Michigan football became the object of dislike or worse this season because of an alleged sign-stealing scandal and a head coach who has been an unpopular figure for years.
The Wolverines became the team that you loved to hate and their leader, Jim Harbaugh, who was suspended twice during the season, was reviled by even the Commissioner of his own conference.
Yes, the head coach served a self-imposed three-game suspension at the start of the season for alleged recruiting violations during the COVID-19 dead period.
And yes, the head coach was suspended for the final three games of Michigan’s campaign for violating the conference’s sportsmanship policy.
The Big Ten admitted it had no evidence that Harbaugh was aware of an advance-scouting scheme run by a former staffer.
A staffer who resigned. He resigned and then the Wolverines ran off an 8-0 streak on their way to what stands today.
Michigan is college football’s national champion.
The Wolverines completed a perfect 15-0 season Monday night by slamming previously undefeated Washington 34-13 in Houston to capture their first national title since 1997.
Washington had a great season. And they were not swamped in the championship game.
The score was respectable until two fourth quarter touchdowns by the Wolverines put the game away.
But you had the feeling throughout, that Michigan’s utter dominance in the running game and in their overall team play, that they would be control.
The Huskies brilliant quarterback Michael Penix Jr. didn’t have his best day.
When you look at the numbers and you see one QB throw 51 times and the other throw only 18 passes you know who came out on top.
When you look at the numbers in the ground game it is even more apparent. In the first quarter alone, the Wolverines rushed for an amazing 174 yards including two 40-plus TD runs by Donovan Edwards.
And Edwards wasn’t even the best of Michigan’s ball carriers this night.
Blake Corum, who has been nothing short of magnificent in the big games down the stretch, gained 134 yards, and scored two touchdowns. Both Corum and Edwards were over 100 yards and the team finished with 303 yards and four touchdowns.
Enough said.
It is not my practice to cite statistics in assessing how a game turns out. But these numbers I’ve listed boggle the mind.
But the big picture is about Michigan football and how so many resented what they achieved.
I know you’re saying that if you cheated you should be punished and certainly not supported.
But we live in a world of evidence is the thing, at least we’re supposed to, and if the word alleged is used, that means there is no unimpeachable truth.
Big Ten Commissioner Tony Pettiti, brought on to enrich the coffers of the member schools with huge increases in TV money has done just that.
He has widened the scope of the Big Ten to 18 teams, and ironically Washington will become a member next season and actually host a conference game against Michigan as part of the regular season schedule.
But Pettiti was wrong in a zoom conference call in going along with the other coaches and Athletic Directors in suspending Harbaugh for those final three games.
Let’s punish the face of the team, the head coach, for the transgressions by the University which we haven’t yet proven to be fact.
You can say, I’m sure it’s true. Where there’s smoke, there’s fire.
But why not wait until all the facts are in and then make a decision?
No, Michigan had to be penalized, and penalized this year, the year they had a golden chance to win a championship.
But in going full circle they did anyway.
They did because the players and the coaching staff, who worked from the first day of practice, everyday throughout the season, worked hard to win games and prepare.
They never lost a game throughout the constantly intense controversy.
Look, I am not for breaking rules and cheating. Not in the least bit. But I am against facts not proven and ganging up, in this case, on one school.
And if anyone is of the opinion that the reason Michigan went 15-0 and won the national championship is because they stole the signs of their opponents they simply do not understand the actual playing of games.
It’s about execution. Blocking and tackling. Running and throwing. Speed and strength.
The coaches are on the sidelines, but the players are on the field. That’s where games are decided.
Maybe Jim Harbaugh is not the most likable figure in college football. But now he’s the championship coach.
And maybe the season ended with a controversial winner.
But Michigan is #1.
‘Hail To The Victors’.