The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com
September 8, 2009 - 5B
THE QUICK BREAKDOWN
MAIZE GAUGE
The Michigan Daily football writers break down the weekend's stats that don't show up in the box score. The Mesk-o-Meter measures the Wolverines' success on special teams, the
Rod-o-Meterjudges how emotional (positive or negative) Rich Rodriguez was following the game and the Hype-o-Meter measures the fans' performance.
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MESK-O-METER
4/4
Zoltans
The special teams performance was worlds better
than in last year's season opener - the Wolverines
didn't drop any punts, they made their only field-goal
attempt and Zoltan Mesko averaged 47.2 yards
per punt. It was nothing flashy, but it worked.
ROD-O-METER
2 / Despite all the pro-Rich Rod signs and chants during the
game, Rodriguez was surprisingly blase during his post-
game press conference. He didn't crack his usual jokes
Rich Rods following a win, but then again, he's been under a lot of
pressure lately. It must have been nice tojust breathe.
HYPE-O-METER
4/4 The student section arrived well before kickoff, packed
j the stadium and screamed for nearly the entire game.
Big Houses Even with a 31-point lead, the crowd was still louder
than during much of last season. You've set the bar
high now, students. Don't let us down next week.
LOOKING GOOD
FEELING BLUE
PLAY OF THE GAME
SAM wOLSON/Daily ARIEL BOND/Daily
WIDE RECEIVER JUNIOR HEMINGWAY PUNTER ZOLTAN MESKO (PREGAME)
After receiving a medical redshirt last year, Sure, Mesko had a Ray Guy Award-esque
Hemingway has obviously recovered from performance, with stellar punts during Saturday's
mononucleosis nicely after grabbing two game. But he didn't win himself any points for grace
touchdown passes in his first game back. He when he tripped and fell after tapping the "Go
was surprised and emotional after the game, Blue" banner during the vaunted pregame ritual,
saying that there were no words to describe how almost getting trampled by his teammates. Sorry,
it felt to be back on the field in the Big House. Zoltan. We like you, but better luck next time.
NOTABLE
QUOTABLE
God. I was happy,
but it's nothing. I
wasn't impressed by
it. I've seen it happen.
I've seen him do it
so many times in
practice, it's typical
for him to do that."
- Freshman quarterback Tate Forcier,
when asked about fellow freshman
quarterback Denard Robinson's
touchdown on Saturday.
THE MICHIGAN DAILY TOP 10 POLL
The Michigan Daily Top 10 returns for its first installment this season. Each week,
Daily Sports staffers will fill out ballots, with first place votes receiving 10 points,
second-place votes receiving nine, and so on. The results are published with first-
place votes in parentheses.
1. FLORIDA (9): So what if 6. PENN STATE: The
the Gators couldn't cover the Nittany Lions scored all of
73-point spread? Tim Tebow their 31 points in the first
is still God in our books. half. Hmm. Sound familiar?
2. TEXAS: Atypical early-
season Longhorn blowout
kept Texas securely near
the top.
3. SOUTHERN CAL: Trojan
C freshman quarterback Matt
I jBarkley went 15-of-29 for
233 yards. His real test will
come next week against the
Buckeyes.
4. ALABAMA: The Crimson
Tide didn't look like
themselves in the fourth
quarter, but 498 total yards
gets the job done.
S. OKLAHOMA STATE:
Closing off your program
two weeks prior to kickoff to
focus seemed to work. Rich
Rod, please don't do that.
7. MISSISSIPPI: A road
game can't frazzle the
Rebels, hoping to end their
46-year SEC title drought.
8. OHIO STATE: When
your quarterback knows
everyone "kills people,
murder people, and all
types, steals from you, steals
from me..." it's agood sign.
9. CALIFORNIA: Heisman
candidate Jahvid Best had
two touchdowns within a
minute in the first quarter
and never looked back.
10. BOISE STATE: Rule to
live by: Don't sucker punch
your opponent, and you'll
stay in the Top 10. Hey, it
worked forthe Broncos.
SAM woLoSN/Daily
Freshman quarterback Denard Robinson cuts back inside on his 43-yard touchdown run.
U _______
STAFF PICKS
The Daily football writers do their
best to predict what happens
in the 2009 football season.
Michigan (-12.5) vs. Western Michigan
No.1 Florida (-73) vs. Charleston So.
No2 Texas (-41.5) vs. La. Lafayette
No.3 Oklahoma (-22) vs No. 20 BYU
No.4 Southern Cal (-32) vs. San Jose St.
No.5Alabama (-6) vs. No. 7 Va. Tech
No. 6 Ohio State (-21.5) vs. Navy
No.8 Mississippi (-17) at Memphis
No.9Okla. St. (-4.5) vs. No.13 Georgia
No.10 Penn State (-27) vs. Akron
No.11 LSU (-17.5) at Washington
No.12 California (-21) vs. Maryland
No.14 Boise St. (-3) vs No.16 Oregon
No.15Ga. Tech. (NS) vs Jacksonville St.
No.18 Florida St.(-65) vs Miami(Fla.)
No.19 Utah (-21) vs Utah St.
No.21 North Carolina (NS) vs Citadel
No. 22 Iowa (NS) vs Northern Iowa
No.23 Notre Dante (-14.5) vs Nevada
No. 24Nebraska (-23) vs. Fla. Atlantic
No.25Kansas(NS) vs No. Colorado
This Week
Michael
Eisenstein
Western Michigan
Charleston So.
Texas
BYU
Southern Cal
Alabama
Ohio State
Mississippi
Okla. St.
Penn State
LSU
California
Boise St.
Ga. Tech
Miami
Utah St.
North Carolina
Iowa
Notre Dame
Nebraska
Kansas
16-5-0
Ruth
Lincoln f
Courtney
Ratkowiak
Andy
Reid
AMMIL, ,P7-Al
Western Michigan
Charleston So.
La. Lafayette
BYU
Southern Cal
Alabama
Ohio State
Memphis
Okla. St.
Akron
LSU
Maryland
Boise St.
Ga. Tech.
Florida St.
Utah St.
North Carolina
Iowa
N evada
Nebraska
Kansas
14-7-0
Western Michigan
Charleston So.
Texas
BYU
Southern Cal
Va. Tech
Ohio State
Mississippi
Georgia
Akron
LSU
California
Oregon
Ga. Tech
Miami
Utah
North Carolina
Iowa
Notre Dame
Nebraska
Kansas
13-8-0
Michigan
Charleston So.
Texas
BYU
SJSU
Va. Tech
Ohio State
Mississippi
Georgia
Penn State
LSU
Maryland
Oregon
Ga. Tech
Miami
Utah
North Carolina
Iowa
Notre Dame
Nebraska
Kansas
11-10-0
Guest Picker:
Eitan Ingall
Michigan
Charleston So.
La. Lafayette
BYU
Southern Cal
Alabama
Ohio State
Mississippi
Okla. St.
Penn State
LSU
Maryland
Boise St.
Ga. Tech
Florida St.
Utah St.
North Carolina
Iowa
Notre Dame
Fla. Atlantic
Kansas
14-7-0
To apply to be a guest picker, e-mail lincolnr@umich.edu. If you're chosen and can beat at least two of us, you'llstay on for another week. The longest tenured guest picker will get a prize at the end of the season.