密歇根新闻广播 密歇根的球迷们不要失去希望

 

After a few low years, the Big Ten has been riding high lately. Last year, seven Big Ten schools won their bowl games, with only Michigan on the losing side.

Going into this season, five Big Ten teams were ranked in the nation's top 14, with four from the Big Ten East Division alone: Ohio State, Penn State, Michigan State, and Michigan.

But, as Michigan's Bo Schembechler liked to say, "A pre-season ranking just means you haven't done anything yet."

The season's first weekend seemed to vindicate¹ him. Even with Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer serving a three-game suspension, the Buckeyes blew out Oregon State, 77-31. But Michigan State struggled to shake a mediocre² Utah State team, and Penn State had to come from behind to beat Appalachian State in overtime³.

Yes, Appalachian State is the same team that pulled off possibly the greatest upset in football history against Michigan in 2007. Why any school invites Appalachian State to play their home opener is a mystery to me.

But the marquis game was between 14th ranked Michigan and 12th ranked Notre Dame⁴, which received more hype since the series resumed in 1978, first match-up in 35 years. ESPN's College Football Game Day decided⁵ to open their season in South Bend for a reason.

The Wolverines are led by star quarterback Shea Patterson, who transferred from Mississippi. They have one of the nation's best defenses. Some national pundits⁷ even predicted Michigan would win the national title.

A week ago, I said if Michigan's defense⁶ could hold off Notre Dame for the first quarter, Michigan's offense⁸ would settle in and score some points.

And that's exactly what didn't happen. On Notre Dame's first two possessions, the Fighting Irish cut through Michigan's defense like a hot knife through butter to go up14-0 in the first seven minutes. Michigan's defense allowed only one field goal in thesecond half, and Michigan's offense put up 17 points, but it wasn't enough. The Wolverines went down, 24-17.

The loss sent many Michigan fans into a tailspin, convinced this team is no better than last year's, and fearful that they will never get back to the promised land.

This is the nature of college football fans, who tend to have much more passion than perspective. When you win a close game, all fans talk about is what their team did right. When lose one, all they talk about is what their team did wrong. But the old coaching maxim⁹ is right: you're never as good as you think you are, and you're neveras bad.

True, the Wolverines could have played better, especially the first seven minutes. Butthey actually gained more yards than the Irish. You could win some bar bets with that little fact. Almost everything Michigan got wrong can be readily fixed¹⁰ – and my guess is the coaching staff will fix them.

Bo often said teams improve most from the first game to the second game – and again, he was right.

Since Michigan and Notre Dame resumed the series in 1978, Notre Dame has won 17, and Michigan 16 – about as close as it gets. But after six of Michigan's losses to Notre Dame, the Wolverines went on to win the Big Ten title anyway.

Given the way Ohio State is playing, the Wolverines now look like long-shots to win another Big Ten title. But then, they looked like long shots after those six losses toNotre Dame, too.

There are a lot of games left. In fact, almost all of them.

John U. Bacon is the author of ten books, six of them national bestsellers. His latest, Best of Bacon: Select Cuts, is out now. His views are his own and do not necessarily reflect those of Michigan Radio, its management, or its license¹¹ holder¹², the University of Michigan.

1 vindicate   

v.为…辩护或辩解，辩明；证明…正确

参考例句：

• He tried hard to vindicate his honor.他拼命维护自己的名誉。
• How can you vindicate your behavior to the teacher?你怎样才能向老师证明你的行为是对的呢？

2 mediocre   

adj.平常的，普通的

参考例句：

• The student tried hard,but his work is mediocre. 该生学习刻苦，但学业平庸。
• Only lazybones and mediocre persons could hanker after the days of messing together.只有懒汉庸才才会留恋那大锅饭的年代。

3 overtime   

adj.超时的，加班的；adv.加班地

参考例句：

• They are working overtime to finish the work.为了完成任务他们正在加班加点地工作。
• He was paid for the overtime he worked.他领到了加班费。

4 dame   

n.女士

参考例句：

• The dame tell of her experience as a wife and mother.这位年长妇女讲了她作妻子和母亲的经验。
• If you stick around,you'll have to marry that dame.如果再逗留多一会，你就要跟那个夫人结婚。

5 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

6 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

7 pundits   

n.某一学科的权威，专家( pundit的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The pundits disagree on the best way of dealing with the problem. 如何妥善处理这一问题，专家众说纷纭。 来自辞典例句
• That did not stop Chinese pundits from making a fuss over it. 这并没有阻止中国的博学之士对此大惊小怪。 来自互联网

8 offense   

n.犯规，违法行为；冒犯，得罪

参考例句：

• I hope you will not take any offense at my words. 对我讲的话请别见怪。
• His words gave great offense to everybody present.他的发言冲犯了在场的所有人。

9 maxim   

n.格言，箴言

参考例句：

• Please lay the maxim to your heart.请把此格言记在心里。
• "Waste not,want not" is her favourite maxim.“不浪费则不匮乏”是她喜爱的格言。

10 fixed   

adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的

参考例句：

• Have you two fixed on a date for the wedding yet?你们俩选定婚期了吗？
• Once the aim is fixed,we should not change it arbitrarily.目标一旦确定，我们就不应该随意改变。

11 license   

n.执照，许可证，特许；v.许可，特许

参考例句：

• The foreign guest has a license on the person.这个外国客人随身携带执照。
• The driver was arrested for having false license plates on his car.司机由于使用假车牌而被捕。

12 holder   

n.持有者，占有者；(台，架等)支持物

参考例句：

• The holder of the office of chairman is reponsible for arranging meetings.担任主席职位的人负责安排会议。
• That runner is the holder of the world record for the hundred-yard dash.那位运动员是一百码赛跑世界纪录的保持者。