While the singing of his praises by Matt Millen is enough to give anyone pause, the whole of Wolverine Nation should sleep well tonight knowing that their football fates will rest in the hands of quarterback Tate Forcier for the next three-plus years.
The Forcier Era is in full effect, and it couldn’t have come at a better time for a Michigan football program that had been heading toward the ropes for the last two weeks thanks to off-the-field “issues”.
Thanks in large part to a late fourth-quarter drive that belied his youth, Forcier was the driving force behind Michigan’s scintillating upset of No. 18 Notre Dame 38-34 in the Big House.
Certainly Forcier wasn’t the only reason behind the most important win of Rich Rodriguez‘s brief UM tenure -- Brandon Minor‘s 106 rushing yards and a touchdown come to mind at first blush -- but he was at the very heart of the win.
Forcier accounted for over 300 yards of total offense and three touchdowns. His value, though, was in the drive late in the game. And those “intangibles” he brings can’t easily be slotted in a statistical category.
Down 34-31 and at the Michigan 42 with 2:13 left, the true freshman’s performance on the game-winning drive was real and it was spectacular. It was a methodical and controlled march that would be impressive for a seasoned upperclassman, let alone a player with less than 120 minutes under his collegiate belt.
And perhaps the most impressive play wasn’t even the game-winning touchdown pass to Greg Mathews with eleven ticks left on the clock. No, it was probably the play that immediately preceded the game-winner that shows exactly what Forcier has the potential to bring to the Wolverines’ offense.
(And you’ll have to consult your friendly neighborhood YouTube outlet for the highlight as my words couldn’t do it justice.)
Suffice to say, Forcier is not and should not be bronzed for the Hall of Fame or start preparing a pose for an updated version of the Heisman statue. However, he is the hope the UM program has desperately needed.
Now, as for Notre Dame and their national title hopes? I think Beano Cook and Lou Holtz peed themselves a little bit after the final gun sounded.
Just sayin’...