Please, Appalachian State fans, don't take this the wrong way.I don't think there's a non-Michigan fan in college football who isn't happier than a pig in slop for your team. In fact, I'm guessing most Michigan fans are happy for your team, once they let the shock of what happened wear off.
However, it's impossible to look at this any other way. A team ranked as a legitimate pre-season threat to win the national championship has lost to a team in a lower division.
And it happened in football, where such things don't happen. We're conditioned as sports fans to expect monumental upsets in basketball (one or two guys can carry a team if they stay out of foul trouble), hockey (hot goalie), and baseball (pitching).
A hot quarterback can be neutralized if the offense isn't balanced. A hot defense is useless if their offense keeps putting them back on the field in tough situations. Turnovers can turn a game in any direction fathomable.
So how exactly did Appalachian State shock the college football world? Well, it looks like we can hone in on a few distinct factors.
For starters, Michigan couldn't stop ASU. The Mountaineers moved the ball at will, especially in the second quarter. I'd love to blame it on M's secondary, and that might have been the root of the problem, but the Mountaineers had their will in the running game, too. When they needed a few yards on the ground, Kevin Richardson appeared more than capable of getting them. QB Armanti Edwards showed great mobility. Not only did he pull off some huge runs, but he used his athleticism to create space and give himself time to throw the football. The Wolverines knew they had concerns defensively, but this game more than legitimized those concerns. Edwards completed 17 of 23 passes, a success rate of nearly 74 percent.
While Michigan ran the ball at will, Chad Henne struggled to complete passes. Before the last drive, he was just 18 of 36 passing, including some key misses in that second quarter. It wasn't a fateful second quarter, but getting outscored 21-3 in your own stadium isn't going to help matters much. Even when Mike Hart was running through gaping holes in the Appalachian State defense, Henne was a bit scattershot. Star receiver Mario Manningham had just 23 yards on the day before his big catch to set up the last-second field goal try.
Of course, special teams killed Michigan. The Wolverines came up empty on a pair of two-point conversion attempts, but that wasn't the biggest sin committed. Not one, but two fourth-quarter field goal attempts were blocked. The fateful final try wasn't even close, as Corey Lynch flew through the Michigan line like he was shot out of a cannon. It looked almost like Lynch got there before Jason Gingell had a chance to put his foot to the ball. Once that happened, it was celebration time for the folks from Boone, North Carolina.
I made a joke on my blog last week about how Michigan was playing a I-AA (er, FCS) team, but at least they were playing a team that won a national championship last year. While Appalachian State played very well, this upset doesn't happen without Michigan making some fatal mistakes. The Mountaineers deserved to win this game.
Now for the really uncomfortable question (at least if you're a Michigan fan): Where does Michigan go from here?
It's a tough question to answer. This team was ranked in the top five of most preseason rankings. They didn't get there through smoke and mirrors, and it's hard to believe that we were all that wrong about a football team. They're still good, but this is clearly a fatal blow for Michigan's national title chances. It's tough to imagine that a team is going to beat the likes of Oregon, Wisconsin, or Ohio State after losing to a I-AA (er, FCS) team. Sure, Michigan can recover, but look for them to fall at least ten spots in the polls this week, and they haven't even played the toughest part of their schedule yet.
It could be a long season for Lloyd Carr and friends if the Wolverines don't tighten up in a lot of areas.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
9-01-2007 @ 5:29PM
psteiner1 said...
Unfortunately, Carr is running a very long streak over the course of the past four years of having more and more games with having this team ill-prepared, English after three games can not defense 4-5 receiver sets....the offensive coordinator did not have this offense on cue....the end result...whatever the chemistry factor is for the team, Lloyd needs to be fired, the offensive coordinator needs to be changed, English needs to be put under review pending a future termination. Carr is no longer a leader, and the team will suffer more with him than without him. I understand the loyaly of the Michigan management team, but this pattern has been on going and can no longer be overlooked. Someone posted about team chemistry...well right now, it could not be any worse with him gone....now
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9-01-2007 @ 5:47PM
jallotta said...
Even as a Michigan fan, I cannot condone a team being ranked in the top 25 after they lose to a 1-AA team. No matter how good that 1-AA team. They should not get any votes in the polls at all!
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9-01-2007 @ 5:57PM
Rick said...
1 loss is not the end of the season. Florida had an early loss last year and still made it over teams such as undefeated Boise State, to the National Championship. Just more proof a playoff system is needed.
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9-01-2007 @ 6:00PM
mhw said...
I appreciate your attempt to be levelheaded, Bruce. But this Michigan team lost for all the reasons that Michigan teams have lost for consistently in the last, oh, four or so years.
Big blue, not even with a new secondary coach and Ron English, cannot handle spread offenses, especially the four-five wide. It's a tragedy, and the coaching and defensive playcalling is setting up obviously unprepared people to fail.
The offense remains unimaginative and inconsistent. The only new thing here is that they can't protect field goal attempts. Oh, and they also now stumble around confusedly on 4th downs and 2pt conversions. That's new too.
Definitely not a top-25 team.
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9-01-2007 @ 6:33PM
chris said...
It is just Pollyanna-ish to compare Florida's loss last year and this loss. Florida lost to Auburn (final ranking # 9), not a IAA school. A loss to Illinois, or Northwestern, or a MAC school would be tough to swallow but not the sign that the end is near that this loss is.
This loss requires serious introspection.
Clearly Michigan was not ready. It is opening day and the team is not ready? Since there can be no acceptable explanation, changes need to be made.
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9-01-2007 @ 7:01PM
daddyski7777 said...
Last year's 11 - 0 run was a fluke. I'm from Michigan and have always been a Wolerines fan. I've never been a Lloyd Carr fan though. This man and his staff suck! It's been well past due to clean house at the Big House.
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9-01-2007 @ 7:20PM
James said...
Allow me to point out that Michigan barely beat a Ball State team last year with some late game plays. Ball State was ahead and literally gave the game away late...Michigan wasn't as good as their record indicated last year and is not very good this year and was WAY over ranked.
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9-01-2007 @ 7:40PM
DSports said...
Ed what are you talking about man? How quickly do things change. Just 5 hours ago people in Ann Arbor were talking about National Title hopes, and now you're just hoping for a bowl game? Now that's the spirit!
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9-01-2007 @ 8:24PM
David & Goliath said...
Michigan was clearly outcoached and outplayed for two of the quarters. I respectfully disagree that UM was the better team today and should have won. It could have been a bigger lead heading into the third due to the dropped pass in the endzone. Michigan fans a players alike learned that regardless of your program legacy and 110,000 fans that you still have to respect your competition and come to play. I am sure the Motor City Bowl is saving a spot for you guys.
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9-01-2007 @ 9:38PM
Anthony said...
I think the biggest problem today was the stubborn defensive playcalling/personnel decisions.
-It took 3 quarters to start playing with 4 down linemen, despite the fact that AP. State was having a field day running up the middle.
-Chris Graham was put on the slot receiver multiple times and this was exploited multiple times. There should have been one CB on the field for every WR most snaps.
-There should have been a spy on the Ap State QB after about the 15th QB sneak. This never happened.
Had Matt Guiterrez not gotten hurt, this would have been Henne's first ever start. He played like it today. The problem is, today was his 38th career start. Thats unbelievable.
I think Lloyd deserved this in a lot of ways. He's coached 'not to lose' for so many years and he finally got bitten by it. There were no adjustments, no risks being taken, just a whole lot of vanilla that ap. state appeared to be totally ready for.
I am jealous that they have such a competent coaching staff.
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9-01-2007 @ 10:01PM
Richard Many said...
Lets give credit where credit is due. In the last 10 years the level of play in the FCS division has improved considerably. There are at least 3 leagues in the old 1-AA that could easily be raised to division 1 and still be competitive. Division 1 teams all have to stop looking at these games as automatic wins and show them the respect they truly deserve.
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9-01-2007 @ 11:22PM
Eric Walker said...
Simply put, Appalachian State wanted it more. Those kids came out and played their hearts out and left nothing in the locker room and any other sports clique you want to use.
Michigan has the better players, Appalachian State was the better team. They earned it, but Michigan needs to realize whoever they play now will think they have a shot at winning and any aura about them they may have had is gone!!
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9-02-2007 @ 3:59AM
Ed_Legs said...
Today's loss.... Maybe the most painful thing I ever had to witness, but We needed a game like this so we could see all of our faults & weaknesses before we step up to Conf. play, which a loss to a big ten team would have been far worse. We, Michigan fans, should not be too concerned about today's loss. Two or Three big victories could put us back on track. Remember: App. St. came with something to prove & We, Big Blue, came with something to learn. And that I think we did. To those who dare criticize Coach Carr (most likely gambler's & not true Michigan fans) should ashamed of themselves. One thing people need to learn about being a True Blue fan, is that the Wolverines/ U of M is about respect, pride, & loyalty. Just wait until mid-season. If he hasn't produced the possibility of a Bowl Game, then yeah his best days are behind him and he needs to retire & name a succesor that would be best for the players. Not just rip off Carr's head & replace him with next able body. Who would that benefit???? Maybe somebody's fat pocket, but not our organization. GO BLUE!!!!
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9-02-2007 @ 4:39AM
Ed_Legs said...
Dsports, please pay attention. Apparently thats not what you did before you made your comment to me. "One thing people need to learn about being a True Blue fan, is that the Wolverines/ U of M is about respect, pride, & loyalty. Just wait until mid-season. If he hasn't produced the possibility of a Bowl Game, then yeah his best days are behind him and he needs to retire & name a succesor that would be best for the players. Not just rip off Carr's head & replace him with next able body." That comment is about Carr to other Wolverine fans who want his head. But you are right about one thing...
Yes, we always hope for the National Title, but is that realistic at this point??? Maybe, but is the Rose Bowl??? YES!!! That is true team spirit, to have and to show hope & faith that your team will turn around from a devestating loss, correct key errors, and win a bowl game. But I doubt you'd understand that. As I said before... GO BLUE!!!
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9-02-2007 @ 11:11AM
josie said...
I feel for the fans up north, but loved seeing this happen. I hope Carr is coach for years to come.......GO BUCKEYES!!!!!!!!
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9-02-2007 @ 12:10PM
Go Blow said...
I guess Big Blow should have worried more about their upcoming opponents than what Jim Harbaugh said about their program (which happens to be true)
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9-02-2007 @ 12:48PM
ventures360 said...
This kind of stuff happens in college football--it's part of the fun. I'm a Texas fan, and UT was one onside kick away from laying an egg, too. While Michigan and Texas are heavyweight programs, they've both got holes this year.
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9-02-2007 @ 2:07PM
BIG TEN FAN! said...
It's harder to swallow a lost like this for the fans of Michigan who arguably can be the rudest, most arrogant and annoying of their kind. This ought to put that beahvior in perspective. You pore-anointed team was already looking beyond lowly Appalachian State and the Appalacian State players knew how to exploit it. They got inside your team's head!
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9-02-2007 @ 5:21PM
Ted said...
Now Michigan fans truly know what it felt like to have been an OSU Buckeye fan under Cooper.
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9-02-2007 @ 6:33PM
tomg said...
I have been a M fan for 32 years and I believe Michigan should be dropped from the top 25.I have never been a Carr fan. He has had some great talent and couldnt make it work. A perfect example is what did he get out of Tom Brady. Not much but Brady goes to NFL and wins the super bowl as a rookie QB .Michigan played like a AA school.They deserved to loose and I wonder how many sucides there where in Ann Arbor. I predict a 5-5 season.
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