after next weeks loss to OSU. Come on, Dantonio took over a debacle in East Lansing, and went 9-7 in the Big Ten his first 2 years at State (and 16-10 overall). And if anyone thinks MSU had more talent when Dantonio took over than when RR took over Michigan then they're really drinking some kool-aid. This is such a debacle. Let's, at the very least, cut ties with Bill Martin NOW, and not wait until next September and hopefully get a good AD in here. Then let the new AD make the decision on RR, cause Bill Martin would definitely not fire RR, even if we ended up in last place in 2010. Embarrassing is the only word to describe Michigan football these days.
wondering
Sat, Nov 14, 2009 : 4:24 p.m.
Again. BigRR wanted to destroy us from within. We pay 4mi and legal fees. We pay him 2mil plus and then we fire him, what a scam. He leaves knowing we would want him fired. He leaves with bucks and we are left with a progam and team in shambles. I know it sounds silly, but one can always wonder!
Just Blue
Sat, Nov 14, 2009 : 4:18 p.m.
Never thought that UM football would become unwatchable but their lack of preparation and execution is glaring. It appears this coach and his staff reached their level of capabilities in the Big East since they sure can't coach in the Big10. Last place? With all our highly regarded recruits? What did we ever do to deserve a coach like this?
chosen1
Sat, Nov 14, 2009 : 4:10 p.m.
I believe Theo and InRichRodITrust should be banned for their delusions. Obviously these are druginduced delusions they spew
azwolverine
Sat, Nov 14, 2009 : 3:58 p.m.
Wondering, I'm with you 100% on cheering on the players next week. I think they'd be well served to leave RR at home, though. He hasn't helped them win in two years.
wondering
Sat, Nov 14, 2009 : 3:54 p.m.
ok. Although many of us are disgusted with M this year, lets root them on next week. Reason: The seniors have to live with this the rest of their lives/career. They need our support. But because I am a skeptic. They have to come and give thier best also.
wondering
Sat, Nov 14, 2009 : 3:50 p.m.
Press conference... "They are reaching" for something to happen. But RR you are the head coach!! That means you are "reaching"
wondering
Sat, Nov 14, 2009 : 3:48 p.m.
That number is staggering for a coach who can't win? Who pays him this money? Is a clause in the contract, one must win games to recieve this salary. Or you will have to refund all the money spent on tickets!
Falconiero
Sat, Nov 14, 2009 : 3:39 p.m.
A recent article in USA Today reported that Michigan head football coach Rich Rodriguez will rack up $2,521,000 this year, making him the 14th highest paid coach in college football. The problem is not that RR cannot win football games... its that he gets paid a ridiculous amount of money not to win football games.
embarrassednblue
Sat, Nov 14, 2009 : 3:30 p.m.
I am so sick of this. I do not usually leave leave comments. But Rich Rodd is not a very good coach. Michigan is in last place in the Big Ten. There is no way their tallent level is less than every team in the Big Ten. The D looks like a high school team and the O is embarrassing. They need to get rid of RR before things get worse. He cant recruit, He cant coach, West Virginia was only mediocre and never had a defense. This was all in the lowly Big East. It is going to take years to recover from this debacle. How could you hire a coach that knows nothing about Michigan Tradition??????
wondering
Sat, Nov 14, 2009 : 3:29 p.m.
Ignatz-Maybe rebuilding with a better coaching staff is not a bad idea. These young men are freshman, but your coach is your guide. Are you rec we stay with what we have at the top? When does the top take a hit and not the players? He should bear all responsibilty for the players. Yeh the defense sucks, offense isnt much better, but defend RR. Never!!
Papabear151
Sat, Nov 14, 2009 : 3:19 p.m.
Here's a shocker, another week where this team not only isn't able to compete, they weren't even prepared to compete if they were able to. GJ RR, keep running this team into the ground, how much sweeter it will be to fire your lame ass.
Ignatz
Sat, Nov 14, 2009 : 3:13 p.m.
What a debacle. I feel for those guys. They looked fairly good in the first half. OK, so now we get to hear from the fire RR crowd. Let me ask, though, who could win with all these young guys? Name some spread coaches who can teach the players what to do. Can he use a Matix-like device and download plays and positioning into their memories? Would he give them steroids to bulk up without having to spend many months in training? We have way too many Freshmen and Sophmores to win many games. Fire RR now (which is not going to happen) and we get to spend another three years rebuilding.