Altar Call 2000

When was the last time?

When was the last time Michigan opened the season with a 42 point victory?  When was the last time Michigan even scored 42 points in an opening game?  When was the last time that you knew Michigan was so far superior to their opening day opponent that you were already looking towards week 2 or 3?  Well, dear friends, the time is now.

Do you Believe?

The Big House will be filled almost entirely with happy people on September 2.  There are, perhaps, only 5 or six worse teams in all of Division I-A than the Bowling Green Falcons.  The offense will score at will; the defense will get a few much needed reps.  And Michigan will win 49-7.  Do you Believe?

A week later, Rice again visits Michigan Stadium.  The Owls return 14 starters from last year’s  team. Coach Ken Hatfield is warning Michigan to watch out.  Somehow, it sounds to me like the general who said, when it was pointed out that he was surrounded by the enemy, “Good, we have them right where we want them.”  The option attack will be a good test for the young, inexperienced Michigan defense.  But the Michigan offense will again rule the day.  Would you Believe 49 points again?  Michigan wins 49-18.  And they move to 2-0.  Do you Believe?

Practice is over.  The challenging season begins September 16 in Pasadena, in the Rose Bowl, against UCLA.  The Bruins opened with a loss to powerhouse, Alabama, and then rebounded with a close, 5 point victory over Fresno State.  But their offense is struggling and their defense can’t keep up for 4 quarters.  After 2 easy games, Drew Henson has confidence and the Michigan offensive line is already clicking.  Good thing, too, as the surprising Bruins push our Wolverines early.  Our defense bends a bit, but doesn’t break.  When the smog clears, Michigan walks away with a 31-19 win to move to 3-0.  Do you Believe?

On to Illinois.  Revenge is on the minds of these Wolverines.  Atonement for the sins of the 1999 collapse.  But Kurt Kittner and 9 other returning starters for the Illini have other ideas.  They are 3-0 and ready to prove their mettle.  In what is to be an indication of the season to come, a shoot-out in sold-out Memorial Stadium ensues.  Up and down the field, the two teams march.  Michigan churns up clock time with the running game; Kittner picks apart the Michigan secondary with short passes.  But, FEAR NOT, my Brethren in Blue!  All it takes is Illinois collapsing on Terrell for Marquis Walker to catch a 47 yard strike from Henson and the Wolverines pull away, 42-28.  Do you Believe?

It doesn’t get easier.  After 2 tough games on the road, the undefeated Wolverines are home to face defending Big Ten Champion, Wisconsin.  And although the Badgers haven’t beaten the Wolverines in 3 years, they are determined to prove that those games were flukes.  Wisconsin is also 4-0 with victories over Western Michigan, Oregon, Cincinnati, and Northwestern.  They have polished their act against weaklings.  They aren’t ready for the offensive power of Michigan.  Do you Believe?  To the delight of 112,000 fans, Michigan scores the first three times they get the ball.  Shades of Illinois ’99 creep into the second half, however, as Wisconsin wears down the Michigan defense with relentless pounding and Brooks Bollinger’s option plays.  With 3 minutes left, the Badgers score to close the gap to 38-36.  They have to go for 2.  It has been a cloudy day with rain threatening.  But as the Badgers break their huddle, the clouds scud by and a bright, maize-colored ray of sunshine points down on the men in blue.  The much-maligned defense stiffens and sacks Bollinger on an option roll-out.  Two first downs later, earned by the A-Train, Michigan celebrates a huge win and makes a statement.  5-0 and moving up.  Do you Believe?

Purdue.  Spoilermakers.  Heisman candidate Brees.  The men in black have returned 8 starters on offense and they are rolling.  With significant wins over Notre Dame and Penn State and easy wins over Central Michigan, Kent, and Minnesota, Joe Tiller’s WACky offense is 5-0 and racking up huge offensive numbers.  Brees salivates over the prospect of picking apart the Michigan secondary.  The only problem Purdue has had all year is stopping people.  Their games have truly resembled the WAC conference of the ‘70s and ‘80s.  And with all due respect to Notre Dame and Penn State, they have seen nothing close to Michigan yet.  Several hundred Michigan fans made the long drive down to Ross-Ade Stadium.  They got their money’s worth.  Drew vs Drew.  You might think it would be a Draw.  But Henson takes the wind out of Brees with a passing performance unequalled in Michigan history.  And the two interceptions thrown by the Purdue star is enough.  Like the OK Corral, there is a blaze of gun-fire, but when the smoke clears, it is Michigan walking away with a 41-32 victory.  Three weeks in a row, the Wolverines have taken on and bested undefeated, Top 20, teams. Now they are 6-0 and ranked #4.  Do you Believe?

Having run the gauntlet, it is time to take a breath and heal the sore muscles.  Indiana is just what the doctor ordered.  And at home, too.  Although it is no time to let down and get upset, Michigan does take it a bit easy.  The Hoosiers, however, have no confidence that they can come into the Big House and steal a win.  And so Michigan takes a 27-0 victory and stashes it away.  Seven and oh with the green meanies coming up.  Do you Believe?

The Spartans are a most unhappy lot. After beating MAC Champion, Marshall, downing Missouri, taking a squeaker from Notre Dame, and thoroughly crushing Northwestern and Iowa, they fell hard last week to a very angry bunch of  Wisconsin Badgers.   You might think that Sparty would be pretty happy at 5-1 with a new coach.  You would be wrong.  The Little Sisters come to Ann Arbor with one thought on their mind – get back a share of the Big Ten lead and a shot at the Rose Bowl.  Perhaps they were too angry. Perhaps they were too sad.  We will never know.  But after Ryan VanDyke throws 3 interceptions and T.J. Duckett drops a fumble, they game gets out of hand.  This game belongs to Justin Fargas.  The sophomore son of Huggy Bear makes like Starsky in a chase scene and the exhausted Spartans can’t keep up.  Michigan pulls away for a 28-13 victory.  Now at 8-0, visions of the Orange Bowl creep into the minds of the fans (but not the coaches or players).  Do you Believe?  I do!

A week off.  This is the perfect time and the perfect circumstances.  The bruises heal and the game plan for the final three is put together.  For the fans, a week without Michigan football is agony!  But we wait.

Road games can always be tough, but when the opponent is lowly Northwestern, it isn’t so bad.  We all sit at home and watch, half paying attention.  Michigan, showing a purely vanilla offense,  runs away with a 44-6 win.  Lots of back-ups get time on the field.  As expected, they are now 9-0, but still ranked #4 behind FSU, Nebraska, and Alabama.  Do you Believe?

Hello, Joe!  How nice to see you!  The Nittany Lions had to replace too many players and a key defensive coach.  This has been a down year for them.  JoePa needs this win over Michigan to pass Bear Bryant on the all-time win list.  So PSU comes into Michigan Stadium with a mission.  BEAT MICHIGAN.  (Something they seem to have trouble doing lately.)  This has been an interesting year for Michigan.  One week it is Henson who shines; the next it is Terrell, or Walker, or Thomas, or Fargas.  A new star stands up each Saturday, keeping opponents’ defenses befuddled.  This week, it seems that the star power is equally spread.  Penn State cannot keep up with the Michigan juggernaut.  This is a team of destiny.  Despite a less than stellar performace, Michigan walks away with a 28-17 victory.  JoePa is still waiting.  Ten win, no losses, and a trip to Columbus.  Do you Believe?

THE GAME.  We know why this game is so important.  It isn’t just the history.  It isn’t just Bo vs Woody.  It isn’t even for the Big Ten Championship.  Michigan wrapped up at least a tie for that last week.  The game is for pride for the Buckeyes.  At 9-1, they have had a remarkable year compared to the year before.  But they must beat Michigan about 9 more times in a row to “make up” for the awful string of the last decade.  The game is for a BCS Bowl, too, perhaps.  Three Big Ten teams all want to play in the elite group of 8.  Ohio State and Wisconsin have lost only 1.  Michigan has lost none.  Michigan has a long shot still at the Orange Bowl – and certainly a strong argument if they can win this game.

And so the stage is set for yet another in the unparalleled history of college rivalries.  The skies of Columbus are dark and gloomy, matching the scowl on the face of John Cooper.  He has won more games for the Buckeyes than anyone since Woody Hayes, yet he is hated for his failures against Michigan.

The game starts in typical fashion, with each team “feeling out” what the other will do.  The first quarter is scoreless – the first such first quarter all year for Michigan.  The second quarter finds the two quarterbacks looking for four of the best receivers in the nation.  Ohio State scores first on a bomb to Germany.  Michigan counters with one to Terrell.  When the quarter ends, Ohio State holds a 14-10 lead.

Do your palms sweat?  Mine do. I sit on the edge of my seat, leaning forward.  I stand.  I pace.  I yell.

The history of Michigan vs John Cooper is a bright one for one major reason.  That reason comes into play one more time.  Adjustments.

With their first possession of the second half, Michigan brings out an option offense.  Henson races down the line and pitches to Fargas who races through bewildered Buckeye defenders for 72 yards and a TD.  Just when the Buckeyes start to cover the option, Henson tosses to Walker, to Terrell, even to AT out of the backfield.  The route is on and Michigan never looks back.  The nuts crack and Michigan finishes the season with a resounding 31-14 victory over Ohio State.

Do you Believe?  I do!

Now, you ask me about the bowls.  My crystal is not clear.  Too many voters with a love of the old man in Seminole land.  Too many voters who believe Nebraska is the red god of college football.  Too many ifs, ands, or buts.

But I do know this.  Michigan takes cares of business.  Michigan will be 11-0.  Michigan will be no worse than #4.  I BELIEVE!  Do you?

Go Blue!  Now and forevermore.  Amen.