Big Day for the Big Ten

Welcome to 2009. Today is the first day of the year and the first day for the Big Ten to earn or lose more respectability. Here are my predictions for today's match ups.
Iowa vs South Carolina: Iowa is a hot team, with most recently beating Penn State to keep them out of the National Championship game. The "old ball coach" hasn't quite made USC into Florida yet and Iowa wins this one. Iowa 23 SC 14

Georgia vs Michigan State: Georgia was ranked as the #1 team in the country starting the year in August. They had some injuries and some poor losses. Michigan State had a nice comeback year but they have played three quality football teams this year and they lost them all and got blown out by Ohio State and Penn State. Sorry Sparty, you don't match up well in this one. Good news is Matthew Stafford will be coming to Detroit as the Lions #1 draft pick, so enjoy this game as you scout Stafford for the Liedowns. Georgia 38 MSU 13

Penn State vs USC: I think this game maybe a little closer them some people think. The bottom line is that this USC defense gives up 8 points a game and the best defensive in the country. Penn State blew out Oregon State and USC lost to Oregon State. The key to this game is the Penn State's defensive, they have to create turnovers and play mistake free if they are going to win or even keep this close. Closer then many think. Penn State: 14 USC 21

I think the Big Ten will go 1-2 today with only Ohio State left to go on Monday. Happy New Year and enjoy what used to be the best football day of the year.

Hail to Lloyd!

I love it when I'm wrong, wrong about which Michigan team would show up on New Years Day. In a day of last times, Michigan showed that they were the team we were looking for all year. They showed up as a double digit dog against the 12th ranked Gators in a game nobody gave them a chance to win (even me).

The Wolverines played aggressive on both sides of the ball. The offense ran a "throwing" spread formation and the line protected Henne like Fort Knox. In turn Henne, ripped apart the Florida Defense like Japanese Chef with a Ginsu knife, throwing for a career high 373 yards. Even Coach Myer was surprised; “I am very disappointed in the pass coverage. We have to do a lot better and we have to get some things corrected. This was a defense last year that held Ohio State to 82 yards."

Adrian Arrington looked like a first round draft pick by catching everything thrown his way. Even an unbelievable catch for a 36 yard first down on Michigan's last touchdown drive with just over 4 minutes left. That catch by the way made ESPN's best play of the Capital One Bowl Week.

The Defense pressured Heisman Tim all day and gave up some long running plays, but in the end they stayed aggressive for their head coach and departing Defensive Coordinator Ron English.

See today was the last time for a lot of things including:

• Mike Hart's non-fumbling streak


• Michigan laying down for better coaches and better teams in bowl games


• Jake Long in a Michigan jersey


• Chad Henne in a Michigan Jersey


• Mike Hart in a Michigan Jersey


• Shawn Crable in a Michigan Jersey


• Lloyd Carr on the sideline leading the Maize and Blue.


• Michigan's bowl losing streak

In a year of up and downs, of retirements, coaching searches, sailboats, lost expectations, the Michigan Seniors, the Michigan Head Coach, and the departing Michigan Assistants all left as winners. Team you made your Alumi, Fans, and the Big Ten proud. Well Done! and Go Blue!

Cheers:

• The play calling on offense. Debord you have been thrown under the bus all year (as you should have been). You called a heck of game today.


• The Spirit - This team was ready to play and play hard for their retiring head coach.


• Chad Henne - played like robo quarterback. With a healthy shoulder he played his best game in a Michigan uniform. Congratulations on the game's MVP.


• The Michigan WR's- Both played a great game. Adrian and Mario, I know the NFL is calling but we would love to see you stay one more year.


• The Michigan Offensive Line - You protected Chad and gave him time to throw the ball.


• Michigan's speed was equal or better then Florida's.

Jeers:

• Mike's lost fumbles cost us 14 points and the difference between a close game and a blow out. Doesn't matter. A win is a win.


• The Defense did give up a ton of long runs.

In a day where Wisconsin lost to Tennessee, The Juice and Zook got embarrassed by USC, the Michigan Fan Base was able to smile and hold it's head high, as they won a game they were supposed to lose. New Years Day was a good day.

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