It’s been 1,041 days.

That’s 33 Michigan football games (just 14 wins), 957 points scored and 2,301,961 attendees at the Big House.

That’s once in two blue moons (trust me, I checked).

That’s how long it’s been since the Michigan football team has played in a bowl game. And now, starving Michigan fans, that number finally has an end in sight.

I think we can all agree that it has been much, much too long since the Wolverines have experienced postseason football. So for now, who cares that the team’s defense gave up 65 points to a decent Big Ten offense. Who cares that Greg Robinson will probably get fired and Rich Rodriguez could very well be close behind him. Who cares that Michigan might end up playing in the Pizza, Pizza Bowl.

Because for one second, Michigan fans, take solace in the fact that something good happened to you. You’ve gone through the worst of times, the worst of the worst. So you deserve this.

I’ve given this team a lot of crap in this space throughout the season. But Denard Robinson and Co. have done something no team wearing the winged helmet has done since Chad Henne, Mike Hart and Jake Long ruled Ann Arbor. They’ve given us something to watch over Christmas break besides reruns of A Christmas Story.

“It’s been a good week,” Rich Rodriguez said, grinning, after Saturday’s marathon win over Illinois.

Indeed it has, Coach.

The NCAA violations fiasco, which felt like years and years worth of shame, has finally ended. And on Saturday, the bowl drought that sucked Michigan fans dry for so long finally ended, too.

So I think it’s fair to chalk this past week up as a very good one for anyone surrounding the Michigan football program.

And in honor of this wonderful occasion, I challenge you to take the week off from your RichRod, Greg Robinson or defense bashing. Take a break from the negative energy. Instead, let this feat settle. Talk about progress. Smile. Remember, for most of you on this campus, this hasn’t happened since you’ve been here.

I remember what it felt like my freshman year, watching Chad Henne tear up the Florida defense in the Capital One Bowl, a game that should have been a blowout going the other way. After a loss to Appalachian State to open the season (and my time as a student), I felt like I could believe in Michigan football again after that win.

And though this win may not be nearly as meaningful — they still have a long way to go — there’s something to be said for triple-overtime thriller in a Big Ten game toward the end of the season. Especially when Rodriguez has only won one other game in the second half of a season during his tenure in Ann Arbor.

But take a few minutes, seconds even, after you read this column to believe in Michigan football again. Granted, it hasn’t given you much reason to believe in it. This one time though, even if it’s the only time this season, put down your pitchfork and tip your hat to Rodriguez, Denard Robinson and anyone else who has put the Wolverines over this hump — one that might as well have been Mount Everest for the past three years.

Each Michigan football player I talked to after Saturday’s game echoed the same sentiment: that from here on out, a win equals a better bowl. The weight of the world is finally off their shoulders.

One more win should stamp Michigan’s ticket to a bowl not sponsored by Little Caesars. And with all you fans have been through, hopefully the Wolverines won’t have to play a MAC team come late December.

But if it comes down to it, and the Wolverines end up spending a nice night at Ford Field against Northern Illinois or Central Michigan, look back on the past two years, relax and enjoy the postseason.

Oh yeah, and pass the breadsticks.

-Kartje loves breadsticks, so bring on Ford Field. He can be reached at rkartje@umich.edu