Michigan Scores 31 in Fourth to Shock Golden Gophers

Brown Jug stays in Ann Arbor for 15th straight game

SALINE, MI OCT. 11, 2003

Even the biggest John Navarre supporters probably were secretly wishing that we'd get a look at freshman Matt Gutierrez at some point in the third quarter.  It looked like things were out of hand and that this was Minnesota's year.  Navarre was missing receivers and the defense was giving up major rushing yards seemingly on every snap.

Down three touchdowns at the end of the third quarter, Navarre led the Blue back.  With delicate passes and textbook footwork, he navigated the Wolverines down the field within incredible efficiency.  Of course, we saw similar drives near the end of the Iowa and Oregon losses. 

So remarkable was the rapid comeback is that despite a Minnesota touchdown negating a Michigan score (an inexcusable 52 yard run by Abdul-Khaliq on a third and short), when M had the ball for the last time, they actually had to slow down to milk the clock.  They scored 31 in the last quarter without the benefit of an on sides kick.  After the game, Coach Carr was interviewed in the tunnel and was giddy as a school boy.  He was fortunate, because the wolves were coming out all week on local radio calling for his head.

Despite the win, there will be many things to criticize next week, starting with Carr's stubborn insistence on trying his ridiculous 7-3 punt formation one more time.  Minnesota just missed snuffing it.  After that, the fans will look for answers on how the defenses can give up 425 yards on the ground (to anyone, let alone Minnesota).  One guy who will avoid the criticism is Navarre, who is responsible for this gift win.  He did not waiver and finally finished a ranked team on the road.

Michigan's win makes it 15 straight and 32 of 34 against the Gophers.  One take:  Dude, how big were jugs back then?  If that is a "little" brown jug, I'd like to see a big one.  Good lord - they have to haul that thing in on a cart!

Related:

BCS Bowl Game Scenarios / Projections

Minnesota Pregame Notes

SALINE, MI OCT. 8, 2003

A few items about this week's game that you may not be reading in your local fishwraps:

- The game is being played for the Little Brown Jug, and Michigan has retained the Jug for the last 14 games.    M has won 31 of the last 33 meetings.

- These teams met last year, also at Minnesota, where Michigan won 41-24.

- The game is on Friday because the Gophers share the Metrodome with the Twins, who had the possibility of playing in the American League playoffs on Saturday.  The Twins lost, but as I told Awes II, you can't unring a bell, and all the arrangements have already been made to play the game on Friday.  Minnesota has to play all of Michigan's travel costs associated with the move.

- The last time M played on Friday was against Minnesota in 1991 for the same reason.  Michigan won 52-6.

- A loss could send Michigan out of the AP writers poll, where they have appeared in the top 25 during the past 84 polls.  The Michigan SID says this is the longest active streak.

- XFL legend Rod Smart aka "He Hate Me" ran a kick back for the NFL's Carolina Panthers.

Related Links:

Jim Carty shows liberal leanings in Sports column in Ann Arbor News

Early BCS Bowl projections - Get the Latest Here!

Nightmare BCS Scenario for Michigan

Recap of Ohio State vs. Michigan 100th Meeting (Nov 22 2003)

Michigan 2003-04 National Championship Scenarios