It doesn’t appear a replay of the 2007 nightmare is in the offing for Michigan.
At the end of the first half in Ann Arbor, the Wolverines are up on transitioning-into-FBS Appalachian State 35-0. The first three of those five UM touchdowns came from the right arm of quarterback Devin Gardner to the hands of wide receiver Devin Funchess.
Gardner has completed 11 of his 12 passes for 153 yards. Funchess, wearing his new jersey number well, has seven catches for 93 yards in the first half.
Additionally, sophomore running back Derrick Green, a five-star member of UM’s 2013 recruiting class, has rushed for 85 yards on eight carries. Green’s backup, De’Veon Smith, has been even more productive in rushing for 99 yards on just six carries.
Defensively, the Wolverines have held the Mountaineers to just 74 yards of total offense -- UM has 334 -- and have not allowed a third-down conversion (0-8). ASU has just four-first-half first downs, and went three-and-out on six of their first seven drives.
Appalachian State, which stunned Michigan seven years ago in the Big House, was 4-8 last year and is in its first season as a member of the Sun Belt Conference.