We'll get to that, but first, Illinois.
The big story there is awful, embarrassing personal fouls. It reflects poorly on everything. Ben Mason, Kemp, Hudson (?), Gray (not called), McGrone? Uche? This list may be inaccurate. I am surprised Mason went back in the game.
Mighty Michigan picking on heavy underdog Illinois.
There were also numerous fumbles. I did not see it in the stats but I thought one was by Christian Turner as soon as he went in. It should hurt his career at Michigan. Charbonnet, Wilson, and Patterson all contributed. The first two players can no longer be considered sure-handed; the third, well it has been a tough season.
One of these days I am going to compile a list of all the big recruits and scholarship students who contribute nothing. Quinn Nordin and Luiji Vilain are two who come to mind now.
On the plus side, Hassan Haskins, Ronnie Bell, and Jordan Glasgow played great (and penalty-free). Also, the announcers were fairly good--better than the famous national broadcasters--at explaining the intricacies of the new offense. It is hard to grasp, and that explains a lot of Shea's hesitancy.
Nico Collins and Lavert Hill did not make the trip. Harbaugh, of course, does not explain. Kwity Paye was missed too.
I gained respect for Illinois, They played a clean game with effort; they made mistakes and took penalties, but that is virtually expected. The first-time starter QB was not rattled and made some plays. They went after the ball. Lovie Smith, on the sideline was engaged, with and without the headset. In the game they made some successful adjustments. Obviously, they do not have the overall talent, but they did not give up.
Brandon Peters? He should retire.
I recall the cornerback, whose name was mentioned often. Mostly I remember the big wide receiver--I cannot spell or pronounce his name. USC is a very good school, and he grad-transfered after three years.
You never, ever want to give up on kids, and college football players are still that. As fans, you never know who is going to mature, break out, or somehow find it. Watching them develop is the best thing about college sports.
Nonetheless, the rest of the season does not look good. Michigan is likely to be humiliated again at Penn State. Scattered in between are more easy but probably close games games against Maryland and Indiana. Perhaps then there will be a dull bowl game in December.
For the rest of the regular season, there is a strong likelihood Michigan will go 3-3 or worse.
Harbaugh is engaged, but not nearly enough to field a really good team.
The true reckoning for Michigan and Harbaugh this year will come at home. This says a little. Michigan is likely to get pushed around--in the Big House--by Notre Dame and Ohio State. It is one of those years when Michigan State and OSU are at home, but it doesn't look good it looks ominous. And everyone know it.
I wonder if I will pay much attention to the Penn State, Notre Dame, Michigan State, and Ohio State games, and that is a slap in the face to the players. I think they will be beaten and, worst of all, there will be an uprising. Some will get nasty--with that many paid attendees, alumni, and fans, things will boil. Of course it will be frontpage news on the big sports websites.
I don't mind watching them lose. The players will not give up but the games may still be ugly. What I cannot stand is the controversy, the obfuscation, and the resulting lack of progress. Harbaugh appears meek and powerless. It is not moving forward. Watching Harbaugh and Brown get creamed again by Ohio State will be too much. If it happens again this year it will be psychological.
Now it will feel like six weeks of timeouts adding to the pressure.
One has to live with that. You have never beaten Ohio State.
Probably Michigan is good enough to beat State, but it may be even uglier than usual. Obviously, Maryland and Indiana are no treat to watch either.
It just does not look good. And once again, a bunch of childish personal fouls and fumbles do not help.
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