TheWolverine.com - Wolverines eat up Crowe to pummel Irish

September 15, 2007

Chris Balas
TheWolverine.com Senior Editor

No more reports of Michigan's demise to worry about, at least this week ? expect the same cameras and crews focused on U-M's 0-2 start, one that included a humbling defeat to Appalachian State in the opener, to set up in South Bend. For two weeks the eyes of the nation have been on Lloyd Carr's Michigan team. For one, at least, the Wolverines get a reprieve, with national media certain to shift its focus.

It was the second time in five years the Irish have been blanked in Michigan Stadium, but this one was much different. Oh, it was every bit as bad ? the Wolverines took advantage of early Notre Dame miscues to run out to a 31-0 halftime lead, cruising behind Mike Hart's 135 first half yards and two scores and freshman Ryan Mallett's efficiency in running the offense. But as rivalry games go, this one had a more surreal than big game feel.

Both teams entered 0-2, not the set up for great theater. Hart's guarantee of victory following last week's 39-7 drubbing by Oregon was followed with a shoulder shrug and something along the lines of "he's probably right" from Notre Dame head coach Charlie Weis, whose team's late rally against Michigan's third- and fourth-team defense almost resulted in a positive rushing yardage total.

And then there was Russell Crowe. The Australian actor, whose "Cinderella Man" film Carr used to motivate the team last year, traveled to Ann Arbor on a whim after seeing Carr's Wolverines struggle to an 0-2 start, giving up 1,011 yards through two games.

Crowe hosted Carr in Australia this summer when he learned of the coach's motivational ploy. On Saturday the tables were turned, with Crowe the guest addressing the team before the game with lines from "Gladiator" and other films, encouraging the Wolverines to "play as one." In the postgame, he took the podium next to Carr at the coach's request, standing side-by-side with Michigan's embattled head man while befuddled media collectively shook their heads.

"The way the season started, I could sense through what I was watching on TV that my friend was in a bit of pain, so I thought I'd sort of take his mind off things and give him a call and started teasing him about it," said Crowe. "He said, 'get up here!'"

So Crowe obliged, standing on the Michigan sideline while the Wolverines put their third embarrassing whipping in five years on their rivals from South Bend. The Irish proceeded to spend the first two quarters as though they were auditioning for a comedy, setting the tone with a snap over the head of running back Armando Allen for a 17-yard loss to the goal line, setting up an early U-M field goal, and fumbling on two of their next three possessions deep in their own territory to give the Wolverines a short field.

The score was 17-0 early in the second quarter, but as offensive as the Notre Dame line play was, the spread might as well have been 50. Freshman phenom-on-hold Jimmy Clausen was sacked six times in the first half alone.

When the Wolverines rushed four, there were often three linemen in position for the sack. When they blitzed, Clausen had no chance.

"We wanted to get after those guys," said secondary coach Vance Bedford. "They had a freshman quarterback, and we were going to mix coverages up, blitz on first, second and third down. That's what we did throughout the game."

But something the Wolverines couldn't do in their first two losses, often failing simply to line up in time for the snap, let alone disrupt the offense. Against the Irish it was a complete dichotomy, leaving many to wonder if Michigan had really improved or if Notre Dame was just that bad.

"We played a more conventional offense," said Bedford. "I'll be honest with you ? we have had a little bit of trouble with the spread offenses the last two weeks. They spread us out and ran the option, but this is a more conventional offense and it plays to the strengths of what we do defensively."

And an offense that also displayed a stunning lack of heart. Not so long ago, this game would have been the wrong match-up at the wrong time for a Michigan team that has not historically fared well as the favorite in this rivalry. While the guys wearing the gold helmets looked like the Irish, the resemblance to past overmatched Notre Dame teams stops there.

On the other sideline, meanwhile, Hart showed why his guarantee was anything but the joke some had made it out to be. He rushed for 187 yards against a stacked line, carrying defenders on his back for several, turning two-yard losses into five-yard gains in moving the chains. It was typical Hart, methodical and efficient ? his longest run was only 14 yards ? and exactly what the Wolverines needed with quarterback Chad Henne on the sideline nursing a knee injury.

"[The guarantee] wasn't out of disrespect for Notre Dame at all," said Hart. "It was to fire myself up, and to fire this team up. I knew coming into the game that I was going to have to perform. You can't say something like that and then not perform. Especially with Chad going down, it was more on my shoulders. I accept it. I love it.

"It gave us something to talk about all week. 'Mike guaranteed it? Then we've got to go.' They had my back all week."

Especially up front, where the push was solid against a stacked front, the pass protection even better. Several second-and-shorts led to 11-of-17 success on third down, and while Mallett threw only 15 passes, completing seven, he was money when it mattered, connecting on touchdown passes to his top three receivers.

While the win didn't erase the sting of two disappointing losses to start the year, it did prove the Wolverines aren't ready to concede the season, as many conference foes might have hoped. In fact, in a less than rugged Big Ten, U-M served notice that there might even be enough there to make a run at the title.

If needed, said Crowe, he might come back to enjoy the ride.

"It was an incredible privilege to be here today ? we'll see how we go," said Crowe. "I've got a schedule, but I definitely don't want to make this the last time I come to Ann Arbor, that's for sure."

The way things worked out against the Irish, Carr might just want to book him in advance for the third Saturday in November.

Michigan NEWS

[More]

Latest Headlines:

Resources:

Font Size:

FEATURED PRODUCT