2007 Michigan Wolverines football team

2007 Michigan Wolverines football
Capital One Bowl champion
Capital One Bowl, W 41–35 vs. Florida
Conference Big Ten Conference
Ranking
Coaches #19
AP #18
2007 record 9–4 (6–2 Big Ten)
Head coach Lloyd Carr (13th year)
Offensive coordinator Mike DeBord (5th year)
Offensive scheme Multiple
Defensive coordinator Ron English (2nd year)
Base defense Multiple
MVP Mike Hart
Captain Shawn Crable
Captain Mike Hart
Captain Jake Long
Home stadium Michigan Stadium
(Capacity: 107,501)
2007 Big Ten football standings
Conf     Overall
Team   W   L         W   L  
#5 Ohio State $   7 – 1         11 – 2  
#18 Michigan   6 – 2         9 – 4  
#20 Illinois %   6 – 2         9 – 4  
#24 Wisconsin   5 – 3         9 – 4  
Penn State   4 – 4         9 – 4  
Iowa   4 – 4         6 – 6  
Purdue   3 – 5         8 – 5  
Indiana   3 – 5         7 – 6  
Michigan State   3 – 5         7 – 6  
Northwestern   3 – 5         6 – 6  
Minnesota   0 – 8         1 – 11  
  • $ – BCS representative as conference champion
  • % – BCS at-large representative
Rankings from AP Poll

The 2007 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season. This was Lloyd Carr's final season as Michigan head coach. The 2007 season began with a stunning loss to Appalachian State, but the Wolverines won eight straight games after starting 0–2 and finished 9–4 with a win over No. 9 Florida in the Capital One Bowl, 41–35. Michigan finished tied for second in the Big Ten Conference with Illinois, a team the Wolverines defeated 27–17 in Champaign.

Preseason

After a finishing 2006 11–2 and in contention for the national championship game, many were expecting the Wolverines to build on their success, earning a national preseason ranking of No. 5.

On March 25, Coach Lloyd Carr announced that TE Carson Butler, DE Eugene Germany, and DB Chris Richards had been dismissed for violations of team policy.[1]

Carr also had stated that WR Adrian Arrington had been suspended for the spring practice session due to a violation of team policy. Carr was uncertain about Arrington's future at Michigan but Arrington did play WR at Michigan for the 2007 season.

Backup QB Jason Forcier asked to be released from his scholarship to transfer to Stanford University,[2] and LB Cobrani Mixon was released from his scholarship to transfer to Kent State University.[3]

Schedule

2007 Michigan Wolverines football team huddle with Mario Manningham (86), Ryan Mallett (15), Mike Hart (20), Jake Long (77), Adrian Arrington (16), Mike Massey (83), Justin Boren (65), Carson Butler (85), and Stephen Schilling (52) against Penn State

The 2007 Wolverine schedule was ranked the 15th toughest in the country.[4] The home schedule was ranked as the 5th toughest.[5]

Date Time Opponent# Rank# Site TV Result Attendance
September 1, 2007 12:00 PM #1 (FCS) Appalachian State* #5/5 Michigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, MI BTN L 32–34   109,218
September 8, 2007 3:30 PM Oregon* Michigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, MI ABC L 7–39   109,733
September 15, 2007 3:30 PM Notre Dame* Michigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, MI (Rivalry) ABC W 38–0   111,178
September 22, 2007 3:30 PM #10/10 Penn State Michigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, MI ABC/ESPN W 14–9   111,310
September 29, 2007 12:00 PM at Northwestern Ryan Field • Evanston, IL BTN W 28–16   40,604
October 6, 2007 12:00 PM Eastern Michigan* Michigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, MI BTN W 33–22   108,415
October 13, 2007 12:00 PM #NR/24 Purduedagger Michigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, MI BTN W 48–21   110,888
October 20, 2007 8:00 PM at Illinois #24/NR Memorial Stadium • Champaign, IL ABC W 27–17   57,078
October 27, 2007 3:30 PM Minnesota #19/21 Michigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, MI (Little Brown Jug) ESPNC/ABC W 34–10   109,432
November 3, 2007 3:30 PM at Michigan State #15/14 Spartan Stadium • East Lansing, MI (Paul Bunyan Trophy) ABC/ESPN W 28–24   77,009
November 10, 2007 12:00 PM at Wisconsin #13/13 Camp Randall Stadium • Madison, WI ESPN L 21–37   82,352
November 17, 2007 12:00 PM #7/7 Ohio State #23/23 Michigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, MI (The Game) ABC L 3–14   111,941
January 1, 2008 1:00 PM vs. #9/12 Florida* Citrus Bowl • Orlando, FL (Capital One Bowl) ABC W 41–35   69,748
*Non-conference game. daggerHomecoming. #Rankings from AP Poll / Coaches' Poll released prior to game, except Appalachian State whose ranking is from The Sports Network poll. All times are in Eastern Time.

Radio coverage for all games was on the Michigan Sports Network, as well as on Sirius Satellite Radio.

Game notes

Appalachian State

Appalachian State at Michigan
1 234Total
• Appalachian State 7 2133 34
#5 Michigan 14 396 32

In the 34–32 loss, Michigan became the second team ever ranked in the AP Top 25 to lose to a Division I FCS team.[6] Michigan started out strong, finishing the first quarter 14–7, but the Mountaineers scored 21 unanswered points to go up 28–14 just before halftime. After trailing 28–14 in the first half, Michigan recaptured a 32–31 lead thanks to three Appalachian State turnovers and a dazzling 54-yard touchdown run by senior running back Mike Hart with 4:36 left in the game.

However, after the teams traded possessions, the Mountaineers drove 69 yards in 11 plays, and Julian Rauch connected on a 24-yard field goal with 26 seconds remaining in the contest to give ASU a 34–32 lead. After a failed pass attempt, Chad Henne connected with Mario Manningham on a Hail Mary Pass with under 15 seconds left to get Michigan to the 20-yard line. Michigan had a chip shot 30-yard field goal to give Michigan what looked like to be their escape from the upset. Then, shocking the College Football world, Appalachian State's Corey Lynch blocked the kick with 6 seconds left to seal the huge upset. The attendance for the game was 109,218.[7] Adding insult to injury, Michigan dropped out of the Top 25 in the next poll. This was first time in the history of the AP Poll that a team ranked in the Top 5 had fallen out of the poll as a result of a single game and the second time a ranked FBS team was defeated by a FCS opponent.[8]

Oregon

Oregon at Michigan
1 234Total
• Oregon 11 2170 39
Michigan 7 000 7
  • Date: September 8
  • Location: Michigan Stadium
    Ann Arbor, MI
  • Game start: 3:30 pm EST
  • Elapsed time: 3:37
  • Game attendance: 109,733
  • Game weather: 75 °F (24 °C), Partly Cloudy, E 7 MPH
  • Referee: Bill LeMonnier
  • TV announcers (ABC): Brad Nessler (Play-by-play), Bob Griese (Color), Paul Maguire (Color) & Bonnie Bernstein (Sideline)

Michigan looked to recover from their stunning loss the App State in their next game against Oregon. Michigan took a 7–3 lead in the first quarter but then Dennis Dixon and the high-powered Oregon offense went to town on the struggling Michigan Defense, giving Michigan its worst home loss ever. The Michigan fans booed the Wolverines on their home field and people were calling for Head Coach Lloyd Carr's head. The loss was another embarrassment to the football program at the University of Michigan. In addition to the huge defeat, Michigan lost its senior QB Chad Henne to a knee injury for two games due to a play in the second quarter. ESPN reported, "A week after getting stunned by Appalachian State, the Wolverines were handed their worst beating since before Bo Schembechler worked the sideline at the Big House. Dennis Dixon accounted for 368 yards and a career-high four touchdowns, helping the Ducks build a 25-point lead at halftime and cruise to an easy victory."[9] The 32-point defeat was Michigan's worst loss since losing 50–14 at Ohio State in 1968 and their second-worst home loss ever, dating back to a 40-0 loss to Minnesota in 1935. The Wolverines started 0–2 for the first time since 1998 and the first time starting 0–2 on a homestead since 1959 but in a positive note, both those times Michigan rebounded back and won the Big Ten title. "[9]

Notre Dame

Notre Dame at Michigan
1 234Total
Notre Dame 0 000 0
• Michigan 10 2170 38
  • Date: September 15
  • Location: Michigan Stadium
    Ann Arbor, MI
  • Game start: 3:30 pm EST
  • Elapsed time: 3:02
  • Game attendance: 111,178
  • Game weather: 55 °F (13 °C), Partly Cloudy, WNW 10 MPH
  • Referee: Dan Capron
  • TV announcers (ABC): Brad Nessler (Play-by-play), Bob Griese (Color), Paul Maguire & Bonnie Bernstein (Sideline)

The Wolverines and The Fighting Irish met for the first time with both teams boasting an 0–2 record. Since both teams lost their final two games of the 2006 season, the loser of this game would have a five game losing streak.[10] Head coach Lloyd Carr faced many challenges, including the loss of his senior quarterback Chad Henne to a leg injury,[11] fans calling for his firing,[12] and his senior running back Mike Hart guaranteed a victory over the Irish.[13]

Michigan won 38–0, tying their largest-ever win over Notre Dame set during the 2003 season. For only the second time in school history, Notre Dame opened the season with three losses.[14]

Penn State

Mallett rolling out
Penn State at Michigan
1 234Total
#10 Penn State 0 333 9
• Michigan 7 007 14
  • Date: September 22
  • Location: Michigan Stadium
    Ann Arbor, MI
  • Game start: 3:30 pm EST
  • Elapsed time: 3:12
  • Game attendance: 111,310
  • Game weather: 77 °F (25 °C), Partly Cloudy, NW 20 MPH
  • Referee: Dennis Lipski
  • TV announcers (ABC/ESPN): Brad Nessler (Play-by-play), Bob Griese (Color), Paul Maguire (Color) & Bonnie Bernstein (Sideline)

In the 2007 Big Ten Season opener the unranked Michigan Wolverines defeated No. 10 Penn State 14–9. Sr. Running Back Mike Hart had 44 carries 153 yards and a TD. In his second start freshmen QB Ryan Mallett was 16–29 passes and a rushing TD.

Northwestern

Michigan at Northwestern
1 234Total
• Michigan 7 0714 28
Northwestern 10 600 16
  • Date: September 29
  • Location: Ryan Field
    Evanston, IL
  • Game start: 12:00 pm EDT
  • Elapsed time: 3:25
  • Game attendance: 46,604
  • Game weather: 73 °F (23 °C), Cloudy, SSE 11 MPH
  • Referee: Steve Pamon
  • TV announcers (BTN): Wayne Larrivee (Play-by-play), Chris Martin (Color) & Dara McIntosh (Sideline)

The Michigan football team went on the first road game of the season defeating the Wildcats 28–16. Henne returned to the lineup to complete 18–27 passes and 3 TDs. Mike Hart had 106 yards and a TD. The Wolverines forced a turnover on the last 4 of the Wildcat possessions.

Eastern Michigan

Eastern Michigan at Michigan
1 234Total
Eastern Michigan 3 568 22
• Michigan 10 6170 33
  • Date: October 6
  • Location: Michigan Stadium
    Ann Arbor, MI
  • Game start: 12:00 pm EST
  • Elapsed time: 3:13
  • Game attendance: 108,415
  • Game weather: 85 °F (29 °C), Mostly Sunny, SW 12 MPH
  • Referee: Dave Witvoet
  • TV announcers (BTN): Mark Neely (Play-by-play), Glen Mason (Color) & Lisa Byington (Sideline)

Purdue

Purdue at Michigan
1 234Total
Purdue 7 0014 21
• Michigan 17 14314 48
  • Date: October 13
  • Location: Michigan Stadium
    Ann Arbor, MI
  • Game start: 12:00 pm EST
  • Elapsed time: 3:23
  • Game attendance: 110,888
  • Game weather: 52 °F (11 °C), Mostly Cloudy, W 7 MPH
  • Referee: Todd Geerlings
  • TV announcers (BTN): Thom Brennaman (Play-by-play), Charles Davis (Color) & Charissa Thompson (Sideline)

Illinois

Michigan at Illinois
1 234Total
• #24 Michigan 3 14010 27
Illinois 7 730 17

Minnesota

Minnesota at Michigan
1 234Total
Minnesota 3 700 10
• #19 Michigan 0 13714 34
  • Date: October 27
  • Location: Michigan Stadium
    Ann Arbor, MI
  • Game start: 3:30 pm EST
  • Elapsed time: 3:00
  • Game attendance: 109,432
  • Game weather: 55 °F (13 °C), Light Rain, SW 20 MPH
  • Referee: Steve Pamon
  • TV announcers (ESPNC/ABC): Clay Matvick (Play-by-play) & Bill Curry (Color)

Despite a slow start and two early turnovers, the Wolverines extended their win streak to seven without Chad Henne or Mike Hart. After a Minnesota field goal, Minnesota's Dominique Barber recovered one of Ryan Mallet's three fumbles and returned it for a touchdown. Despite that, the Wolverines held the Gophers to just 231 yards and 3 offensive points all game. Michigan's Brandon Minor and Carlos Brown both ran for over 100 yards, meaning up until this game Michigan has had a back go over 100 yards in every match up. Mario Manningham had his fourth straight 100+ yard game.

Michigan State

Michigan at Michigan State
1 234Total
• #15 Michigan 7 7014 28
Michigan State 3 0714 24

Led by Chad Henne and his four touchdown tosses, Michigan defeated Michigan State 28–24. In the final minutes with Michigan trailing by a field goal, the team decided to turn it on. On a 3rd and 12, Michigan desperately needed a first down. Henne, with 3 touchdown passes thus far, threw the ball deep into the endzone giving Mario Manningham a leap ball touchdown putting Michigan up 28–24. On defense, the Wolverines got it done. Mixing up coverages, they sacked Michigan State for an 8 yard loss, the total yardage of the drive. The Wolverines got the ball back and finished off the game with a pair of Quarterback kneels.

Wisconsin

Michigan at Wisconsin
1 234Total
#13 Michigan 7 0014 21
• Wisconsin 10 7614 37

Ohio State

Ohio State at Michigan
1 234Total
• #7 Ohio State 0 770 14
#23 Michigan 3 000 3
  • Date: November 17
  • Location: Michigan Stadium
    Ann Arbor, MI
  • Game start: 12:00 pm EST
  • Elapsed time: 3:10
  • Game attendance: 111,941
  • Game weather: 42 °F (6 °C), Chance Rain/Snow, W 7 MPH
  • Referee: John O'Neill
  • TV announcers (ABC): Brent Musburger (Play-by-play), Kirk Herbstreit (Color) & Lisa Salters (Sideline)

Florida

Main article: 2008 Capital One Bowl
Michigan vs. Florida
1 234Total
• Michigan 7 14713 41
#9 Florida 7 7147 35

Chad Henne and Adrian Arrington set single-game career highs for passing and receiving yards, with 373 and 153, respectively, to lead the Wolverines to a 41–35 victory over the 12th-ranked Gators. The Wolverine defense managed to contain Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Tim Tebow with constant pressure and blitzing for most of the game, holding him to 154 passing yards and 57 rushing yards. Tebow did score 4 touchdowns however. The Wolverines overcame 4 turnovers, including 2 fumbles by Mike Hart, and a late 35–31 deficit to win their first bowl game in 4 seasons and the final game of Lloyd Carr's career.

Statistical achievements

Mike Hart set the following school rushing records: career carries (1015), eclipsing Anthony Thomas' seven-year-old record of 924 and still standing; career yards (5040), also eclipsing Thomas' seven-year-old record of 4472 and still standing;[15] career yards per game (117.2), surpassing Billy Taylor's 102.4 set in 1971 and still standing; career 100-yard games (28), passing Thomas' 22 set in 2000 and still standing; career 150-yard games (12), surpassing Thomas' 9 set in 2000 and still standing; career 200-yard games (5), extending his own record set in 2005 and still standing.[16] Mario Manningham established the school record for consecutive 100-yard reception games with six, surpassing Braylon Edwards' record of 4.[17] Chad Henne broke several of John Navarre's career records established in 2003: attempts (1387), completions (828), yards (9715), touchdown passes (87), and 150-yard passing games (38). Henne also broke Rick Leach's career record for interceptions of 35 set in 1978 with 37.[18]

Players

Depth chart

2007 Projected Starters

OFFENSE:

DEFENSE:

SPECIAL TEAMS:

Key Committed Freshman

Roster

2007 Michigan Wolverines roster
Wide Receiver
  • 13 Greg Mathews – Sophomore
  • 16 Adrian Arrington – Senior
  • 17 Toney Clemons – Freshman
  • 18 Antonio Bass – Junior
  • 18 Ben Wright – Senior
  • 21 Junior Hemingway – Freshman
  • 26 Wincey Courtbooth – Sophomore
  • 29 Jon Conover – Sophomore
  • 82 LaTerryal Savoy – Junior
  • 84 David Middleton – Sophomore
  • 86 Mario Manningham – Junior
Offensive Lineman
  • 50 David Molk – Freshman
  • 52 Stephen Schilling – Sophomore
  • 57 Zac Ciullo – Freshman
  • 57 Adam Kraus – 5th Senior
  • 60 David Moosman – Junior
  • 61 Patrick Lyall – Senior
  • 62 Tim McAvoy – Junior
  • 64 Grant DeBenedictis – Senior
  • 65 Justin Boren – Sophomore
  • 68 Bryant Nowicki – Sophomore
  • 69 Michael Ramirez – Sophomore
  • 70 Jeremy Ciulla – Senior
  • 71 Mark Ortmann – Junior
  • 72 Mark Huyge – Freshman
  • 73 Alex Mitchell – Senior
  • 75 Cory Zirbel – Junior
  • 77 Jake Long – 5th Senior
  • 79 Perry Dorrestein – Sophomore
  • 91 Tom Pomarico – Freshman
Tight End
  • 42 Chris McLaurin – Junior
  • 80 Martell Webb – Freshman
  • 81 Steve Watson – Freshman
  • 83 Mike Massey – Senior
  • 85 Carson Butler – Junior
  • 88 Andre Criswell – Junior
  • 96 Mike Therman – Sophomore
  
Quarterback
Running Back

Fullback

  • 32 Vince Helmuth – Freshman
  • 44 Mark Moundros – Sophomore
Defensive tackle
  • 62 Jon Saigh – Senior
  • 67 Terrance Taylor – Junior
  • 74 Brett Gallimore – Senior
  • 91 Marques Slocum – Sophomore
  • 93 Jason Kates – Sophomore
  • 94 John Ferrara – Sophomore
  • 95 Renaldo Sagesse – Freshman
  • 97 Will Johnson – Senior
Defensive End
  • 39 Will Heininger – Freshman
  • 53 Ryan Van Bergen – Freshman
  • 55 Brandon Graham – Sophomore
  • 89 Tim North – Junior
  • 90 Tim Jamison – Senior
  • 92 Greg Banks – Sophomore
  • 99 Adam Patterson – Sophomore
Defensive End
  • 59 Lawrence Perry – Freshman
Cornerback
  • 14 Morgan Trent – Senior
  • 27 Brandon Harrison – Junior
  • 35 Doug Dutch – Senior
  • 6 Donovan Warren – Freshman
  • 29 Troy Woolfolk – Freshman
  • 27 Brandon Harrison – Junior
Defensive Back
  • 27 Shakir Edwards – Senior
  • 30 James Rogers II – Freshman
  • 40 Michael Williams – Freshman
  
Linebacker
  • 2 Shawn Crable – 5th Senior
  • 8 Jonas Mouton – Sophomore
  • 33 Marell Evans – Freshman
  • 37 Chris Graham – Senior
  • 45 Obi Ezeh – Sophomore
  • 46 Brandon Logan – Junior
  • 49 John Thompson – Senior
  • 50 Ohene Opong-Owusu – Junior
  • 51 Max Pollock – 5th Senior
  • 54 Austin Panter – Junior
  • 58 Brandon Herron – Freshman
  • 66 William Bostic – Sophomore
  • 69 Brian Berend – Freshman
Safety
  • 3 Stevie Brown – Sophomore
  • 5 Charles Stewart – Senior
  • 9 Anton Campbell – 5th Senior
  • 14 Matt Hornaday – Junior
  • 22 Jamar Adams – Senior
  • 22 Doug Rogan – Freshman
  • 28 Jordan Reilly – Freshman
  • 31 Brandon Englemon – 5th Senior
  • 38 Artis Chambers – Freshman
Long Snapper
  • 28 Jordan Reilly – Freshman
  • 59 Sean Griffin – Senior
  • 63 Brendan Lopez – Freshman
Punter
Place Kicker
  • 34 Jason Gingell – Senior
  • 43 Bryan Wright – Sophomore
  • 84 K. C. Lopata – Senior
  • 92 Jason Olesnavage – Junior
  • 99 Sam Buckman – Sophomore

Awards

Coaching staff

References

  1. ↑ Bell, Scott (March 25, 2007). "Butler, Germany and Richards No Longer With Football Team". The Michigan Daily. Archived from the original on October 5, 2007. Retrieved September 10, 2007.
  2. ↑ Sabedra, Darren (August 17, 2007). "Michigan transfer happy at Stanford". InsideBayArea.com. Retrieved September 10, 2007.
  3. ↑ Carducci, David (June 28, 2007). "Golden Flashes set to Add Michigan Transfer Mixon". Record-Courier. Archived from the original on September 14, 2007. Retrieved September 10, 2007.
  4. ↑ Steve Megargee, Top 25 toughest schedules, SI.com/Rivals.com, June 21, 2007.
  5. ↑ Megargee, Steve. "Road to glory will be tough one for Seminoles". Rivals.com. Retrieved June 21, 2007.
  6. ↑ http://www.collegesportingnews.com/content.php?760-History-of-FCS-vs-FBS
  7. ↑ "Attendance vs. Appalachian State". mgoblue. September 8, 2007. Retrieved September 8, 2007.
  8. ↑ The first time an NCAA Division I-AA (the former name for FCS) team beat a ranked Division I-A (FBS) team was in 1983. Cincinnati, then temporarily classified as a I-AA member, beat #20 Penn State. Sources:
  9. 1 2 "Ducks roll as Wolverines suffer worst loss since '68". ESPN. September 8, 2007. Retrieved September 8, 2007.
  10. ↑ "Michigan, Irish set for rare game". Sporting News. September 15, 2007. Retrieved September 15, 2007.
  11. ↑ "Henne listed as week-to-week after injury against Oregon". ESPN. September 10, 2007. Retrieved September 11, 2007.
  12. ↑ "FreeStyle". CBS Sports. September 9, 2007. Archived from the original on September 13, 2007. Retrieved September 11, 2007.
  13. ↑ "Weis says there's good reason for Hart's victory pledge". ESPN. September 10, 2007. Retrieved September 11, 2007.
  14. ↑ "Michigan has Hart, much more in rout of winless ND". ESPN. September 15, 2007. Retrieved September 15, 2007.
  15. ↑ "Record Book" (PDF). CBS Interactive. January 5, 2009. p. 114. Retrieved July 10, 2010.
  16. ↑ "Record Book" (PDF). CBS Interactive. January 5, 2009. p. 115. Retrieved July 10, 2010.
  17. ↑ "Record Book" (PDF). CBS Interactive. January 5, 2009. pp. 124–125. Retrieved July 10, 2010.
  18. ↑ "Record Book" (PDF). CBS Interactive. January 5, 2009. pp. 120–123. Retrieved July 10, 2010.

External links

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