By Paul Gotham
Short takes on this week’s college pigskin.
Who needs the Chicken Dance when you have an alma mater?
So much for Michigan wearing a chip on its shoulder. So much for Michigan being a step up from Rice. So much for Doug Nussmeier.
Last season, Michigan serenaded Notre Dame with the Chicken Dance – representing Wolverine coach Brady Hoke’s reaction to ND’s wish to end the series between the longtime rivals. This year Hoke and gang looked more blue than maize as they departed Notre Dame Stadium suffering their first shutout since 1984 – a streak of 365 games without being held scoreless. (ND athletics has a way of ending of streaks.)
31-0?
Even Rice managed 17 points in a 48-17 loss to Notre Dame last weekend. The Wolverines were supposed to be upset that Notre Dame opted out of the agreement because of the need to add more ACC games into the schedule. Guess they got caught up in their emotions. Rice QBs Driphus Jackson and Tyler Stehling were able to go up top and burn the ND secondary for a pair long TDs. Did Michigan and new offensive coordinator Nussmeier try anything long? For those keeping track at home, Nussmeier had a firm grip on A.J. McCarron’s coattails for the past two seasons. As for his work with Devin Gardner?
Last week, Everett Golson needed to roll out of the pocket to look comfortable. Against Michigan, the sophomore looked like a drop-back slinger. ND’s offensive line gave their signal-caller time on plenty of plays. Golson made good connecting on 23-34 for 226 yards. The sophomore completed three touchdowns without an interception.
This coming after Golson needed to call a timeout to avoid a delay of game penalty on the first play from scrimmage of the night.
Michigan outgained ND, 289-280, but the Irish created four turnovers while committing ZERO. Notre Dame committed three penalties for 20 yards while Michigan was whistled for five infractions for 50 yards – including a pair of costly pass interference calls. The Irish secondary looked fast. I will leave it at that.
Notre Dame celebrated by singing their song.
B1G feelin’ small
Rutgers and Maryland are two of seven 2-0 teams in the B1G that which also includes Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Penn State and Nebraska. Welcome to the land of the little where the highest ranked team (No. 6 Michigan State) gets outscored 28-3 in the second half of a 46-27 road loss to No. 3 Oregon. The game wasn’t that close. Maybe they can lick their wounds against Eastern Michigan. No. 7 Ohio State falls at home to unranked Virginia Tech. Maybe Urban Meyer shouldn’t have spent so much time worshipping at the Frank Beamer altar. See above for Michigan. Not to mention Northwestern fell to Northern Illinois, and Purdue lost to Central Michigan. How are the ratings on the B1G Network today? Did someone mention relegation?
The #B1G needs to set up a relegation/promotion system with the #MAC. Give Michigan’s spot to CMU.
— Troy Machir (@TroyMachir) September 7, 2014
Speaking of Nebraska…
The Cornhuskers did their part by winning in the final minute against… MCNEESE STATE! Yes, that’s right, No. 18 Nebraska needed an Ameer Abdullah 58-yard touchdown with 20 seconds remaining to defeat a second-tier FCS school from Lake Charles, Louisiana. You can breath easier Husker nation. Coach Bo Pelini stated after the game that the Huskers will no longer schedule teams from the FCS. This to stay within B1G scheduling mandates. Well, praise be for that one. We wouldn’t want to blemish Nebraska’s 11-0 record against the Sisters of the Poor. Not that we aren’t widening the gap between haves and have nots or anything. (That sarcastic spat felt pretty good.)
What in the Haden is going on here
When was the last time you saw an athletic director on the sideline arguing a call? I’ll give you a minute to think about that one. Need more time? More still? You’re probably not going to come up with one. But that’s what happened yesterday. USC AD Pat Haden got into it with the zebras.
Steve Sarkisian was struggling with the refs and supposedly Haden responded to a distress signal he received via text message. For the young ones at home – this is no average athletic director. Pat Haden is…well…a pretty educated guy. He was a awarded a Rhodes scholarship which he completed while playing in the NFL. Which makes his actions yesterday perhaps the mother of all brain cramps.
Not what Mora had in mind
Jim Mora had the most to gain from his cross-town rival’s dilemma. Mora and his UCLA Bruins slipped by Memphis, 42-35. This after the Tigers tied the score in the fourth. Mora’s defense allowed…540 yards?
Hook ’em ‘Horns
At least the Bruins didn’t fall 41-7 at home. That’s what Texas did. Maybe it wasn’t Mack? The two foes meet next week. How is the Longhorn Network doing anyhow?
I was extremly impressed with the team speed of Notre Dame’s defense. It seemed like a Michigan receiver caught a ball in the open field there was a Fighting Irish defender to bring them to the ground.
I am still trying to figure out though if ND made Devin Gardner look mediocre or if he has actually regressed as a quarterback.
And get shutout against ND in the final game of the series? Oh Brady – you might be in trouble buddy. Ann Arbor faithful must be getting restless and after seeing a small sampling of Ohio State over the weekend – you fall to them this year and it could get ugly.
But Oregon’s second half really impressed me. That was a big win for them and they found a gear that Michigan State could not even come close to matching.
Brady or Nussmeier – both have warmer seats as of Saturday’s action.