The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1477128
SEPTEMBER 2022 THE WOLVERINE 15 INSIDE MICHIGAN ATHLETICS FIVE YEARS AGO, 2017: Michigan fired out of the gate for a 33-17 win over No. 17 Florida in the Advocare Classic on Sept. 2, 2017. The teams squared off in Arlington, Texas, with the Wolverines running away from the Gators in the second half. Jim Harbaugh's crew took a 10-3 lead after a quarter, on a 25-yard field goal by Quinn Nordin and Tarik Black's 46-yard touchdown reception. But the Gators snapped back for a pair of second-quarter touchdowns to lead 17-13 at the half. After that, the Michigan defense controlled the game, pitching a second-half shutout, while U-M's offense put 20 more points on the board. Florida managed only 192 total yards, while Michigan pounded out 433 at the Dallas Cow- boys' AT&T Stadium. Nordin wound up with four field goals, while tailback Karan Higdon scored a second-half touchdown from three yards out and Noah Furbush recovered a Florida fumble in the end zone for a defensive touchdown. "This win was a good start for the season for us, to build our confidence and allow us to see what we're capable of," noted U-M linebacker Devin Bush. 10 YEARS AGO, 2012: Brady Hoke's crew survived a tough home battle with Air Force, 31-25, on Sept. 8, 2012. The Wolverines built an early 14-3 lead, but saw it nearly evaporate against the visitors' relentless ground attack. Air Force rushed for 290 yards and 3 touchdowns against the Wolverines, while Michigan answered with 208 yards through the air and another 218 on the ground by quarter- back Denard Robinson. The fleet QB scored on runs of 79 and 58 yards. Robinson accounted for all 4 Michigan touchdowns, and those — combined with a pair of Brendan Gibbons field goals — almost weren't enough. Air Force pulled within three points, 28-25, on an 8-yard touchdown run by Cody Getz with just 12:01 remaining. Gibbons answered moments later with a 31-yard field goal, and the Wolverines held on to win. Of Robinson, Hoke noted: "We wanted to establish him a little more in the running game without over-running him and getting him beat up. I think he hit some holes and found some creases, and overall, he did a great job." 25 YEARS AGO, 1997: Lloyd Carr's Wolverines sent a powerful message to the college football world in the opener, crushing No. 8 Colorado 27-3 on Sept. 13, 1997. The Wolverines surrendered only a third-quarter field goal while outgaining the visiting Buffaloes, 426-224. Quarterback Brian Griese went a crisp 21-of-28 passing for 258 yards and 2 touchdowns, while four U-M backs combined for 142 yards. But the defense stole the show, picking off four Colorado passes and keeping the visitors' signal-callers on the run all afternoon. Michigan also surrendered a mere 49 yards on the ground in a strong opening-game performance. "There's no question it was a splendid effort," Carr offered. "They took a good offensive football team and held them to three points. And any time you can do that, you're ecstatic." Veteran cornerback Charles Woodson proved even more succinct. "Today," Woodson assessed, "we played like a Michigan football team." — John Borton THIS MONTH IN MICHIGAN ATHLETICS HISTORY Quarterback Denard Robinson accounted for 426 yards of offense (208 passing, 2 touchdowns; 216 rushing, 2 touchdowns) to lead Michigan past Air Force, 31-25, on Sept. 8, 2012. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL