Michigan

Five reasons why Michigan will beat Alabama in the Rose Bowl

Published

7 months ago

December 14, 2023

Five reasons why Michigan will beat Alabama in the Rose Bowl

The Michigan Wolverines are heading to their third straight College Football Playoff and will play the Alabama Crimson Tide in the Rose Bowl on New Year’s Day. The Wolverines are still searching for their first CFP win and will have their hands full.

The Crimson Tide have the history, but the Wolverines are ranked No. 1 and come in as a slight favorite. Despite a lot of people picking the Crimson Tide, today, we provide five reasons why the Wolverines will win this game.

1. The Wolverines have already faced a ton of adversity this year

No other team in the country had to go through what the Wolverines did this year. Yes, a lot of it was their own doing, but there isn’t another college that would have had their head coach suspended for half the season, had all their rivals calling them cheaters and had one of their top defenders out numerous games, and still stayed unbeaten.

The Wolverines have barely flinched this season, have taken on all challenges head-on, and have conquered all of them so far. While Michigan might have cowered in past seasons, it won’t this year.

2. Experience

The Crimson Tide have won three championships during the CFP era and would normally own the experience factor in this game. However, that isn’t the case this year. Alabama missed out on the playoffs last year and have many contributors who have never been in this position.

First-year starting quarterback Jalen Milroe has been great since being benched at the beginning of the year, leading the Crimson Tide to an SEC championship over Georgia. However, the lights of the CFP are going to be much brighter, as J.J. McCarthy knows all too well from his struggles last season in the Fiesta Bowl.

Playing through all that already provides the Wolverines a huge edge nobody is talking about. The Crimson Tide may have the name on the chest, but the Wolverines are the more experienced team and are hungry for a third opportunity.

3. Secondary play

The Wolverines have arguably the best secondary in college football and two of the best shutdown corners. Will Johnson and Mike Sainristil have been great for Michigan this year and are the best one-two punch the Crimson Tide will face all year. They have the ability to shutdown receivers, which allows Michigan to keep a spy on Milroe.

Milroe can be dangerous, completing 65.5 percent of his passes this season. But he is also coming off a 13-for-23 game against Georgia. We aren’t saying he can’t pass the ball, but he can be shutdown, and the Wolverines have the secondary to do that. Michigan’s defense is going to be a difference, especially the secondary.

4. Corum and Edwards

The Wolverines also have arguably the best running back duo in the country in Blake Corum and Donovan Edwards. They haven’t had as explosive year as they did in 2022, but they still combined for more than 1,400 yards on the ground.

They know how to grind out yards, but can also bust a big play. They wear you down before finally getting that back-breaking 20+ yard gain.

The Crimson Tide are 30th in the country in rush defense, giving up 124.5 yards per game. They have looked tough at times, but they did give up 206 rushing yards to LSU and 244 to Auburn, so they are susceptible to good rushing attacks.

5. Bama gives up a lot of sacks

The Crimson Tide gave up 43 sacks this year, an average of 3.31 each game. Part of it is Milroe holding the ball for too long, but the offense line has also been exposed at times.

The Wolverines should bring pressure, and often, to keep Milroe guessing. He can run, but Michigan’s defense is quick and can contain him. With the secondary being as good as it is, that should provide the defensive line with ample time to, at least, pressure Milroe.

If all goes well, the Wolverines should be able to exploit their offensive line and force Milroe into tough spots.

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Michigan

Michigan reacts to presidential debate

Published

5 hours ago

June 29, 2024

Press Room

LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) — Some Democrats are nervous after President Biden’s showing at Thursday night’s debate and there’s talk about trying to replace him on the ballot.

Democrats say they wanted to see strength from President Biden, but Biden appeared to struggle with his delivery, appearing to have a raspy voice and stumbling over some of his words. After this performance, even members of his own party worry that—at his age—he might not be up to the task of leading the country for another term.

6 News spoke with one of the nation’s top Democrats, Michigan Senator Debbie Stabenow, who attributed his “slow start” to battling a sore throat.

She says that Biden should not be replaced because his policies are what Michigan needs.

“I think that what he was talking about resonates with people in Michigan, lowering prescription drug costs, more jobs, making sure that we’re tackling the climate crisis which is hitting us right over the head in terms of all of this severe weather,” said Stabenow. “It’s very very serious and it’s not gonna get better if we don’t have a clean energy strategy—he gets up every day caring about Michigan and unfortunately, the other guy gets up caring about himself.”

Republicans, however, were critical of Biden’s performance.

Pete Hoekstra, Chairman of the Michigan Republican Party, gave a statement to our media partners WXYZ:

President Biden provided no defense for what’s happening to people every day. Inflation, what’s happening on the border, the disaster that we find ourselves in overseas.
Chairman Hoekstra’s statement to WXYZ, June 28, 2023

Both Michigan and national polls have shown the two candidates closely matched. This is the first of two scheduled debates before the election in November.

The next debate is set to Tuesday, Sept. 10, at 9 p.m., hosted by ABC.

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Michigan

Michigan Economic Development Corporation celebrates placemaking grant

Published

12 hours ago

June 28, 2024

Press Room

Michigan Economic Development Corporation celebrates placemaking grant

MARQUETTE, Mich. (WLUC) – The Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) is celebrating the tenth anniversary of its placemaking grant.

The Public Spaces, Community Places Grant was used to fund projects like the Marquette Skate Plaza.

Skate Plaza Committee Member Nheena Weyer Ittner said this was one of the first projects that used the program’s funding.

“It was a learning experience for them, huge learning experience for the skate plaza,” Ittner said. “We ended up being successful after a hectic, scary, exhilarating month-long campaign.”

MEDC Senior Community Development Manager Lindsey Clark explained the grant uses crowdfunding to generate public attention and interest in placemaking projects.

“We really focus on gathering that support from the community through crowdfunding for the projects,” Clark said. “Then the MEDC is able to come in and help match that local support to bring the projects to life.”

The grant used to match crowdfunding up to $50,000. Over the years, Clark explained the grant’s cap has been raised to $75,000 to incentivize inclusive projects.

“If your project incorporates that ADA and universal design to the project,” Clark said. “We are really trying to focus on bringing projects that are available for all types of folks to enjoy in the community.”

The Marquette Skate Plaza was crowdfunded with $10,000 and then was matched by the MEDC.

Ittner said grants like this encourage involvement from the community.

“When you have that matching fund kind of dangled in front of you, it just makes people more willing to give,” Ittner said. “Because they know that if we get to a particular goal the MEDC will make their dollar double.”

Marquette is one of the last stops for the MEDC’s Public Spaces, Community Places Grant Tour. Representatives will be heading downstate on Saturday.

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Michigan

Morning 4: Missing Fenton man believed to have drowned in SE Michigan lake — and more news

Published

19 hours ago

June 28, 2024

Press Room

Morning 4: Missing Fenton man believed to have drowned in SE Michigan lake — and more news

Morning 4 is a quick roundup of stories we think you should know about to start your day. So, let’s get to the news.

Body pulled from SE Michigan lake belongs to missing Genesee County man

The body of a missing Genesee County man was found Thursday in a private lake at the edge of Livingston County.

See the story here.

Popular chicken restaurant opens new location in Macomb County

A popular chicken restaurant chain has opened its newest location in Macomb County.

Twin girls hurt after lighting powerful firework in bathroom of Metro Detroit home

Twin 11-year-old girls were injured Thursday after they brought a powerful firework into a bathroom in their River Rouge home and lit it.

See more here.

Biden’s debate performance spurs Democratic panic about his ability to lead party against Trump

Above all, Joe Biden’s allies wanted him to demonstrate strength and energy on the debate stage to help put to rest questions about the 81-year-old Democrat’s physical and mental acuity.

But on the biggest stage in U.S. politics on Thursday night, Biden did not meet their modest expectations.

Read the report here.