Week 13 Rankings

It's gotten to the point where I watch games from multiple angles. Take the Ohio State-Michigan game for instance. I was upset that Michigan lost. I was upset that Michigan lost due to turnovers and stale play calling in the second half. I was upset Denard wasn't on the field for the last few plays of the game which I think he certainly earned. However, as much as it pained to admit, I was ready to give credit to the Buckeyes for going undefeated, albeit in a sanctioned shortened season. Although the Buckeyes were never spectacular on offense or defense during the season, they made it through without a loss. Then they decided to honor the 2002 national championship team, with Jim Tressel in attendance, and then proceeded to carry him on their shoulders. To celebrate the man who did win consistently at Ohio State, but also brought the school to where it has been the last couple of seasons is ghastly. Free cars to players, free tattoos, and cover ups. I don't understand it myself and maybe it's because I'm a Michigan Man, and those values are not acknowledged in Columbus. Whatever the reason may be, it's a sign of how blind some people can be when it comes to college football.
Now, as we await the conference title games, one thing is for certain--Notre Dame is playing for the BCS championship. I don't think you could find too many people out there who thought it could happen, especially in Brian Kelly's 3rd season, but here it is and a lot of it is due to the stellar defense led by Manti Te'O. I think Johnny Manziel is great, but there is no bigger MVP or Heisman candidate this season other than Te'O. He is the primary reason the Irish are in this spot to begin with. It will come down to Alabama or Georgia as to who faces Notre Dame, and I'd have to put my money on the Tide.As far as the Florida situation goes, if the loser of the SEC championship falls below Florida, it could find itself out of the BCS picture altogether because the No. 3 team is guaranteed a BCS bowl bid and no more than two schools per conference can receive bids. It's not THE final poll of the season, but here's the newest BCS poll:

The Game 2011

When Braxton Miller lined up on 4th down and less than a minute to play, seven years of torture flashed before the eyes of Michigan fans. They could see the finish line. It was sitting there, staring them in the face. No more torture, no more misery, no more losing to "that school in Ohio" as many have started to refer to them. When Miller scrambled for a first down by about a football's length, it felt like Ohio State was going to drive for a touchdown and win 41-40. Another heartbreaking loss. If Michigan couldn't beat Ohio State here, when would they?

Why is this happening to us? Why can't good things happen to Michigan? Fitz Toussaint was in the endzone, they'd all scream, referring to the previous drive where a call was reviewed, a touchdown overturned. A few plays later, Michigan settled for a field goal when they could have delivered the dagger.

Inexplicably, Braxton Miller spiked the ball on 3rd down on his next series of downs, setting up another 4th down. With the crowd sensing another shot at ending their misery, the noise level rose to ear-piercing levels. Miller dropped to throw. The crowd waited. The ball sailed through the air. Michigan's Courtney Avery, an Ohio native, deflected the pass.

Images came flooding back, one after another. There was Jim Tressel, saying how proud Columbus would be of their Buckeyes in the 2001 version of the game. There was Lloyd Carr, punting the ball in the 4th quarter from OSU territory, with a lead and a chance to deliver a dagger in the 2005 game. There was Bo, passing away the night before the epic 3-point 2006 loss in the #1 vs #2 Game. Henne with his shoulder falling off, not literally of course, in the 2007 game. There was all of 2008-2010, perhaps the most humbled Michigan has ever been in a three year period of The Game.

Then the ball fell into Avery's hands. With that, a new image replaced those nine defeats in the past ten years. No more would we need to watch highlights of the 2003 Game to get a glimpse of Michigan defeating the enemy. That game could be put to bed, just a distant memory of victories past. No, we now had a new image to possess in our memories.

Fans leaping to the air in a joyous celebration. The Victors blaring all over the Big House. Players running to the student section to meet their classmates. Fans of all ages, young to old, running on the field in a spontaneous, emotional display. Michigan had finally vanquished its demons.

In 2011, Michigan wins The Game, 40-34.

Bullet Points

• Denard Robinson played a terrific game, completing over 80 percent of his throws and rushing for 170 yards.
• Fitz Toussaint and Denard both finished the regular season at over 1,000 yards rushing, the first Michigan duo to do so since 1975 and only the 2nd to ever do so.
• The defensive backs did not have a great game. Several times OSU receivers were able to get open deep. Fortunately, Braxton Miller doesn't possess the accuracy to hit them.
• Bo Schembechler, Gary Moeller, Lloyd Carr, and now Brady Hoke all lost to Michigan State in their first seasons while beating Ohio State.
• Michigan's 40 points ties for 4th all-time most that the Wolverines have ever scored in The Game trailing 1902 (86), 1943 (45), and 1946 (58).
• The 40 points was also more than Michigan scored in the last four editions of The Game combined (they managed just 27 combined points from 2007-2010).
• The "days since Michigan has beat Ohio State" clock at the Columbus Dispatch website went from 2,926 to non-existent.

Photo Credit: Gregory Shamus