Hollow, But I'll Take It

Michigan faced Virginia Tech for the first time ever in last night's Sugar Bowl.  The Wolverines won 23-20, but Virginia Tech is the one that deserves to go up in the rankings.

In the first half, VT outplayed Michigan the entire time, but only managed two field goals--from Justin Myer, the third-stringer who'd never made a field goal before.  Michigan, meanwhile, got lucky at the end, and a lob that could have been picked off turned into a touchdown, soon after followed by a field goal made possible by a fumbled kickoff.

VT dominated in the second half, but through luck and stupidity, the game was tied 20-20 at the end of regulation.  VT kept getting into third and long situations and always making it, and also got two more field goals from Myer.  Meanwhile, Michigan ran straight up the middle for almost no gain to start each series.  But they did manage a lucky touchdown that almost could have been another interception. (Their passing game was weak, but still better than their running game.)

There were also some incredibly dumb plays and penalties that saved Michigan. At one point, Michigan had blown it and was ready to punt, giving VT a chance to put it away.  Instead, the Hokies got callled for roughing the kicker, giving Michigan what it needed to go ahead.  Another time, VT was at midfield and it was fourth and one.  They called a timeout.  For some reason, they decided to fake a punt, which went gloriously wrong and gave Michigan the ball.

In overtime, a Hokie touchdown pass was called back after review (a correct decision).  So VT had to try a field goal and for the first time, Myer missed.  I felt bad for the guy.  Before that, he was the unquestionable hero of the game.  Then Michigan played it safe and ended up making the field goal and somehow Michigan's kicker Gibbons became the hero.

It was one of the emptiest Michigan victories ever. Their offense was regularly stymied while their defense was rarely impressive.  VT beat them in every statistic except the one that counts.  So the Wolverines end up an 11-game winning team that might have lost to some former Michigan teams that won only 9.  But I'm not complaining, especially after the last few years.