This afternoon, Michigan fans get one final chance to see Mike Martin in a winged helmet when he takes the field for the North team in the Senior Bowl.

The beloved Michigan senior defensive tackle who persevered through three different head coaches, multiple coordinators, and two losing seasons, had a great 2011 campaign but it has been his efforts in Senior Bowl practices that have the NFL scouts raving.

He has been going up against Ohio State center Mike Brewster in practice and from all accounts has gotten the better of the matchup.

ESPN’s Todd McShay has been impressed: “If Michigan DT Mike Martin took a play off I haven’t seen it,” McShay tweeted. “Only 6-1 but 207 lbs and violent hands. There’s a place in (the) NFL for this guy.”

Scout’s Scott Kennedy agrees. “Once they went 11v11, every time I checked the offensive backfield, Michigan DT Mike Martin was in it disrupting things,” he tweeted.

Martin has been working with former Michigan strength coach Mike Barwis since the season ended in preparation for Aprils NFL Draft. Analyst Mel Kiper projects Martin a second or third round pick, but his performance in the Senior Bowl and in the upcoming NFL combine could help his stock rise.

“Mike Martin is a freak, no question,” said Barwis. “His body is amazing, his physical attributes are incredible. He’s going to turn the senior bowl and combine upside down, and people are going to be shocked what he’s able to do at 300 pounds. He’s gotten a lot stronger, a lot more explosive.”

Tune in to the NFL Network today at 4pm Eastern time to watch Martin compete against the top seniors from the south.

By now you have probably noticed the new look at the top of the site. You may have clicked over and thought for a brief instant that you were on the wrong site. You may found it ugly or you may have been met with surprise that it was better than the clean but bland look of the previous header. Regardless of your first impression, you probably saw clutter. Not an old-grandma’s-old-National-Geographic-magazine-and-cat-litter-cluttered-family-room clutter, but an organized clutter. And that’s the purpose of it.

As we reflect back on a successful 2011 and set our sights on 2012, we wanted to take some time to lay out the direction of this site, and the new header above serves as the first representation of that direction and our goals. The purpose is twofold.

For starters, as you were met with the clutter of words atop the page, you took a closer look and realized that each of those words represents a piece of Michigan history. Whether it be a player, a coach, a phrase or a moment, each is significant both in and of itself and as a collective whole. At an institution like Michigan with a more colorful and successful history than any other in the country, it is impossible to follow and detail the present without revering the past. Without Bo, Team 132 lacks significance. Without Crisler there’s no winged helmet. Without Yost the Big House is just another stadium. And the list goes on.

At Maize and Go Blue, we aim to pay tribute to the past as we trudge ahead into the future. The homerism and soliloquies of the ultimate wordsmith, Bob Ufer, which could not exist in today’s broadcasting landscape, have always been an inspiration of ours and are often referred to in our writing. But the last year or so has seen the quality of writing style drop off slightly in a rush for quantity. We tried to increase our output, but in doing so, decreased the amount put into each post. This year, we aim to take strides to increase the quantity while raising the quality back to what may have drawn you to us from the start.

Secondly, the clutter depicted above represents the enormity of information readily available about all things Michigan football, basketball, and beyond. That is not to say that all of that is clutter, but to say that it’s all part of one giant network of information you have at your fingertips. We know you have plenty of choices to get your Michigan fix and we’re just a small cog in the wheel, but our philosophy is and always has been that the sphere of Michigan content should exist as a team or a family rather than as rivals. Other Michigan blogs and sites may not view it that way, but that’s our position. We understand that one single blog or site simply cannot cover every aspect of Michigan football or basketball, and the individual or collective opinions, style, or focus held by each entity does not appeal to everyone in the vast Michigan fanbase. One might want hard news, another anecdotal stories, and another posts that fuel the hype machine.

MGoBlog is always the cream of the crop. The quality, quantity, and timeliness of content is unrivaled and something to look up to, not to try to overtake. It should be the number one stop for Michigan content. There are also other great Michigan sites out there, each special in its own niche: MVictors for its Michigan history, Hokeamaniac for its enthusiasm, creativity and engagement, UMHoops for its basketball content, and others for their recruiting focus.

It is our opinion that the Michigan fanbase is better off with more quality content from multiple trusted sources than from just one source with one voice, one opinion, and one bias. And so a goal of 2012 is to become and remain one of the go-to trusted sources in the Michigan blogosphere – the stress of that sentence being one of. We don’t want you to only read Maize and Go Blue. We want you to read MGoBlog, MVictors, Hokeamaniac, UMHoops, and many more. You’ll be better informed, and a more well-equiped fan base leads to a better gameday experience as well as more knowledgeable conversation and arguments with those unfortunate enough to root for other teams.

We have never existed for the purpose of making money or of generating hits. While those are welcome byproducts of this site, we want those to come organically and they will never become the end to justify the means. This site exists to enhance the quality of Michigan content for the ravid fanbase, and when it stops doing that, it will cease to exist. We believe in doing things the right way without compromise.

Another core philosophy of ours, which falls in line with our purpose, is that we are not here to break news. The reason behind this was touched upon in yesterday’s MGoBlog’s piece on the false reporting of Joe Paterno’s death. The minute we start chasing the carrot, searching for clicks and page views at the expense of quality and credibility, is the moment of our demise. We’ll leave the news-breaking to the “real” journalists and hit-chasers. It’s not the sexy view, but while sex sells, credibility lasts. And when credibility gets damaged by misinformation or laziness in a rush to be the first to report, it’s nearly impossible to earn it back.

We do this for fun. We do this because we enjoy writing. We do this because in doing so it helps us learn more every day about the team we love, and in turn, educating you. We don’t live in our parents’ basement as some would like you to believe all bloggers do. We all have wives and kids and full time jobs, and thus, cannot dedicate eight hours a day to this craft. We know we, like most blogs, are looked down upon by those in the media who do this for a living, but that’s ok because we’re not in it for the notoriety or the five seconds of fame. It’s a labor of love.

With the above purpose and philosophy in mind, we present to you our goals for the coming year:

To be more engaging. The great thing about sports is that we can all have an opinion even if we’re fans of the same team. We can differ about whether firing Rich Rod was the right choice or not. We can banter about whether Devin Gardner should have seen the field more last season. But we can come together on Saturdays as one.

At Maize and Go Blue, we’re only as good as our readers. We value the opinions of everyone, whether we agree or not. And thus, we want to hear your opinion. In doing so, it will help us come up with new story ideas and better contribute to the Michigan community.

If you haven’t already done so, please take a minute to follow us on twitter and like us on Facebook. Feel free to shoot us an email with questions, comments, tips, advice, inside information, or ask for dating advice. One piece of feedback we received last year was that our contact information was too hard to find, so we added it to the header at the top of the page. Now, there’s no excuse not to engage.

To keep it fun and to reward you. Whether it’s through contests, such as the Michigan Man 5-Spot Challenge that we ran throughout football season, or periodic trivia questions, or just simply rewarding a loyal reader or Twitter/Facebook follower, we want to make it worthwhile for you to keep coming back. We’ll definitely bring the Challenge back next football season, but we’re also looking to develop different unique contests for you to be a part of.

The M Den gift cards, Michigan t-shirts, commemorative pint glasses, and Three and Out books were just the tip of the iceberg. Some came from donations but most were purchased out of pocket. Therefore, we ask that you consider making a donation. As mentioned in our core philosophy, our main goal is not to make money, and we certainly do not want you paying us. Any money you choose to donate will be invested back into prizes, keeping the site functional and upgrading it, and making improvements to the site experience overall. We will never collect a profit from your donations.

Choosing to donate is completely optional and we will never guilt you into doing so, but consider this: you join a March Madness pool at work or a fantasy football league with buddies. You’re usually putting in ten or twenty bucks. So consider this the same.

To take it to the next level. We’re looking to hire a few positions to help grow the site and produce more and better content. If you’re a writer, an aspiring writer, a UM journalism or photography student, or just an avid Michigan fan with some writing background please email us at maizeandgoblue@yahoo.com. We have a lot of ideas that we’d like to implement, but can’t do so without the extra bandwidth.

In closing, we have enjoyed significant growth in 2011 and there are several people who made this possible. As the owner/editor Maize and Go Blue, I would like to thank Chris, Josh, and Matt for their contributions up to this point. The time you guys have put in does not go unappreciated and has been essential to helping this site get to where it is today compared to a year ago. I hope we can add more talent to the staff and continue to provide the kind of information that adds to our readers’ Michigan experience. And to our readers, thank you for reading, participating, and continually coming back. We hope you will continue to do so in 2012.

It wasn’t exactly how Brady Hoke planned it, but Michigan’s 23-20 Sugar Bowl win over Virginia Tech was a fitting end to Team 132′s season. The squad that endured three of the worst years in Michigan history fought to the end on Tuesday night and came away with an ugly victory, fulfilling Bo Schembechler’s legendary statement that “those who stay will be champions.”

#13 Michigan 23 – #11 Virginia Tech 20
	Final Stats
23	Final Score	20
11-2 (6-2)	Record	11-3 (7-1)
184	Total Yards	377
56	Net Rushing Yards	163
128	Net Passing Yards	214
12	First Downs	22
1	Turnovers	2
4-26	Penalties – Yards	7-68
5-181	Punts – Yards	1-36
23:10	Time of Possession	36:50
4-for-13	Third Down Conversions	6-for-15
1-for-1	Fourth Down Conversions	1-for-3
2-4	Sacks By – Yards	3-25
3-for-3	Field Goals	4-for-5
2-for-2	PATs	0-for-0
3-for-3	Red Zone Scores – Chances	4-for-6

The seniors who endured more than perhaps any other senior class in the 132-year history of Michigan football came up big in New Orleans. Rimington Award winning center David Molk injured his foot in pregame warmups and missed the first series, but fought through the pain the rest of the game. Junior Hemingway came up with two outstanding touchdown catches to bail out quarterback Denard Robinson. Mike Martin and Ryan Van Bergen held their own in the middle of the defense, tightening up when needed.

On a day when Robinson and Michigan’s electric offense was never able to get going, everything that has been Michigan’s downfall the past few seasons won the game. The defense that couldn’t stop anybody the last three years held Virginia Tech to its fifth-lowest total yardage of the season. It was truly a bend but don’t break defense that never did break, allowing Tech to convert third-and-longs with ease, but clamping down when it truly mattered. Kicker Brendan Gibbons, who lost the kicking duties last season after starting 1-for-5, continued the clutch kicking he has displayed all season by booting three field goals including a 39-yarder to put Michigan ahead with four minutes remaining and the 37-yard game-winner in overtime.

Michigan certainly got its share of breaks when the Hokies were penalized for roughing the punter late in the second quarter, an interception was overturned, Frank Beamer inexplicably called a fake punt from midfield late in the game, a touchdown in overtime was overturned, and Tech kicker Justin Myer missed a 37-yard field goal in overtime. Both calls could have gone either way, but seemed to be correct overturns. Regardless, it’s uncommon to see two close calls overturned in a game and even more uncommon for Michigan to get all the breaks.

It didn’t look promising for Michigan from the start when two poor snaps forced the offense out of rhythm and Michigan went three-and-out. Virginia Tech put together a solid drive, but Michigan forced a 37-yard field goal. On the next drive, Robinson was picked off by Kyle Fuller, giving VT a chance to widen its lead. But Michigan forced another field goal, this time from 43 yards out.

After a Michigan punt, Virginia Tech put together another promising drive, but Michigan’s defense stuffed quarterback Logan Thomas on 4th-and-1 from the Michigan 4-yard line.

Michigan was forced to punt once again, but punter Matt Wile drew a roughing the kicker penalty, keeping the drive alive. On 3rd-and-17 from the VT 45-yard line, Robinson fired a back footer towards a double-covered Hemingway. It looked as if it would be picked off by the safety over the top, but Hemingway held on and cruised into the end zone putting Michigan ahead 7-6.

On the ensuing kickoff, J.B. Fitzgerald forced a fumble and Michigan recovered at the VT 26. On 4th-and-3 from the VT 19, field goal holder Drew Dileo ran to the right and threw a prayer towards the middle of the field. It bounced off a pair of Hokies before falling into the arms of lineman Jareth Glanda for a first down at the eight. A pass to the 1-yard line left Michigan with just two seconds left before halftime and Hoke elected to kick the field goal and take a 10-6 lead into the half.

The third quarter started out with a pair of punts and on the first play of Tech’s second possession, freshman Frank Clark picked off a Thomas pass, giving Michigan the ball at the Hokie 35. Four plays later, Robinson found Hemingway in the back of the end zone, again out-leaping the Tech safety and this getting a foot down in bounds. Just like that, with virtually no offense, Michigan had a 17-6 lead.

Tech wasn’t done, however, scoring 11 straight and keeping Michigan’s offense from widening the gap. With nine minutes remaining and the game knotted at 17, Tech faced 4th-and-1 from the Michigan 48. Instead of punting and pinning Michigan’s stagnant offense deep, Beamer chose to run a fake, which Michigan sniffed out and stopped, getting the ball back at the Virginia Tech 45. Robinson moved Michigan into field goal position and Gibbons gave the Wolverines a 20-17 lead with four minutes left.

But Tech put together another long drive, getting all the way down to the Michigan 8-yard line before facing a third down. A false start pushed it back to 3rd-and-7 and the Michigan defense stopped the Hokies two yards short. Myer nailed a 25-yard field goal as time expired to send the game into overtime.

In the first extra period, after two straight runs for five net yards, Thomas connected with receiver Danny Coale in the corner of the end zone for a touchdown. But after review, it was ruled incomplete and Tech was forced to settle for its fifth field goal of the game. This time, however, Myer pushed it right, giving Michigan the ball needing just a field goal to win.

Three runs by Fitzgerald Toussaint set up Gibbons in the middle of the field for a game-winning 37-yard field goal that was right down the middle, giving Michigan its first BCS bowl victory since a 2000 Orange Bowl win over Alabama.

It certainly wasn’t pretty, but Team 132 became just the fifth Michigan team ever to win 11 games in a season, and it did so with defense. Tech’s offense came in averaging 415.8 yards and 28.5 points per game. Michigan held the Hokies to 377 yards and 20 points. Michigan also held running back David Wilson to his second-lowest rushing total of the season, 82 yards. He came in averaging 125 and had surpassed 123 yards in 10 of 13 games.

And so, what began with an embarrassing loss to Appalachian State, continued with two losing seasons without bowls, the worst three-year stretch in Michigan history, and NCAA sanctions, ended with wins over Notre Dame, Nebraska, Ohio State, and a Sugar Bowl victory. The plight of the senior class of Team 132 was summed up in Sugar Bowl MVP Hemingway’s postgame interview on the trophy podium, with tears streaming down his face: “It shows our hard work. It shows everything we put in from Day One, all the long days, long nights. Man, I’m telling you, it feels good man. Too good.”

Hemingway himself serves as a microcosm of the entire senior class. He entered as a heralded receiver out of Conway, South Carolina and showed promise of breaking out as a sophomore when he caught a 33-yard touchdown in Michigan’s 2008 season opener against Utah. But he developed mono, forcing him to miss the rest of the season, receiving a medical redshirt. Over the next couple years, he fought injuries before becoming Robinson’s go-to guy this season. And when all was said and done he was the one who stepped up with two tremendous touchdown catches and earned the Sugar Bowl Most Valuable Player award.

He’s just one of many seniors who will be missed next season, but their legacy will live on. Just like the Navy SEALS that Team 132 patterned its season after, Michigan found a way to get it done through adversity with grit and a determination that 10 wins was just not enough.

Michigan will head into the offseason with a likely Top 10 national ranking, 15 starters returning, and what should be a top 10 recruiting class. And when Team 133 takes the field in Dallas on Sept. 1 it may very well be the start of a national championship run against the defending national champions.

It has been a while since we submitted picks for a game, but the last time we did, we all ended up happy with a win over Ohio State. Matt was a little bit off with his 100-0 pick but ecstatic nonetheless. Josh was third, picking Michigan to win 27-12, while Chris was a close second, predicting 28-17. But Justin picked up his fourth win of the year with a prediction of 35-17, moving into a tie with Josh for the season lead with four wins. Chris is right behind with three, while Matt had one.

With a correct prediction in tonight’s Sugar Bowl, Justin or Josh could take home the crown or Chris could make it a three-way tie. This week, we’ll be playing for this maize (sort of) and blue sugar bowl and a Virginia Tech pillow pet to lay our head on throughout the offseason slumber.

The picks:

Justin (4) – Virginia Tech is a sound football team that will test Michigan on both sides of the ball. Despite the controversy surrounding the two teams getting BCS bids, this has a chance to be the best bowl game of the season as neither team looks to be that much better than the other.

When Michigan has the ball, look for a lot of Fitzgerald Toussaint until Bud Foster’s young front seven proves it can stop him. The zone read should help get Denard some open running lanes and if Michigan’s offensive line is getting a consistent push, it could be a banner day for Robinson and Toussaint. The Hokies had trouble stopping Clemson’s Tajh Boyd twice. Don’t expect Robinson to challenge cornerback Jayron Hosley often. He was a first-team All-American last season and is a lock to enter the NFL Draft this April. He has 12 interceptions in the last two seasons. Robinson was at his best in the last two games of the season when he only threw an average of 17.5 passes per game. If he’s forced to throw 25-30, Michigan’s offense will likely be playing catchup and will play right into Foster’s gameplan. The Hokie defense is one of the best in the nation at getting to the quarterback, having racked up 38 sacks. Look for a lot of quick screens and short routes in the passing game.

Defensively, Michigan needs to do the same thing the Hokies’ defense will try to do: stop the run. Virginia Tech loves to pound the ball with the nation’s 6th-best rusher, David Wilson. Tech runs the spread with a big bruising quarterback Logan Thomas, but it’s a physical spread rather than a speed-based one. The staple is the zone read and they love to get Wilson up the middle. They use it to set up play-action with quarterback Logan Thomas, who at 6’6″ 254 pounds, has a strong arm that isn’t always accurate. He has a good crop of experienced playmakers at receiver so Michigan can’t afford to completely sell out for the run. Look for an aggressive blitz scheme from Mattison’s defense designed to slow down Wilson while collapsing the pocket on Thomas, forcing dump offs as Clemson did so well. It may burn the Wolverine defense a time or two, but Michigan’s offense should be able to keep pace.

Michigan 24 – Virginia Tech 20

________________________________________________________________________________________

Josh (4) – When I think of VaTech, I, like countless others, think “Beamerball”. For as long as I can remember Frank Beamer has fielded teams with outstanding defense and special teams. This may not have been the most imposing VaTech team we’ve seen but they are still a good team. Consistency among the coaches year-in and year-out provides players a steady influence and makes them better players for it. VaTech will come out to shut down Denard and the rushing attack and force Michigan to pass, as most teams would prefer to see Denard beat them with his arm than with his untied shoes.

The Hokie D was ranked in the top 15 in total yards, giving up 313 per game – four less than Michigan – but it’s their rushing attack that worries me. David Wilson is one of the top backs in the country, rushing for 1,627 yards and nine touchdowns, and averaging a whopping 6.1 yards per carry. He was held under 120 yards only three times all season, though the bulk of his TD’s (five) came against Appalachian State and Virginia. Wilson has 4.4 speed and while not a physically imposing back he is still a load to bring down. Look for Tech to give Michigan a heavy dose of David Wilson.

Quarterback Logan Thomas has come on strong as of late and is a big, fairly mobile QB with a cannon for an arm. That said, he is young and fairly inexperienced. He is not a “threat” to run, but he does move around well and can make plays with his feet nonetheless.

Michigan’s defense has seemingly gotten better and better each week and with the extra practice time and time to heal before the Sugar Bowl I expect to see a fully rested, healthy defense out there Tuesday night. This game means a lot to Team 132, but especially to the seniors. They exorcised one demon in beating Ohio but this is their chance to shine on the national stage in a major bowl game. If you had told me a year ago that Michigan would be 10-2 and playing in the Sugar Bowl in 2012 I would have called you an irrationally unrealistic fan – also known as Notre Dame-itis. But here we are.

Brady Hoke will have his team ready to play and they will not take any stock in the “experts” picks of Michigan being the odds on favorite to win.

I see this being a tough game though. VaTech won’t lie down and they are a good football team, having only lost to Clemson (twice) all season long. Denard and the offense should be able to get something going, as Denard has played lights out the past couple of games both passing and running. The defense will be playing with a passion and intensity that we haven’t seen yet (not to say they haven’t been this season but they will step up their game considerably Tuesday night).
This game should be a close one but something tells me Michigan is out to send the world a message, and that message is “Michigan football is back!”

Michigan 38 – Virginia Tech 17

________________________________________________________________________________________

Chris (3) - So far in the bowl season, the games have been pretty good overall. But nothing will be more exciting than seeing the Wolverines playing in the Sugar Bowl against Virginia Tech. It has been a five-year drought since Michigan’s last BCS bowl and Wolverine Nation is ready to be back in the spotlight!

This game against the Hokies is an interesting matchup. Both defenses are ranked in the Top-20 in the nation. Both offenses are explosive, but in different ways. Michigan features the dynamic play-making ability of Denard Robinson. Virginia Tech has a young, but smart quarterback in Logan Thomas and a real running threat behind running back David Wilson.

For me, this game is going to come down which team wants it more. While Virginia Tech has played in these big bowl games recently, Michigan has not. I expect Brady Hoke to have his team excited and ready to play on the big stage in New Orleans. Defensive Coordinator Greg Mattison will have had a month to put in place the schemes necessary to slow down Wilson. The matchup that I think everyone needs to keep an eye on is the Michigan secondary vs the Virginia Tech wide receivers. VT features a stable of good receivers who all catch the ball very well but aren’t terribly fast. Will Logan Thomas be able to get them the ball while facing the multiple blitz scheme that Mattison always brings? With four senior offensive linemen, the chances are good that he will have some time to get the ball out.

On the other side, Virginia Tech has always been known to have one of the better defenses in the country. They will also have had a full month to get ready for Denard Robinson. When having that much time to prepare, it certainly makes it easier to contain Robinson. The emergence of Fitz Toussaint in the backfield will force the VT defense to play the zone-read honestly. I expect Michigan to come into the game very ready to play and excited about the chance to play on this stage.  I think they will come out with a fast start and then settle into the game in the 2nd and 3rd quarters. But VT is a strong team and this game will be close throughout. Michigan wins a close one.

Michigan 23 – Virginia Tech 20

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Matt (1) - I have missed the last few weeks for personal reasons, but I have enjoyed writing on this site so much and hope to continue for years to come.

I would also like to congratulate Brady Hoke, all the Michigan coaches and all the Michigan football players. We have had a few tough seasons of football lately, but now we are headed in the right direction with an incredible coach leading the way.

I would also like to congratulate all of the fans! Michigan is going to the Sugar Bowl this year, and with the coaching staff we have, I am confident we can win!

I’m not going to deny it, Virginia Tech is a tough team. And in our last game we beat the Ohio State Buckeyes, but it was close. But hey, close or not, we won. No matter how many games were “close,” we have earned this. And on January 3, I believe that we will see our Wolverines take the field in New Orleans and bring a Sugar Bowl victory back to Ann Arbor.

I think Denard is ready for the spotlight, and although he filled papers out for the NFL Draft I think his heart is with Michigan and he will be with us next season. I predict Denard will come out on fire, and have a great game.

I also believe we will see Fitzgerald Toussaint fired up and ready to go, rushing for a couple of touchdowns. As far as guys like Roy Roundtree and Kevin Koger go, I think they will have their presence felt as well.

On the other side of the ball, I think we will see Mike Martin, Ryan Van Bergen and company tear it up. Our defense has seemed to improve every week, and I don’t see that changing here.

Greg Mattison will have the guys disrupting the pocket and wreaking havoc on Virginia Tech’s offense.

Here’s my prediction…drum roll please!

Michigan 42 – Virginia Tech 32

Next up, September 1. Bring on Alabama! Go Blue!

It’s been over a month since Michigan last graced the field with a 40-34 win over rival Ohio State. First year head coach Brady Hoke exceeded all expectations by turning an underperforming MIchigan squad from the last three years into an 11-2 BCS bowl team that beat Ohio State. On Tuesday, Michigan will play its first post-New Year’s Day bowl game since a 1989 Rose Bowl victory over Southern California. It’s quite fitting that that was Bo Schembechler’s last bowl victory (he coached one more season after that, but lost to USC in the 1990 Rose Bowl).

#13 Michigan v. #11 Virginia Tech
Tuesday, Jan. 3 – 8:30pm ET – ESPN
10-2 (6-2 Big Ten)	Record	11-2 (7-1 ACC)
Western Michigan 34-10 Notre Dame 35-31 Eastern Michigan 31-3 San Diego State 28-7 Minnesota 58-0 Northwestern 42-24 Purdue 36-14 Illinois 31-14 #16 Nebraska 45-17 Ohio State 40-34	Wins	Appalachian State 66-13 East Carolina 17-10 Arkansas State 26-7 Marshall 30-10 Miami (FL) 38-35 Wake Forest 38-17 Boston College 30-14 Duke 14-10 #21 Georgia Tech 37-26 North Carolina 24-21 Virginia 38-0
#23 Michigan State 14-28 Iowa 16-24	Losses	#13 Clemson 3-23 #20 Clemson 10-38
34.2	Scoring Offense	28.5
235.7	Rushing YPG	188.7
187.4	Passing YPG	227.1
423.1	Total Offense	415.8
17.2	Scoring Defense	17.2
129.1	Rush Defense YPG	107.8
188.5	Pass Defense YPG	206.2
317.6	Total Defense YPG	313.9
27	Takeaways	22
21	Giveaways	16
28/15	Sacks By/Allowed	38/15
75-of-155 (48.0%)	Third-down Conv.	88-of-190 (46.0%)
10-for-14 (71.4%)	Field Goals	14-for-20 (70.0%)
33.7	Net Punt Avg.	33.6

And now, Team 132 will take the field on Tuesday in its first BCS bowl since the 2007 Rose Bowl, looking to end a three-game BCS losing streak.

Michigan will face Virginia Tech, one of the few schools the Wolverines have never faced in the 132 year history of Michigan football.

Virginia Tech finished the season 11-2 and would have been undefeated had it not been forced to play Clemson – twice. The Hokies lost at home to Clemson 23-3 on Oct. 1 and then again 38-10 in the ACC Championship game in Charlotte. Outside of that, the highest-ranked team the Hokies faced was 21st-ranked Georgia Tech, which they beat 37-26. Michigan and Virginia Tech had no common opponents this season.

Virginia Tech ranks 29th nationally in rushing with 188.7 yards per game, 66th in passing with 227.1 yards per game, 36th in total offense, and 52nd in scoring offense at 28.5 points per game. Defensively, the Hokies fared a little better, ranking 15th in rush defense, allowing 107.8 yards per game, 39th in pass defense at 206.1 yards per game, 15th in total defense, and 8th in scoring defense, giving up 17.2 points per game.

The Hokies’ defense does a good job of getting to the quarterback, racking up 38 sacks, which is good for 12th nationally. Special teams, normally a Virginia Tech strength, is the weak spot this season.

Let’s take position-by-position look.

Quarterback:

Logan Thomas is a big-bodied dual-threat quarterback, more in the mold of Tim Tebow than Denard Robinson. At 6’6″ and 254 pounds, Thomas is a former tight end who was moved to quarterback two years ago. He completed 59.2 percent of his passes for 2,799 yards, 19 touchdowns, and nine interceptions this season. He also ran 137 times for 416 yards, an average of just 3.3 yards per carry, and 10 touchdowns. I compare him to Tebow more than Denard because he’s not a burner that could break loose any play. His longest run of the season is 23 yards. Instead, he’s more dangerous in short-yardage situations. In 24 carries on third-and-short, he converted the first down with his legs 23 times.

Quarterback	Att/Comp	Yards	Comp %	YPA	TD	INT	Rating	Rush	Rush Yds	YPC	Rush TD
Logan Thomas	215-363	2,799	59.2	7.71	19	9	136.3	137	416	3.0	10
Denard Robinson	133-237	2,056	56.1	8.68	18	14	142.2	208	1,163	5.6	16

You can bet Michigan coaches are studying the way Clemson defended him. In the two matchups, he completed 37-of-71 passes for 399 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions. He also ran 24 times for 10 yards, his two lowest rushing games of the season. Clemson was able to collapse the pocket and keep him contained. He’s just a first-year starter and was heavily criticized for the first half of the season. With a month to prepare, expect defensive coordinator Greg Mattison to have a similar game plan prepared.

Edge: Michigan

Running Back:

Virginia Tech has a top-notch back in David Wilson. He’s strong and fast, boasting a 4.4 40-speed. He ranks 6th nationally with 125.2 yards per game and ran for over 100 yards in 10 of Tech’s 13 games. In fact, he didn’t just barely break 100 either. He ran for at least 123 yards in all 10 of those. For the season, he racked up 1,627 yards on 266 carries (6.1 ypc) and nine touchdowns. He was also somewhat of a threat catching passes out of the backfield, with 21 receptions for 126 yards and a touchdown.

Though he did well against Clemson in the first meeting, rushing for 123 yards, his worst game of the season came in the ACC Championship game against the Tigers. He had just 11 carries for 32 yards, both his lowest totals of the season.

Behind Wilson, Thomas is the team’s second-leading rusher, but senior Josh Oglesby also gets some carries. He had 90 carries for 336 yards and six touchdowns. For comparison, Michigan’s third-leading rusher in terms of carries behind Robinson and Toussaint was Vincent Smith with just 49.

Running Back	Rush Att.	Yards	YPC	TD	YPG	Long
David Wilson	266	1,627	6.1	9	125.2	48
Fitzgerald Toussaint	174	1,011	6.1	9	91.9	65

Virginia Tech uses a zone running scheme and the staple is the zone read, which Michigan is very familiar with since it runs it itself. Wilson is very similar to Toussaint, but has done it all season. The Hokies love to run between the tackles, so Michigan’s defense will have to be physical up front if it wants to slow Wilson down.

Edge: Virginia Tech

Receivers and Tight Ends:

Thomas has a pair of experienced and established receivers to throw to in seniors Danny Coale and Jarrett Boykin. Coale leads the team in yards with 787 on 52 receptions and three touchdowns. He had three 100-yard receiving games, against Arkansas State, Marshall, and Boston College, but was held to just to catches for 11 yards in the ACC Championship game. He’s the main deep threat, having caught two receptions over 60 yards this season. Boykin, the school’s career leader in receptions and yards, has 57 catches for 731 yards and five touchdowns. He didn’t play in the Marshall game, also had three 100-yards receiving games, against Miami, Wake Forest, and North Carolina. He’s the most complete receiver with great hands and route-running.

Two others, juniors Marcus Davis and D.J. Coles, have done some damage as well. Both are bigger receivers at 6’4″ and 6’3″, respectively. Davis has five touchdown receptions and is third on the team with 499 yards. In the regular season finale against Virginia, he caught five passes for 199 yards and a touchdown. Like Coale, he’s a deep threat, but his size also allows him to go up and get the jump ball against smaller defensive backs. Coles is fast and has tallied 449 yards and three touchdowns. His biggest game of the season was the ACC Championship game, in which he caught seven passes for 116 yards and a touchdown.

Receivers	Height	Weight	Receptions	Yards	YPC	TD	YPG	Long
Danny Coale	6’1″	200	52	787	15.1	3	60.5	63
Jarrett Boykin	6’2″	218	57	731	12.8	5	56.2	60
Marcus Davis	6’4″	228	29	499	17.2	5	38.4	63
D.J. Coles	6’3″	224	34	449	13.2	3	34.5	49
Junior Hemingway	6’1″	225	32	636	19.9	2	53.0	77
Jeremy Gallon	5’8″	180	30	450	15.0	3	37.5	64
Roy Roundtree	6’1″	176	18	345	19.2	2	28.8	57
Kevin Koger	6’4″	255	21	235	11.2	4	19.6	40

Tech doesn’t use its tight ends much. Chris Drager is the tight end and he has caught 14 passes for 186 yards and two touchdowns. Regardless, Michigan’s secondary will have its hands full with VT’s talented receiving corps. If receivers run open like they did against Ohio State, it could spell doom for Michigan as Thomas isn’t likely to miss them like Braxton Miller did.

Edge: Virginia Tech

Offensive Line:

Like the receiving corps, Tech’s offensive line is an experienced unit. It features four redshirt seniors led by first-team All-ACC right tackle Blake DeChristopher and second-team All-ACC right guard Jaymes Brooks. The line has done a great job of protecting Thomas, having allowed just 15 sacks this season, just over one per game, and the same as Michigan’s line has allowed. Rushing-wise, the line has paved the way for the nation’s 29th-best rushing attack at 188.7 yards per game, which is impressive since the Hokies love to run between the tackles rather than outside. The only non-senior in the group is redshirt sophomore center Andrew Miller who is a first-year starter.

Offensive Line	Height	Weight	Class	Starts
Blake DeChristopher	6’2″	311	RS Sr.	50
Jaymes Brooks	6’2″	307	RS Sr.	41
Andrew Miller	6’4″	290	RS So.	13
Greg Nosal	6’6″	297	RS Sr.	27
Andrew Lanier	6’5″	306	RS Sr.	28
Taylor Lewan	6’8″	302	RS So.	21
Michael Schofield	6’7″	299	RS So.	9
David Molk	6’2″	286	RS Sr.	41
Patrick Omameh	6’4″	299	RS Jr.	28
Mark Huyge	6’6″	302	RS Sr.	28

Edge: Even

Defensive Line:

Virginia Tech has a talented defensive front seven that ranks 12th nationally with 38 sacks and 15th in rush defense. The line is led by sophomore tackle Derrick Hopkins who has 50 tackles, five tackles-for-loss and three sacks, and second-team All-ACC defensive end James Gayle who has recorded seven sacks and 11.5 tackles-for-loss. The other end is redshirt sophomore J.R. Collins, who has six sacks and 11 quarterback hurries. Overall, it’s a young but athletic group that has a knack for getting to the quarterback. However, it had trouble containing Clemson QB Tajh Boyd, a somewhat similar quarterback to Robinson.

Edge: Michigan

Linebackers:

Tech lost two starting linebackers during the season, but hasn’t seen a dramatic drop-off in productivity. Sophomore strong-side linebacker Tariq Edwards ranks third on the team with 63 tackles and 9.5 tackles-for-loss and has 2.5 sacks and a pair of interceptions. Middle linebacker is VT’s version of Jordan Kovacs, walk-on Jack Tyler. The sophomore has 35 tackles and a sack. Rounding out the unit is a converted cornerback, Kyle Fuller, who has 64 tackles, 14.5 for loss, and 4.5 sacks. Due to the aforementioned injuries in the linebacker unit, Fuller gives the Hokies a nickel look, bringing speed and athleticism to the middle of the defense, which should help defend Robinson.

Edge: Even

Secondary:

The Hokies secondary is a good one, ranking 21st nationally in interceptions with 15 and 39th in pass defense, giving up 206 yards per game through the air. The unit is led by Jayron Hosley. The junior recorded nine interceptions last season, being named first-team All-American, and has been a force this season as well. He has three picks this year and eight pass breakups. The safeties are the team’s leading tacklers, as sophomore Antone Exum leads the team with 85 and senior Eddie Whitley ranks second with 78. Exum also has 21 pass breakups, two forced fumbles, 4.5 tackles-for-loss, an interception, and a fumble recovery. Overall, it’s a solid unit that will test Robinson’s passing ability. If the Denard from the last three games of the season shows up, Michigan will be fine, but if the Denard from the beginning of the season shows up, VT’s secondary could have a hey-day.

Edge: Virginia Tech

Special Teams:

If there’s one thing Frank Beamer and Virginia Tech is known for, it’s special teams. Named after the head man, “Beamerball” has personified Blacksburg for the past decade, but this season has not been the same. The team’s starting kicker, Cody Journell, was kicked off the team following his arrest for a home invasion two weeks ago. His backup, senior Tyler Weiss, was sent home from New Orleans for breaking curfew, leaving third-stringer and kickoff specialist Justin Myer to handle the kicking duties. He has been the team’s long field goal man this season, but has missed his only two attempts, from 57- and 53-yards.

Punter Danny Coale is also a receiver profiled above. He didn’t start the season as the team’s punter, but was moved there after the team’s first two punters weren’t able to get the job done. In two games, he has averaged a net of 45 yards per punt. The team as a whole ranks 108th nationally with a 33.6 net punt average.

Returnwise, the Hokies rank 36th in punt returns and 99th in kick returns. Hosley is the punt returner, averaging 12 yards per return, which is good for 12th in the nation. Junior running back Tony Gregory and Wilson handle the kick return duties. Neither has taken one back for a touchdown this season, but Wilson had two last year.

Overall, Tech has the potential to be dangerous in the return game, but looks shaky in the kicking game.

Edge: Michigan

Coaching:

While Brady Hoke is in his first year at Michigan, VT’s Frank Beamer is a legend in Blacksburg. He has been there 25 years and has the most wins of any team in the country since 1995. He has guided the Hokies to 19 straight bowl appearances, four ACC titles, and six top-10 finishes in the last 13 years. He was the National Coach of the Year in 1999 and (now that Joe Paterno is no longer at Penn State) is the active leader among FBS coaches in wins with 251.

Like Michigan, Tech has a highly regarded defensive mind in defensive coordinator Bud Foster. He’s in his 25th season at VT and consistently has the Hokies defense playing as one of the nation’s best.

Edge: Even

Intangibles:

The current Virginia Tech team has never played in the Superdome, but Beamer has experience there from the 1995, 2000, and 2005 Sugar Bowls. That should at least somewhat help in the game preparation, but Michigan will likely have a more friendly fanbase in attendance. Virginia Tech had trouble selling its ticket allotment, while Michigan fans, ecstatic to be back in the BCS, gobbled them up quickly. Though both teams had a month off, Michigan enters on a three-game winning streak, in which it played its best football of the season in beating Illinois, Nebraska, and Ohio State. Tech enters on the heels of a 38-10 drubbing at the hands of Clemson in the ACC Championship game.

Edge: Slight Michigan

Prediction:

Although many complained about Michigan and Virginia Tech getting at-large BCS bids, this has the makings of being one of the best bowl games of the year. Both teams have good defenses, exciting quarterbacks, and solid running games. Virginia Tech will look to pound David Wilson, but the running game had trouble against North Carolina, a defensive front seven similar to Michigan’s. For Virginia Tech to win, it will need to challenge Michigan’s secondary early and often. If it can do so and protect Logan Thomas from Michigan’s pass rush, Michigan’s defense could be in for a long day.

Offensively, Michigan will look to run right at the Hokies with Robinson and Toussaint. Virginia Tech’s front seven, while talented and athletic, is young and rather inexperienced. It lost three starters throughout the season. Michigan’s offensive line was able to manhandle Illinois’, Nebraska’s and Ohio State’s front sevens and it will look to do the same to Tech’s because challenging Hosley and the rest of the secondary is a risky proposition. Hosley is a sure-fire NFLer and the safeties are solid playmakers.

It’s important for Michigan to get out to a quick start and force Virginia Tech to somewhat abandon the run as it did against Clemson. If that’s the case, the Michigan front seven can load up on Thomas, which is when Mattison’s schemes are dangerous. It’s also imperative for Michigan to convert third downs. Against similar defenses to VT, Michigan State and Iowa, Michigan struggled to convert, going just 10-of-31 on third down. If that holds true on Tuesday, it will be hard for Michigan to put up enough points to beat the Hokies. It should be close throughout but I think Michigan will pull it out in the fourth quarter. If it comes down to special teams, I like Michigan’s chances.

Michigan 24 – Virginia Tech 20

Good to Know:

Tuesday marks the first ever meeting between college football’s all-time winningest program, Michigan, and the team that has won the most games in the nation since 1995, Virginia Tech.

This is Michigan’s second Sugar Bowl appearance. Michigan lost its only other appearance 9-7 to Auburn on Jan. 2, 1984

Michigan’s last game against a team from the Atlantic Coast Conference was a 42-7 Holiday Bowl victory over North Carolina State on Jan. 1, 1994. Michigan is 18-3 all-time against ACC schools

In his last two games, Denard Robinson completed 71.4 percent of his passes for 347 yards, five touchdowns, and one interception, and rushed 49 times for 253 yards and four touchdowns

Michigan has outscored opponents 322-136 after the first quarter and 207-87 in the second half

Record Watch:

With 34 pass completions, Denard Robinson will pass Brian Griese (1994-97) for 7th in career completions. With 4 passing touchdowns, Denard Robinson will move into a tie Steve Smith (1980-83) for 5th place on Michigan’s career list. With a 100-yard passing game, Denard will pass Tom Brady and tie Jim Harbaugh (1983-86) for 5th in career 100-yard passing games. With 47 passing yards, Denard will pass Steve Smith (1980-83) for 7th in career passing yards. With 102 rushing yards, Denard will pass Rob Lytle (1973-76) for 7th on Michigan’s career rushing list With 4 rushing touchdowns, Denard will move into a tie with Chris Perry (2000-03) for 4th place in career rushing touchdowns

We’re six days away from Michigan’s first BCS bowl appearance since the 2006 season and Michigan faces an intriguing matchup against a team it has never played. Virginia Tech boasts a slightly above average offense with the nation’s 6th-best running back and a top-15 defense. The Hokies’ 13th-ranked total defense and 8th-ranked scoring allows just 313.9 yards per game and 17.23 points per game.

Below are the questions for the final Michigan Man 5-Spot Challenge of the season. Several competitors are still within reach of the overall crown. Umichfan1 has carried the lead all season after winning Week 1. Can he go wire-to-wire? Hazel Parker stands just 12 points behind. He has won twice this season. Can he continue his late-season charge? Chris12qb is right on his heels, 14 points out of first. Can he make a late comeback? Bomoho is another two-time winner and is 17 behind. Does he have what it takes?

This week, we’re throwing a wrench into things. Remember that 25-foot basket in the old MTV Rock N’ Jock basketball games? Well this is the same idea. If any contestant gets the final question exactly correct, he/she will receive an additional five points for each contestant. So if there are 20 entries this week, and someone gets the total combined yardage exactly right, that person will receive 100 bonus points in addition to his final weekly result. This is a chance, albeit slight, for almost anyone who has participated this season to win. Good luck and Go Blue!

[Ed.: This was started right at the end of the season in hopes of getting it out before the Michigan football bust, but then I bought a new house, moved, etc, which resulted in less free time and no internet access at home for a few weeks. We apologize for the lack of content lately].

The 132nd team in Michigan football history began play in September with a new head coach and plenty of returning talent. It opened with a rain-soaked three-quarter win over Western Michigan and continued on with the first ever night game in Michigan Stadium history. It opened Big Ten play with a 58-0 route of Minnesota, then followed up with a second half comeback at Northwestern. It suffered defeat in East Lansing and Iowa City with a win over Purdue sandwiched in between, but bounced back with decisive wins over Illinois and Nebraska. And finally, it ended seven years of futility with a 40-34 win over Ohio State.

It’s hard to believe 12 games have already come and gone, but with season’s end comes awards and accolades. The All-Big Ten teams have been announced and Brady Hoke was named conference coach of the year, so we at Maize and Go Blue decided to announce our very first Maize and Go Blue Awards. Some of these will be painfully obvious and some you may disagree with, but we welcome the discussion and ultimately aim to honor the men of Team 132.

Harmon Player of the Year | Denard Robinson

Denard Robinson entered the season as a Heisman contender and almost singlehandedly beat Notre Dame in Week 2. However, his throwing mechanics seemed to tail off in the middle of the season, resulting in a number of interceptions and calls for Devin Gardner to replace him. But Robinson kept battling and delivered his best all-around performances of his career late in the season, including one of the greatest by any Michigan quarterback ever against Ohio State.

Last week, we found out that Robinson played much of the season with a staph infection on his arm and an abscess on his throwing elbow that at least in some part contributed to his midseason miscues.

He completed 133-of-237 passes for 2,056 yards, 18 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions. He also led the team in rushing with 1,163 yards (5.6 yards per carry) and 16 touchdowns. His rushing yards per game ranked 28th nationally and his total offense ranked 29th nationally. He also accounted for an average of 17 points per game, which ranked 15th in the nation, and despite his midseason passing struggles, he ranked 36th nationally in passing efficiency – just behind another preseason Heisman contender, Oklahoma quarterback Landry Jones.

Votes: 2
Others Receiving Votes: Fitzgerald Toussaint (1), Mike Martin (1)

Chappuis Offensive Player of the Year | Denard Robinson

As stated above, Denard Robinson led the team rushing with 1,163 yards and 16 touchdowns, averaging 5.6 yards per carry, and completed 56 percent of his passes for 2,056 yards and 18 touchdowns. He finished 28th nationally in rushing and 36th in passing efficiency.

He also got better as the season progressed. After a fast start, and great performance against Notre Dame, he struggled against Northwestern and Michigan State. But he rebounded with three of his best performances of the season in Michigan’s final three games against Illinois, Nebraska, and Ohio State.

Robinson moved into 8th place in career completions, passing yards, and rushing yards at Michigan, 6th in career touchdown passes, 100-yard passing games, and 200-yard passing games, and 5th in rushing touchdowns. He’s also just 679 rushing yards away from Juice Williams’ Big Ten quarterback rushing record, which he should easily break next season.

Votes: 3
Others Receiving Votes: Fitzgerald Toussaint (1)

Schulz Defensive Player of the Year  | Mike Martin

Mike Martin was the rock of a Michigan defense that improved vastly in every statistical category from a year ago. Total defense ranked 18th nationally, rush defense ranked 35th, and scoring defense ranked 7th. While Martin didn’t have eye-popping numbers, he took on double-teams more often than not, freeing up the pass rush for the rest of the front seven. He was also solid in run defense, consistently clogging the middle of the line and taking away running lanes for opposing backs.

He made one of the best defensive plays of the season, fighting through the Purdue line to sack quarterback Caleb TerBush in the end zone for a safety to break a 7-7 tie. Michigan went on to score the next 27 points to put the game away.

Martin’s senior leadership and defensive tenacity was a stabilizing force for an all-around young Michigan defense. He benefited from Defensive Coordinator Greg Mattison’s experience coaching NFL defensive linemen and had the best season of his career at Michigan. He finished with 54 tackles (5.5 for loss) and three sacks.

Votes: 3
Others Receiving Votes: Jordan Kovacs (1)

Yost Coach of the Year | Brady Hoke & Greg Mattison (tie)

In his first year at the helm, Brady Hoke took an underperforming Michigan squad and guided it to a 10-2 record, falling just a few plays short of an undefeated season and a chance to play for the Big Ten championship. His display of composure on the sidelines, his hiring of top-notch coordinators, his willingness to call a gameplan with what he called ‘controlled agression’, and his beating of Ohio State make him a lock for the award.

Hoke was awarded the Schembechler-Hayes Big Ten Coach of the Year by both the coaches and the media (the media’s award is called the Dave McClain Award). It was his third conference coach of the year award in four years, having received the honor as head coach of San Diego State in 2010 and Ball State in 2008.

Many Michigan fans were skeptical of his hiring back in January, but one would be hard pressed to find a Michigan fan who hasn’t bought in at this point. In Hoke’s introductory press conference, he proclaimed that he would have walked to Ann Arbor (from California) if he had to. After nearly a year on the job, Hoke has won over players, almuni, and fans alike who would probably walk to California for him if they had to. He’s also putting the finishing touches on what will be a highly-ranked recruiting class coming to Ann Arbor next season.

According to Matt, “Hoke came in post-RichRod, turned this team around, went 10-2, became BCS eligible, and beat Ohio State.”

Greg Mattison is one of those coordinators that Hoke hired and was a genius pick. In Mattison’s second stint in Ann Arbor (he coached at Michigan from 1992-96), Mattison turned a defensive unit that ranked 110th nationally in 2010 and gave up the most points in Michigan history into the nation’s 18th-ranked total defense and 7th-best scoring defense. Not once all season did an opponent score as many points as the Michigan defense averaged allowing last season. Ohio State came the closest but was still one short.

The turnaround was most impressive because it was largely the same players as last year with the addition of freshmen Jake Ryan, Desmond Morgan, and Blake Countess mixed in. That Mattison can take the same defense, add three true freshmen to the mix, and produce what he did is nothing short of miraculous. The Michigan defense is in good hands as long as Mattison is coordinating it.

Chris picked Mattison, saying “Tough call between Hoke and Mattison but I had to go with Mattison because he was more directly responsible for the greatly improved play of the defense. His blitz schemes were a nightmare for opposing coordinators and his ability to get essentially the same players as last year to play like they did was top notch.”

Votes: Hoke (2), Mattison (2)
Others Receiving Votes: None

Little Brown Jug Game of the Year | 40-34 win over Ohio State

Of all of the achievements this season – a 10-2 record, a BCS bowl game, beating Notre Dame at the last second, etc., the most satisfying for Michigan players, coaches, and fans was beating Ohio State and ending the seven-year drought. It wasn’t easy and the game had its share of twists and turns, but Michigan persevered and found a way to do what the previous seven Michigan teams could not: Beat Ohio.

The Buckeyes came in with a 6-5 record, a true freshman quarterback, and nothing to lose. The OSU offense was anemic all season, but in what would be interim head coach Luke Fickell and offensive coordinator Jim Bollman’s last game on the reigns, they turned the offense loose. Instead of pounding the ball up the middle all game, they let quarterback Braxton Miller make plays with his arm and legs.

But Michigan traded blow for blow and scored the most points of any Michigan team against Ohio State since 1946. Denard Robinson played the best game of his career, hitting 14-of-17 passes for 167 yards and three touchdowns and rushing 26 times for 170 yards and two touchdowns. It was one of the greatest performances by a quarterback against Ohio State in Michigan history.

The win ensured that another senior class would not graduate winless against Ohio State and served as a pleasing sendoff for the seniors who stayed through three head coaches and multiple coordinators.

“Streak ending statement game,” said Josh.

Votes: 4
Others Receiving Votes: None

Howard Play of the Year | Denard’s TD pass to Roundtree to beat Notre Dame

Another unanimous selection, the 16-yard touchdown pass from Denard Robinson to Roy Rountree with two seconds left to beat Notre Dame proved to be one of the greatest moments of the season.

It was the much-hyped and nationally televised Under the Lights game, the first ever night game in Michigan Stadium history. ESPN’s College Gameday broadcast live from Ann Arbor that morning and Brady Hoke needed the win to keep Michigan fans from another “here we go again” feeling.

The game itself was a candidate for game of the year and probably would have been had Michigan not ended its seven-year futility against Ohio State. It was back and forth throughout, but looked like Michigan was headed for a loss when Notre Dame answered a Michigan touchdown to take a three-point lead with 30 seconds to play. Michigan got the ball on its own 20-yard line, needing to drive 80 yards in 30 seconds to pull off a miracle. And that they did.

On the second play, Robinson found a wide open Jeremy Gallon on a wheel route for a 64-yard gain to the Notre Dame 16. One play later, Robinson floated a perfect jump ball to Roy Roundtree in the end zone. The junior receiver leaped above ND defensive back Gary Gray and hauled it in, touching a foot in bounds before falling out of bounds. Replay confirmed the catch and Michigan celebrated its third-straight win over Notre Dame.

Votes: 4
Others Receiving Votes: None

Biakabutuka Performance of the Year | Denard’s 5 TDs against Ohio State

Denard Robinson had his share of electrifying moments the past couple of seasons, even garnering Heisman talk at times the past to years. However, the major knock on the junior quarterback has been that he hasn’t played well in big games against the likes of rivals Michigan State and Ohio State. This time, in the season’s final game, he did.

Although Ohio State was limping in with a 6-5 record, it was still a rivalry game and Michigan was fighting the burden of the seven-year plague. Ohio State’s defense still had largely shut down two of the Big Ten’s best quarterbacks, Michigan State’s Kirk Cousins and Wisconsin’s Russell Wilson.

Robinson, however, was not to be stopped. He turned in one of the greatest single performances by a Michigan player against Ohio State in the history of the rivalry. He completed 14-of-17 passes for 167 yards and three touchdowns and rushed 26 times for 170 yards and two touchdowns. He became just the fourth Michigan quarterback to throw for three touchdowns in a game against Ohio State (the first since Drew Henson in 2000) and his 170 rushing yards were the third-most by any Michigan rusher against the Buckeyes (behind Tim Biakabatuka’s 313 in 1995 and Jamie Morris’ 210 in ’86).

“Big players come up big in big games,” said Chris. “Denard did not disappoint.”

Votes: 4
Others Receiving Votes: None

Friedman Quarterback of the Year | Denard Robinson

Unlike the Yost Coach of the Year award, in which two coaches very much deserved the honor, this one is painfully obvious. Even though sophomore Devin Gardner got some playing time, no one is going to name him quarterback of the year.

Denard Robinson followed up a stellar sophomore season with an even better junior season. While his numbers were down overall (1,163 rushing yards vs. 1,702 in 2010 and 2,056 passing yards vs. 2,570 in 2010), he developed as a quarterback and as a leader. There were times early in the season where questions arose about Denard’s progress, but by season’s end, he proved that the job is his and his alone.

He ranked 28th nationally and 5th in the Big Ten in rushing, breaking the 1,000-yard mark for the second straight season. He completed 56.1 percent of his passes for 18 touchdowns and 14 interceptions, though his TD-to-INT ratio grew as the season drew to a close. Most importantly, he turned in his best performance in leading Michigan to its first win over Ohio State in eight years, throwing for 167 yards and three touchdowns and rushing for 170 yards and two touchdowns. He became the fourth quarterback in Michigan history to throw for three touchdowns in a game against OSU – the first since Drew Henson in 2000 – and recorded the third-highest rushing total by any Michigan player against the Buckeyes.

Michigan fans should expect big things from Robinson in 2012.

Votes: 4
Others Receiving Votes: None

Heston Running Back of the Year | Fitzgerald Toussaint

It took a while for Fitzgerald Toussaint to get going, but once he did, he turned in a phenomenal season. After rushing for 80 yards and two touchdowns in the rain-soaked season opener against Western Michigan, Toussaint didn’t play against Notre Dame and carried just twice for seven yards in a mid-season loss to Michigan State. After that, however, he gained at least 120 yards in four of the remaining five games, averaging six yards per carry.

Toussaint finished sixth in the Big Ten in rushing, right behind Robinson, and 40th nationally. He also eclipsed the 1,000 mark, becoming the first Michigan running back to do so since Mike Hart.

For the season, he gained 1,011 yards and scored nine touchdowns, averaging 5.8 yards per carry and 91.9 yards per game.

Votes: 4
Others Receiving Votes: None

Carter Receiver of the Year | Junior Hemingway

With the exception of the Notre Dame and Northwestern games, Michigan didn’t put the ball in the air often. The emergence of Fitzgerald Toussaint allowed Hoke and offensive coordinator Al Borges to utilize the passing game just enough to keep the defense honest for the running game.

Junior Hemingway was a guy that Michigan fans had been waiting to break out for years, but was always hampered by injury. This season, he did so.

Hemingway emerged as the main receiving threat with his ability to stretch defenses and go up and get balls in the air. He made several great plays against Notre Dame and Northwestern, out-leaping the defensive back to give a shot in the arm to the offense. He finished the regular season with 32 receptions for 636 yards and two touchdowns.

Against Notre Dame, Hemingway had three catches for 165 yards and a touchdown and against Northwestern, he caught five passes for 124 yards. His second and only other touchdown of the year came against Ohio State, putting Michigan ahead 16-7 at the end of the first quarter.

“Hemingway gave the offense a deep threat which had been lacking over the last few seasons,” said Josh. “When he was catching the ball, his ability to stretch the field opened up windows in the defense for other receivers to run into.”

Votes: 3
Others Receiving Votes: Roy Roundtree (1)

Dierdorf Offensive Lineman of the Year | David Molk

David Molk was everything you could possibly ask for at the center position. He was the rock of the Michigan offense and a senior leader both on and off the field. He was a First-Team All-America selection and the Rimington Award winner which goes to the nation’s top center.

While many things could be pointed to for Michigan’s offensive success throughout the entire season, one of the biggest is the stability Molk provided to the offensive line. That was all the more apparent in 2009 when Molk missed eight games due to various injuries and the offense fell apart.This season, he was healthy throughout, and the offense never missed a beat.

Off the field, while Robinson could be considered the face of Michigan football, Molk was usually the voice of Michigan football, providing positive soundclips and keeping the team focused and together. He was one of the few seniors who stayed and triumphed through three head coaches and multiple coordinators. He beat Ohio State and will play in Michigan’s first BCS bowl game since the year before he arrived in Ann Arbor.

“Center is the most important player on the line,” said Chris. “Molk came through with leadership and stellar play.”

Votes: 4
Others Receiving Votes: None

Messner Defensive Lineman of the Year | Mike Martin & Ryan Van Bergen (tie)

The best position group on a vastly improved Michigan defense, and also the hardest to replace next season, was the defensive line. It was manned by a pair of senior leaders, Mike Martin and Ryan Van Bergen, both of which share the Messner Defensive Lineman of the Year award.

Martin was the clog in the middle of the defense that routinely took on double-teams and made it tough for opposing offenses to run the ball. Van Bergen had a knack for fighting his way through the line to pressure the opposing quarterback. Together, they formed the backbone of one of the Big Ten’s top units.

According to Josh, “While Martin was often fighting through double-teams, Van Bergen was making plays with his quick pass rushing abilities. He had five sacks, 12 tackles for loss, a forced fumble, and four pass breakups. This is another Senior who will be difficult to replace.”

Votes: Martin (2), Van Bergen (2)
Others Receiving Votes: None

Simpkins Linebacker of the Year | Jake Ryan & Kenny Demens (tie)

Last year’s linebacker corps was plagued with unsound fundamentals and poor tackling and the unit entered this season as one of the biggest question marks on the team. Obi Ezeh and Jonas Mouton were gone and many wondered who would fill their spot. Kenny Demens entered the scene last season, but no one else had stepped up. Enter Jake Ryan.

The redshirt freshman broke out to provide some much-needed playmaking ability and combined with Demens to provide stability to the linebacking corps.

He finished the season with 30 tackles, seven for loss, and also recorded two sacks and recovered two fumbles. Against San Diego State, he recorded five tackles, one for loss, and two fumble recoveries. He was named to the ESPN.com and Big Ten All-Freshman team.

Demens led the team in tackles with 86, five for loss, and also tallied three sacks. He recorded a team-high 12 tackles against Notre Dame and also helped slow down Ohio State quarterback Braxton Miller, adding eight tackles and an assisted sack.

He was an All-Big Ten Honorable Mention honoree.

“Led the team in tackles and was a force in the middle of the field,” said Chris.

Votes: Ryan (2), Demens (2)
Others Receiving Votes: None

Woodson Defensive Back of the Year | Jordan Kovacs

Over the last couple of seasons, Jordan Kovacs has become one of the team’s most popular players. The former walk-on who earned a scholarship last season did a little bit of everything on defense.

He was second on the team in tackles with 64, second on the team with eight tackles for loss, tallied four sacks, forced two fumbles, recovered one, and picked off a pass.

In the season-opening win over Western Michigan, Kovacs led the team with 10 tackles, two for loss, recorded a pair of sacks, forced a fumble, and recorded a pass breakup. For his effort, he was named the Lott IMPACT Player of the Week.

He also made one of the key defensive plays of the season when he sacked Northwestern quarterback Dan Persa on fourth down to give the ball back to Michigan and seal the win.

He was named All-Big Ten honorable mention by the media.

Votes: 2
Others Receiving Votes: Blake Countess (1), J.T. Floyd (1)

Hamilton Special Teams Player of the Year | Brendan Gibbons & Jeremy Gallon (tie)

It’s fitting that two players split the special teams player of the year award given that Michigan’s special teams was a disaster the past couple of seasons and improved immensely this year.

A year ago, Gibbons made just made just 1-of-5 field goals before being replaced by Seth Broekhuisen for the remainder of the season. The kicking game was so bad that Rich Rodriguez elected to forego kicking unless the team was within about 30 yards. This year was a drastic turnaround. Gibbons hit 10-of-14 field goals and 52-of-53 extra points.

The night-and-day difference between last season and this was on display in the fourth quarter against Ohio State. Holding onto a three-point lead with two minutes left, and facing fourth-and-goal from the OSU-26, Hoke sent Gibbons out to attempt what would be a career long. With the pressure of the seven-year plague on his back, Gibbons nailed it, pushing the lead to six, and making Ohio State have to score a touchdown to win rather than a field goal to tie.

Another sore spot for Michigan the past couple years was the return game. Aside from not getting return yards, Michigan’s returnmen had trouble catching the ball. Michigan fans held their breath every time a punt was in the air, arcing down toward a Michigan returnman. Not so this year.

Jeremy Gallon provided a solid receiver on punts and proved capable of picking up yards as well. He averaged 10.1 yards per return and his 32-yard return against Illinois set up a Michigan touchdown. He was named an All-Big Ten Special Teams third teamer by Phil Steele.

Votes: Gibbons (2), Gallon (2)
Others Receiving Votes: None

Hart Newcomer of the Year | Blake Countess

As a true freshman, Blake Countess certainly impressed. He added a playmaking cover corner to a Michigan secondary that was desperately in need of one after getting torched game-in and game-out last season. He played in 11 of the team’s 12 games (10 at cornerback) and earned a starting spot in the last five.

Countess totaled 36 tackles, one for loss, and was second on the team in pass breakups with six. Against San Diego State, he tallied seven tackles and a pass breakup, and made a fantastic touchdown-saving pass breakup against Ohio State in the season finale (pictured right).

He was named to the ESPN.com and Big Ten All-Freshman team.

“Came into a starting role and never relinquished it,” said Josh. “Played with maturity and poise beyond his true freshman status.”

Chris was also impressed, saying, “The addition of Countess to Michigan’s secondary mid-way through the season was an excellent move by the coaches. In five starts, Countess had 36 tackles, 6 PBUs, and 1 forced fumble. Not bad for a true freshmen in such a short game span. Opposing QBs had to account for him on every passing play.”

Votes: 3
Others Receiving Votes: Drew Dileo (1)

Schembechler ‘Those Who Stay’ Senior of the Year | Mike Martin

Mike Martin was a senior leader who stuck it out through three head coaches, multiple defensive coordinators and various schemes. He very easily could have departed for the NFL after his junior season rather than try to learn a new scheme, but he stuck it out and emerged better off for it. The coaching he received from former Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Greg Mattison should certainly help out his NFL Draft stock.

He routinely took on double teams, freeing up Ryan Van Bergen and Craig Roh to rush the passer, and clogged the middle of the line, making it hard for opposing running backs to find holes.

“Martin was the leader of this defense, starting in the offseason when Hoke was first hired,” said Chris. “He helped Hoke get the rest of the defense (and the team) to buy into the new coaching staff. Losing Van Bergen’s abilities off the edge will hurt too, but it’s always tough to replace a leader like Martin.”

Votes: 4
Others Receiving Votes: None

Harris Most Improved Player of the Year | Brendan Gibbons & Fitzgerald Toussaint (tie)

As noted above in the special teams player of the year award, Brendan Gibbons showed vast improvement compared to a year ago. He went from 1-for-5 last season to a dependable 10-for-14 this season. And when it mattered most, he connected on a career long 43-yarder in the fourth quarter against Ohio State. With two years of eligibility left, it looks as if Michigan will be solid at kicker at least until he graduates.

Fitz Toussaint also gets the nod because of the way he broke out in the second half of the season. He battled injuries a year ago when he got just eight carries for 87 yards all year. Of those 87, 61 came on one run. This year, he busted out for 1,011 yards on 174 carries, becoming a dependable every-down back and a perfect complement to Denard Robinson in the backfield. Like Gibbons, Toussaint is just a sophomore, ensuring two more years to continue improving and leaving Michigan with a solid running game.

“Emerged as the go-to back,” said Josh. “Gave offense a much needed added dimension to take pressure off Denard.”

Votes: Gibbons (2), Toussaint (2)
Others Receiving Votes: None

Imagine how you felt at this time three years ago, watching the bowl selection show and knowing Michigan was staying home for the first time in nearly four decades. Then move forward a year and think about watching bowl season without your beloved Maize and Blue for the second straight year. Now advance to this time a year ago, finally being bowl eligible, but limping into the Gator Bowl on the heels of two blowout losses with a lame duck and beleaguered coach.

Now, imagine Bourbon Street and Cafe DuMonde, creole food and ragtag jazz musicians on every corner. But best of all, imagine Ryan Van Bergen and Mike Martin, Kevin Koger and David Molk, and the rest of Michigan’s seniors who chose to stay through three head coaches, multiple coordinators, and more scrutiny than any Michigan class in decades now going to a BCS bowl.

On Sunday night, Michigan was selected by the Sugar Bowl to face the Virginia Tech Hokies on January 3. It will be Michigan’s first BCS appearance since a Rose Bowl loss to USC at the end of the 2006 season and Michigan’s first ever matchup with Virginia Tech.

Michigan hasn’t won a BCS bowl since a 35-34 overtime win over Alabama in the 2000 Orange Bowl. Since then, Michigan has made a BCS bowl three times, all losses in the Rose Bowl, two to USC and one to Texas. Michigan has played in one Sugar Bowl previously (before the BCS existed), losing 9-7 to Auburn in 1984, and is 18-3 all-time against Atlantic Coast Conference opponents. Virginia Tech is 1-0 against Big Ten opponents and  1-2 in Sugar Bowls.

It creates an intriguing matchup two of the nation’s top ten defenses. The Hokies allow 17.2 points per game – identical to Michigan – and rank 12th nationally in total defense, giving up 313 yards per game. Offensively, the Hokies average 28.5 points per game and rank 31st in rush offense and 66th in pass offense. They do boast the nation’s seventh-best rusher, David Wilson, who averages 125 rushing yards per game, but Michigan has seen its share of talented running backs this season.

Neither team is very familiar with the other, having never played before. Virginia Tech head coach Frank Beamer, in his 25th season at the school, said he hasn’t seen much of Michigan but knows Denard Robinson can move.

Michigan coaches and players say likewise about the Hokies, but also talk about what this means for the program.

“It puts us back on the map, so to speak, as a national powerhouse,” said senior Ryan Van Bergen. “It will be great for recruiting, it will be great for the alumni and the fans, but the biggest thing for us: team 132 wants to play again. We’ve really grown close. We have great team chemistry, and the opportunity to play one more game on a stage as big as the Sugar Bowl is huge for us.”

More to follow on the matchup in the coming weeks.

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In other BCS news, Alabama edged out Oklahoma State to get a spot in the BCS National Championship game against LSU, thus proving what we all already knew: the BCS system is terrible. The same system that denied Michigan a shot at a rematch against Ohio State in 2006 allowed Alabama a rematch against an LSU team that came into its own house and beat it a few weeks ago. If you don’t think there’s an SEC bias, you’re crazy.

Alabama beat Penn State and Auburn on the road and Arkansas at home. Aside from those three, the Crimson Tide didn’t beat a another FBS team that finished with a record above .500. So much for the “vaunted” SEC.

What about the team they held off? Oklahoma State recorded wins over four teams that finished in the BCS Top 25, including a 44-10 stomping of rival Oklahoma on Saturday, and averaged 49.3(!) points per game. Its only loss was in double-overtime at Iowa State. Seven of the Cowboys’ 11 wins were against teams that finished the season with winning records.

Alabama was given the spot in the BCS National Championship game, not because of the season-long results on the field (the overall body of work), but because of the perception that the SEC is be-all end-all in college football. Critics of some type of playoff or plus-one system should be locked away.

The worst part of it is that the system designed to choose the top two teams completely failed the number one team in the nation. LSU is far and away the best team in the nation this season. They’re the only undefeated team in the country, having beaten Pac-12 champion Oregon on a neutral field, Big East champion West Virginia on the road, Alabama on the road, and 10-3 Georgia on a neutral field.

LSU proved it can beat Alabama at Alabama. Why does it have to prove it again? If Alabama wins, who can anyone rightfully call them the better team? If we’re going to throw any other conference out of contention for this season’s national champion, one of two things should happen: LSU should be crowned national champion right now and Oklahoma State should face Alabama for #2, or Alabama should have to beat LSU twice to claim the crown since the Tide already lost to the Tigers once – in Tuscaloosa no less.

Yet it’s not a perfect system and the BCS relishes controversy and the TV ratings and dollars that come with it. And while the same system that got Alabama into the title game this year screwed Michigan out of it five years ago, Michigan was one of the beneficiaries of it this year. So we’ll enjoy our Sugar in New Orleans while our little siblings to the north are relegated to the Outback Bowl.

Michigan basketball fans have grown accustomed to sweating out Selection Sunday the past few years, anxiously awaiting whether the Wolverines would get a spot in the Big Dance or be left out. This weekend, Michigan football fans get their turn. While it’s not exactly the same – Michigan will still go to a good bowl regardless of what happens on Saturday – the outcome of Saturday’s conference championship games will determine whether Michigan plays in a prestigious BCS bowl or a typical New Year’s Day* bowl.

In all likelihood, only two of the following scenarios need to happen to get Michigan into the BCS (and most likely the Sugar Bowl), but why leave it up to chance? The more of these scenarios that happen, the better.

The winners of the six BCS conferences (SEC, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac 12, Big East, and ACC) earn automatic berths into the four BCS bowls (the Rose Bowl, Sugar Bowl, Fiesta Bowl, and Orange Bowl). If any of those happen to finish #1 or 2 in the final BCS standings, it will play in the BCS National Championship game, leaving a vacancy for an at-large.

An at-large selection must be ranked in the top 14 of the final BCS standings (teams from non-BCS conferences must be ranked in the top 12 or the top 16 if ranked higher than a BCS conference champion). Michigan currently stands at 16th with no games left to play, meaning the Wolverines have to leap frog two teams currently ranked ahead of them. Below is a list of Saturday’s games ranked in order of importance of what must happen for Michigan to make that jump.

For more on what needs to happen this Saturday, check out The Michigan Review’s breakdown.

1. SEC Championship: #1 LSU v. #14 Georgia (Line: LSU by 13.5)

This one is numero uno, since LSU and Alabama likely already have their spots in the BCS National Championship game secured. A Georgia win would give the Bulldogs the SEC’s automatic BCS bid and and knock Michigan out of contention for an at-large selection. At 10-2, Georgia is just two spots ahead of Michigan in the current rankings. A loss, even to the #1 team in the nation, would give the Bulldogs a third loss and drop them lower than Michigan. There’s an outside chance that a down-to-the-wire loss could keep Georgia ahead of Michigan, so root for Les Miles to help out his alma mater with a convincing victory.

Root for: A convincing victory by LSU

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2. Big Ten Championship: #13 Michigan State v. #15 Wisconsin (Line: Wisconsin by 9.5)

This one is number two priority since regardless of who wins, one is bound to drop below Michigan. Wisconsin is #15 in the BCS and Michigan State is #13. The loser of this game would have a third loss and, therefore, likely drop below Michigan. MSU fans will argue that since they beat Michigan during the season, they deserve the BCS bid, but the reality is, they lost to Notre Dame and Nebraska and wouldn’t finish in the top 14 with a third loss. Wisconsin is just two hail marry’s away from a perfect season, but one was to 6-6 Ohio State. That, combined with a third loss, would pull the Badgers below 14th.

Like the LSU-Georgia game, an outside chance remains that an overtime game or a down-to-the-wire finish could keep the loser ahead of Michigan, so a lopsided win either way should be the goal.

Root for: A convincing win by one or the other. It really doesn’t matter who wins, but since we’re Michigan fans, keeping the Spartans from a Big Ten championship and a BCS bid would be ideal. Wisconsin convincingly.

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3. Conference USA Championship: #6 Houston v. #24 Southern Miss (Line: Houston by 14)

Saturday TV Schedule
Time	Game	TV	Root For:
12pm	#24 Southern Miss at #6 Houston	ABC
12:30pm	Iowa State at #11 Kansas State
3:30pm	#22 Texas at #17 Baylor	ABC
4pm	#14 Georgia v. #1 LSU	CBS
8pm	#10 Oklahoma at #3 Oklahoma State	ABC
8pm	#5 Virginia Tech v. #20 Clemson	ESPN
8pm	Fresno State at San Diego State
8:17pm	#15 Wisconsin v. #13 Michigan State	FOX
All times Eastern

The team everyone is forecasting Michigan to face in the Sugar Bowl, Houston, has turned in an impressive season. The Cougars have one of the most prolific offenses in the country led by senior quarterback Case Keenum. Had the Cougars compiled the type of season they did against BCS competition, they would be a shoe-in for the BCS National Championship game. However, the only team from a BCS conference that they played was the season-opener against UCLA (who finished 6-6) and Houston barely pulled out a 38-34 win.

A loss to Southern Miss would send the Cougars plummeting down the rankings, undoubtedly below Michigan, and freeing up a spot for the Wolverines in the BCS.

Root for: Southern Miss to pull off the upset, but it may also be a good game to watch to scout who could be Michigan’s Sugar Bowl opponent.

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4a. #17 Baylor v. #22 Texas (Line: Baylor by 3)

The Big 12 no longer has a conference championship game since it is down to 10 teams and no divisions, but it will factor heavily into who plays in the BCS. This game and the Oklahoma-Oklahoma State game could be interchangeable in terms of importance, but I see this one as slightly higher in importance. It won’t get Michigan into the BCS, but it could keep another team from jumping them.

Both teams are currently lower than Michigan, but Baylor is right on Michigan’s heels. Rightly or wrongly, the rankings view the Big 12 as a tougher conference than the Big 10 which explains why a three-loss Baylor squad is so close to a two-loss Michigan team. The fear here is another win over a Top 25 team would propel the Bears ahead of the stagnant Wolverines when the final rankings are released. The voters like the Bears with the Heisman Trophy candidate quarterback Robert Griffin III and if he turns in a captivating performance in a big win, it could be enough to leapfrog the Bears over Michigan.

Texas, at 7-4 and 22nd in the BCS standings, has no chance of surpassing Michigan, so a Longhorn win would keep Baylor from moving up. With Mack Brown’s rumored retirement on Saturday (to which Burnt Orange Nation says not so fast), Texas could play inspired ball.

Root for: A Texas win.

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4b. #3 Oklahoma State v. #10 Oklahoma (Line: Oklahoma State by 3.5)

I ranked this with a slightly lower priority as the Baylor-Texas game because I think the probability of Baylor jumping Michigan with a big win is greater than Oklahoma falling below Michigan with a loss. The Sooners started the season ranked #1 in the nation and despite losses to Texas Tech and Baylor, have fallen only to 10th. The loss of top receiver Ryan Broyles a month ago really hurt the Sooners in their loss to Baylor.

An Oklahoma win would obviously keep the Sooners above Michigan in the rankings and Oklahoma State probably wouldn’t even drop out of the top 10, so that wouldn’t help. Really the only way this game could help Michigan is an Oklahoma State blowout.

Root for: An Oklahoma State blowout [Edit: this is assuming Oklahoma State does not jump Alabama for the #2 spot. I don't see it happening, but there may be enough voters out there who don't want a rematch that in this scenario, they will intentionally drop Alabama to try to secure Oklahoma State a spot in the BCS National Championship. Since this is an 8pm game, hopefully by this point in the night, Kansas State (and/or Baylor/Houston) and Georgia will have lost and then we can root for Oklahoma to avoid any chance of Oklahoma State passing Alabama]

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5. Iowa State v. #11 Kansas State (Line: Kansas State by 11)

This game is unlikely, but still has a rooting interest. At 9-2, Kansas State is 11th in the current BCS rankings. The only losses for the Wildcats were in back-to-back weeks a 58-17 route to then-#9 Oklahoma and #3 Oklahoma State. In addition, the last two weeks have weeks have been near upsets. K State beat Texas A&M 53-50 in four overtimes and then beat Texas 17-13 two weeks ago. A loss to Iowa State would certainly drop the Wildcats below Michigan, and it’s not out of the question. Kansas State has played a number of close games this season: the two mentioned above, a 10-7 win over Eastern Kentucky, 28-24 over Miami, 36-35 over Baylor, and beat Missouri and Texas Tech by a touchdown each. This isn’t a team that has blown opponents away.

Iowa State isn’t good at 6-5, but the Cyclones did pull off a shocking double-overtime upset of then-#2 Oklahoma State two weeks ago, and also beat Iowa at the beginning of the season.

Root for: Iowa State to pull off the upset

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6. ACC Championship: #5 Virginia Tech v. #20 Clemson (Line: Virginia Tech by 7)

This game is probably the least likely to factor into Michigan’s BCS hopes. Win or lose, Virginia Tech is solidly ahead of Michigan and Clemson is unlikely to jump the Wolverines. After climbing as high as #5 in the BCS standings a little over a month ago, the Tigers are reeling with three losses in their last four games. Even with a win tomorrow, against a Hokie team Clemson already beat, it will be a longshot for the Tigers to move all the way to 14th.

Root for: Virginia Tech or anything but a Clemson blowout.

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Fresno State v. San Diego State (Line: San Diego State by 8)

This game has no official bearing on the BCS rankings, but since Michigan beat San Diego State, a win by the Aztecs may help give Michigan a few more percentage points. At this point, every point helps.

Root for: A San Diego State win.

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Obviously, not all of these things are going to happen, but at least a couple of them need to. LSU beating Georgia is a must. From there, at least one of the others (two to be safe) would be great and we can look forward to watching Brady Hoke take Team 132 into Michigan’s first BCS bowl since the 2006 season.

*Since New Year’s Day falls on a Sunday this year, the NFL takes center stage, pushing the usual New Year’s Day bowl games to Monday, January 2.

In the aftermath of the Jim Tressel saga back in March, I wrote that what happened to Ohio State wasn’t good for the rivalry. Obviously, a blatant disregard for the rules had to be punished and the dismissal of Tressel was the right thing to do, and further NCAA sanctions should be handed down. But the fact that our bitter rivals went on so long with such a culture of corruption, althewhile dominating the rivalry, tarnishes what happened on the field during that period.

The rivalry is at its best when it is as it’s always been: the best two teams in the Big Ten slugging it out at season’s end for the conference title and a trip to the Rose Bowl. Or even if both teams aren’t dominant, one having a realistic shot at ruining the other’s season with an upset.

As has been the case throughout the years, the teams are at their best when coached by a man who not only gets the rivalry, but has the personality to fuel it. For Ohio State, Tressel was that man. From the time he stepped foot on campus, he made it known that beating Michigan was the chief priority. That he was brash enough to exclaim it at halftime of a Buckeye basketball game endeared him to Buckeye faithful from the start.

When Tressel was forced out amid scandal in March, co-defensive coordinator Luke Fickell was thrust into the interim head coaching position. He may have been an up-and-comer, but he wasn’t ready for the job. His questionable coaching decisions (saving all three timeouts at the end of a still-winnable game against Miami) and general lack of polish (never seemed to give much focus on Michigan) painted the perception that he was in over his head and it did nothing to help the rivalry. In his defense, he was just a stop-gap to keep the seat warm until Tressel’s successor could be found. If he could pull off a good season, great; if not, he’s not the long term answer anyway.

Ohio State Athletic Director Gene Smith knew he had to make a big splash for Tressel’s replacement, not only to appease the salivating fanbase, but to perhaps save his own job. On Monday, that big splash, which was rumored over a week ago, hit like a tidal wave with the announcement of former Florida head coach Urban Meyer as the next head coach at Ohio State.

In many ways, the Tressel saga may have worked out to OSU’s benefit in the long run. While Tressel dominated the Big Ten, he routinely struggled in bowl games against SEC competition. Meyer should be able to recruit well enough nationally to fit with his spread offense and compete on a national scale. That is, if he can handle the return to the rigors of coaching – the reason he retired from Florida little more than a year ago.

As a Michigan fan, I hope he does. His prestige and previous success are a welcome addition to the rivalry and could be the final piece to another legendary string of Michigan-Ohio State battles.

Like Michigan Head Coach Brady Hoke, who got his first head coaching job at Ball State, Meyer started his career at Bowling Green (after serving as a tight ends and wide receivers coach at Ohio State from 1986-87). One may remember the last pair of UM-OSU head coaches who started off in the Mid-American Conference: Bo Schembechler and Woody Hayes.

While the rivalry has always been strong, those two are widely credited with building it into what it is today. Their “Ten Year War” from 1969-78 was a brutal slugfest year-in and year-out, made personal by the fact that Bo had coached under Woody at Miami of Ohio. Because of that, Bo cemented beating Ohio as Michigan’s main goal each season, and Woody did likewise. That was handed down to Moeller and Carr, Cooper and Tressel before falling a little bit out of style under Rodriguez and Fickell.

Hoke took the Michigan job last January without even discussing a salary. As he said in his introductory press conference, “I promise you we would have walked to the University of Michigan.” He reaffirmed OSU’s position in Michigan’s minds from day one, referring to the Buckeyes simply as “Ohio,” and talking about them “a thousand times more” than Rodriguez did, according to center David Molk. The team ended every team meeting with “Beat Ohio.” It remains to be seen whether Meyer will follow suit, but he does have the Ohio State background, having served as an assistant coach there in the late 1980s.

Michigan has had success against Meyer, and having him in the scarlet and grey should be an interesting dynamic for as long as he resides in Columbus. In the 2008 Capital One Bowl, a 8-3 Michigan squad upended Meyer’s 9-2 Florida Gators, even with Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow at the helm. It was, ironically, a glorious sendoff for the retiring Lloyd Carr. In that game, Michigan piled up 524 yards of offense.

Another connection Michigan has with Meyer is defensive coordinator Greg Mattison, who was Meyer’s DC in 2005-07 before leaving for the same position with the Baltimore Ravens. Mattison helped Florida attain the nation’s 9th-best defense in 2005, 6th in 2006, and 41st in 2007. His defense also captured the 2006 National Championship. The argument can be a two-way street, as to who has the advantage; Mattison for knowing Meyer’s offensive gameplan or Meyer for knowing Mattison’s defensive schemes. But regardless, an advantage Michigan does have in that respect is Mattison’s recruiting prowess. It was Meyer who said of Mattison, “He’s not only one of the best defensive coordinators in America, but also the best recruiter in college football.”

Meyer’s name will certainly help Ohio State land top recruits, especially in the talent-rich state of Florida, but it shouldn’t take much of a chunk out of Michigan’s recruiting pie. The combination of Hoke’s major focus on the state of Ohio and Mattison’s ability to sell recruits especially on the defensive side of the ball, contrasted with Meyer’s national prestige should help get both Michigan and Ohio State back to their rightful spot at the top of the Big Ten.

So as Michigan fans, let’s welcome Meyer to Ohio State and prepare for another exciting period of college football’s greatest rivalry. And in doing so, we will carry momentum into Columbus next November and welcome him to the Big Ten in style.