Coach’s Corner: The Game and the Setting

Preview Week

Posted at 8:00am — 8/30/2010

The Game and the Setting

Michigan will play the University of Connecticut September 4, 2010 in what has the makings to be an exceptional opener. Both teams have had sufficient time to prepare. The question is how much preparation has either team undertaken past normal undertaking? After all both squads have difficult games throughout the season, and fundamentals to absorb. With a late starting time, plenty of fans across the region will focus on this game.

This is the much-heralded rededication of newly renovated and fabled Michigan Stadium. And for those who have not seen the old beauty lately, you have a surprise in store. There is nothing miraculous, nothing gaudy, but all of the improvements make sense. The brick is magnificent, even down to surrounding the famed tunnel. There are now restroom facilities that are linked to the 21st stadium. The concourses are nice and of course the university intends to use the luxury boxes and outside seating to maximum potential. Inside, the publicity has promised a little more room to sit and move about in, we will see.

But the stadium capacity has been increased somewhat. The listed capacity is now over 109,900, which means when push comes to shove for a big game, count on well over 111,000 to be announced. Finally, one of Michigan’s greatest traditions, the mysterious extra 01 seat for the professorial master Herbert (Fritz) Crisler, will continue and the stadium’s official count is now 109,901. Not bad for a medium-sized college town in hockey country.

The Meaning of the Game

Any player on Michigan’s squad should need little education as to the significance of the game. There are reasons Michigan’s traditions are what they are, successful and proud, recent history withstanding. This is a great chance for the Michigan team to at least temporarily win over the hearts of the masses. Michigan is on a quest to return to respectability, the University of Connecticut is on a quest to make an appearance in a BCS bowl. Neither quest is that far-fetched. The trip for both starts through the hallowed ground of Fielding Yost, who no doubt would hold enormous pride in the revamped stadium, although he likely will not fully rest until his envisioned 150,000 capacity is approached.

The game will feature all that is good about Michigan football; the splendid band entry, the entrance from the tunnel and the touching of the M Club banner, and good fans who act well behaved, if not sometimes too quite. It has been stated that Brock Mealer will lead the way, all the more motivation to enjoy the day.

A Quick Comparison

One of GBMWolverine’s esteemed staff stated that Michigan and UConn are mirror images, that is, two teams looking in the mirror at the other and seeing themselves. Putting into place the logic of Sir Francis Bacon’s looking into the mouth of a horse to count the teeth for himself and not rely on outside opinion, a look at some UConn film shows the earlier verdict of the esteemed colleague to be right on target (a result I did expect). There are indeed far more similarities than differences. Both offenses can move the ball, both defenses struggle, especially against a strong-armed flame-thrower, both teams give up the perimeter too easily, and with the injury to Woolfolk, both teams will likely play soft-help zone in the secondary to try and prevent the quick homerun. Both offensive lines return four starters from last year and both teams have new punters and suspect placekicking. Both teams have return men that can make the difference in a tight game.

There are differences of course. The quarterbacks are at near opposite ends of the scramble spectrum, the UConn attack is more diversified, and UConn has one clearly established Sunday potential back capable of carrying the team. UConn’s passing attack, time permitting, has the potential to be the difference maker and provides an advantage in the end of game situation where large chunks of yardage in a short time period must be achieved. But on the other hand, speed and mobile quarterbacks have hurt the Huskies

Next up on the preview a look at the two offenses.

Written by GBMWolverine Staff

Go Blue — Wear Maize!