The University of Michigan Should Change Their Mascot From The Wolverine To The FUMBLE.

What a horrific season it has been for the Michigan Wolverines.  In Michigan, in the fall, you can deal with the Lions being the worst team in Football, because Michigan is always going to contend.  Well, except in the year 2008.  Apparently, when the Lions are the worst they've ever been, Michigan needs to try to compete with them. 

At least in NCAA Football 6 wins is all you need for a bowl game and some sense of accomplishment.  In the NFL 6 wins will probably only get you a top 5 draft pick, for real, James Laurinaitis should start shopping for homes in Detroit right now.  

Still, though, Michigan isn't just supposed to skate by with a few wins.  They are supposed to rule the big ten and then crumble in defeat under the mere presence of Jim Tressel's sweater vest, but if you've watched this year you know that youth and inexperience has been the main issue with Wolverines.  Now, just read that last sentence only replace the words "youth and inexperience" with "fumbles and more fumbles".

Really, there is almost nothing to feel positive about.  Well, actually, the Wolverines did just score a touchdown in the 3rd quarter for the first time this season.  What the hell is a touchdown?

I know, if you are a fan of any other team you are saying, "you fucking midwestern piece of shit."  I get it, I should just be patient.   We have a ton of true freshmen that are all gonna be big play guys in the next two years and maybe by the end of this year.

And when you look at it from the prespective that this time last year a good chunk of the players on Michigan's squad were looking for homecoming dates, it does make me feel a littler better.  But then I remember, Tyrell Pryor was close to coming to Michigan and he is already the starter for the Buckeyes.  

Still, even if we did get Pryor I doubt that the Wolvies would be able to compete. 

Because the best QB in the NCAA couldn't overcome a fumble on every other play.  It is amazing, Michigan had 5 turnovers in the first half of this Wisconsin game.  They had to create new numbers to count the number of fumbles alone in the ND game.  

But the season is already lost.  As a fan who has rooted for the Lions all his life, I am used to this.  But it becomes a lot easier with a few wins here and there.  Fuck, at this point, they can lose every game as long as the beat OSU.  

It is 4th Quarter 12:23 Wisc 19 Mich 7

• Threet keeps overthrowing or throwing behind people.  Their inexperience is showing in ways that aren't fumbles.
• 3rd and 15 what will they do?  Threet is right on target and Wisconsin makes a great play to knock the ball away.  BUT!  Penatly.  First Down Michigan.
• Threet and the Offensefive Line are looking confident.
• If they score on this drive I might go outside and kill a Badger with my bare hands.
• Girlfriend just scolded me, "Badgers are so cute!"  Can't kill a badger...
• Miner just got a first down.
• Commentators noting that the momentum is changing.  It hasn't changed, but it has changed.
• MINER TOUCHDOWN!  OH MY GOD!  I'M SORRY HONEY BUT A BADGER IS IN NEED OF DYING!
• 19 - 14 with a decade left in the 4th.
• That is it for me.  I'll put up a post game reaction afterwards!

I'm back.  What the hell!  Oh my god!  PICK 6!

4th Quarter 10:24 Wisc 19 Mich 20

• Michigan just returned a tipped pass for a TD!
• But missed the 2pt conversion.
• There was a wide open guy streaking across the far side of the end zone and Threet didn't even throw it.  You have to at least throw it on a 2pt conversion.
• Wisconsin has to score and they've had 2 three-n-outs, followed by a pick six.
• Michigan scored 20 points in 7 minutes, that is astounding.  Still not quite that Minnesota game that Michigan scored like 30 points to come back and win.
• Michigan's Defense is really penetrating. 
• 3rd down!  Man, I just looked at my preceding paragraphs... this shit changed quick!  This whole blog was being written with the expectation that they were gonna lose.
• 4th down!  And Michigan was playing the fake punt... This Rich-Rod guy is starting to grow on me.
• Threet just faked out Wisconsin, the KGB, and the Commentators and ran for 58 yards.  Then made the smart play and covered the ball and took the hit.  BECAUSE HE DIDN't WANT TO FUMBLE! 
• My nipples could destroy Alderaan right now.
• McGuffie with a deceptively strong run.  He packs a lot of power in a really small frame.
• We are watching this team grow before our eyes.
• SAM McGUFFIE!
• I didn't start this blog thinking I'd have to live-blog it, but man, am I glad I got to see this game.
• Defense is really getting a boon from the Offense. 
• 3rd down 3:52 left.  And a run play that goes for the conversion.
• Couple of complete passes in a row, Wisconsin is 1st and goal.
• Brown gets a couple...
• Sack, Fumble, Michigan's ball.  Welcome to the fucking Big Ten boys!
• 3rd down, Wisconsin has 1 timeout left.  Nope, stopped.
• Michigan is punting with 1:26 left on the clock.  W can tie at best.
• Kendricks makes a miracle catch. 
• Oh, fuck, if we go to overtime I'm gonna throwup.
• TD Wisconsin, he got hit and didn't drop it.
• You know if Michigan loses this games those "sad people" hotlines should be on alert.
• Overtime!  Overtime?  Flag?  Wait, what?  Will repeat the try? 
• Do it again!
• I'll take that penalty ever god damn time!
• Overthrown!  Wisconsin is going for an onside kick. 
• Looks like Wisconsin got burned by playing their TE that wasn't ready and hadn't played until the end of the 4th quarter.
• Onside kick is out of bounds and not 10 yards.
• Rich-Rod, I love you!

This is truly epic.  You can chalk this win up to the defense, honestly, after 5 first half turnovers this game should have been massively out of reach.  But the defense kept getting field goals instead of touchdowns out of Wisconsin and it gave time for the offense to get comfortable. 

That was the argument before the season started as to why Michigan was going to win 8 games, "their defense will win them a few games while the offense gets ready by the middle of the season."  While that didn't pan out over the course of the season it certainly did in this game.

Really, this game was all defense for Michigan with a few key, big plays by the offense.

 Next Week:

The Maize and Blue face the Illini at Home.  After this week I want to see some more confidence with zero turnovers!

Now, that is really all for me.

GO BLUE!