Too close

That win was too close. And while it was a win, there's still plenty of reason to be disappointed.

A quick analysis:
Michigan gave up the two big pass plays with their second stringers in there. I promise you, that if Leon Hall or Morgan Trent were out on the field instead of Charles Stewart (who got beat on the first big that started the BSU rally), there would've been no rally at all. Once Michigan's first stringers came back in, it was over.

Lloyd Carr has this bad habit of taking his top guys out before his opponent is dead. I'm not sure if you remember the 1999 Illinois game, where Michigan squandered a huge lead, and lost the game. I understand that Coach Carr wants to keep his guys healthy and resting to try and make up for the bye week, and he doesn't want to run up the score on his friend Brady Hoke, but there really was no excuse for allowing BSU to come back like that. And if he leaves his first stringers in there just a little longer, to stretch the score out by another TD or two, he can take them out with about 7 or 8 minutes left, and let the senior backups (it was Senior Day in Ann Arbor) in there without having to worry about any mistakes. The blame for this little hiccup lies squarely on the shoulders of the coaching staff.

But mind you, Michigan will learn from this. The starters are going to get quite a bit of playing time next week against Indiana, because Coach Carr just got the wake-up call he needed. Also, look for Michigan's offense to be much more explosive next week, with Mario back at full speed. Yes, he played today, but he wasn't 100%. He wasn't able to cut anywhere as well as he normally can, and that ability to cut and stop on a dime is what gives him his play ability. Many of his big pass receptions come of off hitch and go's and other quick moves underneath that allow him to beat the cushion of the cornerback. If he can't cut properly, those long passes aren't gonna come.

But about those 352 rushing yards, huh? Mmmm mmmm good ole fashioned Big Ten Football. Bo sure musta loved that.