[NU Sports] Two more cents ...

[SjT (Stephen J. Truog)]

Not too much to add after reading the posts except a
few more points ...

First, just an observation. In 1994, I was at the
NU-OSU game where the Buckeyes got outplayed,
outhustled and outcoached and escaped Evanston with a
17-15 victory. After the game, the scarley and grey
fans migrated toward the OSU tunnel to hurl insults
and shower boos on Coach Coop.

After today's game, where Michigan was outplayed,
outhustled and outcoached only to escape 28-16 after
four straight turnovers in the final quarter, the
maize and blue fans migrated toward the Michigan
tunnel to ... celebrate and cheer their "victors."

Have expectations at Michigan really changed that
much?:) If this had happened last year, I would think
the OSU scene would have been repeated by Michigan
fans. But maybe it's a humbling after Appalachain
State or just being resigned to letting Lloyd have his
final year before a new coach??? I dunno.

If it hadn't been so saddening for me watching NU give
away the game, I might have taken time to chuckle at
the Michigan fans in attendance who were so quiet
through three quarters doing celebratory chest bumps
and "yeah baby" or "THAT's what I'm talkin' about!"
shouts after their team escapes Evanston.

Kinda like the Irish faithful in South Bend last week
waiving those white flags. Times have changed.:)

As for NU's game a couple quick replies ...

* Nothing but love for the D today. Michigan had only
one real drive after the opening drive. We got off the
field on 3rd down most of the day. Yeah, we gave
cushions, but we knocked a pass down, got pressure a
few times and totally shut down the nation's best
running back, making them one-dimensional. This wasn't
the D's fault. Giving Michigan the ball four times in
the fourth on a short field will doom anybody.

* Love the gameplan all around - we ran CJ more, we
did some pump fakes on offense to set up crossing
routes and deeper throws downfield and we mixed it up.

* Our execution, however, got worse. I was hoping that
after the Nevada game, CJ had that confidence that we
all saw Zak and Baz have to come through in the
clutch, but the Duke and Michigan games have hurt that
hope. He's still our QB, but he has to develop that
leadership and confidence in crunch time (some help
from the O line would help, too).

* On Carr, I don't fault his plan here too much -
though I was surprised he didn't try play action deep
more. But I'm sure he never expected us to shut down
Hart like we did. His O line wore down PSU's tough
defense last week despite every Nittany Lion in the
world focusing on #20 ... he had been criticized
(rightly) for forgetting about Hart in the first two
losses, so I wasn't surprised to see him keep going to
#20. I think he was shocked that his talented O line
didn't open up huge holes for Hart to run through.

* Finally, I agree with Tom's assessment: 

"A very disappointing  lost, but ultimately I'm left
with a much better feeling than the last two  weeks."

Exactly - if we play like this the rest of the season,
we can beat anyone. We just need to finish. Love Fitz'
job of getting the team focused after such a
devastating loss. Love the game plan of the coaches.
But we've already let two wins slip away - we don't
have room for any more shouldawons ... BEAT SPARTY!!!

GO CATS!!!
-SjT

* * * * * * * * *
STEPHEN J. TRUOG
sjtruog at yahoo.com
GO CATS!!!


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