Jace’s Thoughts:
In the upper corner of the press box, a man stands with his arms crossed.
Michigan had recently taken a 30-24 lead on Ohio State after seven minutes of bully ball.
During commercial, he quietly Googles “hotels in Indianapolis under $150.”
But the good feelings have dissipated.
Kyle McCord has found Marvin Harrison near midfield.
Then Emeka Egbuka (by way of Julian Fleming) at the 37.
During the review, he quietly Googles “small burial plots near me under $150.”
The visions of another Marvin Harrison crossing route are nightmarish and vivid.
The knowledge that the accusations of “cheaters” and “tainted” will never die makes him want to.
And then.
Jaylen Harrell stunts inside. He takes Donovan Jackson’s lunch money in the process.
Mason Graham joins, pressuring from the outside.
Harrell hits McCord, who is forced to get the ball out far earlier than desired.
And a young Ohio kid named Rod Moore – who Ohio State didn’t want – intercepts the ball.
He waves goodbye and puts on the most important pair of Cartier glasses in the world.
The man uncrosses his arms and punches the air.
Everything was now validated.
The talent of the last three years. The Big Ten titles. The wins over Ohio State.
No asterisks. No flu. No snow. No signs.
Everything was now validated.
And while Mr. Brightside blares, the man quietly smiles and books a flight to the Rose Bowl.
MICHIGAN 34 IOWA 3
JP’s Thoughts:
JP’s Thoughts
The Big Ten championship reminds me a lot of when you were younger, and the new Madden came out (2007 version with Mike Vick on the cover obviously) and your mom wouldn’t let you play it unless you also let your little brother play.
You gave in, showed no mercy, smacked him by 40+ while running four verts and scrambling with Vick all game long until he cried and then ran to tell your parents.
It’s a tale as old as time.
Michigan for the past three years has played the part of the older sibling, facing off against Iowa, Purdue, and now a 10-2 Iowa that struggles to score more than 18 points a game.
Praise the Lord that after this season the Big Ten West will die the death it deserves.
Michigan will head to the playoffs for a third consecutive year barring some miraculous moment where Iowa somehow manages to turn their team into the Monstars from Space Jam and use talent from players not normally dressed in a Hawkeye uniform.
It just ain’t gonna happen.
Michigan 31 Iowa 7
