ANN ARBOR,MI– Saturday didn’t feel much like spring, but the Wolverines played their spring game regardless. A day that started with a tour of the locker room, which I took twice, finished with a decent look at the Wolverines of 2010.

The locker room was a great interpretation of the tradition that is Michigan football. There was a wall-sized mural of former wolverine Jake Long pancaking some poor schmuck; a hallway roped off that contained a dozen or better pictures of great Michigan moments. I got to see and touch things like the Go Blue Go Hold the Rope sign that sits above the locker room exit. I was “this close” to hopping the waist high blockade and running out the tunnel. Wisely I decided against that.

As for the spring game itself, I saw what looked to me like a more polished version of Denard Robinson. He was more accurate throwing the football. I also saw a version of Tate Forcier that appeared to be forcing things and making bad reads. Then the freshman phenom who despite his strong performance in spring practice, played nervous and uncertain at times. Welcomed to the field by the wolverine fans with loud cheers, Gardner fumbled his first possession and later threw an interception. He did have a nice throw to Martavious Odoms which was dropped. Had it been caught it would’ve been a touchdown. The defense played well getting good pressure on the qb’s and containing the run game for the better part of the day. The most encouraging part of the day was obviously Denard’s play at qb. If he can manage to maintain this level and be a threat through the air, opposing defenses will cringe at the thought of preparing for a skill set like that. Hopefully the defense can step up and the offense can gain some consistency. If that’s the case it should be a pretty good year in Ann Arbor.

Smith came in as a crossover recruit. He was originally recruited by Lloyd and the boys, but decided to maintain his commitment to Rich Rod and staff. Smith came in as a bone crushing safety. Ironically the only bones crushed were his own. After suffering through injuries early in his career, Smith saw his speed diminish running in the 4.8’s in the spring. A move to linebacker appears to disagree with Smith.

Now that things seem to be getting to a point where Smith has fallen behind talent at safety and has struggled to learn to play linebacker, its only natural to wonder if he’ll stay. The way things are looking now it seems to be the most likely scenario.

Josh Furman has college coaches drooling at the potential he possesses as a linebacker at the collegiate level. Currently Furman sits at 6’2” and weighs in around 190 pounds. The Detroit News quoted Furman after being asked about the adjustment, “I am really feeling the linebacker position,” Furman said . “I am playing with a lot of confidence. It has made me very excited about the linebacker spot. I dream about being above 200 pounds. You will see me unleash the fury once I get into the 200 club.” Furman will have to learn to play better in coverage since he spent his career chasing down anything behind the line of scrimmage carrying a football. Athleticism is his main selling point. He posted a 4.37 40-yard dash, a 4.41 short shuttle, a 10-foot-1 standing broad jump, and a 40-inch vertical leap.

The senior from Millersville, MD absolutely blew up in his most recent playoff game piling up 414 yards on 42 carries scoring 6 touchdowns in a 58-55 double overtime victory against one of the top teams in the state, Arundel High. His season stats total up to 2071 yards and 29 touchdowns in 11 games. The Wolverine faithful are feeling good vibes but we won’t know if Michigan has been good enough this year to open a present containing a commitment from this talented youngster until December 19, at the Crab Bowl; a Maryland high school all-star game.

From the second we pulled off I-94, planning to take Ann Arbor-Saline road/Main street, we saw nothing but brake lights; brake lights and people walking on both sides of the road. After sitting in traffic for a good four miles, the crowds of people growing in size, I see Ann Arbor Pioneer High School. Goosebumps crawling up my arms as they do every time I get my first glimpse of the stadium, it’s time to park. We got there a little late, 11 o’clock, we turn to park in our usual spot, blocked. It’s full, keep in mind this spot is never full. It’s why I park there. So we see that just ahead we can still park at the school. We get waved in and they tell us to go where the parking attendants direct us. So we follow the first FOUR people back only to have to follow THREE more to the VERY back of the school. The walk turned out to be one of my favorite parts of the game. I saw the entire facility holding A LOT of fans. It was a very mixed crowd, for every Michigan tailgate crew there was an Ohio State crew right next to it. I saw a setup that included over thirty lawn chairs with three different 50+ inch flat screen tv’s. I would’ve been so much more impressed by it had it not been soaked in scarlet and grey. My favorite tailgate crew had four tents lined up end to end stretching over 50 ft with nothing but maize and blue; capped off by a grill modeled after the winged helmets donned by the Wolverines each Saturday. Unfortunately my walk was soured by the fact that I was between a group of buckeye fans that, I swear, knew every anti-Michigan chant ever created. Not to worry, my fellow Michigan fans answered right back with chants of their own. We get to the corner of Main and Stadium streets and the group of people waiting to cross is bigger than I’ve ever seen. All three corners are so full, people are falling off the curbs, forced off really due to the large crowds. This IS my favorite part of the pre-game aspect. That whistle blows, cars stop, and all those people flood toward the gates. Once you cross that street and you’re through those gates its game time at the Big House!

It doesn’t take long and the smack talk begins. A man wearing Ohio State from head to toe looks up at the Eagle placed just inside the stadium entrance in honor of the men and women that gave their lives in World War II and says, “what the h3** is that thing?” A Michigan fan responds with,” what’s the matter can’t you read? Oops I didn’t see your outfit you probably can’t.” From there on I continued to hear banter from one fan to the next the whole time I was waiting in line to get into my section. After about a ten minute wait, I walk through the entrance to section 17 to see a crowd of 110,922 people on their feet. Unfortunately I’d say 35% percent were in scarlet and grey. I climb through the other fans in my row to get to my seat. I get there and quickly realize I’m not going to be sitting down today. As we stand there, we remove our hats for the start of the National Anthem. The Michigan Marching Band is just about to finish the song as I feel my whole body shake, my heart skip a beat, and lose my breath as two F-16 fighter planes flew no more than 100 yards above the stadium silencing the entire place for one second; only to be followed by a shocked but impressed group of Buckeyes and Wolverines alike applauding loudly.

The game, as we all know, wasn’t what we wanted as Michigan fans. The atmosphere during the game was one I wont forget. The quietest fans in the stadium were the ones who are true blue. I was surrounded by either Buckeyes or Michigan fans that had nothing but criticism and negative comments about the Wolverines. Not all of the good Michigan fans could contain themselves. I, along with everyone in our section, was blessed with the presence of a Buckeye heckler. After 3 quarters, the older gentleman directly in front of the heckler stands up, turns around and says,” you talk a lot of s*** now, but when you and I were kids, we whooped yo a** up and down this field over and over again!” That was the last we heard from the heckler.

Yes Michigan lost, yes it was more of the same that we as fans are growing tired of. One thing is absolutely certain in this Wolverine’s mind, nothing will make you hate the Buckeyes more than sitting there with them as they celebrate in OUR house. I’m kidding. The One thing that is absolutely certain is, that place filled with fans that embrace every aspect of this rivalry, is as great a football venue as you’re going to find in all of college football. It was an experience that you can’t hear about, you can’t imagine what it would be like, you have to be there at the stadium in the midst of it all. Then and only then will you understand why good or bad, win or lose, I will be, forever BLUE!

John Clay piled up 151 yards and a touchdown. Scott Tolzien and Nick Toon made quick work of a Wolverine secondary that continues to expose each and every weakness this defense has. Tolzien threw for 240 yards and four tochdowns. Toon was responsible for 98 of those yards as well as two touchdowns. Toon exploited the middle of the field as Wisconsin met little resistance from the Wolverine defense.

The offense for Michigan played well at times. Then in the midst of a good drive they’d find themselves in a 3rd and 24. Tate was 20-26 passing for 188 yards with two touchdowns. Vincent Smith had a nice showing today as the freshman caught 7 balls for 54 yards and a score. It wasn’t enough though as Wisconsin beat the Wolverines 45 – 24.

Miscues and an inability to convert when they needed to, leaves the Wolverines with a home game against Ohio State as its only remaining opportunity to make a bowl game. Get your maize and blue ready. Shootout at the Big House next Saturday!

So how full is the cupboard for Coach Rodriguez and company. Craig Roh, Will Campbell, and JT Turner highlight the crop of true freshman that should be significant contributors in years to come. JB Fitzgerald, Brandon Smith, and Brandon Herron represent a faster breed of linebacker that should be greatly needed heading into next year. Ryan Van Bergen and Mike Martin will return to round out the defensive line.

The weakest part of this year’s defense is the secondary which already suffered the loss of Boubacar Cissoko due to his violations of team rules. If Donovan Warren returns, this unit could come back next year with more depth and talent than we’ve had in a few years. Including Warren, the cornerback position would contain senior Troy Woolfolk, with the JT’s (Floyd and Turner) along with the potential for a very talented incoming group of freshman for next year’s class. Top prospects, Cullen Christian and Tony Grimes are two of the top corners in the country. Both have been quoted on many occasions saying that Michigan stood out significantly above the rest. Safety is a concern but with Michael Williams entering his second season, and the emergence of Jordan Kovacs as a walk-on, this team will have experience returning. Youngsters Vlad Emilien, Thomas Gordon, and incoming freshman Marvin Robinson look to provide depth at a position that has been lacking that very thing all year.

This defense has talent scattered across the entire depth chart. Talent however isn’t all that it takes to win football games. All of these players need to grow and mature both mentally and physically to turn around a really bad run of Michigan defenses. If Michigan can solve their defensive woes, Coach Rodriguez would have a lot easier time winning the close games and moving this program in a direction that we all long for.

Michigan comes in averaging 207 ypg on the ground, tops in the Big Ten. Purdue gives up 168 ypg to opposing runners. Purdue runners Ralph Bolden and Jaycen Taylor hope to have a big day on the ground against a Wolverine defense that is giving up 160 ypg. Bolden however hasn’t rushed for more than 100 yards since Sept. 12. The Wolverine backfield is a little banged up but Coach Rodriguez expects to have all the horses in the stable at his disposal. Martavious Odoms is listed as out with Greg Banks listed as questionable. Tate Forcier and the Michigan receivers hope to get back to the form they portrayed earlier this season.

The game will be played at noon and broadcast on the Big Ten Network.

An official visit to Michigan was the tipping point for the 6′1″ 190 lb safety, “I love that place.” Johnson made it known that he has bonded with fellow recruits, Ricardo Miller and Kenny Watkins to name a few. The talented youngster made mom happy as Michigan was her choice. Johnson plays on a defense that averages less than 10 points per game at the highest level of high school football in the state of Louisiana.

Archbishop Rummel heads into action on Saturday when it takes its 9-0 record into the 5A district championship.