‘I knew we were going to be triumphant’: How Michigan
- Chris Low, ESPN Senior WriterJan 2, 2024, 12:15 AM ET Close College football
- press reporter Joined ESPN.com in 2007
- Graduate of the University of Tennessee
PASADENA, Calif.– A bare-chested Blake Corum stood in front of his locker in the bowels of the Rose Bowl Arena on Monday when a Michigan staffer handed him a ringing mobile phone.
“It’s your daddy,” he told Corum.Only minutes previously, Corum had actually scored the winning touchdown in overtime on a 17-yard go to beat Alabama 27-20 in the Rose Championship Game Presented by Prudential, exorcising Michigan’s College Football Playoff satanic forces, and more significantly, putting the Wolverines in position to win their first championship game since 1997. Corum attempted to explain to his dad, who was naturally delighted, that he was surrounded by a horde of media and would do his best to fulfill him outside when he was finished.But no description was required for what Michigan did to Alabama on a game-saving goal drive late in
guideline that fans of the Maize and Blue will be speaking about for some time nor for the Wolverines sledgehammering their method into the end zone in just two plays in overtime.Editor’s Picks 2 Associated “We just kept stating,’Do or die. Do we desire this to be the last time we play together?’ “Corum said. “We had the ability to come together as an unit, as siblings, on that drive.”Their timing could not have actually been better.The Wolverines had seemingly gone belly-up on offense. In their very first four drives of the 2nd half, they punted 3 times and missed a basket, handling all of 44 lawns on those ownerships.”Yeah, it goes through
your mind, sort of,’Here we go,’ after some of what’s happened in the past when we got here, “Michigan offensive guard Trevor Keegan said, describing Michigan’s losses in the CFP semifinals over the previous 2 seasons.” However we play for each other. We have actually overcome challenges and adversity. People can say it’s hardship. People can say we cheated. However I truly do not provide a f–. It was adversity, and this team counted on each other, and it showed in that last quarter on that drive and because overtime. “Wolverines quarterback J.J. McCarthy stated the playoff aggravation was on everyone’s mind when Michigan huddled for its drive after Alabama had taken a 20-13 lead and seized all the momentum.The Wolverines controlled the line of scrimmage in the first half, but they held only a 13-10 lead at the break.”We didn’t get what we pertained to get the previous two years, which’s the reason we’re here today,” stated McCarthy, who threw three touchdown passes, including a 4-yarder to Roman Wilson that capped Michigan’s clutch eight-play, 75-yard drive to connect ball game with 1:38 to play in policy.
“Nothing was going to get in our way this time. Our companied believe because huddle we were going to get it done, and so did everyone on our sideline. “No play was bigger during Michigan’s game-tying drive than McCarthy’s short pass to Corum on fourth-and-2. Corum turned it into a 27-yard gain. An unlawful block charge brought it back 10 yards, however the Wolverines had a first down and restored life with just less than three minutes to play.” When I saw Blake, man
, and saw his eyes, it resembled there was a devil in his eyes or something,”Keegan stated. Michigan’s Blake Corum runs past Alabama’s Kool-Aid McKinstry for the winning touchdown in overtime. AP Photo/Kyusung Gong On that critical fourth-down play, Corum saw the Alabama cornerback ran inside with the receiver, implying Corum saw absolutely nothing but green grass.”We had just run a little bit of a various version of it,”he said,” and they were out there in the flats with me. And as we motioned on that 4th down and I bumped and saw that corner over there on our receiver, I was like,’ I know he’s opting for him, ‘and he did– and it just opened up.”And once Michigan connected ball game, Corum stated he might see in the Alabama players’ eyes that they realized they remained in difficulty.” As soon as we went to overtime, I understood we had the momentum. I knew we were going to be victorious, “the senior running back said.Michigan’s defense still needed to make a fourth-down stop in overtime when Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe was packed at the 2-yard line. However Wolverines defensive take on Kris Jenkins said it was Michigan’s offense that changed the complexion of the game throughout those
final minutes of the 4th quarter.Those minutes won’t soon be forgotten by Michigan fans, who took over Pasadena on Monday and celebrated deep into the night.
“They never flinch, and that’s the thing we enjoy about our offense, no matter what’s going on, no matter if the odds are stacked against them, no matter if mistakes are made, “Jenkins said.”They’re never ever going to flinch in the greatest minutes. They’re always going to hold their ground, do what they do best, and that’s the biggest thing.
“They always ball out. It may be frightening. It might get your heart pumping on the sideline. But you know they know they’re going to manage company
.”