Article published October 14, 2008
UM in 'disbelief' after upset loss to Rockets
By JOE VARDON
BLADE SPORTS WRITER
ANN ARBOR - You think you can't believe it?
Trust that Michigan's players and coaches are just as stunned, if not more so, that they lost 13-10 to Toledo last weekend.
"I felt, yeah, disbelief," Wolverines senior defensive end Tim Jamison said. "I didn't see it coming. We as a team didn't see it coming."
Rather than dissect Saturday's disaster or watch other football games on TV, Jamison said he fell asleep at 7 p.m. that night. When he awoke, awaiting him were the challenges of accepting UM's first-ever loss to a Mid-American Conference opponent and preparing to play at No. 3 Penn State this week.
Rockets fans won't like this, but the upset UT pulled is being likened to Appalachian State's victory at Michigan Sta-dium last season.
"We talked about it a lot," Jamison said. "Some of the players were making comments like 'Appalachian State, at least they won three national championships in their division.' It hurt [losing to UT], but a loss is a loss."Not only did UM suffer a season-opening 34-32 loss to a Football Championship Subdivision school in Appalachian State last year, but the Wolverines were also hammered the following week by Oregon. They recovered, though, winning their next eight games and advancing to their 33 consecutive bowl game.
UM has to peel itself off the mat to play the third-best team in the country this week, then return home the following week to face a rival - No. 20 Michigan State. So this would be the time to rely on last year's experience of bouncing back.
"We draw up on that and try to tell the guys that it will get better," senior defensive tackle Terrance Taylor said. "A lot of things will be said and a lot of things will happen in the period of time from last week's game.
"Right now, we're moving on to Penn State."
In doing so - moving forward - UM coach Rich Rodriguez said the Wolverines need to "stay the course."
They have lost four of six games to begin their first season under Rodriguez - their worst start since 1967. Their offense is ranked 109th in the country, and Rodriguez has come under fire for insisting UM run his spread-option scheme without enough players suited for that system.
Rodriguez was peppered yesterday with questions about making changes - changes in playcalling, in player personnel, in anything, really. He said the Wolverines need to stay with what got them here, even if "here" is a 2-4 record.
"It starts with me and the coaches, we've got to stay the course," Rodriguez said. "I know there are probably a lot of people disappointed, a lot of fans disappointed. … But we've got to stay the course. We talked about that [Sunday] night. I believe in what we're doing and I believe in our players."
In this a season of change at UM, where Rodriguez is doing most things differently than they were done under Lloyd Carr, the players insist they believe in Rodriguez and his staff.
"We know everything's different, we know everything's changed, we knew everything wasn't going to be the same," sophomore right tackle Stephen Schilling said. "We believe in our coaches, and I think we all bought in throughout the summer and through camp.
"We believe that it will work, we just maybe have to employ more patience than we thought."
NO HUDDLE: Quarterback Steven Threet (bruised elbow) did not practice Sunday night, but Rodriguez said he thinks Threet will be available against Penn State. Threet, who missed the second half against UT, will start "if he's 100 percent," Rodriguez said. … Running back Brandon Minor (bruised ribs) is also questionable this week. Defensive end Brandon Graham (leg infection), receiver Martavious Odoms (sprained shoulder) and cornerback Donovan Warren (quadriceps) all missed last week's game but are expected to play against the Nittany Lions. … Linebacker Austin Panter (shoulder) will likely miss his second straight game, and receiver Junior Hemingway (mono) and running back Carlos Brown (sprained foot) are still out. … Rodriguez said freshman Justin Feagin, once a hope for UM at quarterback, may see the field this year as a slot receiver.
Contact Joe Vardon at:
jvardon@theblade.com
or 419-410-5055.
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