Maybe I Care Too Much

Michigan 42 Massachusetts 37

The third worst Michigan football game I've ever been to.  It wasn't Appalachian State, but only because we won, and it wasn't 2007 Oregon, because at least the offense looked like it was trying, but in the 100-plus games I've attended as a fan and student, Michigan's five point victory over Massachusetts in "the season to save RichRod" was akin to this. Maybe 1998 Syracuse was worse, but I was 12 and we had just won the National Championship; I was still on cloud nine. 

Prior to the season, I talked myself into the 2010 Michigan defense.  The abysmal 2008 defense was due almost entirely to Scott Schafer, the ill advised defensive coordinator that was the only member of the Michigan coaching staff that wasn't a known commodity.  The blame for 2009's apocalyptic defense lay entirely at the feet of safety Michael Williams, who was so bad he couldn't even crack the two-deep this year.  Sure, Michigan lost Brandon Graham, Donovan Warren, and Stevie Brown (its three best players), but also its worst player, and would be much less likely to give up touchdowns of 60 yards and conversions of 30. 

Michigan held Connecticut to 10 points.  Conveniently forgotten was the fumble inside our five yardline and the nervous waitress impression each of the lightly recruited Connecticut receivers did on the few well-thrown passes from Mr. Deer-in-the-Headlights Zach Frazer.  Michigan held Notre Dame to 24, albeit without their only division one caliber passer for an entire half. 

And then, UMass happened.  As Fletcher and I sat in the 83rd row as Obi Ezeh took his 16th poor angle of the day and I bit my tongue to prevent myself from eviscerating him in front of his family friends that miraculously ended up seated behind me, my eight win guarantee prior to the season took a hit Cheech and Chong would be proud of.  Message boards predictably blew up, friends and I discussed whether or not a three win Big Ten season would be enough to earn Rich Rodriguez a fourth year, and I woke up Sunday morning with the same feeling I did after my girlfriend broke up with me. 

But here's the good news: We won.  Sure, eight wins seems a little bit less likely, and the best case scenario fell from 10 wins to nine, but on September 20 the University of Michigan football team sits at 3-0, with victories over two BCS conference schools.  We have the best player in the country touching the ball on every offensive play, and a young defense that, if put in the proper position, will get exponentially better as the season continues. 

So I'm back on board.  At least until we lose to Indiana.