U of M Football Team News

SHAWN WINDSOR | INSIDE THE WOLVERINES
Rich Rodriguez's first U-M practice

August 5, 2008

Construction workers laid cinder block at the new indoor practice facility for Michigan's football team Monday afternoon. Several months after breaking ground, the first wall of the 100,000-square-foot, $26-million complex was taking shape.

In its immense shadow were the players and coaches of the program, holding their first preseason practice on the outdoor field adjacent to the budding behemoth.

On the outdoor field, the architect of the new design couldn't stand still. Rich Rodriguez was running, from receivers to quarterbacks to punters and back, blowing his whistle, even leading his players in exercise drills. At one point, the new coach dropped to the field to do a push-up.

When he returned to his feet, he jumped toward running back Brandon Minor. The two met mid-air, chest-to-chest, before landing on the new, impossibly green artificial turf.

"That's Coach," said cornerback Morgan Trent, busting into a grin. "He's like that every day."

Chest-bumping. High-fiving. Running. Encouraging. Yelling. And finally, teaching.

It's all part of a month-long cram session designed to install the high-motor spread offense in a place that isn't used to change. From the sidelines, it looked like a kind of scripted chaos. And it looked fast.

Everywhere, players were cutting and running, and that was just between plays. Under the hot sun, the Wolverines kept at it all afternoon.

Defensive lineman Terrance Taylor is convinced the summer workouts have already made a difference.

"You can see it," said Taylor, a 300-pound tackle. "We can go longer."

Rodriguez said he asked the players Monday if they were in the best shape of their lives. They all raised their hands.

We "got through it very well," he said of his first practice.

That was despite the new terminology, the new hand signals and a golf cart affixed with a massive loudspeaker to its roof, blaring Martha Reeves, the Temptations and others.

The cart circled around the quarterbacks and running backs, intentionally trying to distract the players as if they were in hostile territory. When the music wasn't blasting, the hammers and forklifts and stone-cutting saws next door were. Even Rodriguez -- a notoriously meticulous planner -- couldn't have scripted the construction noise any better.

His goal the next several weeks, aside from teaching his new system, is finding guys that can block out those extraneous sounds, those attempts at diversion.

Rodriguez's opening day of camp resembled a classroom, where students broke off into groups to learn about this sub-specialty or that. Perhaps the most radical sight was the lack of a huddle. Rodriguez, or very often offensive coordinator Calvin Magee, called a formation, had an offensive group run it and then demanded everyone hustle back to the line of scrimmage to go again. Sometimes, they got back in formation in a matter of seconds.

There were quarterbacks running pitch plays, and running backs lined up next to the quarterback, and quarterbacks lined up in the shotgun. In fact, there was lots of shotgun.

There were smallish, quick and fleet-footed freshmen, including running back Sam McGuffie, who showed the cutting and acceleration that made him an Internet legend last year while playing high school football in Texas.

There were familiar faces with leaner profiles, like tight end Carson Butler and defensive lineman Will Johnson, mixing with new players and new coaches on the new field next to a soon-to-be-new indoor field.

"It's cool," Johnson said. Starting something new "is cool."

Contact SHAWN WINDSOR at 313-222-6487 or swindsor@freepress.com

2008 Results/Schedule (All Times Eastern)

Aug 30 - vs. Utah, 3:30 PM

Sep 6 - vs. Miami-Ohio, 12:00 PM

Sep 13 - at Notre Dame, 3:30 PM

Sep 20 - Open

Sep 27 - vs. Wisconsin, TBA

Oct 4 - vs. Illinois, 3:30 PM

Oct 11 - vs. Toledo, TBA

Oct 18 - at Penn State, 4:30 PM

Oct 25 - vs. Michigan State, TBA

Nov 1 - at Purdue, TBA

Nov 8 - at Minnesota, TBA

Nov 15 - vs. Northwestern, TBA

Nov 22 - at Ohio State, TBA

Sunday, August 31, 2008
Michigan gets commitment from quarterback
Angelique S. Chengelis / The Detroit News

A day after losing its season opener, Michigan received a huge recruiting boost.

Tate Forcier, rated the nation's No. 6 dual-threat quarterback, committed to the Wolverines on Sunday, according to Rivals.com and Scout.com.

Forcier is from San Diego.

The 6-foot-1, 190-pound Forcier visited Michigan on Saturday to ovserve the Wolverines' 25-23 loss to Utah. Forcier, whose older brother, Jason, played quarterback for Michigan before transferring to Stanford in the spring of 2007, chose Michigan over Arizona State, Penn State, Oregon and Texas A&M, among others.

"I've always liked Michigan a lot," Forcier told Rivals.com. "I've been a fan of Michigan since I was a little kid."

Forcier doesn't lack confidence. After watching Michigan's loss, in which quarterbacks Nick Sheridan and Steven Threet both played and struggled, Forcier said he believes he can lead the team.

"I thought the quarterbacks did pretty good for it being the first game," Forcier told Rivals.com. "There's a lot of things I saw from the sideline even though I know it's not the same from the sideline. All I can say is that offense isn't for them, but it's tailor-made for me."

Forcier met early Sunday morning with Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez. He is Michigan's 17th verbal commitment to the 2009 freshman class.

The Wolverines also received commitments over the weekend from running back Vincent Smith and linebacker Brandin Hawthorne, both from Pahokee, Fla. They were high school teammates of current U-M freshman receiver Martavious Odoms, who started Saturday.

U-M Rally Falls Short in Season-Opening Loss to Utah

August 30, 2008

Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Michigan Stadium)
Score: Utah 25, Michigan 23
Records: U-M (0-1), Utah (1-0)
Attendance: 108,421
Next U-M Game: Saturday, Sept. 6 -- vs. Miami (Ohio) (Michigan Stadium), Noon

• Boxscore | Postgame Notes | Quotes | Player Participation
• Photo Gallery | Michigan Rewind (Video)

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Despite rallying from a 15-point deficit in the fourth quarter to pull within two with over six minutes remaining, the University of Michigan football team fell to Utah 25-23 Saturday (Aug. 30) in the 2008 season opener at Michigan Stadium.

Michigan trailed 25-10 in the fourth quarter before turning a blocked punt and a forced fumble into 13 points to cut the deficit to two points with 6:26 remaining. The Wolverines had two full offensive possessions to try for the win, but Utah's defense stiffened and the Utes hung on for the victory.

Michigan's rally began when junior/sophomore Mark Moundros (Farmington Hills, Mich./North Farmington) blocked a Utah punt that led to sophomore/freshman Steven Threet's (Adrian, Mich./Adrian/Georgia Tech) touchdown pass to sophomore Junior Hemingway (Conway, S.C./Conway) that cut the deficit to 25-17. Less than two minutes later, junior defensive end Adam Patterson's (Columbia, S.C./Richland Northeast) forced fumble led to freshman Sam McGuffie's (Cypress, Texas/Cy-Fair) touchdown run, making it 25-23. However, U-M was unable to convert the two-point conversion.

Michigan's defense -- which held the Utes to just 48 total yards in the second half, recorded four sacks, a forced fumble and an interception -- gave the U-M offense two more full possessions, but the Maize and Blue went three and out and turned the ball over on downs with under two minutes to play to seal the contest.

Michigan built a 10-6 lead early in the second quarter thanks to a forced fumble, a blocked extra point and fifth/senior K.C. Lopata's (Farmington, Mich./Farmington) career-long 50-yard field goal, but Utah responded with 19 unanswered points, scoring on five of its first six drives, with four field goals from All-American kicker Louie Sakoda to establish its 25-10 advantage in the fourth quarter.

Junior/sophomore Nick Sheridan (Saline, Mich./Saline) earned the start at quarterback, splitting time behind center with Threet, who took over in the second half. Sheridan connected on 11-of-19 passes for 98 yards, a touchdown and an interception, while Threet was 8-for-19 with a touchdown pass.

On defense, junior/sophomore Obi Ezeh (Grand Rapids, Mich./Catholic Central) led the way with a career-high 15 tackles and a fourth-quarter interception, and the defense combined for six sacks, led by a pair from fifth/senior Tim Jamison (Riverdale, Ill./Harvey Thornton).

Utah quarterback Brian Johnson passed for 305 yards, including 253 in the first half, while Sakoda connected on field goals from 28, 41, 43 and a career-best 53 yards.

After a three-and-out drive on Michigan's first possession to open the game, senior/junior Tim North (Linden, Mich./Linden) stripped Ute return man Jereme Brooks and sophomore/freshman Kevin Leach (Kentwood, Mich./Grand Rapids Central Catholic) recovered to give the Wolverines the ball at the Utah 26. A Utah pass-interference penalty gave U-M a first and goal on the nine-yard line, and two plays later Sheridan connected with freshman Michael Shaw (Trotwood, Ohio/Trotwood-Madison) for the first touchdowns of their collegiate careers to give the Wolverines a 7-0 lead.

Brooks made amends in Utah's next offensive series, catching a 55-yard pass that led to a Utah six, but senior Terrance Taylor (Muskegon, Mich./Muskegon) blocked the point-after try to keep the Wolverines ahead, 7-6.

Lopata hit a career-long 50 yard field goal at 7:38 of the first quarter, making it 10-6, but Utah responded with three field goals in three straight possessions to take the lead, 15-10. A Sheridan interception set up a Utah touchdown pass with 13 seconds left in the half, making it 22-10 at halftime

Utah extended its lead to 25-10 on its second possession of the second half with Sakoda's fourth field goal of the day, a career-long 53 yarder. With less than nine minutes left in the game, Moundros blocked Sakoda's punt and on the next play, Threet hooked up with Hemingway in the back of the end zone, cutting the deficit to 25-17 with 8:42 remaining.

On Utah's next possession, Adam Patterson stripped Utah's Johnson and senior Austin Panter (Athol, Kan./Kensington/Butler CC) recovered at the Utah 31, giving Michigan the ball with 7:40 on the clock. A Utah facemask penalty and a defensive pass-interference call moved the ball to the Utah three yard line where, two plays later, McGuffie ran for his first collegiate touchdown. Michigan's two-point conversion failed, keeping Utah ahead by two, 25-23, with 6:26 remaining.

Michigan had two final drives to try for a score, but Utah held the Wolverines to just four yards on seven plays, holding on for the victory.

Michigan hosts Miami (Ohio) next Saturday (Sept. 6) at Michigan Stadium with kickoff set for noon.

Contact: David Ablauf (734) 763-4423

Ground Attack Leads Michigan Past Miami (Ohio)

September 6, 2008

Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Michigan Stadium)
Score: Michigan 16, Miami (Ohio) 6
Records: U-M (1-1), Miami (Ohio) (0-2)
Attendance: 106,724
Next U-M Game: Saturday, Sept. 13 -- at Notre Dame (South Bend, Ind.), 3:30 p.m.

• Boxscore | Postgame Notes | Quotes | Player Participation
• Photo Gallery | Michigan Rewind (Video)

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – The University of Michigan football team held Miami (Ohio) without a touchdown, repelling two drives inside the U-M 10-yard line, while the offense scored a pair of quick-strike touchdowns to begin the first and fourth quarters, helping head coach Rich Rodriguez earn his first win with the Maize and Blue in a 16-6 decision Saturday (Sept. 6) at Michigan Stadium.

Michigan's offense bookended the afternoon with touchdown drives of 77 yards in the first quarter and 87 yards in the fourth which accounted for 164 of its 281 yards and 13 of its 16 points on the afternoon. A 50-yard pass on the first play of the game from sophomore/freshman starting quarterback Steven Threet (Adrian, Mich./Adrian/Georgia Tech) to freshman slot receiver Martavious Odoms (Pahokee, Fla./Pahokee) set up Threet's nine-yard touchdown run. In the fourth, junior/sophomore quarterback Nick Sheridan (Saline, Mich./Saline) led Michigan on a seven-play, 87-yard drive, highlighted by 45 yards of offense for freshman Sam McGuffie (Cypress, Texas/Cy-Fair) and capped by junior Brandon Minor's (Richmond, Va./Varina) 15-yard touchdown run.

McGuffie led the Wolverine ground game with 74 yards on 17 carries, adding three catches for 32 yards, including a pivotal 27-yard catch and run to set up Minor's touchdown in the fourth; Minor's only rush of the game was the 15 yarder for a score. Freshman Michael Shaw (Trotwood, Ohio/Trotwood-Madison) rushed for 45 yards on two carries in the first quarter but did not see the field in the second half. Making the first start of his collegiate career, Threet finished the game 6-of-13 passing with 63 yards through the air, 26 on the ground and a rushing touchdown. Sheridan played most of the second half, completing four-of-five passes for 40 yards, while rushing for 10 yards.

The Wolverines racked up 139 of its 281 yards of offense in the first quarter, taking a 10-0 lead before relying on the defense for the next two quarters. Though Miami held a decided advantage in yards and possession in the second and third quarters, Michigan's defense held the RedHawks to just three points while repelling a pair of possessions inside the Wolverine 10-yard line. Senior safety Brandon Harrison (Dayton, Ohio/Chaminade-Julienne) finished the game with eight tackles and two pass break-ups, including a pivotal third-down break-up in the end zone to snuff out a promising third-quarter Miami drive. In his first start of the 2008 season, fifth/senior linebacker John Thompson (Detroit, Mich./Crockett Technical) recorded eight tackles and junior defensive end Brandon Graham (Detroit, Mich./Crockett Technical) finished with a sack, giving him two in two contests. Senior defensive lineman Terrance Taylor (Muskegon, Mich./Muskegon) and freshman defensive lineman Mike Martin (Redford, Mich./Catholic Central) also finished with a sack apiece, with Martin recording the first of his collegiate career.

Threet factored heavily in Michigan's first drive as he was in on three of the first five plays of the opening possession. He hooked up on a 50-yard pass play to Odoms to begin the 77-yard drive and rushed twice for 15 yards and a touchdown to give Michigan a 7-0 lead.

Junior/sophomore Obi Ezeh (Grand Rapids, Mich./Catholic Central) recovered a RedHawk fumble on Miami's next possession and fifth/senior K.C. Lopata (Farmington, Mich./Farmington) tacked on a 47-yard field goal to make it 10-0 at 8:53 of the first quarter.

The Wolverines paved the turf with the running game in their next series, moving 56 yards on the ground -- 45 on a pair of runs from Shaw -- but Lopata's 41-yard field goal sailed wide left and the score remained 10-0.

In the second quarter, Michigan started its first two offensive possessions inside its own 20-yard line, gaining 21 yards on five plays and settling for a pair of punts. Miami took advantage of Michigan's stalled attempts, moving 72 yards on 10 plays for a 27-yard field goal making it 10-3 Wolverines.

In the second half, Miami added a 23-yard field goal on its first offensive possession, converting three third-down plays in a 13-play, 60-yard drive to make it 10-6. The RedHawk drive petered out at the Michigan six-yard line thanks to Harrison's third-down pass break-up in the corner of the end zone, preventing a touchdown pass to Miami's Chris Givens.

With just over a minute left in the third quarter, Michigan crossed the 50-yard line for the first time since the seven-minute mark of the first quarter, but the Wolverines settled for a punt. Michigan's next drive proved much more productive with the Wolverines moving 87 yards on seven plays to extend their lead. U-M took possession on its own 13-yard line, moving across midfield in three plays and punching into the end zone on the seventh play on Minor's 15-yard run. Minor ran to the left side, broke tackles and leaped into the end zone for this first touchdown of the 2008 campaign, making it 16-6. A miscue on the snap and hold on the extra point led to the missed PAT for Lopata.

Miami moved to the Michigan 48-yard line on its next possession but the Wolverine defense knocked RedHawk starting quarterback Daniel Raudabaugh out of the game and Miami turned the ball over on downs with 4:23 remaining. Miami got the ball back with 2:30 on the clock, but two sacks of replacement quarterback Clay Belton led to a turnover on downs and Michigan took a knee for the final 57 seconds to end the game.

The Wolverines travel to South Bend, Ind., next week to take on Notre Dame on Saturday (Sept. 13) at 3:30 p.m.

Contact: David Ablauf (734) 763-4423

Michigan Stumbles at Notre Dame

September 13, 2008

Site: South Bend, Ind. (Notre Dame Stadium)
Score: Notre Dame 35, Michigan 17
Records: U-M (1-2), Notre Dame (2-0)
Attendance: 80,795
Next U-M Game: Saturday, Sept. 27 -- vs. Wisconsin (Michigan Stadium), TBA

• Boxscore | Postgame Notes | Player Participation
• Photo Gallery

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- The University of Michigan football team spotted Notre Dame a 21-0 lead four minutes into the game and had a pivotal fumble returned for a touchdown in the fourth quarter on a day when the Wolverines turned the ball over six times, fumbling seven times in a rain-soaked 35-17 loss Saturday (Sept. 13) at Notre Dame Stadium.

Michigan fought to within 11, trailing 28-17 midway through the third quarter, but a fumble on the Notre Dame four-yard line snuffed out a promising drive. With great field position in the next offensive possession at the Michigan 47-yard line, Notre Dame recovered another Wolverine fumble, this time returning it for a touchdown to give the Irish a 35-17 lead and all the room they needed.

Obscured by the Wolverine miscues were career days for freshman running back Sam McGuffie (Cypress, Texas/Cy-Fair) and sophomore/freshman quarterback Steven Threet (Adrian, Mich./Adrian/Georgia Tech). The freshman running back finished the day with a career-best 138 rushing yards, surpassing his career high in the second quarter. McGuffie rolled up 100 yards of offense in the first quarter alone, notching his first receiving touchdown -- a 40-yard catch and run -- and finished with 47 yards through the air. Threet passed for a career-best 175 yards, connecting on a collegiate-best 16-of-23 attempts for a touchdown.

Leading the defense was fifth/senior cornerback Morgan Trent (San Diego, Calif./Orchard Lake St. Mary's, Mich.) who recorded the first multi-interception game of his career, picking off passes in the second and fourth quarters while finishing with a collegiate-best nine tackles. Michigan's defense failed to record a sack for the first time all season after tallying nine through the first two contests.

The teams combined for 45 points and 432 yards of offense in the first half, with the quarterbacks passing for 264 yards and three touchdowns. Notre Dame took advantage of two Michigan fumbles inside the U-M 15-yard line to reach the end zone in each of their first three drives, taking a 21-0 lead. McGuffie helped the Wolverines get back in the game, taking a pass and running 40 yards for Michigan's opening score and then setting up a Wolverine field goal to make it 21-10. Notre Dame quarterback Jimmy Clausen and Threet passed their squads into position to trade touchdowns midway through the second quarter and the teams went into the locker room with Notre Dame up, 28-17.

The skies opened up in the second half with driving rain soaking the field, contributing to slippery Michigan fingers and four second-half Wolverine fumbles. U-M marched to the Notre Dame four-yard line before fumbling the ball back to the Irish. Threet then fumbled the exchange in the next series, which led to a 35-yard return for Notre Dame touchdown to open the fourth quarter, extending Notre Dame's lead, 35-17. Two late interceptions of replacement junior/sophomore quarterback Nick Sheridan (Saline, Mich./Saline) ended U-M's hopes for a comeback in Notre Dame's 300th win at Notre Dame Stadium.

Michigan takes a week off before opening the Big Ten season at Michigan Stadium against Wisconsin on Saturday, Sept. 27.

Contact: David Ablauf (734) 763-4423

Michigan should take the the rest of the year off


They Suck

Late Scoring Flurry Gives Michigan Upset of Wisconsin

September 27, 2008

Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Michigan Stadium)
Score: Michigan 27, #9 Wisconsin 25
Records: U-M (2-2, 1-0 Big Ten), Wisconsin (3-1, 0-1 Big Ten)
Attendance: 109,833
Next U-M Game: Saturday, Oct. 4 -- vs. Illinois (Michigan Stadium), 3:30 p.m.

• Boxscore | Postgame Notes | Quotes | Player Participation | Photos
• Video: Postgame Press Conference

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan football team rallied from a 19-point third-quarter deficit with 27 straight points, including a go-ahead 25-yard interception return for touchdown by fifth-year senior linebacker John Thompson (Detroit, Mich./Crockett Technical), and stopped two Wisconsin attempts to tie to complete a thrilling 27-25 comeback win over Wisconsin (No. 9 AP, No. 8 USA Today) on Saturday (Sept. 27) in the Wolverines' 500th game at Michigan Stadium.

The Wolverines trailed 19-0 in the third quarter but took a 20-19 lead in the fourth on Thompson's interception return for a touchdown. With Michigan ahead by eight with 1:19 left, the Badgers drove 64 yards and scored on a 22-yard passing play, setting up a two-point attempt for the tie. UW's initial two-point try was good, but an ineligible-receiver penalty backed the Badgers up to the Michigan eight. A second pass attempt sailed over the intended receiver's head and Wisconsin's onside kick went out of bounds, giving U-M the win.

Wisconsin was thwarted in an earlier attempt to tie late in the fourth quarter with the ball on the Michigan five-yard line when junior defensive end Brandon Graham (Detroit, Mich./Crockett Technical) sacked Wisconsin quarterback Allan Evridge, forcing a fumble and giving the ball back to the Wolverine offense.

The defense kept U-M's comeback hopes alive, holding the Badgers to just one touchdown to go along with four field goals through the first 30 minutes despite five U-M turnovers and 21 yards of offense. U-M's defense held Wisconsin to 34 yards of offense in the third quarter while the offense finally got on track.

Graham finished the day with three sacks and two forced fumbles while adding six tackles. Thompson had six tackles and the Wolverines' back-breaking interception return for touchdown in the fourth, while junior/sophomore linebackers Obi Ezeh (Grand Rapids, Mich./Catholic Central) and Jonas Mouton (Los Angeles, Calif./Venice), senior safety Brandon Harrison (Dayton, Ohio/Chaminade-Julienne) and senior defensive lineman Terrance Taylor (Muskegon, Mich./Muskegon) finished with eight tackles apiece.

The U-M offense caught fire in the second half, gaining 247 yards in the final 30 minutes and scoring three touchdowns. Sophomore/freshman quarterback Steven Threet (Adrian, Mich./Adrian/Georgia Tech) connected with freshman tight end Kevin Koger (Toledo, Ohio/Whitmer) on a 26-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter for the first score. Michigan followed with a pair of TD runs in the fourth -- a 34 yarder for junior running back Brandon Minor (Richmond, Va./Varina) and a three-yard scamper by freshman back Sam McGuffie (Cypress, Texas/Cy-Fair).

Wisconsin converted two of three field goal tries in the first quarter to take an early 6-0 lead. A U-M fumble on a second-quarter punt return led to the Badgers' first touchdown and a fumble on the ensuing kickoff led to another Wisconsin field goal, making it 16-0. An interception late in the second quarter -- the fifth Wolverine turnover of the half -- put three more on the board for the Badgers, who headed into the locker room up 19-0 at the break.

In U-M's second offensive possession of the second half, Threet quarterbacked the Wolverines on their longest drive of the day, moving 80 yards in 12 plays, capped by the touchdown pass to Koger, making it 19-7.

On Michigan's first possession of the fourth quarter, an undisciplined roughing-the-passer penalty by Wisconsin on third-and-long kept the drive alive, leading to Minor's 34-yard touchdown run and cutting the deficit to 19-14. Michigan took the lead on Wisconsin's next play when Thompson intercepted Evridge and rumbled into the end zone behind a convoy of defenders, giving Michigan its first lead of the game, 20-19. Michigan's two-point conversion failed, keeping the Wolverines ahead by one with 10:24 on the clock. The defense forced Wisconsin to punt once more and the Wolverines offense drove 77 yards, capped by McGuffie's three-yard touchdown run, making it 27-19.

With 5:11 on the clock and needing a touchdown and a two-point conversion to tie, Wisconsin marched methodically the U-M five yard line. On second-and-goal, Evridge dropped back to pass and was hammered by Graham, fumbling the ball on the eight-yard line. Taylor pounced on the loose ball and Michigan capitalized on its fourth UW turnover, taking possession with 1:42 on the clock. The offense forced Wisconsin to use all of its timeouts, and senior/junior Zoltan Mesko's (Twinsburg, Ohio/Twinsburg) picture-perfect punt bounced out of bounds at the Wisconsin 36 with 1:19 remaining.

In Wisconsin's final drive, Graham picked up his third sack of the day, dropping Evridge in the backfield on the first play from scrimmage, but the Badgers rallied, moving downfield and scoring on a 22-yard pass with 13 seconds on the clock to make it 27-25. Wisconsin's initial two-point try was good, but the penalty backed the Badgers up to the Michigan eight, leading to an unsuccessful second try and a U-M victory.

Michigan welcomes Illinois to Michigan Stadium next Saturday (Oct. 4) during homecoming weekend. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. on ABC.

Contact: David Ablauf (734) 763-4423

Michigan 24


Illinois 10



My prediction

BREAKING NEWS:
I might be at the game on Saturday. Yay, my first UofM football game, but not my first time in the Big House.

mrsrabelo wrote:

BREAKING NEWS:
I might be at the game on Saturday. Yay, my first UofM football game, but not my first time in the Big House.

gs78 wrote:

Michigan 24


Illinois 10



My prediction

I'll say.....
Michigan: 17
Illinois: 16

Michigan is favored by 2.5. I think it'll be pretty close to that.

gs78 wrote:

mrsrabelo wrote:

BREAKING NEWS:
I might be at the game on Saturday. Yay, my first UofM football game, but not my first time in the Big House.

I know, I'm super excited!

mrsrabelo wrote:

gs78 wrote:

mrsrabelo wrote:

BREAKING NEWS:
I might be at the game on Saturday. Yay, my first UofM football game, but not my first time in the Big House.

I know, I'm super excited!

65 degrees


Mostly Sunny Skies at Kickoff

Light and Variable Winds

gs78 wrote:

mrsrabelo wrote:

gs78 wrote:

mrsrabelo wrote:

BREAKING NEWS:
I might be at the game on Saturday. Yay, my first UofM football game, but not my first time in the Big House.

I know, I'm super excited!

65 degrees


Mostly Sunny Skies at Kickoff

Light and Variable Winds

Hmmm, can't decide if that is a good or bad thing. I want it to be warm, but cloudy, I guess kind of warm and sun might be good.

Saturday, October 11, 2008
Toledo 13, Michigan 10
Toledo upsets Michigan
Angelique S. Chengelis / The Detroit News

ANN ARBOR -- Michigan were supposed to come out determined to take out its frustrations on Toledo, its Mid-American Conference little brother.

Burned earlier in the week by coach Rich Rodriguez's comments that the Wolverines at times played "soft" in a brutal loss to Illinois a week ago, the team was expected to come out firing.

Instead, nearly everything backfired.

Well, at least the punting was good.

Michigan lost for the first time in 25 meetings against teams from the MAC, falling 13-10 to Toledo on Saturday at Michigan Stadium. Michigan is now 2-4 overall, and Toledo,a huge underdog entering this game,is 2-4.

Quarterback Nick Sheridan, who played the second half after Steven Threet started the game, orchestrated a last-ditch drive in the final minute and a half. Sheridan connected on a 28-yard pass to freshman tailback Sam McGuffie that put Michigan on the Toledo 18-yard line.

The Wolverines reached the Toledo 9-yard line and stalled there.

K.C. Lopata then yanked a 26-yard field goal attempt left to seal the Rockets' victory.

Michigan had 290 yards of offense, including 170 rushing. Toledo had 327 yards of offense.

There was a reversal of fortune early in the game that led to the Rockets taking a 7-0 lead. Michigan's second drive of the game started on the Toledo 33 after Brandon Harrison recovered a bad snap on what appeared to be a fake punt.

But, on second down at the 5-yard line, Threet made a poor throw intended for tight end Kevin Koger but intercepted by Tyrell Herbert. Herbert took the interception 100 yards for a touchdown, the longest interception return in Michigan Stadium history.

Michigan tied the game when Brandon Minor scored on a 27-yard reception from Threet with 23 seconds remaining in the first quarter. The play was reviewed, however, because Minor lost the ball in the end zone, and Greg Mathews recovered. Officials said it was not a fumble, and Minor was credited with the touchdown.

K.C. Lopata gave Michigan the 10-7 lead after making a 26-yard field goal with 10:22 left in the second quarter. Toledo then put together a long drive but failed on a game-tying 21-yard field goal attempt.

On the first play of the fourth quarter, Sheridan was intercepted by Herbert. The ball was tipped by receiver Toney Clemons. Toledo's drive then started from the Michigan 40-yard line. Alex Steigerwald made a 48-yard field goal to give Toledo a 13-10 lead.

(SORRY, I'm a MSU fan!)

Wolverines are a Joke


Even the Detroit Lions don't suck this bad

Lions will beat the Vikings on Sunday

Viking won


12 to 10

i only watched half of the game but honestly it was a pretty descent game!

It's definitely a new era of Michigan Football!
I'm sure the alums are not too happy about it, either, especially after they did all those rennovations in the Big House!

From the FSN Daily Wire:

GAME BALL GOES TO: RB Sam McGuffie -- His second career 100-yard day was the long bright spot on an offense that struggled to move the ball most of the day.

KEEP AN EYE ON: Morale -- This is the lowest Michigan football has been in decades, and there is no light in sight. The Wolverines travel to high-powered Penn State this week, followed by a game against Michigan State in which the Spartans have plenty of payback in mind. Michigan likely won't be favored in any of its final six games, and it could be hard-pressed to win another game this season.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "We've gotta hang in there, get back to work, but this will hurt for 24 hours for sure. We've gotta make sure it doesn't hurt longer than that because we've got a top-10 team coming up next week." -- Coach Rich Rodriguez, referring to this week's game against Penn State.

Upset of the Week

I pick Michigan to beat Penn State


28-24

Michigan getting it done

They up 17-14 at the half

Big Upset in the Making?

Michigan Falls at No. 3 Penn State
October 18, 2008

Site: University Park, Pa. (Beaver Stadium)
Score: #3 Penn State 46, Michigan 17
Records: U-M (2-5, 1-2 Big Ten), Penn State (8-0, 4-0 Big Ten)
Attendance: 110,017
Next U-M Game: Saturday, Oct. 25 -- vs. Michigan State (Michigan Stadium), 3:30 p.m.

• Boxscore | Postgame Notes | Player Participation

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- No. 3-ranked Penn State University scored 39 unanswered points to end a nine-game losing streak to the University of Michigan football team with a 46-17 victory on Saturday evening (Oct. 18) at Beaver Stadium. The announced crowd of 110,017 fans was the fourth-largest in stadium history and the largest road crowd played in front of by the Wolverines in school history.

Junior tailback Brandon Minor (Richmond, Va./Varina HS) led the rushing effort with his second career 100-yard rushing effort. Minor rushed 23 times for 117 yards and scored two rushing touchdowns. Redshirt freshman quarterback Steven Threet (Adrian, Mich./Adrian HS) completed nine-of-13 passes for 84 yards and led three first-half scoring drives.

Michigan gained a 7-0 lead on a five-yard touchdown run by Minor at 6:51 of the first quarter. The scoring drive covered 86 yards in 14 plays and consumed a season-best 6:36. Minor rushed a season-high six times for 42 yards on the possession and Threet added five carries for 21 yards and completed all three his passes for 23 total yards. U-M converted a fourth-and-one play at PSU's 29-yard line on a second effort play by Minor to get the first down by inches.

The Wolverines increased their lead to 10-0 on a 27-yard field goal by senior kicker K.C. Lopata (Farmington, Mich./Farmington HS) at 3:39 of the first quarter. Michigan gained possession at its 45-yard line following a fumble by Penn State quarterback Daryll Clark. Fifth-year senior linebacker John Thompson (Detroit, Mich./Crockett Technical HS) forced the miscue and senior safety Brandon Harrison (Dayton, Ohio/Chaminade-Juliene HS) recovered at U-M's 45-yard line.

Penn State took 33 seconds following Michigan's field goal to cut the deficit to 10-7 as tailback PSU Evan Royster scored on a 44-yard touchdown run. The career-long run for Royster, with 2:50 remaining in the opening stanza, came after he broke a tackle at the line of scrimmage and raced through the middle for the score. The two-play, 52-yard scoring drive started at PSU's 48-yard line after a 43-yard kickoff return by Chaz Powell.

Michigan answered Penn State's score with Minor's second touchdown run of the game, a one-yard run over the right side at 13:13 of the second quarter. The 10-play, 78-yard scoring drive consumed 4:37, with Threet completing passes of 21 yards to sophomore James Rogers (Madison Heights, Mich./Lamphere HS) and 28 yards to freshman Martavious Odoms (Pahokee, Fla./Pahokee HS). Threet added four carries for 23 yards on the drive, including a 14-yard run that setup the first-and-goal opportunity from PSU's five-yard line.

Penn State chipped into the U-M lead with 23 seconds left before halftime on a three-yard touchdown pass from Clark to wide receiver Jordan Norwood in the left flat. The Nittany Lions' scoring drive covered 74 yards in nine plays and took 98 seconds. It was aided by a 15-yard late-hit penalty on the Wolverines following a punt.

After holding Michigan at midfield on the opening possession of the third quarter, Penn State tied the score at 17 on a 42-yard field goal by Kevin Kelly. The Nittany Lions moved 61 yards in 14 plays with Royster and Clark gaining all of the team's yards. Royster rushed four times for 21 yards and Clark had three completions for 31 yards and had a nine-yard run.

Junior/sophomore Nick Sheridan (Saline, Mich./Saline) entered the game on Michigan's next possession and was sacked in the end zone by defensive tackle Jared Odrick for a safety. The play gave the Nittany Lions their first lead of the game, 19-17, at 4:39 of the third quarter.

After the ball was placed at midfield following the free kick out of bounds, Penn State punched the ball across the goal line on a one-yard keeper by Clark. The four-play scoring drive gave Penn State a 26-17 lead. Royster had a three-yard run and a 21-yard carry to the one-yard line following a 25-yard pass from Clark to wideout Deon Butler.

Penn State continued to take advantage of excellent field position and scored on its third straight drive as Kelly added a 32-yard field goal on the first play of the fourth quarter. Nathan Stupar partially blocked a punt that traveled 12 yards and gave PSU possession at U-M's 37-yard line.

Threet returned at the outset of fourth quarter but was stripped of the ball by defensive end Aaron Maybin and Abe Koroma recovered at U-M's 19-yard line. Clark tossed a 15-yard pass to Norwood on a crossing route that was initially called a touchdown but was overturned and placed at the one-yard line. Clark scored a one-yard run on the second-down play to increase the Lions lead to 35-17.

Penn State added a 20-yard field goal by Kelly and a late 80-yard touchdown pass from Pat Devlin to Stephfon Green to create the final score.

Michigan returns to Ann Arbor for a matchup with in-state rival Michigan State at the Big House next Saturday (Oct. 25). The Wolverines and Spartans will battle for the Paul Bunyan Trophy in a 3:36 p.m. EDT. The game will be televised by ESPN on ABC.

Contact: David Ablauf (734) 763-4423

laprimamirala wrote:

that game they got spanked like a stripper at a whore house

detroitwings82 wrote:

that game they got spanked like a stripper at a whore house

State prospect: U-M's recruiting strategy 'disrespectful'

FREE PRESS STAFF REPORTS • October 19, 2008

Grosse Pointe South senior tight end Reid Fragel, who has verbally committed to Ohio State for next season, recently called Michigan's recruiting strategy "disrespectful" to in-state prospects.

"To me, being a prospect from Michigan, it sort of feels like Michigan is being disrespectful toward the recruits in this state by going outside the state," Fragel said in a story published in Sunday's Columbus Dispatch. "I've heard some things saying they might be looking to the South more, while Michigan State is looking in-state. I think that's really benefiting (the Spartans), with their recruiting class this year especially."

Fragel had narrowed his college choices to OSU and Michigan State before making his decision. Michigan State has landed six of the top 10 prospects in the state, according to rivals.com. Ohio State has one (not Fragel), and three are undecided.

"Honestly, at this moment, if you go in to Michigan trying to find top players, you're probably going to battle Michigan State more than you are Michigan," recruiting analyst Bill Kurelic told the Dispatch.

According to rivals.com, U-M has 18 verbal commitments in the class of 2009, and the only two from the state are Detroit Cass Tech teammates Teric Jones and Thomas Gordon.

READ THE DISPATCH'S FULL ARTICLE HERE.

Another reason why Rodriguez needs to go