An early look at the Michigan Wolverines.
by John M (The Crimson Quarry) on Aug 10, 2009 10:00 AM EDT
4 comments
Michigan Wolverines
Last meeting: 11/11/2006 (Michigan 34, Indiana 3)
Last IU win: 10/24/1987 (14-10 in Bloomington)
Series: Michigan leads 50-9
Coach: Rich Rodriguez (2nd year, 3-9)
Rodriguez, a West Virginia alum who left his alma mater to go to Ann Arbor, won over 70 percent of his games at WVU, including a 32-5 record in his last three seasons. It has become a bit fashionable to gloat about Michigan's misfortune and to predict doom and gloom for Rodriguez, and it is hard to believe that a program that recruits so well could fall so far in a single season, but I'm not on the anti-Rodriguez bandwagon. I'll certainly be glad to eat my words, but I think he'll be fine. His 3-8 record at WVU in 2001 was the school's worst record since 1978, but he righted the ship quickly. I certainly wouldn't mind seeing Rodriguez and the Wolverines wallow in mediocrity or worse for a few more years, but I'll be surprised if it happens. Rodriguez has worked his was on to a number of "coaching hot seat lists," followed by incredulity by those who follow the program.
IU and Michigan last played on November 11, 2006. In the post-1997 (national championship) era, the Wolverines probably have never been in a better position than they were on that day. The Wolverines were #2 in the nation, right behind rival Ohio State, and easily beat the Hoosiers in Bloomington. The next week, OSU beat Michigan, then the Wolverines lost the Rose Bowl to USC, and then they dropped their 2007 opener to I-AA power Appalachian State. Despite a win over Florida in the Capital One Bowl at the end of the 2007 season, the Michigan program really hasn't been the same since.
Here is the NCAA's summary of Michigan's 2009 season. Michigan was uniformly bad, but particularly on offense. The Wolverines ranked #109 in total offense, #108 in passing offense, #67 in total defense, and #84 in scoring defense. Steven Threet and Nick Sheridan shared time at QB last season, but all of the preseason attention is focused on true freshman QB Nate Forcier (Threet transferred and Sheridan seems to be far down the depth chart). At running back, Brandon Minor, who ran for only 533 yards but averaged over 5 yards per carry, probably is Michigan's best returning player. Leading receivers Matravius Odoms and Greg Matthews return. On defense, DE Brandon Graham, with 10 sacks last year, returns, as do leading tacklers Obi Ezeh and Jonas Mouton. It's odd to compare Michigan's football program in any way to IU's, but much like the Hoosiers, Michigan returns a number of key contributors, but those players contributed to a bad team.
Obviously, this is a very initial look at the Wolverines, and I will have more as the week four game approaches. Michigan has owned the Hoosiers for as long as the two programs have played. IU last beat Michigan in 1987 and last won in Ann Arbor in 1967. As bad as Michigan was last year, the Wolverines probably would have beat the 2008 Hoosiers by 2 or 3 touchdowns. Most prognosticators, based on Michigan's youth and poor 2008 performance but mindful of the talent on hand, predict about a 6-6 season for Michigan. That means that if the Hoosiers are going to find a way to win 6 or 7 games (it's August, indulge me), the Michigan game should be on the could-win list. I expect IU to be a double digit underdog in this game, but a win at the Big House is not out of the realm of possibility for a middle-of-the-pack Big Ten team. If 2008 is any measure, IU is a long way from the middle of the pack, but that goal should remain within reach when these teams play September 25.
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This game
Is as good of a chance as we have to win a Big Ten game outside of Purdue all year, but I don’t think they’re going to be as bad as the predictions may have it seem. At least not bad enough for us to have any kind of clear shot at winning, but an average team on an off week can open the door for the Hoosiers to be in favorable position in that game.
by goodlucksaturday on Aug 10, 2009 3:40 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I remember the 87 game
Played through a steady, cold drizzle in Bloomington. IU won 10-7 on an off-tackle plunge by Thompson. It was worth sitting through every soaking wet minute to (a) see IU win the game and the goal posts rent asunder, and (b) see the Michigan fans in utter disbelief that they’d just lost to IU. I also had a chance to see the 91 game in the Big House, when IU could have won. Michigan could not stop Vaughan Dunbar; unfortunately, as has so often been the case over the years, the IU defense could not stop anyone, either.
If IU can hopefully get through its preseason stuff OK this year, then the Michigan game could provide a great opportunity to find out if this is the same stuff/different year, or there is the potential for goodness (not “greatness”, by any means). I just wish that they had some success from last year to fall back on for that game. My expectations are low.
by hoosierdaddynow on Aug 11, 2009 7:22 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I think Michigan will be a middle of the pack team in the conference, probably with a similar record to IU’s record in 2007. In other words, if IU has any bowl aspirations, it’s the sort of game that IU should be able to win. Not favored to win, but sort of like the game at Iowa in 2007—a game where the opponent would win 6 or 7 times out of 10, but we played really well and got some bounces and won. Of course, even returning to 2007 levels will require dramatic improvement by IU.
My dad was at the 1987 Michigan game. Sounds like a good time. If memory serves, Bo begged for at got (at Memorial Stadium!) an unsportsmanlike penalty for crowd noise.
The Crimson Quarry, SB Nation's Indiana Hoosiers blog
by John M (The Crimson Quarry) on Aug 11, 2009 8:20 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Can't recall the unsportsmanlike conduct penalty
But that sounds like Bo. Wedged into your timeline above — the “post-Championship highwater mark” for Blue, was the death of Bo. Michigan beats IU. Bo dies. Michigan loses to OSU and the wheels fall off. It would have been just like Shembechler to take the mojo with him.
My parents had season tickets to IU games from around 1982 through the 1990 season. Lord, we saw some bad football. But we always had a good time (driving down from the Fort Wayne area). And, in those few years in the late 80’s when we kind of sort of put it together, there were some sweet, sweet victories. And the stadium got loud enough with the release of generations of collective angst that we could draw a penalty. My own personal favorite memory was the “Darkerest” day of Ohio State football, when IU pounded them in Bloomington (slightly edging out the 52-7 drubbing of Purdue at Ross Ade in 1989).
Sigh. Maybe some day again. Probably not this year.
by hoosierdaddynow on Aug 11, 2009 1:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
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