Staff Predictions for Notre Dame

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The Webmaster Says:

Seriously?  You guys don't want to play anymore?  Good.  I hate playing at your place with your manskirted band members and your girl/boy split cheers.  I have, however, really enjoyed doing that whole "breaking your heart with less than a minute to go" thing with some regularity.  

Tomorrow?  I just don't know.  

  • We're motivated because you're chicken.  You're motivated because you're chicken.  Edge: EVEN  
  • You have a bunch of guys that cheated on tests and have to sit out...but that gave you a chip on your shoulder because everybody said your season was over.  Edge: EVEN  
  • Brian Kelly is known as a pretty good X's and O's man, but is terrible at predicting weather.   Brady Hoke doesn't wear a headset, and ignores the weather when getting dressed on gamedays, but has really good assistants (me thinks).  Edge: EVEN
  • Devin is good.  Which one?  Both.  But Everett is good too, and is all rested from having a season off.  Edge: EVEN
  • You have a mosaic of Jesus overlooking the field.  Edge:  ND

Notre Dame 34 - Michigan 28

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Tuba Says:

I texted this to Frank on Sunday:

"Just remember this: as much as college football plays no favorites - losing to OSU the day after Bo died - ND pulled out of this series. Don't think that won't be added motivation."

We hired Hoke because TRADITION! And he hired Mattison because, well, he's a kick ass coach but also TRADITION! These guys aren't going to let us lose this game. You don't think Mattison, ND's former DC doesn't want the last one in this series?! 

Golson is an exciting player. And in his case, absence makes the heart grow stronger. I'm not questioning his playmaking ability but DEVIN FUNCHESS MAN. They're rebuilding their D Line and we're establishing our O Line. If that's simply a push we score 40. If our line struggles we're still scoring 38. But think about their D Line for a minute, no Tuitt or Nix and their DC Bob Diaco fled for a head coaching job. 

I'm not sure how our D is going to hold up but we're not giving up 40. And that's the magic number right there. Trust me, you can fear Touchdown Jesus all you want, but we've got an edge in this one y'all. Believe it.

UM - 40 
ND - 27

Pictures From the Tailgate and the Revenge Game That Really Wasn't

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Typically noon kicks are not my cup of tea.  I feel like I'm putting things away two seconds after I unload them.  But this was a nice warmup to what is going to be a great season of copious food and drink.  It was great to see everyone again, and it will be great to throw some leis on and do it again in 9 days.  Special thanks to Mrs. Webmaster for throwing these together during a busy week!

To Hell with Notre Dame.

Looks Good. Feels Good. Is it Good?

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Image by Bryan Fuller - MGoBlog

Image by Bryan Fuller - MGoBlog

Despite the blowout, Gardner's nearly perfect performance, two 100+ yard rushers, and Funchess putting the #1 jersey on for the first time since 2004...this will not be the game that people refer to when they are talking about the time Michigan played Appalachian State.  Oh well, good try David.

It's overreaction week in the college football world.  The week where you suck if you didn't cover the spread, and you are a world beater if you did.  What else do you expect in a society where we need answers to all of our questions and up to the second season predictions in the form of a live twitter feed that reports out at the end of each and every play from scrimmage?  TELL ME NOW IF WE ARE IN THE FINAL FOUR BASED ON THAT APP STATE GAME!  

Deep breaths people.  Let's all take a collective step back.  Big picture:  I don't think the offense is going to be as bad as we thought, and I don't think the defense is going to be as great as we thought.  Exchanging O and D randomly year to year, you can use that statement for any Wolverine team from the 80's through '07.

But we liked what we saw, yes?  I think we should be happy about that, level of talent of the opponent be damned.  Speaking of talent level, ASU was probably on par with last year's Akron or UCONN...with a result that was clearly not Akron or UCONN.  So, great!  But the result was also like CMU last year, a game in which I declared that the O-line was pushing everyone around.  So, maybe?

Image by Bryan Fuller - MGoBlog

Image by Bryan Fuller - MGoBlog

My bullets:

  • Funchess is the early leader in the clubhouse as the Wolverine most likely to join Tate and Denard as a recipient of the coveted but cursed (and imaginary) September Heisman.  He requested the #1, and then did his best Braylon impersonation by plucking under thrown balls from the hands of defenders for touchdowns.
  • There were holes to run through, and runners that hit those holes with more precision than I'm used to.  
  • There were blitzes and stunts and tackling of opponents receivers at the point of reception.
  • Special teams seemed to arrive in a normal length bus
  • It seemed to be real football...something I think I only saw on tv after I got home from Michigan games last year.

Looking ahead:

Notre Dame looked as good or better than us against arguably better talent.  This scares me because they also have a picture of Jesus on a wall that overlooks their field that likes to stick His nose into games now and then, and that's where this game will be played.

GO BLUE!

Staff Predictions

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Everyone realizes we don't have a staff, right?  But we do have a Tuba, who says this:

We're back. Interpret that as you feel.

Eyes on Michigan's offense to start the season and more specifically Michigan's offensive line. Make the "let's hope their not offensive" joke here. But I'm most excited about our receivers. I anticipate 2007 Michigan citrus bowl level excitement about the passing attack which is just shy of "rich rod elite offense" level excitement.

Despite the idiocitiy of this first game rematch, I still like our chances.

UM 45
App St 24

Me?  I say this in bullet points:

  • Don't let them cross the 50 until late in the third quarter.
  • One special teams touchdown
  • Show no mercy

Michigan 48 - App State 10