When Something Is Born

We are definately due.

I'm a believer.

it feels like we have been walking the tightrope all year.. Hopefully the pain of the last few is the price the team had to pay, for the ultimate satisfaction of winning this weekend.

is the sign of youth. The announcers talked about it during the entire WISC game -- last year they lost close games, this year they're winning close games. A year of maturity and experience makes a big difference to a team, and when you look at how young this team is, it seems pretty obvious -- at least to me.

Maturity is the route to that one play.

But...at Illinois, it's a bit of a stretch to say that Roundtree gettign run down cost us the game - we lost by 25, not by 7. I'm not sure I buy the argument that we could have averted all of that 25 point onslaught simply by punching in an extra touchdown.

...As far as MSU goes...I think we were lucky to go to overtime with them, but whatever. Even if Tate throws that for an incomplete, we're still facing 4th down. And, as you saw from our defensive "stand," we weren't particularly enthusiastic about tackling. So in other words, I'm not convinced we win that game if MSU didn't get the INT.

Also, we did get "that one play" against ND 0 - a few times. First, Stonum made the "extra cut" to turn a 10 yard return into a TD. Then Charlie decided it would be a good idea to throw the ball, rather than running out the clock.

So I agree that there are instances were one play can make a huge difference, but I'm not sure we're to the point where we are only one play away from a totally different season. Your chain of causation is tenuous, at best.

Oh, and you could also add the extra point against Purdue to your post, if you wanted to. Kick the extra points and win in overtime - seems pretty like a sure thing.

Very similar to last year in the number of "close" games we've had. However as already pointed out, we got our "one" play against Notre Dame and you could probably point to "one" play that won us the IU game too.

So if we are +2 and -3 for a "net" of -1 in the karma department as far as I'm concerned. Maybe we are due for "one" more...

Instead of one play, i'd rather have one starter. David Molk at MSU, Iowa and Purdue. He's worth a few conversions at least, and I think he was a huge loss in the middle of the season.

I have had the same thoughts with regards to Carr.
1) Michigan blocks the kick in the rosebowl vs. Texas (shazor said it grazed his hand)
2) Michigan goes for it on 4th abd 4 vs. Osu in 2005 at the osu 37 instead of punting, or makes one play on osu's last drive

3) Michigan makes one more play vs. Osu in 2006....

IF all those had happened 1) Herrman would not have been let go 2) Carr has more say on who is the next head coach/maybe it is Herrman......thus the coaching transition would have been smoother....

were very pivotal in that game. Previous commenters have noted that the second-string Illinois QB was warming up on the sidelines right at the time of that failed drive, and was apparently going to come in after what seemed like a sure Michigan TD. IF we score to go up 20-7 and IF Juice is replaced, then I'm very skeptical that Illinois would be able to put up the number of points on us that they were able to do with Juice at the helm.

Many have said "Carr never had a losing season"....but boy he came REAL close in 2005. Michigan went 7-5, but two of those wins came in overtime, and a third on that last play vs. PSU.....

With him on the field, our offense was very productive. As soon as he went down, we started to struggle noticeably. The Indiana game was the harbinger of trouble on offense for me.

there's a lot of blood, puke, shit, piss, and general all-around discombobulation.

olesnavage's missed extra point vs. purdue...

not only did it change the end game strategy somewhat, but it also took away some of the momentum we'd just gotten back...we took a punch in the mouth, got up, then lost it again. i think purdue fed off it.

Amen brother. I am someone who never quits on Michigan. In good times and in bad, I always believe we can win, I always believe we can pull it out. This weekend is no different. Rodriguez "gets it" and the players "get it".
I can't be at the game this weekend but I gave my tickets to someone who will cheer for Micihgan wheter they are up 20 or down 20. The last thing I want all the great recruits in for the game to hear is a stadium full of fickle fans. Go Blue! Today, tomorrow, and always.

two plays, pushing it? LOL, and a great read.

My gut is telling me we're going to win too, Go Blue!

fer shizzle. give me that one where Charles White scores that phantom td if you are going to give me a play.

focking whippersnappers.

Insert Pacino speech here

there seems to be a point when one team gets a play that turns to to be an emotional pivot point, you feel the game swing and the momentum shift.

but the game has to be close for this to happen. It didnt happen vs penn st for example. Our offense needs to come out in sync tomorrow (!!!!!!), they need to provide that spark for the defense.

That's just like my opinion, man.

...this is probably a win-win type situation. We are a team loaded with inexperience at all skill positions on offense and a defense suffering from attrition.

We have every excuse to lose this one but I'm with you: my gut is telling me otherwise. Expect the worst-hope for the best kinda deal...but never lose that hope. I always wondered what it was like to witness the 1969 game - we gotta believe!

Go Blue Damnit!!

To the team? Loved it. Got me fired up. I am sure I will wake up at 1 am just so I don't oversleep to leave at 5:30 to get up there to watch the game. I know the guys can do it. We need the Big House rocking to help them out. I will be doing plenty of yelling every time little bucky has the ball.

Go Blue!!!!

Being at the 1969 game was one of the great experiences of a lifetime. Bo was able to get it done in a year, because Bump Elliott had left him a lot of good players. Rich Rodriguez did not have that luxury, but he has done (my opinion) a good job with what he was left, has the team on the right track and has continued to foster the values important to me as an alum by being a player's coach who is bound and determined to make his players succeed in all aspects of college athletics, including academics. While the Freep tried to undermine his accomplishments regarding last year's academic performance by the team, the fact remains that last year's team did very well academically. He seems to be carrying high academic goals forward, as we often hear of players getting into trouble for not attending study halls or classes. All of his efforts will help make our players successful in life, and that should be the primary goal. I want to win (every single game and especially tomorrow's game), but if the team comes out and plays its heart out, I will be satisfied and proud of them and the coaches. Go Blue! In Rod I Trust.

I will support Michigan and love what it stands for no matter we win or lose. But when we win I will mouth off to every slutnut I see for the next year. GO Blue!!!!!!!!!

Hey man, this is a great post, clearly something you put effort into. However, don't you think that this has a limited effect based on the fact that your handle is "Coach Schiano?" Your handle alone seems to imply you think we have the wrong coach. Do you think this is an unreasonable conclusion for other readers to come to?