Michigan - Purdue Post Game

On Saturday, I went to a football game in West Lafayette and a carnival broke out.

In my preview, I called this match up the "Snake Oil Bowl" and boy was I right. Joe Tiller dusted off just about every trick play in his bag to beat the 2 win Wolverines on Saturday. Clearly, the difference in the game was the 60 yard fake punt and the "hook and ladder" with 30 seconds left in the game. Why wouldn't he run those plays? He had nothing to lose in his last year as coach.

As you also know from my preview, I was in attendance for this shoot out of 2 win teams (I will do a Trip Report on Tuesday for you). Being near field level to watch a game, really gave me some insights into a couple of areas. Which I will share with you............... (don't you feel lucky!).

Jeers:

• The Big Ten officials that did this game were absolutely terrible. I can't tell you how bad they were. I saw very clear holds on Michigan DB's all day, Purdue receivers running 5 yards out of bounds and catching balls in bounds, and pass interference penalties that weren't even close. I'm sorry, but this was one of the worst officiated games I have seen since Michigan played Nebraska in the Alamo Bowl. I'm not sure what is going on with the Big Ten officials but something has to change, they were just awful.


• I thought these were the two worst offenses in the league not defenses? Both teams pretty much scored at will most of the day.


• Michigan's tackling is atrocious. They miss tackles on every play.


• Warren at Safety and Carson Butler at DE. What is going on with this Defense?


• I am 100% off the Scott Shafer band wagon. This defense was supposed to dominate this year and they just gave up 48 points to a 3rd string QB that was playing running back at the start of the year. If you look at the personnel, he has good players all over the field. It has to be the skem he is running. He is officially on the hot seat and does not get the one year pass like the rest of the Rodriquez staff does. Does anyone have Ron English's phone number?


• Watching the players come on and off the field, they have clearly mailed this year in. You can see it on their faces. Like us fans, they are now used to losing and it really isn't a big deal anymore. The only one playing with heart on this team in Minor. He is playing hard every down and it shows. He is the best player on the field for Michigan.


• Still way too many turnovers at the wrong times. Odoms dropped punt, changed the momentum in the game.


• They blow a redshirt for Justin Feagin to play on special teams?

Cheers:

• Brandon Minor is running like a man that wants to play in the NFL


• The Michigan offense scoring points


• Michigan scoring off special teams - Odoms kick return for a touchdown (scored one - gave one)


• How Michigan fans travel to support a 2 win team

So by all likely hood Michigan will go 2-10 this year in one of the worst seasons in Michigan football history. This was worse then any of us predicted, but at the end of the day we all wanted change with this program and we got it. These kids need to learn how to win at the same time they learn a new offense. There are zero excuses to how this defense is preforming at times this year. They stunk up the joint on Saturday and deserve 100% blame for this loss. This is the unit that was supposed to carry this team.

Bring on the Golden Gophers. Looks like the "Little Brown Jug" is another thing Michigan is going to lose this year.

Upside: Having the season end in 3 weeks should give Rich and staff more time to hit the road and get a jump on recruting for the 2009 and 2010 class!