How Should I Feel About Michigan Football Being Back

football.jpg

I watched the entirety of my first college football game this past Saturday night. I haven't been watching much because of the pandemic, the use of these kids as pawns for the universities, the fact that the NCAA is corrupt, that there are no fans and it is eerie and because the Big Ten had not started.

Well that changed on Saturday. The Big Ten kicked off their shortened season. I am surprised that I only watched one full game, and the end of another, waiting for the Michigan game. I figured I would tune in to the other Big Ten games, but I really didn't. I did other things. I hung out with my family in the morning. I ran to the store to get some essentials. I went for a run by myself. I did what I have been doing all fall pretty much. But I knew that Michigan was going to kick off at 6:30pm my time, and I knew I would watch. I also knew that my mom and dad would come over, they have been a part of our little bubble this whole pandemic, and that my dad and I cannot resist watching Michigan. So, we tuned in to the end of the PSU-Indiana game, which was, given the circumstances, a pretty exciting game, and waited for Michigan to start. Before the game I did not have the usual feelings I have had every year since I became obsessed with the Wolverines. I wasn't waiting all day, I found things to do. My mind wasn't focused on who was going to play, and what the team may look like. I didn't have that usual pit in my stomach right before kickoff. I was relaxed enough to eat eight big chicken wings and a full size salad we ordered from a local pizza joint. That never really happened before for me. And I should be happy about that. I should feel like there has been some kind of growth and maturity that has come with age. But really, it was the fact that this season is, and will continue to be, so very weird.

The pregame ramp up seemed familiar, and when I saw the Wolverines warming up, it looked normal enough. There is hardly anyone in the stadium an hour prior to most games, so it didn't seem different at first. But then the game started. This was when it felt odd. There were less than 600 fans in attendance. This is a good thing too. I'm not complaining, or comparing it to a Marlins game. The Big Ten has strict fan attendance rules, and they are only allowing certain people to watch the games live. But this meant you could hear everything that was being said on the field. I could hear QB's make checks, players talk to one another and the hits were crisp. It was surreal. Usually the crowd drowns that out, but not on Saturday night. I will say, the fans in attendance were fully masked, and seemed to be following the proper safety protocols. The coaches were as well. There were only a few times I said aloud, "why isn't that coach wearing his mask?". Both head coaches were masked the whole game, only flipping it off to bark out instructions, which I thought was good. As for the game on the field, both teams were missing starters, Minnesota was missing more, but it was not what I expected. I thought this was going to be a hard nosed, low scoring defensive affair. It was not. Minnesota blocked a punt and scored in under 3 minutes. Michigan answered with a 70 yard TD run on the very next play. Then Michigan got a strip sack for a score right after that. From there on out, it was an offensive battle. Michigan had 35 points at half, which was wild. Joe Milton looked solid and in control, the run game was good and very, very deep, the young receivers and skill players did well and it was clear that Minnesota missed their starters much more than Michigan did.

When it was all said and done, Michigan won 49-24. They got a solid road win against a ranked opponent when a lot of people picked against Michigan. It was nice to see them play again too. I had resigned myself to the fact that I wasn't going to see them play until next fall, and this was a nice surprise. And I did have times where I cheered long runs and defensive stops and was happy that they won going away. But it was weird. I felt icky at times watching the game. I am worried for the kids and I hope they continue to follow proper protocols. I will continue to watch because I love Michigan, but this is going to be as weird a season as I have ever witnessed. I'm glad they won, and I hope they get to play with few, possibly no, postponements, but time will tell. Either way, glad they won, but it was a very bizarre experience. This is like nothing I have seen, or even my dad for that matter.

This will be an odd year for sure.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

Follow Ty on instagram and twitter.

SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.    

Ty's Favorite Michigan Football Games: October 11th, 2003

big house 1.jpg

I forgot to write about a personal classic Michigan football game last week, and realized way too late. To remedy that, I am going to write about one of my personal, all time favorite games that I saw live.

So far I have not written about a game that I was at in person. I go to one game a year usually. My dad and I have gone ever since I was in high school. We will not be doing that for obvious reasons this year. So this game is extra special for me. Not only did my dad and I go, but two of my uncles and my cousin that I am closest with came as well. And this game is also a historic one. This game involves the biggest comeback to date in Michigan football history. This is one of the older games I am going to talk about too.

The game in question took place on October 11th in 2003. I was only two years removed from high school. I was really starting to get into college football. I already had the love, but it was pushing its way to the front big time right around the date of this game. So, me, my dad and mom made a trip up to Minnesota to visit family, and we went for the game as well. The visit was the main reason, and the game was just an added bonus. Me, my dad, uncles and cousin climbed into my uncle's van and headed down to the Metrodome. That is how old this game is, the Metrodome was still up and running and still housing baseball and college football games. The University of Minnesota held their home games there. We got solid seats, and even though both teams were ranked, I remember the dome not being that full, maybe 75 percent capacity. That stuff never mattered to me, as long as I got to watch Michigan play. After we got to our seats, I noticed that one of my uncle's was putting on headphones. I was confused. I was sitting by my dad and I asked him what he was doing. I was informed that he was going to listen to the game on his headphones via a radio broadcast. I had never seen anything like this before, and it stunned me honestly. I thought, he was at the game, why would he have to listen to it, but this is what he did I was told. It makes more sense now, I see it much more. But to 20 year old me, this was wild.

After the whole headphone thing, the game was ready to kickoff. And this game started pretty awful for my Wolverines. Minnesota seemed out for blood from the get go. Michigan could not stop the run to save their lives. Marion Barber ran for nearly 200 yards total in the game, clocking in at 197. But he wasn't the only Golden Gopher to go off on the ground. Laurence Maroney, a Saint Louisian, only ran it 9 times, but he gained 81 yards. That is 9 yards a carry. Almost a first down every run. Their QB, Asad Abdul-Khaliq, went for 106 on 9 carries. Michigan was torched on the ground. Minnesota jumped out to a 14-0 lead, scoring a TD on long drives in the first 2 quarters. Michigan couldn't do much either. They couldn't run, and they sure as hell couldn't throw. They looked like they were going through the motions. They looked defeated. And that continued tenfold in the third quarter. Michigan looked like they may put up a fight at the start of the third. John Navarre connected with Steve Breaston for a 36 yard TD to cut the lead in half. I was stoked. Then Minnesota proceeded to score the next two TDS. Maroney had a 38 yard run and Thomas Tapeh followed with a 2 yard run after a long drive. Any momentum Michigan had at the start of the quarter was gone. They were down three touchdowns going into the fourth quarter. I was as defeated as my Wolverines looked the whole game, minus one long throw.

When the fourth quarter started, my cousin came and sat by me because she knew I was upset. We have always had a brother sister type relationship, and I think, even though she is 11 years younger than me, she wanted to help me feel better, to forget the game. Then stuff started to happen. Chris Perry, Michigan's running back, and one of my all time favorite Wolverines, caught a 10 yard pass for a TD 30 seconds into the fourth. I was happy, but Michigan was still down 14 points, and they hadn't looked ready to play all night. But, with the score, I told my cousin that she was going to sit next to me the rest of the game. I told her she was my good luck charm. Minnesota got the ball back and started their drive with about 14 minutes left. I assumed they would just run the ball. It worked all game for them, and their QB was more of a threat to run than pass. He only threw the ball 12 times, completing 8 for 71 yards. But, for some odd reason, he ran a play action pass, and it looked like he had an open receiver. Well, that was not the case. Michigan defensive back Jacob Stewart picked off the pass and returned it 34 yards for a TD. I was now pumped. Michigan was only down 7, they had all the momentum and they finally had Minnesota right where they wanted them. It looked like Minnesota was starting to over think the game. That all went away on the very next drive when Abdul-Khaliq did what he was best at and ran a designed QB run for 52 yards all the way to the house. I slumped down in my seat. My cousin told me it was going to be okay, that it was just a game. But I was bummed the hell out. Michigan, at least at the time I thought, had put all they had in the game, and now they would be too gassed to do anything else. Also, John Navarre wasn't playing all that well, and Michigan was going to have to throw to get back in this game. There were only 10 and a half minutes left, and they needed at least two scores to tie the game. But they actually mustered up enough energy to score quick on the very next drive. They went down the field in about a minute, capped off by a 52 yard TD pass from Navarre to Braylon Edwards. Michigan had life. They were only down 7, they had scored 21 points in the quarter and they had a decent amount of time left, if only they could stop Minnesota's run game. The defense finally started to do just that. Minnesota was going three and out regularly. But so was Michigan. With about seven minutes left Michigan trailed by 7. They got the ball, and this felt like their last best chance to score. They were able to put together a solid drive, and Chris Perry ran the ball in from 10 yards out to tie the game with 5 minutes left. They came all the way back. But Minnesota still had a few good shots left. Michigan's D kept making stops when they needed. But Minnesota was stopping Michigan too. A fourth quarter filled with scores looked like it was going to head to overtime. Michigan wouldn't have that though. They got the ball with about two and a half minutes left and started to drive. They chewed clock, they made throws when needed, they got first downs, and they were able to set up a go ahead field goal with 50 seconds left in the game. Garret Rivas came out and drilled a 33 yard field goal. Minnesota got the ball, but Michigan was able to stop them and complete the improbable comeback.

Me, my dad and uncles were stoked. My cousin was happy we were happy. Michigan scored 31 points in the fourth quarter and overcame two 14 point deficits and a 21 point deficit. The offense finally came alive in the fourth quarter. I remember telling my dad that if they played like that all game they would have scored 70 points easy. All told, this was not a defensive struggle. Minnesota had all those rush yards, a total of 424. Michigan only had 94 rush yards. But, Michigan had 389 passing yards to Minnesota's 71. Minnesota also had 2 turnovers, one of which Michigan scored a TD on. This was one of those games where I went through all the emotions, but the end emotion was pure joy. They won the game. They won it on the road. They scored 31 points in a quarter. They made their largest comeback ever. They made plays when they needed to. It was so memorable for so many reasons.

I still have the ticket, and my dad and I still talk about this game to this day. This was a classic, possibly the best game I have ever seen in person. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

Follow Ty on instagram and twitter.

SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.