Michigan State 14, Michigan 10
The final play. [Bryan Fuller]
Death by a thousand self-inflicted cuts.
Michigan State's offense didn't look like it belonged in the same league as Michigan's defense, which forced eight three-and-outs, added a turnover on downs, and didn't allow a point after the 8:07 mark of the second quarter. By those numbers, you'd think the Wolverines would've won this game in a blowout.
But the offense, well, it all went wrong with the offense. They turned the ball over five times: a Ty Isaac fumble that killed any momentum from a promising start, a Sean McKeon fumble when they were driving at the end of the first half, and three John O'Korn interceptions. O'Korn's picks came on consecutive second-half possessions as rain fell from the sky in sheets; the coaches continued to call passes despite O'Korn's struggling and the receivers having a tough time hanging onto the ball.
That was it, really. State needed only one long touchdown drive and another on a short field to get the win while Michigan found new and demoralizing ways to shoot themselves in the foot.
After the game, the quarterback dismissed concerns about the playcalling and the weather, instead putting the loss on his own shoulders.
"I take full ownership for this loss," said John O'Korn. "You can't turn the ball over and expect to win and you can't give them great field position all game and expect to win."
"You've got to execute the plays that are called regardless of the conditions and we didn't do that tonight."
His head coach had a different take.
"Yeah, you can criticize that," Jim Harbaugh said about the playcalling. "We were trying to run the ball. We were trying to piece drives together."
It was a depressingly familiar script. Michigan State had the better, more cohesive gameplan, highlighted by their second touchdown, a gorgeous slip screen off a fake end-around that caught the entire defense on the wrong side of the field. Michigan's pass protection repeatedly broke down; Juwann Bushell-Beatty replaced Nolan Ulizio at right tackle midway through the game with little positive effect. The late-game plays didn't break the right way; MSU all but iced the game when Brian Lewerke dropped a third-down snap, frantically scrambled, and somehow rolled over two players to get the first down before touching the ground.
Another familiar sight—stupid Michigan State penalties—gave Michigan a final shot late, first when a holding call stopped the clock on MSU's final drive, then when senior linebacker Chris Frey committed an obvious late hit on Karan Higdon. Yet again, Michigan committed an unforced error. O'Korn found Eddie McDoom wide open around the MSU 30, only for the ball to clang off McDoom's hands. A couple plays later, O'Korn's Hail Mary heave hit the rain-soaked turf.
The bitter taste from this one is going to linger. Michigan could—should—be 3-0 against MSU under Harbaugh. Instead, they're 1-2. This time around, it was the struggling offense finally costing the team a game this season. Even if we knew that was coming this year, it won't sit well that it happened against the Spartans, especially given the preceding bye week and questionable playcalling.
It's going to be a long week for a lot of people.
October 8th, 2017 at 12:07 AM ^
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October 8th, 2017 at 10:45 AM ^
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October 8th, 2017 at 12:49 AM ^
We did anyway.
October 8th, 2017 at 1:04 AM ^
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October 8th, 2017 at 1:56 AM ^
October 8th, 2017 at 12:08 AM ^
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October 8th, 2017 at 2:10 AM ^
October 8th, 2017 at 12:08 AM ^
October 8th, 2017 at 12:48 AM ^
He's going to quit and go somewhere else if we do not start giving him some support on offense.
October 8th, 2017 at 11:34 AM ^
This is my greatest fear as a Michigan fan right now.
October 8th, 2017 at 2:16 AM ^
October 8th, 2017 at 4:00 AM ^
October 8th, 2017 at 12:23 AM ^
Iowa last year.
And?
October 8th, 2017 at 12:11 AM ^
We’ll grow through this, but it’s a sucky loss.
October 8th, 2017 at 3:26 AM ^
October 8th, 2017 at 8:23 AM ^
I agree. MSU was selling out versus the run, and Michigan had to throw at least a bit to keep them honest and try to move the ball. They were not long or difficult throws. However I don't know if O'Korn has very good vision- at least two of the picks were like he didn't even see the defenders who were a danger to the throw.
October 8th, 2017 at 8:27 AM ^
I agree. MSU was selling out versus the run, and Michigan had to throw at least a bit to keep them honest and try to move the ball. They were not long or difficult throws. However I don't know if O'Korn has very good vision- at least two of the picks were like he didn't even see the defenders who were a danger to the throw.
I also don't think Michigan's receivers have been helping the QBs all that much. WRs try to beat the corner off the ball, and if they can't they kind of give up and stay covered. Other than maybe Jake Butt and Perry against Purdue, it is hard to think of many Michigan receivers who keep fighting to get open, especially when plays break down.
October 8th, 2017 at 12:11 AM ^
or something
October 8th, 2017 at 12:12 AM ^
It makes me nauseous thinking of all the recruits we had at the game tonight. I would wager Dobbs and Barnett will drop State very soon.
October 8th, 2017 at 12:12 AM ^
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October 8th, 2017 at 1:06 AM ^
October 8th, 2017 at 12:21 AM ^
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October 8th, 2017 at 12:24 AM ^
October 8th, 2017 at 1:20 AM ^
October 8th, 2017 at 1:23 AM ^
October 8th, 2017 at 3:29 AM ^
supporting your team means supporting your team
October 8th, 2017 at 9:56 AM ^
October 9th, 2017 at 12:01 AM ^
October 8th, 2017 at 10:29 AM ^
It seems I had a bit of a angry drunken meltdown last night. Woof. Apologies Mgoboard. Wedding receptions + sports sometimes don't mix well.
October 8th, 2017 at 1:04 PM ^
October 8th, 2017 at 12:13 AM ^
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October 8th, 2017 at 5:50 AM ^
And I am getting tired of seeing film clips from winning Michigan teams from, like, 70 years ago being play on the stadium's scoreboard before and during a football game. This university needs to quit living in the past. Sadly, the (distant) past is the only thing it has to brag about when it comes to football glory. Sad.
October 8th, 2017 at 3:33 PM ^
Yep. Nationally speaking we are a 2nd tier program that gets to pretend to be a 1st tier program because we have the biggest stadium, largest alumni network, and a big fan base. OSU is the only 1st tier program in the big ten. PSU, Wisconsin, MSU, and Michigan are all tier 2. The sad thing is that since our last conference championship in 2004, PSU, Wisconsin, and MSU have all won 3 big ten championships.
October 8th, 2017 at 12:13 AM ^
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October 8th, 2017 at 12:14 AM ^
October 8th, 2017 at 12:33 AM ^
October 8th, 2017 at 12:47 AM ^
October 8th, 2017 at 12:14 AM ^
When your offense turns the ball over 5 times and your O linemen are routinely stepping on your backfield because they are on roller skates.
We had two weeks to recuperate and prepare. We should have been the team that wanted it more and played stronger manball, of course, if you watched the game it was the other team that won in those aspects.
I'm hopeful that at season's end there we'll witness some coaching changes - beginning with Drevno and Jay Harbaugh. Time for them to leave us.
October 8th, 2017 at 12:15 AM ^
An OL that's mediocre and an average QB won't put us in the upper tier of teams...still an after effect of lost recruiting classes.
October 8th, 2017 at 12:23 AM ^
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