Michigan vs. Everybody isn’t just a catchy phrase on a t-shirt. It’s more than a rallying cry when the entire sports world is cheering against you. It’s a declaration that anybody can get it — line ‘em up and knock ‘em down. On Monday night, Nick Saban and the Alabama Crimson Tide got their names crossed off the list.
Connor Stalions, who?
“It’s almost been an unfair advantage, all the things that the team has gone through. We don’t care anymore. Don’t care what people say. Don’t care about anything that comes up,” said Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh after the Wolverines defeated Alabama, 27-20, in overtime, in one of the best College Football Playoff Semifinal games ever. “We just know we’re going to overcome it because it’s unanimous support from every single guy on the team.”
Harbaugh missed the first three games of the season because of a self-imposed suspension due to some NCAA violations looming. And because of the “sign-stealing” scandal, he also missed the last three. The Wolverines were without their head coach for the part of the schedule when a team gets the kinks out. The Wolverines were without their head coach for the part of the schedule that means everything — Penn State and Ohio State.
They showed up at the Rose Bowl 13-0 and walked out with their 14th win of the season.
If you hated Michigan this season because you think they cheated, that’s understandable. If you despise the Wolverines because they tried to make themselves look like victims, it tracks. But, if you’re still a hater after what happened on Monday night, and it’s all based on the idea that some signs that were allegedly recorded on cell phones from the stands are the sole reason Michigan is 39-3 over the last three seasons — then you’re dumber than Ohio State and Michigan State fans that were Alabama supporters for a day.
“It’s a togetherness. We’re so together, so connected. We were going to overcome anything that was inside this stadium,” said Harbaugh about his team after the win.
That quote isn’t just a cliché, as the last three seasons have proved that Michigan finally figured it out. The three-game win streak against Ohio State has shown the college football world that things have changed. Losing to Georgia and TCU in back-to-back seasons was a sign that more work needed to be done. And with one game left on the schedule, the horror from the 2020 COVID season feels like a lifetime ago.
“I want all Michigan fans to do this. Take 3 deep breaths. And have faith,” Wolverines quarterback J.J. McCarthy posted on social media back in 2020 when he was still a recruit. At the time, Michigan was 1-4 after getting blown out 49-11 to Wisconsin. It was the Wolverines’ worst four-game start since 1967.
McCarthy turned out to be a prophet. The naysayers look dumber by the day.
Has anybody seen or heard from Paul Finebaum yet? As of early Tuesday morning, his social media accounts were still silent.
“The Michigan Wolverines should be banned from the college football playoffs until the investigation is complete,” Stephen A. Smith once said on ESPN. “You do not get to the College Football Playoff and rob, potentially, another institution from getting one of those final four spots if the possibility is open that you may have cheated to get your way there.” He’s a hater who will more than likely have changed his tune by Tuesday morning’s episode of First Take.
“I think it’s difficult just to say ban these kids that have worked their ass off to get here. But if it does say that everything we’re alluding to, or assuming did happen, you’re right. I think them taking a spot out of the four College Football Playoff (teams) would be absolute bulls**t. I think we’re not the only people who feel that way. I think a lot of college football people feel that way,” Pat McAfee once proclaimed on the same network. But yet, on Monday, he was on social media talking about how the “committee got it right.”
But if you think the guys on ESPN were haters, I’m here to remind you that they have nothing on other college football coaches. A few weeks ago, Bruce Feldman from The Athletic spoke to multiple coaches who thought that Michigan wasn’t the same team post-Connor Stalions, as they basically all believed that Nick Saban was headed towards another national title game appearance.
“I think it’s the same old thing with Michigan,” a Big Ten secondary coach told The Athletic. “They’re extremely talented, but if someone can hold up up-front with them, I think they’re just too one-dimensional. They’ve got to get explosive plays on the perimeter somewhere, and those are gonna be hard to come by because Alabama can match up with them outside and still be stern enough against the run.”
How ‘bout them apples?
Next Monday, Michigan and Washington will take the field for a chance at immortality. Funny enough, the teams already have a rematch scheduled next season due to the Huskies joining the Big Ten. Washington is the last test in a season full of final exams for Michigan, and the ultimate opportunity to shut up the entire sports world once and for all — BET!
