Moar Michigan/MSU Postgame Thoughts [Sunday Snowflake Thread]
Programming: The game will likely be replayed tonight on BTN as the "B1G Football Game of The Week." Ohio/Purdue was obviously a great game, but that game is being replayed right before this 8pm broadcast and I doubt they'd show it back-to-back.
Anyway, some good talk got washed away in the (warranted) excitement. With that said, after a day to let it soak in...where does this win stack in the Hoke era? IMO, it's #2 behind Ohio last year, ahead of the Sugar Bowl and UTL.
I just rewatched the 4th quarter and let me say...I am in tears. You can't watch that (knowing how it ends) and not just sit there and feel so good for these players. The fought SO hard. I feel like Junior Hemingway last January.
I suggest EVERYONE rewatch the end of the game...there are so many little things that remind you that these are college kids, just playing the game they love and pouring their HEART in it. There are even more examples of these kids being led by a GREAT coach and an even better man.
For example, during the final drive...the camera pans to the sideline and you see Gibbons walking up and Hoke slaps him on the helmet and gives him some encouragement. Gibby doesn't get paid to handle that pressure, but his team was behind him.
Denard going NUTS after spiking the ball (after the pass to Dileo).
The team mobbed Gibbons, but you can't get mad at that...just to see 115 guys realizing their dreams and reaching a goal was awesome.
Then after the game, you see how much it means to everyone. But you also see Hoke completely blow off the postgame game reporter go find Le'veon Bell and give him the BIGGEST hug like it was one of his own players. He gets it, he respects the rivalry, he respects the B1G, he respects MANBALL...even from a hated opponent.
Then you see the guys with that trophy...you see Jon Falk and you get this feeling "okay, it's over. We're back." Last year was no fluke, everything is restored, don't be afraid to care 110% like you used too...it's okay, Michigan is Michigan again.
We needed this win, and we needed to win just like this. An old fashioned Michigan game. A B1G game. No frills, no basketball on turf, just us vs. you, just victory.
October 21st, 2012 at 11:23 AM ^
I don't know if anyone else saw this, but I definitely saw a number 16 lined up around the 20 on the opening kickoff of the second half.What was the plan there?
October 21st, 2012 at 11:34 AM ^
Dantonio's balls. Asunder.
October 21st, 2012 at 12:54 PM ^
thats gotta hurt.
October 21st, 2012 at 12:30 PM ^
October 21st, 2012 at 12:36 PM ^
October 21st, 2012 at 2:36 PM ^
He was lined up next to the sideline, about 8 yards upfield from Norfleet.
October 21st, 2012 at 11:24 AM ^
October 21st, 2012 at 11:25 AM ^
October 21st, 2012 at 11:29 AM ^
I seem to remember it as a review....can coaches even challenge in the B1G?
October 21st, 2012 at 11:52 AM ^
October 21st, 2012 at 11:27 AM ^
but does it drive anyone else nuts that one of those ESPNU commericals has Jason Seahorn saying "It's all on Denard Robinson. If he doesn't electrify the stadium, they don't win."
Has a stupider thing ever been said? I don't know why ESPNU is so proud of it such that they decided to put it on their commercial that they air 10 times a day
October 21st, 2012 at 11:28 AM ^
Any idea where to find an early line on the Nebraska game??
October 21st, 2012 at 12:17 PM ^
October 21st, 2012 at 12:58 PM ^
I would not have guessed that.
October 21st, 2012 at 11:48 AM ^
Biggest play that seems forgotten is V. Smith's run to start the last 2 minute drill. Having that big play on the 1st play was huge. It wasn't an easy run at all, he had to make a move in the backfield and still got about 12 yards
October 21st, 2012 at 12:06 PM ^
Seniors Step Up!
October 21st, 2012 at 12:59 PM ^
an undersized QB out in front blocking. That play does a good job of exemplifying the heart with which the players played this game.
October 22nd, 2012 at 12:27 AM ^
I gotta believe as a D-Coordinator scouting UM for tendencies, you'll find that when Smith is in the game it's more often than not usually a pass. In fact, I'm guessing the % of time Smith gets a hand-off when he's in the game is pretty low.
Sparty sees Smith in the game knowing UM is probably going to have to throw most of the time to get into FG range and Borges calls a hand off Smith.
October 21st, 2012 at 11:54 AM ^
October 21st, 2012 at 11:57 AM ^
Three years under RR. Seemed longer at the time though...
October 21st, 2012 at 12:05 PM ^
October 21st, 2012 at 12:59 PM ^
excitment?
October 21st, 2012 at 12:08 PM ^
October 21st, 2012 at 12:58 PM ^
October 21st, 2012 at 1:00 PM ^
radio on at the game and Frank and Jim were saying the same thing. How does that get missed? In the end it hurt sparty more than us.
October 21st, 2012 at 2:16 PM ^
October 21st, 2012 at 1:15 PM ^
They also retroactively added 20 seconds back at the end of the first half AFTER runnning another play (so, the clock time added would have been 2 plays late).
I was confused with both. The 20-seconds added thing was because an MSU guy went out of bounds...but as I saw it, the guy's forward progress was clearly stopped and he and the tackler traveled to the sideline laterally...that should keep the clock running, no?
And the replay thing...if they go to replay, isn't it generally understood that the clock is reset to what it was after the reviewed play? I'm curious to know the exact rule in that case. It could have cost Michigan dearly, though luckily it didn't.
October 21st, 2012 at 12:21 PM ^
In the end it didn't matter, but at the time I was disappointed.
October 21st, 2012 at 12:51 PM ^
The more I think about it the more I'm impressed with the way everyone on the team fought through the whole game. Other than (maybe) the Kovacs interception we just didn't have any lucky breaks. There were at least 2-3 passes that could've been touchdowns had things gone slightly different. And there was the fumbles they caused that still stayed with Sparty.
In many ways this feels more special because of that. I refuse to make any concessions that Michigan got lucky somewhere; because we didn't. The team fought, the crowd fought, the coaches fought. No one, on either side gave an inch. And in the end the Wolvinerines brought Paul home. :) It feels like the curse has been broken by sheer force of will.
How about that defense? How about 160+ yards on the ground against one of the best rush defensives in the country. GRIND IT OUT. It wasn't pretty, but it certainly was Michigan.
October 21st, 2012 at 1:01 PM ^
say that again.
October 21st, 2012 at 12:55 PM ^
I swear I saw a handful of plays with #85 on the field, and haven't noticed Joe Reynolds out there in previous games (at least in critical junctures of the games). Must be a good down-field blocker? If so, kudos to Joe for working his tail off to get on the field in a pressure-packed setting.
Proposed new play: Reynolds enters the game. Opposing DC says "must be run, #85 is on the field". Play-action fake to Reynolds side. After a feeble block attempt, Reynolds runs up the seam uncovered. Instant TD. We all rejoice in the goodness that is Joe Reynolds.
October 21st, 2012 at 1:03 PM ^
Really can get downfield and block the secondary. Only problem is that it usually tips the D that it will be a run. Let's get him a few passes to make it a little more honest.
October 21st, 2012 at 1:02 PM ^
I don't think Floyd is getting the praise he deserves for the run support established on the edge. He has definately changed his approach to tackling in the last couple weeks and was stout forcing the counters and pitches back in. He has progressed immensely since week 1.
October 22nd, 2012 at 12:30 AM ^
Late in the game when UM forced MSU to kick a FG, Floyd was huge on the 3rd down play. Bell tries to go up the middle and has nothing. He bounces it outside and Floyd has contain. Floyd has a blocker on him and instead of giving ground, Floyd stretches the play all the way to sideline. I don't think Floyd made the tackle, but he strung the play out long enough to allow the calvary to come to the rescue.
October 21st, 2012 at 1:04 PM ^
Was he hurt? I don't remember seeing him in the game once Saturday. Box score indicates no carries for him as well. I don't understand how are most physical runner didn't even get in for one play against MSU's defense....??????
October 21st, 2012 at 8:59 PM ^
October 21st, 2012 at 1:06 PM ^
Just some thoughts about Borges (I know he is a touchy topic as of late).
I thought his gameplan yesterday was good/fair, but not great. I know a lot of people like to look at the scoreboard and say "No Touchdowns, Borges sucks", but in hindsight, looking at the last few years against MSU and this year against ND, TOs really cost us dearly. He put a leash on Denard and picked his spots to go downfield. I thought the conservative gameplan was the right one.
As far as the no TDs thing goes, I thought the playcalling in the redzone was actually pretty good. We had nothing to show for it, b/c of some poor execution (for example, Denard under throwing Funchess, throw behind Gallon, poor read on the zone read). I do think execution is on the coaching staff to some extent as well, but we're never going to be perfect and we were playing a pretty good defense. In the end, I think the general theme was to minimize mistakes and put points on the board when we could with little risk. It turned out to be enough by a razors edge. I think some of the opinion's of Borges' game are forgetting that the offense isn't a vacuum in the sense that the play calling had a lot to do with how our defense was playing.
Just my thoughts.
October 21st, 2012 at 1:19 PM ^
October 21st, 2012 at 1:20 PM ^
October 21st, 2012 at 2:04 PM ^
I agree with the folks noting that these are actually the good times. M was 11-2 last year. I realize that M is recruiting well, but there is no guarantee that that will automatically turn them into a yearly National Title contender. I'm pretty happy with the team M has right now. I mean, don't get me wrong, I love good recruiting and damn if I wouldn't like some more playmakers at WR, not that Denar would necessarily throw it to them accurately, but it's not so bad right now. I don't know how much better M is going to get on defense in terms of production, yardage etc. They are pretty good. I, like all of you, hope they get better, but I wouldn't denigrate the current team by trying to imagine how great they'll be next year. That said, that is the prerogative and enjoyment of being a sports fan. Well, there is always next year. My wife did say she was worried M wouldn't win another National Title before I die. I'm thirty two. I'm hoping we don't have to wait fifty years, and I also hope that she's not poisoning me. Go blue.
October 21st, 2012 at 3:25 PM ^
October 21st, 2012 at 3:42 PM ^
October 21st, 2012 at 3:25 PM ^
October 21st, 2012 at 3:50 PM ^
Something that gets lost sometimes in the 4 yr streak by Starty is that we won the previous 6 matchups under Carr. Some of those games were close (as rivalry games often are), but getting back to that level of dominance would be great.
October 21st, 2012 at 4:03 PM ^
to say we only look at the distant past. In 10 years we are 6-4, in 20 years we are 12-8, in 30 years we are 19-11. We have the longest win streak at 8.
sparty says: "But these are only facts and do not represent the hype, which is closer to the truth".
October 21st, 2012 at 8:51 PM ^
October 21st, 2012 at 5:04 PM ^
On the second to last drive we were on the MSU 25 yd line, Denard gets TFL'ed, a false start, and a holding penalty take us out of field goal range. I was going nuts. ND was also like that where we gave up points because the offense went backwards. Hopefully we can get more disciplined on that in the future so that it doesn't cost us another one.
October 21st, 2012 at 7:00 PM ^
Last year Michigan was one of the least penalized teams in the B10, if not the nation. Not sure what's happened to change this with Team 133, but it definitely cost them some serious momentum, and didn't allow them to take advantage of opportunities.
October 21st, 2012 at 7:47 PM ^
We're still not a very penalized team. We just had some occur at costly times yeterday.
October 21st, 2012 at 8:21 PM ^