After a loss to Notre Dame in a game that didn't quite go according to plan, the 0-1 Wolverines (#21) return to Ann Arbor for the home opener against the Western Michigan Broncos, who also lost last week.
And home is certainly a nice place to be. As I mentioned a few weeks ago I got to tour the stadium (suites, press box, locker room, and field) for a work team-building event, and I had a total blast. This display of one of Bo's most famous quotes sits just outside of the visiting locker room, and it's a great reminder that players and fans shouldn't jump ship after one setback.
Players are reminded of Bo's other legendary speech about "The team, the team, the team!" as they make their way down the tunnel between the locker room and field each week. No one person was responsible for the loss last week, and it'll take more than one to get back into the "W" column today.
Here I am taking a leisurely selfie in the end zone, a place I hope the Wolverines frequent today after some offensive struggles last week.
The Broncos are an interesting opponent for me because of some recent games. The 2011 matchup stands out due to Brandon Herron's singular defensive performance--he returned both a fumble and interception for touchdowns--plus the teams agreeing to end the game early due to weather.
But more notable for me was the meeting in 2001 that was to open the season. I was a freshman in the first couple weeks of my initial semester in Ann Arbor when 9/11 occurred, and was then able to attend the opener, which was naturally pushed back, for my first game as a student. Needless to say the singing of the anthem was a very emotional experience.
Back to the present, today's game will kick off around noon EST on FS1 (because why not) and the Wolverines will look to quiet the critics and skeptics on a day where we'll get a taste of the fall (e.g. "football") weather to come--it's not supposed to crack 70 degrees today! I'll join the rest of the fanbase in hoping that we get to see a lot of backups get good experience today in an easy win, but for now the "win" part is the most important.
LET'S GO BLUE
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