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A crunching hit by Willis Barringer force the football loose from Minnesota's Laurence Maroney in the second quarter. Michigan recovered.Michigan: Notebook
Flag planting irks U-M's Hart
Sophomore says Minnesota's players should have been happy to get back the Jug.
Taking a page from Michigan State's playbook, Laurence Maroney plants the Minnesota flag at midfield after the game.
Right at the jugular
What has been Michigan's biggest problem this season?
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ANN ARBOR -- Mike Hart saw it coming.
His stadium, his turf, and there they were, the victorious Minnesota Golden Gophers already with the Little Brown Jug in their possession, plunging the school flag into the block M at midfield.
Hart was not amused, but he said he was not angry.
"I thought they were better than that," Hart said. "If they want to be followers, be followers. They should have gotten the Jug, and it should have ended there."
Hart was referring to what several Michigan State players did after winning at Notre Dame earlier this season. The Spartans planted their flag in the middle of the field at Notre Dame Stadium.
"They're trying to be like Michigan State, I guess," Hart said of the Golden Gophers. "It was a great win. They had a great win, they got the Jug."
Senior receiver Jason Avant said he did not watch the swarm of Minnesota players run over to the Michigan sideline to take the Little Brown Jug.
"I couldn't handle that," Avant said.
Injury update
It was a difficult day for Michigan's starting safeties, Willis Barringer and Brandent Englemon.
Barringer, an 11-game starter at free safety, was carted off the field early in the fourth quarter because of an apparent injury to his left knee. Barringer was injured during the first series of the second half.
As Barringer left the field, Minnesota coach Glen Mason walked over and shook his hand. With Barringer out, freshman Brandon Harrison got increased playing time.
Englemon also left in the fourth quarter because of an apparent shoulder injury. In his absence, sophomore Jamar Adams saw more playing time.
Michigan already has lost safety Ryan Mundy for the season because of a nerve injury.
Almost a fumble
Hart has extended his streak of carries without a fumble to 352.
But that nearly ended -- and from all accounts, should have ended -- on his 10th carry of the game.
Hart appeared to fumble after a 5-yard gain early in the second half, but officials reviewed the play and said there was no fumble.
"I thought I fumbled, I'm not sure," Hart said. "I let the ball go, I was being lazy. That's just my fault. I heard the whistle blow, and I let it go. I thought they were going to call a fumble, to tell you the truth. I really thought I fumbled, but you can't let the ball come out at all, and I let it come out."
Tale of two halves
Garrett Rivas, who kicked the winning field goal in overtime against Michigan State last week, made two and missed two attempts against Minnesota.
He made field goals of 23 and 47 yards in the first half. The 47-yarder late in the second quarter was his longest of the season and tied a career high.
But in the second half, Rivas missed attempts from 42 and 34 yards, each of which could have broken a 20-20 tie.
Big return
Steve Breaston, who missed the Michigan State game because of an injury, returned to form against Minnesota.
Breaston scored on a 95-yard kickoff return early in the second half, giving Michigan a 20-13 lead.
It was the first kickoff return for a touchdown by Michigan since Seth Smith's 100-yard return on Oct. 29, 1994, in a 31-19 loss to Wisconsin.
It was the fourth-longest kickoff return in Michigan history.
The play was reviewed because it appeared Breaston might have stepped out of bounds at about the Minnesota 30, but it was ruled that Breaston stayed in.
Quotable
Hart on being 3-3: "It's a nightmare, but we've just got to come back. We'll see what the team is all about."
Coach Lloyd Carr, on what three losses this early in the season means to the Wolverines: "You've just got to keep fighting regardless what kind of circumstance you find yourself in, you have some choices. You can relent, and you can give in and you can feel sorry for yourself, or you can come back and fight and try to find a way to win."
... Hart, when asked if he agreed with LaMarr Woodley, who said Michigan is now playing for pride: "I hope everyone feels that way. If you don't feel that way, you shouldn't be on the team."
Lineman is back
Offensive lineman Mike Kolodziej, who started the season opener at right tackle in place of Jake Long (left ankle), returned for the first time in five weeks. Kolodziej had been out since the week of the Notre Dame game because of an undisclosed medical problem. Rueben Riley started his fifth straight game at right tackle but alternated at the position with Kolodziej.
Long was at Saturday's game on crutches and with his foot in a cast.
Game time set
Michigan's game against Penn State next Saturday at Michigan Stadium will be broadcast on ABC at 3:30 p.m.
You can reach Angelique S. Chengelis at Angelique.Chengelis@detnews.com.
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