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FOOTBALL PREVIEW
Ah yes, its late summer in Michigan and gridiron
excitement is a foot. High school football has begun
in earnest across the state; Michigan and Michigan
State kick off the college season this Saturday and
the Lions begin another gut wrenching season of
comically sad football next weekend.
Football is king in America and that is no different
in Michigan. It seemed attention was drawn away from
football last season while the Tigers made their run
to the postseason and their journey to the World
Series. It felt like the annual football
anticipation, that reaches a fever pitch through the
state during the entire month of August, was muted
because the Tigers made the playoffs for the first
time since my age was in the single digits.
This year, however, the excitement has returned.
That is not to say the Tigers aren’t still holding
the public’s attention, they continually sell out
Comerica Park. But it seems like the amazement of a
perennial bottom dweller suddenly becoming a
powerhouse has waned and it’s just expected the
Tigers win or, at least, be competitive. (One can
only hope the other kitty-cat team in the city can
follow this format!)
So it’s time to stoke the flames of football fever
by previewing the states’ three major football teams
which we support come hell or high water: University
of Michigan, Michigan State and the Lions.
Some disclaimers:
1. I don’t pretend to be an impartial journalist.
The old adage that there is “no cheering the press
box” holds no water with me! (Of course I can’t
imagine myself ever being allowed LEGALLY into a
press box) I am a fan and my previews will probably
show my level of optimism hidden in the layers of
sarcasm.
2. I will NOT preview Notre Dame. I know they have a
sizable following in the state, but I am a homer and
do not have any time for a program that gets
everything handed to it on a silver spoon (i.e. NBC
contract). It seems college football has crowned
Notre Dame the face of their sport. For a team that
hasn’t won a bowl game since a year into the Clinton
administration, that seems excessive. Let us
remember who taught Notre Dame how to play football.
That’s right, it was Michigan! Which leads me into
#3:
3. I root for BOTH the Spartans and Wolverines.
That’s right I am the oddball that is usually
marginalized by society. So I can’t be labeled an
arrogant Michigan backer or a slack jawed drunken
Spartan lover for my previews. Some of my
friends—Fighting Irish fans at that—think I am crazy
and question my loyalty for both. But the answer is
simple: I went to Eastern Michigan and football
there is about as popular as a visit to the dentist.
So here we go: an unscientific look at the way our
lives will be for the next five months.
MICHIGAN WOLVERINES
 Last season national pundits did not expect much
from Michigan in the pre-season rankings after their
catastrophic (by U-M standards) 7-5 mark in 2005.
But through the first 11 games, Michigan surprised
everyone, running the table up to the annual Ohio
State grudge match. Despite a gallant come from
behind effort, the Wolverines fell short of the
victory that would send them to their first ever BSC
Championship game for a chance at their first
championship since 1997.
While most of Michigan’s season was magical, the end
was an absolute nightmare.
With the season ending loss, Michigan’s record fell
to 1-5 against the Buckeyes since 2001. That coupled
with the loss of legendary coach Bo Schembechler on
the eve of that game, the controversy surrounding
the selection of Florida over a U-M-OSU rematch for
the National Championship (which as much as most U-M
fans won’t admit, it was apparent the better team
went to and won the National Championship), and then
finally the crushing loss to USC in the Rose Bowl
transformed a great season into another
disappointing Michigan season.
It will be strange around Ann Arbor this season
without such an incredible figure in Schembechler.
Despite having no official capacity with the team
and university, Bo had an office and was always
around the team. For the first time since 1968 there
will be no Bo at Michigan. That may not bode well
for much maligned coach, Lloyd Carr, entering his
13th season as the head man in Ann Arbor. Bo was a
big Carr supporter and once said “as long as I am
around, Lloyd will be the coach.” So nothing short
of an 11-1 or better record this season may keep
Carr in charge.
Michigan should indeed not expect anything short of
an 11-1 record. Seniors Chad Henne and Mike Hart
both come back with a large amount of experience and
if both stay healthy should have phenomenal years on
offense. Mario Manningham is an All-American
receiver and will give opposing DB’s match up
nightmares. Adrian Arrington on the other end will
be the beneficiary of double teams on Manningham and
should have a stellar season.
The defense should be serviceable. With a high
powered offense, forcing turnovers should not be a
priority thus allowing U-M’s defense to sit back and
play somewhat of a (gulp) prevent defense. The
defense was solid at times last season but was
scorched in the last two games against OSU and USC.
Senior linebacker Shawn Crable is the mainstay on
the defense and will anchor the unit that only needs
to be average for the success of the team.
The schedule is laid out right for success. Two of
their three chief rivals, Notre Dame and OSU, are at
the Big House and their first four games of the
season are at home. They also dodge Iowa this year
and get a week off—er I mean a game against, my alma
mater, Eastern Michigan mid-season. (Eastern Eagles
hats off to you!)
With that said, some tough home games await the
Wolverines in September with Oregon and Notre Dame
in back-to-back weeks. The next week, Penn State
comes calling for the Big Ten opener, giving
Michigan an early test. Michigan could easily lose
one of these games as each team will fight hard. But
none will be able to match up to Michigan’s potent
offense.
Another tough stretch will be the last three games.
An always tough Spartan Stadium date with Michigan
State followed by a meeting in Madison with
Wisconsin, who some have picked to win the Big Ten;
then its home for the MUST win Ohio State finale.
Key Games: Obviously you would always pick the
rivalry games of MSU, ND & OSU; but aside from
those, Michigan’s biggest game will be November 10
against the Badgers. Aside from a road victory over
an overrated Notre Dame last season, U-M has not won
a big road game against a good opponent in a very
long time. As I see it, this will be Michigan’s only
loss of the season. But it will still clinch them a
berth in a BCS game, with still a remote shot at the
Championship game.
PREDICTION: 11-1. A victory over Ohio State will
erase some of the sting of that projected loss to
the Badgers the week before. Even if U-M doesn’t get
into the Championship game with this record, I think
the victory over Ohio State will allow Lloyd Carr to
keep his job—if he still wants it. Approaching his
mid-sixties, he has toyed with retirement in the
past and may want to go out on a high note.
MICHIGAN STATE SPARTANS
 It’s morning again in East Lansing. Like a dog with
fleas, the Spartans finally shook themselves of the
charismatic—but slightly insane—John L. Smith after
last season’s collapse.
Michigan State started the season quickly, going 3-0
against ho-hum competition in Idaho, (sigh) Eastern
Michigan and Pittsburgh. They then built an
insurmountable—or so it seemed—lead against Notre
Dame on National Television only to blow it all with
poor, conservative play-calling and huge mistakes
by, now graduated, quarterback Drew Stanton. MSU
never recovered, won only one conference game and
went 4-8.
State brings in the no-nonsense pedigree of Mark
Dantonio, who served under Nick Saban at MSU and Jim
Tressel during Ohio State’s run to a National
Championship in 2002.
Dantonio has vowed to tone down State’s
all-or-nothing passing first offense that emerged
during the Smith/Stanton era. He has also renewed
the rivalry with Michigan.
While no Spartan is ever clear of a Wolverine
residing in his or her head, Smith de-emphasized the
rivalry to a degree, trying to play it down as “just
another game.” Unlike Smith, Dantonio’s roots are
deep in the Midwest and the Big Ten. Having worked
at two schools which hate Michigan’s guts, he knows
that the rivalry MUST be emphasized.
This is why there is a countdown clock on campus,
which counts to the kickoff of the annual U-M-MSU
game November 3 in Spartan Stadium. It is a play
taken from a page of his old boss, Jim Tressel.
After being hired, Tressel promised a Buckeye
basketball crowd that his team would beat Michigan,
which the team rarely did back then. His team won at
Michigan Stadium that year and has gone 5-1 against
U-M since the “promise.” The Spartans have not
beaten the Wolverines since 2001.
Dantonio comes in with a lot of hope, as did Smith
and as did Bobby Williams. Remember Williams being
carried off the field after a Citrus Bowl victory in
2000 after Saban abruptly left the team to move on
to LSU? I personally feel Dantonio is right for this
job. But sadly, he still may endure a season of
transition in East Lansing before the Spartans
contend in the Big Ten.
Look for a complete one eighty with MSU looking to
run first. Javon Ringer and big hoss Jehuu Caulcrick
return and are surrounded by 300 pound linemen.
Stanton has moved his show down the road to the
Lions’ IR list, which opens the door for new
quarterback Brian Hoyer. His likely targets will be
T.J. Williams and tight end Kellen Davis.
Defense may once again be the Achilles Heel for the
Spartans in 2007. But experience may slightly
improve the squad which surrendered 30 PPG last
season. Linebackers Kaleb Thornhill and SirDarean
Adams will both be key in turning the defense
around.
Key Games: There is no other key game than against
Michigan. If State, who has the Wolverines in East
Lansing, can pull off a victory, the season will be
considered a success even without making a bowl
game.
PREDICTION: Only a slight improvement, 5-7. The
Spartans need to show they can consistently knock
off the middle-of-the-road Big Ten teams and
occasionally pull an upset on a Wisconsin, Ohio
State or most importantly, Michigan. Fear not
Spartan fans, Dantonio will steer you in the right
direction. Expect a stark improvement in 2008.
DETROIT LIONS
 Finally we get to the-um-“professional” football
team in our state.
There is no need to rehash what happened last
season. The Lions’ seasons since 2001 have resembled
that old movie “Groundhog Day.” You get the same
situation EVERY year with the Lions: double digit
losses, surly fans and indifferent players. Sadly
2007 may not prove to be any different.
Sure, expect the offense to be entertaining—provided
quarterback Jon Kitna stays healthy. It is
exceedingly rare for a quarterback to take every
snap two seasons in a row like Kitna did last
season. The Lions may need to add a veteran back-up
ASAP. With Drew Stanton shelved for all season and
Dan Orlovsky injured for an undetermined amount of
time that leaves J.T. O’Sullivan as the Lions’ only
legitimate back-up QB. I am being very generous with
the term “legitimate” judging from his experience
with the first team offense during the preseason due
to Kitna’s back spasms.
If Kitna can stay healthy and cut down on the fourth
quarter mistakes that cost the team many close games
last season, the offense should be a sight to see.
Roy Williams was the NFC yardage leader last season
and went to his first Pro Bowl. After converting
from cornerback to wide receiver in his first year
in Detroit, Mike Furry was a surprise when he caught
98 balls. Now the Lions’ have added Calvin Johnson
in last April’s draft. Seemingly everyone in the
football world has labeled this guy a “can’t miss.”
Johnson has the skills equal to or better than Roy
Williams and has the maturity that former Lions
number one picks, Charles Rogers and Mike Williams,
lacked.
Running back Kevin Jones status remains up in the
air after coming back from foot surgery, but the
Lions solidified that position when they picked up
Tatum Bell, a thousand yard rusher, in the Dre’ Bly
trade with Denver. They also have T.J. Duckett, from
MSU, as their short yardage back.
Once again the question mark on offense is the
offensive line. Will they give Kitna enough time to
throw and not make mistakes? Will they give Bell or
Jones something a Lions’ back hasn’t seen since the
days of Barry Sanders: holes? If the upgraded line
holds, the Lions could win more games than I think,
but the defense will most likely be the death of
this team.
The defensive line is solid with a new multi-million
dollar deal in place for Cory Redding and with Shaun
Rogers returning from an injury and suspension
plagued 2006 campaign. The linebackers are a
question mark as Teddy Lehman seems permanently
injured and Boss Bailey has seemingly lost some of
his game since his injury woes began.
The secondary is a nightmare. Dre’ Bly was overrated
but he did have big play capability from time to
time. There are no proven players in the secondary
and expect to see the Lions get scorched many times
this season. Has there been anyone who has stolen
more money than the oft-injured CB Fernando Bryant?
This guy has a huge contract and when was the last
time you said, “Wow Bryant had a heck of a game!”
Key Games: When your reputation is as putrid as the
Lions rep is, you seldom get to shine in the
national light. This is true for the Lions who have
seldom had a Sunday or Monday night game since 2001.
Usually their only national exposure is on
Thanksgiving. So when a team doesn’t have any big
games from a national standpoint, their only real
key games are against their rivals—or their NFC
North comrades. All at home, of course, as it is too
much to ask for the Lions to win in the Metrodome
(last time 1997) or Lambeau Field (last time 1991)
and just forget about Soldier Field!
September 16 vs. Minnesota: The Lions haven’t beaten
the Vikings since 2001. Minnesota has NOT been a
very good team during this time, there is no reason
for this dominance.
September 30 vs. Chicago: The Lions have been swept
by the defending NFC Champs the last two seasons
despite almost pulling a shocking upset last
Christmas Eve. I believe the Bears have fallen back
to the pack a bit; this is the Lions chance at a
statement.
Thanksgiving vs. Green Bay: Perhaps the Lions
bitterest foe is Green Bay for their inability to
win in “the frozen Tundra.” The Lions need this win
to perhaps save the traditional 12:30 Thanksgiving
game from being moved to a less desirable night game
or being stripped away all together because of being
throttled on this day the last few years at the
hands of Atlanta, Indianapolis and Joey Harrington
and the Dolphins last year. The Packers haven’t been
“THE PACKERS” in years and Brett Favre is in steep
decline. There is no reason for them not to win this
game.
PREDICTION: 5-11 As much as I WANT to believe a lot
of the national pundits that say Detroit will be
better; I can’t believe it until I see it. The
offense will impress if Kitna is healthy. But the
defense will be single handedly responsible for
losing at least 8 of the 11 losses. Expect games
with scores like 38-34 or 41-39. I guess, if nothing
else, they will be exciting losses. I see the Lions
winning two of the three key games, Minnesota and
Green Bay. I also see them beating Tampa Bay at home
and either Arizona or Oakland (flip a coin) on the
road for their obligatory one road victory of the
year. Good things may be coming with Rod Marinelli
as coach but the Lions brass needs to address the
defense with the draft and free agency after this
season and then the Lions will have a shot at a
division title in 2008.
So that’s it, what I think the 2007 pigskin season
will be like in the state. Once again all football
fans hope and dreams rest in the hope and promise of
the Michigan Wolverines.
May God have mercy on us all!
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