Michigan 35, Oregon State 7
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The English language often comes up short in describing certain difficult-to-describe feelings. To capture the collective sentiment of Michigan fans after this game, I need to reference a story about bat flips in Korea:
You probably didn't know the term shiwonhada, but you knew the feeling this afternoon, whether it came over you after the wild sequence to end the first half or when Michigan imposed their will on Oregon State in the second. Every successful De'Veon Smith power run went down easy; every three-and-out met with a content "ahhhhhh."
Early on, another adopted word came to mind: schadenfreude, as rival fans watched with glee while Oregon State ripped off 136 first-quarter yards and Michigan couldn't get much going.
Then the offensive line started ripping open holes the likes of which Michigan hasn't seen against a Power 5 opponent in years. De'Veon Smith hit those holes and then hit the back seven even harder, finishing with a punishing 126 yards and three touchdowns on 23 carries while establishing himself as this team's lead back. The passing game barely needed to exist.
Asked about his thoughts during the game, Smith said, "I want the ball more. Give me the ball more." He got stronger as the game went on, as did the offensive line. While Oregon State's defensive front isn't as good as Utah's, there's no question the team got better this week, and it was most apparent in the run game.
Eric Upchurch/MGoBlog
Or, possibly, the defense, which ceded two—two!—yards in the final three quarters.
"The mindset is score points on offense, stop them on defense," said Chris Wormley, who looked unblockable on his way to three TFLs and a sack. Wormley and Co. held up their end of that simple bargain. After having trouble with dual-threat freshman Seth Collins in the first quarter, they adjusted and dominated, generating constant pressure and eventually forcing an ill-fated switch to backup QB Marcus McMaryion, who could do no better.
To add to the good feelings, the game turned on a special teams play—in favor of Michigan. The Wolverines looked all set to take a 10-7 lead into the locker room when the Beavers appeared to pin them on their own two-yard line with 1:29 left in the half; Michigan was down to a lone timeout after burning one before the play to prevent an illegal substition penalty. The officials flagged OSU for an illegal formation, however, and on the re-kick the snap cleared the punter's head and bounced all the way down to OSU's three—a 95-yard flip in field position.
Three plays later, Smith rumbled off tackle to the right, and Michigan went into the locker room up 17-7. OSU's second-half drives went for four, three, three, three, and three plays, all ending in punts. Michigan's final drive of consequence nearly matched OSU's entire second-half play count, covering 73 yards in 14 plays—all but one of them runs, culminating in a two-yard score for Derrick Green.
The concerns after this game are minor. Jake Rudock didn't have a great outing, losing a fumble when the line didn't adjust to an overload blitz and a rusher came free and throwing a pick when he stared down Jake Butt, but he was otherwise steady and had a couple potential big plays taken away by either missed calls or poor adjustments by the receivers. Jourdan Lewis left the game with an apparent head injury following a hard fall after a great pass breakup and spent the second half in street clothes. While any long-term absence for him would be hard to handle, Michigan should be able to deal if he can't go against UNLV next weekend.
"I'm glad we won the football game. The happiest thing would be that," said Jim Harbaugh after his triumphant debut coaching at Michigan Stadium.
With Harbaugh stalking the sideline in front of a packed Big House, the maize on the home jerseys back to maize, running backs powering through downfield tackles, and the defense ruthlessly battering their opponent into submission, it was impossible to take in this game and not feel that—for the moment, at least—all is well, and the future is bright.
Shiwonhada. I can get used to this.
September 12th, 2015 at 5:34 PM ^
Utah will be 7ish wins due to their division - its brutal. If they played in the Big 10 west they'd win 9. In the east prob 8 - just like UM is projecting. They are basically Wisconsin playing in theh wrong conference for their style.
OSU will be one of the bottom 10 P5 schools (out of 60). Western would have been more danger since they actually have good skill position players. OSU's DL size was MAC. A perfect snack for a team that needs it.
But I dont think Utah sucks at all. They did suffer some injuries in the last game that might hurt them though.
Utah never blows out people due to their system. They are very happy to win 17-13 all year. It's a team of 3 stars whoplays better as a unit than the individual parts. Maybe a rich man's Minnesota.
September 12th, 2015 at 5:22 PM ^
Akron, Connecticut, or Penn State? Even Miami (OH)? Effectively doing what we are supposed to do is a good sign and worth celebrating in my opinion.
September 12th, 2015 at 6:28 PM ^
They began to look horrible because we imposed our will on them. Maybe a more experienced team doesn't wilt like they did but how they played as the game went on was a function of how well we were playing.
September 12th, 2015 at 4:41 PM ^
September 12th, 2015 at 4:53 PM ^
from a nytimes article.
September 12th, 2015 at 4:57 PM ^
September 12th, 2015 at 4:57 PM ^
September 12th, 2015 at 5:00 PM ^
It wasn't like EDSBS had some great original idea or anything, they referenced the same NY Time article that Ace linked to through Twitter. Chill out.
September 12th, 2015 at 5:19 PM ^
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September 12th, 2015 at 6:30 PM ^
Journalist majors or somethin'?
September 12th, 2015 at 4:55 PM ^
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September 12th, 2015 at 6:09 PM ^
"Good artists copy; great artists steal."
-Pablo Picasso
September 12th, 2015 at 9:10 PM ^
Let me introduce another Korean phrase... AIGOO!!!
September 13th, 2015 at 11:16 AM ^
September 12th, 2015 at 4:42 PM ^
September 12th, 2015 at 4:48 PM ^
Now I move on to rooting for the Ducks. Come on, Other Team From Oregon! Beat the other team from Michigan!
September 12th, 2015 at 6:35 PM ^
It would be so great to go back to work that Monday and see the still tear-streaked cheeks of many of my fellow coworkers. I'm saying it too, "Aww did that hurt your feelings? Get used to it. Again."
September 12th, 2015 at 8:03 PM ^
September 12th, 2015 at 4:52 PM ^
September 12th, 2015 at 4:58 PM ^
that we Michigan fans are bitching a bit about winning a game 35-7.
September 12th, 2015 at 5:01 PM ^
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September 12th, 2015 at 5:38 PM ^
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September 12th, 2015 at 6:39 PM ^
And this is just the first win of the first season! Can you imagine a few years from now? I know somebody is going to slip up and say "Can't spell Harbaugh without two L's...no, wait..."
September 13th, 2015 at 9:56 AM ^
in the third quarter, I said to my wife, "You know Bo and Woody are raising their beer glasses to toast that play".
I like the way the offensive line imposed their will on Oregon State's defense in the second half.
September 12th, 2015 at 4:53 PM ^
September 12th, 2015 at 6:06 PM ^
This is one word with four visible syllables. The last two syllables here (hada) is the standard suffix after any verb meaning "to do" - so the word literally translates to "be refreshed to do." In English we would translate it essentially as "to become refreshed".
Like taking a shower after a long day of dirty work, or stepping into an air-conditioned store from a blistering hot August street, or a good stretch, or a sip of a hot cider on a fall day, or a nice hike, or a ..... You get it.
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September 13th, 2015 at 11:16 AM ^
What's really cool is that this could actually be the word for "dickhead" and he would not know any different and get "dickhead" tattooed on himself.
The power you have at this moment is awesome. Use it wisely.
September 13th, 2015 at 11:19 AM ^
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September 12th, 2015 at 4:57 PM ^
There was a lot more energy on the sideline and in the stands that we haven't seen in the past year or so (see: the roughing the kicker call - gif on the way??). Just having the feeling that we're in it was great, let alone winning puts a lot of air underneath our players' wings.
But what I was most impressed with was that, despite Utah being better than (nt)OSU, was that we improved during the week. Progress is the greatest motivator. Very impressed with the work Smith and the running core put in and how it paid off today.
September 12th, 2015 at 4:56 PM ^
Was Smith being more patient letting holes develop? -or- Was he picking holes better? -or- Was the O-line better executing? -or- Was the OregonSU DL that much worse that Utah? Form play to play, I'd have a different sense. Time to be patient letting the UFR develop, I suppose....
September 12th, 2015 at 5:16 PM ^
All of the above. Seriously, that's not sarcasm. All of the above.
September 13th, 2015 at 1:18 AM ^
September 12th, 2015 at 5:16 PM ^
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September 12th, 2015 at 5:38 PM ^
When you are playing an opponent worse than you it is easier to be better.
OSU lacks quality, depth, whatever on D. 9 new starters. And small DEs as they convert to a 3-4 system.
It was nice to brutally suffocate their front in the 2nd half.
Most div 1 rbs would be able to run thru those holes and from there Smith showed off his battering ram form which a lot of Div 1 rbs don't really have.
We'll know in 2 weeks progress. BYU's rush D is not Utah level but was top 25ish last year. If we are churning vs them it will bode well. Even if we just look semi competent I'll be happy. BYU pass D is putrid.
September 12th, 2015 at 4:56 PM ^
September 12th, 2015 at 5:01 PM ^
Really? I thought the unis, Harbaugh's sweatshirt, and the ball caps all looked great: rich maize, dark blue. The windbreaker type jackets on the assistants really stood out (negatively) with their weak (too light) blue. To each his own, I suppose.
September 12th, 2015 at 5:44 PM ^
September 12th, 2015 at 5:36 PM ^
not in your lifetime, unless we have to start referencing bsk and ab like before Christ and after death.
September 12th, 2015 at 10:25 PM ^
AD doesn't stand for "after death." It stands for Anno Domini, which is Latin for "Year of Our Lord."
September 12th, 2015 at 5:18 PM ^
At least the helmet wings, jersey numbers, and pants all matched. Even the big block M in the middle of the field matched. Somebody finally did their homework.
I care more about that than the particular tint of maize we use.
September 12th, 2015 at 6:34 PM ^
September 13th, 2015 at 11:24 AM ^
Harbaugh was the QB when I was at Michigan. Saw 'em with me own eyes. You are looking at a distorted picture. This is what the yellow actually looked like:
September 12th, 2015 at 6:17 PM ^
This is the color of the maize when I was at UM, 1967-71.
Too bad you're too young to remember.
September 12th, 2015 at 5:03 PM ^
This might be the best post-game thingy you've done.
September 12th, 2015 at 5:07 PM ^
September 12th, 2015 at 5:10 PM ^
But how about those two obvious pass interferences that never got flagged? One on our second play from scrimmage and in the end zone on our first third quarter drive? That was inexcusable by the refs.
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September 12th, 2015 at 5:13 PM ^
Ben Braden could start for the Buckeyes.
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