SALT LAKE CITY – A new year, a new coach and pretty much the same result.
Jim Harbaugh’s Michigan debut got within sniffing distance of competitive game midway through the fourth quarter - then the quarterback blew it up.
Sound familiar? Just like what happened with Devin Gardner for the previous 2½ years, when U-M was down 17-10, Jake Rudock arrived and looked much like the same guy.
In the fourth quarter, leading U-M on a potential game-tying drive, Rudock took a chance on 3rd down and three and was reminded: Don't get greedy.
He put the ball in the gut of Utah’s Justin Thomas, who flew unabated 55 yards for an interception for a touchdown, pushing Utah’s lead to 24-10 on the way to U-M’s 24-17 loss at Rice-Eccles Stadium.