2008 Woodie Awards
Ruggers rough up Michigan over weekend
By: Jason Jones
Issue date: 4/15/08 Section: Sports
The year was 1982 when Michigan captain Dave Perpich got the better of Bowling Green captain Roger Mazzarella. The Midwest regional final game of that season went to Michigan, by way a 44-12 victory for the Blue and Yellow.
Now fast forward 26 years to Saturday, where the Falcons, now coached by Mazzarella, trounced the Wolverines 47-0, giving them their 47th win over Michigan in their last 48 tries.
While Perpich may have found a way to get his Wolverines into the win column before anyone playing in this game was born, he couldn't even manage to get them into the end zone on this day.
"That game was a methodical dissection of a team whose offense is very familiar to us," Mazzarella said. "They had a great run early in the game, but all of that effort only netted them seven yards."
It was a typical Midwestern spring game for the Falcons on Saturday, with a mix of rain, sleet and, at one point, even some snow, hitting the players dead on, no matter the direction they ran. Mazzarella stated that he made the decision early in the game to rein in his offensive scheme, in an attempt to avoid fumbles and to give his forwards a chance to run more.
That, and everything else the Falcons threw at the Wolverines, worked to perfection. Nick Viviani, as expected, led the way, scoring 22 of the Falcons' 47 total points, including several kicks that were made incredibly difficult by the gusting winds. Eric Nutter made the initial, and go ahead score, early, and Nick Viviani's brother Mark scored soon after. Nick added tries to each score, as well as a penalty kick in between, and the Falcons jumped out to a 17-0 lead.
Later in the half, Scott Wallace scored on a try from the 25 yard line, and, after two more kicks from Nick Viviani, made it 27 - nothing. It was clear that the route was on. The perfect example of Michigan pure inability to stop the Falcons came in the second half, when Bryce Pitney broke the tackles of three separate Michigan defenders on his way in for the score.
Now fast forward 26 years to Saturday, where the Falcons, now coached by Mazzarella, trounced the Wolverines 47-0, giving them their 47th win over Michigan in their last 48 tries.
While Perpich may have found a way to get his Wolverines into the win column before anyone playing in this game was born, he couldn't even manage to get them into the end zone on this day.
"That game was a methodical dissection of a team whose offense is very familiar to us," Mazzarella said. "They had a great run early in the game, but all of that effort only netted them seven yards."
It was a typical Midwestern spring game for the Falcons on Saturday, with a mix of rain, sleet and, at one point, even some snow, hitting the players dead on, no matter the direction they ran. Mazzarella stated that he made the decision early in the game to rein in his offensive scheme, in an attempt to avoid fumbles and to give his forwards a chance to run more.
That, and everything else the Falcons threw at the Wolverines, worked to perfection. Nick Viviani, as expected, led the way, scoring 22 of the Falcons' 47 total points, including several kicks that were made incredibly difficult by the gusting winds. Eric Nutter made the initial, and go ahead score, early, and Nick Viviani's brother Mark scored soon after. Nick added tries to each score, as well as a penalty kick in between, and the Falcons jumped out to a 17-0 lead.
Later in the half, Scott Wallace scored on a try from the 25 yard line, and, after two more kicks from Nick Viviani, made it 27 - nothing. It was clear that the route was on. The perfect example of Michigan pure inability to stop the Falcons came in the second half, when Bryce Pitney broke the tackles of three separate Michigan defenders on his way in for the score.
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