After sophomore quarterback Denard Robinson zipped through Connecticut’s defense all day, setting a single-game record for rushing yards by a Michigan quarterback, Robinson said that in a pile, the Huskies’ defense tried to take off his shoes.
Maybe that’s the only way Connecticut could have slowed him down. Robinson and the Wolverines ran through the Huskies and won its season opener, 30-10, before an NCAA-record 113,090 in attendance for the reopening of the renovated Michigan Stadium.
The quarterback, known as “shoelace” for his tendency to keep his shoes untied, ran for 197 yards on 29 carries and a touchdown. He also completed 19 of 22 passes for 186 yards and a touchdown, accounting for more than 80 percent of the offense.
“It probably did prove (his ability) to a lot of people,” junior tight end Kevin Koger said after the game. “It didn’t prove anything to us, because we already knew what he could do. … It’s good for him to get out there and throw the ball around and show people he can pass, and run, too.”
The Wolverines started the game strong and set the tone early. Michigan’s defense forced a quick three-and-out. Then, Robinson led a 14-play, 96-yard drive that lasted nearly six minutes and finished with a touchdown run by sophomore Vincent Smith.
Michigan jumped out to a 21-0 lead by the second quarter due to its success on the ground and a bend-but-not-break defensive approach. A Connecticut field goal attempt was as close as the Huskies came to scoring early on, but redshirt freshman Cam Gordon blocked the kick to spur the Wolverines’ second touchdown drive.
With an experienced offensive line and talented players who can effectively run the ball, Michigan controlled the ball for much of the game. The team did falter toward the end of the first half, hanging on to a 21-10 lead at the break. But Michigan came up with a 19-play, 75-yard drive that lasted 8:05 and ended in a field goal. When the Huskies responded with a lengthy drive of their own and a trip to the red zone, redshirt sophomore cornerback J.T. Floyd forced a fumble and gave the ball back to Michigan’s clock-mongering offense.
The Wolverines had the ball for nearly 14 more minutes than Connecticut. In that second half, the Huskies had just three possessions. And Michigan used another eight-minute drive in the fourth quarter to take even more time away from Connecticut.
Coming into the season opener, it was widely assumed that the defense would be a major concern for the Wolverines. Although the unit was exposed at times, Michigan held the Huskies scoreless in the second half.
Robinson was helped on the ground by Smith and junior Mike Shaw, who started the game. Shaw ran for 48 yards on 15 carries and Smith ran for 51 yards on 14 carries. Each back also scored a rushing touchdown. And Robinson’s screen pass to Smith — which went for an 11-yard touchdown — capped the scoring on the game.
It wasn’t all rosy for Michigan though as the Wolverine faithful held their collective breath when Robinson exited the game with an injury with 1:14 remaining in the third quarter. Robinson walked off the field under his own power after taking a hit on a long first-down run, but he returned to start the fourth quarter. After the game, quarterbacks coach Rod Smith said that the quarterback job is Robinson’s now.
“He’s getting much better,” Smith said of Robinson as a passer. “He’s further along than when he first got here. And like I said, he’s worked his tail off. We’ve worked with him, and he’s a coachable kid, so you’ve got to hand it to him.”
Throughout the spring and summer, Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez made it clear that the competition at quarterback was wide open. But besides the minute when Robinson was hurt, and freshmen Devin Gardner replaced him, Robinson was the only quarterback on the field.
Smith was blunt with his response when asked if he considered taking Robinson out.
“No,” he responded. “Why?”
“He did what he had to do,” Smith added. “We gave him the reigns and he took it and ran with it. It’s going to be his (job) to run with for a while. He always knows there is people on his shoulder. I never want him looking over his shoulder. The competition is what makes them better. … You either get better or you don’t. And today he got better.”
Michigan’s 287 yards on the ground is ideal for Rodriguez’s spread option offense.
Robinson carried the ball 29 times, and the Wolverines ran the ball a total of 61 times on the day. Rodriguez’s most successful teams at West Virginia featured one of the nation’s best ground games with Pat White and Steve Slaton.
“It’s déjà vu all over again. West Virginia, Pat White, 3rd down and 15 and they run the quarterback draw,” said Connecticut coach Randy Esdall, who regularly faced Rodriguez when they were conference foes. “Here we go again.”