Game Eleven: Ohio state 25, Michigan 21 (final)

[daddyphatsacs]

Dear BKB,

You bring up many eloquent points, thank you.

Sincerely,

Daddyphatsacs

[Buckeyeskickbuttocks]

Dear Daddyphatsacs,

Thank you. I've put forth a great deal of time over the course of the last 35 years concerning myself with an answer to the "Michigan problem." It is my conclusion that it must just be [censored]ed. Not in the sexual sense of the word, mind you, as that would be very, very gross. Have you seen the women that they have up there? I'm not sure they're not really bovine.

Anyway, your support is always welcome.

Deepest regards,

BKB

[daddyphatsacs]

It has become apparent over the span of the last century that Michigan is completely [censored]ed. As BKB so eloquently put it in the last stanza, the boiling point for this theory is reached when you factor in the women of the university of Michigan. In turn, this creates a downward spiral that radiates from Ann Arbor north, south, east, and west. Hence, this is why we all call that dirty state up north a cesspool, and why man must equip himself with a block "O" hat, which will neutralize the spiral, if he ventures inside the state border (though I'm not quite sure what would provoke that kind of behavior).

Below is a picture of Lloyd Carr during the offseason.

[LightningRod]

The Buckeyes will be there!!!

Sunday, November 13, 2005

Michigan 41, Indiana 14

U-M: Bring on Buckeyes

Wolverines speed past Hoosiers, can win title

By Angelique S. Chengelis / The Detroit News

ANN ARBOR -- The blinders are off.

Now, Michigan is permitted to look ahead to the finish line.

U-M won its fourth straight game, defeating Indiana, 41-14, Saturday afternoon thanks to a six-touchdown first half.

Michigan (7-3, 5-2 Big Ten) used trick plays and polished its passing game in that half, then worked in the backups and younger players in the second as the focus turned to the home regular-season finale against Ohio State.

The Buckeyes are 8-2, 6-1 after an equally dominant victory over Northwestern on Saturday. Under coach Jim Tressel, OSU is 3-1 against U-M.

Saturday's Ohio State-Michigan game now has bigger implications because of Wisconsin's loss to Iowa. If Michigan wins and Michigan State beats Penn State, U-M would get the Big Ten's BCS spot in a bowl game.

Wolverines coach Lloyd Carr, who is 6-4 against the Buckeyes, was asked how soon after beating Indiana did his thoughts turn to Ohio State.

"Well, I don't think you ever stop thinking about them," Carr said.

But first things first.

Against Indiana, Michigan was again without starting tailback Mike Hart, who could have played but is still nursing a sprained ankle.

The Wolverines' offense and generous field position -- all except two of their first-half series started in Indiana territory -- were too much for the Hoosiers to handle, even without Hart.

Receiver Steve Breaston accounted for 201 of Michigan's 316 first-half yards, and he scored a touchdown.

Breaston had one carry, three receptions, a kickoff return and three punt returns.

Comparatively speaking, Indiana had 148 yards of offense in the first half. It also was overwhelmed by penalties, with seven for 58 yards.

Michigan did not have a penalty.

"We made a lot of mistakes. It just hurts," Indiana defensive lineman Greg Brown said.

U-M quarterback Chad Henne played only the first half and was 17-of-24 passing for 174 yards and three touchdowns. Seven players caught passes. Jason Avant had five receptions for 66 yards and a touchdown.

"They played a perfect first half in a lot of ways," Indiana coach Terry Hoeppner said. "(They) didn't have a penalty, and Henne was outstanding. He really looked ready to play. He came out and was ready to play. They were all ready to play."

All four backs behind Hart had carries. Freshman Kevin Grady started and had 94 yards and two rushing touchdowns. Jerome Jackson also scored.

Indiana scored on its first possession after a 77-yard drive -- just more than half its first-half production. Blake Powers' 42-yard pass to Jahkeen Gilmore gave IU a 7-0 lead.

But Michigan's defense, which held Indiana to 63 yards rushing for the game, kicked in.

"We were very upset about that first series," said senior nose tackle Gabe Watson, who had two tackles for loss. "We talked all week about preventing big plays. That has been a big-time thing for our defense, not giving up big plays. To hit a big one and score a touchdown, we knew we had to go out there and stop them."

Indiana has lost five in a row and is 4-6.

Michigan, which led 41-7 at halftime, did not punt until early in the second half. Its only mistakes in the first half were a missed 52-yard field-goal attempt and a failed attempt to take advantage of an interception by Prescott Burgess in the second quarter. U-M was unable to convert on fourth-and-one at the Indiana 7.

Regardless, Carr said the way Michigan performed in the first half proved the players were focused on Indiana and not looking ahead to Ohio State.

"This was a different challenge for us," Carr said, "because we were big favorites. When you're favored, and you have a game like the next one (Ohio State) in front of you, it's easy to get distracted, it's easy to start to do things that don't allow you to play your best. We did a good job with that."

[LightningRod]

Michigan - from mediocrity to the brink of greatness to pathetic.

Sunday, November 13, 2005

Michigan has gone from mediocrity to brink of greatness

By Bob Wojnowski / The Detroit News
Bob Wojnowski

ANN ARBOR -- From where they were, which was nowhere, it's fascinating to see the Wolverines now, somewhere potentially special. It has taken a leap of faith and a load of effort, and just the right amount of imagination.

Michigan's season has been saved from disaster, but for it to be remembered, there's another giant leap, now looming. And here's a statement you couldn't have summoned five weeks ago without the use of hallucinogenics: The Wolverines look ready for Ohio State.

It became clear after about, oh, 37 seconds of U-M's 41-14 pasting of Indiana on Saturday that its purpose was twofold. Get out the kinks. Insert the wrinkles.

Last month, we saw complacency in U-M. We saw blank stares and injury scars. Now we see urgency, a 7-3 team emerging from a 3-3 puddle, a defense using its depth and an offense finding creative ways to be dangerous again.

Steve Breaston ran all over the Hoosiers, returning punts and kicks, catching three passes (one for a touchdown) and throwing one (an incompletion) as the Wolverines coasted to a 41-7 halftime lead. Breaston looked revived and so did quarterback Chad Henne, which gives U-M legitimate hope against OSU's terrific defense.

Emotion supplies boost

This is where Michigan's sloppy start might help. Coach Lloyd Carr and his staff discovered they couldn't hammer opponents the traditional way. Without Mike Hart, who rested his injured ankle but should be ready for the Buckeyes, the Wolverines appeared lost early in the season.

"I just think we kept fighting, even when some things didn't go our way," Breaston said. "This team is playing with a lot more emotion. What kept us going was we knew the type of team we really were."

Now, with a little help from their good friends in East Lansing, the Wolverines amazingly could snag a share of the Big Ten title. A lot can be traced to their defense, to the rejuvenation of Gabe Watson and Pierre Woods, and the development of youngsters. Give coordinator Jim Herrmann credit. His defense has been superb of late.

That's not U-M's biggest concern now. Henne and the offense, inconsistent much of the season, will face an OSU run defense ranked third in the country. The Wolverines had better not think they can line up and mash the Buckeyes.

Fine-tuning offense

That's why the Indiana tune-up was all about honing the passing game, about getting Henne comfortable and showing enough trick plays to make Ohio State think. Speedy Antonio Bass ran a few times, part of U-M's plan to use its playmakers. Henne came out flinging, completing 17 of 24 with three touchdowns, all in the first half.

"I think he played very well," Carr said. "When you sit up in the stands, or you sit on the sofa watching on TV, it looks easy. It's so easy to say he didn't do this, he didn't do that. But I think he's had a very good year. He's a much better quarterback than he was a year ago."

Hmm. I'll say he's a better quarterback than he was a month ago, and U-M is a much better team than a month ago. In an admirable turnaround, the Wolverines have found ways to win. To validate their recovery, they need to find one more. The encouraging news for them is they suddenly have options available.

[Buckeyeskickbuttocks]

To whom it may concern:

It has come to my attention that there is one small area of Michigan that should not be [censored]ed on November 19, 2005. East Lancing.

Regards,

BKB