The nightmare season is over

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

A good sign of things to come

The fall has been dreadful for the University of Michigan with the football team having its worst season in my lifetime. But it appears the basketball program in Ann Arbor could be back on the map.

I'm pretty excited about what lies ahead for John Beilein's hoops teams after the Wolverines just upset No.4 UCLA at Madison Square Garden tonight. Granted I believe UCLA is probably a little overrated with the losses of Kevin Love and Russell Westbrook from last year's Final Four team. But still, they are UCLA and they have Darren Collison back as well as stud freshman Drue Holliday.

In the first game of Michigan's I've been able to watch, they look WAY improved this season. Manny Harris has had a strong start to the season and DeShawn Sims was a major force in tonight's victory over the Bruins. Why he isn't starting is surprising to me, but hopefully he will find his way in the lineup. True freshman Stu Douglass made some big shots for the Wolverines as well.

A win over Duke either tomorrow or in a couple weeks when they come to Ann Arbor will only further help fans forget the disappointing football season. How nice would it be if this is the year U-M can find its way back to the NCAA tourney for the first time in a long time.

Granted its still early, but I'm real encouraged by what I saw. Hopefully Beilein can continue moving things in the right direction.

Here are a few stories about the game
Ann Arbor News
Detroit Free Press
Detroit News
Los Angeles Times
USA Today
ESPN

Associated Press photos

Jokes are on

I was talking to my good friend Amy from EMU and she informed me of a crazy joke that I've seen more often as the Ohio State game looms.

It goes......................

Did you hear the Ohio State-Michigan game got canceled? Apparently Michigan couldn't get past Toledo.



For those who don't get it, the reference is because of Michigan's loss to Toledo at the Big House earlier this season. I happened to be at the game and was standing on the sidelines when K.C. Lopata missed the field goal as time expired to seal the win for the Rockets.

By the way, Toledo's coach resigned a couple weeks ago. The Rockets are having another dismal season and are just ahead of Eastern Michigan in the MAC West standings. Toledo is 2-8 and their only wins are against teams from Washtenaw County (Eastern Michigan and Michigan).

Speaking of Eastern, when was the last time they had the same amount of wins as Michigan in a football season. EMU plays Temple today in what could be a winnable game and closes with Central at home. They always play Central tough and beat them last year after they had already clinched the MAC West title.

And kudos to Ball State keeping its perfect season alive by holding off Central tonight. How cool would it be if they earned a spot in a BCS bowl. The odds are against them with them being behind Boise State and Utah in the BCS standings, but still it would definitely be a big deal for the MAC.

Usually I don't like to root against in-state MAC schools unless they are playing Eastern, but this is one instance where I hope Ball State knocks off WMU next week.

Detroit News photo