I'm not at the game... Seriously...

For only the 2nd time in the last 9 years, I'm not in the BIG HOUSE for a Michigan game. As it turns out, I do have a sinus infection, and a pretty bad one at that. I'm on antibiotics, but I haven't been on them long enough for me to actually be feeling better. I just figured that a whole afternoon of yelling & cheering in the semi-chilly & windy weather wouldn't do me any favors. For the record though, I feel like the oldest person on earth that I couldn't just buck up and go. I felt OK about it until the game actually started and for a brief second, I was like, "Maybe I could get over there before halftime..." Oh well... maybe I'll do a running game day diary to keep me busy...

1:13PM- Officials get the first replay call correct. Lucky. Slant to Avant again- another first down. Goddamnit. I'm missing it!

1:15PM- Gotta have Hart... 2nd down and 7 and another first down. Also, can I say how glad I am that Nessler & Griese are doing this game instead of Musburger & Danielson. They're quite possibly my least favorite commentating duo, with the exception of Dicky V. and Musburger. (At least Dicky V is off the charts on the unintentional comedy scale... Danielson is just a dick).

1:17PM Coach Malone is calling plays from the sideline. I wonder if that truly makes a difference or if he just got tired of sitting in the box.

1:18PM Disturbing statistic: Michigan is 2nd worst in the Big Ten in Red Zone offense this season. Awesome. Pudge Rivas to kick the FG... GOOD! UM-3, MN-0

1:19PM On the Secondary TV, Joe-pa tells us to have sportsmanship "Before, during & afta the game..."

1:23PM Nessler refers to Minnesota's QB, Cupito as "the guy looking at the wristband"...

1:25PM Cupito just did the thing where you pretend that you're going to throw the ball and the ball just sort of comes out of your hand backwards instead. Nice.

1:26PM Does Coach Carr have a black eye? Seriously-- it looks like he at least has some sort of a scrape under his eye... was there some kind of practice altercation? Interesting. I'm not claiming credit ... I have an alibi. Trust me. GRR!! MN gets a close first down.

1:27PM Fun fact: Average weight of UM offensive line 318. That's an average, folks, and that includes Gabe Watson who you know weighs like 400 big ones.

1:29PM Gabe Watson SMASH... or is it a fumble?? No whistle that I heard... Barringer runs it back for a TD.... WOOO!!! Cheering by yourself on the couch isn't nearly as fun as high fiving your friends... OR NOT. Hold on... reviewing the play. Looks to me like the ball comes out just as the MN player is being thrown backwards... Not sure of the rule on this one though, guys. Decision: Play stands as called... runner's progress stopped, no fumble.

1:31pm MN 4th down & they're going for it. D-up BLUE! IN-COM-PLETE! "This is the claw... we do the claw..." :)

1:34PM While we go on Offense again, I'm going to take a quick break to eat some soup...

2:50PM Halftime- Michigan 13-Minn 10. John Saunders, Craig James & Grimmace (aka Aaron Taylor) give us the updates on scores around the country, and Craig finds a way to work the word "fanny" into the conversation twice. Yikes.

Somewhere during the 3rd quarter, I fall asleep only to wake up around 4:30PM with us tied 20-20, with a non-working stadium clock and Minnesota driving down the field. I feel even sicker than before...

Ending the diary before this gets ugly...
-ry