4B - September 28, 2009
The Michigan Daily -- michigandaily.com
0
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 success of special teams, the Rod-o-Meter
judges how emotional (positive or negative) Rich Rodriguez was following the game and the Hype-o-Meter measures the fans' performance.
b
41 Tt
C R
{ { No i
All,
MESK-O-METER
ROD-O-METER
Zoltans
Darryl Stonum came three yards short of breaking
Michigan's record for return yards ina game. And
to help the defense, Mesko hit a 59-yard punt and
pinned Indiana on its two-yard line on another kick.
He definitely let his foot do the talking Saturday.
2/
Rich Rods
Rodriguez wasn't particularly excited about the win.
When he was faced with tough questions, he tersely
said, "I'm gonna try to stay positive here." He also found
himself already fielding questions about Michigan State.
It's as if the Indiana close call never really happened.
HYPE-O-METER
2 If you thought the annual Homecoming game meant
wild parades, a lame dance and a to-die-for after party,
a Michigan Homecoming is a boring surprise. Well,
maybe not the after party part. But hey, at least the
alumni band and cheerleaders were entertaining.
LOOKING GOOD
FEELING BLUE
PL AY OF THF GAMF
sAID ALSALAH/Dai y cHi DZOMBAK/ Daily
CORNERBACK DONOVAN WARREN QUARTERBACK TATE FORCIER
As the star of a secondary with serious depth Like the rest of the country, we forgot quarterback
issues, it's rare that quarterbacks even look to his Tate Forcier is just a freshman. But we're not too
side of the field. But when Indiana quarterback down on his poor decision making at times - he'll
Ben Chappell dared to do so late in the game learn from that. It's the star's shoulder that has
Saturday, he watched Michigan's premier corner Forcier feeling blue this coming week. Sure, he
wrestle the ball away from a wide receiver who may have thrown a beautiful touchdown pass on it,
had a 30-pound advantage. The pick sealed the but after the swelling kicks in, there's no telling if
game, and a 4-0 start, for the Wolverines. Forcier will be ready to play against Michigan State.
THE MICHIGAN DAILY TOP 10 POLL
The Michigan Daily Top 10 returns for its fourth 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): Tim 5. BOISE STATE: In their 9. OHIO STATE: The
Tebow's kryptonite: the flu first trip to the state of Ohio, Buckeyes scored a late TD
combined with a concussion. the Broncos tallied 529 yards. to make the score 30-0.
Take notes, LSU. E We like that. Keeping it classy, like usual.
a
2. TEXAS (4): The 6
Longhorns scored more n
points (64) than UTEP co
gained yards (53). Yikes. r
3. ALABAMA (1): To beat 7
Arkansas, 'Bama stopped B
the country's most efficient B
passer, Ryan Mallett. fo
4. LSU: The Tigers barely 8
stayed in the top five, y.
needing three late goal-line pi
stands to get a 'W.' b
STAFF PICKS
The Daily Football writers do their
best to predict what happens
in the 2009 football season. Michael
Eisenstein
*.VIRGINIATECH: Hokie
unning back Ryan Williams
arried this one alone,
ushing the ball 34 times.
. SOUTHERN CAL: Matt
arkley, you win this week.
ut we still like Tate Forcier
or Heisman in 2012.
. OKLAHOMA: Zero
ards of offense? No
roblem. Don't you love a
ye week?
10. HOUSTON: So what
does a one-point win over an
unranked opponent get you?
The No.10 spot, of course!
BYE, BYE: Well, that Miami
bandwagon emptied out
pretty quickly. It was fun
while it lasted.
6/g LOOK OUT: Cincy is about
to dominate the Big East.
See you in the top 10 soon,
, Bearcats.
0
NOTABLE QUOTABLE
In the first half, I think Tate's eyes were
everywhere. On the field, in the stadium, State
Street, you know, Schembechler Hall. I don't know
where his eyes were. They were everywhere."
- Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez on quarterback Tate Forcier's
play in the first half.,
Ruth Courtney Andy
Lincoln Ratkowiak Reid
Guest Picker:
Michigan
Marching Band
)rum Major
)avid Hines Jr.
Indiana Michigan Michigan Michigan Michigan
Kentucky Kentucky Florida Florida Florida
No. 23 Michigan (-20.5) vs. Indiana
No.1 Florida (-21) at Kentucky
No. 2 Texas (-36) vs. UTEP
No.3Alabama (-17.5) vs. Arkansas
No. 4 Mississippi (-4) vs. So. Carolina
No. 5 Penn State (-10) vs. Iowa
No. 6 California (-5.5) vs. Oregon
No. 7 LSU (-12) at Mississippi State
No. 8 Boise St. (-16.5) at Bowling Green
No. 9 Miami (-3)vs at No.11VA Tech
No.12 Southern Cal (-45) vs. Wash St.
No.13 Ohio State (-14) vs. Illinois
No.14 Cincinnati (-17) vs. Fresno State
No.15TCU (-2.5) at Clemson
No.16 Okla. St. (NS) vs. Grambling St.
No.17 Houston (PK) vs. Texas Tech
No.18 Florida St. (-14) vs. South Florida
No.19 BYU (-17) vs. Colorado St.
No. 20 Kansas (-14) vs. Southern Miss.
No. 21 Georgia (-11.5) vs. Arizona State
No. 22 UNC (+3) at Georgia Tech
No. 24 Washington (+7) at Stanford
No. 25 Nebraska (-28) vs. La-Lafayette
Wisconsin 1-3) vs. Michigan State
Northwestern (-1.5) vs. Minnesota
Purdue (+7) vs. Notre Dame
Last Week
Overall
Indiana
Kentucky
UTEP
Arkansas
Mississippi
Iowa
California
I.SU
Boise State
Virginia Tech
Washington State
Illinois
Cincinnati
Texas Christian
Oklahoma State
Texas Tech
Florida State
BYU
Kansas
Georgia
North Carolina
Stanford
Nebraska
Michigan State
Northwestern
Purdue
11-15
54-36-1
Michigan
Kentucky
Texas
Arkansas
Mississippi
Iowa
California
Mississippi State
Boise State
Virginia Tech
Southern Cal
Illinois
Cincinnati
Texas Christian
Oklahoma State
Houston
Florida State
BYU
Kansas
Georgia
Georgia Tech
Stanford
Nebraska
Michigan State
Northwestern
Notre Dame Notre Dame
12-14
51-39-1
Michigan
Florida
UTEP
Arkansas
Mississippi
Iowa
Oregon
LSU
Boise State
Miami
Washington State
Ohio State
Cincinnati
Clemson
Oklahoma State
Texas Tech
Florida State
BYU
Kansas
Georgia
Georgia Tech
Washington
Louisiana-Lafayette
Wisconsin
Minnesota
Notre Dame
11-15
50-40-1
Michigan
Florida
UTEP
Arkansas
Mississippi
Penn State
California
LSU
Boise State
Miami
Washington State
Illinois
Cincinnati
Texas Christian
Oklahoma State
Houston
Florida State
BYU
Kansas
Georgia
North Carolina
Washington
Nebraska
Wisconsin
Northwestern
Notre Dame
9-17
42-48-1
Michigan
Florida
Texas
Arkansas
Mississippi
Iowa
California
LSU
Boise State
Virginia tech
Southern Cal
Illinois
Fresno State
Clemson
Oklahoma State
Texas Tech
Florida State
BYU
Kansas
Georgia
Georgia Tech
Washington
Nebraska
Michigan State
Minnesota
Notre Dame
11-15
48-42-1
I
6
6
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'll stay on for another week. The longest tenured guest picker will get a prize at the end of the season.