Kornacki: Paul is All That Matters
10/29/2016 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 29, 2016
By Steve Kornacki
EAST LANSING, Mich. -- The Wolverines jogged off the field after their big victory at Spartan Stadium and entered their locker room to find someone they had been missing. No time was required to get reacquainted, and they were on a first-name basis again just like that.
"I was just excited, man," said Michigan junior linebacker Jabrill Peppers. "I was more excited for these seniors to finally beat these guys. They hadn't beaten them since they've been here, since I've been here. So, to see the joy on their faces and everyone taking pictures with (him)...
"So, I just waited my turn. I just wanted a picture with Paul. That's it! I just wanted one picture -- that's it, and you can have it. It's just for my memory and my phone. It was an exhilarating feeling, man, just to get this chip off our shoulder. This one, we've had marked since last year. We just wanted to come in here and bring Paul back."
The Paul Bunyan Trophy, which the Wolverines haven't possessed since winning their in-state rivalry game with Michigan State in 2012, was headed back on the bus to Ann Arbor with them to resume residency at Schembechler Hall.
It was Peppers who put the finishing touches on Saturday afternoon's (Oct. 29) 32-23 victory. He scooped up Spartans quarterback Tyler O'Connor's errant pitch on a two-point conversion attempt and sprinted 87 yards untouched down the sideline in front of the MSU bench to score a defensive PAT worth two points with one second remaining.
"I really just blank out when I play," said Peppers, who scored his team's first touchdown on a three-yard run while playing quarterback. "I didn't really know what was happening until I got to the 10-yard line, and then I was, 'Okay, this one's in the bag now. We did it.' Then I slipped, and I kind of laid there. We did it."
He couldn't stop smiling.
When the No. 2 Wolverines (8-0, 5-0 Big Ten) went into the victory formation after the ensuing on-side kick attempt went out of bounds and the last second ticked away, Peppers punctuated the win with a joyous backflip.
What can't Jabrill Peppers do?https://t.co/efk3cWBwI8
-- SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) October 29, 2016
Michigan took control with a dominant first-half offensive, scoring on every possession for a 27-10 lead. Wilton Speight, who threw for 244 yards, was connecting deep and often with Amara Darboh, who made eight catches for a career-high 165 yards.
"Talk about a guy making plays," said Wolverine head coach Jim Harbaugh. "Amara Darboh was really making plays today, and Wilton, another tremendous game by him. The throw he made before the half to Amara on the deep in-route was especially good after taking a hit and getting knocked down and coming back and throwing it right on the money.
"He's getting better every week. It's very much like (2015 quarterback) Jake Rudock. It's very Jake Rudock-like. Jake really grew, and that was a great example for Wilton last year. He's definitely an ascending player."
Darboh has 38 catches for 664 yards and five touchdowns and is on pace to easily surpass his previous highs in every category with 62 catches for 1,079 yards and eight touchdowns.
"(Darboh's) game is at a very high level -- some of the highest I've seen from a college receiver," said Harbaugh. "I think he's well established as a great playmaker, and he blocks, and he's a great teammate. He does it all and does it the best he can possibly do. He's got a lot of God-given ability and a great work ethic. That was a premier game for him today."
Speight discussed connecting with his big receiving corps of tight end Jake Butt, receiver Jehu Chesson and Darboh.
"There were a couple of times here and there where they weren't exactly wide open," said Speight. "But when you are throwing to guys like Jake Butt or Amara Darboh, that's not really considered 'covered' in the quarterback's eyes. I was able to throw up a couple high balls because I knew they'd be able to go up and get it.
"There was that deep ball down the left-hand side where Amara really couldn't get his right hand up because it was getting held. So, he was able to pull it in with one arm. It makes my job easier when I've got a bigger target."
However, the defense, which came in leading the nation in scoring, total yardage and passing yardage allowed, gave up roughly double what it normally does.
The Wolverines had given up more than the 217 yards rushing MSU totaled with 275 against the University of Central Florida and also more than the 184 yards MSU passed for with 261 by Colorado. However, the 401 yards total offense (253 in the second half) was 70 more than the previous season high allowed.
That didn't sit well with cornerback Jourdan Lewis, who had six tackles and one interception but also gave up more in the passing game than his usual near blanking of receivers.
"We definitely have to go out there and execute better," said Lewis.
Was it pretty for 60 minutes? No. But when you get right down to it, if you throw the numbers out before a rivalry game, you might as well throw them out after it as well. Winning is really all that matters in any game, and that's worth underlining in a game like this.
They had Paul back, and that was all that really mattered. The likeness of the legendary bearded woodsman is carved into a four-foot high wooden statue, and he's leaning back, astride over his ax, which is stuck into a map of the state of Michigan. The trophy rests on a five-foot support stand when displayed.
During the week, safety Dymonte Thomas touched on what getting back Paul would mean.
"After we beat Minnesota last year, we all got miniature Little Brown Jugs," said Thomas. "I asked Coach Harbaugh, 'If we beat Michigan State, can we get a Paul Bunyan (Trophy)?' He said, 'You know, if you beat them, we'll get you guys one.'"
On Saturday, it was all about whooping it up with the actual trophy and posing for photos with it.
IT'S GREAT TO BE A MICHIGAN WOLVERINE! 〽️#GoBlue pic.twitter.com/E49FLBRB9d
-- Michigan Athletics (@UMichAthletics) October 29, 2016
"The members of my class had never experienced that feeling," said Speight, whose first season at Michigan was 2014. "So, it was cool."
Speight was asked if he'd have preferred receiving Paul on the field. After all, the Spartans decided to parade Paul right in front of the Michigan student section after last year's last-second win. And I can't recall any trophy from a trophy game around the country that isn't picked up on the field.
"I mean, we came in here expecting to get it back," said Speight. "It wasn't like we were surprised."
It was a good, clever answer to the question.
Harbaugh smiled when receiving Paul was mentioned.
"It was the great thrill of victory," said Harbaugh, "and the wonderful, wonderful feeling of winning."
Paul and Senior RT Eric Magnuson riding shotgun, enjoying a happy bus trip back to Ann Arbor. Looks like Paul has a smile on his face! pic.twitter.com/9SqPHRzvnP
-- Coach Harbaugh (@CoachJim4UM) October 29, 2016
Harbaugh was the captain of a 1986 Michigan team that beat the Spartans, and new athletic director Warde Manuel was a freshman on that team. Now, they had won the rivalry game together again.
"It was very happy," Manuel said of the locker room scene. "They sang 'The Victors' and celebrated as they should. Paul was in there, and it was good to see him."
Placekicker/punter Kenny Allen drilled three field goals on as many attempts, including a 45-yarder and was important in Michigan getting and staying ahead. Seeing Paul Bunyan meant much to the senior from Fenton, Michigan.
"It was a joy walking in there being happy," said Allen, "and having him back."
Linebacker Mike McCray, who had eight tackles and one sack, said, "As soon as we got the trophy, everybody started yelling, screaming, 'Yeahhh!' We've got the trophy and can go home and celebrate a little bit and get ready for Maryland. Everybody was touching it and taking pictures with it."
Darboh said, "It was a great moment. It's a great rivalry, and any time we can get Paul back to Ann Arbor, it's a great thing for us."
Being back on a first-name basis with the legendary giant lumberjack never felt any better.
