Looking ahead to Mass.
Was able to see some of the UMass vs UConn game. UConn really whipped UMass. They held UMass to 3 rushing yards, and 59 total yards for the game. UMass did not take a single snap of the ball in UConn turf. UMass is Michigans 3rd game, Michigan should put these guys out behind the woodshed.
Final score was UConn 37 UMass 0
August 31st, 2012 at 8:06 AM ^
This game is monumentally important to Denard's quest to 1,251.
That said, Beat Bama.
August 31st, 2012 at 8:29 AM ^
...alas, I think it will actually be used to get Bellomy some game experience.
August 31st, 2012 at 9:17 AM ^
I don't see why the two are mutually exclusive - Denard should be able to rack up an easy 200+ by halftime before DG and RB take over for some game experience.
Edit: Actual numbers are on our side. Denard's two biggest rushing games last year came from Eastern (198) and SDSU (200). As an added bonus, his third best rushing performance came against Ohio. (170)
August 31st, 2012 at 12:17 PM ^
But SDSU and EMU occurred before Toussaint's emergence at tailback. I'd be surprised if we let Denard carry the ball that much against UMass now.
August 31st, 2012 at 10:57 AM ^
August 31st, 2012 at 11:22 AM ^
is all pass for Denard against the weak sisters and all run against the "match-ups". I assume the coaches always follow his advice faithfully.
August 31st, 2012 at 8:12 AM ^
That game was a beating and I didn't think UCONN was supposed to be very strong this year? UMass made them look like Wisconsin playing a 1-AA team. Did anyone watch Vandy play? They were much better than I expected, maybe 1 or 2 big plays from winning that one.
August 31st, 2012 at 8:17 AM ^
I was rooting for Vandy the whole way. Wish they would have got that pass interference call at the end. No way to know if it would have made a difference, but you hate to see something that obvious not get called the right way.
August 31st, 2012 at 8:29 AM ^
I live in South Carolina now (just moved in July) and the USC fans (I still think of the other USC when they say that) are about as bad as SEC homers can get. I always root for Vandy for the simple fact that they have excellent academics and I had a couple of friends attend med school there. It would've been nice to see Spurrier's head explode after a loss like that.
August 31st, 2012 at 9:31 AM ^
Agreed. I'm a Carolinian as well and USC (NTUSC) fans are unbearable to be around. Plus, any team with Spurrier as the coach is worth rooting against every weekend.
August 31st, 2012 at 9:56 AM ^
Where are you living in SC? I found a Michigan bar down here in Charleston that I am going to this weekend to watch the game. Last time I was there I got a free tab because I was wearing my U of M shirt and the bartender happened to be from Brighton.
August 31st, 2012 at 10:24 AM ^
what bar in Charleston are you talking about? I live in the area as well.
August 31st, 2012 at 11:38 AM ^
It is right on Market street across from the open market area. They have a tiny "M" sticker on the outside and I went inside with a glimmer of hope and was chatting with the bar keep when he mentioned they show all the Michigan games and usually the place is packed with U of M fans. This will be my first time watching a game down there so I can't speak to the game day atmosphere but I figured it would be worth a shot. Link: http://www.madrivercharleston.com/
August 31st, 2012 at 1:31 PM ^
Bad game, obviously, but definitely a fun atmosphere. There were a few people there who apparently never miss a game and some other semi-regulars, as well as some out-of-towners (like me).
August 31st, 2012 at 4:16 PM ^
Nice. Yeah even the night I was there in the middle of the summer there were a few Michigan fans hanging around. They said it's a pretty good crowd on game day. Hopefully Michigan can win tomorrow and I will have a new lucky hang out for the games.
August 31st, 2012 at 8:21 AM ^
Hey man, I don't mind going to church once in a while too but I'm not sure it's worthy of a post...
August 31st, 2012 at 8:30 AM ^
Ha, not being Catholic myself, I didn't even notice that. Sorry. I should have typed UMass or something. I could edit it, but then your comment wouldn't be so funny.
August 31st, 2012 at 8:26 AM ^
August 31st, 2012 at 9:01 AM ^
The difference, of course, being that App State won a National Championship that year and sent 4 guys to the NFL, while UMass just got whopped by UCONN in a game in which they didn't even cross the the 50 yard line.
August 31st, 2012 at 8:30 AM ^
Go Blue. Beat Bama. That's all there is until next week.
August 31st, 2012 at 8:36 AM ^
Ya, Vandy got robbed. That DB karate chopped the receiver's arm before the ball got there, can't believe the ref missed that call. Also had a few dropped passes that would have changed the game greatly. Although, having Shaw knocked out of half the game for Carolina prolly didn't hurt either
August 31st, 2012 at 10:10 AM ^
The back judge had a clear view of said karate chop and chose not to flag it. Could it be that the SEC didn't want one of its powers(ok preseason top 10) to be upset in week 1? I'm not saying that Vandy would have won with the call but 1st and 10 from the SC 47 down by 4 with 2 minutes left would have been an exciting finish.
August 31st, 2012 at 9:37 AM ^
It's really important that us fans not look ahead to future weeks, otherwise our performance might slip on Saturday. What's that you say? None of us are actually playing? Nevermind then.
August 31st, 2012 at 8:49 AM ^
It was a shellacking, but let's not forget UMass put up quite a fight a couple of years ago against UM. UConn isn't a "get up" game for them the way I'm guessing UM is, and the first game of the year doesn't really tell you that much.
August 31st, 2012 at 9:25 AM ^
If you can't get up for that, you've got a problem. Not to mention it's their first game as an FBS member, against a school that they hope will become a regional rival, and was at an NFL stadium, as opposed to their standard not-very-nice stadium.
If we're not able to manhandle them in a couple weeks, at least for the first half when the starters are in, it will be a little embarassing. They are not a good team, and last night's effort certainly had little to do with lack of motivation.
August 31st, 2012 at 9:08 AM ^
If anyone wants more stats on the UConn-UMass game, here is the box score from ESPN:
http://espn.go.com/ncf/boxscore?gameId=322430041
Some of the "highlights" for the Minutemen - UMass had three people rush for negative yards, and overall were 9-23 on pass completions. Their longest drives were 21 and 19 yards, and at the low end, one drive for -13 yards. UMass even had one drive of no yards that involved three false starts.
August 31st, 2012 at 10:46 AM ^
Looking at UConn's offensive stats tells a bit of the story too. They had 8 different receivers with catches with an average of 14.1 yards per catch. It must have looked like Old Country Buffet for the Husky QB's.
UMASS specials had issues too if they gave up an average of 21.8 yards per punt return.
Ugly football!
August 31st, 2012 at 9:17 AM ^
5 carries for -4 yards. I guess this means Mike Cox still hasn't learned the playbook LOLOLOLOL
August 31st, 2012 at 9:24 AM ^
BUT ALL HE NEEDS IS A CHANCE!
/Magnus
August 31st, 2012 at 11:09 AM ^
The team rushed for 3 total yards. I'm not sure that anyone could be successful with that running game.
August 31st, 2012 at 9:27 AM ^
August 31st, 2012 at 9:44 AM ^
August 31st, 2012 at 9:48 AM ^
on the small chance that this reflects that UConn is actually a little bit good, I may be regretting not Pick-Sixing them. I'm guessing a stout defense can take you a long way in the new, mid-major version of the Big East.
August 31st, 2012 at 9:49 AM ^
A bunch of guys from our Boston office are flying in for the UMass game. I told them sledding won't be as easy this year considering they aren't playing that sieve style defense that RRod was rocking.
I see a lot of backups getting time in during this one.
August 31st, 2012 at 10:23 AM ^
August 31st, 2012 at 10:24 AM ^
WTF are you looking ahead two weeks for? Play alabama tomorrow, and triple option air force the week after......
August 31st, 2012 at 10:56 AM ^
Seriously - if we as fans start looking past these next couple games, what hope do the players have? Focus people!
August 31st, 2012 at 1:45 PM ^
Although that may work the opposite with the lions for me. All of the sudden their super bowl contenders !?!?!
August 31st, 2012 at 11:02 AM ^
Sorry my post has distracted our fan focus from 'Bama. I just thought it was interresting to care about an opponent that we will play soon. The game was on the opening night of CFB and thought I would look at it. I realize that Michigan has two games before UMass, but thought the board could handle a look ahead.
Go Blue.
August 31st, 2012 at 11:35 AM ^
I think you're taking your role in this a little too seriously.
August 31st, 2012 at 11:57 AM ^
Maybe UM will break the NCAA record for biggest margin of win. 222-0 held by Georgia Tech. Forget 1000 yard season; Denard could have a 1k game!