The Michigan football team obviously faces a daunting challenge as three-touchdown underdogs at Ohio State on Saturday. The Wolverines (2-5 Big Ten, 3-8 overall) already have the most losses in school history, and the 10th-ranked Buckeyes have won four straight against Michigan.
And Michigan’s chances of pulling off the upset dimmed a little more Tuesday.
Redshirt sophomore right tackle Stephen Schilling, the Wolverines’ only returning starter on the offensive line from last season, tweaked his knee in practice and is questionable for Saturday.
Schilling is one of two returning offensive starters from last year and the only one on the offensive line. Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez described him as “the rock” of the unit. He has started every game this year.
Redshirt freshman Perry Dorrestein, Schilling’s backup, has started three games at left tackle this season.
Redshirt freshman quarterback Steven Threet didn’t practice Tuesday, and Rodriguez confirmed redshirt sophomore Nick Sheridan will start. Rodriguez said he likely wouldn’t know Threet’s availability for Saturday until Thursday.
Freshman Justin Feagin is the backup right now, but Threet would assume that role if healthy.
Rodriguez also said junior running back Brandon Minor will play.
“He’s such a tough guy,” Rodriguez said. “I don’t know if he’s going to be 100 percent, but he’s going to battle and compete in there.”
Freshman running back Sam McGuffie attended a funeral Wednesday, and Rodriguez said he hoped the Cypress, Texas, native would be back that night. McGuffie could be available Saturday, but he won’t play as much as the players who practiced all week, Rodriguez said.
Attrition ignition: A day after Rodriguez announced sophomore receiver Zion Babb was no longer with the team, Rodriguez said redshirt sophomore defensive tackle Jason Kates wasn’t either.
Babb was dismissed for violating team rules. Rodriguez said it was Kates’s decision to leave the team.
“There may be more attrition,” Rodriguez said. “A lot of our guys have made a tremendous commitment. A handful maybe haven’t. We’ll see what happens the next few weeks.”
Kates’s departure leaves just two defensive tackles on the team with eligibility remaining after this season — freshman Mike Martin and sophomore Renaldo Sagesse. Martin has played in every game this season and has 17 tackles, including 4.5 for a loss and two sacks. Sagesse has played in eight games and has three tackles.
Freshman blues: 0-4.
That’s the record of true freshman quarterbacks in the Michigan-Ohio State game since they became eligible to play in 1972.
And of course, the Buckeyes will start one in Terrelle Pryor on Saturday. Of the previous four, three were Wolverines.
“I couldn’t imagine the pressure of being a quarterback going into this game, the general of a team,” senior nose tackle Terrance Taylor said. “Because if you lose, it’s going to be put on you, the reason why we lost. ‘You suck. You this. You that. You this.’ ”
Rick Leach started in 1975 for Michigan. He went 7-of-20 for 102 yards with three interceptions. He had one rushing touchdown.
The Wolverines lost 21-14 at home in that game, but Leach finished his career 3-1 against the Buckeyes.
Art Schlichter started in 1978 for Ohio State. Bo Schembechler and Woody Hayes both recruited him, but Schlichter chose the Buckeyes because Hayes guaranteed him the starting job.
But with Ohio State trailing 14-3 in the fourth quarter, Hayes pulled his freshman phenom. The Buckeyes still lost, and Schlichter finished 2-2 against Michigan.
Rich Hewlett made his first career start in 1979 against Ohio State, an attempt by Schembechler to jumpstart his ailing offense. He was 1-of-4 for 14 yards with an interception, and rushed nine times for 20 yards. He later moved to defense.
Chad Henne probably had the best performance of any freshman starter in 2004. He went 27-of-54 for 328 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions, but Michigan lost 37-21 in Columbus. Henne finished his career 0-4 against the Buckeyes.
“This game is played different from the early games,” Taylor said. “No matter who you are, especially if you’re a young guy you’re going to be kind of shocked.
“Unless you’re a Chad Henne type of quarterback, it’s going to be pretty hard.”
Will this end up on a message board?: Rodriguez made a statement at his Monday press conference that drew significant criticism after it was used in an Associated Press article:
“It’s amazing some of the things that people would say [on a message board] or yell at you of a personal nature,” Rodriguez said. “You almost want to tell them, ‘Get a life.’
“There’s a whole lot bigger problems. Look at the economy.”
Rodriguez tried to clear up his intentions Wednesday.
“It wasn’t directed at our fans, at the Michigan fans,” Rodriguez said. “It was just directed in a general quote, and it’s only a small faction of people. The majority of college fans are great. They’ve helped make the game what it is.”