Michigan Football: One simple way to beat Middle Tennessee State

How can this mighty Michigan football team get past their first game against a tough Middle Tennessee State team? Here’s a straightforward solution.

No one is predicting the Blue Raiders from Murfreesboro to take down Michigan football, and that is exactly how a team like Middle Tennesse State wins a game like this.

In 2007, the fifth-ranked Wolverines played a lackadaisical game against Appalachian State, ending in defeat at The Big House. No one predicted the Mountaineers to beat Michigan and nine out of ten times the result would’ve have been different.

That Lloyd Carr coached team featured one of the best running backs in Michigan football history, Mike Hart. There was no question who the starter as Mike was about to rush for his third thousand plus yard season. There are many questions with this running back core, mainly, How is it going to look? Tru Wilson was named the starter; although, Zach Charbonnet has been impressing.

This early matchup is quickly becoming a brewing storm of uncertainty as we move closer to game time. Where Michigan has talent, this Middle Tennessee State team has experience. Their predicted depth chart features almost solely upperclassman and a majority of them were redshirted, giving them the bonus of another year of adjustment to the college game.

While the Blue Raiders lost their star quarterback, Brent Stockstill, they will be starting the highly ranked Asher O’Hara, a JUCO transfer. Asher arrived at Middle Tennessee as the No. 2 ranked football player from Illinois and came in at 6th as a dual-threat quarterback.

What that means is the Blue Raiders come to Ann Arbor starting a talented quarterback with legs and minimal game tape to strategize against. More ingredients for a recipe of disaster.

What could go wrong?

Very simple.

A friend said to me once, “Play stupid games, win stupid prizes.” I can manipulate that simple phrase to summarize this game; Make stupid mistakes, lose stupid games.

If the Wolverines look past this game for one iota of practice, this season-opening battle could quickly turn into the 2007 catastrophe.

This squad is one of the most complete teams in the Jim Harbaugh era, and yet simple mistakes (blocked kicks, fumbles, turnovers, etc.) can give rise to utter chaos and provide the spark the underdog needs.

The five-star Michigan football players are reading the same articles as everyone else. “Ultimately, though, it should be an easy opener for the Wolverines.” 247Sports Jordan James wrote.

“After two straight years of challenging openers away from home,” MLive’s Andrew Kahn said in his assessment. “Michigan faced then-No. 17 Florida in Texas two years ago and visited then-No. 12 and eventual playoff participant Notre Dame last season — the Wolverines begin 2019 with what should be more of a tune-up.”

How do they win?

Stay focused on the task at hand.

On military bases – both overseas and at home – it’s common to see signs labeled complacency kills. While these young men shouldn’t have to worry about their own life and death, the mortality of their season hangs in the balance every single game.

The team must stay focused, listen to their coaches, and never think they’ve done enough. That’s complacency, that’s 2007.