The game was called with about a minute and 20 seconds to play in the third quarter, following the second 30 minute lightning delay in the third quarter. The first came just a minute after halftime, just after Michigan had a 3 and out in torrential rain. This was the first rain shortened game in Michigan history, and the first football game I've ever seen end early due to weather.
After play resumed Michigan pulled away on its second defensive touchdown. Michael Shaw then had a 44 yard touchdown run, 2 plays after he's ripped off a 42 yard gain pretty much on the same play up the middle.
I don't know that we honestly learned much. Denard Robinson was 9-13 for 98 yards. He also rushed 8 times for 46 yards. His longest was a 12 yarder, and that on a scramble when he couldn't find an open receiver. There were a couple designed runs but it definitely wasn't All Denard, All the Time. Fitzgerald Toussaint rushed 11 times for 80 yards and 2 TDs. That's right, a running back led the team in rushing attempts.
The offense could have used another quarter of reps. On the defense end, they made a couple big plays. There is more to the defense than the TDs they score. They seemed more aggressive in dialing up blitzes and put the squeeze on the Western Michigan passing game by getting to the QB more and more as the game progressed.
How will that translate to better opposition? We'll find out next week when Notre Dame comes to Ann Arbor for the first ever night game at the Big House.
We didn't get much of a look at Michigan's offense other than the obvious formation and emphasis differences. Notre Dame also didn't get that much of a look.
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