By Cecilio's Scribe on Nov 05, 2007 with Comments 1
The Block Heard ‘Round the World
Corey Lynch has had a bigger impact on the 2007 college football season than anyone could have imagined. When the senior Appalachian St. d-back blocked Michigan’s last-second field goal attempt the opening week of the season, everyone rushed to declare the Wolverines season over.
There was no “hot seat” for Lloyd Carr. His ass was poised on one of those emergency ejector chairs a-la-Top Gun. And his fate didn’t look to be a whole lot prettier than Goose’s. A home loss to Oregon did nothing to quell the
grumblings of frustrated maize-and-blue devotees. And for those in the blogosphere who were just itching to pile on the Wolverines, the situation was tailor-made (us included).
Fast-forward two months and that blocked field goal inexplicably looms even larger. Michigan is #12 in the latest BCS rankings at 8-2. Find me the person who would’ve bet heavy on that outcome. Henne, Hart and crew have two games remaining on the schedule – Wisconsin on the road next week, followed by Ohio St. in the Big House. If they were to pull off both, the Wolverines would be dangerously close to approaching the top five preseason ranking that everyone was huffing about so vociferously following the Appalachian St. loss.
Now, imagine their last-second field goal attempt had been successful. Playing out that scenario, and assuming wins these final two weeks, Michigan would have been 11-1 with their single loss coming to the Ducks who currently sit at #3 in the BCS. If you’re not done playing fantasy here, than one can only imagine the mess that could ensue if the Ducks were to lose in the final two weeks. Oh, how big a block…
Regardless of the Wolverines’ finish, it seems only appropriate to give Lloyd Carr and his staff some credit (after the entire world dumped on him incessantly). While some major programs are being accused of quitting on their coaches, and their seasons, the Wolverines have shown us something. Granted, none of their wins have been impressive trouncings of top-10 opponents, but it could’ve been easy following an 0-2 start to fold up the tent, play out the string to finish somewhere over .500 and hit the Champs Sports Bowl or some such indiginity.
So, and this won’t happen often, congratulations to the Michigan Wolverines for battling back and salvaging a season. It may be quite a different Lloyd Carr discussion if his squad manages to get by the Badgers and somehow pull off the upset against the hated Buckeyes. Then what would the critics be saying? Carr for Coach of the Year? In this crazy college football season, we’re not considering anything out-of-bounds.
Filed Under: Uncategorized
Tags: Appalachian State • Lloyd Carr • Michigan • Ohio State
About the Author: Cecilio's Scribe is the founder of The Legend of Cecilio Guante and a generally pessimistic fan of the Mets, Jets, Knicks and Rangers. A fine NYC-based gentlemen who hones his marketing skills as his primary trade by day. Husband, chef, father of a newborn and after-hours blogger by night. Proud alum of the mighty Big Red of Cornell. University. Hot sauce devotee. Staunch protester of the continued wussifcation of American sports. Sometimes I rhyme slow, sometimes I rhyme quick.
The Block Heard ‘Round the World
Michigan goes undefeated in the Big 10. App State loses two SoCon games in a league where HALF of the teams (including App)are in a tie for FIRST place! What does that mean? The Southern Conference is a tougher place to play than the Big 10!