Posted by bambi2godzilla on 9/15/2007, 11:36 am Tradition-Rich Programs Have Never Been Poorer A Midwest contractor named Scott Kowalkowski sat in a meeting this week when a colleague interrupted with an unrelated question: "Oh, man, what's happening at Notre Dame?" A New York Target Corp. manager named Joe Cocozzo recently wore a maize and blue shirt that prompted a co-worker to ask, "What happened to your guys?" Kowalkowski, a former Notre Dame linebacker, and Cocozzo, a former Michigan offensive lineman, were both on the field in 1989 for a No. 1 vs. No. 2 matchup. Eighteen years later, the traditional meeting of college football's two winningest programs has devolved into a game of limbo: How low can they go? "Notre Dame and Michigan 0-2? It's ridiculous," said Steve Everitt, who played center at Michigan from 1989 to 1992. "I talked trash all summer that we'd put 60 points on everyone. I thought I'd be counting first-place votes at this point." John Palermo, Notre Dame's defensive line coach in 1988 and 1989, said: "Everyone in America is surprised. Both are perennial top 20 teams, often top 10 teams. It's hard to imagine." Palermo said the 1989 matchup -- which Notre Dame won, 24-19 -- was not about Nos. 1 vs. 2 as much as it was about the Notre Dame-Michigan rivalry. This season's game is not about the rivalry as much as it is about the numbers -- all harrowing. Notre Dame is 0-2 for the sixth time in history, but in none of the previous 0-2 starts did the Fighting Irish lose by a combined 51 points, as they have this season. Dating from last season, Notre Dame has lost four straight by 20 points or more for the first time in school history. Michigan, meantime, has lost four straight for the first time in four decades and two straight at home for the first time since 1959. Last week's 32-point loss to Oregon was the Wolverines' worst defeat since 1968, and then-No. 5 Michigan's season-opening loss to Appalachian State marked the first time a ranked division I-A team ever had lost to a division I-AA opponent. "The history that Michigan has, the history that Notre Dame has, for both to have two losses is unheard of," said Kowalkowski, who played 10 seasons in the NFL. "That's just uncharted waters. It is odd. It is very strange." After the Oregon loss, Michigan running back Mike Hart guaranteed victory against the Fighting Irish. When told of the vow, Notre Dame Coach Charlie Weis said: "He watched our games the last two weeks. If I would have watched our games the last two weeks, I might have made the guarantee myself." Notre Dame's chances could be bolstered because Michigan quarterback Chad Henne suffered an injury against Oregon that will keep him out at least a week. As a result, Michigan freshman Ryan Mallett and Notre Dame freshman Jimmy Clausen will make their debuts in the rivalry. [Demetrius Jones, Notre Dame's backup quarterback who lost the starting position after the opener, decided not to travel with the team for the game, Weis said in a statement reported by the AP late last night.] Regardless of the new faces, Michigan Coach Lloyd Carr said the rivalry is always special because it features two tradition-rich programs. Only this season, the game features the stoppable force vs. the movable object. The Fighting Irish rank last nationally (119th) in total offense, rushing offense and sacks allowed. Notre Dame, which has allowed 15 sacks in two games, is on pace to break the school record of 38 by midseason. The offense has not scored a touchdown. Michigan ranks 100th or worse in passing efficiency (100th), total defense (108th), rushing defense (109th) and pass efficiency defense (116th). Oregon amassed 624 total yards against Michigan. Both coaches have become fodder for message boards and talk radio. Weis said he hopes players are mad and embarrassed by this year's struggles because "I know I certainly am." The criticism of Carr is considerably more intense. Louisiana State Coach Les Miles, a Michigan graduate and former assistant, already is being questioned by reporters about his interest in the Michigan job. "You have an opportunity to deal with criticism, and criticism is always a learning experience," Carr said. "You can ignore it and deny it -- some of it you need to deny and ignore. When you have honest critics, it allows you to learn, but you have to recognize who the honest critics are. That's the tricky part." Alumni remain in agony. Cocozzo "lives and dies" with each Michigan game. He watched every minute of the Oregon rout and still cannot shake the gut-churning feeling because "there is no cure until they win." Cocozzo, who supports Carr, was unable to watch the Appalachian State game, but learned of the result when his wife called and prefaced the news with, "Be prepared." He thought she was joking. Tom Dohring, who played offensive line at Michigan from 1987 to 1990, said he is embarrassed, adding: "It's pretty deflating. It's tough to watch. I turned it off." Everitt, who lives near Key West, Fla., said he watched the games as his family caught fish, adding: "I kept releasing the fish for good karma. I should have killed them all." Everitt, who played seven seasons in the NFL, takes pleasure in Notre Dame's 0-2 start, saying, "I root against Notre Dame even when they are on classic sports" network. But others express rare empathy for their rival. Cocozzo normally basks in Notre Dame's struggles, but not when Michigan faces the same adversity. Palermo, the former Notre Dame assistant and current Tennessee Tech defensive coordinator, said as a 29-year coaching veteran, he "feels for coaches at Michigan." Fortunately for Michigan, it plays Notre Dame. Fortunately for Notre Dame, it plays Michigan. Whether fans will be watching intently or watching with hands over eyes, Dohring said, "Somebody has got to win."
63.249.102.18
Eric Prisbell formerly worked at the Fresno Bee. Along with ESPN's Andy Katz, the Bee has turned out some impressive reporters.
Eric Prisbell
Washington Post
September 15, 2007
Michigan and Notre Dame are both 0-2, and neither school received a vote in this week's Associated Press or coaches' polls. The early-season futility has two proud alumni bases bracing for today's matchup of suddenly hapless powers.
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