The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com
September 9, 2013 - 3B
The Michigan Daily - michigandailycom September 9, 2013 - 3B
GAME
STATISTICS
'Ole 98' becomes new 98, as Gardner is Fr omagaeA
honored with Tom Harmon jersey
Team tats
First Down
Rush/Yards
PasingYads
OffensvePlays
Total Offese
Kick returs/yds
Pun rtunsa/ydls
Comp/Att/Iet
Punts/Avg
Fumbles/Lost
Penalties/Yads
Tmof Possession
Michigan
25
39/166
294
72
460
3/78
1/0
21/33/1
3/31.3
1-0
6-50
34:04
ND
19/96
314
72
410
2/76
1/18
29/53/2
2/40.2
0-0
4-33
25:56
A M I C H I G A N
Player C-A Yds TO
Gardner 21-33 294 4
Totals 21-33 294 4
RUSHING
Player Alt HUs Avg 5g
Toussaint 22 83 3.2 22
Gallon 1 14 14 1A
Norfleet 1 1 1 1
TEAM 1 1 -1 1
Totals 39 194 4.3 35
RECEIVING
Player No. Yds Avg L
Gallon 8 184 23 61
Funchess 3 19 6.3 10
Butt 2 17 8.5 9
Jackson 2 13 6.5 7
Toussaint 1 31 31 31
Totals 21 294 14 61
PUNTyNG No. Yds Avg
Wile 3 94 3
Totals 3 94 31.3
KICKOFF RETURNS
Player No. Yds Avg I
Norfleet 3 78 26
PUNT RETURNS
Player No. Yds Avg Lg
Norfeet 1 0 0
2H
14
35
TO
0
0
0
1
4 TD
61 3
10 0
9 0
7 0
2 0
61 4
Lg
42
42
Lg TD
32 0
Lg TD
0 0
0 0
7
6
5
3
23
2
1
i
64
By LIZ VUKELICH
Daily Sports Editor
Under the Lights II was
familiar in many senses, with
typical Michigan-Notre Dame
hold-your-breath plays and a
record-breaking crowd.
But there was still something
incredibly off about the whole
thing - seeing a player in a No.
98 jersey taking snaps at quarter-
back.
But that's the new normal
for Michigan. Redshirt junior
quarterback Devin Gardner is
No. 12 no more
as he was the NOTEBOOK
sixth and final
Wolverine to be honored with
a Michigan Legends jersey by
receiving Tom Harmon's 'Ole 98.'
But don't worry, even Har-
mon's son - actor Mark Harmon
- is still a little confused by see-
ing his dad's number on the field
again.
"The only time that I've seen
No. 98 on the field in a Michigan
jersey was on film," Mark said.
"He was a father, and he was a
family guy. He cared about his
kids and his family.
"It's important for a young kid
somewhere who looks at that and
says, 'Wow, someday I'd like to
strap into one of those winged
helmets and see if I can't do the
same thing."'
Harmon was honored in a pre-
game ceremony, with Mark as the
Harmon family representative.
The relationship between the
Michigan Athletic Department
and the Harmons began a few
years ago when Michigan's then-
club lacrosse team took a trip to
California. Coach John Paul was
familiar with Mark, and Athletic
Director Dave Brandon reached
out to Mark through Paul, as
a way to build a relationship
between Michigan and one of its
most legendary players.
"I think it's hugely important
that we celebrate these legacies,
these traditions and these heroic
figures," Brandon said. "So, let's
take it out of the dusty cabinet,
let's put it on the field, and let's
put his name on it and celebrate
it every time Michigan comes out
Morgan,OD
Contess
RossI
W,,iso
Wjemuday
Solo
9
6
3
3
2
2
2
2
0
2
0
0
t
7
0
0
0
34
Ass!
2
1
3
3
4
3
2
1
3
0
1
2
2
0
0
1
1
1
30
Redshirt junior quarterback Devin Gardner received the No. 98 Michigan Legend's jersey honoring Tom Harmon.
of the tunnel. That makes it spe- Countess entered Saturday's COME ON, FEEL THE NOISE:
cial." contest with no career intercep- The 115,109 fans in attendance
Michigan coach Brady Hoke tions. Now, he has two to his at Michigan Stadium set the
said honoring Harmon was one name. record for the largest crowd to
of his top-three memories of this The first, in the waning min- ever watch a football game. They
year's night game, and Gardner utes of the first half, gave the arrived early, stayed mostly until
expressed gratitude for the fam- Wolverines great field position the end and shook the Big House
ily that allowed the number to be and helped widened the gap to its core.
put back into circulation. between them and the Fighting Hoke said the fans were unfor-
"(Harmon) was a great person Irish by another touchdown. gettable. But for fifth-year senior
and a great athlete, and that's But the second was a gift that left tackle Taylor Lewan, they
what I aspire to be," Gardner helped make up for Gardner's still left something to be desired.
said. "Just for my coach and the own embarrassing interception "The crowd needs to be loud-
Harmon family to be able to say earlier in the fourth quarter. er sometimes, because 115,000
that I'm worthy of wearing his Notre Dame quarterback people, when it's third down and
jersey, it's amazing for me that Tommy Rees' flukey pass our defense isoutonthe field,you
they see me as that type of per- bounced off junior cornerback shouldn't be able to hear yourself
son." Raymon Taylor's knee and into think."
COUNTING ON COUNTESS: the open hands of Countess. INJURY NOTES: Redshirt
It probably wouldn't be a Michi- "It's definitely a relief to final- freshman defensive back AJ
gan-Notre Dame game without a ly get that first (interception)," Pearson received assistance on
couple momentum-shiftingturn- Countess said. "I just happened the field for an ankle injury, but
overs. And this year, it was the tobe in the rightplace atthe right was able to go back in. ... Fifth-
Wolverines' turn to come out on time and made the play." year senior wide receiver Jer-
top, thanks to a little help from Added Hoke: "He was pursu- emy Gallon has a "muscle that he
redshirt sophomore cornerback ing the ball. That's what you like needs to work through," accord-
Blake Countess. to see." ing to Hoke.
own end zone early in the
fourth quarter and attempted
to get rid of the ball to avoid
being brought down for a safe-
ty. Notre Dame's Stephon Tuitt
made one of the most athletic
plays possible for a 322-pound
defensive lineman, diving to
come up with the interception
and bring the Fighting Irish
(1-1) to within a touchdown.
"It was a horrible decision,"
Gardner said.
Overall, Gardner looked
even more versatile than in
Week 1. And it was how he
responded to his one miscue
that showed the kind of quar-
terback he has become.
After a Michigan (2-0)
punt on the ensuing posses-
sion, Notre Dame quarterback
Tommy Rees led the Fighting
Irish down the field, though
they settled for a 40-yard field
goal to cut the deficit to 34-30.
It could've unraveled there.
This was Michigan-Notre
Dame, and no amount of late-
game dramatics could be too
much for this chapter.
But the defense held the
Fighting Irish to a field goal
on the next drive. Then Gard-
ner, rather than succumbing
to what he called "adversity,"
found fifth-year running back
Fitzgerald Toussaint for a
31-yard completion.
Two crucial pass interfer-
ence penalties against Notre
Dame and a four-yard touch-
down pass to senior wide
receiver Drew Dileo stopped
the rally in its tracks. Redshirt
sophomore Blake Countess'
second career interception
- both of which came on Sat-
urday night - sealed the Wol-
verines' fourth straight win
over the Fighting Irish in Ann
Arbor. Michigan coach Brady
Hoke improved to 16-0 at
Michigan Stadium.
Despite Gardner's massive
mistake that gave Notre Dame
a second life, he finished 21 for
33, racking up 294 yards and
four touchdowns in addition
to one on the ground. He also
rushed for 82 yards.
Gardner completed his first
four passes of the game to four
different receivers - none
of them Gallon. The opening
possession ended in a field goal
from fifth-year senior kicker
Brendan Gibbons, who broke
the program record with his
15th consecutive made kick.
On the next Michigan drive,
Gardner and Gallon began to
steal the night. With plenty of
time to throw despite facing
an experienced Notre Dame
front seven, Gardner found
another Michigan jersey hon-
oree, Gallon, wide open for a
60-yard touchdown pass. Gal-
lon, wearing Desmond How-
ard's No. 21, spun off of two
would-be tacklers on his first
of three trips to the end zone
Saturday.
Notre Dame began to show
signs of life on its next drive.
Rees capped it off with a for-
tunate four-yard touchdown
pass that deflected off run-
ning back George Atkinson
III's hands into those of wide
receiver TJ Jones. On their
next drive, the Fighting Irish
tied the game at 10 with a
44-yard field goal of their own.
But Gardner and Gallon
regained control quickly.
Gardner capped a 12-play,
75-yard drive with a two-
yard option touchdown dash,
allowing Michiganto enter the
locker room with a 27-13 lead,
which looked likely to slip
away before Gardner and the
defense righted the ship.
In doing so, Gardner and
Gallon proved they're worthy
of the legends' numbers they
bore.
WANT TO JOIN
THE DAILY?
COME TO A MASS MEETING
AT 420
MAYNARD ST.
Thursday Sept.12
Sunday Sept.15
Tuesday Sept. 17
Thursday Sept.19
All meetings at 7:30 p.m.
N ot r e D a m e
PASSING CA Ys
Rees 29-51 314
Totals 29-51 314
RUSHING
Player Att Yds Avg
Carslie 12 64 .3
Atknson G. 5 37 7A4
Rees 1 -9 -9.0
Totals 29 66 2.3
TO Int
2 2
2 2
RECEIVING
Player
Daniels
Brown, C.
Prosise
00 Robinson, C.
T*ta's
No.
6
3
2
t
1l
t
Yds
94
63
28
16
12
314
Avg
10.5
9.7
4.5
16.0
12.0
108
Lg9
14
16
-9
15
L9
23
22
11
56
16
12
23
TD
0
0
0
0
0
TD
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
PUNTING
Player
Brindza
Totals
KICKOFF RETURNS
Player
Atkinson, G.
Totals
TACKLES
Player
Fox
Jackson
Farley
Shumate
Smith, J.
Calabrese
Russell
Nix
Grace
Schmidt, J.
Councell
Williams, Ish.
Shembo
Day
Okwara
Niklas
Wood, L.
Hardy
Collinsworth
Tuitt
ADAM GLANZMAN/Daily
Senior receiverJeremy Gallon dives over a defender and into the end zone..
ADAM GLANZMAN/Daily
Michigan coach Brady Hoke greets a Notre Dame coach before Saturday's game.
No. Yds Avg Lg
2 80 40. 4
No. Yds 3Avg t
2 76 38.0 50
NH 76 38.0 A5
Solo
4
6
5
5
4
3
4
4
2
2
1
}
1
1
t
i
t
0
0
0
Asst
6
3
1
0
1
2
0
0
1
0
1
1
i
1
0
0
0
1
1
1
Tot
10
9
6
S
S
S
4
4
3
2
2
2
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
TEN HANDS
From Page 1B
there for 13 seconds.
Michael Schofield was the first
to get to him. He tugged Gardner
by the jersey and tried to pull
him up. Gardner threw his hands
over his facemask and shielded
his eyes, as if just realizing now
what he had done.
He stayed on the ground.
Miller was soon there too.
Kyle Kalis followed Miller, and
then came Graham Glasgow and
Taylor Lewan. The whole line
was there: 1,514 pounds of human
to lift up one man. They pulled
Gardner to his feet.
Gardner reached the sideline
and ripped off his chinstrap. His
face scrunched in pain. Frank
Clark approached him.
"Told him we had his back,"
Clark would say later. "We call
each other not a team, but we call
each other a tribe. We're all in it
together. We're all one."
Lewan was there, too.
"I went up to him," Lewan
said. "I letchim know thatyou're
our quarterback for a reason.
You're the Michigan quarterback.
You're the reason why we're in
this game."
But the nightmare continued.
After the interception, Gardner
threw his next pass to Jeremy
Gallon and then had to watch as
Gallon, Gardner's "little bulldog,"
stayed down on the field, injured.
Gardner watched a player false
start, and then he sawtight end
Devin Funchess was hurt too,
and Lewan was walking off the
field holding his eye. Michigan
went three and out, and the punt
went 21 yards and now the Irish
had the ball down by just one
touchdown.
James Ross III could've swung
the momentum with an intercep-
tion, but it fell through his hands.
A field goal cut the lead to just
four, and here we go again in this
series thatchas no business end-
ing after nextyear's game.
In this rivalry, games like this
have become more than a game.
They become a celebration, of a
team, of a town, of a school. Your
dad is in town, and so is your
buddy who graduated and you
don't see much anymore. You go
to Zingerman's and order No. 34,
just like old times, and you walk
through the Diag and drink too
much at Rick's until you stumble
back home on a friend's shoulder.
This stadium is the biggest in
the sport, and it's still a wonder it
can hold everyone who has come
back to this place.
Mark Harmon came back
for his father. Trey Burke, Tim
Hardaway Jr. and Cazzie Rus-
sell were there. Michael Phelps,
too. Anthony Carter and Steve
Hutchinson and Steve Everett
and Desmond Howard. You were
there too, and maybe you were
sitting next to your West Quad
roommate. Eminem was even
there. Sort of, anyway.
The game was choreographed
from the opening flyover to
the Tom Harmon ceremony to
Beyonce on the video boards
saying "Go Blue." The game had
gone as planned for Gardner too.
But the universe tends toward
entropy. Things fell apart, and he
was faced with panic and disor-
der. How would he respond?
Five of his buddies did it for
him. Gardner was frozen on the
ground and his line picked him
up. The defense reminded him
they'd have his back.
Gardner redeemed himself,
on a 10-play, 75-yard touchdown
drive that sealed the game for
Michigan. And yes, this was
Gardner's night. The legacy jer-
sey, the 294 yards passing and
four touchdowns and another 82
yards and a score on the ground.
But he didn't doit alone. He
had Fitzgerald Toussaint, who
stopped the momentum with a
broken tackle and a 22-yard run.
He had the sure hands of Drew
Dileo in the end zone. He had
Blake Countess and his two inter-
ceptions. He had his linemen.
Saturday night, under the
lights, this team figured it out.
That Gardner-to-Gallon could
slice up one of the nation's best
defenses and make it look easy.
That it could repair its leader's
mistakes. That this team was a
tribe.
"We're starting to get it,"
Lewan said afterthe game. "This
team understands what we need
to do to become a championship
team."
You gather with 115,109 other
people, and it seems like the
whole world is there. It's hard
to feel alone. And then you're on
the ground, and the stadium has
gone quiet, and everyone is look-
ing at you and it's your fault and
yours alone.
It's sure as hell nice to have
help pulling yourself backup
again.
Helfand can be reached
at zhelfand@umich.edu or
on Twitter @zhelfand
LIKE US ON
FACEBOOK
wwwfacebook.com/
michigandaily