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For the first time since 1917, Michigan will not play Ohio State.
"This decision is disappointing for our team and coaches but their health and safety is paramount, and it will always come first in our decision-making.” pic.twitter.com/IHXOD6lXyj
— Michigan Football (@UMichFootball) December 8, 2020
While it's the correct decision, and does break the streak, I'm sure it's heartbreaking to players who dreamed of doing it the old fashioned way.
Michigan would still have to get a significant number of guys back from the 21-day window in order to participate in the showcase game, and will almost certainly be without a number of key players if they do make it.
There will be much gnashing of teeth over the fact that Ohio State did not play the minimum number of games required to qualify for the Big Ten Championship Game, followed by the Big Ten changing its rules to let 5-0 Ohio State, the only team to miss just one game for its COVID outbreak, in over a currently 6-1 Indiana, which had zero COVID outbreaks, but lost to Ohio State. Since Michigan probably would have won, I'm sure the Buckeyes will now line up in gratitude for saving their playoff hopes, not to mention the health and safety of their players.
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Via @vicsoto
Per Phil Brabbs's twitter, Charles Drake, starting strong safety for Michigan from 2001-'02, has passed away. Drake was a moderately shirtless '99 running back recruit who traded in a career of kick returning to play safety because Michigan had no safeties after June and Curry. Drake did it mostly with athleticism and a taste for (juuuuuust close enough to the whistle to not get flagged) hitting. Personally I remember him going ham against Michigan State a few times, and causing two turnovers in the closer-than-it-seemed 2002 Michigan-Illinois game. In the first he forced Beutjer to throw to Marlin Jackson (at 2:02), the other…
…was his only career interception and sneaky runback that caused know-it-alls on couches across the state of Michigan to exclaim, "remember, he was a kick returner!"
His senior year Drake shared the Ufer Bequest award (for enthusiasm and love for Michigan) with Bennie Joppru. From the little I knew of Drake off the field—all from a guy who worked with the team—"enthusiasm and love for Michigan" was most apropos. Let it stand as a fitting epitaph to a Wolverine who'll be missed.
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