2023 Michigan Wolverine Championship Swag

 Part of the fun of your team winning a championship is the swag!  You never know when, or even if, your team will get another championship.  I still have an original shirt from when the Boston Red Sox won their 2004 Championship.  I have my Atlanta Falcons NFC Champions sweatshirt from 1998 as well as one from 2016.  It's fun and we as fans never forget and the swag helps take us back.  To that end I picked up two shirts and a hoodie.  It can finally feel real.  LOL

Michigan Wolverines - College Football Champions!

 Mich 34 Wash 13: I know this post is late but I was curious what would happen with Jim Harbaugh.  First and foremost, I'm so excited.  My college football teams are Michigan and Georgia in that order.  While I was happy in 1997 this Wolverines championship feels so special and so long in coming.  Michigan has had good teams but could never get over the Ohio State hump...until lately.  Three straight trips to the playoffs resulting in their first championships in 26 years.  

Jim Harbaugh is moving on to be the Los Angeles Chargers coach but no hard feelings.  He is Michigan guy and the fit felt right.  He rewarded U of M with a championship.  The game was a roller coaster.  Big touchdown runs in the first quarter put Michigan up big but a late second quarter touchdown by Washington changed the feel of the game.  17-10 at the half.  You just thought the Huskies had momentum though I know momentum is fickle.  Start of the third quarter saw a Wolverine INT and each team could only manage a field goal in the third.  Really thought this game could still go either way.  Then the Wolverines' offense, which had been quiet since the first got some big pass plays from JJ McCarthy which were huge.  A Michigan touchdown put Washington in a tough spot and an interception left no doubt.  Michigan tacked on their fourth rushing touchdown of the game and the Wolverines are 2023 College Football Champions. 

Michigan Wolverines 2019 Football Preview

The 2019 Michigan Wolverines football season brings with it hope and optimism.  Of course every season does.  Last year a week one loss to Notre Dame cast a shadow over the season and for what seems like forever Blue again lost to Ohio State.  That was followed up by a humiliating loss to Florida in the Peach Bowl.  The defense was good against lesser opponents but not against really good teams.  The offense was good but against the really good teams it also struggled.  

Shea Patterson is a good quarterback but hasn't taken his talent to the next level.  This year a new offensive coordinator brings with him an up tempo scheme.  This could really go well or really go bad.  The offense may score a ton of points but if it doesn't work out well the defense could see a lot of time on the field which would be bad.

I like Jim Harbaught and hope this year goes well but the natives will get restless if this is a down year or Michigan can't beat Ohio State.  The schedule isn't easy but they are good enough to get to the Ohio State game undefeated.  Hopefully that is how it plays out and the Wolverines get that much needed victory.  Ohio State is going through their own change with a new coach which comes with it the unknown.  We'll see how it plays out but maybe the new offense will provide the team with the spark it needs to go to the next level.  Game 1 is tomorrow so there is still hope...

2017 Michigan Wolverines Football

Michigan had a good year last year going 10-3 but all three losses were by three points or less including a close game with rival Ohio State.  After losing to the Buckeyes they lost to the Florida State Seminoles to end the season on a down note. 

I'd like to say expectations are higher this year but the team returns only five starters to include one on defense.  Needless to say there are a ton of unknowns right now to include who the starting quarterback will be.  Coach Jim Harbaugh is keeping that competition close to the vest so we may not know who is starting until the first game against Florida. 

I wish I knew what to expect out of this team and could write at length to what will happen during the season.  What I do know is Jim Harbaugh has this team relevant again which is enough for me to be happy.  A championship is definitely the goal but being in the discussion every year is half the battle.  Now we just need to beat Ohio State.  That would take a lot of sting out of whatever disappointments that might come, and some of those from the past.  I'm hoping for double digit wins and a satisfying end to the season.  I'm sure there'll be plenty of entertainment in between. 

 

Michigan Wolverines 2016 Preview

All-American Jabrill Peppers

The Michigan Wolverines are coming off a very good 10-3 season which saw them win the Citrus Bowl 41-7 over Florida.  With quarterback Jake Rudock gone that seems to leave Wilton Speight and John O'Koren, who have been battling for the job during camp, as the favorites.  Jim Harbaugh says he knows who his starter is but not when he'll tell everyone.  Even with that up in the air the offense returns eight starters which should help whoever wins the job. The running game could use a pep finishing 84th in the country.  Again with all the starters back I'm hoping for the offense to improve but that is never a given when you have an unknown at quarterback.  Jake Butt returns at tight end and he will give the QB winner a steady option along with the rest of the talented receiving corps. 

All-American Tight End Jake Butt

The defense isn't quite as lucky but does have five returning starters to include all-around stud Jabrill Peppers.  Michigan also hired top defensive coordinator Don Brown away from Boston College.  He'll have his work cut out for him but I don't think it is stretch to say the defense could be almost as good as last year's.  I'm not sure this team can win more than the ten they got last year but they should be able to match it.  If it wasn't for the questions at quarterback and the turnover on defense it'd be a different story.  They've helped themselves by scheduling the first five games, and eight of 12 overall, at home.  With some luck they can pick up 11 wins and maybe, just maybe beat Ohio State.  That may be wishful thinking but beating the Buckeyes is what all Michigan fans wish for. 

2015 Michigan Wolverines Football Preview

If nothing else this year should be fun for Michigan Wolverines' football.  It may not be fun for the football team or new coach Jim Harbaugh but it should be for everyone else.  While expectations are not too high this year, Michigan fans and the media will always expect more and everyone is excited for this year as Jim Harbaugh helms the team for the first time at his alma mater.  First the hiring of Harbaugh is a win.  He was immensely successful at Stanford and with the San Francisco 49ers.  While this may not equate to many wins in the immediate future it should help the Wolverines compete as well as bode well for the future.  I'm excited just for the excitement factor he brings.  Hopefully it will translate into a few wins. 

Quarterback will be Harbaugh's biggest task as Shane Morris battles Jake Rudock, a trasfer from Iowa, and a highly touted true freshmen.  Whoever wins the quarterback battle, they aren't expected to put up huge numbers which could hurt the team's progress this year.  The running game should be ok while the line does have issues.  So while the 112th ranked offense should be better this year it is hard to say how much better.  Each position will have to get better as there is not once group that can carry the others. 

The defense was very good last year.  Twenty-four of twenty-nine defensive players return this year which can only be a good thing.  The defense also adds freshman safety Jabrill Peppers who should be able to make an impact this year.  They will run both 4-3 and 3-4 sets this year.  I like teams that can do that successfully.  Hopefully this team can build on last year's success with the new schemes.  With the offense still an enigma the defense will have to be good keep the team in games. 

Overall I think this team should be happy with eight wins if they can get there.  Harbaugh won't be happy with that but he never is.  Hopefully his intensity and excitement rubs off on the players.  If so they could definitely get to a .500 record.  Their schedule is not that tough so there is hope.  I won't be too disappointed if they don't get to eight wins.  This about the future and hoping Harbaugh can return the Wolverines to national prominence. 

2014 Michigan Wolverines Football Preview

Michigan comes off a disappointing 2013 season where they went 7-6.  To improve on that they'll need the offensive line and running game to be better (102nd in the nation).  The running backs who'll take the lead in the backfield this year rushed for under 400 yards combined last year.  Hopefully someone can win the top spot and shine.  Devin Gardner is capable at quarterback and can also use better protection from the line.  He led the team in rushing but I'd like to see him with more time in the pocket.  I think Michigan has a decent receiving corps so if Gardner has time to throw he has options. 

The defense started out strong last year but faded down the stretch.  The team lost six of their last eight games and it could be said the defense was the reason in at least three of those losses.  Michigan has a good linebacking corps and returns a total of eight starters from last year on defense.  They also have one of their biggest recruits in years joining the defensive backfield in Jabrill Peppers.  Hopefully he can have an affect right off the bat. 

I think Michigan can be a nine win team but those areas I mentioned needing improvement must get better.  The Big 10 isn't what it used to be but it is still the toughest part of the Wolverine's schedule sans Notre Dame in week 2.  This still isn't up to Michigan standards but I think that nine wins and a bowl win would be a good year.  I really like head coach Brady Hoke and think Michigan can be a top 10 team but they just don't have the talent right now.  I hope the athletic department is patient enough with Hoke to let him and this team get there.  For now I expect this to be a season with many close games.  Hopefully some of them go Michigan's way. 

Michigan Wolverines Win Close Gave Over Connecticut

This was not a pretty game for Michigan.  Again.  After coming back late to beat Akron last week the Wolverines had to do the same this week to beat Connecticut.  Michigan was losing this game 21-7 late in the third quarter before rallying for a 24-21 win. Not at all what anyone, a fan or those associated with the team, want to see.

The running game is horrible.  The stats will say the Wolverines averaged 3.7 yards per carry and that running back Fitzgerald Toussaint had 120 carries on 24 yards.  But if not for some long runs in the second half neither of these stats would have been near as pretty.  Devin Gardner didn't shine at quarterback.  13 of 25 for 111 yards and two interceptions.  He also ran 19 times for 59 yards and a touchdown.  The defense was actually pretty good but had to deal with some short field due to turnovers by the offense.

Really nothing was working until the second half.  UCONN finally came back down to earth, the Michigan defense remembered they are bigger and better than the UCONN offense and the offense put up sustained drives which gained points.  I can't say I really though Michigan would win this game until UCONN's last desperate drive to try and recapture the lead before the end of the game.  Michigan now has an off week before playing Minnesota October 5th.  The schedule still favors the Wolverines but if they keep playing teams like this I don't think Big 10 teams will let them come back to win games.  This team has a long way to go to be a very good team no matter their national ranking.  I'm hoping coach Brady Hoke can get this team back on track.  That is a sports cliché but that is what needs to be done.  This is a talented team.  Probably not a top 10 team in the country but they shouldn't be duking it out to the last second in games against teams they should be winning comfortably against. 

Michigan Wolverines Lose Tourney Championship

Michigan lost 82-76 to the Louisville Cardinals Monday night in a disappointing game.  In theory big blue fans should be happy to have gotten that far.  But as any true fan will tell you, losing a championship is one of the hardest experiences around.  Heck, just watching the game can be a traumatic experience. 

 

The Wolverines looked good early jumping to a 12 point lead with three minutes to go in the first half.  Much of the credit for the early surge goes to Spike Albrecht who played extended minutes with Trey Burke in foul trouble.  Then it all went south.   Just like the Syracuse game in the previous round Michigan couldn't keep up the hot shooting and the opposing team remembered they were a good defensive team.  By the half Michigan was only up by one point.

 

I thought Louisville did a great job the last 23 minutes on defense.  Michigan also couldn't hit the same shots they did in the first half.  Albrecht didn't score again and Burke had a good game but it wasn't enough.  Michigan didn't get the ball inside enough to take pressure off their shooters who were constantly harassed by Cardinals defenders.  The offense rarely seemed on track.  It seemed to be mostly one on one play with no real plays being ran.  Again Burke did all he could but Tim Hardaway Jr. and Glenn Robinson couldn't get in a rhythm.  And Louisville deserves much of the credit for that.

 

The last 23 minutes were so hard to watch.  After seeing the Wolverines dominate early it was a devastating loss.  I'm not sure if all fans are like me but even with the big league it was hard to get too excited.  I am never comfortable until the game ends and my team is on top.  Still I am glad Michigan got to the game.  This was a good team and believe me they could have won this game but Louisville was better and deserved the win.  Still I will always play the "what if?" scenarios in my head.  At least I get to the shirt in the deal...listening dear?