Pyrrhic

I didn't see the game, and after reading the box score, I'm glad. If Michigan were a top ten team, or even top twenty, we'd be blowing out Massachusetts.  Instead, it was a 42-37 struggle.

37 points!  There was a time when Michigan wouldn't give up that many in a month.  You can't expect to win against good teams with a Swiss cheese defense--you can't expect to win against bad teams, either.

Michigan started off slow, behind 17-7 near the end of the second quarter.  Only a couple of lucky scores-- touchdowns we couldn't count on--put us ahead by the end of the first half, 21-17.

The third quarter looked like Michigan had found its footing, opening up a 35-17 lead, but it wasn't enough for safety.  Leading 42-24 with little time left in the fourth, Mass managed two touchdowns and turned it into a game.  By the end of the unimpressive day, the Wolverines

had won, but it could have gone either way.

There were a few positives.  Michael Shaw gained 126 yards and scored 3 touchdowns, showing it's not all about Denard.  Robinson also went 10-14, hitting a variety of receivers for some long yards.  So the offense may not be perfect, but it's good enough to keep us competitive.  Still, with a defense that gives up so many points, Robinson et al will know they can't afford to fail too often.

Time of possession for Massachusetts: 37:38--minutemen indeed.  Oh, and our one field goal attempt missed, keeping the streak going.