 | Barry Sollenberger Sollenberger in Paradise |
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A single loss should not ruin anybody's season. But for Michigan, it often does.
In fact, you could make the case that the Wolverines were never the same after their first loss in each of the past three seasons. Each of those first losses sent Michigan into tailspins that eventually became four-loss seasons.
Once again, there's a general feeling around campus that the Wolverines' first loss this season - to Northwestern two weeks ago - has ended their season; that Michigan is destined to limp to some second-rate bowl game; that the Wolverines' Rose Bowl and national championship hopes are gone.
If history tells us anything, all of this is true. But it doesn't have to be.
Michigan can still finish the season 11-1. And outside of Nebraska, 11-1 is not a bad record for anyone. If the Wolverines win their last seven games (six regular season games plus a bowl), they will no doubt end the season ranked in The Associated Press top five. They haven't finished that high since 1992.
Still, to say that the Wolverines will win their last seven games is premature, because they haven't had a winning streak that long in four years.
But if you look at the schedule, it's possible.
There is no excuse for the Wolverines not to sail through their next four games. Indiana, Minnesota, Michigan State and Purdue all have one thing in common. They are not very good football teams.
That leaves Penn State and Ohio State.
The Wolverines have the advantage over the Nittany Lions, because the two teams play in Ann Arbor. As for the Buckeyes? Everyone knows about the troubles they've had with Michigan in recent years.
Perhaps more importantly, the Ohio State team that was invincible through the first four games of the season was almost beaten by Wisconsin last Saturday. The Buckeyes narrowly escaped the Badgers, 17-14.
"We were fortunate to come away with a victory," Ohio State coach John Cooper said. "They had some chances early to put us away."
So you see, the Buckeyes can be beaten, and the Wolverines' season doesn't have to be over.
Michigan's sickening loss to Northwestern has not ended its Rose Bowl chances - or even its national championship chances. Nebraska has a loss and has already moved back up to No. 5 in the AP poll. If the Wolverines can put together a winning streak, they too will move up in the rankings.
In fact, they can finish 11-1 or, well, 8-4 again.
It's up to them.
Bad luck Badgers: Speaking of Wisconsin, coach Barry Alvarez's team wasjust a couple of breaks away from being undefeated, with near-victories over Penn State and Ohio State to its credit.
The Badgers scared the Nittany Lions on Sept. 28 in Madison, before falling, 23-20. They weren't dead until a last-second, game-tying field goal attempt sailed wide. Then last weekend, Wisconsin led Ohio State in the fourth quarter, 14-10, before the Buckeyes rallied for the victory.
The Badgers were a couple of breaks away from being 5-0 and at the top of league standings. Instead, they are already out of the Rose Bowl race with two conference losses.
"I think it's obvious that we can compete with people like (Ohio State)," Alvarez said. "But you have to find a way to win games."
The Wacker beat: Minnesota coach Jim Wacker is one of the conference's most popular coaches.
But he'll be gone after the season if his team doesn't win five games. Wacker is under a contract in which he has agreed to step down if the Golden Gophers don't win five games this season.
Minnesota is currently 3-2 with its most winnable remaining games coming this weekend against Michigan State and Nov. 16 against Illinois.
The contract is not a popular one among other Big Ten coaches.
"When you put that type of number on it, you're not concerned with the values of education," Northwestern coach Gary Barnett said. "Obviously, (Minnesota officials) aren't concerned about that."
Wacker, however, is not in a frenzy over his current situation. He looks to one of the United States' greatest war heroes for inspiration.
"What happens, happens," he said. "A great quote by General Patton (is), 'When a man gives his best, what else is there?"
- Barry Sollenberger can be reached over e-mail at jsol@umich.edu.