The Wolverine Now

BY JOHN BORTON N o, this isn't that Appalachian State. And for that matter, these aren't the 2013 Wolverines. That seemed the message from the open- ing kickoff, Michigan rollicking to a 52-14 win in the season opener at The Big House. The Wolverines turned a couple of pages along the way and just maybe gained some confidence. U-M brutalized the Mountaineers, piling up 560 offensive yards and not surrender- ing a point until they were already up six touchdowns. Any Appalachian State hopes for a repeat vanished like a jailhouse run- away into the Great Smoky Mountains, while Michigan's offense just came out smoking. Fifth-year senior quarterback Devin Gardner's 13-of-14 effort for 173 yards and three touchdowns, all to junior wideout Devin Funchess (seven catches, 95 yards, three TD), set the efficient offensive tone. But few expected 350 rushing yards, in- cluding 170 and a touchdown on 15 carries by sophomore Derrick Green and 115 on eight tries with two scores by classmate De'Veon Smith. That more than offset an 8-of-19 effort for 58 yards and one touchdown by the Mountaineers' quarterback Kameron Bry- ant, and 109 yards rushing from ASU's Ter- rence Upshaw, most coming after the game was decided. "It meant a lot," Green stressed. "That was one of the big things coming into this game that we emphasized a lot, running the ball and getting it downhill. That's what our offense is about, with Coach Nuss [Doug Nussmeier] here. We did a great job, and our offensive line did a great job." Michigan's opening drive of the sea- son began and ended with the new No. 1, Funchess. Announced prior to the game as the bearer of that honor, Funchess easily lived up to it early. He caught an 11-yard pass from Gardner on the opening play of a nine-play, 63-yard drive, and finished it up by breaking wide open over the middle of the end zone on Gardner's seven-yard TD toss. In between, Gardner connected on a 19-yard throw to redshirt sophomore Jehu Chesson, moving the Wolverines easily through the Moun- taineers' secondary. Moments later, the heaven-sent Devins reprised that act, Gardner gunning a 34- yard touchdown pass to the converted tight end. Funchess opened the drive with an 18- yard reception, including a hurdle over an ASU defender. He closed it by gathering in the Gardner toss and running over a mis- matched Mountaineer near the goal. Somewhere, former Michigan greats at receiver and wearers of the No. 1 jersey Anthony Carter and Braylon Edwards had to be smiling. "He's definitely someone you need to pay attention to," Hoke said. 52 14

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