2006 Michigan Football: A Bounceback Year That Came Up Short
Michigan football came into the 2006 season looking for a bounce back year. They were coming off a 7-4 season that ended with a bowl loss. During an otherwise successful tenure for head coach Lloyd Carr, that was below standard. The ’06 Wolverine edition got right back into the national picture and stayed in the championship race all season long before season-ending losses ended the dream.
A LOADED ROSTER
Michigan’s success traditionally begins with the running game and 2006 was no different. Michael Hart was an All-Conference back who rolled up over 1,500 yards. He was a workhorse, whose 318 carries were the most in the Big Ten. Hart ran behind an offensive line anchored by All-American tackle Jake Long, an eventual #1 overall pick in the NFL draft two years later.
Chad Henne had his own NFL future ahead of him and the Wolverine quarterback had a well-balanced group of receivers to work with. Steve Breaston was the primary target and led the team with 58 catches. Mario Manningham, destined for Super Bowl heroics with the New York Giants, was the big-play target. Manningham’s 38 catches went for over 18 yards a pop. Adrian Arrington added 40 catches.
Defensively, another future NFL star was creating havoc on the edge. LaMarr Woodley was at defensive end and he made All-American. Alan Branch strengthened the defensive interior and was an all-Big Ten performer. So was linebacker David Harris. And the secondary had their own All-American and future first-round NFL draft pick in cornerback Leon Hall.
The aggregate numbers weren’t dazzling—26th nationally for points scored and 15th for points allowed. But this group of talent made Michigan a threat against anyone.
RESETTING EXPECTATIONS
After the off year of 2005, expectations were tempered, and the Wolverines were ranked #14 in the preseason polls. They tuned up with a couple of home wins. One was over a bad Vanderbilt team, 27-7. But the second was against a good Central Michigan squad, coached by Brian Kelly and headed for the MAC title. Michigan handled the Chippewas 41-17. They were primed for a trip to Notre Dame.
SHOCKER IN SOUTH BEND
The Irish were ranked #2 in the country coming in and ultimately bound for the Sugar Bowl. But the Wolverine playmakers wasted little time putting their imprint on the game. Linebacker Prescott Burgess picked off Notre Dame QB Brady Quinn and took it 31 yards to the house for the game’s first score. At 7-7, Henne hit Manningham on a 69-yard touchdown strike. Hart added a touchdown before the first quarter was out.
And in the second quarter, Michigan piled on. Henne threw two more touchdown passes to Manningham, each of 20-plus yards. A sunny day in South Bend had turned dark for the Notre Dame faithful. The Wolverines shocked the country with a 34-7 lead at halftime. The afternoon ultimately ended as it had begun, with a defensive touchdown—Woodley’s 54-yard fumble return put the finishing touches on a stunning 47-21 rout.
Michigan was back. They were #6 in the nation when the next rankings came out.
CONTROLLING THE TRENCHES
Big Ten play began with a game against Wisconsin. The Badgers were unranked coming in, but this was a team that ended the season in the national top 10. Wisconsin running back P.J. Hill would win the Big Ten rushing title.
The Wolverines fell behind 7-0 after the first quarter. The Henne-to-Manningham connection clicked again in the second quarter, with a 24-yard touchdown pass that tied it. The teams traded field goals, and it was 10-10 at the half.
But Michigan was decisively winning the battle of the trenches in a game between two ground-oriented offenses. They held the potent Wisconsin ground game to twelve yards—this after the previous week, when Notre Dame’s runners had netted a mere four yards.
That’s a formula for taking over games late and it’s exactly what Michigan did here. Henne hit Manningham on a 38-yard touchdown pass to get the lead. Hart ran in from five yards out. Even though Henne threw three interceptions on the afternoon, the Wolverines closed out a 27-13 win.
BUILDING TO A SHOWDOWN
Michigan went on to visit Minnesota, a decent, albeit fringe bowl team and came home with a 28-14. They hosted their in-state rivals from Michigan State and rolled past a bad Spartan squad, 31-13. The Wolverines were up to #4 in the polls.
They went to Penn State for a prime-time affair. Facing a team that would reach a New Year’s Day bowl game in front of a raucous crowd, Michigan’s defensive front dominated. They held a good runner in Tony Hunt to 33 yards and recorded seven sacks. The Wolverines led 17-3 late in the game before a late Lion touchdown made a 17-10 final look closer than it really was.
Michigan was now #2 in the nation. Sitting atop the polls was their historic arch-enemy, Ohio State. The postseason structure of the time called for the top two teams nationally to play in a national championship game. The Wolverines and Buckeyes were on a collision course for potentially the biggest meeting in the history of their storied rivalry.
THE ROAD TO COLUMBUS
In the meantime, there was business to be taken care of. Michigan got a workmanlike 20-6 home win over mediocre Iowa, and then did the same to Northwestern, beating a bad team 17-3. They hosted Ball State, coached by future Wolverine mentor Brady Hoke and won 34-26.
These wins, all over teams that would finish .500 or below, were less than impressive, but it was all that was needed to keep everyone’s eyes fixed on November 18 in Columbus. Michigan traveled to sub-.500 Indiana and won 34-3. The Wolverines were 11-0. The showdown was at hand.
AN UNEXPECTED SHOOTOUT
Michigan fell behind 21-7 in the second quarter, but their offense kept coming. Hart ran for 142 yards. Henne went 21/35 for 267 yards and steered clear of mistakes. But the defense, so good all year long, couldn’t get the key stops. The Wolverines got close several times, including 35-31 and 42-39 late in the game. But the defense couldn’t get them the ball for the opportunity to tie or win. The 42-39 point was where this shootout ended.
The national championship dream was over. Michigan would go to the Rose Bowl, while Ohio State went to Bowl Championship Series (BCS) National Championship Game.
Or would they?
WAITING IN THE BCS VACUUM
When the polls came out, the close game and the fact it was in Columbus, kept Michigan at #2. If that held, the Wolverines would get a rematch with Ohio State.
This was prior to the existence of a Big Ten Championship Game, and also when the conference traditionally ended its season prior to Thanksgiving. Thus, the Wolverines had to watch for two weeks while other contenders made the case for a crack at Ohio State.
Florida would ultimately emerge, winning the SEC title and surpassing Michigan in the polls. The Wolverines would indeed go to Pasadena and play USC.
LIMITS EXPOSED
When the early part of New Year’s Day began with Penn State and Wisconsin getting big wins, it looked like the Big Ten might be ready to make a major statement. But Michigan was overmatched by USC, coached by Pete Carroll and the nation’s most consistent national power through much of the ‘00s decade.
The Wolverines hung in for a half, and it was tied 3-3, but the game got away. Trojan speed got put on display. Michigan trailed 19-3 by the time the fourth quarter began. After closing to 19-11, the game got away one more time. The Wolverines were held to 21 rush yards and Henne was sacked six times. The final was 32-18.
Being dismantled by USC removed whatever public legitimacy had been given to Michigan’s grievance over not playing for the national title. Florida’s subsequent dismantling of Ohio State added to it. The Wolverines ended up #8 in the national polls.
A SEASON THAT WAS MORE THAN ITS ENDING
The way the season ended left a sour taste and the Big Ten’s reputation got dinged, but that shouldn’t overshadow how much this 2006 Michigan team exceeded original expectations and how many great players they produced. They had at least re-established themselves as an elite power within the conference.