Greetings and welcome to my debut live blog. Over the next few hours, I will be giving my thoughts and insights during this much anticipated matchup. Joining me in this venture is my brother Big Bob (Full Disclosure: Huge Michigan fan), my father Teddy, and the others who happen to make their way into our living room throughout the night. Hopefully, with our insight and humor we can add to what we hope to be a legendary game.
Photo Credit: espn.go.com
7:57–Game time predictions. Big Bob has absolutely no confidence in the Wolverines to pull off this upset. You can tell he desperately wants to pick the Wolverines but his head (and wallet for that matter) won’t let him do it. He’s got 31-17 Bama. Teddy is going for the upset here picking Michigan 35-31. As the deciding vote, though, I’ve got to go with Alabama. Even if Michigan was at full strength, I’d go with the Crimson Tide. Now, with players like Fitz Toussaint and Frank Clark not playing, it’s hard to imagine the Wolverines pulling this one out. I’ve got Alabama winning this one 28-17.
8:00–And it begins…
8:03–I really want Kirk Herbstreit to tell Musburger, “It’s the first game of the season, Michigan can’t hold anything back”. Wishful thinking?
8:07–Wow ABC, you really picked a great time to have technical issues. Amateur hour.
8:09–Gary Moeller named an honorary Michigan captain. Someone watch the refreshments.
8:11–Michigan has dealt with six arrests this year? Did Mike Brown buy the team?
8:14–Teddy: “Which highlighter company is sponsoring UM’s uniforms?”
8:18–Nice start to the game for the Wolverine defense. McCaron looked uncomfortable facing that pass rush on that three and out.
8:25–And Alabama’s defense answers. Dumb penalty on Taylor Lewan. Let’s see how AJ McCarron answers on this second drive. The Crimson Tide needs to establish their running game.
8:26–Big Bob: “As far as I’m concerned, I don’t live in the same country as Alabama”. He’s not too into this game right now.
8:28–Can’t afford to lose Blake Countess if you’re UM. Also, running back Eddie Lacy starting to get warmed up for ‘Bama.
8:30–Alabama’s offensive line has made some adjustments. McCaron is getting a lot more time on this drive.
8:32–Is there any way Alabama doesn’t score a td on this drive? Lacy and Yeldon look unstoppable so far.
8:35–That was a prefect drive for the Crimson Tide that culminates in 2 yd td pass from McCaron to Michael Williams. This could be a long night for Wolverine fans. 7-0 Crimson Tide.
8:36–Big Bob: “I cannot stress this enough to everyone I know that I do not want to talk right now”. He should probably just turn off his cell phone.
8:39–Nick Saban looks angry after the penalty. Yelling at an empty chair angry.
8:42–Alabama’s last offensive drive has proven to us that this is a program that just continues to reload. Lacy and Yeldon look like they’re going to be the real deal. This is a big defensive series for the Wolverines.
8:45–WOW! If I can channel Denny Green, yes, I would like to crown them. 14-0 ‘Bama.
8:50–I think we’ve established that Michigan can’t run on Alabama. Brady Hoke may want to call some passing plays here. Also, the officials missed an obvious face mask on that same play against Alabama.
8:52–Denard throws off of his back foot. Never a good sign. Denard looks hurt after that INT.
8:54–Eddy Lacy runs it in for Alabama and the Crimson Tide lead 21-0. I knew it was a bad idea to have the Nigerian national basketball team speak to UM before the game.
8:58–After one quarter its 21-0 Alabama over Michigan. Brady Hoke is saying three words to his team: “STOP THE BLEEDING”. Nick Saban has to be pretty happy with his squad’s performance so far. Not much (if anything) to criticize so far.
9:02–I’ve never seen a losing team try to run out the clock with 14 minutes to go in the second quarter before.
9:08–This is just getting scary right now. Is Michigan going to even remain in the top 25 after tonight?
9:11–’Bama reads this blitz perfectly. Great screen pass.
9:15–Alabama adds another three points. 24-0 Alabama. Big Bob: “Believe it or not, that was really encouraging. That was the best thing to happen all night”.
9:16–There are reports that Floyd “Money” Mayweather bet three million dollars on Michigan in this game. Will anyone be surprised when he announces tomorrow morning that he has agreed to fight Pacquiao?
9:20-Note to UM offensive coordinator Al Borges: THE RUNNING GAME ISN’T WORKING.
9:21–Teddy’s original prediction was 66-0 Alabama. For some reason he changed it. Moral of the story? Always go with your gut.
9:24–Greg McElroy is living it up as it will be the last time he is ever interviewed on national television.
9:26–Alabama downs the ball at the one yard line. Michigan should stick to scheduling patsies on opening day like Appalachian…never mind.
9:33–An enormous amount of alcohol will be consumed in these two states tonight for very different reasons. Errant throw by Denard. 31-0 Alabama. Here come the SEC chants.
9:34–The worst part about this blowout? Brent Musburger trying to stall for time with stupid anecdotes.
9:36–Great 71 yard pass from Robinson to Jeremy Gallon. Also, Musburger says, “A little Robinson Magic”. Really, Brent?
9:39–And the refs mercifully grant a touchdown as Robinson runs six yards for a td. 31-7 Alabama.
9:43–Hoke isn’t even using his time outs. He’s not even trying to win.
9:46–Michigan forces its first turnover with no time left in the half. At the end of the first half, Alabama leads 31-7. I’m taking a break for now, but I’ll be back for the second half to blog the rest of this game. Hopefully, it will be a little more competitive.
10:10–The only thing bright about the Michigan offense are their uniforms.
10:11–And we may have some life from the Wolverines.
10:13–Huge debate going on in the living room about whether or not the Wolverines should have gone for it. I mean they were at the 47 yard line down 24 points. You might as well go for it.
10:15–The sad part is that Michigan is still probably the second best team in the Big Ten. Good luck to the rest of the SEC trying to knock off the Crimson Tide.
10:17–Teddy: “They should just make the SEC a separate country”. Well, you can’t spell secede without SEC.
10:18–Will Campbell just leveled A.J. McCarron. A.J.’s a tough kid to get up from that.
10:22–After a missed Alabama field goal it’s still 31-7. Best play of the second half for Michigan.
10:25–Big Bob: “He needs to dive to draw the unnecessary roughness penalty.” It’s come to this…
10:27–Sunseri just knocked Rawls back into the RichRod era.
10:28–Annnnndddd Denard is hurt….
10:29–Russell Bellomy is in for Denard. OMG, can you imgaine Alabama not having to respect the qb run??
10:31–And the refs overturned the first down. ‘Bama ball.
10:34–Cade Foster adds another FG for Alabama. Alabama leads 34-7.
10:36–Does Brady Hoke have any recruiting ties to Polk High in Illinois? Michigan’s only hope now is Al “Four Touchdowns in One Game” Bundy.
10:40–Running back Vincent Smith with a nice run for the Wolverines getting them past mid-field.
10:42–Wow..so Devin Gardner is allowed to catch the ball now?? Big 44 yard touchdown completion. Michigan may cover yet.
10:45–Alabama is content to run out the clock and at the end of three its 34-14 Alabama.
10:49–T.J. Yeldon is averaging 11 yards a carry tonight. Not bad.
10:55–At this point, the Wolverines are just trying to get out of here without anymore injuries.
10:58–Nice punt by Denard Robinson. Just out of Sunseri’s reach.
11:03–Nick Saban shown on the sideline complaining about something after a call AGAINST Michigan for interference. Nothing makes sense anymore. Hoke is now shown on the sideline looking clueless. I take that back. It all makes sense.
11:07–Alabama has 4,000 running backs on its roster…give or take.
11:11–T.J. Yeldon runs it in from a yard out. Alabama now leads 41-14. It’s 11:11 and the Wolverines are wishing for this game to end while Alabama wishes this would never end.
11:17–Taylor Lewan is being helped off the field for Michigan. Why are any of their starters playing right now to be subjected to serious injury. Is Joffrey Baratheon coaching this team? Pure Sadism.
11:23–ABC just put up the Alabama schedule. Whose going to beat them? LSU? Maybe Arkansas? I can’t see how they don’t go back to the title game this year.
11:25–Dillon Lee makes the interception for the Crimson Tide and the SEC chants are deafening.
11:26–The Crimson Tide run out the clock and that’s the game. Alabama wins 41-14. Someone needs to check on Floyd Mayweather. I’ll check on Big Bob. Good thing I locked the liquor cabinet.
11:29–Thanks again for joining us for this live blog. Hope you enjoyed it. I had a lot of fun doing this so look for another live blog for another big game sometime soon. I’m just hoping its a little more competitive.
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Steve Rosenberg
Herbstreet and whats his face just called Yeldon a richardson in the making…did he really just say that?
never count out Shoelace
“shoelace” won’t accomplish much this year. He’s biggest weapon from last year is gone.