Real Kato Blog: Live-Blogging the Michigan Game

Well, almost live... I'm starting on a twenty-minute DVR delay.

Start of Game 0-0
Michigan comes out in a spread offense! As I hoped and predicted! Starting on their own seven after a kick return blunder, Michigan comes out running and passing out of a shotgun spread look, and Henne is doing a bit of read-option. Awesome.
12:10 1st Quarter 0-0
Henne looks sharp. The receivers are open. And Hart just picked up a first down on a power running play. Man, do we even dare to hope that Michigan will make a game of this?
10:59 1st Quarter 7-0
After a bullshit intentional grounding penalty... OMG TOUCHDOWN TOUCHDOWN TOUCHDOWN! Henne threw an absolute rocket to Manningham on a skinny post pattern. Wow.
10:20 1st Quarter 7-0
Weird pooch kickoff, huh. Can Michigan play defense today? Florida starts off with a crossing route and then a run for a first down. Uh-oh.
7:12 1st Quarter 7-0
Good plays to contain the running game on 1st and 2nd down, and then a great play by Donovan Warren to get a stop on third down. Field goal: wide right! OMG!
5:53 1st Quarter 7-0
Dang, a holding penalty by Arrington puts Michigan in long yardage. The oh noes Manningham fall down; that kills the drive. Mesko to punt.
4:31 1st Quarter 7-0
Boy, we need to make some tackles if we are to have any chance in this game. Warren needs to learn the meaning of the words "wrap up". Also, the announcers sure are worshiping at the altar of Tebow.
2:41 1st Quarter 7-0
Man coverage all across the field, and Tebow throws a touchdown... but NO! Florida penalty, ineligible receiver downfield. 2nd down: Michigan blitzing again, forces a bad throw. I like the blitzing, but we need to get to Tebow, and play good tight man coverage.
2:37 1st Quarter 7-7
Ugh, it's a coverage bust; a defensive back was supposed to pick up Harvin out of the backfield but two defenders cover the slot receiver instead. Or were we in soft zone coverage? Yikes. The good news is, we are getting pressure on Tebow; the Florida O-line looks a little befuddled on pass protection.
1:49 1st Quarter 7-7
Loss of two on first down, incomplete on second down. Maybe time to take a shot downfield? Uh, timeout instead.
1:40 1st Quarter 7-7
Florida only rushes three, and Schilling gets plain beat. Hart was standing around looking for someone to block. Sack. Punto Mesko.
0:34 1st Quarter 7-7
Ugh, a big return, and a ticky-tacky personal foul penalty to boot. We could have just gone for it. Then, as the announcer says: how does Harvin gets so open? Looks like Warren bit on a fake and left his zone assignment.
14:48 2nd Quarter 7-14
After a couple of negative plays for Florida, they throw a screen and five Michigan defenders end up eating dirt instead making a tackle. Touchdown Florida. Michigan needs to get back on track on offense. We threw Florida off by coming out in a spread look; now we need to hit them with something else new. Wishbone? Also: I've caught back up to live TV now.
12:05 2nd Quarter 7-14
Hart had early success running left out of the one-back zone-read look, but I wonder if we need to throw a fullback in there from time to time. Ah, Henne gets excellent protection and has time to hit Arrington on a crossing route. Then a WR screen for Manningham, good. Attack Florida's vulnerable point: their secondary. Reverse to Manningham... was he going to throw? He gets a decent gain. Mario has come to play today.
10:50 2nd Quarter 7-14
Wow, what a beautiful throw by Henne to Manningham. Then: a tackle-eligible play? Incomplete, dang. I would have loved to see Long rumbling down the field. Then a throw to Moundros, followed by a personal foul on Florida. Thugs. 1st and goal.
9:51 2nd Quarter 14-14
A four-tight-end look from Michigan on 1st and goal from the 3. I like it, but it goes for no gain. A throw right to Moundros' hands, dropped; ugh. Third-down: Henne checks to the run and we finally get a well-blocked play. TOUCHDOWN! Are Florida fans getting a little worried yet?
9:40 2nd Quarter 14-14
Ugh. A 66-yard run for Harvin. I can't believe Trent ran him down to save the touchdown. And is Harvin hurt now? He looks woozy. The plot thickens.
8:33 2nd Quarter 14-14
Michigan has personnel issues; Florida puts in a jumbo package, and we tried to send in five players and take out four. Timeout.
6:52 2nd Quarter 14-14
Harvin is back. ARGH, how does he get so open AGAIN?! Luckily: illegal formation on Florida. And then he drops the next one even though he blew by the coverage of Ezeh. And then: Michigan rushes six against five and pounds Tebow for a sack. And THEN: blocked field goal! WHOOO! Is this really Michigan football?
6:25 2nd Quarter 14-14
Wow, a huge screen play to Carson Butler. Makes up for his infinite holding penalties throughout the year, maybe. And then WHAT? Hart fumbles? He NEVER fumbles! Eek.
5:27 2nd Quarter 14-14
A good three-and-out defensive stand to get the ball back for Michigan. Pressure on Tebow = Good.
4:03 2nd Quarter 14-14
Halfback sprint draw? I haven't seen that from Michigan in years. And then: trickeration from Michigan, a double-pass play... picked off at the 1 yard line. No one was fooled. Florida throws deep; Trent has good coverage. Hold 'em again, defense.
2:45 2nd Quarter 14-14
Good pressure from Brandon Graham. Michigan's defense is looking stout.
1:53 2nd Quarter 14-14
A zip pass from Henne to convert a third down. And then pass interference on Florida! Michigan is driving down the field. We need at least a field goal out of this.
0:38 2nd Quarter 21-14
Oh. My. God. Blitz gets picked up, post pattern to Arrington for the touchdown. Or, not quite a touchdown? Under review... it's on the half yard line.
0:08 2nd Quarter 21-14
QB sneak fails. A quick throw to Arrington fails. Third-down, must-throw... and TOUCHDOWN ARRINGTON! The review turned out to be a blessing: now there's only eight seconds in the half.

Halftime
Can this be real? Florida fans must be in anguish right now. Michigan wasn't supposed to be this good. Just about no one expected Michigan to score more than 14 points. Michigan is outgaining Florida, and winning despite two turnovers.

No one thought Michigan could do this. It's as if no one thought Michigan coaches had any intelligence at all. Carr remembers App State and Oregon. He remembers the OSU-Florida game from last year. He knows that the old zone left wasn't going to work against Urban Meyer on offense; he knows that soft zone defense wasn't going to work against Tebow on defense. I love it. Carr is telling all his critics: screw you guys, I know what I'm doing.

The bad thing: I'm actually starting to think we're going to win, and that would make a loss that much more painful. Must... lower... expectations....

Scores from around the country: Tennessee beats Wisconsin 21-17 when Donovan's last-gasp effort ends in an interception. Virginia has held down Texas Tech's offense and is winning 21-7 in the third quarter. Missouri has SPANKED Arkansas 38-7. Could the SEC be just a little bit overrated? Maybe?

Meanwhile: cheesy lip-synced Blues Brothers halftime show. Whoo.

Second half keys: can Michigan continue moving the ball? Can we keep getting open downfield? Can we get some coverage on Harvin and make some tackles?

14:59 3rd Quarter 21-14
Oh. My. God. Pooch kickoff, and no one catches it. Michigan ball on the Florida 37.
14:48 3rd Quarter 21-14
Now we bring out the old zone left, and it goes for a first down. Heh.
14:18 3rd Quarter 21-14
We run it again for no gain... but there's a Florida DL injury. They're thin at that spot. Thicken, plot, thicken.
13:53 3rd Quarter 21-14
Wow. Florida on a delayed blitz; Arrington is wide open at the three yard line.
12:50 3rd Quarter 28-14
TOUCHDOWN HART. This is un-by-God-believable. The announcers are talking about how aggressive Michigan is... gee, that's what happens when your star quarterback is healthy and you can open up your playbook.
11:03 3rd Quarter 28-14
Harvin is making yards; Tebow misses on a pass. We need to key on Harvin better... I think we've got Tebow under control. Or maybe I shouldn't speak so soon.
9:48 3rd Quarter 28-14
Argh. Michigan stopped Florida on 3rd down but gave up a 4th down pass to, that's right, Harvin. Damn Harvin.
7:55 3rd Quarter 28-21
Ugh. Tebow escapes pressure, gets to the 1 yard line. Plus a facemask penalty against Michigan. Should have been holding against Florida. Next play: Touchdown, Tebow. Michigan needs another score now.
7:02 3rd Quarter 28-21
Another sprint draw for Hart. Love it. Oh Carr and DeBord, everyone is asking: where has this BEEN all year?
6:22 3rd Quarter 28-21
Henne throws a rope to Arrington for a first down. Arrington and Manningham are having an awesome day.
4:54 3rd Quarter 28-21
Florida leaves Mathews uncovered in the slot, and he gets YAC. Then: Hart FUMBLES reaching for the end zone. AGAIN. This is unreal. They're reviewing it, but it's a fumble for sure. UGH. Florida ball on the 20.
3:54 3rd Quarter 28-21
Crable TFL. Haven't heard his name much. 2nd down: Pressure on Tebow, incomplete. Nice. Come on, defense.
3:26 3rd Quarter 28-21
Jamar Adams goes kung-fu on Tebow on 3rd down. Nice. But dang: fake punt out of an unbalanced formation; geez, we should have seen that one coming.
1:26 3rd Quarter 28-28
Argha. We cannot stop Harvin. Argha. And now Tebow throws for the touchdown after eluding the blitz. Hart is seriously pissed about his fumble: that's a 14-point mistake. Get it back, Mike. Get it back.
1:05 3rd Quarter 28-28
Wow. Manningham cuts it back all the way across the field. That almost seemed like it was designed. Big gainer. Come on, we need a touchdown here.
14:13 4th Quarter 28-28
The inside zone play is open now because Florida is playing two-deep. Big run for Hart.
12:24 4th Quarter 28-28
Another crazy reverse-field play from Manningham... this time, not as successful, and a a clipping penalty to boot. 2nd and 25; Henne gets 10 back on a pass to Mathews. Michigan timeout; we want a TD but we need to get at least a FG out of this.
12:16 4th Quarter 31-28
A poor play on 3rd down; we should have thrown underneath. Kicking Competency Lopata gets the field goal. Now we need a defensive stop, or I will begin to writhe in pain.
12:00 4th Quarter 31-28
Crable. TFL. Need more of that.
10:39 4th Quarter 31-28
Pressure by the front four; Tebow throws it away. No writhing just yet. Michigan gets the ball back.
9:52 4th Quarter 31-28
Florida shifts to man-free; Michigan still runs Hart. Third-and-one: Hart gets the first behind Long. Nice.
8:45 4th Quarter 31-28
As the announcers point out, DeBord is still playing aggressive: empty-set on first down. And then a first-down run for Hart. Keep going, dudes. Keep going.
8:19 4th Quarter 31-28
Oh. No. Interception on screen. That is inexcusable. Please do something good, defense.
5:49 4th Quarter 31-35
Oh. No. Touchdown Florida on a reverse. And who? Harvin. HAR. VIN.
4:59 4th Quarter 31-35
WOW. Amazing one-handed grab by Arrington. I love you Arrington. Henne has thrown for 355 yards now.
4:12 4th Quarter 38-35
TOUCHDOWN HENNE TO ARRINGTON. Henne looked off the defenders with a fake to Mathews. WOW.
2:42 4th Quarter 38-35
Two short gains by Florida. Harvin is tired. One stop, guys? YES. Pressure from Brandon Graham, who is having a monster game. Florida thinks they need this on 4th down and is going for it. IT IS INCOMPLETE YES YES YES YES. Short field for Michigan; we need a score or a first down, and that might end the game.
2:26 4th Quarter 38-35
Michigan goes conservative, plays three straight runs to burn Florida's timeouts. Will this work? We'll need another defensive stop.
2:21 4th Quarter 41-35
Kicking Competency Lopata gives us a six-point lead. Florida will need a touchdown now.
2:10 4th Quarter 41-35
Florida returns the kickoff from eight yards deep in the end zone to the 23. 1st down is incomplete. Come on guys. Come on.
2:04 4th Quarter 41-35
Delayed blitz with five; the pressure makes Tebow throw early, and Harvin falls down. NICE.
1:48 4th Quarter 41-35
INTERCEPTION? No... but it's fourth down... and... YES YES YES. Oh. My. God. We have won. We have won. We have won. I cannot believe what is happening.
SUCK IT FLORIDA AND SEC FANS. SUCK IT.
Was that unsportsmanlike? I should say:
SUCK IT CARR-HATERS AND BIG-TEN-NAYSAYERS. SUCK IT.

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