2018 Michigan gameday #11: vs. Indiana

It's a chilly November Saturday in Ann Arbor, textbook "football weather", and it's also Senior Day.  Players such as RB Karan Higdon and DL Chase Winovich will be playing their final game at the Big House, so it's sure to be an emotional day.  Add to that the almost guaranteed early departure of star DL Rashan Gary and the very possible draft entry of transfer QB Shea Patterson and you've got a number of key guys who'll be basking in the sights and sounds one last time.

They'll join their Michigan (#4) teammates on a 9-1 squad that still hasn't lost since week 1 against Notre Dame.  This week they're facing a 5-5 Indiana team looking for one more win for bowl eligibility, though they'll likely have to wait until their final game against Purdue for that.  They'll have to match up against the Wolverines, who were in complete control at Rutgers last week, other than one big run bust that led to the Knights' only points.

Of course, history is still against the Hoosiers in a series that's seen Michigan win 57 of 66 games, not to mention 22 straight since a loss in '87.  That and they're up against a team with conference and postseason aspirations.

I expect an Indiana team searching for one more win to try to keep things close early with Michigan limiting the playbook and trying to keep players healthy.  Still, the Wolverine offense has been getting it done week after week and should be able to do so one more time against a pretty bad defense while the Michigan D does its usual job of stifling the opposition.  This game should end with a return to double-digit wins for Jim Harbaugh's team and a huge matchup in The Game next Saturday.

LET'S GO BLUE

2017 Michigan gameday #6: at Indiana

Last Saturday's loss to (#3) rival Michigan State was a huge blow to Wolverine fans, though not exactly unexpected based on the way the team played.  Still, it's just one game, and like a pitcher that gives up the winning run in the 9th, the team needs to have a short memory and move on to the next game.

That contest will take place at noon in Bloomington, Indiana, as Michigan travels west to face the Hoosiers for the 66th time.  The last time the Wolverines lost to Indiana, by a 14-10 score, I was four and Bo Schembechler was still in charge.  The '87 team also lost to all three Rivals (Notre Dame, MSU, and OSU) on the way to an 8-4 record, though oddly enough, while Michigan was unranked, the Hoosiers were a top-20 team.

Of course, circumstances are a bit different 30 years later; despite the loss Michigan remains a top-25 team, and Indiana, whose identity was formerly built on offense, effectively neutered that side of the ball by naming former Michigan OC Mike Debord--he of offenses straight out of the 1970s--to the same role for their program.  Instead, their defense has led the way, which could make things interesting for an offensively-challenged Michigan team.

Will the Wolverines right the ship a week before a huge matchup in Happy Valley?  Will we see another crazy finish that seems to be the hallmark of this series in recent years?  Will the Wolverines write another page in their storied history with a play ala "Wangler to Carter"?

Tune in at noon to see how a Michigan team licking its wounds responds to a tough loss--I know I'll be looking for them to come out hungry for a W.

Let's.

Go.

Blue.

2016 Michigan gameday #11: vs. Indiana

Coming off a disappointing loss at Iowa, the Wolverines are 9-1 and can still achieve almost all of their goals this season, minus an undefeated season.  That loss ended up making very little difference to Michigan's conference title and playoff hopes, so it's possible for the team to put it behind them and get back to work this week.

That work will be at home against a 5-5 Indiana team whose record sounds about right as they're as predictable as a coin flip--with a coin that can also land on its edge or turn into a twenty.  The Hoosiers have had some close ones against bad teams, but have also hung in with OSU, Nebraska, and Penn State.  And that doesn't even take into account the insanity that often ensues when they play the Wolverines!

Although Michigan is 55-9 in the series, and hasn't lost since 1987, there's been some interesting games, especially in the last five years.  Per MGoBlog's Bryan MacKenzie:

-In 2009, Indiana gained, and lost, the lead four separate times, losing it for good with two and a half minutes left in the fourth quarter. Indiana lost 36-33 despite outgaining Michigan by nearly a hundred yards. 

-In 2010, Ben Chappell put up 480 yards passing on 64 attempts, and Denard Robinson matched him with 494 yards of total offense on 11.4 yards per carry and 17.3 yards per pass. Indiana scored a touchdown with 1:15 remaining to tie the game, and promptly allowed a touchdown 58 seconds later. Michigan won 42-35

-In 2013, the teams combined for 1,323 total yards (more than 3/4 of a mile), with Indiana's 572 yards being dwarfed by Michigan's 751. Jeremy Gallon caught 14 passes for 369 yards. Michigan won 63-47.

-Last year, the teams combined for over 1,100 yards, including 440 passing yards from Jake Rudock. Michigan scored a touchdown on the last play of regulation to tie the game, and they won in double overtime on a goal line stop.

Believe you me, I remember each and every one of those games.

So I'm pretty sure there won't be any looking ahead to next Saturday's game until this one is over.  Instead, hopefully the seniors walk off the field as Victors Valiant in their final game in Ann Arbor.  Then, and only then, we can start talking about The Game.

LET'S GO BLUE!

2015 Michigan gameday #10: at Indiana

#14 Michigan, owner of a 7-2 record and some conference title (and maybe College Football Playoff?) hopes, heads southwest to Bloomington on this beautiful college football Saturday to battle Indiana, a team whose 4-5 (0-5 conference) record belies its truly chaotic ability to put any game into question.  This is a squad that lost to #1 OSU and #9 Iowa by a combined 15 points while going toe-to-toe with former #7 MSU until allowing 24 fourth-quarter points; they also lost to a bad Rutgers team 55-52, so there's that.  Michigan is favored by 13, but with a team like the Hoosiers there's no such thing as a sure bet!

Considering how one-sided this series has been--Michigan holds a 54-9 edge, hasn't lost since 1987, and hadn't lost before then since 1967--there's been some interesting games between the two, but perhaps no moreso than 1979's homecoming tilt in Ann Arbor, featuring these two guys,

QB John Wangler and WR Anthony Carter.  Take it away, legendary Wolverines broadcaster Bob Ufer:

Bo Schembechler is looking up at--he's looking up at Fielding H. Yost in football Valhalla, and Bo Schembechler says 'Thank you, Fielding Yost, thank you, Fielding Yost, for that one!'

Johnny Wangler to Anthony Carter will be heard until another 100 years of Meechigan football is played!

I hope you can hear me, because I've never been so happy in all my cotton-pickin' 59 years!  I have seen--I have broadcast 347 ballgames.  I've never had one like this!

LET'S GO BLUE!

 

2014 Michigan Gameday #9: vs. Indiana

It's homecoming in Ann Arbor on this chilly fall afternoon, though for one former member of the program, failed AD Dave Brandon, you might call it homeleaving.  With his departure, as well as the expected eventual firing of head coach Brady Hoke after the season, there's a new feeling of hope among fans that their eventual replacements will bring the team back to national prominence once again.  Brandon's buyout was step one towards that goal, and now fans can again focus on a team that could use some support during such a trying season.  This year's results no longer matter, but things may improve soon enough that we'll forget the adversity of 2014 for good.

Amid all of that, Indiana comes to town with a 3-4 record (to Michigan's 3-5) with a big win over then-#18 Missouri six weeks ago the lone highlight during another mediocre season.  RB Tevin Coleman and his 11 TDs loom for the Wolverine defense, however.  Can Michigan maintain focus on this game with the hoopla surrounding the AD situation and lame duck coach Brady Hoke?  Here's hoping for a bounce-back game for Devin Gardner and the struggling offense on a team that's won just once in its last five games.  Let's try to build some momentum in the penultimate home game of 2014, and most of all,

LET'S GO BLUE!

 

Michigan gameday 2013 #7: vs. Indiana

This week the 3-3 Hoosiers head to town for a 3:30 matchup with the 5-1 Wolverines.  Indiana is coming off a thumping by Michigan State after a surprising win against Penn State.  Meanwhile, Michigan is licking its wounds after last weekend's heartbreaking, sloppy loss to that same PSU squad.  The 62nd contest between the two programs could be closer than usual, but Michigan owns a 52-9-0 series record against the Hoosiers, last losing in 1987.  The teams haven't met since 2010, a very close game that saw Denard Robinson compile almost 500 total yards and score the winning TD with under 20 seconds to go.

Expectations for the team have changed after the events of the past few weeks, but I'm still feeling good about Michigan's chances to turn things around and have something big to play for during conference play.

Speaking of something big, here's possibly the series' greatest moment to-date:  Anthony Carter's game-winner with no time left in 1979, documented as usual by Michigan youtube legend WolverineHistorian:

"Johnny Wangler to Anthony Carter will be heard until another 100 years of Michigan football is played!" -- Bob Ufer

LET'S GO BLUE!