Capital One Bowl Preview

As a Michigan fan, I can' t remember caring less for a Michigan New Years Day Bowl game. There was always something speical about a New Years Day with a Michigan Bowl Game. Was it the anticipation of a Rose Bowl, or the overtime thriller against Alabama in the Sugar, or maybe the last time Drew Henson threw a TD pass to David Terrell in the Orange Bowl? There are some great games in there and many losses to USC. Tomorrow will be different though.

This years Capital One/Citrus Bowl is the end of the Lloyd Carr era and the end of the Michigan run for Chad Henne, Jake Long, and Mike Hart. Lloyd wanted to retire after last years Rose Bowl but "Sailboat" Bill talked him out of it. Lloyd in turn mailed in this season from day one. This team of seniors leave with out a bowl win and with out a win against OSU. Not to say they didn't accomplish anything, this group of seniors never lost to the Spartans or Penn State. But the year that was so full of expectations, came crashing down as early at September 1st at 3:30.

Now Lloyd is out and everyone is excited about Rich Rodriguez and the excitement he will bring back to the Big House. I'm sorry to say even though it will be great to see #20 run one more time in the Maize and Blue and #7 throw a bomb to Mario, nobody caries about this game. It's an after thought for what is to come.

See Michigan should be playing Tennessee or Boston College. Either one of those teams would be a great match-up against the Wolverines. In the great "mail in" year, Michigan's good luck continued as they get the worst possible Bowl opponent possible, Florida. Heisman Tim will be running and throwing the ball around the yard. The stadium sold out in record time as the Florida Fans can't get enough of this Florida team and what is to come next year. Did I mention the game is in Orlando?

Michigan will be lucky to even stay in this game as memories of Oregon run through every Michigan's fan head. We will watch this game as tradition predicts but this year, we really don't care. We will root for Chad to throw bombs, Jake to Pancake, and Mike to run for a 100 yards as we wish them well in the NFL. But this New Years Day we won't care what happens on the score board, because like Florida we have bigger and better things to come.

The Rich Rodriguez Era begins at 4:15 on Tuesday.

Open the Bar and start drinking if:

• This game actually kicks off



• Heisman Tim runs for 150 and passes for 300 yards +



• The speed of Florida makes us look like Ohio State in the National Championship game last year



• The Michigan coaches are surprised Florida runs the spread offense



• Michigan can't move the ball and gets a ton of 3 and outs



• The score is embarrassing at half time

Sing Hail to the Victors:

• For Coach Carr, Mike Hart, Chad Henne, and Jake Long one more time



• If Mike Hart goes for 100+ yards and gains a few spots in the draft



• Chad's shoulder is healed and he has time to find A2 and Mario deep



• If we don't get embarrassed and keep the game within two touchdowns



• Because this is the last time we have to watch a team that is not prepared to play against a top opponent/coach in a Bowl game



• Because January 2nd is a new day and a fresh start
  
  

Florida 42 Michigan 21