The day I found out that the 2009 Michigan game was on Halloween was very close to the day I found out that Lloyd Carr was out and RichRod was in. At least that’s the way I remember it. And I began to dream of today. Juice a senior. Benn a junior. Michigan still learning a new system. 65,000 pumpkin-clad faithful packing Memorial Stadium on Halloween screaming their lungs out as we end 26 years of frustration by destroying Michigan at home.

And as each day ticked by, my dream seemed to inch closer to reality. “Wow, Michigan just doesn’t have the athletes to run RichRod’s system – we might win by 30!” And then “If Juice can put up 400-some yards by himself in the Big House, imagine what he’ll do in Memorial Stadium on Halloween on National TV as a senior!” And then “The Grange Statue will be complete by then? So I can walk past The Galloping Ghost on my way into Memorial Stadium as we exorcise Michigan demons on Halloween? How do we NOT run the opening kickoff back for a touchdown?”

And then “um, why do we keep punting against a bad Missouri defense?” And then “um, why can’t we score more than 14 points?” And then “um, why are we staring at the possibility of being eliminated from bowl contention in October?”

So here we are. Laughingstock of the Big Ten again, with Michigan headed to town. This feels all too familiar. Toomer down the east sideline. A-Train fumbled (or not). A punt sailing towards Kyle Hudson. The more things change…

The more things change. We’re winning this one. Yes, winning. I refuse to give up on my dream. If I can’t have a bowl game, God, at least grant me a home Michigan win.

To win, we’ll likely have to win a shootout. And be at least +2 in the turnover department. And control the clock. And run the ball effectively. And contain Brandon Graham. And hold their run game in check. And bat down a pass or two. And get a big play from our special teams. And complete 60% of our passes. And avoid bad penalties. And convert at least one critical fourth down.

Can we do all of this? Of course not. But we will.

Illinois 31, Michigan 30