Run Up the Middle: Michigan 30, Nebraska 27

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Michigan goes in to Lincoln in what could have been billed as a trap game, but traps typically have some element of surprise to them. For Nebraska, bringing all they had and playing with a chip on their shoulder at the direction of their dumbass coach that once looked for extra eligibility for a player based on the game against Michigan “not counting” due to the alleged cheating…well that is no surprise. Michigan played sloppy and made a couple mental team mistakes which is often a recipe for losses on the road, especially for the Wolverines. But Michigan’s offense found just the right number of weaknesses, with big TD runs by the law offices of Haynes, Marshall and Underwood. The defense teed-off on Raiola, sacking him 7 times and skewing the rushing stats to a final line of 43 yards on 31 carries. In short, Nebraska, in its 14th year in the Big Ten, still hasn’t figured out how to play Big Ten football. Even the supposed magical 3rd year of Matt Rhule can’t overcome inadequacies on both lines of scrimmage. Either that of Michigan is a lot better than we thought they were. Time will tell. Michigan moves into the bye week with a huge road win and minus the shitty program history regarding West Coast road trips (I see you USC), smooth sailing (famous last words) in front of them.

Tailgate wise, a tremendous day at Buzzard Billy’s, a rare near-to-stadium venue where you can get tailgate breakfast, beers, cocktails, tailgate lunch, and cleanse your pallet pre-game with a skillet brownie. Our spirited crew sang the victors and announced that it is in fact great to be a Michigan Wolverine, all with very little pushback from The Volleyball School fans in attendance.

Stay Regular, My Friends: Michigan 45, Nebraska 7 - The Photos

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Like a tall glass of ex-lax

They may be the nicest fanbase in the B1G, but it’s only because they are all so happy because they are so damn regular. It’s a known fact that one runza per day it equivalent to 26 servings of bran flakes, and all evidence seems to point to these people sustaining on runzas. Don’t know what a runza is? Well you are not alone, as outside of Nebraska, which includes the auto-correct while I type that insists that I’m trying to type (coincidentally) “runs”, this pastry (?) is a mystery…not unlike the meat contained within it. I think it was most aptly described by the gentleman sitting behind me that called it a “closed White Castle”. But for some reason, I crave them every couple of years, and this stellar Big Ten West crossover matchup obliged once again, dragging me across the country to spend time with the most cutoff large city in the US, eat their made up fast food and pretend they are relevant. And you have to pretend. Tell them they would have won in 97, that you really are heartbroken over their unending pile of close losses, and that you were a huge Scott Frost guy and can’t believe it didn’t work out….because they really are that nice, and they don’t have anything else except a world attendance record for women’s volleyball. Anyway, Michigan played a perfect first half, and ran away 45-7, keeping the Bussin’ Bowl trophy in Ann Arbor and moving to 5-0 on the season. Hit up the game page for more stuff including Nebraska tailgates that go back to the 2005 Alamo Bowl.

Pictures From our Cornhusking Adventure in Lincoln

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And I Knew There Was No Turning Back: Michigan 32, Nebraska 29

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Michigan tried to lose before they found a way to win, which in the big picture context doesn't matter. We should definitely be celebrating a tough road win against a squad that is far better than their record. Michigan overcame its first adversity of the season in front of the first crowd that seemed to care. And again, big picture, an instant classic at night on the road in primetime.

And this team continues to have fun. Co-opting the 3rd quarter intermission on the road seems to be our thing now, and that's cool. Last week it was much easier to accomplish with a lead and a game that was not very much in question. This week the Wolverines jumped around after failing behind for the first time in 2021 and having just taken Nebraska's best shot. Nebraska players needed to be held back by coaches from attacking the Michigan sideline. Mission accomplished. After these two weeks of iconic stadium songs and superior sound systems, I don't know how this team will get up for Mr. Brightside on a set of laptop speakers. Get me a new sound system. Get me a new song. Finally on fun, I would like to think that Dax knew there was no chance that end of the game taunting penalty was going to result in a first down for Nebraska so he went with it. And that's brilliant.

Also, obligatory shout out to Sanristil’s catch, Dax’s int, Haskins’s hurdle, and Gemon Green’s open field tackle in bounds at the very end. Solid handful of amazing plays.

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So yes, big win, certainly, but built more on intangibles like timely fumbles and psychological warfare. But that will not be enough to win the game in East Lansing, Happy Valley, or Ann Arbor on Thanksgiving weekend. 

The defense got exposed, and a pattern of being out-adjusted in the 2nd half has certainly emerged. Rutgers, Wisconsin, and Nebraska all seemed to find and exploit holes after their respective mid-game locker room discussions. Nebraska's 3rd quarter scoring drives consisted of a total of 12 plays for 163 yards and 3TDs. And whatever it was that Nebraska was doing was never solved by scheme. Nebraska punted once in the second half, saw Brad Hawkins step up with the strip of the year on another possession, and then a turnover on downs to end the game...they had touchdowns every other time they had the ball. The Michigan offense found themselves in more third and longs than they should have, couldn't find an effective running game until the 2nd half, and for the second week in a row sputtered on the cusp of the red zone settling for field goals. The offense had a chance to put the game away, but couldn't take advantage of the opportunities. They played with fire enough times to get beat, and were just one more mistake away from a different result. 

The "hostile" environment of Lincoln is far from it. They are very similar to us in their journey from something revered to just "something". They haven't won anything in a long time, and their hero from the past is not achieving expectations, so they’ve got a bit of a beaten demeanor to them. At each TV time-out the crowd was presented with another Nebraska great with a pixelated 4:3 non-HD highlight package up on the screen. I can relate. The fanbase is a bunch of sweethearts, buying drinks, welcoming you to Lincoln, tons of "good luck" to you guys, reminding you at every opportunity that they are not Ohio State, and that they hate Ohio State. Couple that with a real yawner of a first half and I'll tell you, it was pretty quiet in there. Not Wisconsin quiet, but quiet. Some offensive success woke them up in the 2nd half, and their lights out Thunderstruck show was impressive and timely, but only for a few plays in the 4th quarter did I really feel that crowd. 

And speaking of crowd, our own Adam got a shout out from the Husker faithful (see I told you they were nice) and went viral on twitter:

Rolling in to the bye week undefeated was not in the imaginations of even the drunkest of the kool-aid-drunk Michigan fan, but here we are. Barring an unlikely Wildcat upset, Michigan will remain comfortably in the top 10 as they head into East Lansing for the state championship game on Devil's Night, after which one medium and one previously insurmountable challenge remain on a path to uncharted territory

Go Blue. 

Way Back When-sday Loves Bumper Drinks in Lincoln

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October 27, 2012 - A friendly reminder that with a 4-5-1 record all-time against Michigan, Nebraska is the 2nd most successful Big Ten team against the Wolverines. Can’t believe we somehow went 9 years between visits to a Big Ten venue, but a sign of the times I guess. Following these timely bumper drinks, Denard went out with injury in the first half, an obstinate Hoke wouldn’t move Devin over from WR, and Russell Bellomy threw 3 interceptions as the Wolverines fell to the Cornhuskers 23-9. Full game page here.