MICHIGAN VS. EVERYBODY: THE GAME

 Thanksgiving Weekend: 

The Game

#2 Ohio State (11-0) @ #3 Michigan (11-0)

Thanksgiving – Thursday, November 23, 2023

Woke at 5:30 a.m. and turned on Elf while I drank a cup of Joe and prepared to leave for the airport. My Spirit flight departed for Detroit at 8:48 CST, so I tried to arrive at MSP by 7:00. I sat in a window seat and enjoyed a pretty smooth flight. The old lady in the aisle seat of my row tried her best to fish backstories out of me and the guy in the middle seat. He gave her more than I did. Originally from Windsor, Ontario, he was a new dentist – a few years younger than me, I estimated – who had recently taken a job in Duluth. She gushed about Duluth, peppering him with recommendations. Meanwhile I read a pretty sizable chunk of the short story “Lyndon,” which appears in David Foster Wallace’s collection Girl with Curious Hair. In it, DFW creatively imagines Lyndon B. Johnson as a homesexual who carries on a decade-long dalliance with the narrator of the story, a young man who got a job as a mail clerk for LBJ via family connections. My sister Kate picked me up from the airport and we arrived home in Millwood with time to spare before the Lions’ kickoff at 12:30. 

These were no longer the “Same Old Lions” (SOL) – at least not this year; they entered the game with a record of 8-2 – but their performance against Green Bay reminded Detroit fans that they were not far removed from that era. Jordan Love, emerging as the heir apparent to Aaron Rodgers in Cheesehead Land, led the Pack to an early 23-6 lead. I took a brief nap around halftime, expecting the Lions to mount a comeback as they had against Chicago a week prior, but they ended up losing 29-22 in a game they were favored by 8. The loss rendered Detroit winless in seven straight Thanksgiving Day contests. Not only that, but it dropped me to 0-1 for the day in the Zac-Bryan-Frank Thursday Pick-Em League (Bryan also fell to 0-1 while Frank took an early lead, having taken the Pack +8).

Patrick, Colette, Uncle Jim, Aunt Julie, Grandma, and Kate’s boyfriend Rob – whom I met for the first time – all came over for an early dinner. Last year, on account of our various diet restrictions, we ordered Italian catering for Thanksgiving, so it came as a delightful surprise to me that Mom prepared a traditional turkey dinner this year. Rob brought flowers for Mom, who was celebrating her birthday, and he showed great care for my feeble Grandma, both things which instantly endeared him to me. He seemed like an upstanding guy, a good match for Kate and her huge heart. 

In the Lone Star State, the Cowboys hosted the Commanders of Washington in the middle game of the day, one in which Vegas favored Dallas by 13. Bryan and I both picked Dallas, meaning Frank could win the day if the Commanders covered. We also flipped intermittently to the Michigan State vs. Arizona college basketball game, one played as part of a tournament in Cali. Arizona, ranked third nationally, looked dominant. Granted, they played a gauntlet of an early schedule, but the loss to the Wildcats dropped Sparty to 3-3 on the season after starting it ranked in the top 5; they’ll be fine come March, I’m sure. Early on it looked like Washington might cover the spread, but Dallas rolled in the second half, scoring 25 points in the fourth quarter to win by 35; they improved their record to 8-3 while Washington fell to 4-8. 

Dinner was served rather late. As such, all were hungry by the time we sat down in the dining room, where dishes displayed turkey, fake (read: vegan) turkey, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, green bean casserole, stuffing, rolls, and a single baked potato for me. For dessert, Mom brought out pumpkin and pecan pies. All parties departed shortly after dinner on account of the hour and the fact that we’d see each other again tomorrow; we played no board games this time around. 

Borrowing Dad’s Jeep, I left for Wolverine Lake around 7:30. I actually arrived at Frank’s before he got home from his own family festivities, so I smoked a stub of a joint in the garage and let Luna out in the backyard. Mariah and I smoked a full joint when they got home. Dating back many years, Frank and I had developed a habit – prompted initially by the desire to get high after Cullen family festivities – of hanging out on Thanksgiving night, a tradition I loved. We always watched the NFL’s Thanksgiving nightcap. This year, it pitted Seattle against San Francisco in a contest that was never close. The vaunted Niners, quarterbacked by Brock Purdy, steamrolled Gino Smith and the Seahawks, giving Frank the pick ‘em win for the day, as he took San Fran at -8. 

On account of the 49ers blowout, we switched to the Michigan basketball game. They were playing Stanford in the loser’s bracket of the Bad Boy Mowers Battle for Atlantis tournament. After falling behind big in the first half, the Phil Martelli-led Wolverines (Juwan Howard was recovering from heart surgery) stormed back in the second for a come-from-behind victory, advancing to the fifth place game where they would meet Texas Tech on Friday. 

I snorted two adderall pills overnight. I spent the sleepless night watching movies, including Whiplash starring Miles Teller as an undergraduate percussionist. I drove home early Friday morning. 

Friday, November 24

Per tradition – though slightly modified: we no longer go to Ahrens Tree Farm with the Fidelers – we went to get Christmas trees Friday afternoon. We decided to try a tree farm in Ann Arbor where we found success last year. I liked the Home Alone 2 “Lost in Ann Arbor” billboard we had taken pictures at last year. Cold weather spurred the whole family to make decisions rather quickly, for the wind did not promote idling about. While the workers bundled up the trees we took a really nice family photograph together, including Kate’s boyfriend Rob. Afterward we all ate lunch at Wolverine Brewing Company, where a handful of Ohio State fans started trickling in, having arrived for the weekend showdown. I ordered a pulled pork sandwich and a coke. The Red Wings defeated Boston while we ate; another TV displayed college football, a game in which Iowa clipped Nebraska in OT, 13-10. Lastly we stopped at Kate’s apartment down the road to help her move furniture out. Rob and I carried her couch down three flights of narrow stairs to his truck.

After a respite I drove back to Frank’s Friday night, anticipating Saturday morning. We watched Penn State curbstomp Sparty, mercifully ending their season, and Frank surprised me with more adderall from his secret stash. 

Saturday, November 25 – GAMEDAY

Lack of sleep rendered me nervous and jittery early Saturday morning. So nervous, in fact, that I didn’t want to watch either of ESPN College Game Day or Big Noon Kickoff, both of which aired live from Ann Arbor. Instead, I hid out in Frank’s office. Around 8 a.m. I fired up the Nintendo 64 and played a game of Ken Griffey Baseball as part of Frank and I’s saved season with the Seattle Mariners. Ken Griffey Baseball always calms my nerves. At 9:30 Frank and I went out to run some errands, using Mariah’s car. First, we stopped at Bonzanoes Dispensary. Frank went inside to pick up edibles while I waited in the car, listening to music from the radio. Then we swung next door to McDonald’s, primarily to pick up breakfast for Mariah and a large coffee for me. Last, we stopped at the Wolverine Lake Liquor Store, where the clerk greeted my cousin like a regular. 

When we returned to Frank’s house I drank coffee, snorted a couple more lines, ate a mushroom gummy, and listened to some old Game Day Rawk playlists from years ago (i.e. Eminem, Disturbed, Five Finger Death Punch, Metallica, 10 Years, etc.), including “Adamantium,” a playlist I made for the 2016 football season. The music not only pumped me up, it eradicated my nerves. A warrior mentality replaced them. About a half an hour prior to kickoff, Bryan arrived for the game. I was happy he made it, but Frank and I secretly worried he was bad luck for Michigan games. 

Michigan kicked off. Both teams started with back-to-back fruitless drives, making for a tiptoe start dominated by the defenses. Then on Ohio State’s third drive, QB Riley McCord tried to find wideout Marvin Harrison Jr., widely regarded as the best receiver in college football. Another All-American, Will Johnson – perhaps Harrison Jr.’s equal, on the other side of the ball – jumped in front of the throw, catching it for an interception and returning it to the Ohio State 10-yard line. Wearing the number 2 on his jersey, Johnson’s pick reminded one of Charles Woodson’s heroics in the ‘97 game. Michigan Stadium roared in celebration as the turnover presented a huge opportunity for the home team to capitalize.

Despite being gifted the first and goal, Michigan’s offense struggled to score. On a 3rd and goal from the 1, Corum took the ball and rushed towards the endzone. He appeared to cross the threshold of the goalline, but officials ruled him down just short. Replay review ensued; the call on the field stood. No matter: Michigan gave the ball back to Corum on 4th, and this time he leapt into the endzone for a no-doubter, giving Michigan a 7-0 lead. 

To his credit, McCord responded by making a big third down throw on the next drive to prevent a three-and-out. It went to Harrison Jr. for 24 yards and a big first down, pushing the visiting Buckeyes into Michigan territory. A facemask call went against Derrick Moore and presented the Buckeyes with a first down at the Michigan 27, but the drive stalled after a three-yard run on first down, with McCord throwing back-to-back incompletions thereafter. It set up a 4th and 7 from the 24. Ryan Day sent in the field goal unit, and placekicker Jayden Fielding drilled the 43-yarder, cutting the score to 7-3 with a couple to play in the first quarter. For Michigan’s defense, it constituted a win.

The next drive saw Michigan’s offense flex their muscles in execution of a characteristic boa-constrictor-like drive. It took up nearly 7 minutes of game clock, with Michigan running 14 plays during it. Twice on the drive Michigan went for it on 4th and 1; both resulted in a Michigan first down. This was not Lloyd Carr’s 1997 style of play. This was a team built to attack like a wolverine, to step on the enemy’s throat. It resembled Michigan’s best drives in all but the ending, for it ended not with a Corum touchdown run from short range but in an important replay review. The play in question occurred on 3rd and 10 at the OSU 22-yard line. On that 3rd down McCarthy dropped back and scanned the field before weaving a tight ball to Roman Wilson between two defenders. Wilson caught the ball behind the defenders, ran towards the endzone, and tumbled into it as Denzel Burke brought him down . Refs initially signaled touchdown, setting the Michigan faithful to ecstasy. Further replays, however, revealed that Wilson did not control the football at the end of the play; Denzel Burke actually possessed the ball on the ground in the endzone. Joel Klatt, normally a Michigan homer, speculated that the call might get reversed upon review. In the end, the refs ruled that the call on the field stood; it constituted a crucial call in Michigan’s favor, one that wouldn’t have gone their way five years ago. Perhaps referee bias was nothing more than a sign that the tides of the rivalry had officially turned. Michigan went ahead 14-3.

On the next drive it was McCord and Ohio State’s turn to flex their muscle and prove they belonged. McCord went 4 for 4 on the drive, including a 32-yard toss to Cade Stover that put the Buckeyes into Michigan territory and a 3-yard touchdown pass to Emeka Egbuka to cap the 7-play, 73-yard drive. Egbuka’s touchdown cut the lead to 14-10 with 6:27 left in the first half. 

Maintaining some momentum, Ohio State’s defense then coordinated a stop, forcing a Michigan punt with 3:23 left. Suddenly Ohio State had a sanguine opportunity, a chance to take the lead or cut into it prior to halftime despite getting outplayed most of the half. A 44-yard pass from McCord to Harrison Jr. made such prospects look like a lock, setting up the Buckeyes with a 1st and 10 in Michigan territory with still over three minutes to play. Somehow, though, they blew it. Ryan Day sent on the field goal unit to attempt a last-second kick from 52-yards out, an attempt Jayden Fielding shanked, leaving Ohio State empty-handed going into half, the score still 14-10 Wolverines.

Michigan owed a large part of their undefeated record to their halftime adjustments (props to the coordinators) and their third quarter performances. Going into the Ohio State matchup, the Wolverines had outscored their opponents 123-14 in third quarters, with all 14 of those opponent points occurring a week prior against Maryland. Getting the ball to start the second half, they looked to keep that track record going against Ohio State. McCarthy hit Loveland for a 21-yard gain to start the drive, then backup QB Alex Orji entered the game to provide a new wrinkle. Orji rushed on consecutive plays, the first going for 20, the second for 2. A McCarthy incompletion set up 4th and 5 from the Ohio State 32, forcing Sherrone Moore to call on James Turner, who nailed the field goal from 50 yards, pushing Michigan’s lead back to 7. Turner, a Saline native, was money all day. 

Ohio State started the second half strong, too, though. Following Turner’s field goal McCord led the Buckeyes on a 12-play, 75-yard touchdown drive to tie the game. Ohio State managed to flip the script on the drive, executing a very Michigan-esque drive in which they repeatedly ran up the middle. TreVeyon Henderson, who rushed six times on the drive, scored via a 3-yard touchdown run, making it a whole new ballgame at 17 apiece. The momentum had shifted in a major way. I felt doubtful at this point, haunted by the recent past, but the tides soon shifted again.

The turning point of the game came on Michigan’s next drive when All American offensive lineman Zak Zinter went down with a gruesome broken leg. Both teams kneeled for several minutes while medics carted Zinter off the field. As they watched their teammate and leader -- their brother -- carted off, the Wolverines pledged to win it for Zak. Blake Corum made sure of it. On the next play, Corum took a handoff 22 yards to the house. For the cameras, Corum flashed the numbers six and five with his fingers, alluding to Zinter’s uniform number in a poignant moment that might have defined the season. With the Corum touchdown Michigan reclaimed the lead and the momentum. It was 24-17.

Preserving that momentum, Michigan’s defense forced a three and out. The offense took over next with the third quarter coming to a close. Sherrone Moore dug into his bag of tricks to open the fourth quarter, calling for a halfback pass, a play Moore later called his favorite play call of the season. McCarthy pitched the ball to Donovan Edwards, who then threw down field to Colston Loveland for a 34-yard gain. The Edwards-Loveland connection gave Michigan a first down at the OSU 20-yard line with a chance to go ahead two scores. Sherrone Moore later called the halfback pass his favorite play call of the 2023 season. The drive went no further, leading to a 4th and 10 from the 20. Moore sent out James Turner, who stayed clutch by nailing a 38-yard field goal that gave his team a 10-point lead with just under 12 minutes left in the game.

To their credit, Ohio State never folded. In fact, they answered with a touchdown on their next drive, keeping the game close and preventing easy breathing. McCord completed two big passes on the drive, one a 28-yarder to Julian Fleming, the other a 14-yard touchdown pass to Marvin Harrison Jr. 

Clinging to a 3-point advantage, Michigan got the ball back with 8 minutes left, which was probably too much time. They tried to run out the clock, giving the rock to Corum repeatedly. In a 13-play drive, they ran out 7 minutes of the clock, but not 8. A 4th down and 4 from the Buckeye 19 demanded an important decision for Sherrone Moore: go for the jugular by going for it on fourth (and, if succesful, seal the game now), or kick a field goal and risk giving the ball back to OSU with a chance to win it with a touchdown. Moore called on Turner again. This time, Turner nailed a 37-yarder, but it hardly felt reassuring.

Ohio State got the ball with exactly a minute left in the game. They needed to go 81 yards for a game-winning touchdown. That seemed like a tall order, but then McCord promptly completed two 20-yard passes that made me feel sick with panic and dread. The Buckeyes were driving downfield way too easily. Scarred by the long losing streak we suffered from 2004-2019, I pictured Michigan losing the biggest version of The Game on a last-second touchdown. I pictured reliving that pain for years to come.

Alas: Michigan again proved Team 144 was different from ones that had come before it. As Rod Moore remarked post-game, “somebody had to call game.” Jalen Harrel pressured Riley McCord on the next play, altering McCord’s throw, which was intended for Harrison Jr. Instead, Rod Moore made one of the biggest plays of the season, diving to make the interception. Moore and his teammates ran to midfield in celebration. Some players removed their helmets, resulting in an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. It didn’t matter. McCarthy kneeled once to seal the victory for the home team, Michigan's third straight in the rivalry and their 1,001st win all-time. Sherrone Moore, 4-0 as Michigan's acting head coach, jogged to midfield, where he met the man who was born on third base for the postgame handshake. An iconic photograph was taken of their encounter, with police escorts flanking both coaches. Day leaned in, his head slumped slightly, while Moore held his head upright and stared into his counterpart's eyes contemptuously. 

The most magical season continues. Next up is the Big Ten Championship Game, in which Michigan looks to be a heavy favorite against Iowa, who clinched the Big Ten West title a week prior. His suspension over, Jim Harbaugh will return to the Michigan sideline for it. A victory over the Hawkeyes would give Michigan three straight Big Ten conference titles and a ticket to the College Football Playoff. 

I hugged Bryan and Frank, told them I loved them. I ended up sleeping at Frank’s that night, soaking in the victory. The college football slate included some really good games after The Game: Alabama beat Auburn on a fourth and a mile prayer of a touchdown pass, keeping their playoff aspirations alive; in Seattle, Washington survived Washington State with a last-second field goal, also keeping their title hopes afloat; LSU toppled Texas A&M in Baton Rouge; Florida State bested in-state rival Florida to stay undefeated; at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, the Cowboys of Oklahoma State outlasted BYU in double overtime.