Flashbacks are usually of frightening nature, and so when Denard Robinson exited the game late in the first quarter with an apparent hand or wrist injury, and Michigan was denied on consecutive runs at the Illinois' one-yard line, U-M fans immediately began thinking about the nightmare that was 2009, when a stuff at the goal line then resulted in a 99-yard touchdown drive for the Fighting Illini.

That scenario didn't unfold again Saturday because head coach Brady Hoke opted to kick a field goal for a 10-0 lead, but also because the defense never would have allowed it to occur.

"We go into every game feeling we want to win the game on our shoulders, and to watch Denard go down, we knew we had to step our game up," fifth-year senior linebacker Kenny Demens said. "If Illinois didn't score anymore points, we'd win the ball game."



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