Wisconsin 49, Michigan 11
If the season's going to be a blazing disaster, might as well see how high the flames can go.
The score somehow understates how humiliating a loss this was for a program that finds itself 1-3 for the first time since 1967. After the first quarter, Wisconsin held a 129-1 edge in total yardage; Michigan had twice as many turnovers as yards. On the opening play of the second quarter, Wisconsin's fullback plunged in for his second touchdown of the evening to make the score 21-0.
The ensuing possession ended when M running back Zach Charbonnet ran for three yards off tackle on third-and-eight. Only a pandemic prevented Jim Harbaugh from being subjected to a chorus of boos. The Badgers covered 74 yards in six plays to extend the lead to 28, which in most video game households means it's time to hand the controller to someone else. If only.
The Wolverines embarked on their best drive of the half—not a high bar, considering their first four went for two interceptions and two three-and-outs. After Chris Evans was ruled down just short of the goal line upon review, Joe Milton lined up in a shotgun formation that tipped a quarterback run. Wisconsin called timeout. Michigan came back out showing the same look and Milton got stuffed on a keeper.
At that point, the program seemed dead-set on becoming a meme, and not in a good way. A play initially ruled a Danny Davis catch and fumble looked suspect on first glance, which didn't stop the official team account from tweeting their ready-made turnover graphic, then having to issue an update:
The play was overturned. After losing the chance to put points on the board before the half, Michigan went into the tunnel down a historic number of points:
Michigan's 28-point halftime deficit is Michigan's largest halftime deficit at home since Michigan Stadium opened in 1927.
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) November 15, 2020
The 28-point deficit is tied for the largest by a CFB or NFL team coached by Jim Harbaugh. pic.twitter.com/qhLbEmyRrT
The official tweet was brief.
Half. pic.twitter.com/jGFGqX1PLc
— Michigan Football (@UMichFootball) November 15, 2020
Getting the ball to start the second half, Michigan stalled out in Wisconsin territory, then seized the opportunity to be meme'd again:
On the board. pic.twitter.com/yh1iM71NrN
— Michigan Football (@UMichFootball) November 15, 2020
Huzzah.
Michigan eventually saved some face with an impressive diving touchdown grab by Mike Sainristil, though he caught it from backup Cade McNamara after Joe Milton was benched with 98 yards and two picks on 19 attempts. Milton looked overwhelmed, though he didn't have much help; five Wisconsin ballcarriers finished with more yards than M's leading rusher, Charbonnet, who had 21 on three carries.
In fact, because the defense never figured out how to stop UW runs to the edge all night, the Wolverines finished on the wrong side of a Rushing Rutger: 49 Wisconsin points, 47 Michigan rushing yards.
A fourth-quarter fullback trap when Wisconsin was killing clock went for 43 yards to set up a touchdown. This is Rutgers-level football from a program that has no business playing that way. Start the search, please. There's nothing left to explore here anymore except the depths.
[Hit THE JUMP for the box score.]
November 14th, 2020 at 11:19 PM ^
"Start the search." Welcome to the club. Finally.
November 14th, 2020 at 11:24 PM ^
More like welcome to the real world where people get FIRED for not doing a good job.
November 15th, 2020 at 1:07 AM ^
Lol we must live on different planets.
November 15th, 2020 at 3:52 AM ^
Not doing a good job is a monumental understatement, when as an HC you see your QB is just awful, seems to have no confidence and is repeatedly making horrible mistakes....and you wait till the 3rd QT is almost over before you take him out?
That is some major bullshit.
Additionally, right after we scored a quick TD, the defense stepped up and made a stop for a punt, how about pulling your return team together and reminding them not to do anything stupid like running into the kicker FFS.
We had a modicum of momentum but this coaching staff is so woefully inept it's pathetic.
So unprepared, looking so lost all over the field. How can the administration accept this crap?
November 15th, 2020 at 6:56 AM ^
The most disturbing thing about it all is that we play with no fight. Two of those TD runs looked liked we let them score on purpose. That was THE most pathetic effort I have ever seen from a Michigan football team and I have been watching since in the mid 70's. It was surreal watching that last night.
November 15th, 2020 at 8:07 AM ^
Gonna disagree. As bad as that abortion was, both the Rich Rod and Hoke teams played slightly worse and more apathetic games. Granted, those games were at the foreseeable end of both coach's employment - a place we are not at yet with Harbaugh. All of us know he needs to go, but there has been zero indication from the AD that it will actually happen. The lack of contract extension was most likely due to Covid related financial announcement stuff, so I'm not confident that Manuel didn't extend due to performance reasons.
It certainly was surreal watching that mess, though. I cannot believe that Manuel doesn't see it, and that he knows what he needs to do. But until there some smoke from his office, I can't bring myself to believe a publicly non-assertive very good friend of the Harbaugh family will fire him. I'm on the Vatican smoke watch right now, and all I see is black, oily smoke from the tire fire. Until I see it turn white, I'm going to worry that one good game will save him (however unlikely that game is).
November 15th, 2020 at 10:27 AM ^
We're not talking one game - UofM has lost 5 of its last 6 and hasn't looked good in any of those losses: 56-27, 35-16, 27-24, 38-21, and 49-11.
November 15th, 2020 at 6:16 PM ^
I mean, they looked good for about 3/4 of that Bama game...grasping at straws here.
November 15th, 2020 at 10:51 AM ^
The special teams are better than rich rods. The defense is the same. The offense is worse.
November 15th, 2020 at 12:59 PM ^
How much more do you need to see, in all honesty? How is this even remotely acceptable for an HC at a "premier" programs with almost every resource available to him? It's totally unacceptable.
November 15th, 2020 at 10:03 PM ^
The real question that needs to be answered is what the hell happened within the athletic department or what is the issue with the culture there that failure in inevitable with the football team. Harbaugh didn't instantly forget how to coach. He is clearly failing right now, to the point that I'm not even sure that they are trying. But what is the root cause of this.
Until the root cause of the systemic suck is figured out and eliminated (because this is now the third coach in a row, and this one was the sure fire answer -- and looked like it for at least the first two years if not longer) -- there is little point just hiring a new coach to get chewed up by a crappy athletic department.
November 15th, 2020 at 3:10 PM ^
The loss last night certainly rivaled Rich Rod's last hurrah against Miss St in the bowl game. Both were about equally bad, IMO.
November 15th, 2020 at 7:19 AM ^
Remember it took Pep Hamilton telling Harbaugh bluntly that he didn’t feel comfortable calling any more plays for JOK in 2017 vs Rutgers. That’s the level of incompetence and lack of awareness we are dealing with, with Jim as our head coach.
Jim is cooked and has been for years.
November 15th, 2020 at 8:42 AM ^
"How can the administration accept this crap?"
All the UofM administration cares about is making money. This is the same group that raised tuition in the midst of a pandemic. They probably figure this year is a wash no matter what. If going forward this affects season tickets or merchandise then they would care.
Maybe I'm being a little harsh, I think Warde Manuel cares, but people above him probably not so much.
November 15th, 2020 at 9:51 AM ^
When season ticket renewals dry up and major donors scream, they’ll move
November 15th, 2020 at 12:45 PM ^
@ San Diego Mick----I think what you said is spot on is part of the problem for us football fans..... " the administration"
Right or wrong and regardless of how you feel about Covid-19....this administration looks at athletics differently than big-time programs like OSU/Alabama.
.....because of that lack of continuity and/or culture impact in the football office.....the results are playing out on the field. Plus the coaching sucks!
November 14th, 2020 at 11:20 PM ^
Anybody who thinks harbaugh should still be the coach is just a complete idiot!
November 14th, 2020 at 11:27 PM ^
FWIW this was a bigger margin of defeat in a home loss than RichRod or Hoke ever endured in their respective tenures.
We are in uncharted waters of futility now.
November 14th, 2020 at 11:34 PM ^
If you want to be depressed look up the box score from that 2010 Wisconsin game, almost exactly 10 years ago. Michigan was down 24 at half, and managed to get within 10 twice in the third quarter. Final score? 48-28. And that was one of the moments where it was pretty clear that the RR era was over.
Welp.
November 15th, 2020 at 12:29 AM ^
Dammit. I was at that game and remember the score being worse than that. The defense just could not stop the Wisconsin run game. It's especially shocking that this game, coached by Savior Jim, was so much fucking more terrible.
November 15th, 2020 at 8:11 AM ^
That was the game where Wisconsin ran, what, 29 runs in a row to close out the game, or something like that. They essentially ran out the second half because the defense just, plain, couldn't stop it.
November 15th, 2020 at 9:45 AM ^
Let's not forget this Wisconsin team was pretty maimed by COVID. It hadn't practiced in two weeks and was missing key contributors. The embarrassment could -- and should -- have been a lot worse.
November 15th, 2020 at 9:52 AM ^
lol too funny I remember that game too. It was cold as hell and we had insanely annoying UW fans near us that entire game.
November 15th, 2020 at 11:11 AM ^
Were we in the same group? Because I had the same experience--my group was standing behind these annoying Wisconsin students who chanted "On Wisconsin!" after every 1st down. So they did this A LOT. That was football hell.
November 15th, 2020 at 1:05 AM ^
I wish this was 2010. This team is 2008 bad. At least 2010 was reasonably competent on one side of the ball.
November 15th, 2020 at 8:37 AM ^
I wish it was 1977. UM won 56-0. The very definition of "normal times" - for someone my age anyway.
That was 7th grade for me. First trip to the big house, mid-high corner seats. I remember well the UW band playing the Bud song at the half (Here comes the king...). A wasted young man, now empowered and quite proud, began marching up and down the stairs in dramatic step with the song, Bud 12 pack under one arm, raised can pumping in the other. Quite a performance applauded by all within sight.
"What is...the reason you attend college football games?" (RIP Alex).
November 15th, 2020 at 9:52 AM ^
In my mind, I remembered that game being a lot more pathetic because the lingering memory of the game was that the RR era was so obviously coming to a close. I think the lack of a crowd booing makes the despair of these losses more muted as you watch them.
November 14th, 2020 at 11:57 PM ^
Oh there are plenty of idiots on this board who, in 2-3 days, will insist you don’t fire anyone in a “meaningless” season, especially a coach as good a Jim. They also have never played or coached in a competitive sport in their life.
November 15th, 2020 at 1:08 AM ^
says a random internet poster
November 15th, 2020 at 9:09 AM ^
I am sure you have
November 14th, 2020 at 11:22 PM ^
I’m checked out. Watched a couple minutes in the 2Q. Won’t watch again this season. Oh well.
I’m actually impressed at how little coaching appears to be occurring (preseason, in season, in game). Doesn’t matter if you have a new name in mind when no one on this team looks like they wanna be here. Sometimes you just have to cut bait.
November 14th, 2020 at 11:53 PM ^
If I recall correctly, Harbaugh said, during the pandemic delay, that this was his best team ever! Was he banking that the season wouldn’t be played? Certainly appears that way.
November 15th, 2020 at 9:48 AM ^
Certainly appears that he was banking that he wouldn't have to coach and could just collect his millions. Which is exactly what's happening now with the season being played.
November 15th, 2020 at 7:03 AM ^
I couldn't turn it off as I knew I was watching history unfold. We got to see a Harbaugh coached Michigan team just flat out quit and I just had to see how much more pathetic it could get. The direction of the program will now be changed and this game will forever be the reference point for it.
November 15th, 2020 at 8:14 AM ^
That MSU game was the changing point. Up to that point, the (vast) majority of the fanbase expected great things for this season based on the Minnesota game. And then MSU happened. It was an eye opening, sober, and shocking experience. And it turned 80% of the fanbase against him immediately. Overnight. The IU game finished the deal.
This game might get Warde to start thinking about it...
November 15th, 2020 at 2:59 PM ^
Warde won't do shit. Also, what do you suggest he does? It's not just Harbaugh, Brown, and Gattis. It's every aspect of the program.
November 15th, 2020 at 10:08 PM ^
There is something far bigger than just the coaching staff. This is the third coach in a row that has failed miserably. Whatever is killing the football team is systemic. That needs to be fixed before the next coach gets thrown to the wood chipper.
November 14th, 2020 at 11:22 PM ^
Sadly, I expect Michigan to win one more game this year.
Either PSU or Rutgers; not both. I think Maryland will shred Michigan's defense...
I pvr'ed last year's OSU game rather than watching... i doubt i will even bother to do that this year.
November 14th, 2020 at 11:40 PM ^
I don’t think they are beating Rutgers. Rutgers at least has a defense and semi-competent offense which is more than Michigan has.
Maybe Penn State because they feel like an equivalent dumpster fire? But they also played Indiana tight and only lost to OSU by 13, which feels miles away from where Michigan is at.
November 14th, 2020 at 11:53 PM ^
Franklin is Hoke
One lucky year and plays OSU close one week and then gets pantsed by Maryland the next. Both he and Harbaugh are gone but it's a race to see who's gone first
November 14th, 2020 at 11:55 PM ^
Race to the bottom, for sure. Too bad. Hate to start over aging, but that’s Michigan’s lot since Lloyd retired.
November 15th, 2020 at 12:40 AM ^
Fuck Lloyd who is almost single handedly responsible for this fucking death spiral. Acted like a petulant child when he didn’t get to name a successor. Poison.
November 15th, 2020 at 1:11 AM ^
Exactly. As if we still be the team we think we deserve if DeBord had been named.
November 15th, 2020 at 7:22 AM ^
Lloyd Carr is the best coach in the last 50 years of Michigan football. Build him a statue.
We are never seeing another national championship. He took us to the summit. He’s 100x’s the coach Harbaugh is.
November 15th, 2020 at 9:55 AM ^
Lloyd Carr was good, but not great enough for a statue.
Lloyd did have a losing record versus Ohio State and blew up the program when it was handed over to RR. He also spiked the Les Miles hiring. You cannot overlook these truths.
November 15th, 2020 at 10:19 AM ^
None of those are truths though besides his record vs osu.
Lloyd sits atop the Michigan coaching hierarchy of any of our lifetimes. He has the biggest trophy in the trophy case. No one has come remotely close to what he did in 1997.
Build him a statue. It’s long overdue.
November 15th, 2020 at 11:29 AM ^
Sorry but Moeller was better. Undefeated vs OSU. And they were petrified of him. Lloyd won title with Moeller's recruits. True.
November 15th, 2020 at 12:35 PM ^
Yeah well the trophy case says otherwise.
November 15th, 2020 at 2:10 PM ^
Amen, why they felt they had to fire him I do not know
November 15th, 2020 at 2:34 PM ^
no he isn't he wasn't anything after Bo died.
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