When this fall began, there is no way I envisioned it would turn out like it did for the Michigan football team. But a season in which all kinds of records for futility were set by the Wolverines is finally over. And it ended in a fitting matter - getting drubbed by Ohio State 42-7.
Taking a look at this season here is the kinds of things the Wolverines accomplished.
- The worst record ever in school history (3-9)
- First time losing to all our rivals in the same season in 20 years (Notre Dame, Michigan State, Ohio State)
- First loss ever to a MAC team.
- First team to lose five games at the Big House (Utah, Illinois, Toledo, Michigan State, Northwestern)
- 33 year old bowl streak comes to an end
- Suffered a fifth straight loss to the Buckeyes (first time in the history of the rivalry U-M has lost five straight to Ohio State)
And the list goes on.
It seems not much progress was made throughout the season. And when it seemed as if U-M showed signs they were about to turn the corner they displayed another dismal performance. After beating Wisconsin (who needed overtime to beat Cal Poly today) and Minnesota it seemed as if the Wolverines were about to make a turn for the better. But then they ended up dropping their following games. Against Illinois, U-M was blown out thanks to Juice Williams. Northwestern ended Michigan's chance for its first two-game win streak of the season when they won at the Big House last weekend.
I was a little optimistic going into the game being that a rivalry game and that anything can happen. But when Stevie Brown intercepted Terrelle Pryor early in the first quarter and the Wolverines were unable to capitalize on the strong field position that was a sign of what was to come and an indication of what has occured all season. Later in the first quarter Martavious Odoms couldn't clean a punt and Penn State recovered. Granted it was a tough catch for Odoms, but that has been another problem that has plagued U-M all year
About the only thing U-M fans can take solace in as that Michigan State (aka Little Brother) got killed by Penn State. I usually try to root for the Spartans when they aren't playing U-M, but when Mark Dantonio can't even pull for U-M in a scenario that would favor his team, the dude has issues. He also was pretty lame for calling back-to-back timeouts at the end of the game when his team was getting blown.
Seriously if U-M would have won and the Spartans would have best Penn State, MSU could be celebrating a Big Ten title and a trip to Pasadena. As a poster commented in a forum, maybe pulling for the Buckeyes to win was bad karma for him.
The Spartans did have a great season this year and I tip my hats to them. But where were they in every big game they had. Most MSU fans had the term Same old Spartans, but really who did they beat this year? A terrible Michigan team? Each time they were matched up against a team that was ranked in the top 25 they failed. They lost on the road at Cal in their season opener, getting blown out by Ohio State at home and getting drubbed by Penn State in a championship-like game.
Another thing to take note in concerning college football - Notre Dame lost to Syracuse at home 24-23. Talk about bad losses, thats another one for Charlie Weis. After barely beating Navy last week, the Irish blow a 14-point lead and fall to a 2-8 Syracuse team at home. And the Orange just fired their coach last Sunday. Weis may not as ND's coach much longer.
Associated Press photos
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