Hey Look, Words

So as it turns out, accepting a new job offer and planning a big move doesn't exactly leave much time for blogging (or anything, really). I have gone, in a word, missing. And this time mid-season when every day of every week matters. Mike's been keeping the site semi-afloat with his weekly picks and that is a scary thought for all of us on the Internet. I thought the blog would be renamed Burrito Pages by now with a special feature on Qdoba. We're apparently still here.

While I've obviously watched all the games--had to DVR Iowa; I know, I'm disgusted with myself too--and been keeping up with the commentary, it's been frustrating not having the time to watch each game 2-3 times and do some independent analysis myself. At this point, it's a little pointless to rehash my specific thoughts on the past few games; the post-game bullets from the usual suspects are up and linked accordingly. Other stuff happened: Mitch McGary, Drake Johnson, PSU. As somebody who likes to stay informed as much as possible, I quickly learned just how boundless Michigan athletics can be. It's fast-moving and never-ending. You will be left behind.

The other lazy excuse for my silence is that I really didn't have much to say over the last few weeks. After Michigan's improbable 6-0 dream start coming to an end with the State loss, I began viewing the season on a more macroscopic level. Michigan was about to enter the most important bye I can remember. Now bye weeks are generally considered season halftimes anyway but given our recent past, this year's 2nd half was critical for 2 reasons: 1) to finish the season strong (that includes a late-season and/or road win) and 2) to beat Ohio State. After we dropped Iowa, the Big Ten championship and BCS were out of reach (...at the time. As of now, the former is statistically true and the latter is still very much in play with Michigan projected to play Houston in the Sugar Bowl should we win today) in my mind unless we had significant help. Regardless, post-Purdue, the last 4 games became the mini-season that would ultimately define the entire season with the silver bullet, of course, being Ohio State.

The individual matchups of those last 4 games were important, yes, but I remember the conversation shifting back in terms of overall record, like it was during the preseason. Considering that preseason expectations hovered around 7-8 wins, just having a chance to beat Iowa, Illinois, Nebraska or Ohio State was gravy. Would 2-2 for 9 wins without Ohio State suffice? 1-3 including OSU for 8 wins? Dare I say 3-1 with Ohio State? (Yes, please) Hoke somehow managed to provide a season's worth of satisfaction with still a third left to play and November 26th in his back pocket. This was already a special season for us. Could he make it even more special for Those Who Stayed?

Moreover, with two-thirds of the season in the books, there were few surprises regarding the caliber of our remaining 4 opponents: mediocre to above-average, at best. But nothing special and most importantly, all beatable. Iowa inexplicably lost to Minnesota; Illinois were who we thought they were, starting the season 6-0 before dropping 4 straight; Nebraska was a mirror image of us except with a, in the words of Mike, "Mexican Denard"; OSU dissolution was being realized before our eyes confirmed by a loss to Purdue. Each team had shown considerable weakness in the Big Ten. Even Vegas favored us, whether it was by default or not. With ND and MSU and 7 wins all in the rear view, it's all about the march to November 26th. Just win, baby. Nothing else matters.

But then it sort of hit me: so much of this season isn't even about football. It's about erasing the ghosts of Rich Rodriguez. The mid-season release of Bacon's Three and Out was a painful and stark reminder of that fact, highlighting exactly how messed up we were. Rodriguez is in Arizona now, an obvious better fit, but his footprint is still on this program. When bloggers and media folk analyze these games, they inevitably compare it with the last 3 seasons: defensive improvements, Denard's regression, whatever it may be. What is remarkable to me is just how little of that footprint is left; minus the players, Hoke has planted his foot right over Rodriguez's. We HAVE won on the road this season. We HAVE won late in this season. While the MSU ghost may still be there, winning today would erase much of whatever's left. We will have accomplished most of what this season is really about.

In an hour, the regular season will close with a football game between the Ohio State Buckeyes and Michigan Wolverines, just like it has for the last 107 years. But we all know it's about so much more. And I'm not referring to random Facebook status updates and Twitter messages saying "Go Blue" or "#BeatOhio". I'm not even referring to the last 7 years or where this blog fits in my life (if it still does). This Rivalry is personal not because of the opponent or history, but because of the experiences that has surrounded, does surround, and will always surround this special game. It's about the banter my friends and I exchange during Hate Week. It's about the way we sulked together, sometimes in complete silence, through the losses. It's about the hugs, the laughs and yes, even tears, that we shared because of this game.

If this season is about more than just football, let the experiences of this game define our season.

To new experiences.

Go Blue.