2018 maryland

Previously in this series covering the 2010s: Worst Calls of the 2000s, Favorite Blocks, QB-RB-WR, TE-FB-OL, Defensive Line, Linebacker, Secondary

We've put these in two sections for balance: five calls that went in favor of Michigan and calls against Michigan. Calls are being judged 75% on the level of ref boner, and 25% on situational relevance (e.g. if the most insanely bad call in history is overturned on review that gets a 7.5/10—also this happened). 

Specifically Omitted Non-Errors

The Spot. Unknowable: this was an impossible call that was bound to stick with whatever was called on the field, and what was called on the field could have been anything. Yes, karmically in the context of that game and cosmically for what it did to Harbaugh's program, The Spot is emblematic of factors outside of Michigan's control having an outsized effect on how we all feel today. It's also a coin-flip that the most competent line judge in the world would call that a first down. Complaining about The Spot is a bad look.

Canny Doale. Danny Coale's overturned completion in the Sugar Bowl is also left off the list. Here again is a call that infuriates the people at the business end of it because of the karma built up at that point by other calls. Also because the announcers didn't know the catch rule, which is a weird rule. VT fans stick around: you absolutely got screwed in this game.

It Wasn't the Refs. Calling the 2011 WMU game early because of weather does not make the list because that was an agreement between Michigan's and WMU's athletic directors, not the officials.

Correct. It was pointed out to me that Penn State fans are mad about the offsides on PSU's successful onside kick in the Coach Failtacular of 2014. I watched it again three times to be sure but it's not even close: he was offsides. Also not offsides: the final stuff of 2015 Minnesota, which complaint warrants mention only because it's why I named our segments with Steve Lorenz "Inside the Crooked Blue Line."

In Which Making the Incorrect Call Was Absolutely the Correct Call (2016 Rutgers)

You’re Rutgers, it's 57-0, Michigan is well into your territory again, and the only thing their fans haven’t gotten yet for their price of admission is to see the cannons fire. Since the offense responsible for giving the artillerymen cause has yet to record a first down, the chances of that aren’t great. Now, as they chant “Fire the can-non” the cannoneers' pride is the only hope of yours.

The third stringer’s in—the onetime “five-star” recruit everybody knows they’re planning to ship off to some directional MAC school. He got to throw a block last play, because everybody’s getting a career highlight at your expense tonight. The scrub now drops back to throw. There isn’t even play-action, is how little they respect you. But it’s low. There’s some commotion—pass interference? probably a pass interference flag—no, the ball’s ricocheted into the air. It’s going to be caught! OMIGOD that’s Deonte Roberts! Your GUY! He’s going to SCORE! TOUCHDOWN RUTGERS! FIRE THE CANNON!

BOOM!

Oh man, you gotta see the replay of that! It’s….oh, that bounced right of the turf. But it was right in front of that ref and he didn’t signal incomplete, so maybe he’s a competent human being who saw something you didn’t. And just like that…

it’s gone. Michigan then scores with a walk-on fullback. It's a great play by that guy. Probably a career highlight.

[After THE JUMP: Five times Michigan was bailed out, and otherwise.]

1 hour and 20 minutes

The Sponsors

We can do this because people support us. You should support them! The show is presented by UGP & The Bo Store, and if it wasn’t for Rishi and Ryan we’d be all be very sad ex-SBNation employees with “real” jobs.

Our other sponsors are also key to all of this: HomeSure Lending, Peak Wealth Management, Ann Arbor Elder Law, the Residence Inn Ann Arbor Downtown, the University of Michigan Alumni Association, Michigan Law Grad, Human Element, and Lantana Hummus

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1. After Upon Further Review: Maryland

starts at 1:00

The Terps did a good job keeping Bush out of the game. Mone handled doubles really well. Donovan Jeter didn’t look too good but Kwity Paye just keeps getting better. Maryland was Shea’s best game of the season and he keeps getting better. Another good game for the offensive line.

2. Gimmicky Top Five: Greatest Cats

starts at 22:57

We welcome Michigan grad and Lantana CEO Matt Gase for a top five favorite felines. It gets weird. There is a secret hummus to be sampled.

3. Wisconsin Offense

starts at 47:04

Badgers rotate 8 guys on the offensive line. Their best offensive lineman is not even a starter. Jonathan Taylor is a patient runner and is very good on his own, even without the monstrous offensive line. Hornibrook has a weak arm but very accurate command. Slants could be a problem and safeties are going to be tested. This is Carlo Kemp’s final exam.

4. A Short History of Huge Wisconsin Games

starts at 1:02:40

Wisconsin’s defense is pretty beat up. They can’t pass rush at all and have suffered a lot of injuries on the defensive line. Outside linebackers aren’t making plays and the secondary is also beat up. ILB’s are the strength of the defense. Wisconsin loves punting. Especially in enemy territory. Have a good kicker, but one important miss.

MUSIC:

Featured tonight: Marcus the Apex Predator.

• "Standards and Practices“
• "What Say You"
• "The Fury of Almost (All or Nothing)"
• “Across 110th Street”

If you or a friend made some good tunes and don't have a label out scrubbing for them we'd be happy to feature you.

THE USUAL LINKS:

• Helpful iTunes subscribe link
• General podcast feed link
• Direct download link
• What's with the theme music?

Murderwolf doesn't make a sound.

Things discussed:

• Fundraiser for Ace: Passed $90k last night. Ace has been living this on the blog and now there’s a community on the internet who understands an of-misunderstood disease.
• Craig Ross UFRs the first drive: playcalling was good.
• Michigan running zone stretch! Well!
• Offense looked good—35 points in 9 drives feels better if it comes in a different order.
• Maryland’s worst pass rush performance this year. Hey-O!
• Hitting the Mendoza line of good blocking every game
• Wisconsin: doesn’t rush the passer. Badgers used to get injured and there’d be a Cichy or a Connelly. Now…?
• Patterson had his best game of the season against Maryland
• The holding call that wiped out a perfect TD pass was not as bad as the Higdon one, same genre
• There was an RPO in this game!
• Shea’s dad: “Let one guy go and Shea will take care of the first guy every time”
• Defense last year had a game from Aubrey vs Wisconsin; is he back?
• Dwumfour was about to pop before he went down.
• Hornibrook the best QB in the conference: gonna hit his slants, his receivers not giving him much
• Defense’s first big test of the year.
• Playcalling vs. Northwestern: Hankwitz has our number, Pep had a solid tactical win vs Maryland, who also had a bye
• If you’re running play-action and their LBs are dropping back 10 yards something’s going wrong.
• Caller: Shut up about the offense.
• Michigan hasn’t stacked back to back efforts in consecutive weeks. Time to do that.

You can catch the entire episode on Michigan Insider's podcast stream on Podbean.

Segment two is here. Segment three is here.

THE USUAL LINKS

• Helpful iTunes subscribe link
• General podcast feed link
• Direct download link
• What's with the theme music?

That’s about as mythological as a Jim Harbaugh injury report