Michigan Football Fans: Pro and College Football Final Season Updates

Jan. 13, 2011 - PRLog -- DETROIT, M.I. – Michigan football teams—the Lions, Spartans and Wolverines—enjoyed a long and in some cases, changing season. Games were won and lost, but each team had something to take with them as the season came to a close.
Detroit Lions
The preseason may have given Michigan football fans a good feeling about the Detroit Lions’ season as they won three out of four preseason games, but that is really where the excitement seemed to fade.  The Lions won only two of the first 12 games they played during the regular season. Out of those 12 games, the Detroit Lions lost on average by only three points except for three of those games they lost by 14 or more.
The end of the season was the highlight of the year for the Detroit Lions and fans as they won the last four games against Green Bay, Tampa Bay, Miami and Minnesota. According to General Manager Martin Mayhew, the Lions’ main issue was playing through the fourth quarter, which turned out to be their weakness.
“A lot of these guys learned we have to play our best football in the fourth quarter,” Mayhew said in a press release. “We can’t make mistakes. Instead, we have to capitalize on the other team’s mistakes.”
Last season in 2009, the Detroit Lions only won two games, so this year was an absolute improvement. Next year, the Detroit Lions will have a different view on how they are going play as they leave this season behind knowing they have what it takes to win consistently.
Final scores: 6-10-0, 3rd NFC North.
Michigan State University Spartans
Spartan fans have been on their feet from excitement all year as the Spartans saw only one loss during the regular season. The Spartans scored on average 33 points per game with only two games scoring less than 30. Their only loss was to Iowa 6-37, but the Spartans came back with three big wins in a row after that.
[Rewind: Michigan Football Updates: Detroit Lions and Michigan State University Spartans]
The final game was the Capital One Bowl in Orlando, Fla. on Jan. 1 against the Alabama Crimson Tide. Not much can be said about this postseason game as the Michigan football team loss was a hard one at 49-7. The Crimson Tide scored one touchdown the first quarter, three the next, two during the third and matched the Spartans with one touchdown in the final quarter.
Although the Spartans did not see a good end to their last game, The Associated Press and USA TODAY announced that MSU finished No. 14. This ranking marks the second time in the last three years the Spartans appeared in the final polls.
The Spartans can take with them the honor of breaking a school-record of 11 winning games for the 2010 season with a share of its first Big Ten Championship since 1990.
Final scores: 11-2 (7-1), 2nd Big Ten.
Michigan Wolverines
The Wolverines had an average season, winning seven games while losing five during the regular season. The biggest win was against the Falcons on Sep. 25 with a final score of 65-21, although winning or losing may not have been the biggest news of the season; the Wolverines Coach Rich Rodriguez was fired four days after the big loss at the Gator Bowl.
[Rewind: Michigan Football Coach Rich Rodriguez Fired Today; Loss at Gator Bowl Not Cause]
Although the Gator Bowl was not the direct cause of Rodriquez losing his position, Michigan Athletic Director Dave Brandon started looking quickly for a new coach. Thankfully for Michigan football fans and the team, Brandon announced a replacement on Jan. 11: Brady Hoke.
Brady Hoke was announced to be the 19th coach in the 131-year history of Michigan football. Hoke was recently Head Coach for eight seasons at Ball State from 2003-2008 and San Diego State 2009-2010, winning SDSU first bowl game in 12 years in 2010. Also, Hoke has seen five of his players earn All-American honors.
"We are pleased to announce the hiring of Brady," said Brandon at the press release conference. "He is a terrific coach and will be a great ambassador and leader for our football program. We look forward to having him build a championship program on the field and in the classroom."
The Wolverines may have had a rough ending to their season, but with the new coach Hoke joining them, next year may be much stronger than this season.
Final Scores: 7-6 (3-5), 7th Big Ten.
Though the football season may be over for these three Michigan football teams, each one has something to work toward next year when 2011 season officially begins.
Got news about any of the Detroit teams? Send your news tips to news@miautotimes.com or connect with us on facebook: www.facebook.com/MichiganAutoTimes.