Chalk Talk: Clean Sweepin'

Karma.

That is the only plausible explanation that could come out of last weekend's college football games.

It was a weekend that I had seen blow up in my face all too often the past couple years. Michigan is playing a big rival in Notre Dame, Ohio State has a huge game in the national spotlight, and Michigan State has an easy MAC opponent. Inevitably, Michigan would fall to Notre Dame in some pitiful fashion, Ohio State would squeak by its opponent by some miracle of Tressel Ball, and Michigan State would give it's fan base false hope once again.

So at roughly 11:30 p.m. when that last Terrelle Pryor pass fluttered to the turf, I had to take a moment and pinch myself to make sure I wasn't dreaming. The clean sweep had happened; Michigan wins, and its three big rivals (OSU, ND, MSU) all fall in epic fashion. The last time this happened you had to go all the way back to October 2nd, 2004; Braylon Edwards was still playing for Michigan. That same day, Mike Nugent proved he was human, missing a game winning FG as time expired. OSU would lose to Northwestern 33-27 in OT. Michigan State got throttled by Drew Tate and the Iowa Hawkeyes, 38-16. Notre Dame lost a squeeker to theWilford Brimley-led Purdue Boilermakers, 41-16. So what state of mind does this epic occurenceleave me in nearly four days later?

I am frightened like a Pizza Hut lunch buffet when Charlie Weis and Romeo Crennel walk in.

Somehow, the tempered expectations for Michigan just went from "7-5 is a good year" to "OMG National CHAMPS!!!" The baseline for our freshman quarterback duo went from "manage the game" to "be Tim Tebow." To say the national media has blown up Tate Forcier and Matt Barkley's performances on Saturday would be like saying Antonio Henton likes prostitutes,Charles Haley missed his calling as a porn star, or Marques Slocum has some weird pets. All of these factors have me terrified for the first time Forcier acts like a freshman. Terrified when someone finally takes advantage of an undersized Michigan defense for a full 60 minutes (Thank you, Charlie for out thinking yourself yet again). Terrified for when a hyped up Ohio State defense led by future NFL first rounder Brian Rolle rolls into the Big House to take on the Wolverines.

But I would not have it any other way. There is an excitement back in Michigan football for the first time since Appalachian State came in and exposed Lloyd Carr's team as a lazy, over-confident, and slow bunch of individuals. Now, fans of Michigan have a team that is united behind a previously-under-fire coach, a freshman quarterback that probably just learned how to unhook a bra, and a legion of fans that are thirsting for more. This is what we had in mind when we hired Rich Rodriguez; an exciting brand of football that will make us forget about the 20-17snoozefests of the Lloyd Carr/Mike DeBord era. Michigan may not be "all the way" back yet, but they took a big step forward last Saturday.

Your time is running out, Big Ten. You better get your shots in while this team is still young. There will be no more 42-7 beat downs at The 'Shoe on a Nick Sheridan led Michigan team. Optimism is again in the air at The Big House, and I can't help but still be......terrified.

As always, Never Run The Toss Sweep.

Coach Deuce