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Game Thread Game Eleven: Ohio state 25, Michigan 21 (final)

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Dear Daddyphatsacs,

Thank you. I've put forth a great deal of time over the course of the last 35 years concerning myself with an answer to the "Michigan problem." It is my conclusion that it must just be fucked. Not in the sexual sense of the word, mind you, as that would be very, very gross. Have you seen the women that they have up there? I'm not sure they're not really bovine.

Anyway, your support is always welcome.

Deepest regards,

BKB
 
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It has become apparent over the span of the last century that Michigan is completely fucked. As BKB so eloquently put it in the last stanza, the boiling point for this theory is reached when you factor in the women of the university of Michigan. In turn, this creates a downward spiral that radiates from Ann Arbor north, south, east, and west. Hence, this is why we all call that dirty state up north a cesspool, and why man must equip himself with a block "O" hat, which will neutralize the spiral, if he ventures inside the state border (though I'm not quite sure what would provoke that kind of behavior).

Below is a picture of Lloyd Carr during the offseason.

santa_sleeps.jpg
 
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The Buckeyes will be there!!!

Sunday, November 13, 2005

Michigan 41, Indiana 14

U-M: Bring on Buckeyes

Wolverines speed past Hoosiers, can win title

By Angelique S. Chengelis / The Detroit News

ANN ARBOR -- The blinders are off.

Now, Michigan is permitted to look ahead to the finish line.

U-M won its fourth straight game, defeating Indiana, 41-14, Saturday afternoon thanks to a six-touchdown first half.

Michigan (7-3, 5-2 Big Ten) used trick plays and polished its passing game in that half, then worked in the backups and younger players in the second as the focus turned to the home regular-season finale against Ohio State.

The Buckeyes are 8-2, 6-1 after an equally dominant victory over Northwestern on Saturday. Under coach Jim Tressel, OSU is 3-1 against U-M.

Saturday's Ohio State-Michigan game now has bigger implications because of Wisconsin's loss to Iowa. If Michigan wins and Michigan State beats Penn State, U-M would get the Big Ten's BCS spot in a bowl game.

Wolverines coach Lloyd Carr, who is 6-4 against the Buckeyes, was asked how soon after beating Indiana did his thoughts turn to Ohio State.

"Well, I don't think you ever stop thinking about them," Carr said.

But first things first.

Against Indiana, Michigan was again without starting tailback Mike Hart, who could have played but is still nursing a sprained ankle.

The Wolverines' offense and generous field position -- all except two of their first-half series started in Indiana territory -- were too much for the Hoosiers to handle, even without Hart.

Receiver Steve Breaston accounted for 201 of Michigan's 316 first-half yards, and he scored a touchdown.

Breaston had one carry, three receptions, a kickoff return and three punt returns.

Comparatively speaking, Indiana had 148 yards of offense in the first half. It also was overwhelmed by penalties, with seven for 58 yards.

Michigan did not have a penalty.

"We made a lot of mistakes. It just hurts," Indiana defensive lineman Greg Brown said.

U-M quarterback Chad Henne played only the first half and was 17-of-24 passing for 174 yards and three touchdowns. Seven players caught passes. Jason Avant had five receptions for 66 yards and a touchdown.

"They played a perfect first half in a lot of ways," Indiana coach Terry Hoeppner said. "(They) didn't have a penalty, and Henne was outstanding. He really looked ready to play. He came out and was ready to play. They were all ready to play."

All four backs behind Hart had carries. Freshman Kevin Grady started and had 94 yards and two rushing touchdowns. Jerome Jackson also scored.

Indiana scored on its first possession after a 77-yard drive -- just more than half its first-half production. Blake Powers' 42-yard pass to Jahkeen Gilmore gave IU a 7-0 lead.

But Michigan's defense, which held Indiana to 63 yards rushing for the game, kicked in.

"We were very upset about that first series," said senior nose tackle Gabe Watson, who had two tackles for loss. "We talked all week about preventing big plays. That has been a big-time thing for our defense, not giving up big plays. To hit a big one and score a touchdown, we knew we had to go out there and stop them."

Indiana has lost five in a row and is 4-6.

Michigan, which led 41-7 at halftime, did not punt until early in the second half. Its only mistakes in the first half were a missed 52-yard field-goal attempt and a failed attempt to take advantage of an interception by Prescott Burgess in the second quarter. U-M was unable to convert on fourth-and-one at the Indiana 7.

Regardless, Carr said the way Michigan performed in the first half proved the players were focused on Indiana and not looking ahead to Ohio State.

"This was a different challenge for us," Carr said, "because we were big favorites. When you're favored, and you have a game like the next one (Ohio State) in front of you, it's easy to get distracted, it's easy to start to do things that don't allow you to play your best. We did a good job with that."
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Michigan - from mediocrity to the brink of greatness to pathetic.

Sunday, November 13, 2005

Michigan has gone from mediocrity to brink of greatness

By Bob Wojnowski / The Detroit News
Bob Wojnowski

ANN ARBOR -- From where they were, which was nowhere, it's fascinating to see the Wolverines now, somewhere potentially special. It has taken a leap of faith and a load of effort, and just the right amount of imagination.

Michigan's season has been saved from disaster, but for it to be remembered, there's another giant leap, now looming. And here's a statement you couldn't have summoned five weeks ago without the use of hallucinogenics: The Wolverines look ready for Ohio State.

It became clear after about, oh, 37 seconds of U-M's 41-14 pasting of Indiana on Saturday that its purpose was twofold. Get out the kinks. Insert the wrinkles.

Last month, we saw complacency in U-M. We saw blank stares and injury scars. Now we see urgency, a 7-3 team emerging from a 3-3 puddle, a defense using its depth and an offense finding creative ways to be dangerous again.

Steve Breaston ran all over the Hoosiers, returning punts and kicks, catching three passes (one for a touchdown) and throwing one (an incompletion) as the Wolverines coasted to a 41-7 halftime lead. Breaston looked revived and so did quarterback Chad Henne, which gives U-M legitimate hope against OSU's terrific defense.

Emotion supplies boost

This is where Michigan's sloppy start might help. Coach Lloyd Carr and his staff discovered they couldn't hammer opponents the traditional way. Without Mike Hart, who rested his injured ankle but should be ready for the Buckeyes, the Wolverines appeared lost early in the season.

"I just think we kept fighting, even when some things didn't go our way," Breaston said. "This team is playing with a lot more emotion. What kept us going was we knew the type of team we really were."

Now, with a little help from their good friends in East Lansing, the Wolverines amazingly could snag a share of the Big Ten title. A lot can be traced to their defense, to the rejuvenation of Gabe Watson and Pierre Woods, and the development of youngsters. Give coordinator Jim Herrmann credit. His defense has been superb of late.

That's not U-M's biggest concern now. Henne and the offense, inconsistent much of the season, will face an OSU run defense ranked third in the country. The Wolverines had better not think they can line up and mash the Buckeyes.

Fine-tuning offense

That's why the Indiana tune-up was all about honing the passing game, about getting Henne comfortable and showing enough trick plays to make Ohio State think. Speedy Antonio Bass ran a few times, part of U-M's plan to use its playmakers. Henne came out flinging, completing 17 of 24 with three touchdowns, all in the first half.

"I think he played very well," Carr said. "When you sit up in the stands, or you sit on the sofa watching on TV, it looks easy. It's so easy to say he didn't do this, he didn't do that. But I think he's had a very good year. He's a much better quarterback than he was a year ago."

Hmm. I'll say he's a better quarterback than he was a month ago, and U-M is a much better team than a month ago. In an admirable turnaround, the Wolverines have found ways to win. To validate their recovery, they need to find one more. The encouraging news for them is they suddenly have options available.
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The Buckeyes will be there Crable. In case he forgot, his home is in Ann Arbor.

Sunday, November 13, 2005

U-M: Notebook

Players ready for Buckeyes

Crable, from Ohio, doesn't want to head home and have to deal with another defeat.

By Angelique S. Chengelis / The Detroit News
Image
David Guralnick / The Detroit News

Freshman receiver Mario Manningham walks a tightrope and makes a nice catch on a Chad Henne pass, but he can't get a foot inbounds. Leslie Majors of Indiana watches helplessly.

ANN ARBOR -- Michigan linebacker Shawn Crable grew up in Ohio and knows firsthand the unpleasantness of going home after a loss to Ohio State.

Crable, like the rest of the Wolverines, still smarts from a 37-21 loss at Ohio Stadium last year. They begin preparing in earnest today for Saturday's game against the Buckeyes.

"The intensity is through the roof," Crable said of practice this week. "It's one of those things you know you have to bring your best, because they're going to bring their best. It's one of those games it don't matter what records you got, who's on top, who's on the bottom --- it doesn't matter about anything like that. You have to bring your best during practice and expect the best from them.

"I hope they play their best, because we're going to play our best. May the best man win."

Ohio State, ranked No. 10, is coming off a rout of Northwestern. The Buckeyes are 8-2, 6-1 in the Big Ten. Under coach Jim Tressel, they are 3-1 against the Wolverines.

"As I've looked at them, I don't think there are any apparent weaknesses," Michigan coach Lloyd Carr said of the Buckeyes. "I think they have a great defense. They are very explosive offensively. They have a very explosive kicking game.

"What we have to do in all phases of the game, we have to play to what our strengths are. We have to be able to adapt to the game as it goes, depending on what happens. In that kind of game, a lot of things can happen."

Senior defensive tackle Gabe Watson, who grew up in Southfield, will play in his final regular-season game and last at Michigan Stadium.

It could not come in a better atmosphere, he said.

"I dream about (Michigan-Ohio State) all the time," Watson said. "I think about it all the time. It's one of the biggest rivalries in sports."

Multitalented Henne

Quarterback Chad Henne threw a timely block on a reverse that helped Steve Breaston gain 30 yards in the second quarter against Indiana, and also attempted to catch a pass.

"It was a good block," said Henne, smiling about the Breaston play on the reverse. "I felt good about myself. Coach Carr was busting my butt all week about, 'Are you ever going to block somebody?' and I was like, 'I'll get my chance.' "

But the Breaston-to-Henne play failed on the first play Michigan ran from the Indiana 40 with a little less than seven minutes left in the half. Breaston's pass back to Henne bounced before it reached him.

"The throw back to me, I think I was worried about my throw instead of Steve's throw," Henne said. "(Last) week in practice, I dropped two passes that were in my hands. I was just worried about just getting it to Steve."

Pregame irritation

Watson said Michigan took exception to the Indiana players' stomping on the Block M at midfield before the game.

"We didn't like that," Watson said.

Big Ten scenarios

Ohio State could win the Big Ten title outright with a victory over Michigan, provided Penn State loses to Michigan State on Saturday.

If Penn State loses to MSU, and Michigan beats Ohio State, the three teams would earn a share of the Big Ten title with 6-2 records, but U-M would be the BCS representative because it would have defeated Penn State and Ohio State.

Wisconsin fell out of contention with its loss to Iowa on Saturday. The Badgers are 5-3 in the Big Ten.

Injury update

Starting tailback Mike Hart, who suffered a sprained left ankle in the first quarter of the Iowa game Oct. 22, did not play for the second straight game.

But Carr said Hart could have played against Indiana.

"I wanted to see what kind of start we got off to," Carr said. "He was bugging me to play, but I think this extra three or four days going into Tuesday's practice will really put him right where he wants to be. We made that decision based on next week (Ohio State preparations)."

Rush linebacker LaMarr Woodley, who suffered an injured right arm before the Iowa game, played sparingly in that game, missed Northwestern on Oct. 29 and played sparingly again versus Indiana.

"I could have played the whole game if they needed me to, but they didn't me to," Woodley said.

Center Adam Kraus, who suffered an injured right knee in the Northwestern game, also could have played but was held out. He was replaced by Mark Bihl.

Carr said Kraus will be ready for Ohio State.

Right tackle Jake Long, who played for the first time this season against Iowa after surgery on his left ankle, played sparingly against Indiana.

Mike Kolodziej filled in for Long.

Receiver Mario Manningham was hit hard on his first career punt return in the second half.

His right knee was taped but he did not return to the game.

You can reach Angelique S. Chengelis at Angelique S. [email protected].
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We know that Michigan will be feeling their oats after putting up big numbers on their own turf against Indiana. This will doubtless give their fans and team some reason for comfort after their dire start to the season.

Truthfully though, do they have cause for unbounded joy?

A little comparison
OSU travels to Minnesota - and wins 45-31, meanwhile UM cannot hold Minny in AA, falling 20-23.
Neither squad performed 100% against Minnesota, though it is clear that the Buckeyes had by far the better outing, the manner of UM's loss being so much worse than the season high yards given up by the Buckeye D. Besides which our pass D was below full strength and full health for the road trip to the dome.
OSU hosts Northwestern and pounds them 48-7, meanwhile UM on NW's turf wins by 2 scores (though that game could have been a good deal closer without the game breaking TD fumble return).
Instructive statistics - OSU's defense holds NW well below their season average in Total Offense and rushing. UM's D yields passing yards close to NW's average though rushing of only 110 yards.
OSU travels to Indiana and pounds them 41-10, while UM hosts the same patsies and puts up a score of 41-14.
Once again the box score has a story within a story - both IU TD's come through the air. Also, in the interests of full disclosure, UM's scoring ends in the first half, Henne sits while Guiterrez gets to practice.

So, they may feel in AA that things are coming together. But, the Buckeyes have it all going on right now. Great Offense, a Defense that appears fully capable of exercising its will. By contrast UM's recent stronger offensive showings have not come along with substantial defensive improvement. Moreover, the Buckeyes have been putting up good yards with exactly the weapons to which UM remains susceptible - a good running QB, a steady aerial attack - all of which should continue to be balanced by a running game that is (hallelujah) rejuvenated.

:osu::oh::io:
 
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On Llloyd Carr:

It will be great to paste the wolverweenies again, but let's not get carried away. We will certainly EVENTUALLY change his name from "Llloyd" to "unempLlloyd", but I'd like to see him stay there for a few more years. He's fun to kick around.

​
On their fans:
On a serious note; I believe the Buckeyes will cause the scUM fans to turn on their own on Saturday. When we're up by two scores and the weenies start to press, they'll make a big mistake. At that moment, the "Bend Over, Here It Comes Again" (BOHICA) feeling will wash over the Pighouse. The boos will come cascading down from the narrowly painted seats and fill every true Buckeye's heart with joy.


​
Hey Michigan, BOHICA!
 
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LightningRod said:
Michigan - from mediocrity to the brink of greatness.
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Well, if 8-3 is considered great up there, what more do you need to know? Let's put this in perspective...they started the season ranked what, #4? They are now 7-3...brink of greatness?
:slappy:
We start the year lower than that (#6), our only losses are to a GREAT Texas team, and a VERY GOOD Penn St. team (on the road) and we are(for the most part) disappointed by our 8-2 record... At least when we consider what could have been. Hmmmmmmmm, LLLoyd seems to have really lulled them into quite a state of apathy up there.
:lol:
 
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We stopped one of he great passing teams in the country this week. And it was the secondary more than the pass rush..tyler Everett and Mitchel were outstanding. That allows Donte to rush the passer or stop the run..scUM is in big trouble..Our pass rushers eyes light up when they pay QB's with low escapiability..Henne doesn't run which puts scUM at a big disadvantage. tOSU linebackers dominate the running game and Kudla and Carp pressure Henne. Go Bucks!!
 
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I posted this in #47's thread, but decided to copy it here. Just a reminder of what #47 has been to our university.


I doubt we will see another player like Hawk for years, if ever. He is just a smart football player. He never takes a play off, mentally or physically. On Youboty's interception, Hawk had the awareness to peel the NW reciever off to help Youboty get possession. You just can't teach that.

If I could make a mold of what I wanted a Buckeye Football player to be, on and off the field, it would be text book AJ Hawk. He is something to be proud of in a time when it often seems that a lot of athlete's are putting themselves before the team.

How fitting was it...his first interception for a touchdown came against Kent State in his very first game as a Buckeye, in The Shoe. In his last game in The Shoe, he picked one and took it to the house again.

Lets just enjoy watching him in his final game as a Buckeye Saturday. What a class act. GO BUCKS...LETS POUND SCUM!
 
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