Not So Hot

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Utes With Heart

The Utah Utes, with their small corner of fans within Michigan Stadium, did everything they needed to do on Saturday. They hung around until the very end, getting within a field goal late in the fourth quarter before the Michigan defense forced a turnover to seal the victory 10-7. Just watching the game was brutal, and we can only hope for improvements as we move into the Big 10 season next Saturday in Illinois. Special thanks to Gar of Garsworld.net for his post-game hospitality.

I apologize for the brief update, I'll get back into the swing of things after next week's game. Hope to see you all in Champaign.

GO BLUE!!!

The Webmaster

Mystique and Mistakes

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Return to Glory

I must admit, I was awfully two-faced leading up to the game on Saturday. Driving acoss the state of Michigan, I announced to the passengers in the car that I really was uncomfortable going into Notre Dame. I couldn't help but imagine the stomach turning feeling of the national spotlight shining upon the Wolverines on Sunday. Envisioning not the good spotlight, but that light they shine in the face of suspects in investigation rooms in movies and television shows. It's the light that exposes your weaknesses and eventually forces you to come clean with the truth. The truth is, I have trouble believing that Notre Dame has a better team than Michigan. The truth is, we are making mistakes that are inexcusable. The truth is, the defense isn't as good as we thought it would be. The truth is, John Navarre often looks uncomfortable, overthrows receivers, and in turn makes me uncomfortable. After Saturday, the truth is, it's tough to believe in this team the way you may have believed in them on Friday. The truth is, we were beaten by the Fighting Irish, 25-23 in South Bend, had a short missed (blocked) field goal, got caught for a safety, committed stupid penalties, and got shown up on the national stage. The truth is, our Wolverines have 2 wins and 3 losses in their last 5 games.

Prior to gametime, at tailgate #2 of the day, I changed my tune and got cocky, spouting off about all of the ND fans and their 'Return to Glory' shirts. At this point, I became convinced that we could not lose. I remarked that it is a travesty that a storied program such as ND would have to 'Return'. To 'Return' you have to leave. After this weekend, I can't help but wonder, are we about to leave? No doubt the rest of the country, jealous of our century plus of sucess, are giving us a collective 'don't let the door hit you in the ass on the way out'.

An Extravegenza of Tailgating

After having been to the Godfather's pad only a few times before, I went there 3 separate times in two days this weekend. The crew and I had a Friday night midnight snack, a Saturday morning breakfast, and a Saturday evening dinner and drinks. A thousand thanks go to The Godfather and Godmother for their hospitality. All of us enjoyed the trip down memory lane in the Hall of Fame section of the basement, and the video of the initial meeting of Stephen, Bubba and the Godfather's crew that brought us all together. Food, alcohol, memorabilia, and last but not least a fight (not De La Hoya - Vargas, but Pedro - Nick) followed by mailbox baseball without a bat for entertainment. It doesn't get any better than that.

Movin' On Down

The Wolverines fall to #14 from #6 and #7 respectively in the coach's and AP polls. That puts them just behind the Huskies that had a bye week, and just ahead of a Penn State team that manhandled the Nebraska Cornhuskers in the Saturday night game.

Get Pumped Up... It's a Big Game Against, um, Utah?

Utah? Coming off of a controversial loss to Arizona coming on a blown call late in the 4th quarter, the Utes are going to be pissed when they come to town next weekend. At this point, it would be in our best interest not to take anyone lightly. Until we get our collective acts in order, we should worry about every game.

GO BLUE!!!

The Webmaster

Still the MAC's Daddy

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Help Wanted: Placekicker

Despite coming through on the one kick that counted most, Michigan kickers went 1 for 4 in their first game against the Huskies. On Saturday against the Broncos, Philip Brabbs, college football's feel good "goat to hero" story from the week before was 0 for 2 on field goals from 51 and 47 yards. Yes, long attempts. But if you had seen how far off they were, you'd have sworn that that they were blocked. Luckily, this game was over before it started, and the field goals had little meaning to anyone except your local bookie, as the 7th ranked Wolverines defeated Western Michigan 35-12, and were able to rotate in several non-starters. However, you can't help but wonder when the time will come when the Wolverines meet their match, and field goals will make a difference not at the end of a game, but during a game. Fifteen points have been wasted on failed attempts. Will this be the achillies heel for the 2002 Maize and Blue?

Movin' On Up...Yet Again

After The Gators were blown away in the swamp by the hurricanes, the Wolverines moved up a spot in the ESPN/USA Today Poll to #6. More of the same in the AP Poll, as the Wolverines moved up to #6 there as well.

Rudy Was Small...

...and would have never made OUR Scout team. UMTailgate.com goes on the road for the first time in the 2002 campaign as the Wolverines travel to South Bend for one of the most storied match-ups in college football. Pre-game and post-game festivities will be at UMTailgate.com's western headquarters, the home of The Godfather in Stevensville, Michigan.

GO BLUE!!!

The Webmaster

Starting Out on the Right Foot

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Changing Your Expectations

You may have wanted John Navarre to play well, maybe even 'wow' you. You may have wanted the running game to be efficient, and the line to gel. You may have wanted Marlin Jackson to return an interception for a touchdown. You may have wanted to see consistency from the special teams. When Troy Nienberg missed a 27-yard field goal with 1:24 left on the clock, you may have wanted to bury your head in the sand. But when the Wolverines lined up for a 44-yard field goal with :05 on the clock, you remembered the ONLY important thing. You wanted to win. Each of us shared that same 'feeling' as the kick went seemingly perfectly through the uprights, giving Michigan a season opening 31-29 victory. That elation will be something that stays with us. However, as the days, weeks, and months pass, and the season progresses, the sunburn on our faces will heal, the score will dissappear. That feeling will eventually fade, perhaps even faster than the feeling of dissappointment would have. One thing will remain, and it is the most important thing in all of competitive sports...the 'W'. We won. We are 1-0. Hail to the Victors!

Thanks For Visiting

A quick nod to our tailgating friends and relatives of the Godfather that made the trek from the Northwest to the Big House. We always welcome those who come bearing pretzels and smoked salmon. You folks are a class act and we wish you and Tyler the best for the rest of the season...unless we cross paths again in Pasedena that is.
Movin' On Up

The Wolverines moved up 3 spots in the ESPN/USA Today Poll to #7, leapfrogging the Nebraska Cornhuskers. In the AP Poll, the Wolverines moved up 6 spots from #13 to #7, again leapfrogging the Cornhuskers, but also the Buckeyes, who had been bumped ahead of us after their opening victory.

Award Winners

Chris Perry earned Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week honors with his 120-yard, 3 TD performance. Philip Brabbs collected the Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week for his game-winning field goal.

GO BLUE!!!

The Webmaster

Michigan Who?

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No Respect...Or Nothing To Respect?

Feverish, excited, dedicated, determined, engulfed? Ready. That's what I feel right now. I'm ready. I spent the opening weekend of college football glued to the television. Season previews abound on ESPN and ABC, Wisconsin on Friday, Buckeyes on Saturday, while in between the action, I delved into my newly arrived ESPN The Magazine, SI's, and Playboy's (Note: Big 12 College Girl's Edition) college football preview editions. Here's an afterthought... MICHIGAN IS AN AFTERTHOUGHT. Quite possibly the most off the radar top 10 team ever.

Ask the 'experts' and the Wolverines aren't even mentioned in the same paragraph, let alone the same breath, as the words 'National Championship' or even 'noise maker'. The question du jour in the early previews was undoubtably 'Which team has a chance to come from no where to make it to the Fiesta Bowl?'. It came up on ESPN Gameday before the Wisconsin game, it came up on ABC before the Buckeye game, it came up several times on ESPN radio while I drove around Ann Arbor, scouting our spot on the golf course and giving a reverent nod to The Big House. Which team is going to be the surprise? The Georgia Bulldogs were mentioned often. Corso mentioned the Saban led LSU Tigers. Michigan State was talked about. Washington State got a nod. But no Michigan.

Is that because Michigan wouldn't be a surprise? Nope. The concensus around the media world is Ohio State will win the Big Ten. If not, then Sparty will surely win. No mention of the Maize and Blue. These media folk must have been absent during the Big Ten meeting where the Wolverines were picked to win the Big Ten just a month ago, and just weeks ago when the Wolverines became the highest ranked team in the Big Ten in the associated press poll. We're a victim of silent ballot syndrome. Sure, they'll write the Wolverines down on a piece of paper and send it in, but ask them a question on national television, and the Wolverines are no longer the glamorous pick. In the wake of a mediocre 8-4 season, the glamor is in NOT picking the Wolverines.

It sucks not to be talked about nationally, and it pisses you off a little more when your red-headed step-child of a neighbor is getting all the local press. Yet, there is a certain amount of gumption that builds when you feel you are underrated. The problem is, we're losing it both ways in the media battle. We aren't talked about, which may cause a team or two to not think of us as their biggest challenge, which would be to our advantage. However, we are a top ten team, and that's difficult for anyone to look past when preparing for us. So I take it all back. I no longer want the top ten ranking. I want to be 20. I want to come from no where, which is exactly where the media seems to want to put us in everything... except for the polls.

Michigan Replay Premier

Just when I thought that no one believed in us, Sunday morning Jim Brandstatter hosted the first episode of Michigan Replay with Lloyd Carr. The proverbial Michigan homer show brought up my spirits. Notably different this year were the preseason comments from the players. Everyone knows Michigan's goals each year are to win the Big Ten and let everything else fall into place on its own. But you'd never know it by the comments of the likes of Ronald Bellamy and defensive captain Victor Hobson. 'National Championship' was uttered by both players. Have the goals been changed?

Dawg Day Revenge

It's palpable now. The season is almost here. The Huskies are coming, and they're bringing 6'4'' 220 pound Reggie Williams with them. Pay backs are on the minds of Michigan fans, especially those that travelled the 2300 plus miles to see John Navarre and Special Teams throw away last year's game, giving the Huskies 2 touchdowns in 60 seconds off of turnovers.

Important tip for the season: Just remember that Marlin Jackson is #3 now, not #20. That's kind of important. Some of you may remember the previous #3 in the defensive backfield. I assure you this is not the same guy. The previous #3 is gone, I promise. This is particularly important for Steph and Bubba to keep in mind, especially after a few cocktails.

The pregame page is available by clicking here, or by going to the events page and clciking on the next game box.

GO BLUE!!!

The Webmaster