The Wolverine Now

Nov. 10, 2013 M By John Borton ichigan's Big Ten chances plummeted in a disheartening defeat in East Lansing seven days earlier. The Wolverines' season seemed to spin out of control in a 17-13 loss to visiting Nebraska. Not once in Brady Hoke's 35 games as head coach at U-M had his team tasted defeat on its home turf. But with a second straight game featuring negative yards rushing and seven sacks on Michigan quarterback Devin Gardner, there wasn't anywhere to go but down — again. 17 Red Game In Reverse Helps 'Huskers Slide By, 17-13 November A Running 13 Hoke made it clear that losing tastes miserable, whether in Michigan Stadium, on the road or in Antarctica. "Home winning streak, away winning streak, any winning streak … you just hate it when it's not there," Hoke said. The Wolverines had a chance to hang on and overcome a miserably inept offensive effort (175 total yards, minus-21 rushing) with its defense. But with the game on the line and a 13-10 lead midway through the fourth quarter, Michigan couldn't keep Nebraska's tractor in the barn. Backup quarterback Tommy Armstrong Jr. playing behind a patched-together offensive line, drove the 'Huskers 75 yards in 15 plays for the winning score with 2:03 remaining. On third-and-goal at the Michigan 5, he appeared hemmed in, but pitched to unchecked standout tailback Ameer Abdullah (27 carries, 105 yards) Nebraska tailback Ameer Abdullah rushed 27 times for 105 yards and a first-quarter touchdown (above), and his only catch of the game went for a five-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter that provided the game-winning points. photo by lon horwedel for the game-winner. "From a defensive standpoint, we've got to finish," fifth-year senior linebacker Cam Gordon said. "That last one, we didn't have to allow them to get that. We've got to come to work." Michigan's offense had one last chance to come to report for duty, but very little worked on this bleak afternoon. Five plays later, Devin Gardner fired a fourth-andfive slant off the hands of senior wide receiver Drew Dileo, the ball tumbling to the turf along with the comeback chances of a team suddenly 6-3 overall and 2-3 in Big Ten play. "It hurts," Gardner acknowledged. "It always hurts to lose. Being at home, it just puts a little more on top of it. We didn't finish, lost at home and ended the streak we took a lot of pride in." Gardner went 18-of-27 passing for 196 yards passing and one touchdown on the afternoon, but the total lack of a running game left him few options. Freshman run-

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