Michigan’s quarterback couldn’t hit the broad side of an ocean liner. Throw after throw went awry, evoking groans and a hint of booing from the semi-faithful.
With each misfire, the early season undefeated mark appeared more and more doomed. If the Wolverines didn’t have a quarterback that could manage the game and move the football, how might they avoid losing a handful of contests?
Why, with such talent behind him, was this obviously overmatched coach’s pet being allowed to throw away a season? Those who actually cared about the outcome wondered why the man in the headset on the sidelines apparently did not.
Then Brian Griese settled down, and turned it around. He put three first-half interceptions behind him, helped wipe out a daunting 21-3 halftime deficit and led Michigan to a stirring 28-24 comeback win over Iowa in the magical season of 1997.
The final numbers still weren’t good, due to the first-half tsunami of errors: 15-of-26 passing for 165 yards, three touchdowns, three interceptions and five sacks. In the end, the Wolverines still stood 6-0, on their way to 12-0.
And Michigan fans lived happily ever after. The End.
Well, not exactly. It doesn’t work that way.
Nearly a quarter-century later, we’re still judging winged-helmeted QBs on halves of football. Redshirt freshman quarterback Cade McNamara’s second-half struggles against Rutgers have some signaling to the bullpen, for strong-armed true frosh J.J. McCarthy.
They winced as Michigan’s 20-3 halftime lead against the Scarlet Knights shrunk to 20-13, Rutgers getting chances to tie it up, or even pull one out at The Big House.
That’s it, the anonymous 'they' decided. Time to go with the kid.
First off, both quarterbacks are kids, college football wise. McNamara has started precisely five games, McCarthy none. Among the four McNamara started and finished, the Wolverines are 4-0 with zero turnovers.
College football teams win 76 percent of the games in which they win the turnover battle. That’s a hard, cold fact, one which the U-M brain trust seems to be relying upon heavily as it prepares to meet Wisconsin’s Badgers in Madison.
McNamara’s numbers on the season? Solid, but far from spectacular, due in part to Michigan’s ability to dominate opponents on the ground through the non-conference season. Heading to Wisconsin’s Camp Randall Stadium, McNamara stands 33-of-53 passing (62.3 percent) for 534 yards and three touchdowns.
That’s little more than a day’s effort for the best pass-happy programs. U-M doesn’t need to go there, but if it delivers second-half Rutgers numbers in Madison, the Wolverines come home 4-1.
The Badgers are surrendering an average of 23 yards a game on the ground. Paul Chryst’s offensive line will eat more kielbasa than that in a single sitting.
That means the Wolverines have to throw the ball better, more efficiently, yet with the safety McNamara has maintained so far. He knows it, too.
“I’m going to have to do a better job, or a louder job, of communicating, whatever the protection is or whatever I’m asked to do,” he said. “I’m ready for the challenge.”
It won’t be easy in Madison. Forget the Badgers’ 1-2 mark. They lost at home to arguably the best team in the Big Ten right now, Penn State, and against another undefeated, ranked team in Notre Dame.
Michigan faces its toughest test of the season. McNamara insists he’s built for it.
“That’s a big part of me winning the quarterback job, my ability to deal with adversity,” he said.
It’s here. Not only the challenge at Camp Randall, but going up there with some leftover doubter baggage from the second half against Rutgers. And of course, there’s DHS — Drew Henson Syndrome.
That’s the affliction that comes over people who insist the next quarterback is going to be the greatest quarterback of all time, obviously. That’s even when the present quarterback is the greatest of all time, in the case of Henson and Tom Brady.
Clearly, this isn’t 1997. It’s also not ’98 or ’99, but some principles remain. Coaches are fallible and make mistakes, but they enjoy the most direct feedback on what their QBs are doing on a day-to-day basis.
McCarthy may end up becoming the best Michigan has to offer, and it might show up sooner, rather than later. But for now, the Wolverines are riding the 4-0, zero-turnover train, unapologetically.
“Obviously, Cade is starting because he’s earned it,” assured U-M quarterbacks coach Matt Weiss. “I’m really happy with both guys, but that idea that Cade has somehow waited his turn and that’s why he’s playing … you guys know with Coach [Jim] Harbaugh, it’s The Team, The Team, The Team.
“If he’d met somebody at a gas station who had eligibility and could start for us and help us win, the guy would start. That’s why Cade’s the starter.”
As for those seeking more octane? They’ll have to pump the brakes.
“When things started not going well [against Rutgers], if you asked any guy on the team why things weren’t going well, they’d all point the finger at the same person — themselves,” Weiss stressed. “As coaches, as players, when things are going wrong, we can all do stuff better.
“By no stretch was the second half the result of the quarterback play. Obviously, he would tell you the same thing — that he could do much better. But again, we’re very process oriented. We’re going to stick to our plan. If there’s something we think we can do — if it’s a different player or a different scheme to help us win — we’re going to do it.”
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