The Crier

Six in a Row

The Wolverines showed their true colors in their win over the Spartans

Lloyd Cargo · Sport · Nov 04, 2007

Saturday night’s victory over Michigan State wasn’t pretty, but it was gritty. Led by Chad Henne’s gutsy performance, the Wolverines never gave up, and in the end their resilience resulted in another close win against little brother. I’m smitten with this team.

Mario Manningham continued his recent trend of Big Ten devastation with another Braylon-esque outing. State’s bizarre notion that man to man would slow down uber-Mario despite being burned again and again (including a few Henne overthrew) was especially ludicrous considering Mike Hart’s hobbled status and Brandon Minor’s six carry, eight yard performance. By the way, I just found out Mario’s middle name is Cashmere. I feel if I comment on that any further I might cross some sort of line.

Hart didn’t get the 20 carries I was hoping for, but he made the most of his opportunities, including perhaps the game’s most crucial play. Anyone who didn’t get a lump in their gut when an obviously surprised Ryan Mallett was called to put on his helmet hasn’t been paying very close attention to the last few games. Basically, his fumble was inevitable. So who had the presence of mind to scoop it up and run 11 yards for the first down? None other than Mr. Heisman, the mighty running back and world-class dude. Every cut on that heavily-taped ankle was frightening, but seeing 20 back on the field is worth the heartburn.

Michigan’s biggest stars were called on to step up and live up to their lofty reputations time and time again during the final half of the fourth quarter, and they came up big every time. More needs to be made of Morgan Trent’s stellar season. He’s done more than enough to erase the memories of all those long touchdowns he gave up again and again against OSU and USC last year, to the point he deserves serious first team All-Conference consideration (Putting him on the Justin King, Jack Ikegwuonu level before the season would have been ridiculous).

Shawn Crable, Brandent Englemon and Brandon Graham have stepped up to turn around the reputation of this defense in a huge way. Gone is the tentative tackling and ineffective pass rush, and in its place is a snarling, speedy beast. The linebacker play has room for improvement, but it’s hard to complain about a team leading the country in turnovers, even if they were the main culprits in The Horror and the increasingly forgivable sequel against Oregon.

The coaches also deserve some credit for turning the team around, but don’t think that doesn’t mean this team still doesn’t need change. Lloyd Carr’s bizarre talent for taking underachieving teams and motivating them just in time for conference play would mean a whole lot more if he could actually do that before the season. Nearly every year Michigan has what would be considered a great year at almost any school, but those 10-2 records don’t tell the whole story. I, like most fans, would prefer the Wolverines be in National Championship contention into November every year - which is where we’d be if not for the unfathomable season-opening loss looming over this season.

So while all won’t be forgiven if the boys in Maize and Blue beat a worn down Wisconsin and a seemingly flawless Ohio State team, it would heal a lot of wounds. So will time, and definitely change at the top. Seeing Carr and company depart along with Jake Long, Hart, Henne and probably Manningham will be tough, but a fresh start will be beneficial for everyone in this increasingly strained relationship. God, there I go professing my man-love for Hart and this team - pretty soon I won’t be allowed within 2000 feet of The Big House. I really probably ought to tone it down a bit; Mike Hart deserves better.