Michigan Officially Having Its Worst Year Ever

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The University of Michigan has been playing football since 1879 - and no Wolverine team in all that time between then and now has lost more games than this year's bunch.

Michigan bumbled its way to a 21-14 loss at home to Northwestern today, its eighth defeat this season. Never before has a Michigan team reached that level of futility. The 1934 Wolverines finished 1-7, as did the 1936 Michigan team, and the 1962 team wound up 2-7.

That's it. Those are the three losingest seasons that the men in maize and blue have ever produced. At least, until this team hit the skids.

So not only is Michigan's bowl streak over (Michigan hasn't missed a bowl in 33 seasons), and not only is this the Wolverines' first non-winning campaign since a 4-6 mark in 1967, but now Rich Rodriguez can add this feather to his cap.

Chances are the "worst season in Michigan history" will get even more epically bad next week, when the Wolverines travel to Columbus for the annual grudge match with Ohio State. Assuming Michigan doesn't pull a major upset there, the Wolverines are looking at a 3-9 finish.

And that would be a 3-9 finish complete with losses to rivals Notre Dame, Michigan State and Ohio State, plus home losses to Utah (though the thought of losing at home to Utah is far worse than the reality of losing to this year's Utah squad), Toledo and now Northwestern.

As has been the case all season, the lack of steady quarterback play doomed Michigan again today. The Wolverines intercepted a Northwestern pass in the game's opening moments, setting up the Michigan offense with a first-and-goal. But starting QB Nick Sheridan fired two incompletions, and Northwestern wound up blocking a Michigan field goal attempt.

Later on, after Sheridan proved particularly ineffective, Rodriguez turned back to Steven Threet at QB. Following another Michigan interception, the Wolverines - trailing 21-14 - marched deep into Wildcat territory, only to see Threet turn the ball over on a terrible pass.

Sheridan returned and again failed to move Michigan, with a last-ditch drive ending on consecutive incompletions. Whatever the answers are for the Wolverines, they're not arriving this year.

If there was ever a team - and a fan base - just begging for the 2008 season to end, you can find it in Ann Arbor.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

11-15-2008 @ 4:05PM

Brandon said...

sounds about right

11-15-2008 @ 4:26PM

Michael said...

UM QB Threet "leads" them to a 2 - 7 record. He gets hurt. His back-up Sheridan gets a big win at Minnesota the next game. Today, Sheridan starts and runs for a TD and has UM ahead 14-7 at half. NW only scored as the result fof a special teams fumble.

Third Quarter, the defense breaks down and gives up two bombs. NW 21 - UM 14.

Rich Rod puts Threet in the game. He goes 4 - 7 for 22 yards and coughs up a Int. Game over.

Is Rich Rod related to Threet? I thought this kind of stuff only happended in High school.

11-15-2008 @ 5:23PM

G said...

Did you watch the game? Have you been watching any of the games? Sheridan is not a good quarterback. His performance against Minnesota was a complete and utter anomaly. Threet was put in because Sheridan was horribly ineffective for the two drives before that.

And the game wasn't over until Sheridan (who went back in) went 0-8 on the last two drives.

11-15-2008 @ 4:27PM

Edward Vielmetti said...

Here's a recap of the worst seasons I put together last week:

http://vielmetti.typepad.com/vacuum/2008/11/worst-season-ever---michigan-2008-football.html

There have been "worst season ever" t-shirts on sale on State St. in front of the Union. The '34 team only one one game, when Jerry Ford was MVP, so this team is better by that one measure.

11-17-2008 @ 9:33AM

iamvol1 said...

now this is the YEAR ......... to beat OHIO ST.

go from one the the worse to one of the best....with a bad record...

but who cares if OHIO goes DOWN

11-15-2008 @ 4:30PM

Jay said...

Im very surprised that a coach of Rich Rods supposed caliber hasn't been able to show any improvement since the beginning of the year, but this just might be a testament to him being what appears to be the third choice from the administrations wish list of coaches.

11-15-2008 @ 4:31PM

cubbiessosa said...

Chris, we are not a bad loss. We're 8-3 and have one bad loss which was a fluke. Please revise that post.

11-15-2008 @ 4:32PM

Trent said...

I think Richie Rod is a great coach..said the Ohio State Fan

11-15-2008 @ 7:44PM

Rick said...

Fire Rodriguez.This guy has screwed up a once great program. The only way he stays is if there's pressure from the Ohio State crowd to keep him. A note to the Michigan alum, you guys looks like first class asses for hiring this fool., do you have the balls to get rid of him??

11-15-2008 @ 9:58PM

Don said...

I have been attending Michigan games for almost 40 years and never thought I would see a season like this. I expected transition time and I know that we lack quarterback talent, but what bothers me most is the poor use of the high level of overall talent recruited to the team and being constantly outcoached. That is something I never expected.

11-16-2008 @ 3:23AM

billy said...

THEY MADE A BIG BIG MISTAKE GETTING RICHROD..I HAVENT TALKED TO A UM ALUM THAT THOUGHT HIS SHADY HIRING WAS RIGHT.IT GOES AGAINST EVERYTHING MICHIGAN HAS ALWAYS STOOD FOR.THE GREAT BO.. RIP COACH..WOULD NEVER HAVE STOOD FOR IT!!.LLOYD CARR NEVER OPERATED THAT WAY.THE MISERABLE SEASON FINALE IN COLUMBUS SHOULD ICE THE CAKE.

11-17-2008 @ 2:46PM

john said...

You are rignt on buddy. TOTAL responsibility falls on Rich.
There is no excuse for the way he has coached? this level
of talent!!! Am an ex UM cheerleader, won Rose Bowl in 65'
and am happpy to find a guy that agrees with me. I can't
understand why many are saying to wait 2-3 years. What
makes him become a better "coach"????----and I thought
Bo and Carr could have used their talent better!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I was frustrated before------Now What?? Mich. State???

11-16-2008 @ 3:25AM

amen.he will NEVER be a winner in ann arbor.

11-16-2008 @ 6:22AM

dino said...

Look at the positive side of things. He has nowhere to go but up next season. If he brings UM in at .500 it will be a turnaround! lol

11-16-2008 @ 10:02AM

pistol said...

lets goooooo mountaineers, would you guys want Stewert next
seems all you people do is take our sloppy seconds, thanks

11-17-2008 @ 4:37PM

Yohn said...

How many games have the mountaineers won?

11-16-2008 @ 2:50PM

Quentin Gessner said...

QB needs to be the top of the recruiting priority list. Both Treet and Sheridan when passing look immediately toward the intended receiver, try to force a pass when the receiver is covered and consistanty over throw on a long pass downfield.
What a year!

11-16-2008 @ 5:52PM

Skapanza said...

Are you "fire Rodriguez" mouthbreathers serious?

What did WVU do after RR's horrible first season? If you don't know the answer, you don't get to opine on coaching choices. RR came in with massive holes in the offense, a weak O-line, few legitimate receivers, and no quarterbacks. And you want him fired because he didn't win?

Who should we hire to replace him? A Bowden? Ty Willingham? Bill "No Idea How to Work a Game Clock and Somehow Loses Constantly Despite Having Pat Effing White" Stewart?

There are two four-star (so far) QBs coming in, one with serious moves and another with 70%+ accuracy last season. If next year this is happening, go ahead and scream on comments in all caps. But you absolutely cannot consider firing a proven and successful head coach who is losing with no players that fit his system.

The same yahoos who called for lloyd's head year in and year out are the same ones who want RR gone now that Lloyd retired, even though they hailed him as the immediate answer to all our problems. You entitled morons are the reason UM gets such a bad rap sometimes. So take a deep breath, sit down, and shut up for a while. If you ran the athletic department we'd have a new coach every year we didn't win a NC.

11-16-2008 @ 8:21PM

whatthe? said...

michigan fans, sometimes serious changes in the program can give you an awful season. as long as there is some promise shown next year then rich rod will be around for a bit. this is all the good wishes you will have from this domer but they are good wishes none the less. we have felt your pain.