Kornacki: Wolverines Discuss What Went Wrong and What Happens Next
10/8/2017 8:30:00 AM | Football, Features
By Steve Kornacki
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The rains came with 8:09 remaining in the third quarter, and it pounded hard and steady the rest of the game. Winds of 19 mph swirled and made it next to impossible to move the football.
The scoring was over Saturday night (Oct. 7) after University of Michigan fullback Khalid Hill powered in from the one-yard line midway through the third quarter to cut Michigan State's lead to 14-10. The weather turned ugly before another play was run, and it became a matter of surviving the elements as much as the opponent after that.
The Wolverines' defense kept going out and getting the ball back for its offense in the second half, but there was nothing doing on the scoreboard the rest of the way.
As well and inspirational as the defense played, Michigan couldn't overcome five turnovers, and teams seldom do.
"Too many turnovers," said Wolverines coach Jim Harbaugh. "We got momentum going, and we turned it over. You can't expect to win when you turn it over five times."
Hill added: "We kept shooting ourselves in the foot, and that hurts us big time."
Still, for all Michigan's offensive failings, quarterback John O'Korn was able to launch a "Hail Mary" pass from the 37-yard line on the final play. There was hope as the ball sailed through the air and the rain.
Wolverines and Spartans both went for the ball, and anything was possible. But the pigskin fell to the soggy turf rather than into the hands of a would-be hero.
"I just tried to buy time and put it up," said O'Korn. "I couldn't tell, with it being (thrown) 50 or 55 yards away, who got a hand on it or if we were close to getting it. It's a play we practice once or twice a week, and we expect situations like that. So, we just try to get four guys in one area and hope somebody can make a play."
Michigan receivers Kekoa Crawford, Eddie McDoom, Zach Gentry and Donovan Peoples-Jones laid on the ground near or in the end zone, and disbelief was the prevailing mood. It was hard to get up and walk off the field, having lost for the first time this season.
But that's also what No. 7 Michigan (4-1, 1-1 Big Ten) must attempt to do now: pick itself up off the ground and prepare for consecutive road games at Indiana (Oct. 14) and Penn State (Oct. 21).
"We're bowing our necks," said Harbaugh, "and getting ready for the next game."
Teams don't define themselves in one game. They create their identity over 12 regular-season games, and Wolverines center Mason Cole has been through enough in four seasons to know that's how it works.
"For the guys who haven't really lost a game like this before," said Cole, a co-captain, "everyone probably thinks it's over. ... (But) it's not over. We've got a long season left. Come Monday, it's time to get back to work. This game will be behind us, and we'll learn from it. We'll grow from it, and we'll move on.
"A loss like this, it's time to tuck your chin and bow your neck, as Coach Harbaugh would say, and get back to it. We have seven games left, seven big games, seven winnable games left, and if we win all of those we'll be in good shape."
Harbaugh noted that there were some good things to come out of the game, but not enough good things.
Tailback Karan Higdon played great and inspired the Wolverines with his grit and effectiveness in the pouring rain. He carried 12 times for 65 yards without a single negative-yardage run and added two catches for 33 yards.
"He was running hard and running angry and running for the extra yards," said Cole. "Karan did a really good job today."
Punter Brad Robbins averaged 42.7 yards on seven punts, and his hang time was so good that it resulted in only two returns that netted minus-eight yards.
Receiver Grant Perry made five catches for 61 yards and added spark when he got his hands on the ball.
But they weren't enough to pull out the victory.
The promise the offense showed in the second half at Purdue wasn't realized in this game. But even against the Boilermakers, O'Korn made most things happen by using his feet and his wits. He was on the run almost the entire time, and the Wolverines had averaged three sacks per game even with Cincinnati and Air Force not being the strongest opponents.
O'Korn was sacked four times by the Spartans, and it could have been more if he hadn't eluded and escaped a few more.
Every area of the offense needs improvement but nothing more than pass protection and protecting the ball.
The fumble by tailback Ty Isaac with 5:48 remaining in the first quarter came on the second possession, after Michigan drove 64 yards in 16 plays on the first possession before settling for a Quinn Nordin field goal. And that turnover caused a definite momentum switch that the Wolverines never completely turned back in their favor.
Michigan showed life on its final drive of the first half, when tight end Sean McKeon caught a 36-yard pass to reach the MSU 29-yard line with 1:01 remaining. But just as quickly as hope rose, it blew right away. McKeon, trying to break an ankle tackle for more yards, got hit from behind and lost the ball.
"We stopped ourselves there," said Harbaugh.
O'Korn was picked off three times, and while one or two might not have been entirely his fault, he was accountable.
"Yeah, I mean, we had plenty of opportunities to move the ball and score touchdowns," he said. "You can't expect to win when you have (five) turnovers. And three of them were 100 percent my fault. So, we've got to regroup and get better this week and get ready for Indiana.
"It comes down to executing the plays that are called and not turning the ball over, and we weren't able to do either of those enough tonight."
Both teams faced the challenge of rain and stiff winds for 75 percent of the second half.
"It was a torrential downpour out there," said O'Korn, "but both teams have to deal with it. No excuses."
O'Korn, starting in place of Wilton Speight, who was injured in the first quarter at Purdue, had one previous start at Michigan Stadium. It snowed that day, and he helped his team pull out a win in tough conditions against Indiana.
Players made snow angels in that game last November, but all they could do after this one was wring out the water from their soaked jerseys and drain it from their shoes.
"Our shoes were extremely heavy," said defensive end Maurice Hurst. "It was really wet, but it wasn't too bad. It's football, and it's a tough-person sport. So, you just come out and play no matter what the conditions."
It was a waterlogged loss, for sure.
But it also was a game in which the themes for the season continued. The defense kept the team in the game. Only this time, the offense couldn't come up with just enough to win.
