"Play like you practice"

http://m.espn.go.com/general/blogs/blogpost?w=1da4n&i=cfb&id=14850&blogname=collegesmichigan&co=eVar44-shared;events-event31

Michigan 28 Akron 24

Amazing how quickly a fan can go from an almost religious experience of beating ND to a plain and simple, vomit inducing, ass clinching football game. Impossible to know if this game was just a "letdown" from playing a highly emotional rivalry game the prior week or an exposing of the real team. For now I am just going to go with the letdown game excuse and leave it at that.

Meanwhile, Michigan dropped 4 spots to 15 in the AP Top 25 - Week 4.

Image via: ESPN CF App.

All Time Leader... Michigan 44 Purdue 13

Big Ten Network Michigan v Purdue Highlights. 

"Robinson became the Big Ten's career rushing leader among quarterbacks, passing Indiana's Antwaan Randle El (3,895) midway through the fourth quarter. Robinson now has 3,905 yards and broke a tie with Kent State's Josh Cribbs to move into fifth place in NCAA history for yards rushing among quarterbacks. Robinson also moved up to fifth on the school's career rushing list, passing Chris Perry and Butch Woolfolk, and fourth on Michigan's career passing list, passing Todd Collins."
By MICHAEL MAROT (AP Sports Writer)

Side Note: Notre Dame is still an awful team with no loses.

Fine, I will post something. Michigan 6 Notre Dame 13

Yes I am severely butt hurt. Took me 4 days to even want to log into my account. There is almost nothing I hate worse than seeing Michigan lose to Notre Dame, not quite true, Michigan State and/or Ohio State losses are much worse for my gluteal region, but painful nonetheless.

Michigan (the obviously more talented team, in theory) refused to play solid fundamental football (augmented by some hair brained play calling). I actually wish ND would have been dominant enough to force the Michigan (offense) to play that horrifically, but they just weren't.

Stats don't need to be gone over here, everyone knows that a team can't win when they make mistake after mistake, especially in a rivalry game. That really isn't true, in this series Michigan consistently puts out a sub par football product (for 3qts at least) and win in the waning moments, but that is beside the point.What was my point? Oh yes, ND is not a good football team and Michigan played down to, then under their level. 

If Denard playing not so secret Santa, was the dark spot, the play of the defense was the possible bright spot in this loss, at least up until ND's final 2 drives that is. And of course with the prior gift giving these breakdowns of defense looked all the more horrifying. I do need to mention the great hands that were shown by Gardener, Gallon and Roundtree when Denard threw it to them. Here are the highlights of the defense via @mgovideo



As far as Denard apologizing to the fans, I don't need a player to apologize to me. I need him to get with his team and coaches and figure this thing out, and move on. Us fans will be here win or lose, no interceptions or five.

Now this sacred rivalry will be put on hold starting 2015 This rivalry is great for both schools and for college football in general. I don't like the decision by ND and I really dislike ND, so there you go.

Go Blue!

@MandBB

Photo: Toledo Blade

Michigan 63 UMass 13

In recent years we all know that the cupcakes visiting the Big House have been baked with razorblades in the moist center. Last time UMass was in the Big House it was a real bun clincher. Not so much this time around, Michigan actually covered the spread and spread the offensive love around. Touchdowns by, Denard Robinson, Fitzgerald Toussaint (pictured above doing a levitating plank), 2 for Vincent Smith, Justice Hayes, Roy Roundtree, Devin Gardener, Devin Funchess and Taylor Lewan (fumble recovery). I thought for a moment I would just be able to cut and paste the whole roster.



@mgovideo

UMass had a 13 point flurry in the second quarter then the Defense made all the necessary adjustments at the half, shutting out UMass in the second half. The lead enabling Michigan to rotate in many players that will most likely see little to no playing time for the rest of the season. That is always great to see and also rare.

Now that UMass is out of the way, it is officially Michigan v Notre Dame week. Something about this week always gets me riled up (thanks Rocket Ismail). Nothing makes the hair on the back of my neck grow, I mean stand up, than the possibility of Michigan beating ND in their house.

I hoped Michigan State would beat the hell out of Notre Dame, and still lose. The flag planting cheaters performed almost up to my expectations. Notre Dame holding MSU to 3 points at home should worry the Michigan faithful, I worry regardless.

Kelly will have this ND team ready to play and Hoke had better have a few things up his sleeve to counter. A solid game from a (yet to be named) running back would be a huge release valve for Denard against ND. I am having a hard time predicting this game but as a self respecting Wolverine fan, I mentally block/deny any possibility of losing.

Roy Roundtree stepped in and became the hero last year, I am hanging my hat on the Michigan defense to step up and be the hero this year. Line play will decide this game.



Go Blue Beat Notre Dame!

@MandBB

Michigan vs Air Force Highlights via @mgovideo

First post of 2012

This is my first post since 2011. Took some time away. Work and life in general has been keeping me very busy. I have been lurking on twitter and love the interactions with other fans on there.

After last season's 11-2 surprise I had, and I think many people had and have great expectations for this season.

My expectations were not so high as to think that Michigan would beat Alabama the first week of the season and that turned out sadly to be true. As much as I always hold out hope that ANY Michigan team can pull off the unexpected, it was just not in the cards.

There is an apparent divide between the talent recruited by Rich Rodriguez and the talent that is needed to be a top contender in College Football and this was proven loud and clear in Dallas, but things are changing.

Now with that disappointment out of the way and an 0-1 record, Air Force is in town. It was a painful  to watch but I actually saw players being forced to grow, especially on defense against that sick option offense that Air Force does in their sleep. Michigan pulled off the win at home and need to work hard and continue to grow. This is advantageous with the Big Ten season looming and Notre Dame in prime time in two weeks.

In another season or two Michigan will be a clear big boy in College Football. Once again, Michigan will be the team that other teams are deathly afraid to play against.

The Freshmen that were rotated in against Air Force showed glimpses of what is to come and I like what I see.

Highlights for me in today's Air Force game were; Denard's 79 yard burner for a TD and the catches by Funchess and some of great defensive stops late in the game.

Bring on Mass.

Go Blue.
@MandBB

Photo Credit AnnArbor.com