More Than 111,000 fill The Big House

USPA NEWS - Michigan Wolverines home opener against the Cincinnati Bearcats brought more than 110,000 football fans to Ann Arbor, Michigan. Michigan came with full force from the first sound of the whistle. Michigan's offense moved the ball quickly down the field. The first TD strike came with a long 44 yard pass from number # 3, Senior quarterback Wilton Speight to So. Keko Crawford, 6'2" 187 lbs. Michigan's defense then took the field and #23 Tyree Kinnel picked off a Hayden Moore pass that turned into a pic 6 that went for 28 yard score! Michigan went up 14-0 zip!

Number 8 ranked Michigan struggled at times trying to get the offense to jell. It seemed to carry over from the week before where they beat then 11th ranked Florida Gators with a off beat offense and a stellar defense. Of the 36 points scored in the game, only 14 points were added by the offense. At times the offense & special teams put additional pressure on the defense to make up for turn overs and two bad punts, shanked by the punter for very short yardage. The first score for Bearcats came from as a results of a bad exchange between QB & running back down inside the 20 yard line. Cincinnati capitalized on the turn over and came away putting 7 points not on board. The Michigan offense seemed out of sync and the only score in the second quarter was a Michigan 28 yd field goal by kicker Quinn Nordin to bring half time score to 17-7 Michigan leading. The second touch down for Cincinnati came in the beginning of the 3rd quarter after a bobbled punt return by Michigan. This again put pressure on the Michigan defense to try to keep Bearcats out of the end zone from inside the 10 yard line.Now Michigan's 14 point lead was now cut to just 3 points. 17-14! Sleight finally connected with Grant Perry for a 33 yd pass & the TD! Michigan's defense dug in and continued to give QB Moore fits with sacks and tremendous pressure. Holding Bearcats to deep into their on territory, Michigan's special teams forced a bad snap to the Bearcats punter that resluted in a Safety and 2 points for Michigan. Michigan offense failed to move the ball after great field position and had to punt. Putting Bearcast deep into their own territory, Hayned Moore dropped back for a pass and the pressure of the Michigan defense forced a bad throw and Michigan's Lavert Hill #24 picked it off for a Michigan defensive score. Final score Michigan 36 Cincinnati 14. At the post game press conference Bearcats 1st year head coach Luke Fickell spoke as to the size and quickness of Michigan. He said, "I just really under estimated the speed of the receivers and size and speed of the defensive front of Michigan". Michigan has several 4 & 5 Starr recruits from across the country. Cincinnati at this time has all 3 Starr recruits. The size, speed and quickness is the biggest factors that separate those Stars. Coach Fickle also stated our guys need to learn how to finish. We had several opportunities and just couldn't take advantage of them.