The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/230001
take a 10-6 lead, potentially into the half, and give the Spartans reason to second-guess themselves. Nebraska: A week after the humbling at Michigan State, the Michigan offense, especially, could not find its confidence or its rhythm in a loss to Nebraska. But the Maize and Blue did enjoy a temporary three-point lead, 13-10, midway through the fourth. The Wolverines then turned over that precarious advantage to their defense, putting their faith in a unit that had held Nebraska relatively in check for most of the game. The Cornhuskers, though, marched 75 yards on 14 plays, converting three third downs and a fourth down. On that fourth-and-two, Michigan lined up two freshman cornerbacks opposite receivers on the far side, but the rookies were eight yards off the line of scrimmage, and needed to play tighter. NU quarterback Tommy Armstrong barked out a call, and Kenny Bell ran a quick fiveyard hook route, picking up the first down. Had the defensive backs been in better position, U-M could have stopped the Huskers on that play, taken over and perhaps clinched the win. Iowa: The Maize and Blue had blown a 21-7 halftime lead and were behind 24-21 when their offense, inept the entire second half, took over at its own 30-yard line late in the fourth quarter. Magically, something began to click. A four-yard rush. An 18-yard completion. A 13-yard completion. Suddenly, U-M found itself at the Iowa 39-yard line, facing a secondand-11, and Gardner took off sprinting. He went for eight yards, advancing to the 31-yard line, when he zeroed in on the sideline. Step out of bounds, live for another play and, at worst, kick a potentially gametying field goal. But Gardner stayed in bounds, and linebacker Anthony Hitchens ripped the ball from him. The Hawkeyes ran out the clock, and the fumble stripped Michigan of its chance to avoid a fourth loss on the season. OSU: The play that will live in infamy stood between one of the great upsets in Michigan-Ohio State rivalry history, and one of the most disheartening defeats in the last decade. Michigan had given its all and had rallied back from a 35-21 deficit and a 42-35 score to appear to tie the score with 32 seconds remaining. That is when head coach Brady Hoke, with the counsel of his seniors, decided to go for the two-point conversion. The play was there, but the execution lacked just enough for OSU to break up the pass and escape Ann Arbor with a 42-41 win. For the Maize and Blue it represented another close call, and a fifth loss that, just like the previous four, could have turned on one play. ❏ Associate Editor Michael Spath has been with The Wolverine since 2002. Contact him at mspath@thewolverine.com and follow him on Twitter @Spath_Wolverine.