Michigan football was moments from kicking off against rival Michigan State in East Lansing before weather thrust the game into a delay.
Not again. At some level, the thoughts of deja-vu had to roll through the minds of Michigan fans following the announced delay of their game against Michigan State in Week 8. It was only a year ago that torrential rains and awful weather impacted this heated rivalry game.
Michigan State carried a 14-3 lead into halftime, then the weather worsened. By the time the third quarter was underway, the teams were caught in a slugfest that featured seven total points scored in the final 30 minutes of regulation, which gave way to a 14-10 Michigan State victory.
A little bit of rain never hurt anyone, and theoretically, it should play into the hands of the Wolverines who have leaned heavily on the run game with their struggles at the quarterback position. The addition of Shea Patterson this year has been important, but he has yet to play in this rivalry game, under any sort of conditions.
The weather this year doesn’t look to be nearly as chaotic as last year’s storm. But the omen of the delay harkens back to a moment in Michigan history which fans would rather forget. Under Jim Harbaugh the Wolverines are 1-2 against the Spartans. Michigan State has won eight of the last 10 games in the series, including last year’s rain-filled affair.
It could be nothing, but the rain and lightening hanging in the air in East Lansing is not a good sign for Michigan. Will their National Championship and College Football Playoff aspirations come to an end on Saturday? If the weather doesn’t cooperate, they just might.