TAMPA, Fla. – After Michigan defeated Alabama, 19-13, in Tuesday’s ReliaQuest Bowl, I realized that this was my last college football game for the 2024 season. It set me to work on some unique research.
I counted how many college football games I have attended in my life, since I have kept a log on all of those since 1975 when my first game was Virginia Tech playing VMI in Blacksburg.
Why did I count? This was my 382nd college football game … and I saw the worst 60 minutes of college pigskin of my life.
There was an immensity of reasons.
Michigan’s Lethargy on Offense: Yes, I know Michigan had a really good defense as they allowed only 309 total yards per game which was 10th best in the nation. That defense, along with Alabama’s lackluster offense, were the reasons why the Wolverines won Tuesday’s game. However … the Wolverines’ offense was innocuous.
This offense, which created only 286.2 yards per game, rated 128th offensively out of the 134 Division I college football teams.
Factor in quarterback Davis Warren, who was 9-of-12 for just 73 yards. He and Alex Orji split time at QB this year and Orji often had days that were reminiscent of Warren, who only completed 139 passes on the season.
Amazingly, a Michigan defensive player wasn’t awarded the MVP. Freshman Jordan Marshall had 23 carries for 100 yards to supplement the paltry 191 total yards that the Wolverines could muster, which was the lowest total offense in the history of the Tampa-based bowl.
Michigan still won seven games and beat Ohio State, which gives you the imperial definition of the top-heavy Big Ten.
Alabama’s Lack of Fire: The Crimson Tide were a 16.5-point favorite, but when they turned the ball over three times on their first four drives, it showed hardly any focus or depth of attention for this game. Consequently, the turnovers gave the atrocious Wolverines offense the ball on short fields.
Michigan did not fully capitalize, though, as defensive end Derrick Moore recovered a fumbled snap by Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe on the Alabama 19-yard line. On the next Crimson Tide possession, Michigan safety Wesley Walker picked off Milroe on the Alabama 17-yard line.
Moore proved an MVP presence with his two sacks and a forced fumble as he had the opportunity to step up when three starting defensive linemen opted-out.
Those turnovers turned into scores as Warren then hit wide receiver Frederick Moore with a 17-yard touchdown pass with 4:15 remaining in the first quarter that fostered Michigan’s 16-0 lead.
Milroe’s lack of playmaking ability matched Michigan’s Warren.
It was easy to see Milroe lose his confidence as no one stepped up for Alabama on offense.
Running back Jamarion Miller, who was Alabama’s second-leading rusher behind Milroe, posted only 27 yards on 10 carries, while leading receiver Ryan Williams was held in check with three catches for only eight yards.
It’s easy to understand why Alabama players couldn’t have been motivated and focused in a game where nothing was at stake, given the mantra of Alabama football in the Saban era.
In addition, the Crimson Tide joined Ole Miss and South Carolina as threethat were bypassed by the NCAA for spots in the tournament. Any of them might have dismissed several teams in that field and, potentially, teams that are still playing.
NCAA Erases Bowl Season: The NCAA did what it usually does which is nothing, but this time it dealt with the transfer portal and the NIL.
First of all, the NIL should have always been in place for players who made money for universities, corporations and the NCAA as the players received nothing return.
Simply, there has never been a framework to make sure that one team cannot sign a quarterback for $3 million while another team may not even see that much money.
A ceiling should have been orchestrated, but this was beyond the NCAA’s interest. The bureaucratic structure proves it is way more important than providing a competitive presence for all NCAA D-I teams.
There are no rules in place regarding use of the portal.
The NCAA has no accountability in allowing players to be able to transfer before these bowl games; again, no care for competition. Again, their idea is to let the rosters be decimated and still collect the money out of these bowl games.
Let’s face it! Bowl games are often just scrimmages if the two teams are not involved in the national championship. Michigan missed 26 players who opted out as Alabama was missing 16. The Wolverines faced 18 moves to the transfer portal while the Crimson Tide saw eight.
Players who have a secure NFL future should not be playing in a controlled scrimmage that is only aimed at making money for the NCAA, corporate sponsors, or the universities, in general.
Don’t blame the players. If a quarterback is looking at a multi-million dollar contract in the NFL, why would he go play in what are meaningless games? What is at stake other than his health?
Dollar Amount: Thinking back over the distressing outputs by both teams, another reason corporations get involved is the ability to buy tickets and pass them along to friends and family or the faculty of the business.
The ReliaQuest Bowl costs $80 per seat or fans could upgrade to the Club Level for “only” $170.
For any bowl outside of the FCS, remember the lack of players, and the lack of anything at stake, and for Michigan-Alabama, how about the lack of competition?
I would like to meet and sympathize with anyone who bought these mobile tickets and paid the $80 or $170 to see this.
Following Through: It’s amazing how this football game played into what was an amazing parody of “A Comedy of Errors.”
Alabama was a confusing team in portraying its mistaken identity of the uncharacteristic offense. Michigan rose to the team everyone knew all season in using a stifling defense and hardly any offense on the college gridiron.
