Penn State 28, Michigan 21
I don't know what to do with this.
Michigan fell in a 21-0 hole at Penn State and looked well on their way to yet another road debacle against a ranked opponent to add to that stat everyone mentions when Michigan goes on the road against a ranked opponent. Everything from the gameplan to the execution looked ugly. On one side, the Wolverines slammed into the PSU defensive line and dropped potential first downs; on the other, Sean Clifford started hitting shots downfield, including a slot fade to KJ Hamler, who Michigan should've recruited harder, for what looked at the time like an insurmountable three-touchdown lead. Jim Harbaugh called for a punt on fourth-and-one in PSU territory. The officials probably missed an offensive pass interference on the second PSU touchdown.
Then, in a way seemingly designed to inflict maximum emotional pain on both fanbases, Michigan clawed their way back into it. Patterson responded to the Hamler touchdown by leading an eight-play, 75-yard drive capped by a 12-yard Zach Charbonnet touchdown run—though only after an improbable Ronnie Bell snag-a-fumble-out-of-midair-and-run touchdown was negated by penalty. After a deeply bizarre sequence in which Harbaugh had Jake Moody attempt a 58-yard field goal—surprise, it was short—and James Franklin turtled with three timeouts at midfield, the teams went to the locker room with the score at 21-7, Penn State.
The defense set a different tone in the third quarter, limiting PSU to 16 yards, but it looked like the offense failed to take advantage until their final drive of the quarter, when Charbonnet accounted for 45 yards and a touchdown to pull Michigan, improbably, within seven points.
Like cats toying with prey, PSU batted the lead back up to 14 to open the fourth quarter; Hamler found himself one-on-one with Josh Metellus and Clifford made no mistake in taking advantage of a safety defending one of the country's fastest slot receivers. But Michigan fought back again; Bell took a screen 35 yards and Patterson banged in a QB sneak to make it 28-21.
Ronnie Bell's teammates comfort him on the sideline. [Barron]
The defense booted Penn State off the field in three plays, setting up a drive for the tie. While nothing came easy, Patterson looked in his element, hitting receivers on time when plays worked as designed and creating with his legs when they didn't. A crossing route to Erick All set Michigan up with first and goal, but two runs and an incomplete pass only advanced the ball to the three-yard line to set up fourth down.
Patterson niftily escaped pressure, stepped up in the pocket, and found Bell with a sliver of space over the middle. The pass slipped through Bell's hands and fell harmlessly to the turf. Following a first down run by Hamler, PSU knelt out the clock.
All I know is I feel for Bell, who was shown crying on the sideline by ABC's cameras after the drop; he'd played a hell of a game to that point. Patterson's near-heroics inspired newfound confidence, though his stat line (6.7 yards per attempt, no TDs, one INT) looked familiar. The coaching of Harbaugh and Gattis often confounded, but the second-half gameplan looked sound. The defense looked like it was going to take a 2017-style pasting until they stiffened up considerably. Michigan looked overwhelmed by a night game in White Out conditions until they turned that crowd into a collective nervous wreck.
I don't know. Michigan is clearly not winning the Big Ten, and the rest of the schedule is going to be tough, and losing stinks. This time they went down fighting. Whether that's of great comfort is up to you.
[Hit THE JUMP for the box score.]
October 20th, 2019 at 12:01 AM ^
It is not of great comfort, nor should it be
October 20th, 2019 at 12:15 AM ^
It should be. This team is a 8-4 squad. Rebuilding defense, new offense...people always overrated Michigan coming into the year.
October 20th, 2019 at 12:19 AM ^
By people overrating Michigan - do you mean the $8 million dollar man himself? Didn't he say they should be considered favorites to win the B1G? And now they're out of it in mid-October. Year 5 sir - Year 5. 9 of 11 starters back on offense - total disgrace. We'll gettem' next year though - uh huh.
October 20th, 2019 at 12:25 AM ^
Why are so people totally obsessed with the coaches salary? As if it's coming directly from your pocket. I don't know -- class envy? Would you feel better if we went 7-5 every year but only paid the coach $2 million per year?
October 20th, 2019 at 12:29 AM ^
These are often the same people who hate the idea of paying players for anything. It's some weird jealousy or distorted view of value.
Michigan isn't losing because they don't have enough money to spend on someone or something to make the tram better. If you want to complain that they don't win enough with the HC that's fine, but how much is written on his check is sort of irrelevant.
October 20th, 2019 at 8:20 AM ^
I agree with you bronx that the amount of Harbaugh's salary is not an issue in and of itself - the AD is clearly not in dire financial straits by it and it is mostly determined by the market. However, there is a greater philosophical argument to be had about having any public university's (and U.S. state's) highest paid employees be football and basketball coaches (which is not just a UM issue).
Also, this is separate from the issue of paying players, which has been (and is) discussed ad nauseum elsewhere.
October 20th, 2019 at 10:36 AM ^
That's cool, but I guarantee none of the people bitching about Harbaughs salary are talking about that philosophical discussion.
October 20th, 2019 at 5:19 PM ^
I'm sure a number of them are not genuine UM fans either. Just noise.
October 20th, 2019 at 8:27 AM ^
Last I saw, we were plenty profitable ($70M+) even withe the coaches's salaries.
https://www.wxyz.com/sports/michigan-the-third-most-valuable-college-football-team-in-the-country
October 20th, 2019 at 10:27 AM ^
You mean student-athletes? The salary matter Bc you could be paying it to a coach who gets better results. Demand meet supply.
October 20th, 2019 at 8:29 PM ^
By results, do you mean the significant increase in football revenue since Harbaugh was hired?
October 20th, 2019 at 1:26 AM ^
Yeah I don't get why the salary matters. Usually it's the same people who say anything less than beating OSU and winning the Big Ten is total and complete failure. So if you want to clip coupons, hire me, I will not beat OSU and not win the Big Ten for 1/10 of what Harbaugh makes.
October 20th, 2019 at 1:28 AM ^
You're 100% right. Michigan is a ludicrously wealthy institution. It's wild how random nerds on the internet clutch pearls over Harbaugh's salary when they have no say in it.
October 20th, 2019 at 8:57 AM ^
I think the point is: the more you get paid for a doing a job, the better you should be expected to do it, and the greater the accountability should be when you don't do it well.
October 20th, 2019 at 9:11 AM ^
Yes, this. He’s one of the best paid in the country and is not proving why. Lack of results and too many questions. Why weren’t we ready for the first play? We only had ALL week to prepare for THAT moment but still had to burn a TO. Then...all of the stupid penalties. Where is the discipline? That all comes from coaching. Then, we punt on 4th and 1 in PSU territory. Then, we attempt 58 yard field goal.
as said before, it all comes down to coaching...
October 20th, 2019 at 10:09 AM ^
Exactly. You whiners about the salary whiners really think it's because the salary whiners want to save a buck?! How dense and clueless are you? It's all about the fact that UM is paying Top 5 money to a Top 30 coach. Laughable that you could take that any other way. Would you pay Ferrari money for a Ford Focus?
October 20th, 2019 at 10:26 AM ^
This seems to be saying we would be fine with these results if Harbaugh made $3.5 million.
"Accountability" is a nice sports talk radio word, but holding a guy whom I've never met "accountable" isn't of interest to me and has nothing to do with why I am a fan. It doesn't make the wins better or the losses worse.
I want Michigan to do what is best for the program moving forward, period. Harbaugh or no Harbaugh, 9 million dollar coach or 4 million dollar coach, I don't care how.
October 20th, 2019 at 10:37 AM ^
What about America leads you to believe that this is true for any job?
October 20th, 2019 at 4:21 PM ^
You act like Harbaugh’s gone 8-4 every year. His teams have been a couple plays short in most of the big game losses. A couple plays...
October 20th, 2019 at 1:48 AM ^
It does come from my pocket. I pay over a grand a year for two season tickets. Many pay much more, dipshit
October 20th, 2019 at 7:25 AM ^
You are a clown if you believe you would see any savings with a lesser paid coach. Salary is irrelevant.
October 20th, 2019 at 6:41 PM ^
He is a clown. He also made a couple of racist posts last night.
October 20th, 2019 at 7:04 PM ^
And you bring up wives and talk about them getting raped
And then lie and say you didn’t write it
You are the biggest asshole douche bag on the board
October 20th, 2019 at 7:12 PM ^
You need to learn how to read. Read the link you just posted. Nothing in it supports anything you are saying. Nothing. You are just making stuff up. Please work on reading comprehension.
October 20th, 2019 at 7:17 PM ^
It’s okay - I already reported you to the mods for the rape stuff and for bringing up my wife.
You know you fucked us and shouldn’t have said it because you already tried to apologize when another poster called you out on it.
October 20th, 2019 at 7:20 PM ^
I’m glad that you did. Any objective reading of my post does not support anything you are saying. Seriously, you need to read better.
October 20th, 2019 at 7:25 PM ^
Then why did you try and apologize once another poster called you out?
you know what you did and said.
and multiple posters have confirmed it.
October 20th, 2019 at 7:30 PM ^
I apologized if the obviously sarcastic question offended you and I said so in the post. I did not apologize for making a post involving rape. You know this and you are being dishonest. See the difference?
October 20th, 2019 at 7:28 AM ^
Supply and demand is why you pay over a grand a year for two season tickets.
October 20th, 2019 at 10:49 AM ^
Because we are paying coach H national championship money for cant win big ten east results. Sure we could pay him even more just to prove money ain't no thang to us aristocratic UM'ers - that'll show em! Pull your head out of whatever orifice in which it is currently lodged.
October 20th, 2019 at 11:31 AM ^
@Um1994 - it bothers me because it's a sign of incompetence. If you pay top 3 salaries for results that get you middle of the road, or bottom 1/3rd results, you're doing something very wrong. Especially if you espouse the "leaders and best" mantra non-stop.
Kind of like paying for a Ferrari but getting a Camry and being told "why are you so focused on the price you paid, it's a car!"
October 20th, 2019 at 12:28 AM ^
Asked for his thoughts on being the preseason championship pick during Big Ten media days in Chicago, Harbaugh gave his response. "That's where I'd pick us," he said.
What did you expect him to say?
October 20th, 2019 at 12:45 AM ^
You think ticket holders would see any of the savings if they paid him less?
Nope.
October 20th, 2019 at 12:53 AM ^
We might never get ‘em again. Come to terms with that, and everything becomes more enjoyable.
October 20th, 2019 at 3:08 AM ^
Harbaugh has paid for himself about 100x over. This isn’t fucking communist China you clown
October 20th, 2019 at 4:10 PM ^
Do you pay his fucking salary? Michigan's prices haven't changed so don't tell me you are paying more for him than you would for anyone else.
Also, I can only imagine how people like you would react if he said we shouldn't be considered favorites for the B1G. Shut up and grow up or go cheer for someone else.
October 20th, 2019 at 5:12 PM ^
I beg to differ. Seating licenses and ticket prices have risen several times since Harbaugh arrived. $80 face value for Rutger end zone tickets for example.
October 20th, 2019 at 1:21 AM ^
We shouldnt be rebuilding in year 5.
October 20th, 2019 at 9:25 AM ^
I love how all last year people were bitching about getting a new modern OC, how Harbaugh was too stubborn to change, and how in year four we needed “a don brown of the offense”
then Harbaugh goes out and gets a sought after coach, gives him the keys, and essentially steps back. Everyone was thrilled and predicting joy.
Well, it didn’t work out as quickly as people wanted so the internet outrage machine listens to Valenti and Feinbaum and parrots their attitude. Has to be nice. “I said I wanted Harbaugh to switch but I wanted him to get the 100% sure thing guy (but don’t pay him too much) not someone with any bit of risk! That would be UNACCEPTABLE!!”
I thought UM was going to get blown out. I thought that the Gattis experiment was maybe an utter failure. But then they got their stuff together against a good D on the road and made a game of it.
Am I disappointed they didn’t win? Hell yes. But I’m happy as hell to see signs of life, and especially signs of mental toughness we didn’t see in the Wisconsin game.
Go Blue. And hopefully we build off of this for next week.
October 20th, 2019 at 9:40 AM ^
Internet outrage machine. Heh. Yeah, if you can’t find the good in that game last night then, man, I don’t know what to tell you. I have hope, actual hope, for the first time in several years.
October 20th, 2019 at 9:47 PM ^
Totally agree here with JFW here... especially about the bit of the offense showing signs of life.
There were many plays of getting Nico, Ronnie and DPJ in space.
Patterson finally looked comfortable in the pocket and threw several strikes.
My personal favorite was the 4th and goal QB sneak where Mason hammered Patterson just enough to get the ball over the line. Bo would have been proud. But, honestly a hybrid of Gattis' RPO spread complimented by Har-man-smash mouth-ball depending on the situation and opponent defensive personnel could develop into overwhelmingly dominant offense.
I think we are seeing it's birth and infancy.
Take out our frustration and anger on ND.
Go Blue!!!
October 20th, 2019 at 8:34 AM ^
This is not an 8-4 roster. They returned nine of 11 from an offense that was second in the B1G in scoring last year. That includes several All B1G caliber linemen, multiple NFL level receivers and a senior 5☆ QB.
The defense is reloading but returns multiple starters (Hudson, Hill, Metellus) or significant contributors (Hutchison, Paye, Thomas.....). They've been a Top 5 defense for much of the season (pretty much everything except for the first half against Wisconsin).
This is college football. Players leave every year. There are not four teams on Michigan's schedule with a better roster.....including Penn State.
October 20th, 2019 at 12:43 PM ^
And they haven't went 8-4 yet either. Might want to let this play out first before assuming anything
October 20th, 2019 at 12:53 AM ^
The grit the team showed in fighting through adversity (albeit mostly of their own making) makes me proud to be a Michigan fan. They are getting better every game, and they played better than I expected. Go Blue! Onward!
October 20th, 2019 at 1:10 AM ^
I was pleasantly surprised the team didn’t fold up shop and go home after getting down 21-0 but this game finally did it for me. I really don’t care what happens the rest of the season. If Harbaugh can beat OSU he should get one more year to prove he can field a team which can challenge for a conference championship.
If Harbaugh can’t beat OSU this year, he needs to go. No excuses, no blaming refs, no rationalizing injuries or mistakes, whatever. Beat OSU this year. That is now the only measuring stick for the Harbaugh era at Michigan.
October 20th, 2019 at 2:47 AM ^
Just dumb. Who do you think is going to replace Harbaugh? What world-beating coach is going to come work for this arrogant fan-base coaching a historically 0.75% winning program that's been at 0.65% for the last 20 years.
We're a program that thinks we're elite and we aren't, now or historically.
October 20th, 2019 at 7:02 AM ^
I agree with you that JH shouldn't be gone, but don't make it sound like this is a coaching graveyard. $150M+ revenue, name recognition of the brand, plus state-of-the-art facilities are a huge draw.
And football coaches generically are not the type of people who shy away from challenges, especially those generated by anonymous people behind keyboards. If we got onto the coaching carousel at the right time, we would do fine.
October 20th, 2019 at 12:49 PM ^
We said all that last time.
and didn’t get the interviews we wanted.
your judgment that he isn’t getting the most out of his talent when he is 38-13 in four years is just your opinion.
October 20th, 2019 at 9:10 AM ^
The argument that we can't let a coach go because "who are we going to get that's better" is pretty dumb. 95% of the time every new coach hired in America is not a proven commodity. Our perceived arrogance has zero influence on getting a new coach either. It's always a calculated risk, every time. The only question is, is your coach doing the best job possible with the resources he has? Harbaugh, clearly, is not.
Having said all that, I'm not advocating firing. But I wouldn't be upset if he retired or quit.
October 20th, 2019 at 10:40 AM ^
I wouldn't say it's dumb. The catharsis from firing someone, whom we feel 'deserves' it, lasts about 20 minutes. Then there is a vacuum to fill and the scrambling to fill it and sometimes chaos from that if there are no good fits available. (See: Tennessee in 2017.) And there are costs to turnover (e.g. lost recruiting classes in a transition year, new schemes installed) -- as we know well.
There is also the question: do we think we'll be better off in the future with Harbaugh trying to fix the team's issues, or with Warde trying to fix the coaching staff? These are the responsible comparisons to make. "Fire first and ask questions later" is 97.1-level fan-speak for people who have no other insights.
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