We Came to Get Down: Michigan 38, Wisconsin 17

The 3rd quarter came to a close, Michigan holding Wisconsin at arms length, and the on-screen animated section race had the attention of a media-time-out-weary crowd. In the Michigan section, we began to murmur a bit about how several Michigan players were not paying attention to a massive coach-led team huddle and instead were staring at the same big screen. We might have even got out a snarky remark or two about focus and discipline before the volume got turned up to 11 and the opening horns of Jump Around filled the stadium. A half-dead Wisconsin team, having thrown its best and only punches back when the first half expired, looked on in awe as the entire Michigan sideline erupted in a frenzy matched only by their own 2/3rds full student section. A team that has historically never shown anything other than stoicism on and off the field made a plan to cut loose and freak out their opponent. A call to arms for 4th quarters in Camp Randall was harnessed by the team in road whites (with blue pants) who took the momentum and put it into big plays, big hits and dagger turnovers. 

I'm here for the calculated psychological warfare.

Cade was overall good with flashes of great and a couple of WTFs. And a JJ package gives future teams something else to think about while giving some experience and playing time to a 5-star. I think we are at a point where even the grumpiest of grumpy Michigan fans would say we are OK with both of the quarterbacks, probably for the first time ever?

Still some things to criticize: Going deep into Badger territory and settling for field goals, particularly coming off of turnovers, was frustrating. Any of those would have put away the game permanently. Route running seemed occasionally suspect. 2.5 ypc sucks.

But aside from the blip just before the half, Wisconsin never had a chance. Dax took that blip on his shoulders, and responded with a shutdown 2nd half and the cracking of some ribs.

Despite a small road contingency, Michigan fans took over Camp Randall with the early Badger exit. The 4th quarter was mostly choruses of “The Victors”, “Go Blue” and “Fuck Ohio” chants. In the end, a dominant victory for Michigan on the road in Madison that was significantly worse than the 21-point margin you read in the paper.

See you folks in Lincoln.