What a game!

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Michigan
1

<p>It is still very early in the season, and given our schedule, we really won't know what kind of season this will turn out to be until sometime in late October. We will likely be 5-0 heading into the PSU game. But road trips to PSU, MSU and Northwestern, and home games against Nebraska and OSU will be very tough. Given the kind of game Devin Gardner had against ND, he could well be a on the Heisman watch list, although he will likely not stand a chance unless Michigan wins the Big 10 championship.</p>

<p>I must say that I was somewhat disconcerted by coach Kelly's statement about how the Michigan vs Notre Dame game is not a rivalry, but rather, merely a regional game. Not only did did he insult a program that has beaten Notre Dame 25 times, but he also trivialized a very special tradition. Michigan and Notre Dame are #1 and #2 in terms of all-time winning percentage and #1 and #3 in terms of total wins respectively. Between them, they have won 22 national championships, they have two of the most popular fight songs, and they are both considered to be good academic institutions. Those two programs have football traditions that most agree are among the top 5 in all of college sports and they have played each other over 40 times over the span of 125 years.</p>

<p>At any rate, I thought it funny how the student section played the Chicken Dance sing at the end of the game. Priceless! I think Hoke is on to something when he said that Notre Dame chickened out of the game. If you look at the last 10 games of the series, Michigan has dominated:</p>

<p>2005 L, 10 - 17
2006 W, 47 - 21
2007 W, 38 - 0
2008 L, 17 - 35
2009 W, 38 - 34
2010 W, 28 - 24
2011 W, 35 - 31
2012 L, 6 - 13
2013 W, 41 - 30
2014 TBD</p>

<p>Ironically, Michigan was one of two or three games that legitimized Notre Dame. Let us face it, Notre Dame football does not belong to a major conference, so it does not get to win a conference championships. And since Notre Dame has not accomplished anything of note in the post season (Bowl games) since the 1993 season, the USC and Michigan games really were the only way they could prove their worth. If you look at the accomplishments of the two programs since 1993, Michigan really dwarfs Notre Dame. For example, Notre Dame has not won a major Bowl since 1993. Since then, Michigan has won a few Citrus (Capital One) Bowls, a Rose Bowl, an Orange Bowl and a Sugar Bowl. Since 1993, a whopping 55% of Notre Dame seasons ended with 5 or more losses (compared to 25% of Michigan seasons).</p>

<p>Notre Dame's football program's descent into irrelevance will continue as long as they are not aligned to a major football conference.</p>

2

<p>I agree that the chicken dance song was funny. Also funny - the espn gameday hosts letting chickens walk around on their desk, and the sign “play like a chicken today” in the crowd. Kelly really put his foot in his mouth saying it was a regional rivalry during TV interview last week, and deserved all the chicken jokes.</p>

3

<p>What a game! Waited in line for hours to get in the 3rd row… well worth it. I too agree the chicken dance was hilarious.</p>

<p>I think Gardner played well but Heisman watch list may be a bit much. </p>

<h1>11 ranked in the AP polls!</h1>

4

<p>It’s not a rivalry because ND isn’t good enough to make it a real one.</p>

<p>Gardner is a pretty decent quarterback, but way too early to call Heisman watch.
especially after that terrible touchdown he gave ND.</p>

5

<p>I agree that it is too early, but let us be clear, DG was already considered a candidate, albeit a long shot, for the Heisman before the season began given his production in the final five games of the 2012 season. At this stage, whether a favorite like Johnny Football or Clowney, or an unlikely candidate like DG does not matter. But four TDs passing and one a TD rushing for 370 yards of total offense will definitely open eyes considering the magnitude of the stage (contrary to what Notre Dame things, this is a national rivalry and DG’s heroics will not go unnoticed). A similar performance vs OSU could make him a favorite.</p>

6

<p>Huge victory, and a huge step forward for Brady Hoke’s football program. Remember, although there’s some upperclass leadership, this is for the most part still a very young team, with 80+ first- and second-year players on their 115-man roster. With the exception of one bone-headed play (tossing the ball up for grabs in his own end zone), Devin Gardner played with remarkable confidence and composure for someone who was making, what, his 6th or 7th career start at the QB position? He made good reads and good decisions (well, except for that one), his passing accuracy was outstanding, his chemistry with Jeremy Gallon was something to behold, and his speed and athleticism are electric. With DG at the helm running the offense Borges and Hoke have always wanted to run, this team has the potential to go far. Still some tightening up to do on defense, but on the offensive side they’re just explosive and fun to watch.</p>

<p>Apart from DG, Michigan’s rushing attack was only moderately effective, and at times not even that. But that was an awfully strong ND defensive front seven they were up against, and they had the perfect game plan for it–work the edges, make some deep downfield strikes, and pound the ball inside just enough to keep the ND defense honest. I think as the young interior O-line gains more game experience, we’ll start to see a more effective power running game, especially against defensive fronts that are not as stout as ND’s, which is to say most of them.</p>

7

<p>This was the only game leading up to OSU that I was particularly worried about. A running of the table up to the OSU game is very much a possibility because our schedule could really not be more favorable to us.</p>

<p>Knock on wood.</p>

8

<p>Ooh, yeah knock on wood indeed. I think we are all coming to the realization that the road game against NW may be the most dangerous prior to Ohio. I don’t think MSU has any offense to ultimately win even at home and Penn St is likely not deep enough. But each will be tough along with NE at home… No losses prior to Ohio would be remarkable and possible but unlikely. The goal is to beat Ohio twice.</p>

9

<p>November is just gonna be quite the grind. We have the talent and depth to win any game on our schedule, but the five games in November could all potentially be close and will all be hard fought games. Kinnick is no joke and everyone else has talented enough teams to make life tough for us at least.</p>

10

<p>Michigan could potentially finish the season with a 12-0 record, but we could just as easily end up with an 8-4 record. There is way too much parity in in college football today, particularly in the major conferences, for teams to avoid the occasional loss(es). It is way too early to make predictions at this time. Hopefully, we’ll be 5-0 heading into Happy Valley. If we can win that game, we’ll be in great shape at mid-season.</p>

11

<p>Well, ESPN has placed Devin Gardner on the Heisman watch list. </p>

<p>[2013</a> Heisman Watch - Heisman Trophy Candidates - ESPN](<a href=“http://espn.go.com/college-football/heisman13/]2013”>2013 Heisman Watch - Heisman Trophy Candidates - ESPN)</p>