2020 iowa

[Bryan Fuller]
Comment Count

53

Don't Get Too Attached To The Idea Of Michigan-Iowa
Brian • December 15, 2020 • 1:43pm

UPDATE: canceled. 

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I'd place the odds this game actually happens at less than 1%:

Baumgardner clarified that was a number from Sunday, which gives Michigan a little more time to clear players.

Contract tracing is responsible for a large number of the absences, surely, but folks are also talking about more positive tests. All of Michigan's COVID positives should fall in the 21-day window where they're ineligible to play. Meanwhile Michigan has barely practiced for three weeks and may not have a healthy quarterback. If this game actually happens it is more likely to be a football-flavored farce than an actual competition.

Also, Kirk Ferentz is spicy this year. He took three FU timeouts against Minnesota and carpet-bombed Scott Frost after Frost complained that people were clapping. Ferentz riding Jim Harbaugh like he is a pony would be a fitting capper on the season but maaaan no one wants to see that. I don't need to see Ferentz giving the opposite sideline the Degeneration X crotch chop for 3 hours Saturday night. 

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[Patrick Barron]
Comment Count

62

So There's Going To Be A Football Game Against Iowa?
Brian • December 14, 2020 • 11:21am

The Big Ten has decided that the most sensible thing to do during "champions week" is to create the following matchups:

The most infuriating thing is that the relegation playoff was right there! 2-5 MSU! 2-5 Nebraska! The grimly entertaining spectacle of the quien es menos macho game was there for the taking, and instead we get MSU-Maryland and Nebraska-Rutgers.

Anyway, as part of this cluster a 2-4 Michigan gets to travel to Kinnick on Saturday night to play 6-2 Iowa. Michigan is a two-touchdown underdog; anyone who tested positive for COVID-19 after the game against… uh… I want to say Penn State(?) will not be eligible because the league has mandated a 21-day sit-out period. That should eliminate 10-20 players; who those players are is unknown.

We do know that Cade McNamara and Joe Milton were both injured but trying to give it ago against (probably) Penn State a few weeks ago. Strong possibility one or both is still not 100%. Also the starting center already transferred. If this game has any value whatsoever it should be clarifying about whether Michigan is inclined to fight for Jim Harbaugh's job.

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