The booing returned to the Big House.
It’s become the newest Michigan tradition.
It’s become the newest Michigan tradition.
But in a different twist this time, the loudest jeers came from the head coach.
Rich Rodriguez revealed the first hint of frustration Saturday, exasperated over his team’s continued deficient execution. He didn’t hide his disgust in the aftermath of one of the worst drubbings Michigan ever endured on its home turf.
“This is ridiculous right now,” Rodriguez lamented.
There’s no argument here.
The Wolverines are a bad football team.
It’s obvious now when assessing the damage from Illinois’ 45-20 victory that the fluke was last week when Michigan made the biggest comeback in Michigan Stadium history.
They haven’t turned the corner.
They can’t even find the street.
This was the real Michigan, once again bowing at the mercy of an athletic quarterback flawlessly executing the spread offense as it was intended. This was the real Michigan, teasing the senses with early glimpses of offensive proficiency only to once again quickly and quietly suffocate. This was the real Michigan, incapable once again of holding onto the ball.
“I’m mad,” Rodriguez said. “I’m sorry. What do you want from me? I don’t like losing. I don’t want to accept it. I don’t want anybody in this program accepting it.”
Rodriguez took exception to a reporter’s question regarding what the coaches could do to alleviate the continued rash of fumbles.
Michigan lost two fumbles in a span of 10 minutes in the second half, one on a sloppy handoff exchange and the other on a kickoff return. Illinois converted both turnovers into touchdowns.
Rodriguez made it clear that the coaches are doing everything imaginable in practice to cure the ill short of imprisonment, but nothing has worked.
“I’ve never seen anything like that before,” he said regarding the continued miscues.
Rodriguez prepared everyone for the contradictory grind awaiting those accustomed to Michigan winning frequently and, more importantly, comfortably. But this was the first time that he seemed ill-prepared himself for the inconsistencies of a program growing into a new personality.
This is when the coach must heed his message to the players.
He must fight through this because if the Wolverines become disillusioned through such sustained disappointment, they’re facing a 6-6 season at the very best.
That’s unimaginable for Michigan – even in what’s acknowledged as a transitional year.
It was the most points given up at Michigan Stadium since Florida State invaded Ann Arbor in 1991. It was their worst home loss since Oregon’s 32-point romp a year ago. This is the earliest they’ve recorded their third loss since 1967 when Bump Elliott coached before an often half-empty Michigan Stadium.
“I’m mad at myself because it starts with me,” he said. “We just have to get back at it and keep working hard. We’ve got to get ourselves right and it starts with the coaches.”
But when you watched Illinois you saw what Rodriguez envisioned long range for his offense.
Juice was in the Big House.
And I’m not talking about O.J. Simpson’s new residence.
Quarterback Isiah “Juice” Williams set a new Michigan Stadium record of 431 total yards. He isn’t terribly consistent as a passer, but he accomplishes just enough with his arm that makes his legs even more dangerous. He did an option fake to his tailback that fooled everybody – including the ESPN television cameras.
The Wolverines thought they made an impressive defensive stop on the running back, but there was Juice celebrating in the end zone with a touchdown.
The diehard Blue hairs still don’t sleep as peacefully at night as they did before Rodriguez’s arrival, but at least they aren’t screaming deep into the night with Steven Threet firmly entrenched as the lesser of two Michigan quarterbacking evils.
There’s incremental improvement with Threet. It would certainly ease the burden on him if the Wolverines could generate a more consistent running game, but the problem is that no matter how gutsy Threet plays or how much he’s squeezed out of so little, Rodriguez still needs his Juice.
But the greatest frustration stems from a stunningly passive Michigan defense.
“We should be expecting much more from ourselves defensively when you consider the veterans we have,” said linebacker Obi Ezeh. “Emotionally, I think that sometimes we are ready to go and then sometimes, people are letting their emotions take over. We should be able to play composed and we just couldn’t do that.”
The only thing defensive for Michigan Saturday was its coach.
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