Reality crashed in on 'M' after excessively high expectations

We wondered. We were blind.

Nicholas J. Cotsonika The Greek Speaks

Somewhere along the line, we all got caught up in the Run for Perfection. We talked about the Run for the Roses, but we were lying to ourselves.

What we really wanted was undefeated, undisputed, unsullied perfection. We wanted it, whether we were journalists, casual fans or die-hards. We wanted to see Michigan win so badly -- because it was a great story, because we ached to see the Wolverines on top again, because Nebraska lost and a national championship was possible. Just because.

We were blind.

Somewhere, we forgot how Michigan won its first four games. We just looked at the scores and accepted them. We watched Michigan rise in the rankings, and that was fine.

Never did we consider what was really happening. The appearances were enough, because we wanted to see them so much. We were looking through Rose Bowl-colored glasses.

The Wolverines' first few games weren't an exposition of perfection. They weren't even close.

But we praised and praised this team. We went back on all of our pre-season predictions. Before the opener, we were talking about an 8-4 or a 9-3 season. We were talking about the tough non-conference schedule and the grueling Big Ten. We were talking about the Hall of Fame Bowl.

Then, Michigan beat Colorado. Whoa, that changed everything and everyone. We all got so excited. And now we're bitter.

Michigan lost to Northwestern. Our great story is gone. Our chance to go to Pasadena is probably gone. Our chance to gloat is gone.

Boy. We were selfish and foolish. We were blind.

Take a step back and look. Michigan squeaked by Illinois, 20-8. Yes, squeaked. It wasn't a great game. Michigan didn't play very well. Illinois was just bad.

Then came Colorado. Big game. Big victory. But here too, the Wolverines beat a team that didn't play well. Quarterback Koy Detmer had a good day, but the Buffaloes' defense didn't.

And remember, Michigan was inches from disaster in that game. If Rae Carruth had caught Detmer's Hail Mary pass, we'd all still be crying because of the irony. With the extra point, the score would have been tied. There would have been overtime.

But Chuck Winters knocked the ball down, and instead of calling it luck, we called it a Sign.

When the Wolverines were behind, 14-7, in the fourth quarter against Boston College, we weren't worried. The breaks were going Michigan's way, right? And Michigan won, 20-14.

The Wolverines were drained from the week before, we said. We didn't ask why they only scored 20 points for the fourth straight game. We didn't ask why Boston College, a mediocre football team, nearly beat a top-10 team.

And when Michigan trounced UCLA, 38-9, we all felt justified. We were right. Look at the defense, we said. Look at the offense, we said. One's great, the other's improving. We started talking Rose Bowl, and when Nebraska lost to Arizona State, we started talking national title.

Boy. We were selfish and foolish. We wanted perfection so badly for so many different reasons. We were blind.

No way we should be so shocked. Northwestern is a good team, and so is Michigan. But the Wolverines, overall, haven't been playing very well all year, and they deserved to lose Saturday. This is a team with a great defense and a sub-par offense. Period. The Wolverines might be good yet. But undefeated? Rose Bowl? Come on.

What did you expect? Was it fair?

-- Nicholas J. Cotsonika is The Michigan Daily's managing sports editor. He can be reached over e-mail at cotsonik@umich.edu.

09-03-97