Fanblogs.com: So I ask again... is Michigan's bowl streak in jeopardy?
Ben Prather
· 1 year ago
Toledo was a must win. Losing that game was a killer for them. They look much worse than most of us expected. I figured they would be 3-3 here, with Penn State and Michigan State looking nothing like the formidable opponents they have shown themselves to be.
I am still waiting for the offense that started to shine at the end of the Wisconsin game to show up on a more full time basis.
Though not written off completely, the bowl streak is definately in jeopardy now.
shiguy
· 1 year ago
They got a little help in that game from the refs.......
JaredIsKing
· 1 year ago
I really don't get the anti-RR sentiment that keeps growing as Michigan keeps slumping. Their horrible season is predominantly due to Lloyd Carr. Carr enticed MM, AA, Mallet and Boren to leave the program early/transfer. Lloyd Carr didn't recruit very much depth on the roster as, say, a Pete Caroll type coach would. It doesn't matter what type of offense they want to run at Mich, they were doomed to mediocrity this season.
Zac
· 1 year ago
JIK, I'm not aware of a lot of anti-RR sentiment, other than that of a few died-in-the-wool West Virginians who have completely written off the man for his antics in landing the MI job. There's also the fun the press has had in their attempts to pit MI fans against WVU fans, but I digress.
I picked MI to go 6-6. I did so for 3 reasons: 1) new coaching staff, 2) new offensive system, 3) schedule.
1) Coaching staff: Without question, Rich Rodriguez is a good coach. That over half the coaching staff left WVU to come with him is a testament to that. Complimenting him is Calvin McGee, one of the best OC's in the country. Still, RR & his staff have more than a system; they have a way they run their business; they have a philosophy with which they follow. It's 180 out from Lloyd Carr's way of doing things, and it takes a while to get the troops to buy into it.
2) New offensive system: RR's spread system is not easy to learn, especially for the O-line, as blocking schemes are not performed the way blocking is normally done. The backs actually have to learn to perceive development of each play and know where to find the running lanes. WR's are expected to block on every down. The QB has to be a fleet footed, fast thinker, able to adapt & adlib in the clutch; not to mention, willing to run. You have to recruit players to this system and that takes time.
3) Schedule: The Big Televen, much maligned for being a little soft last season, is filled with tough competitive programs. Most Top-25 teams will not get through a Big Televen schedule unscathed. Given reasons 1 & 2, teams on MI's conference schedule, which traditionally lose to the Wolverines, will be giving it all they got this year figuring they may not have a better chance to win for a while. (Given RR's success at WVU, 3-8 1st year, 9-4 2nd year, they may be right.) So, each game is a test in-of-itself.
I honestly expected with their talent base, especially with the way their defense has played (for the most part), that they would have won at least two more than they have. As it is, they beat WI: a game I didn't expect them to win. Given the final 6 games, however, and given the Wolverines didn't live up to my expectations, 5-7 is a likelier tally for them. If they manage 4 wins out of the next 6, they're going bowling. Likelier, however, the streak is in jeopardy. That's not a slight to RR; that's just the way it is...for the time being.
JaredIsKing
· 1 year ago
Nicely put.
M Fan 1
· 1 year ago
For nearly as long as I have been alive, UM and bowl games have always gone together. It pains me greatly to think that this will not continue. The reality in looking at the upcoming schedule though, coupled with the ineptness shown for all but a few quarters of football this year, make missing a bowl game a near certainty. Getting to a bowl if UM was 4-2 would be a challenge...getting there at 2-4 is nearly impossible. I have faith in RR and his system though...as long as we can get through the next year or two...
PsiChiPsu
· 1 year ago
But, what if Michigan really does OWN Penn State? I dread this game more than any other (maybe, it's just a conditioned reflex).
cdogg
· 1 year ago
yes
Tom_Blogical
· 1 year ago
I see Michigan beating Purdue, Minnesota and Northwestern. The games that are toss-ups are MSU and OSU.
They have a decent shot of keeping the streak alive, in my opinion.
Tommy_Trojan
· 1 year ago
I'm not quite sure that Michigan could beat any of these teams. Even Purdue is gonna make a game of it. I can't see them winning more than two of these games. I think that a 4-8 season is very possible here. This "spread offense" thing really isn't working for either Michigan or Auburn. What a waste!
Zac
· 1 year ago
Tommy T, remember; it didn't work for Rich Rodriguez in his 1st year at WVU. They went 3-8. The following year they were 9-4. People just have to be patient with the time required for the existing players to learn the system, and the applicable recruits to come into the system.
Tommy_Trojan
· 1 year ago
Zac:
My problem with Michigan - is that I always liked their style of play. They were Michigan. They just beat Florida to close out last season. Why the drastic change? Why change Michigan football completely? I couldn't get it when Nebraska brought Callahan in either. Now, you see that Nebraska is gonna go back to playing "Nebraska football". There is tradition at these schools. It's what defines them. I just can't get my head around any of this. What would football be like if everybody started switching to June Jones' "run and shoot" offense? What is this spread crap? Seems to me that you have to have a really good QB to run it. You got Pat White at West Virginia and Tim Tebow at Florida. Do they run it at Texas Tech? I think they might. But, what is so great about it? Florida won the MNC with Chris Leak running a more traditional offense - sprinkled in with a little spread that Tebow was running. When has a "spread" dominated college football? I can see that Urban Meyer is bringing it along at Florida. But, look at the players that he can recruit from the state of Florida. That makes a huge difference. I'm not so sure that any of that can be done at Michigan. Just as I was quite sure that Callahan wasn't gonna be able to put a "West Coast" offense in at Nebraska. Up in the Northern Plain states, your talkin' about Corn-Fed Road-Graters, being the prized recruiting assets of that area. This dictates that a running game might be your best option. That's why the Big 10 plays the kind of ball that they play. It'll be interesting to see if Rodriguez can pull this off. I have my doubts.
Zac
· 1 year ago
This is where you and I agree. I have never understood the philosophy, "If you can't win against a particular school, you're outta here." I can't imagine Bama fans calling for Saban's head because he loses to Auburn the same season Bama wins the NC. I can't imagine OK fans calling for Stoop's head because he loses to TX the same season OK wins the NC. I can't even imagine MI fans calling for Carr's head because he lost to OSU in 6 of 7 tries, even though he brought another NC to MI. But, that's what happened. Sure, there were tons of criticism from arm chair QB's giving Rich Rodriguez hell over last year's loss to Pitt in Morgantown, but nobody called for his head...until after he snuck outta town to take the job at MI.
Personally, I like what I've seen from WVU and a couple of other schools which are adept with the spread. (Obviously, I'm not as pleased this year, but ya caint have ever-thang.) What's important is not sacrificing attention to one's defense in favor of lending all the attention to the offense.
I thought Lloyd Carr was a class act. I'm sorry to have seen him go. As for what the Wolverines do on offense, it's all the same to me.
1Tomcat
· 1 year ago
Tommie T I surprized at you post The Spread rules- speed kills The scoreboard lights up The option read- 4 wideouts crisscrossing- somebodys not covered, or the QB runs, dumps it off inside for 5-6 yard gain-hard to defend I thought you witnessed the spread offense first hand against the # 1 D in the country couple years ago Gone are the olds days of 5 yards and a cloud of dust Darel Royal once said that three things happen when you pass the ball and two of them are bad- that philosophy is gone- the 15 to14 final score vicories are gone too Look at the B-12 conference Texas Tech is #5 in scoring offense averaging only 46.3 points per game. Read that again thats #5 in the league averaging almost 50 points per game
Tommy_Trojan
· 1 year ago
Tomcat:
If you got a QB with speed, plus speed all over the field, then the "spread offense" is just fine. When you don't have the right QB - it is just dreadful.
"BC"
· 1 year ago
i think what we've seen this year is that in order for a spread offense to be successful, you must have: A. a heisman worthy dual-threat QB B. tons of speed surrounding the QB C. at least 1 whole season.
Auburn didnt even come close to having it. idk about michigan, but i doubt they have 3 players that can run under 10.5s in the 100m on the field like florida does.
you don't have to have that much speed in slower conferences, (big ten, non-BCS, big east) but in the SEC, you've gotta have florida's speed to even have a chance. Rich rodriguez needs to put together a speedy recruiting class, and find himself a pat white, and i think he'll dominate the big ten. i doubt anyone but urban meyer, tim tebow, and florida can make the spread work in the SEC.
Zac
· 1 year ago
BC, you have said what I've been saying all along. I think it's a shame that Auburn fired their OC, just because the new system wasn't quite working with the existing personnel, when in one season, that could have all changed. Now, Tuberville may be losing his job. Personally, I see all of that as a crying shame.
"BC"
· 1 year ago
here's why Auburn's spread didn't work: the spread system is a complete system. that means new schemes for every unit of the offense (QB, OL, HB, TE, FB, WR). the problem i saw, was that the other offensive coaches weren't capable of teaching their respective unit, the tony franklin way. so at first, tony was trying to gel with the staff, and so he tried not to push the other offensive coaches. BUT, once everything went to hell, he got pissed, so he went over to the other coaches' workouts and started telling them how to coach. that's when the s*** hit the fan, the offensive coaches went to Tuberville, and said it's us or him. and he stuck with his cronies, and it might cost him his job.
Zac
· 1 year ago
If what you've said is true, then the mistake was all TT's. He should have made certain his entire staff bought in to the new offense, and gave Tony Franklin their complete cooperation. In effect, all he really did was set Franklin up to fail.
"BC"
· 1 year ago
BINGO
Clemson_Joe
· 1 year ago
They won't make a bowl this season. It doesn't matter that much though. The program is headed in the right direction. They just need to make progress throughout the rest of this season and try to keep spirits high.
OU_Ron
· 1 year ago
Someone has started a Fire R Rod site, not only that, they are counting the number of years--months--weeks--days--minutes--and seconds that Les Miles contract ends with LSU........ http://firerrod.com/
Clemson_Joe
· 1 year ago
That's ridiculous. Heck, if they don't want him, we'll gladly take him back in Tiger Town.
Zac
· 1 year ago
In my opinion, Clemson is actually a much better fit for RR, than is MI. But I agree; it's rediculous to fire a coach you've just hired at a sallary of 2.5 million, and you've paid 60% of his buy-out, no less. Ya gotta give him a chance.
Zac
· 1 year ago
Ron, I honestly think Les Miles had the MI, if he wanted it. I also think, for some reason only he knows, he wasn't ready.
In other threads, I mentioned Bobby Huggins and WVU; how years ago WVU tried to lure Huggins from Cinci, when Huggins was saying all along he wanted to come home and coach his dream job. WVU offered him a 1.5M/yr package. Huggins didn't come. Five years later, at the end of the 2007 season, John Bielein leaves WVU for (Yes, you guessed it.) MI. WVU AD, Ed Pastilong, calls Huggins and offers him the job. Huggins jumped at the chance w/o question. He even took less money ($880,000/yr). In five years, Miles will be ready to return home. RR will go to greener pastures. Remember, you heard it here 1st.
PrinceMarko
· 1 year ago
Jackass fans that have no patience. Sure Michigan is the most winningest program in college football, but we have a huge coaching change with a lot of talent gone from last year.
Give RichRod 2 more years and Michigan will be back in the top 10.
PrinceMarko
· 1 year ago
Michigan needs to grow up very quickly if they are going to keep that streak alive, but i fear it over this year.
PsiChiPsu
· 1 year ago
hmmm...here's where there might be a problem....the NCAA just released the numbers for graduation rates....Michigan was NOT in the top 25 (the cutoff was Okie with just 46% grad rate).
If RichRod's scheme requires some degree of intelligence, he will have to start recruiting smarter athletes.
PS: Penn State tied for 4th place behind Vandy, Wake and Texas Tech....GO STATE
PrinceMarko
· 1 year ago
Michigan had a 70% graduation rate. USC had 54%. Would be a lot higher if a slew of juniors didnt go to the NFL last year.
"Every major school program in Michigan had a GSR for football and men's basketball higher than the federal norm. Among the standouts were the Detroit-Mercy men's basketball program, which had a 92% GSR (57% using federal statistics) and the football programs at Central Michigan and Michigan, which saw 70% of its players graduate under the NCAA's GSR standard. U-M had a 68% graduation rate under federal standards and Central had a 64% graduation rate."
1Tomcat
· 1 year ago
Two words discribe Michigans bowl aspirations Holy Toledo
Gatorpilot
· 1 year ago
I'm not sure I see a single PROBABLE win in there, much less a sure one.
Probably a losing season. Not what Mich. fans signed on for I'm sure.
Brian
· 1 year ago
Michigan will go 2-10 (maybe 3-9 best case scenario). What I want to know is where is all the out cry ND fans had to endure from every major media pundit during 2007?
Also, unlike ND this year, Michigan will not turn it around in 2009. Michigan's 2009 starting QB isn't on campus yet. That means next year = true freshman QB = .500 record at best!
thk
· 1 year ago
True freshman QB ala Chad Henne not necessarally a bad thing
MSMCWILL
· 1 year ago
Michigan will show vast improvement next season. I don't understand why Minor hasn't started from day one, and don't say fumbles because he would have overcame that and has overcame it now that he gets more carries. Also, it annoys me how Threet leaves every other game with a seemingly small injury. Putting Sheridan in at QB under any circumstances is a death wish. The guy is absolutely horrible, as expected considering he is a walk on. I say give Feagin a chance next time Threet goes out hurt at least he can run the spread. He can't possibly be a worse passer than Sheridan.
Obviously it is an almost certainty now that the bowl streak will come to an end. It's very unfortunate that so many streaks are coming to an end this year. I didn't have high expectations coming into this year but I never imagined it would be this bad. We play lights out for a quarter each game and then the rest of the game we play terrible. Hopefully we can beat little brother next week!!
rensational
· 1 year ago
I completely agree with your QB comments. There is no way in the world Feagin can be as bad as Sheridan. To me, the PSU game really was over when he sent Sheridan in, particularly when the unnecessary safety happened. RR just seems like a "beat his head up against the wall" kind of guy, at least this year. He keeps doing a lot of things that clearly aren't working, and during games he'll do those things over and over for too long (i.e. times when running the ball isn't working; things are clicking on offense and then he'll send another player in and it screws up everything--he has done that too many times--etc).
To me, Michigan should never have QBs like Threet and Sheridan, regardless of what offense they're running. The fact that these guys were the best they could do this year is really sad and makes absolutely no sense. I honestly believe that if Michigan had a better QB, despite everything else they could have won enough games for a bowl game. Even if the defense was playing up to their potential, with the QBs we have Michigan could probably have managed wins against Utah, Toledo and MSU. It's not all about changing the offense, losing players and all those common reasons given. Plus, no one envisioned Michigan going 2-10 or 3-9...the lowest I ever heard discussed was 7-5.
I was wondering about why Minor wasn't playing more to start, too. Come to find out--and I don't know why this wasn't mentioned more, he apparently had some injury that made RR think he wasn't at full enough capacity to start.
michiganstate
· 1 year ago
I was at the game yesteray. MIchigan still stinks!! Go State
Justin
· 1 year ago
I was at the game as well. It was actually the best full game we've played all year, which is sad to say when you look at how we got the crap beat out of us yardage wise. The MSU game was the turning point on the season. If we could've won that game, we have more confidence going into the Pudrue game, which we should win if we don't play down to their level. Every team this year, we've played to their level, not ours. Utah, not a bad team, obviously if you look at the season they're having. If you know about football, you know that game really was not an upset. Miami of Ohio, we played to their level and somehow won. Wisconsin was obviously overrated, as you see they have only won one game since we beat them. Toledo game, no excuse for a game like that. However, through the first half, at least first quarter, against PSU, you saw how good of a team we COULD be, how good we SHOULD be in at least two years. 2nd half, different team came out at halftime. Gotta blame that on the coaches. Yes, we ALL know how horrible Sherridan is. It's sad when the defense plays worse when a different QB comes into the game. He has an effect on the whole team, not just the offense, and it's negative. How he can possibly be better than Feagan or anyone else on the team is beyond me. Now, as many games as I have seen this year and been disappointed in, saying how crappy we are, I still had confidence in beating MSU, and winning our next 3, and losing to OSU and be bowl eligible. I still think we could win our next 3 games, but I don't think we can take OSU, as much as I hate to say it. It's just sad to see a streak like that come to an end, especially when it should have been longer. They should have the longest bowl streak in the history of college football, but the Big Ten prevented that years ago. Teams were not allowed to go to a bowl game two years in a row, and at that time, it was only the Rose Bowl for the Big Ten. However, I don't know if I would want to see UM in a bowl game, after losing to Toledo, even if they beat MSU and won out, even beating OSU. If they were to somehow win out, I don't know if they deserve a bowl game with their record this year, and the way they have played
rensational
· 1 year ago
Yeah, Michigan would likely lose a bowl game anyway. Still, it would just be for the streak's sake. And I totally agree--we should have the longest bowl streak in history by quite a bit, in reality.
I also agree Michigan played the best, at least on offense, against MSU. I thought for a second that Graham's guarantee might have actually meant something, but I also felt that Michigan would do like always and burn out on offense. I'm not sure Michigan has always been playing down to opponents this season. I'm worried about even Michigan vs Purdue and would be worried about them vs Indiana, if they were playing them. Frankly, I'd be less worried if Painter were going to play the whole game as QB, but he's not.
All Comments
I am still waiting for the offense that started to shine at the end of the Wisconsin game to show up on a more full time basis.
Though not written off completely, the bowl streak is definately in jeopardy now.
I picked MI to go 6-6. I did so for 3 reasons: 1) new coaching staff, 2) new offensive system, 3) schedule.
1) Coaching staff: Without question, Rich Rodriguez is a good coach. That over half the coaching staff left WVU to come with him is a testament to that. Complimenting him is Calvin McGee, one of the best OC's in the country. Still, RR & his staff have more than a system; they have a way they run their business; they have a philosophy with which they follow. It's 180 out from Lloyd Carr's way of doing things, and it takes a while to get the troops to buy into it.
2) New offensive system: RR's spread system is not easy to learn, especially for the O-line, as blocking schemes are not performed the way blocking is normally done. The backs actually have to learn to perceive development of each play and know where to find the running lanes. WR's are expected to block on every down. The QB has to be a fleet footed, fast thinker, able to adapt & adlib in the clutch; not to mention, willing to run. You have to recruit players to this system and that takes time.
3) Schedule: The Big Televen, much maligned for being a little soft last season, is filled with tough competitive programs. Most Top-25 teams will not get through a Big Televen schedule unscathed. Given reasons 1 & 2, teams on MI's conference schedule, which traditionally lose to the Wolverines, will be giving it all they got this year figuring they may not have a better chance to win for a while. (Given RR's success at WVU, 3-8 1st year, 9-4 2nd year, they may be right.) So, each game is a test in-of-itself.
I honestly expected with their talent base, especially with the way their defense has played (for the most part), that they would have won at least two more than they have. As it is, they beat WI: a game I didn't expect them to win. Given the final 6 games, however, and given the Wolverines didn't live up to my expectations, 5-7 is a likelier tally for them. If they manage 4 wins out of the next 6, they're going bowling. Likelier, however, the streak is in jeopardy. That's not a slight to RR; that's just the way it is...for the time being.
They have a decent shot of keeping the streak alive, in my opinion.
My problem with Michigan - is that I always liked their style of play. They were Michigan. They just beat Florida to close out last season. Why the drastic change? Why change Michigan football completely? I couldn't get it when Nebraska brought Callahan in either. Now, you see that Nebraska is gonna go back to playing "Nebraska football". There is tradition at these schools. It's what defines them. I just can't get my head around any of this. What would football be like if everybody started switching to June Jones' "run and shoot" offense? What is this spread crap? Seems to me that you have to have a really good QB to run it. You got Pat White at West Virginia and Tim Tebow at Florida. Do they run it at Texas Tech? I think they might. But, what is so great about it? Florida won the MNC with Chris Leak running a more traditional offense - sprinkled in with a little spread that Tebow was running. When has a "spread" dominated college football? I can see that Urban Meyer is bringing it along at Florida. But, look at the players that he can recruit from the state of Florida. That makes a huge difference. I'm not so sure that any of that can be done at Michigan. Just as I was quite sure that Callahan wasn't gonna be able to put a "West Coast" offense in at Nebraska. Up in the Northern Plain states, your talkin' about Corn-Fed Road-Graters, being the prized recruiting assets of that area. This dictates that a running game might be your best option. That's why the Big 10 plays the kind of ball that they play. It'll be interesting to see if Rodriguez can pull this off. I have my doubts.
Personally, I like what I've seen from WVU and a couple of other schools which are adept with the spread. (Obviously, I'm not as pleased this year, but ya caint have ever-thang.) What's important is not sacrificing attention to one's defense in favor of lending all the attention to the offense.
I thought Lloyd Carr was a class act. I'm sorry to have seen him go. As for what the Wolverines do on offense, it's all the same to me.
I surprized at you post
The Spread rules- speed kills
The scoreboard lights up
The option read- 4 wideouts crisscrossing- somebodys not covered, or the QB runs, dumps it off inside for 5-6 yard gain-hard to defend
I thought you witnessed the spread offense first hand against the # 1 D in the country couple years ago
Gone are the olds days of 5 yards and a cloud of dust
Darel Royal once said that three things happen when you pass the ball and two of them are bad- that philosophy is gone- the 15 to14 final score vicories are gone too
Look at the B-12 conference Texas Tech is #5 in scoring offense averaging only
46.3 points per game. Read that again thats #5 in the league averaging almost 50 points per game
If you got a QB with speed, plus speed all over the field, then the "spread offense" is just fine. When you don't have the right QB - it is just dreadful.
A. a heisman worthy dual-threat QB
B. tons of speed surrounding the QB
C. at least 1 whole season.
Auburn didnt even come close to having it. idk about michigan, but i doubt they have 3 players that can run under 10.5s in the 100m on the field like florida does.
you don't have to have that much speed in slower conferences, (big ten, non-BCS, big east) but in the SEC, you've gotta have florida's speed to even have a chance.
Rich rodriguez needs to put together a speedy recruiting class, and find himself a pat white, and i think he'll dominate the big ten. i doubt anyone but urban meyer, tim tebow, and florida can make the spread work in the SEC.
the spread system is a complete system. that means new schemes for every unit of the offense (QB, OL, HB, TE, FB, WR).
the problem i saw, was that the other offensive coaches weren't capable of teaching their respective unit, the tony franklin way. so at first, tony was trying to gel with the staff, and so he tried not to push the other offensive coaches. BUT, once everything went to hell, he got pissed, so he went over to the other coaches' workouts and started telling them how to coach. that's when the s*** hit the fan, the offensive coaches went to Tuberville, and said it's us or him. and he stuck with his cronies, and it might cost him his job.
http://firerrod.com/
In other threads, I mentioned Bobby Huggins and WVU; how years ago WVU tried to lure Huggins from Cinci, when Huggins was saying all along he wanted to come home and coach his dream job. WVU offered him a 1.5M/yr package. Huggins didn't come. Five years later, at the end of the 2007 season, John Bielein leaves WVU for (Yes, you guessed it.) MI. WVU AD, Ed Pastilong, calls Huggins and offers him the job. Huggins jumped at the chance w/o question. He even took less money ($880,000/yr). In five years, Miles will be ready to return home. RR will go to greener pastures. Remember, you heard it here 1st.
Give RichRod 2 more years and Michigan will be back in the top 10.
If RichRod's scheme requires some degree of intelligence, he will have to start recruiting smarter athletes.
PS: Penn State tied for 4th place behind Vandy, Wake and Texas Tech....GO STATE
"Every major school program in Michigan had a GSR for football and men's basketball higher than the federal norm. Among the standouts were the Detroit-Mercy men's basketball program, which had a 92% GSR (57% using federal statistics) and the football programs at Central Michigan and Michigan, which saw 70% of its players graduate under the NCAA's GSR standard. U-M had a 68% graduation rate under federal standards and Central had a 64% graduation rate."
Holy Toledo
Probably a losing season. Not what Mich. fans signed on for I'm sure.
Also, unlike ND this year, Michigan will not turn it around in 2009. Michigan's 2009 starting QB isn't on campus yet. That means next year = true freshman QB = .500 record at best!
Obviously it is an almost certainty now that the bowl streak will come to an end. It's very unfortunate that so many streaks are coming to an end this year. I didn't have high expectations coming into this year but I never imagined it would be this bad. We play lights out for a quarter each game and then the rest of the game we play terrible. Hopefully we can beat little brother next week!!
To me, Michigan should never have QBs like Threet and Sheridan, regardless of what offense they're running. The fact that these guys were the best they could do this year is really sad and makes absolutely no sense. I honestly believe that if Michigan had a better QB, despite everything else they could have won enough games for a bowl game. Even if the defense was playing up to their potential, with the QBs we have Michigan could probably have managed wins against Utah, Toledo and MSU. It's not all about changing the offense, losing players and all those common reasons given. Plus, no one envisioned Michigan going 2-10 or 3-9...the lowest I ever heard discussed was 7-5.
I was wondering about why Minor wasn't playing more to start, too. Come to find out--and I don't know why this wasn't mentioned more, he apparently had some injury that made RR think he wasn't at full enough capacity to start.
I also agree Michigan played the best, at least on offense, against MSU. I thought for a second that Graham's guarantee might have actually meant something, but I also felt that Michigan would do like always and burn out on offense. I'm not sure Michigan has always been playing down to opponents this season. I'm worried about even Michigan vs Purdue and would be worried about them vs Indiana, if they were playing them. Frankly, I'd be less worried if Painter were going to play the whole game as QB, but he's not.