Michigan embarrasses themselves against Boise State

Michigan has lost their second game on the season, at the hands of Boise State. The game started in the early afternoon in pouring rain in Boise Idaho. Michigan got the Ball in the first Half and started off with a strong running attack. Adron Kelly got the Wolverines off with a first down, before Denard Robinson started to take the Ball downfield tallying up 52 yards through the Air and the Ground and eventually finishing the drive off with a 3yd rushing TD, his 3rd on the season.
On the following drive, Michigan forced a 3&Out, which set Michigan up with great Field Position in and around Midfield. However, the Michigan Offense wasn’t staying on the Field Long, as Denard Robinson threw his first Pick of the Day, which was recovered Lance Carter, starting ILB for the Broncos.


Lance Carter with his first Interception on the day.

Boise tried to capitalize and came close to the Endzone, But Wolverines Cornerback Washington made a crucial stop at the one yard line, which ended the first quarter.


A crucial Stop by CB Washington kept the score in favour for Michigan

The second quarter started out at the Michigan 1 yard line, when Broncos QB Willis dropped back to pass for the Endzone. The defense stepped it up though and Wolverines Safety Hixon picked off the pass in the endzone and returned it to the Michigan 20.
Michigan once again had a very short, as Adron Kelly fumbled the ball for the first time in the game. The Fumble was recovered by DT Seth Payne. Boise State couldn’t capitalize from great Field Position though, and had to settle a for a 22yd Field Goal, which BSU Kicker Murphy converted to cut the lead down to 4 points. Both teams exchanged 3&outs in the last two minutes and it seemed like both Offenses were running out of steam. The third quarter started with a Bang, as Willis threw a 77yd TD pass to his number one target White, which gave Boise a 10-7 lead.


Washington was a step short of stopping White, allowing the latter to score a TD

After the kickoff, Michigan set up a great block and Washington returned it for a TD. Which proved to be a game changer for Michigan as the Wolverines could rest their offense even more. On the following Kickoff, Boise returned the favour by returning the ball for a TD themselves.


Washington had a strong day today, with 2 crucial stops, involvement in Hixon’s INT and a return TD.

Michigan once again tried to regain the lead, but the drive was cut short once again, when Humphreys fell victim to the harsh weather conditions and fumbled the ball in the Redzone. The ball was recovered by Broncos CB Emerson. Boise state had a great run, but was cut short and had to settle for a 49yd Field Goal. Michigan took over once more to take the charge of the game again, but Robinson threw another interception which set up Boise State with great Field Position once again. Willis let the Broncos capitalize fully this time around, by completing a 9yd TD pass to WR Moore. However, the broncos were unlucky in their 2pt Conversion attempt. Michigan came out strong and Robinson was finally able to add a TD through the Air, capping off a quick drive to WR Willis over 9yds, giving Michigan the chance for a comeback.


Willis caught the only Michigan Passing TD on the Day, giving Michigan a chance at the comeback.

Boise state tried to run out the clock late in the 4th, but a costly penalty set them up with a 4th down, on which they decided to punt, giving Michigan one last chance to win the game. However, Michigan didn’t get very far, as Denard threw his third pick on the game, effectively ending Michigan’s Game.
None of the Players were available for interviews, but Coach Brian Billick spoke to the press nonetheless: “Well, this was ugly. It was a deserved loss for us. Boise State was just better and more disciplined then we were. Afterall we conceded quite a few very stupid penalties. We also had our worst game on offense, turning the ball over 5 times, and it could have easily been a 6th time, but luckily we recovered one of our 3 fumbles. I am quite disappointed with the performance and I know that this has to change. We only have one more opponent that is currently ranked, on the season and it doesn’t make us look good if we continue to loose these easy matchups…�
Denard Robinson seemed to be quite upset with himself, after going 10 of 22 for 198yds, adding a TD and 3 INT’s to his season stats. Robinson was also the most successful rusher for the Wolverines, rushing for 98yds on just 6 attempts and a TD.
The wolverines next Matchup with the TCU Horned Frogs, which have only won one game on the season.

Key Injuries

ILB

Brown, Wendell

83ovr

Doubtful

Oklahoma takes over lead of the ‘Daily Poll as top3 struggle

After only one week, Alabama has lost the lead of the Daily Poll again. The Number 1 Team in the country lost to Clemson in regular time with 21-31. Clemson has just one their first game of the season, meaning that every team has won at least once on the season. In the Nationally Televised Game between Notre Dame and West Virginia, the Fighting Irish bounced back from their loss against Wisconsin, beating the undefeated Mountaineers 24-20, leaving the Stanford Cardinal as the only undefeated team in the country. Meanwhile FSU beat Ohio State 28-12 to take their 4th win in a row. Oregon meanwhile prevailed 28-7 against USC, to cement themselves in 5th place in the ‘Daily Poll. USC drops down from 3rd to 4th place. #2 LSU drops down to 3rd after they suffered a loss against the Tar Heel with 13-14. With their win the Tar Heels take over 10th place in the Daily Poll, replacing the Mountaineers, who drop from the rankings. Meanwhile Oklahoma took over the lead in the ‘Daily Poll, after humiliating Louisville 37-3.

TheManxMissile wrote:
If it's a Texas league i'll be all over this story with interest and comments (really like Texas). If it's Southern States (depends what you include) i'll be interested.

#8 Michigan’s win over TCU keeps National Championship hopes Alive

The Michigan Wolverines have kept themselves in the National Title hunt with their 28-14 victory over Texas Christian University. After their loss to the Boise State Broncos, the Wolverines had to prove themselves against a weak Horned Frogs Squad. Coach Brian Billick demanded high power football from the first minute onwards, putting the Denard Robinson under a lot of pressure to perform in his sixth start this season, after showing very shaky performances in his first 5 appearances on the season.
Michigan won the Coin Toss and were awarded with the first drive of the game, starting out at their own 29yd line. Denard took charge of the football and connected with his WR Willis for a 10yd gain and a first down. The Wolverines offense worked its way up the field with a number of pass plays and rushes by Denard Robinson, while HB Adron Kelly struggled to get his legs going in the first quarter. Michigan was knocking on the door of the end zone but Denard couldn’t connect with any of his receivers, taking matters in his own hand and scrambling for 19yds and a score to cap of the 71yd drive.


Denard Robinson breaking the plain for his first score of the day

After the Opening Score, The Horned Frogs took the field, but were held to a very short drive. TCU QB Addis assembled his offense for three plays in total, before tossing a pass to his number one Receiver, which was intercepted by Michigans Safety Hixon, and returned to midfield, setting the Home team up with great field position. However, on the first play, a Handoff to Adron Kelly, the running back fumbled the ball at the line of scrimmage. The loose ball was recovered by the Michigan offense, but on the second play it was Denard Robinson who let go off the ball, where it was scooped up by TCU’s LB Sikes who returned the Fumble for 74yds into the endzone, equalling the score of the game again.


Hixon steps it up for Michigan’s D, recording the Wolves first INT of the day on a double Coverage Play

With the beginning of the 2nd Quarter, both teams exchanged 3&outs, before the Horned Frogs took the field again at their own 20yd line. QB Addis drove his team down the field for an 80yd drive, connecting with several receivers on the field and helped by two defensive Pass Interference Calls against the Wolverines, set up great field position at Michigans 5yd line. After going nowhere on first down, TCU decided to hand off the ball to their running back Gooden who finished the drive off with a 5yd rushing TD, to give TCU the lead early in the 2nd quarter.


TCU Running Back Gooden celebrating his only TD of the day, after a 5yd Rush

After the Kickoff, Michigan’s return Man (CB Washington) broke loose from the defence and was only stopped at the 50 yard line. Denard Robinson rushed for an early gain on first down, but then deteriorated to the pass afterwards, driving the ball downfield to the 1yd line, where he connected with Senior Wideout Willis for a TD, to even out the score at 14-14.


Willis out jumping his opponent to haul in Michigans only Passing TD of the day

Following the kickoff, Michigans D had another big moment, with CB Washington picking off a sloppy pass by TCU QB Addis, giving him another big day, similar to his performance in the Boise State Game.


For the second Game in a row, Washington was the impact player no.1 on Michigans D, having a great day on Kick Returns, while helping on Hixon’s Interception, and recording one himself

The last drive of the first half was once again a masterpiece constructed by Denard, rushing for two first downs, while throwing for another. However, just before the end of the half, Denard had the chance to give Michigan a 1TD lead, but through a pick while trying to connect with Humphreys for the score. TCU Safety Woodson picked off the ball on the one yard line, ending the first half of the game.


Denard overthrows Humphreys by a mile, right in the middle of a pack of no less than four TCU defenders.

After halftime the game became very one sided, with Michigan dominating Texas Christian’s Defense. The Horned Frogs were stopped short on 3&outs on all of their second half drives, while Michigan decided to largely abandon the pass game in the second half, handing the ball to Adron Kelly for 12 attempts. Kelly used the opportunity, tallying up close to 110yds in the second half, giving him 134 on the day, and also recorded two scores on the day, one in the third (20yds) and one in the fourth quarter (7yds), to give Michigan a 28-14 lead.


Adron Kelly braking the Plain on his second score of the day, a 7yd rush in the 4th Quarter

Michigan also received the last possession of the ball and decided to run out the clock, to take the win in this contest.
After the game Brian Billick spoke to the press to give his opinion on the game: “Well, we won, that’s the good part. The bad part is that we recorded too many unnecessary penalties, especially the pass interference calls… And I am still not very happy with our ability to protect the ball, after recording another two fumbles and an interception. We really have to get hold of this, because we are making too many mistakes against weak oppositions, and we still have FSU on our schedule who will punish these mistakes!� Denard Robinson added: “Well, we have a few problems on offense to take care of the ball, but the D really held strong today with two picks. I think we are on the right way, and even though we don’t work like a well-oiled machine, but there is enough time to prepare for FSU and by the time that game comes around, we will be up on top again!� Robinson had a great day today, going 11 of 16 for 130yds, a score and a Pick, while adding another 111yds on 13 rushes for another score and a fumble. However, the man of the match was Adron Kelly who rushed for 134yds on 17 attempts, adding 2 scores, while also recording a fumble. Next the Wolverines will travel to Carolina to take on Clemson before their bye week in week 8, just one week ahead of the first clash with the Penn State Nittany Lions.

Key Injuries

ILB

Brown, Wendell

83ovr

Probable

Stanford falls to the Trojans, No team to go Undefeated

USC has taken Stanfords wind out of the sails. The Cardinal couldn’t find their form from before the Bye Week and loses their first game of the season, resulting in a drop from #7 to #10. USC bounces back, but despite their win against Stanford, they still don’t look like a National Championship contender and will face an uphill battle with two more matchups against Stanford and Oregon. Meanwhile Oklahoma won the Red River Rivalry against Texas with 16-9, cementing their reign at the Top of the ‘Daily Poll Standings. Down in Tuscaloosa, the second top Matchup of the day between the Seminoles and the Crimson Tide took a wrong term for the #2 Team in the Nation, as FSU prevailed 13-6, to jump into #4 in the ‘Daily Poll, while Alabama falls to #6, a record low for the Tide. The Nationally Televised game saw #9 Notre Dame fall to Arkansas with 10-23, making them drop out of the ‘Daily Poll again, being replaced by the Razorbacks. In the south, two preseason favourites squared off against each other, with #3 LSU humiliating a weak Georgia Team 34-7, while another former SEC top Team, Florida, lost to #10 University of North Carolina (13-33), showing major weaknesses in all parts of the team. The last Top-10 matchup of the day was between the Texas A&M Aggies and the Oregon Ducks. The Ducks won the matchup 20-13, elevating them to #2 in the polls after 6 weeks in the new college football era!







Dropped from the Poll: Notre Dame Fighting Irish