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In full recognition of the fact some readers have never been to a college football game, nor care to attend one, your humble author asks indulgence. What took place last Saturday night is as much a study of the mind as it is an account of a vivid sports memory. The stuff of gladiators in ancient Rome, the long bowman at Agincourt, or the Miracle on Ice, the two most winning programs in all of college football met yet again before 114,000 people and a national TV audience for the very first night game ever played in Ann Arbor's Michigan Stadium.
There are other hallowed cathedrals of fall; The Los Angeles Coliseum, Madison's Camp Randall, Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, The Swamp In Gainesville, or the Yale Bowl to name a few. But there is only one Michigan Stadium with this night a backdrop for a game for the ages. 114,000 thousand fans representing Notre Dame and Michigan are anticipating another classic. But there is special magic in the air. It's the first-ever night game in this cavernous arena and it occurs on the night of September 10th. The giant jumbo-screen poignantly scrolls the names of Michigan graduates lost on September 11th as the Michigan band plays America the Beautiful, a single somber moment in an otherwise frenzied three hours.
Brent Musburger and Kirk Herbstreit have the call for ESPN. For 30 minutes Notre Dame is clearly the superior team; at times threatening to take charge of the contest with dominant line-play and brilliant leadership from plucky second year Quarterback Tommy Rees. Michigan falls behind as the half ends and all signs point to the Fighting Irish continuing to have the edge when the second half commences. Yet the new Michigan coaching staff, left to pick up the scraps of a departed coach's failed era, have different thoughts. It's a management challenge: reverse their team's somewhat shell-shocked state, make tactical adjustments to counter Notre Dame's dominant offense, and attempt to charge their players with the belief they can still achieve an improbable victory. They know if a comeback is to be accomplished it must start with their explosive but diminutive Quarterback Denard Robinson.
The second half begins fitfully. Like two heavyweight fighters throwing hooks, both teams take punches and give ground. And though Notre Dame increases its margin to 24-7 as the third quarter ends, there are signs the Wolverines are magically responding. Both teams' quarterbacks play well but Notre Dame is forced into key turnovers; Michigan converts and suddenly Denard Robinson steps high above his best game, flinging the ball for impossible catches. As the final stanza begins Robinson picks up a fumble and races into the end zone making it 24-14. Then, only 2:35 later, Robinson lofts a touchdown pass narrowing it to 24-21 with ten minutes left. Musburger and Herbstreit are in animated disbelief. With 1:12 left Michigan coach Brady Hoke calls an inventive screen-pass fooling the Irish. Vincent Smith races across the goal line giving Michigan its first lead of the night 28-24! Now only 30 seconds remain. Lesser teams would be deflated giving way to fatigue and the shock of being overtaken.
Not Tommy Rees, and never Notre Dame. Rees wakes up the echoes by coolly driving the Irish 61 yards, scoring easily thanks to a Michigan coverage breakdown. Now only 28 seconds remain; the Wolverines line up for the kickoff knowing they'll need a mega-miracle. It comes in the form of yet another Denard Robinson masterpiece; running, throwing, dancing away from defenders. With 8 seconds left, Robinson calls for an end zone corner pass and hits Roy Roundtree. Touchdown Michigan with 2 seconds left! 114,000 fans are stunned or euphoric.
This night is as much management study as it is a game. The lessons: never give up, fatigue and disbelief can give way to a regeneration of strength reversing a loss. It's never over until the last second expires.
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