Birk's Eye View: Michigan gained little by beating up on Delaware State
The Delaware State experience is over (thankfully), but the Michigan football team isn’t done playing FCS schools.
Next year, when Michigan should field a team that competes for the Big Ten title, the Wolverines host UMass in a game that surely will rival Saturday’s 63-6 yawner for thrills. Motto: Full-price tickets, a sliver of the Michigan game-day experience.
To be fair, unlike Delaware State, UMass is a halfway respectable FCS school. The Minutemen played Kansas State within a touchdown earlier this year and are 4-2 after beating New Hampshire on Saturday. They also lose their best running back, leading receiver and entire defensive front to graduation, but hey, these games aren’t called “buy” games for nothing.
From Michigan’s standpoint, next year’s game is early enough in the season - Week 3 - that it could actually mean something from an evaluation standpoint. Michigan played a whopping 84 players Saturday, including nine true freshmen, but it’s unlikely anyone did enough to substantially alter their place in the rotation.
Had this game been earlier in the season, J.T. Turner could have played a half and gotten a solid week of practice, and coaches could have used that film to determine whether to redshirt him. Instead, Turner has been relegated to scout team and giving him garbage-time minutes Saturday, in the second half of the season, would have blown a year of eligibility.
Even youngsters at thin positions like safety Vladimir Emilien and defensive tackle William Campbell will be hard-pressed to get more playing time going forward considering they didn’t see any regular-down action until coaches felt comfortable enough with a 46-point lead to use them in the second half.
Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez left Saturday maintaining that Delaware State week was “critical” to developing depth.
“Sometimes a guy will pop up and (coaches) say, ‘Geez, we’ve been thinking about playing him a little bit more and he's showing it during the week and he’s showing it during the game, even though it’s a game that we’re comfortably ahead,’” Rodriguez said. “Maybe we have to give him a shot on offense or defense, or special teams.”
Maybe. But since Donovan Warren, Michigan’s only reliable cornerback, and Brandon Graham, the Wolverines’ best defensive player, played late into the first half, and since Penn State is up next followed by four more dangerous Big Ten teams (I’m including Illinois because all that offensive talent has to be good for one win), I’ll venture to bet the only thing Michigan gained from Saturday was a little bit of rest for its players and a lot of money for its pocket.
Notes, quotes and leftovers • Rodriguez said center David Molk could return this week from the broken foot that’s sidelined him the past four games.
“He did a little bit last week in practice, took a few reps, nothing in full pads,” Rodriguez said. “He’s progressing pretty well and that’s the hope to get him back this week.”
Penn State (6-1, 2-1) leads the Big Ten in scoring and rushing defense, allowing just 10.2 points and 81.8 rushing yards per game.
• My colleague James Briggs posted some video of Kevin and Kelvin Grady talking about becoming the first brothers to score touchdowns in the same game for Michigan since Bump and Pete Elliott did so in the 1940s. No exact information on the Elliott’s feat is available, as Michigan’s statistical archive does not go back that far.
The Gradys scored touchdowns in the same game plenty of times at East Grand Rapids High School, but Kelvin said Saturday’s accomplishment was extra special.
“I’ve been dying to get in the end zone, see what it feels like,” Kelvin Grady said. “It feels great. And then on top of that, to look back and see my brother coming, lift me off my feet, dang near throw me over his head, it was amazing. It’s a great feeling.”
• Denard Robinson met with the media for the first time since his fourth-quarter interception against Iowa, when Rodriguez tabbed him to lead Michigan’s final drive over Tate Forcier.
Robinson, of course, said he agreed with Rodriguez’s decision to play him in the waning minutes, but he understands the furor over Forcier being benching.
“The previous games he’s brought us back and won the game for us,” Robinson said. “I understand where everybody’s coming from.”
• Martavious Odoms sparked Michigan’s dormant punt-return game Saturday with four returns for 48 yards. Unfortunately, Odoms also reverted to some of his old bad habits, fumbling a second-quarter return that he recovered.
Odoms lost three fumbles last year as Michigan’s primary punt returner (and a fourth on kick). Greg Mathews, who dropped a punt last week against Iowa, had been Michigan’s No. 1 punt returner this year. • A quote to close it from Rodriguez: “I’ve said many times I’ll know when we’ve arrived when our twos aren’t far behind our ones and we’re playing them quite a bit more, not just in games like today. I think in the future, we’ll see that.”
Dave Birkett covers University of Michigan football for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached by phone at 734-623-2552 or by e-mail at davidbirkett@annarbor.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.
Comments
kidmich
Mon, Oct 19, 2009 : 8:43 p.m.
What a debacle the Delaware State game was. It is a disgrace to play such competition. Well competition may not be the correct word. Personally I wish Michigan would get back to the days when they had the toughest schedule in the nation. I realize money will preclude this from ever happening again, but at least Michigan had the respect of the nation. Today, it is all about the money. Play the easiest schedule you can, in order to land a major bowl, in order to receive the "BIG BUCKS". However, to play Delaware State is an embarassment. Surely that game can not be considered as one of the six wins needed to accept a bowl invitation, can it? Please Michigan, grow some, and once again be the leader, of the nation, in integrity. "Leaders and the best". Their is no doubt in my mind Michigan can compete with any team in the country. GO BLUE!!!!!
groland
Mon, Oct 19, 2009 : 4:05 p.m.
Sorry, as a longtime faculty member and father of a Michigan athlete, I found Saturday's game an embarrassment to the sporting tradition here. We have had out warm-up games against central and eastern. If you want to be the best, then act like a champion. You did not see Ali or Louis fighting lightweights. It is one thing to play a Div 1A leader, quite another a team that had 3 victories last year. Anyone venture to guess what the athletic budget is at DSU? The Big 10 is not what it used to be. Compared to the SEC, our schedules are already easier within the conference. It does the institution a great disservice to play games such as this
tulsatom
Mon, Oct 19, 2009 : 2:30 p.m.
I'd rather have an 8-4 record against good competition than be 10-2 against inferior competition like Delaware St. Sure, Michigan isn't the only one scheduling patsies but that doesn't make it right. It's a much more respectable body of work to play the better teams and it makes you better in return. For example, Look at Miami's (Fla) schedule this year. That is a very tough schedule and the type of schedule that U-M used to play when they were really good.
81wolverine
Mon, Oct 19, 2009 : 12:23 p.m.
After watching the first two series in this game, you could tell it was going to be a horribly one-side game. The DSU players were completely outmanned. Other than the money, maybe the reason they signed on to this game was to showcase their band?! I DO think we need to schedule better teams than this though - at least ones where we need to keep our first string into the 3rd quarter. Playing right before a big game like Penn State, I would have liked to see our starters get some more quality reps than this. Anyway, we're 5-2 and Let's Go Blue!
JGS
Mon, Oct 19, 2009 : 11:07 a.m.
TCFlint - Don't confuse the alleged experts (Birkett) with FACTS. It's really sad that people are always down on the program whether they win or lose. It must really be terrible to live such an unsatisfying life where you are constantly nitpicking and throwing sarcastic remarks. I often wonder if these type of people were beat up as children. Your "blogger" degree has taken you a long way thus far, bravo.
GoBlueinAL
Mon, Oct 19, 2009 : 9:10 a.m.
This game meant nothing but did show that a team they are supposed to demolish on paper and then to actually do it. Lets not forget how in that past how we tend to play down with our opponents. Also, scheduling can be better but these schedules are made several years in advance and to get a team at the last minute to complete your schedule is hard for it being in the middle of the season. Heck, Delaware made a decision to play us and take the money, a chance to play in front of 100,000+, and potentially to help with their recruiting saying that they play schools like us...or play whomever they forfeited against where they probably would have lost anyway and wouldnt have anything to show for it but the L.
Bennie
Mon, Oct 19, 2009 : 9:02 a.m.
Birkett is on record as the first writer to whine about the 2010 Wolverines. So many positive things to write about the 2009 Woverines, and yet, with 5 games left to go this season, the whining about 2010 begins. Just reporting, though, right?
heartbreakM
Mon, Oct 19, 2009 : 8:55 a.m.
Tater--your logic is great. Michigan should play any high school in Michigan, and if their record is good, then hey, that's good enough for you. That type of logic is just awesome. I guess if you are a parent, and you beat your child in basketball, you will gloat that you are the house champ. Yup. Michigan's schedule is tough enough? Huh? Eastern and Western in the same year!!! aren't good enough for you? Yeah, I could see that. I don't know if you have been paying attention, but the B10 is really a bad conference. There are no powerhouses there, and haven't been in some time. You may like to think that Michigan is, but guess again. When you beat the likes of EMU, WMU, Del State--ain't no powerhouses being built against those teams. When the best of the B10 loses to Central Michigan, Purdue, USC, and the big wins are against Del State, Montana State, NOtre Dame (who also can't beat USC), Syracuse, and other such great schools, then you can talk. Now I'm not so sold on the SEC this year, either, because it's not like that conference has beaten elite competition, but I'd say their middle of the road teams are eons better than the B10's middle teams. Please share your Kool Aid. One more question: I guess we should ask, why play football? Is it for money? Is it for easy Ws? Is it for competition and growth? You clearly have answered, and so has Bill Martin and Rod. To me, it's more than that.
KeepingItReal
Mon, Oct 19, 2009 : 8:48 a.m.
Shame on Delaware State athletic administrators for scheduling their team to play Michigan. I don't care what the rationalization is, i.e., money, exposure for their kids, school, etc., there needs to be some type of ethics policy in place to prevent this type of humiliation of other schools especially of the Historical Black Colleges and Universities. There was a time when Michigan would not accept a black ball player on their team and many other colleges refused to recruit black ball players. Cassel Russel put Michigan Baskteball program on the athletic map but he was never even considered for the head coaching position at Michigan when a vacancy occurred. There was a time when the only option a blue chip black athlete had was to go to a black college. Now, the major white universities are recruiting the best black ball players and using them to humiliate black athletes from black colleges. Would RR have ran up the score had this been a predominately white school? I don't think so. The idea is to humiliate these black colleges and universities so that the best black ball players would not want to attend these schools thus reserving them for schools that would not once take them under no circumstances. I hope M fans are not gloating over this victory because you still have your remaining games left.
M er
Mon, Oct 19, 2009 : 8:32 a.m.
What is ridiculous is that Florida who is ranked #1 plays teams like Charlston-Souther, Troy, and Florida Int. and that is this years schedule, but they never get any flack for it. Michigan plays one team that was more like a scrimage and it's all over the press.
james Kurtz
Mon, Oct 19, 2009 : 5:18 a.m.
like i mentioned yesterday Birkey, your part of the problem. Leave Coach Rod alone. He does not want or need your advice.
tomhagan
Mon, Oct 19, 2009 : 1:12 a.m.
Sorry Birk, you are wrong on this one. Michigan played 84 kids in this game and a lot of them got many snaps. This is one of the youngest teams in the NCAA with 70% freshmen or sophomores. The fact that they were able to get a lot of kids PT is huge and will help to develop them.
dennist717
Sun, Oct 18, 2009 : 11:44 p.m.
To all fellow Wolverines, Back to winning ways against and it felt good to get back on track against DSU. We are getting a glimpse of what Rich Rod, his personnel, and players are capable of. In order to support him, I have produced the Rich Rod Hope t-shirt (ONLY 200 PRINTED). They have been huge hit among my friends and around campus. A customer this weekend emailed me stating that he was offered $50 for the shirt off his back and had folks walk to his tailgate just to take pictures with the Rich Rod Hope Shirt. They are American Apparel, available in Navy and Grey, sizes S - XL (sizes are mens, but women don't worry, the small fits all females). I would love the support of all my fellow Wolverine alumni and friends. They also make great gifts for family members and feel free to forward along to others. The shirts can be viewed and purchased at WWW.DWUAPPAREL.COM. website: www.dwuapparel.com Facebook: Rich Rod Hope Shirt Google search: Rich Rod Hope Shirt
InsideTheHall
Sun, Oct 18, 2009 : 10:18 p.m.
Good grief Birkett, when you can only practice 20 hours a week it is the younger and back up players who suffer. Let them have their day once a season and get the team healthy. NOTE: Michigan does not have a bye week so this game was perfect at this point in this season. Think!
heartbreakM
Sun, Oct 18, 2009 : 9:27 p.m.
Hey NC--who are you to decide who is a "real fan"? Isn't a " real fan", one who demands the best of their team and their school? One who is interested in the welfare of the team, both from a perception standpoint and from an improvement standpoint? Not just an easy "W"? And as a "real fan", wouldn't you buy tickets and support the team? I am a critical, but "real fan" who has high expectations. I want Michigan to be the best--but to be the best, you have to play the best, and not the worst. And please don't tell me how this schedule is anything close.
maizenbluenc
Sun, Oct 18, 2009 : 8:54 p.m.
If Iowa looses two big ten games, and we win the rest of ours, I believe Iowa wins the tie. That said, until we BARELY losy the Iowa game, this team is competitive in this year's Big Ten. As for the Delaware State game... while I didn't pay for a ticket, if you're going to add in a 12th game, adding a home game, and take away a bye week... well lets just say this is exactly what we needed. A real fan would be interested to watch (as I did), just to see the guys play who wouldn't otherwise get a chance. (And be thankful that Tate, Minor, Brown, et al got a rest mid season.) Go Blue, beat Penn State!
mwolves
Sun, Oct 18, 2009 : 8:20 p.m.
Birkett, in the article it is mentioned...."Next year, when Michigan should field a team that competes for the Big Ten title". What about this year? As far as I can see the Big Ten is still wide open. Iowa plays MSU and OSU yet, both games on the road. All other conference teams have at least one loss at this point. I like to think Michigan still has a chance this year. They obviously have a big challenge ahead and need some help in the process but the chance for them to take at least a share the Big Ten title is still a good possibity.
HawkeyeDave
Sun, Oct 18, 2009 : 8:15 p.m.
Maybe you guys could play Appalachian State again.
heartbreakM
Sun, Oct 18, 2009 : 7:51 p.m.
One more thing--why does Rodriguez keep harping on Michigan not being "arrived" or there? He said something after ND whooped us last year "Michigan football will be back", and now this. As far as I know, before Rod came and imposed his branding, Michigan had sold out games since 1975, had gone to bowl games consecutively since 1976 or so, had won B10 championships consistently, had been to 3 of 5 Rose Bowls, and was coming off a year in which we had record passer, record rusher, and #1 draft pick in the NFL. Where in the world did Michigan go? Why did he want this job? I just simply do not hear other head coaches constantly dog its school and its team the way Rodriguez does. This rebuilding effort is largely his own fault, by not coaching to what was on the team, and by not coaching the defense at all. And yesterday's performance is just a false pretense for the whole record book. Show me the Iowa, Michigan State, Indiana performances for more accurate stats.
heartbreakM
Sun, Oct 18, 2009 : 7:47 p.m.
Birk--I don't know where Kurtz's attitude comes off, but you were right on when saying this game means nothing. To me, this entire game is a big "SO WHAT". I personally don't care if they had scored 100 points in this game--this is a shameful game in my eyes--shameful that Michigan scheduled it and charged its fans/alumni; shameful that Del State forefeited a league game to play it (what does that tell its team, players, and fans); shameful that the coach can say with a straight face that it 'went as planned'. Well, they could have gotten better competition against most good Catholic high schools in California. Thanks for calling it straight Birk--these types of games should go the way of the Edsel. A bad idea that should not see daylight.
simonsays123
Sun, Oct 18, 2009 : 6:54 p.m.
I believe the general redshirt is blown with even one play in one game, whereas you can still qualify for a medical (hardship) waiver even with having played in a few games. "People confuse a (hardship waiver) with a general redshirt, which means a year in which you just don't compete," said Bridget Niland, NCAA associate director of membership services. "In the case of a hardship waiver, say I play the first two games of the season and in the second game I blow out my knee, and I'm out the entire year. If there is contemporaneous medical documentation that certifies that the injury prevented me from completing the season, I can get the full season back. That's a hardship waiver."
james Kurtz
Sun, Oct 18, 2009 : 6:34 p.m.
Birkett: Your getting as bad as Rosenberg. Coach Rod knows a hell of a lot more about his team than you do so please quit suggesting you know better than he does. I'm not from Ann Arbor but if I was I don't think I would let you in the front door. Its to bad Coach Rod puts up with your cynical, sarcastic ass.
azwolverine
Sun, Oct 18, 2009 : 6:32 p.m.
PSU will be a good test to see how far our run game has come since the MSU game. We did pretty well against Iowa's defense, I'd like to see us build on that this week (minus the turnovers).