Two teams close in more than just distance meet for first time
Courtney Ratkowiak
Daily Sports EditorOctober 9th, 2008
Tomorrow, the Wolverines will finally meet their neighbors.
It’s not like they’re complete strangers — Ann Arbor and Toledo are just 50 miles away, and the schools often cross paths. For the most part, both sets of fans can’t stand the Buckeyes. Toledo is so close to the Michigan border that it’s not hard to spot maize-and-blue apparel while driving around town.
Toledo's also familiar with some of Michigan's players and coaches. Michigan running backs coach Fred Jackson started his 29-year collegiate coaching career at Toledo, and freshman tight end Kevin Koger, a Toledo native, knows several players on the current Rockets roster.
But Saturday’s game against the Rockets will be the first between the two teams, not counting a 1928 matchup between Toledo University and the Michigan junior varsity team, which the Wolverines won 33-0.
Michigan (1-1 Big Ten, 2-3 overall) is 24-0 all-time against MAC teams, including a 16-6 win over Miami (Ohio) on Sept. 6. And with a trip to Happy Valley to play No. 6 Penn State looming next weekend, the Wolverines will have to string together four quarters of consistent play — something they haven’t done this season — if they want to build momentum for the rest of the Big Ten season.
Toledo (1-1 MAC, 1-4) has had plenty of trouble, too. The week before the Wolverines pulled off a 19-point comeback against Wisconsin, the Rockets lost a double-overtime, 55-54 heartbreaker to then-No. 25 Fresno State.
“I think that helps get our players' attention,” Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez said of Toledo’s near-upset. “Talking to some other coaches that have played them, they think (the Rockets) are probably as athletic as anybody in the MAC.”
But in the two games since the loss to the Bulldogs, Toledo has lost by a combined score of 66-16. Last week, in a 31-0 loss to Ball State, the Rocket defense gave up a season-high 482 yards.
And the Wolverines are going into Saturday’s game with a defense that was embarrassed last week, allowing 501 yards to Illinois.
That means both teams will be looking for some sort of vindication.
"Toledo runs a lot of play action, bootlegs and nakeds, a whole bunch of screens,” Rodriguez said. “The two things that hurt us in the last game were play action and screens."
This season, teams have averaged 238.6 receiving yards per game against the Michigan secondary. Rodriguez said the talent of Toledo's wide receivers was a concern for the Wolverines. Junior wideout Stephen Williams is the Rockets' leading receiver with an average of 67.8 yards per game.
And the Wolverines are still searching for stability in the return game. With freshman Martavious Odoms limited by a shoulder injury, Rodriguez named Avery Horn and James Rogers as two of the team's likely kick returners at Wednesday's practice.
Michigan hopes to get back to .500 with a win in front of the Michigan Stadium crowd. Just don't suggest to Rodriguez that his team might be able to grab an easy victory — because after their inconsistent first five games, it's clear the Wolverines can't afford to take a game against a MAC team lightly.
"There's an element of danger to that, and your players have to be aware of that," Rodriguez said. "Coaches will tell you you've got to schedule those because we've got to have home games. Home games are the revenue. But those games are ones that as coaches, you've got to make sure your guys are focused on playing, not just showing up."
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