Get your game paint on, football fans! The all-new weekly chat on college football, Wednesdays at 2:00 p.m. on toledoblade.com
Ask host Ron Musselman about your favorite teams, coaches, and rivalries.
Kevin Cesarz: (2:00 P.M. ET ) Welcome to our Hump Day Huddle with Ron Musselman. We are about ready to get underway. Ron was in Columbus and Ann Arbor this week, and will be in South Bend on Saturday for the UM-Notre Dame game. Take it away, Ron.
Todd What's in store for UT fans this weekend after last week’s pounding in Minnesota?
Ron Musselman: (2:04 P.M. ET ) Well, the Rockets can’t get roughed up any more than that kid did four weeks ago at the frat house, that’s for sure. That was very surprising. I predicted UT would lose, but I didn’t think the Rockets would get trounced as badly as they did. It was a terrible loss, and it’s unlikely you’ll see the Toledo in the Top 25 again this year. You heard it here first. Minnesota, which pounded Toledo, won’t finish any higher than fourth in the Big Ten.
Kevin Cesarz: (2:05 P.M. ET ) Ditto. I left a good Northview-Port Clinton game to see my beloved Gophers get spanked as usual at the Metrodome, but nooo, UT has to lay the egg.
Jim (Ann Arbor) Who does Michigan turn to if (David) Underwood doesn't perform better?
Ron Musselman: (2:08 P.M. ET ) Michigan will turn to other backs if Underwood can’t get the tough yards, or any yards, for that matter. There’s freshman Mike Hart, Pierre Rembert and Jerome Jackson waiting in the wings. The Wolverines have to average more than 2.9 yards per carry. I said before the season began that UM’s ground game was a bigger concern than the QB position, and I still believe that. If Michigan can’t run the ball this season, it will get run over once the Big Ten season begins.
Doug I see in today's paper that former UT kicker (Todd) France got cut by the (N.Y.) Giants. Do you think he'll get picked up on another NFL team?
Ron Musselman: (2:14 P.M. ET ) I don’t. The problem with France has always been his lack of a strong leg. He has never been a great kickoff man, and wasn’t at UT, and he is consistent enough on field goals to survive in the NFL. For every 50-plus yarder he kicks, he misses two from 40 yards or less. I like Todd France as a person, but it might be time for him to put his engineering degree to use.
J.J. (Sylvania) Any chance of a quarterback controversy in Columbus? I used to be totally behind (Justin) Zwick, but after seeing (Troy) Smith play I have to admit I'm pretty excited at what he could bring to the table.
Ron Musselman: (2:20 P.M. ET ) I don’t see this being a controversy as longs as Zwick can hang onto the football – he had four fumbles and two interceptions Saturday. Smith looked good on the few series he played – he engineered two scoring drives – but if he were better than Zwick, he’d be playing ahead of him. I think Zwick is the best option at this point.
James What is Michigan going to do this weekend against Notre Dame?
Ron Musselman: (2:25 P.M. ET ) I think the Wolverines will win in a squeaker. I know Notre Dame stinks – the Irish are 5-10 in their last 15 games, their worst stretch in more than 40 years, but Notre Dame Stadium is a tough place to play because of the aura surrounding the stadium and Touchdown Jesus. It’s an awesome place for college football, probably the best place I have ever been. Michigan is 1-3-1 in its last five trips there, so this game won’t be any different. I look for the Wolverines to win 21-17.
Sam (Fremont) Anything new with the OSU quarterback situation?
Ron Musselman: (2:30 P.M. ET ) Sam, nothing new to report. Jim Tressel said Tuesday that Justin Zwick would start again and Troy Smith would also play. Tressel wants Zwick to cut down on his turnovers, and if he does that, I don’t think you’ll be hearing Smith’s name in the quarterback rotation anymore once the Big Ten season starts. If Zwick stinks, though, and can’t hang onto the ball, Smith could replace him.
JT Ron, My beloved Pitt Panthers have a new QB and 8 walk-ons in the 2-deep rotation. Makes for a long year! Will Ohio State take back Walt Harris after he gets fired?
Ron Musselman: (2:34 P.M. ET ) I don’t know why anyone would want to hire Walt Harris. He’s been a very average coach who is barely above .500. The only thing that has saved him is the fact that he has beaten Joe Paterno and big rival Penn State a few times. Nothing new there. Everyone beats Paterno these days, except Akron, I guess. Let’s wait and see what happens with Walt when Nebraska shows up later this season at Heinz Field. I am sure the Huskers will shuck ‘em.
Mark (Sylvania) Hey, Ron. Do you think UT has a chance this weekend at Kansas?
Ron Musselman: (2:37 P.M. ET ) UT always has a chance, but the Rockets have not been a great road team under Tom Amstutz. To my recollection, I don’t think they have won a nonconference road game since 2001. I also am worried about that defense. Ironically, when Amstutz was the defensive coordinator, UT had a top 5 defense in the country. Now they are near the bottom and Lou West has been a bad coordinator since arriving from Notre Dame. I don’t understand what Amstutz’s loyalty is to West. I’d dump him in a South Bend minute.
Henry (Columbus) Not a good weekend for the MAC, huh?
Ron Musselman: (2:43 P.M. ET ) Just as I predicted last week, the MAC got attacked. It was more like a feast, really. The fact that Ohio U. was the only MAC team to win – snore, they beat VMI, which is not exactly a powerhouse – says it all. Everyone else got ambushed, including Toledo. Bowling Green probably had the best showing of any MAC team. They went to Oklahoma and did OK against a very good Sooners team. I think it gives the Falcons a lot of hope for the rest of the year.
Rick (Blissfield) Are you worried about Michigan’s kicking game?
Ron Musselman: (2:47 P.M. ET ) Yeah, and I think Lloyd Carr is, too. Garrett Rivas missed two extra points against Miami (Ohio) last week. He can’t do that at Notre Dame. Rivas has to be more consistent. If he’s not, it’s going to spell trouble for the Wolverines.
Kevin Cesarz: (2:51 P.M. ET ) That’s all for today. UT reporter Matt Markey will play guest host next week (Sept. 15) when Ron is at the Ryder Cup. That chitchat session will be at noon, so pack a lunch. Matt covered Bowling Green before his UT beat, so chatters can fire away from both sides of the I-75 rival match-up. Thanks for chitchatting. Join us for Loose Piggy this Friday and John Harris on September 21. Permanent Link
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Kevin Cesarz: (2:00 P.M. ET ) Welcome to our Hump Day Huddle with Ron Musselman. We are about ready to get underway. Ron was in Columbus and Ann Arbor this week, and will be in South Bend on Saturday for the UM-Notre Dame game. Take it away, Ron.