Podcast: Balas and Skene on Michigan win over OSU, excuses, and more
Michigan beat Ohio State for a third straight time, a 30-24 victory in which the Wolverines won the rushing battle and took control in the fourth quarter before holding on for a win. They’ll face Iowa in the Big Ten championship game Saturday with head coach Jim Harbaugh back in charge, assistant Sherrone Moore having been the “guardian of victory.”
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Moore did an outstanding job leading the Wolverines to two top 10 wins in addition to a victory at Maryland. His team rallied around him and played an outstanding game in the biggest contest of the year, getting two interceptions and running the ball well in the fourth quarter.
“Really, the biggest thing is we try to focus on what we’re working on, keeping the main thing the main thing as our guys say,” the Michigan assistant and interim coach said. “Not looking too far into the future, not looking at the past, and doing what we can every single day to get better and just attack that moment. So, not trying to look at the outside world and what people are saying. We know what we have in that building, and staying together as a group is the most important thing for us.
“The players, the way they practice, the way they did it ... this game is something we prepare for 365 [days a year]. It’s not a one-week affair. It’s not something we just drop that week. It’s something that’s planned out very strategically, and that’s really all I can say.”
His players did their talking on the field, but they were confident going in. The Michigan offensive line — entire offense, really — rallied around Zak Zinter after he broke his leg in two places in the third quarter. They didn’t miss a beat, putting together three more scoring drives (a touchdown and two field goals) after he left.
“It was extremely difficult. When you’re around a player for four years, or you’re just around all these guys in general, you don’t want to see any of them get hurt in any way,” Moore said. “It was hard, especially a kid of his caliber on and off the field, more so off the field. Just a great student athlete, great person.
“I just got off the phone with his mom. I think we got some positive news. He’ll heal, and he’ll be ready to go down the road at some point.”
He had surgery, though, and will be lost or the remainder of the season. TheWolverine.com’s Chris Balas and former five-time Big Ten champion Doug Skene break down the Michigan win in today’s podcast.
