msu: 2-0, um: 0-2

I never thought I’d see the day. To the Wolverines in my family, I apologize in advance for the rest of this post…

UM Game Blog:

Michigan loses two straight at home to open the season for the first time since 1959.

The good news for the diehards who remain in the stadium is that traffic shouldn’t be too bad leaving. The stands started emptying at halftime, and only about one quarter of the 109,733 fans remained by the end.

The Ducks are celebrating in the corner of the south end zone right now with about 2,000 fans who made the trip from Eugene. The chant of “Let’s go Ducks!” is reverberating around an otherwise empty stadium.

AA News, “U-M’s loss evident in downtown Ann Arbor“:

Even before the Michigan game ended in defeat Saturday, fans, many clad in maize and blue shirts, streamed down Main Street, bringing waves of disappointment.

They discussed the score while they waited for tables. They complained about bad plays on the telephone as they paced on the sidewalk. Diners even expressed resentment about the schedule and the season between bites.

It was almost as if they were grieving; the Wolverines lost 39-7 to Oregon in what was possibly the worst upset in the team’s history.

“We’re sad, ashamed and disappointed,” said Brian O’Keefe of White Lake, who left the game during half time. “It looked like they gave up on the game.”

Mitch Albom, “MAIZE AND BOO: U-M loses game, crowd and respect after woeful 0-2 start“:

Last week was an upset.

This was just a butt-kicking.

And it won’t be the last. Not if Michigan keeps playing this way. At the moment, the sweetest invitation you can get in college football may be a Saturday in Ann Arbor. The 39-7 defeat to Oregon, the fourth loss in a row for Michigan going back to last season — worst stretch since 1967 — wasn’t David shaking down Goliath.

Uh-uh. This was just an unranked Pacific 10 team flying across the country and stomping on the Wolverines like a 6-year-old having a tantrum. It was target practice for the Oregon quarterback, Dennis Dixon, who hit bomb after bomb, as Michigan gave new meaning to word “secondary.” And it was a meltdown by the U-M offense, which wasted a lot of yards getting almost no points.

I hate to put it this way, but there were Lions games that were less embarrassing than this.

The Wolverines are not very good. Just say it.

OK. Here is the best thing you can say about this defeat. It really doesn’t matter. Not in the Big Picture. The Wolverines already were eliminated from any national championship hopes last week, and if you’re not going to play for the title, does it really matter where you rank in the polls?

At this point, there is only one thing left for the Wolverines and that is the Big Ten title. Bo Schembechler, during his tenure as coach, would have told you that’s all that matters anyhow. These nonconference games to him were nothing more than warm-up, a few scrimmages to get ready for the Iowas, Michigan States and Ohio States of the world.

You can believe that if it makes you feel better. The only problem is, it is a philosophy that goes backward, not forward. And it seems U-M has enough of that in its football program right now.

Mark Snyder, “Now What? Wolverines don’t recover, lose four straight for first time since 1967“:

This game was worse than anything the Wolverines faced after last week. It’s worse than the three straight losses to Ohio State and the bowl game frustrations.

It’s worse because the Wolverines had every reason to be motivated yet still surrendered the worst overall performance in years, allowing both debacles.

Regardless what happens the rest of the season - and there’s no proof to think it will be anything but frustrating - this game will linger for years.

And it’s the second straight loss that will haunt Carr and the players for the rest of their lives.

DNews, “JUST DUCKY: Oregon drops Michigan to 0-2“:

“We’re going to win next week,” said Hart, a tri-captain. “There’s no question in my mind. I guarantee we win next week.

“I just know. Notre Dame is struggling, but both teams will be hungry. We’re not going to lose not going to lose. It’s something we need. I have that much confidence in this team. I’m going to get this team ready, guaranteed. Coaches are going to do their job, seniors are going to do their job, and we’re going to win next week, I don’t care.”

Rob Parker, “Face it: Wolverines are just terrible“:

As it turns out, Appalachian State’s victory wasn’t a fluke. It was simply a scary preview of what’s to come for the Wolverines, who somehow believed two weeks ago they could win a national championship.

At this point, maybe they should focus on winning a game first.

Few would have ever imagined Michigan would be destroyed twice in two weeks in their own crib. The Wolverines haven’t lost their first two home games to start a season since 1959.

But here we are, and it isn’t a pretty place. Michigan has bigger problems than not being prepared. That was the excuse for losing to the Mountaineers last Saturday.

There is no excuse this week. Michigan knew what task was ahead of them against the Ducks. They just couldn’t do anything about it.

That’s what has to scare the Wolverines. The Ducks played in the Big House with no fear.

“I don’t know if anybody expected this or not,” senior safety Jamar Adams said about the young defense. “But I know this is not Michigan.”

To the contrary. Until the Wolverines prove otherwise, this is Michigan. Look out below.

Meanwhile, in East Lansing…

MICHAEL ROSENBERG, “Don’t be fooled; Dantonio’s 2-0 start much better than Smith’s“:

Dantonio is the anti-John L., in every way. It is impossible to imagine him slapping himself in the face during a press conference or screaming “Presh-ah!” when somebody asks him about pressure. It is also hard to imagine his teams blowing season after season because of mental breakdowns.

Dantonio’s Spartans methodically beat Bowling Green 28-17, Saturday. When was the last time you could use the word “methodical” to describe a Michigan State football team? For much of the last few years, there seemed to be no method, only madness.

The Spartans got stronger as the game wore on. They did not buckle when they fell behind 14-7. They only had one penalty before the snap and none after the whistle. They passed well early and wore the Falcons down late with a bruising running game.

The Spartans have figured out that before they can beat Michigan, they have to dress like Appalachian State. Oops. Sorry. What I meant to say is that before they can beat Michigan, they have to stop beating Michigan State.

“I don’t think we’re going to beat ourselves this year,” linebacker Kaleb Thornhill said. “We’re going to be sound and disciplined.”

Look, beating Bowling Green and Alabama-Birmingham does not get the BCS computers whirring. But what matters here, as much as the MSU victories, is how they won.

I don’t know if the Spartans will win in South Bend in two weeks. But I bet that if they do win, they won’t plant a flag at midfield afterward.

“Our guys are representing, I think, well,” Dantonio said. “We’re trying to play the game. Competing. Trying to finish. And we’re trying to play with class. They do what we ask.”

It’s what Spartan fans have been asking for years.

On the banks of the Red Cedar, there’s a school that’s known to all…

(photo links: UM gallery, msu gallery)