COLLEGE FOOTBALL

End Zone: UM Wolverines

Was Saturday's win the wake-up call UM needed?

9/18/2013

Was Saturday's win over — or near-upset by — Akron, the wake-up call the Michigan football team needed?

The media is barred from watching and gauging the intensity of practices, so there's no way to judge this week. We are free to judge their words, and the Wolverines are using a lot of the right words this week.

Preparation. Focus. Leadership. Intensity. Move forward.

This week, UM faces Connecticut, a team that in several ways parallel the Zips. Clearly the Wolverines aren't underestimating the Huskies. After the near-upset, it's fair to ask this: "why shouldn't the Wolverines underestimate a program that got beat by an FCS opponent and rushed for just 34 yards in last week's loss to Maryland?"

Connecticut has had its struggles. But until the Wolverines post a blowout win over what could be perceived as an undermanned team, this is the only way the Wolverines can redeem themselves, by toeing the company line.

Ultimately, there's a bottom line: win. That's something that's easily a standard at Michigan.

Yet a skin-of-the-teeth win over one of the FBS cellar-dwellers brings another standard: Win resoundingly.

That should be the company line this weekend in New England.

Contact Rachel Lenzi at: rlenzi@theblade.com, 419-724-6510, or on Twitter @RLenziBlade.