Pride

That's what I feel now. Normally, I don't take losses well, but I can't help but feel proud of this team. They went into a hostile environment against the number one team and played their asses off. Even when they got down, they never stopped fighting. They battled back from FOUR double-digit deficits. They proved me right when I wrote that OSU's defense was overrated. They hung 39 points on a defenese that was surrendering about eight. Even if you take away the points off turnovers, that's still four times UM marched down the field and scored. Unfortunately, UM's defense looked overrated as well, although they did a pretty good job in the second half and were about to give the offense a chance to win until Crable's idiotic penalty.

I also have to give a shitload of credit to Troy Smith. Against what had been a great defense, he showed he is unquestionably the best quarterback and player in College Football this year. I hope OSU fans really appreciate him and soak this up as much as possible, because they may never have a better quarterback. And I don't care about his height, I think that he has the tools to be a great QB at the next level. During the game, the commentators compared to him Drew Brees, another great college passer deemed "too short" by some but who has had alot of success in the NFL. If Drew Brees can make it, so can Troy Smith, and if he falls to the second or third round he is going to make some lucky team very happy. Maybe the Lions will be smart enough to draft him, having in the Honolulu blue and silver would go along way to erase the sting of what he's done to Michigan.

Michigan fans can still hope for a rematch, but it's probably an outside shot. Alot depends on the voters unless Michigan gets alot of help. Here's what needs to happen: Rutgers needs to lose to Cincy or WVU, Cal needs to beat USC, USC needs to beat Notre Dame, LSU needs to beat Arkansas and Arkansas needs to beat Florida. It's unlikely all those things will happen, but I can dream, can't I? And if UM doesn't get a rematch, an 11-1 season and a trip to the Rose Bowl is nothing to complain about, especially coming off a 7-5 season. Coming into this season I wanted three things out of this Michigan team: to at least split Notre Dame and Ohio State, get to a good bowl game and win said bowl game. So far, they're two-for-two.