Josh Metellus was on the team that went into Happy Valley in 2017 and left with its tail between its legs after losing 42-13. Now, the Michigan safety says that the business against Penn State remains unfinished even after the 42-7 win over the Nittany Lions last season in Ann Arbor.
“I’m really looking forward to it. I’ve been looking forward to it for the past two years,” Metellus told the media on Tuesday night. “Ever since we went down there my sophomore year. So I’m just ready to get after it on Saturday, 7:30, primetime, big stage.
“We ain’t finish the payback. Playing there, losing there, it still hurt, regardless if we won last year. We’re going back – last time we were there, we lost. We got nothing to show for it, being there. It’s still the same feeling or revenge, going back into their place.”
The Wolverines know that they will be going into a raucous atmosphere and Metellus says that the White Out and the noise is going to bring him back to the headspace of what that loss in 2017 felt like.
“I like the fact it’s pretty much the same thing – white out, 7:30 at night – because it’s gonna help me bring back that same emotion leaving that game,” Metellus said. “Basically everybody that was here, we’re still gonna have that same emotion once we get into the atmosphere, once we see what’s going on. Feel the big stage – I feel like everybody’s gonna come out to play.”
Finebaum: Harbaugh ‘might be done’ if they lose to Penn State
Paul Finebaum is no stranger to criticisms towards Jim Harbaugh and the Michigan Wolverines and he certainly still feels the way he does heading into the game at Penn State. When asked about his thoughts on Saturday’s matchup between the Wolverines and Nittany Lions, Finebaum said that Saturday is a must-win for Penn State.
He wasn’t as kind about the Wolverines.
“Michigan on the other hand, boy, you talk about a serious situation,” Finebaum said. “They lose this game and they are done. They have no way back and then they have Notre Dame next week. And then Jim Harbaugh might be done if he’s not careful.
”If he loses this game and then next week and still has Ohio State left, what faith would any Michigan fan have in this man? I don’t think they would,” Finebaum said. “Then it’s a matter of does the administration come to a very difficult conclusion. He has a road game he can win and has a home game next weekend vs. Notre Dame. But looking at his record (vs. Top 10s), there’s no reason to believe he’s going to win either one.”
We know the stats by now. Michigan is 1-9 against top ten teams under Jim Harbaugh and are 0-7 as an underdog. As annoying as Finebaum’s takes may be, he is not entirely wrong about how the fanbase will feel. Heck, a lot of them already do.
Former Michigan, Michigan State, local players selected to XFL
The XFL, the latest iteration of the football league founded by WWE’s Vince McMahon, held its draft on Tuesday with several players with ties to our universities in the state of Michigan getting a shot to play in this new (well, sort of new) league.
Here’s a full list of players that were selected and the teams they went, courtesy of MLive:
- Former Michigan State QB Connor Cook (Houston Roughnecks)
- Former Eastern Michigan QB Brogan Roback (St. Louis BattleHawks)
- Former Michigan RB De’Veon Smith (Tampa Bay Vipers)
- Former Western Michigan OL Willie Beavers (Dallas Renegades)
- Former Michigan OL Logan Tuley-Tillman (DC Defenders)
- Former Michigan OL Juwan Bushell-Beatty (St. Louis BattleHawks)
- Former Western Michigan OL John Keenoy (Dallas Renegades)
- Former Michigan OL/DL William Campbell (Tampa Bay Vipers)
XFL play kicks off the week after the Super Bowl with opening games set for Feb. 8, 2020.
Other Brews
- Quarterback Joe Burrow of LSU has taken the lead in the Heisman race, according to ESPN’s latest projection.
- Former Michigan head coach Lloyd Carr is heading south and is moving out of the area to warmer temperatures. A breakfast for him was held at Zingerman’s Roadhouse on Tuesday morning.
- If you’re heading to Happy Valley for Saturday night’s game and are looking to attend ESPN’s College GameDay, they will be set up at HUB Lawn in State College.