Hurm. I wanted to write something more here but instead, there's this:
Michigan [17] 41 - Notre Dame [14] 30
The game started out well, ten unanswered points and Michigan was looking good, despite having a really weak offensive line. But, then, Notre Dame remembered that it does better passing than rushing and that allowed them to bring the score back to 10-10 by early in the second quarter. On the plus side, Toussaint looks great after his rehab and Gallon is being outstanding, adding at least five yards after making a hard catch. On the minus side, our offensive line can't seem to open up many good holes at all. Gardner had to run like crazy to keep from getting sacked at least twice.
Okay, so we start again. Michigan got the ball and we got another touchdown. This time, the highlight had to be Gardner's speed. (Remember I said he was running like crazy? He did not get sacked.) Notre Dame is not doing as well as they think they should be--Kelly, the ND coach, is angry at his team's performance at this point. (To be fair, I would be to, if I were him...but I'm not.) After a tonguelashing, ND comes back and Rees throws three great passes and is in the red zone. But, their key receiver takes a hard hit and they settle for 3. 17-13 Michigan.
We get a good runback (Norfleet) and then Gardner keeps it and makes an outstanding run, putting us nearly in the red zone. But, then we got dumb and two penalties shoved us way back. Gardener connected well with Gallon and puts us back in field goal range, which we get. (By the way, that's 16 straight field goals for Gibbons, which is a U of M record.) ND runs back and we get a late hit penalty, so it looks like it's time on Sprockets when we be stupid. ND starts moving the ball and then...then...
INTERCEPTION! Countess snags a bad pass from Rees and turns it into a twenty-odd yard run on top of that and Michigan is in the red zone, and then scores, Gardner to Gallon! 27-13 Michigan. Notre Dame gets the ball back and really can't do anything with it and we go to the half.
I did not expect to be up 14 points at the half. I didn't. This was supposed to be a closer game.
Okay, second half. Michigan gets the ball at the start of the second half. Gardner can run and connect on passes but they are all over Toussaint and Gardner gets sacked! Ouch! So we get no score to extend the lead and now have to face a ND team whose coach was no doubt yelling at them all half. And their rushing games is better this time and they switch to short passes and work their way down the field. Michigan does its best but can't stop them from scoring. 27-20 Michigan.
Okay, what can we do? Apparently, give it to Toussaint. Who is marked for death by the ND defensive line. Duh! Fortunately, Gardner can still run and can still connect with Gallon for a really long pass and we get to the ND 25! Toussaint makes two good runs and its at the ND 12! Gallon makes another diving catch in the end zone and we score again. 34-20 Michigan.
Unfortunately, ND had a great runback followed by a few adequate short passes and runs and now they are on the Michigan 25. Oops. The third quarter ends and everyone takes a breather. ND comes back and does some good plays and then gets held on the Michigan 12. Rees throws a bad pass on fourth down, though, and MI recovers! Michigan starts driving back but it looks like Notre Dame has got Gardner's number this time. Gardner backs up, backs into the end zone and starts to get tackled and tries to throw the ball away but...
INTERCEPTION! ARRRRRGH! Instead of just falling and losing 2 points, it turns into 7 points for Notre Dame in a humiliating play. Now we've got to worry about being up by only one score with a kick-in-the-teeth hit to the morale. 34-27 Michigan. This is the huge blunder of the game! Of the season!
So, Michigan gets the ball back, trying to make it a score and Gallon gets hurt, then Funchess gets hurt, then Gallon comes back in but can't catch a key pass and Michigan has to kick, giving ND a chance to tie it up. Oops! Our defensive line lets a guy run up the middle, a slant pass puts them at the Michigan 25. But Rees nearly throws an interception but that puts them at fourth down and they settle for a field goal. 34-30 Michigan.
Okay, this sucks. We have to score this round. And, Gardner comes through and gets us close to the red zone. Then, Notre Dame gives us another gift: two pass interference penalties. That gives Michigan enough extra tries for Gardner to connect a short pass to Dileo! 41-30 Michigan.
Not much time left in the fourth quarter and Notre Dame comes back hard: a handful of short, quick passes and they are back in Michigan territory, then in the red zone, and then...
INTERCEPTION! Rees throws a pass that bounces off of Taylor's foot and into Countess' (again!) hands!
That's the ball game, there's only a minute or so left and Gardner manages to run to a first down allowing the clock to run out!
Wow! We won easily with two pass interferece calls and an interception. I'm pretty sure we had momentum on our side--enough to win--but the last few minutes of the fourth quarter would have been much harder. Notre Dame made it easier. If Rees had been more accurate, it would have been a much different game. Gardner had accuracy and speed and offensive key players with talent.
Hail to the Victors Valiant! Hail to the Conquering Heroes! Hail, hail to Michigan, the Leaders and Best!
In a post-game interview, Coach Hoke was asked about Gardner's performance. He charitably said, "Well, there's one play we have to work on...." Gardner should thank his lucky stars that his end-zone mistake didn't cause a bigger problem and lead to a Michigan loss or he would never live it down.
Michigan and Notre Dame have been playing each other (not continuously, though) since 1887. That rivarly goes on hiatus, again, at least for six years, because of Notre Dame contracting with the ACC for pre-season games. They will be continuing their series with Purdue and State, though, leading Coach Hoke to suggest that they were "chickening out." Their coach, Kelly, trash talked the rivalry suggesting that it was only a "small regional rivalry". Yeah, right. Whatever helps you sleep at night. :-D