Former Michigan star Taylor Lewan rips decision to run trick play on first series of Fiesta Bowl
Michigan looked like it was rolling on the first series of the Fiesta Bowl Saturday against TCU. The Wolverines were in the red zone looking to score when the coaches called for a trick play on fourth down — and it failed to the tune of an eight-yard loss.
That call didn’t sit well with former Wolverines offensive lineman and current Tennessee Titan Taylor Lewan, who was on the sideline for a “Field Pass” broadcast with The Pat McAfee Show on ESPN2. He also pointed out the fact that Michigan’s offensive line won the Joe Moore Award as the nation’s best offensive line for the second year in a row, which is why he didn’t think a trick play was necessary.
“Listen, I truly believe Jim Harbaugh and his staff are the best staff in the NCAA. However, I have to disagree with that call,” Lewan said. “You have the two-time Joe Moore winning team, you need to take that … right behind the big boys. I love the trickery, just not at this point in the game. That one broke my heart.”
Lewan is on the broadcast as he deals with a knee injury that’s keeping him away from the Titans. He’s part of the side-cast crew that includes Cole Cubelic, AQ Shipley and Robert Griffin III.
Jim Harbaugh says Michigan’s mindset is ‘at their very best’ ahead of Fiesta Bowl vs. TCU
Running out of the tunnel and on to the field for the Fiesta Bowl and College Football Playoff semifinal against TCU, Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh spoke briefly with ESPN sideline reporter Molly McGrath.
McGrath wanted to know how getting to the CFP semifinals in 2021 will benefit the 2022 Michigan team against TCU and Harbaugh was mum about how it might play out.
“I don’t know exactly. I’ll probably be able to answer that after the game. Mindset of the team is good, they’re at their very best,” Harbaugh said.
While Harbaugh doesn’t have much to say about how the past experience will benefit his team now, the historical record shows that teams that have played in the playoff prior dominate when playing against first-time entrants in the semifinals.