2006 Miami Hurricanes football team, Preseason
After back-to-back 9–3 seasons at Miami, where expectations are to compete for a national championship every year, it was widely believed that Coker was on the proverbial hot seat and needed to take the Hurricanes to a BCS bowl to keep his job. In the wake of last year's Peach Bowl loss, Coker fired four assistant coaches. During the offseason, Coker hired Rich Olson as his new offensive coordinator in an attempt to reinvigorate the Hurricane offense. Olson had previously served as Miami's offensive coordinator during the early 1990s under then-head coach Dennis Erickson.


2006 Miami Hurricanes football team, Preseason
ESPN college football analyst Kirk Herbstreit picked Miami to win the 2006 national championship, predicting the Hurricanes would defeat Notre Dame in the national championship game.


2006 Miami Hurricanes football team, Preseason, Award Candidates
The following Hurricanes were named to preseason awards watch lists:


2006 Miami Hurricanes football team, Game Recaps, Florida State
This was the third time in the last three years that archrivals Miami and Florida State opened the season against each other. The previous two games were also low-scoring defensive struggles, with the Hurricanes winning, 16–10, in overtime in 2004, and the Seminoles prevailing, 10–7, in 2005.


2006 Miami Hurricanes football team, Game Recaps, Florida State
The game was the most-viewed college football game, regular season or bowl, in the history of ESPN, averaging 6,330,000 million households in viewership (6.9 rating). It was also the second-highest rated game in ESPN history, behind only the 1994 game between Miami and FSU, which notched a 7.7 rating


2006 Miami Hurricanes football team, Game Recaps, Florida A&M
This was the seventh meeting between Miami and Florida A&M. Miami continues to lead the all-time series, 6–1. The two teams had last met in 2002, with Miami winning, 63–17.


2006 Miami Hurricanes football team, Game Recaps, Louisville
This was the eleventh meeting between the schools. Prior to this game, Miami had never lost to Louisville, owning an all-time record of 9–0–1. Miami won the previous meeting in 2004, 41–38, in a game in which the Hurricanes had to rally late from a 17–point deficit. After this humiliating loss in the rain to Louisville, Miami became unranked for the first time in 107 weeks – the then-longest current streak in college football.


2006 Miami Hurricanes football team, Game Recaps, Louisville
The game was highlighted by a pre-game confrontation between the teams that was sparked when several Miami players provocatively stomped on the Louisville Cardinal bird logo located at mid-field of Papa John's Cardinal Stadium. Four other teams (East Carolina, South Florida, Cincinnati, and Rutgers) had stomped on the logo in the past, and each wound up losing the game.


2006 Miami Hurricanes football team, Game Recaps, Houston
In the eighteenth meeting between the schools, Miami extended the all-time series lead to 11–7. Miami won 14–13, after a 27-yard gain on 3rd and 24 which led to a touchdown pass by Kyle Wright to James Bryant and gave Miami the win. Freshman RB Javarris James set a school rushing record for freshman by posting 148 rushing yards, breaking the previous record of 147 rushing yards set by Clinton Portis. Prior to the game, a number of airplanes hired by Miami fans unhappy with the team's poor start circled over the Orange Bowl while carrying banners demanding the firing of the embattled Coker, as well as Athletic Director Paul Dee.


2006 Miami Hurricanes football team, Game Recaps, North Carolina
Freshman Javarris James further solidified his hold on the starting running back position by rushing for over 100 yards for the second consecutive week. James carried 16 times for 111 yards (6.9 ypc), including a dazzling 62-yard touchdown run in the third quarter which put the game out of reach. Tight end Greg Olsen had his best game of the season, catching 8 passes for 95 yards, while the Miami defense limited North Carolina to just 244 yards of total offense and forced 3 Tar Heel turnovers. The win gave Miami its first winning streak of the 2006 campaign as the Hurricanes improved to 3–2 overall. It was also Miami's first ACC win of the year, evening its conference record at 1–1.


2006 Miami Hurricanes football team, Game Recaps, Florida International
This was the first meeting between the Hurricanes and the crosstown Golden Panthers, who began active competition as a football program in 2002. Kyle Wright threw for three touchdowns, and the Miami defense held the Golden Panthers to 148 total yards.


2006 Miami Hurricanes football team, Game Recaps, Florida International
However, this game would become one of the biggest embarrassments in the history of both schools. After trash-talk between players from both teams during the opening minutes, and an incident in which FIU wide receiver Chandler Williams dove helmet-first into a prone Kenny Phillips after Miami intercepted a pass, the game turned truly ugly in the third quarter.


2006 Miami Hurricanes football team, Game Recaps, Florida International
After James Bryant caught Wright's second TD pass, he pointed to the FIU bench and bowed to the crowd, drawing an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for his act. At the end of the ensuing conversion, FIU's Chris Smith wrestled Miami holder Matt Perelli to the ground and punched him. Another Golden Panther, Marshall McDuffie Jr., kicked Perelli on the ground. Players from each side joined the pile, and both benches quickly emptied, with fights breaking out in several parts of the field.


2006 Miami Hurricanes football team, Game Recaps, Florida International
Several players from both teams threw punches, Miami cornerback Brandon Meriweather was seen trying to stomp on FIU players, and another Golden Panther, Amod Ned, was seen swinging a crutch at Miami players. During the melee, Canes safety Anthony Reddick ran across the field and swung his helmet at FIU cornerback Robert Mitchell, hitting him.


2006 Miami Hurricanes football team, Game Recaps, Florida International
Five Canes were ejected—Carlos Armour, Chris Barney, Bruce Johnson, Charlie Jones, and Derrick Morse. Eight Golden Panthers were ejected as well. Coach Larry Coker also indefinitely suspended Meriweather and Reddick for their parts in the fracas, plus Bryant for his taunting gesture that arguably triggered the melee.


2006 Miami Hurricanes football team, Game Recaps, Florida International
In the aftermath, Coker called the brawl "disgraceful," adding the following day, "I don't have many bad days. This is a bad day. And last night was a bad night." For his part, FIU head coach Don Strock said "I can promise you that this will never happen again." Other officials from both universities also publicly apologized.


2006 Miami Hurricanes football team, Game Recaps, Florida International
The day after the game, the ACC suspended a total of 13 Miami players, and the Sun Belt Conference suspended 18 FIU players.


2006 Miami Hurricanes football team, Game Recaps, Duke
Playing without 13 players who were suspended for their actions in the previous week's brawl with FIU, and missing starting tight end Greg Olsen and starting linebacker Jon Beason due to injury, the shorthanded 'Canes raced out to a 20–2 third quarter lead behind strong play from QB Kyle Wright. Underdog Duke would not give up, though, rallying to score two unanswered fourth-quarter touchdowns to trim Miami's lead to 20–15 (Duke failed to convert a two-point conversion attempt on the second touchdown).


2006 Miami Hurricanes football team, Game Recaps, Duke
Meanwhile, the Duke defense put the clamps on Miami's running game, holding the Hurricanes to a paltry 37 yards rushing on 25 carries (1.5 ypc) for the game. Duke, however, could not capitalize on two opportunities to take the lead. After driving down to the Miami 29-yard line with less than 3:30 remaining in the game, Duke was stopped on a fourth down attempt and turned the ball over to Miami. Duke's defense would bend, as Miami drove down to the Duke 34, but Duke was able to stop Miami on third down. Faced with a 4th-and-2 from Duke's 34-yard line with inside 2:15 remaining, Miami head coach Larry Coker elected to punt and rely on his vaunted defense rather than go for it on fourth down or attempt a long field goal.


2006 Miami Hurricanes football team, Game Recaps, Duke
Duke took over from its own 11-yard line and strung together an impressive drive that brought the Blue Devils down to the Hurricanes' 6-yard line with :03 remaining in the game. On third down and with time expiring, Duke QB Thaddeus Lewis' threw a pass intended for wide receiver Eron Riley in the left side of the endzone. However, Miami safety Willie Cooper was lying in wait and was able to jump the route and intercept Lewis' pass at the goal line. Cooper returned the ball all the way to the Duke 15-yard line before voluntarily falling to the ground to end the game and deny Duke what would have been a momentous upset.


2006 Miami Hurricanes football team, Game Recaps, Duke
Wright completed 23 of 41 passes for 291 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 1 interception. Duke wide receiver Jomar Wright was impressive in defeat, catching 10 passes for 170 yards against Miami's makeshift secondary. Miami sophomore safety Kenny Phillips intercepted three passes, tying a school record. Phillips was named the ACC's Defensive Back of the Week for his stellar play.


2006 Miami Hurricanes football team, Game Recaps, Duke
Miami improved to 5–2 on the year with a 2–1 ACC record, setting up a showdown the next week with Georgia Tech for control of the ACC's Coastal Division.


2006 Miami Hurricanes football team, Game Recaps, Georgia Tech
Georgia Tech (5–2, 3–1 ACC) entered the game in first place in the ACC's Coastal Division, leading second-place Miami (5–2, 2–1 ACC) by 1/2 game in the standings. The winner of this showdown would gain control its own destiny and be able to assure itself of a berth in the ACC Championship by winning the remainder of its games.


2006 Miami Hurricanes football team, Game Recaps, Georgia Tech
Miami got on the board first when Georgia Tech quarterback Reggie Ball fumbled the ball at the Georgia Tech 18-yard line during the Yellow Jackets' opening drive. Miami linebacker Glenn Cook returned the fumble for a Miami touchdown. After Miami forced a punt on the Jackets next possession, Javarris James broke a 49-yard run that set up a 38-yard field goal from Jon Peattie, putting Miami ahead, 10–0. Georgia Tech answered with a 12-play, 53-yard drive on its ensuing possession, highlighted by a 43-yard pass from Ball to receiver Calvin Johnson that set up a 39-yard field goal from Travis Bell, cutting the Miami lead to 10–3 at the end of the first quarter.


2006 Miami Hurricanes football team, Game Recaps, Georgia Tech
Miami added another field goal early in the second quarter to push its lead to 13–3. After a 22-yard punt by Miami's Brian Monroe gave Georgia Tech the ball at the Miami 46-yard line, Tech scored a touchdown on its first play when Ball connected with James Johnson for a 46-yard touchdown strike, bringing the Jackets within 3. Georgia Tech later intercepted a Kyle Wright pass in Miami territory, which enabled the Jackets to add a game-tying field goal before the half.


2006 Miami Hurricanes football team, Game Recaps, Georgia Tech
On its first possession of the second half, Miami moved the ball 69 yards before the drive was ended when receiver Lance Leggett fumbled at the Georgia Tech 10-yard line. Miami forced Georgia Tech to go three-and-out before embarking on a long 14-play, 54-yard drive that ate up 6:59 and ended with another Peattie field goal, putting the Hurricanes back in front, 16–13.


2006 Miami Hurricanes football team, Game Recaps, Georgia Tech
Georgia Tech would respond with 17 unanswered fourth-quarter points. The first three came by way of a 39-yard field goal from Bell. That drive was not without controversy, however, as replays appeared to show Miami safety Brandon Meriweather intercept a pass from Ball on a 2nd-and-11 from the Miami 31. The play was ruled an incomplete pass by the referees on the field. The officials in the replay booth declined to initiate an instant replay review of the play, nor did Miami coach Larry Coker, who still had one timeout remaining, initiate a coach's challenge. Instead of Miami taking over with its lead intact, Georgia Tech retained possession, and, after picking up nine yards on third down, successfully kicked a game-tying field goal from the Miami 22.


2006 Miami Hurricanes football team, Game Recaps, Georgia Tech
The Jackets forced Miami to punt, and, on its next possession, Georgia Tech went 74 yards in 9 plays, scoring on a 1-yard touchdown pass from Ball to Johnson. On Miami's next possession, Wright was sacked by Adamm Oliver and fumbled at the Miami 35. The ball was recovered by Georgia Tech's Kamichael Hall, who returned it eight yards to the Miami 27. Two plays later, running back Tashard Choice ran for a 25-yard touchdown, giving Georgia Tech a 30–16 lead with 3:30 remaining, seemingly sealing the game.


2006 Miami Hurricanes football team, Game Recaps, Georgia Tech
Miami, however, made things interesting when Wright hooked up with tight end Greg Olsen for a 41-yard touchdown pass on the third play of Miami's next possession, making the score 30–23 with just 2:10 remaining in the game. Coker, who only had one timeout left, elected to kick deep on the ensuing kickoff rather than attempt an onside kick. Miami was able to force Georgia Tech to punt and was set to take possession with less than :30 remaining and no timeouts. However, Miami punt returner Rashaun Jones fumbled the punt and the ball was recovered by Georgia Tech's Chris Dunlap, giving Georgia Tech the win.


2006 Miami Hurricanes football team, Game Recaps, Georgia Tech
With the loss, Miami fell to 5–3 (2–2 ACC) on the year, causing the already intense criticism of coach Coker and quarterback Wright to intensify. James was productive in defeat, gaining 112 yards on 19 carries, while Olsen caught 5 passes for 91 yards and a touchdown.


2006 Miami Hurricanes football team, Game Recaps, Virginia Tech
Virginia Tech avenged a 27–7 loss from the previous year by dealing reeling Miami its fourth loss of the 2006 season. Miami's defense was stout in defeat, holding the visiting Hokies to just 139 yards of total offense (86 passing, 53 rushing). Running back Tyrone Moss, filling in after starter Javarris James was forced from the game early in the first half with a hip pointer, had a strong game, rushing 13 times for 103 yards. The highlight of Moss' evening was a 50-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter that tied the score at 10.


2006 Miami Hurricanes football team, Game Recaps, Virginia Tech
But it was not enough to overcome Miami's sputtering pass offense. Kyle Wright struggled badly, completing just 14 of 29 passes for 84 yards. Wright also threw two critical interceptions late in the game. The first led to what would prove to be Virginia Tech's game-winning touchdown, while the second came on the first play of Miami's ensuing possession, essentially sealing the defeat. The homecoming loss served to only intensify criticism of the struggling Wright, who was booed lustily at times during the game. Coker, the team's embattled head coach, was also the subject of boos from the crowd. The loss was Miami's fifth consecutive against ranked opponents dating back to the previous season's Peach Bowl loss to LSU, and ensured Miami of its first four-loss season since 1999.


2006 Miami Hurricanes football team, Game Recaps, Maryland
Playing in its first game since the murder of defensive lineman Bryan Pata (see Bryan Pata murder below), a mourning Miami team dropped its third straight game, 14–13, to the #24 Maryland Terrapins at Byrd Stadium, falling to 5–5 on the season (2–4 ACC). Sophomore quarterback Kirby Freeman, starting in place of the injured Kyle Wright, played well in his first collegiate start, completing 14 of 27 passes for 140 yards, 1 touchdown, and 1 interception. Freeman also rushed for 51 yards on 9 carries.


2006 Miami Hurricanes football team, Game Recaps, Maryland
However, a couple of long pass plays surrendered by the Hurricane defense early in the game proved to be the difference. Maryland took a 7–0 lead early in the first quarter when quarterback Sam Hollenbach hooked up with receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey on a 65-yard touchdown pass. Hollenbach would find Heyward-Bey again in the second quarter for a 96-yard touchdown pass, both the longest pass play in Maryland history and the longest pass ever surrendered by Miami. Miami would fight back, though, and cut the Maryland lead to one point in the fourth quarter.


2006 Miami Hurricanes football team, Game Recaps, Maryland
But after forcing Maryland to punt with 1:14 to go in the game, Miami returner Bruce Johnson fumbled the punt and Maryland recovered, enabling the Terrapins to run the clock out and walk away with the victory. Miami dominated the game statistically, racking up 320 yards and 18 first downs while holding the ball for 37:09, compared to just 258 yards, 6 first downs, and 22:51 of possession for Maryland, but was unable to convert that statistical advantage into a victory. Maryland fans stormed the field in celebration after the final whistle.


2006 Miami Hurricanes football team, Game Recaps, Maryland
The loss was Miami's sixth straight against a ranked opponent, and was the third straight loss, and fourth loss overall, in which the Canes had a chance to tie or win the game on their final possession, but squandered the opportunity with a turnover.


2006 Miami Hurricanes football team, Game Recaps, Virginia
Miami lost its fourth straight game, losing to the Virginia Cavaliers for the first time in four all-time meetings. Miami's problems on offense continued, as the Hurricanes were only able to muster one offensive touchdown for the fourth consecutive game, while the Virginia offense picked apart the Miami defense. Jameel Sewell was the star of the Cavalier offense, connecting on 23 of 33 passes for 217 yards and running for a pair of touchdowns. Virginia also became the first team all season to rush for over 100 yards against Miami's defense, racking up 134 yards on the ground. Freshman running back Javarris James ran for 95 yards on 21 carries in defeat. Quarterback Kirby Freeman, making his second collegiate start after Kyle Wright underwent season-ending thumb injury earlier in the week, completed 11 of 18 passes for 152 yards, 1 touchdown, and 1 interception.


2006 Miami Hurricanes football team, Game Recaps, Virginia
With the Hurricanes dropping to 5–6 (2–5 ACC), they would need to win their final game of the season against Boston College in order to become bowl eligible.


2006 Miami Hurricanes football team, Game Recaps, Boston College
In a Thanksgiving night primetime nationally televised game, Miami upset #18 Boston College at the Orange Bowl, 17–14, to win its 15th straight game against BC. The Hurricanes won behind a dominating defense that held the Eagles to under 200 yards of total offense and an offense that made just enough plays to overcome a 14–3 first half deficit. With the win, Miami became bowl eligible and denied BC a potential berth in the ACC Championship Game. The win was Miami's first of the year over a ranked opponent.


2006 Miami Hurricanes football team, Game Recaps, Boston College
The game was played on the 22nd anniversary of the immortal "Hail Flutie" game, which was the last time Boston College defeated Miami.


2006 Miami Hurricanes football team, Game Recaps, MPC Computers Bowl vs. Nevada
On November 29, 2006, Miami accepted an invitation to play against the Nevada Wolf Pack in the MPC Computers Bowl at Bronco Stadium in Boise, Idaho on December 31. Playing in 20 degree temperatures, quarterback Kirby Freeman completed 11 of 19 passes for 272 yards and led Miami to a 21–20 victory in coach Larry Coker's final game. Freeman, who also rushed for a touchdown, was named the game's Most Valuable Player. The win was clinched when Nevada quarterback Jeff Rowe was intercepted by Chavez Grant at the Miami 33 yard line with :18 remaining in the game. After the game, Coker was carried off the field by his players.


2006 Miami Hurricanes football team, Game Recaps, MPC Computers Bowl vs. Nevada
The win improved Miami's record to 7–6, making the 2006 campaign Miami's ninth straight winning season.


2006 Miami Hurricanes football team, Bryan Pata murder
Defensive tackle Bryan Pata was shot and killed on November 7, 2006. Pata was murdered at The Colony apartment complex in Kendall by an unknown assailant some time around 7:30 pm. The Miami-Dade Police Department declined to release further information about the specific circumstances of the shooting until they finished interviewing witnesses; the death was ruled a homicide.


2006 Miami Hurricanes football team, Bryan Pata murder
Pata was the fourth Miami football player to die in the past 10 years. Linebacker Marlin Barnes and a female companion were bludgeoned to death in Barnes' on-campus apartment in 1996 by the woman's jealous ex-lover. In 2002, linebacker Chris Campbell was killed in a car accident. A car accident in 2003 also claimed the life of safety Al Blades.


2006 Miami Hurricanes football team, Bryan Pata murder
Pata was described by friends and acquaintances as a "Christian" with a friendly, outgoing personality. Pata, who was projected to be a third-round selection in the 2007 NFL Draft, also harbored dreams of one day possibly joining the FBI when his football career was over.


2006 Miami Hurricanes football team, Post–Season
With the Hurricanes finishing the regular season at 6–6, the 2006 season proved to be one of the worst for the program in the past thirty years. The fall of Miami, which established itself as one of the most successful college football programs of the past twenty five years, was one of the biggest stories in collegiate football in 2006.


2006 Miami Hurricanes football team, Post–Season
The season was the culmination of a gradual decline for the program since it won the national championship in 2001. In each following year, Miami appeared to have taken a step back in terms of national stature and its overall record, going from an undefeated national championship in 2001 to a national championship game loss in 2002 to a two-loss season in 2003 to back-to-back three loss seasons in 2004 and 2005, and a six-loss season in 2006. The team, which had the longest current streak of being ranked in the AP Poll, fell from the AP Top 25 in 2006 for the first time in 10 seasons.


2006 Miami Hurricanes football team, Post–Season
Most noticeable during the decline were the mounting losses to mediocre programs, the increase in home losses, and a persistently anemic offense.


2006 Miami Hurricanes football team, Post–Season
Only a late season win over Boston College ensured that Miami would finish the season bowl eligible. Since 1983, Miami had failed to play in a bowl game just twice: in 1995, when the program served a one-year bowl suspension, and in 1997, when the Hurricanes, hampered by NCAA scholarship sanctions, finished just 5–6.


2006 Miami Hurricanes football team, Post–Season
Considerable speculation about Larry Coker's job status began to swirl after Miami's loss to Louisville in the third game of the season, which only intensified after the midseason brawl against FIU and the team's four-game losing streak late in the season.


2006 Miami Hurricanes football team, Post–Season
As expected, Coker was dismissed on November 24, 2006, the morning after his Hurricanes closed the regular season with a 17-14 upset win over #18 Boston College. Coker would coach the team in its bowl game. As part of the terms of his contract, Coker would receive a buyout in the neighborhood of $2 to $3 million.


2006 Miami Hurricanes football team, Post–Season, Head Coaching Search
In the aftermath of Coker's firing, a number of prominent college head coaches were speculated as potential candidates for the Miami head coaching job, including South Carolina head coach Steve Spurrier,  former Wisconsin head coach Barry Alvarez, and Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano. Schiano, a former defensive coordinator at Miami, was reported to be the university's top choice. Schiano discussed the position with Miami Athletic Director Paul Dee, but subsequently removed his name from further consideration. Speculation ran high around Texas Tech head coach Mike Leach, who was one of only three coaches publicly confirmed as a candidate for the job, but Leach fell out of consideration after an interview with Dee.


2006 Miami Hurricanes football team, Post–Season, Head Coaching Search
After an intensive two-week head coaching search, Miami opted to stay in the family and promoted its highly regarded defensive coordinator Randy Shannon to the position of head coach on December 8, 2006. Shannon, who played linebacker at Miami from 1985 through 1988, became just the sixth African-American head coach in NCAA Division I-A football at the time. Shannon took over recruiting duties immediately, but expressed his desire for fired head coach Larry Coker to stay on and coach the team one final time in its season-ending bowl game against Nevada.


2006 Miami RedHawks football team
The 2006 Miami RedHawks football team represented Miami University in the 2006 NCAA Division I FBS football season The team was coached by Shane Montgomery and played their homes game in Yager Stadium in Oxford, Ohio.


2006 Miami RedHawks football team, Pre-season
The RedHawks had to fill several holes in the starting line up, due to the Graduation of 19 seniors, including eight all-MAC selections. Included among the losses were five offensive starters, nine defensive starters and the starting place kicker. The Hardest hit position was linebacker which graduated five of the top six players including Terna Nande. With the graduation of Josh Betts, head coach Shane Montgomery also had to pick a starting Quarterback from the  returning Junior Mike Kokal, sophomore Jared Elliott and handful of redshirt freshman recruits, totaling seven possible options.


2006 Miami RedHawks football team, Pre-season
Senior wide receiver punt returner Ryne Robinson had the opportunity to set on at least two NCAA career records. "Robinson, the nation's active leader in career punt return yardage has totaled 1,502 career punt yards and is closing on the career record of 1,761 yards established by Texas Tech's Wes Welker. Robinson also was the nation's active leader in career punt return touchdowns with six and has closed to within two of that NCAA record.


2006 Miami RedHawks football team, Game summaries, Northwestern
This was an emotional evening as Miami honored the former head coach of both schools Randy Walker, who died unexpectedly earlier this summer. The 52-year-old Northwestern coach died on June 29, 2006  of an apparent heart attack. He was replaced at Northwestern by Pat Fitzgerald, who was Walker's top assistant. Walker also was a Miami graduate, and had more wins than any other head coach in Miami history. The game was a defensive battle with Northwestern gaining 301 total yards to Miami's 230 yards.


2006 Miami RedHawks football team, Game summaries, Northwestern
After a scoreless first half, the Wildcats’ Erryn Cobb blocked a punt and returned it for a touchdown early in the third period to begin a 21-point second half for the Wildcats. Miami answered the Wildcats first score with a 22-yard field goal midway through the third quarter by Nathan Parseghian, The Wildcats offense then scored again when redshirt quarterback Mike Kafka threw a 19-yard touchdown pass to Tyrell Sutton. Terrell Jordan finished off the scoring with a 4-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter make it 21–3.


2006 Miami RedHawks football team, Game summaries, Purdue
Purdue beat Miami by a score of 38–31 when the RedHawks failed score a touchdown in overtime after the Boilermaker's Kory Sheets scored the game-winning touchdowns in their overtime possession. Miami missed pulling the upset when the Boilermaker's Anthony Spencer blocked Nathan Parseghian's potential game-winning field goal attempt with 17 seconds left forcing the overtime. The RedHawks moved the ball well in the first half but failed to score a touchdown. The first half ended with Purdue leading 10–3.


2006 Miami RedHawks football team, Game summaries, Purdue
The RedHawks finally crossed the goal line in the 3rd quarter for their first touch down of the season, when Mike Kokal hit Jake O'Connell 2-yard touchdown pass to tie the game at 10. The RedHawks and Boilermakers traded touchdowns the rest of the game to finish regulation tied at 31. The RedHawks offence was led by Mike Kokal who passed for 378 yards and four touchdowns, and Ryne Robinson who caught nine passes for 162 yards and two touchdowns.


2006 Miami RedHawks football team, Game summaries, Kent State
For the third straight game the RedHawks did not cross the goal line in the first half. Kent State took a half time lead of 9–0. On Kent's first drive in the third quarter, Julian Edelman ran for a 1-yard touchdown to make the score 16–0. Brandon Murphy scored for the RedHawks on a 3-yard run with 2:46 remaining in the third quarter. The RedHawks came close to forcing an overtime when Mike Kokal ran for a 2-yard TD with 1:04 remaining but Kokal's pass attempt on the 2-point conversion to tie fell incomplete. The Golden Flashes broke an 11-game losing streak with the victory Saturday.


2006 Miami RedHawks football team, Game summaries, Syracuse
The Orange's Curtis Brinkley ran for 108 yards on 15 carries including one Touchdown to lead Syracuse to a 34–14 victory over the Redhawks. Miami was led by Mike Kokal who completed 17-of-28 passes for 171 yards and a touchdown. He also added 24 yards rushing but he was also sacked 7 times and only got off only three second-half pass attempts. Entering the game the RedHawk offensive line had given up a nationally worst number of sacks with 22. The line problems were compounded by injuries of  starting left tackle Charlie Norden and right guard Matt McKeown.


2006 Miami RedHawks football team, Game summaries, Cincinnati
After a first quarter fumble, Trevor Cook kicked a 49-yard field goal to give the RedHawks their first lead this season. Bearcats’ offence responded by scoring 17 unanswered points to take a 17–3 lead. The RedHawks’ office led by redshirt freshman Daniel Raudabaugh, starting in place of the injured Mike Kokal, did not score the rest of the game. The RedHawks did have a Miami's Ryne Robinson returned a punt 80 yards for a touchdown midway through the third quarter. This was Robinson seventh career punt return touchdown.


2006 Miami RedHawks football team, Game summaries, Cincinnati
The record of 8 is shared by Wes Welker of Texas Tech and Antonio Perkins of University of Oklahoma. Cincinnati added to their lead with a Justin Grutza's 20-yard scoring pass to Derrick Stewart for a final score of 24–10. The Bearcats who were led by Greg Moore and his 119 yards reclaimed the Victory Bell.


2006 Miami RedHawks football team, Game summaries, Northern Illinois
Miami put up a strong offensive and defensive effort but could not beat NIU. The RedHawks out gained the Huskies by 129 yards and even with Garrett Wolfe running for 162 yards. The RedHawks were led by Dustin Woods’ eight catches for 178 yards, Andre Bratton two touchdowns and Mike Kokal 324 yards passing. Senior receiver Ryne Robinson became the program's career record holder for receptions. With seven catches for 57 yards on the night, he now has 211 career receptions.


2006 Miami RedHawks football team, Game summaries, Buffalo
Due to a snow storm that hit the Buffalo area the game was played on Sunday instead of Saturday. The snow storm did not stop the RedHawks from their first victory of the season. Miami's defense and special teams provided the RedHawks with scoring opportunities. The defense intercepted Buffalo four times in the second half and their special teams blocked a punt. This led to three touchdowns in just under nine minutes. This victory gave Miami a 9–0 all-time record versus the Bulls.


2006 Miami RedHawks football team, Game summaries, Akron
The Akron Zips beat Miami 24–13. Miami could not take full advantage of Akron's mistakes. The Zips twice fumbled deep in its own territory, but the RedHawks managed only field goals instead of touchdowns. Miami had the lead late in the game but Dennis Kennedy ran a 7-yard touchdown with 33 seconds left in the third quarter gave Akron lead for good. Miami was led by Mike Kokal who was 21-of-46 passing for 263 and Ryne Robinson who caught nine passes for 135 yards including a 4-yard touchdown in the first quarter to give the RedHawks a 7–3 lead.


2006 Miami RedHawks football team, Game summaries, Ball State
With 1:11 remaining in the game Ball State's Nate Davis threw a 1-yard touchdown pass to Madaris Grant to give the Cardinals a victory over the RedHawks. Miami defense held the Cardinals to only 226 yards but could not prevent the late touchdown. Miami was led by Mike Kokal who completed 19 of 34 passes for 205 yards including an 11-yard touchdown pass to Ryne Robinson.


2006 Miami RedHawks football team, Game summaries, Western Michigan
With 1:16 left in the game, Nate Meyer kicked a 21-yard field goal to lift Western Michigan over Miami 27–24. Miami was led by Ryne Robinson who had 10-receptions for 180 yards, giving him 1,001 yards for the season. Robinson is the first player in Miami history to eclipse 1,000 yards in consecutive seasons. Even with Robinsons strong performance, Western Michigan's defense dominated Miami's running game limiting the RedHawks to only 93 total yards rushing. The Broncos defense was led by linebacker Ameer Ismail, who tied a school record with his 15th sack of the season.


2006 Miami RedHawks football team, Game summaries, Bowling Green
Bowling Green's Sean Ellis slipped on a muddy and rain soaked turf and missed a 25-yard field goal wide left with 35 seconds remaining to give the RedHawks their second win of the season by the score of 9–7. Both teams had to battle rain, wind and terrible field conditions. Miami was led by quarterback Mike Kokal who completed 12-of-24 passes for 130 yards and the game-winning touchdown to Dustin Woods with 11:24 left in the game. Ryne Robinson caught a pass for the 41st consecutive game and finished with nine catches for 86 yards.


2006 Miami RedHawks football team, Game summaries, Ohio U
In the 83rd meeting between Ohio University and Miami, the Bobcats beat the RedHawks, 34–24, to end a six-game losing streak versus Miami. It was Ohio first win at Yager Stadium since 1993. Ryne Robinson totaled 8 catches for 91 yards and a touchdown finishing his career with Miami career records for receptions (250) and yards (3,606). Robinson also broke Miami's single season record for receptions held by Martin Nance.


2006 Miami Valley Silverbacks season
The team began play in 2006 as the Miami Valley Silverbacks, an expansion member of the American Indoor Football League (AIFL). On Saturday, March 25, 2006, WR/DB Maurice Lee managed to set five AIFL wide receiver records, en route to his team's 57–54 Week 5 road victory over the Steubenville Stampede. He set the records for most catches (16), most reception yards (191), most receiving touchdowns (7), most points (42), and total touchdowns (7). The team finished 5-9 in their expansion season, earning a birth in the AIFL playoffs before losing in the first round. After the season four Silverbacks were named to the AIFL ProStar Team.


2006 Michigan Attorney General election
The Michigan Attorney General election of 2006 took place on November 7, 2006, to elect the Attorney General of Michigan. Incumbent Mike Cox became the first Republican in over 50 years to be elected Attorney General and was seeking to become the first Republican since the amending of the Michigan Constitution to be re-elected. Despite a 2005 scandal where Cox announced he had an extramarital affair before becoming Attorney General Cox won re-election easily, defeating Democratic nominee Amos Williams, taking 54 percent of the vote.


2006 Michigan House of Representatives election
The 2006 Michigan House of Representatives elections were held on November 7, 2006, with partisan primaries to select the parties' nominees in the various districts on August 8, 2006.


2006 Michigan Secretary of State election
The 2006 Michigan Secretary of State election was held on Tuesday, November 7, 2006 to elect the Michigan Secretary of State for a four-year term. Incumbent Republican Terri Lynn Land ran for re-election to a second term.


2006 Michigan Secretary of State election, Candidates, Republican Party
Incumbent Terri Lynn Land won the party's nomination during the state convention.


2006 Michigan Secretary of State election, Candidates, Democratic Party
Macomb County Clerk Carmella Sabaugh won the party's nomination during the state convention.


2006 Michigan Senate election
The 2006 Michigan Senate elections took place on November 7, 2006, with partisan primaries to select the parties' candidates in the various districts on August 6, 2006.


2006 Michigan State Spartans football team
The 2006 Michigan State Spartans football team represented Michigan State University in the 2006 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Michigan State competed as a member of the Big Ten Conference, and played their home games at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing, Michigan. The Spartans were led by fourth-year head coach John L. Smith. Smith had compiled a combined 18–18 record in his previous seasons at Michigan State, and he was fired after the 2006 season in which the team finished 4–8. The Spartans did, however, set the record for the greatest comeback from a deficit in college football history.


2006 Michigan State Spartans football team, Season recap
Michigan State teams during Smith's tenure were "known for their late season collapses". The Spartans started the 2006 season with a 3–0 record with victories over Idaho, Eastern Michigan, and Pittsburgh. The following week, Michigan State led Notre Dame, 37–21, in the third quarter, but surrendered 19 points to lose the game. The Spartans then lost all but one game on the remainder of their schedule.


2006 Michigan State Spartans football team, Season recap
On October 21, Michigan State traveled to Evanston, Illinois to face Northwestern. By the third quarter, Northwestern had extended its lead to a commanding 38–3. Michigan State gained momentum in the fourth quarter when Devin Thomas blocked a Northwestern punt, which was then returned for a touchdown by Ashton Henderson. Northwestern was forced to punt twice more and Michigan State capitalized on each possession with a touchdown, which tied the game, 38–38. Placekicker Brett Swenson made good the game-winning field goal with 0:13 remaining to play, and Michigan State won the greatest comeback in college football history.


2006 Michigan State Spartans football team, Season recap
After the record-setting victory, it appeared that Smith's job was temporarily secured, but the administration fired him shortly after a loss to Indiana the following week. The Spartans ended the season with four consecutive losses to finish with a 4–8 overall record and 1–7 against Big Ten opponents. In November, Mark Dantonio was hired as the replacement head coach.


2006 Michigan State Spartans football team, 2007 NFL Draft
The following players were selected in the 2007 NFL Draft.


2006 Michigan State vs. Northwestern football game
The 2006 Michigan State vs. Northwestern football game featured the biggest comeback in NCAA Division I-A history. The Spartans rallied to score 38 unanswered points to beat the Wildcats 41–38 after falling behind 38–3 with 9:54 left in the 3rd quarter.


2006 Michigan State vs. Northwestern football game, First quarter
Michigan State started the game with a 66-yard drive that ended with a Brett Swenson 32-yard field goal. Northwestern's first drive ended with quarterback C. J. Bachér finding Ross Lane for a 5-yard touchdown that gave the Wildcats a 7–3 lead.


2006 Michigan State vs. Northwestern football game, Second quarter
The Wildcats' first drive of the second quarter resulted in Bachér rushing for a 2-yard touchdown. The Spartans were forced to punt on the ensuing drive. Northwestern's Joel Howells kicked a 30-yard field goal on the next drive. On the following drive, Michigan State was once again forced to punt. After the punt, Northwestern scored another touchdown on a Brandon Roberson 18-yard pass to Shaun Herbert. Michigan State's woes continued on their next drive, when they fumbled the football. However, Howells missed a 36-yard field goal at the end of the first half.


2006 Michigan State vs. Northwestern football game, Third quarter
Northwestern began the third quarter with an 80-yard drive that resulted in a Bachér 22-yard touchdown pass to Lane. On the first play of the next drive, Drew Stanton was intercepted. Northwestern capitalized on the great field position with Herbert catching a 5-yard touchdown pass, giving Northwestern a 38–3 lead. Michigan State began the comeback with a nine play, 65 yard drive that was capped off with an 18-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Stanton to running back Jehuu Caulcrick.


2006 Michigan State vs. Northwestern football game, Third quarter
Following a Northwestern punt, Michigan State scored again, finishing an eight play, 53-yard drive with a 4-yard touchdown run from A.J. Jimmerson. On the ensuing drive, the Wildcats had gained 69 yards in only 5 plays when Bachér was intercepted at the goal line by Michigan State middle linebacker Kaleb Thornhill. The quarter ended with the Spartans down 38–17.


2006 Michigan State vs. Northwestern football game, Fourth quarter
Michigan State's chances of completing the comeback appeared to be finished early in the fourth quarter when backup quarterback Brian Hoyer had his 6th pass of the drive intercepted by Northwestern a minute in. However, after failing to convert a short third down at midfield, the Wildcats had their punt blocked by Devin Thomas and returned for a touchdown by Ashton Henderson. Northwestern's next two drives also ended in punts, and each ensuing Spartan drive resulted in a touchdown.


2006 Michigan State vs. Northwestern football game, Fourth quarter
With the score tied at 38, the Wildcats had the ball on their own 15 yard line with 3:32 left in regulation. On the first play of the series, Bachér was intercepted by the Spartans' Travis Key at the Northwestern 40. The interception was returned to the 30 yard line. The Spartans ran the ball for the duration of the drive, advancing the ball to Northwestern's 11 yard line with 18 seconds left. MSU kicker Swenson hit a 28-yard field goal to give the Spartans the lead.


2006 Michigan State vs. Northwestern football game, Fourth quarter
The Wildcats would get the ball one more time, returning the ensuing kickoff to their own 37 yard line. Following an offsides penalty which moved the ball to the 42 yard line, Northwestern's final play for the end zone was unsuccessful and the Spartans won 41–38.


2006 Michigan State vs. Northwestern football game, Fallout
Michigan State had started the season off 3–0, including an impressive win over Pittsburgh. In their next game against Notre Dame, they lost despite leading by 16 entering the 4th quarter. Their next 3 games were losses to Illinois, Michigan, and Ohio State. The comeback was thought to save John L. Smith's career at Michigan State, but on November 1, 2006, the university announced that Smith would not be brought back after the season as the Spartans finished with four more losses after this game.


2006 Michigan State vs. Northwestern football game, Fallout
Northwestern, by contrast, had already fallen out of bowl contention. The Wildcats would play a competitive game against Michigan the following week, and would defeat the bowl-bound Iowa Hawkeyes two weeks later (who later came close to upsetting Texas in the Alamo Bowl).


2006 Michigan Wolverines football team
The 2006 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 2006 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team's head football coach was Lloyd Carr. The Wolverines came into the season with lower expectations than many Michigan teams of the previous few seasons, ranked #14. They won their first 11 games and rose to No. 2 in the national rankings before losing a close battle in Columbus to top-ranked Ohio State. Michigan concluded their schedule in the Rose Bowl against the USC Trojans.


2006 Michigan Wolverines football team
The game was tied 3–3 at half time, but USC pulled away in the second half, handing Michigan their second loss of the season. The 2006 Michigan Wolverines finished the season with a record of 11–2, ranked No. 8 in the nation, and tied for second in the Big Ten Conference with Wisconsin, whom they defeated, 27–13, early that season. The Wolverines played their home games at Michigan Stadium.


2006 Michigan Wolverines football team, Preseason
The 2005 offseason saw a coaching shakeup, prompted by the departure of coordinators Terry Malone and Jim Herrmann. Ron English was promoted from secondary coach to defensive coordinator and Mike DeBord from special teams coach to offensive coordinator, while Steve Szabo and Ron Lee were hired as assistant coaches.


2006 Michigan Wolverines football team, Preseason
Between the new coaching staff and many returning starters, the Wolverines, led by third year starting quarterback Chad Henne, expected to compete for the Big Ten title and associated BCS bowl bid. The voters of the coaches' poll and AP poll also expected improvement, respectively ranking Michigan #15 and #14.


2006 Michigan Wolverines football team, Preseason
True sophomore Antonio Bass suffered a career ending knee injury in fall practice. Bass was expected to play wide receiver and occasionally quarterback. Projected starting right tackle Mike Kolodziej's career was cut short due to injury just before the season due to unknown medical problems.


2006 Michigan Wolverines football team, Game summaries, Vanderbilt
Michigan's defense held the Commodores to 171 total yards of offense (129 passing, 42 rushing). Star junior running back Mike Hart ran for 146 yards on 31 carries to kick off the 2006 season. Defensive coordinator Ron English's squad proved to be considerably more aggressive than recent Wolverine defenses, collecting six sacks and forcing two turnovers (both via lost fumbles). Michigan's offense was led by a strong rushing attack, which unveiled a new scheme using zone blocking. Behind this zone blocking scheme, the Wolverines rushed for 246 yards on the day and averaged 4.8 yards per carry.


2006 Michigan Wolverines football team, Game summaries, Vanderbilt
Michigan scored on their first drive of the game, as Hart busted off several big runs, and true sophomore running back Kevin Grady finished it off with a 19-yard touchdown run. Later in the first, Michigan thought they had a touchdown pass from junior quarterback Chad Henne to true sophomore receiver Mario Manningham. But after reviewing the play, it was ruled that Manningham dropped the ball, and Michigan settled for a 33-yard field-goal by senior kicker Garrett Rivas.


2006 Michigan Wolverines football team, Game summaries, Vanderbilt
In the second quarter, Vanderbilt caught the Wolverines by surprise, as sophomore receiver Earl Bennett completed a halfback toss pass to wide open senior receiver Marlon White for a 30-yard touchdown. Bennett, led the Commodores on the day with 6 catches for 58 yards). On U-M's ensuing drive, Henne hit senior wide receiver Steve Breaston on a short hook route, and Breaston proceeded to make a phenomenal run after the catch, juking out several Commodores before finally being shoved out of bounds. The play went for 29 yards, and it set up a 48-yard field-goal by Rivas.


2006 Michigan Wolverines football team, Game summaries, Vanderbilt
At halftime, it was 13–7 Wolverines. The third quarter was sluggish for both teams, but with 2:29 to go, Henne found senior tight end Tyler Ecker in the back of the end zone for a 14-yard touchdown pass. Ecker made a leaping catch with his arms stretched out in the air, and he managed to haul it down with one foot in the end zone. Vanderbilt wasn't out of it yet, and they advanced to the Michigan 27 yard-line with under 10 minutes to go in the fourth quarter, and a great chance to cut its deficit to one score.


2006 Michigan Wolverines football team, Game summaries, Vanderbilt
However, a 4th down and 5 pass on that drive fell incomplete. Michigan put the game away for good with 2:11 left, as Manningham redeemed himself with a 27-yard bomb of a touchdown catch on 3rd and 10, setting the final score at 27–7. Michigan's defense was vicious all day, as they held Vanderbilt to 1.6 yards per carry. Senior defensive end Rondell Biggs led the Michigan defense with 6 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, and 2 sacks.


2006 Michigan Wolverines football team, Game summaries, Vanderbilt
Grady finished with 5 carries for 30 yards and one touchdown, Manningham had 3 catches for 44 yards and one touchdown, and Breaston led Michigan with 4 catches for 68 yards. Sophomore Quarterback Chris Nickson was Vanderbilt's leading passer and rusher, but he only completed 11 of 25 passes for 99 yards, and he was held to 16 carries for 22 yards on the ground.


2006 Michigan Wolverines football team, Game summaries, Central Michigan
In a game interrupted by the first weather delay in Michigan Stadium history, Michigan kept it on the ground against the Chippewas, rushing 50 times against only 21 pass attempts. The Wolverines running game once again dominated, rushing for 252 yards and averaging 5.0 yards per carry. Their defense was also relentless, holding the Mid-American Conference champions dangerous spread offense to 204 total offensive yards (188 passing and a measly 16 yards rushing).


2006 Michigan Wolverines football team, Game summaries, Central Michigan
The game started off badly for Michigan, as Hart fumbled on the game's first play. It was his first fumble since the 2004 game against Iowa, having gone over 700 touches without fumbling. However Manningham recovered the fumble, and Hart scored a 5-yard touchdown run on that opening drive. It was Hart's first touchdown-running or receiving-since midway through the 2005 season, when he scored a third-quarter touchdown run in a 27–25 win over Penn State. Hart had gone six straight games without scoring a touchdown.


2006 Michigan Wolverines football team, Game summaries, Central Michigan
The Chippewas marched to the U-M 14 yard line directly following Hart's touchdown run, but All-American senior defensive end LaMarr Woodley sacked sensational redshirt freshmen quarterback Dan LeFevour and caused a fumble, which he recovered. Hart added another touchdown run with 1:28 to go in the first quarter, this time from 18 yards out. CMU fumbled and turned the ball over again following Hart's second TD, and the fumble was once again recovered by Woodley. The Wolverines converted that turnover into a 21–0 lead, as Grady crashed in from three yards out with 12:24 left in the second quarter.


2006 Michigan Wolverines football team, Game summaries, Central Michigan
On the drive following Grady's touchdown, CMU got on the scoreboard, with LeFevour finding junior receiver Justin Gardner for a 38-yard touchdown strike. The two teams then exchanged field-goals, and it was 24–10 Michigan at halftime. The Chippweas got the ball to start the third quarter, and they advanced to the Michigan 34 yard line, but a LeFevour pass on 4th and 7 fell incomplete, and the Wolverines all but put the game away on the ensuing possession.


2006 Michigan Wolverines football team, Game summaries, Central Michigan
Breaston made a brilliant 26 yard run on a wide receiver reverse, and Hart finished off the drive with a 2-yard touchdown run-his third score of the day. Rivas added his second field goal of the day with 1:22 remaining to give Michigan a 34–10 lead going into the fourth quarter. With 11:41 left in the game, junior outside linebacker Max Pollack intercepted a bad pass by LeFevour and returned it 12 yards for a touchdown and a 41–10 lead. Pollack was merely a substitution at OLB, and he also was only a walkon. At this point, Michigan had all their backups on the field, and CMU scored one more touchdown: a 3-yard pass from LeFevour to senior receiver Damien Linson.


2006 Michigan Wolverines football team, Game summaries, Central Michigan
Hart finished with 19 carries for 116 yards and 3 touchdowns. Grady added 12 carries for 46 yards and 1 touchdown. Breaston had 6 touches for 109 all purpose yards, and All-American senior middle linebacker David Harris led the Wolverines with 6 tackles. Aside from his 2 touchdown passes, LeFevour had a rough day, completing only 17–36 passes for 153 yards and the interception that was returned for a touchdown. He was also sacked 4 times, and as a result had 8 carries for −21 yards.


2006 Michigan Wolverines football team, Game summaries, Central Michigan
Linson led the CMU receiving unit with 6 catches for 87 yards and one touchdown, while Gardner added 3 catches for 54 yards and one touchdown. The CMU running game was abominable, averaging only 0.8 yards per carry. Sophomore Ontario Sneed led the way with 11 carries for 33 yards, but almost all those yards came off a 25-yard run. Otherwise, Michigan limited him to only 10 carries for 8 yards.


2006 Michigan Wolverines football team, Game summaries, Notre Dame
In a nationally-televised game, Michigan routed the 2nd-ranked Fighting Irish of Notre Dame in South Bend, 47–21. Using a combination of an aggressive defense, a vertical passing combination of Chad Henne to Mario Manningham, and ball control running by Mike Hart, the Wolverines intercepted Irish quarterback Brady Quinn three times and completely frustrated the Irish. Irish running back Darius Walker ran for just 25 yards on ten carries. Henne, although intercepted once, was 13 for 22 and completed three touchdown passes to Manningham, who had four receptions for 137 yards.


2006 Michigan Wolverines football team, Game summaries, Notre Dame
Steve Breaston provided most of the remainder of the passing attack with six catches for 42 yards. Hart had a touchdown and 124 yards rushing. Defenders LaMarr Woodley and Prescott Burgess had long returns for touchdowns on Irish turnovers. The final score was 47–21 in a break-out game for the Wolverines. The Wolverines gave Coach Lloyd Carr a Gatorade bath after the huge victory which boosted them in the rankings and put them in contention for a national title.


2006 Michigan Wolverines football team, Game summaries, Wisconsin
Michigan entered the game ranked sixth nationally in the AP poll, while Wisconsin was unranked. The game marked the Big Ten opener for both teams. Wisconsin came into the game averaging nearly 200 yards rushing per game, but Michigan entered the game ranked number 1 in the nation in rushing defense, allowing only 21 yards per game. The Wolverine defense won this matchup, holding Wisconsin to just 12 rushing yards and 3 second half points. Mario Manningham caught seven passes for 113 yards and two touchdowns, giving him five in the past two weeks. Adrian Arrington had his best game to date, catching four passes for 79 yards.


2006 Michigan Wolverines football team, Game summaries, Minnesota
The Wolverines won their third straight revenge game, reclaiming the Little Brown Jug after losing it to the Gophers in 2005. This marked the first season since 1999 that Michigan made it through the month of September undefeated. The offense came out hot, scoring 21 points in the first half. Hart rushed for a season-high 195 yards on 31 carries, and Henne had another efficient game, completing 17 of 24 passes for 284 yards. Manningham had his third straight 100 yard game, while Arrington continued his emergence as Michigan's No. 2 receiver, scoring the first two touchdowns of the game. David Harris led the defense with nine tackles.


2006 Michigan Wolverines football team, Game summaries, Michigan State
Michigan State suffered its third straight loss of the season as Michigan retained the Paul Bunyan Trophy for the fifth straight year. It was a mistake-filled game for the Spartans, who committed 11 penalties for a total loss of 87 yards. The Wolverines dominated the ground game on both sides of the ball, allowing 60 yards rushing on defense and gaining 211 yards on offense. Hart shared carries with both Kevin Grady and Brandon Minor, and the latter, a true freshman, broke a 40-yard run for the first touchdown of his career. Henne only attempted 17 passes, but three of them went for touchdowns, one to Arrington and the other two to Manningham. Leon Hall and Jamar Adams both intercepted passes from Drew Stanton, and Burgess had eight tackles, including the Wolverines' only sack of the afternoon.


2006 Michigan Wolverines football team, Game summaries, Penn State
Michigan's defensive front seven was the story of the game, collecting seven sacks and holding the Nittany Lions to −14 net rushing yards. On a third-quarter pass play, Alan Branch knocked Penn State's quarterback Anthony Morelli out of the game with a concussion; Penn State's backup quarterback Daryl Clark was later injured on a rushing attempt. Third-string quarterback Paul Cianciolo managed to throw the Nittany Lions' only touchdown pass of the game. The game was a homecoming for Pennsylvania native Henne, who played the only game of his career at Penn State. With Manningham not playing due to a knee injury suffered against Michigan State, Arrington and Breaston caught the bulk of Henne's passes, each collecting five receptions. Hart picked up his sixth 100-yard rushing game of the season and scored the winning touchdown.


2006 Michigan Wolverines football team, Game summaries, Iowa
The Hawkeyes gave Michigan one of its toughest contests of the year, staying within a touchdown well into the fourth quarter. After getting held to only 27 yards in the first half, Hart rushed for 99 in the second and scored the only two touchdowns of the game. Henne spread the ball out amongst his receivers with Manningham out, including Arrington, Breaston, and true freshman Greg Mathews. Arrington again was the Wolverines' leading receiver; the Iowa native caught eight passes for 79 yards.


2006 Michigan Wolverines football team, Game summaries, Iowa
Offensive linemen Rueben Riley was injured in the second half, but was ably replaced by Justin Boren in the first meaningful time of the true freshman's career. Shawn Crable led the defense with three sacks on Iowa's senior quarterback Drew Tate. Woodley also picked up two sacks, bringing his total on the year to nine, good for fourth in the nation.


2006 Michigan Wolverines football team, Game summaries, Northwestern
On a cold, windy day, with Manningham still out, Michigan stuck with a conservative game plan against the Wildcats, throwing the ball only 20 times against 46 rushes. Northwestern, one week after losing to Michigan State in the largest comeback in Division I FBS history, turned the ball over five times to Michigan and were held to −13 yards on the ground. Hart led the offense with 95 yards, and in relief senior Jerome Jackson saw his first significant action of the season, gaining 59 yards on nine attempts. The defense had contributors from all positions:  Defensive backs Hall and Willis Barringer each had interceptions, linebacker Harris had both a sack and an interception, and lineman Woodley had two sacks, forcing and recovering a fumble on one.


2006 Michigan Wolverines football team, Game summaries, Ball State
A game that Michigan was expected to win big – and in which it once held a big lead – turned into a surprisingly close affair. The Wolverines' offense uncharacteristically gave up a quick nine points to the Cardinals, coached by future Michigan head coach Brady Hoke, with Hart fumbling out of the Michigan end zone for a safety and Henne throwing an interception that was returned for a touchdown to give Ball State an early 9–7 lead. The Wolverines subsequently controlled the second and third quarters to build a 31–12 lead and seemed well in control of the game.


2006 Michigan Wolverines football team, Game summaries, Ball State
However, the Michigan second-string defenders struggled to stop the Cardinal offense, and the first-string defense was forced to return late in the game to stave off a final Ball State drive. For the first time since its 2003 game against Houston, Michigan had a pair of 100-yard rushers: Hart with 154 on 25 carries, and Minor with 108 on 12 carries. Each scored a touchdown, as did Jackson, who gained 68 yards on six carries.


2006 Michigan Wolverines football team, Game summaries, Ball State
The Ball State game was notable for two other reasons: First, it was the 200th consecutive game with at least 100,000 people in attendance at Michigan Stadium. In addition, actor Patrick Stewart directed the Michigan Marching Band during their halftime performance in a salute to old-time television shows. Stewart was part of the Royal Shakespeare Company's fall 2006 residency at the University of Michigan, and directed the band to the theme from Star Trek. Upon being asked if he had any advice for the Wolverines for their upcoming Ohio State game, Stewart replied, "Boldly go and beat the Buckeyes. Make it so, number one!"


2006 Michigan Wolverines football team, Game summaries, Indiana
Michigan jumped to an early lead with a touchdown pass to Adrian Arrington and a touchdown run by Mike Hart. Steve Breaston also had a big game with a 62-yard touchdown reception and an 83-yard punt return for a touchdown. Indiana allowed five sacks, and Michigan cornerback Leon Hall broke the school record for most deflected passes in a career. Michigan won 34–3.


2006 Michigan Wolverines football team, Game summaries, Ohio State
On November 17, 2006, Bo Schembechler, the esteemed former coach of the Michigan Wolverines football program, died at the age of 77. He collapsed prior to taping his weekly college football preview show. His death came the day before one of the biggest games in the history of the Michigan–Ohio State football rivalry: the two teams both brought undefeated records to the game for the first time since 1973, and met as the #1- and #2-ranked teams for the first time in the 103-game history of the series.


2006 Michigan Wolverines football team, Game summaries, Ohio State
In the game against the Ohio State Buckeyes, second-ranked Michigan received the ball to start the game and promptly scored a touchdown on a run by Mike Hart, the first of three he would score in the game. However, top-ranked Ohio State answered with a touchdown on its own initial drive, and dominated the rest of the half to take a 28–14 lead into intermission. Michigan scored on its first two possessions of the second half to close the deficit to four points, but could not wrest away the lead.


2006 Michigan Wolverines football team, Game summaries, Ohio State
The two teams exchanged touchdowns for the remainder, with each scoring twice; the Wolverines converted a two-point attempt to make the score 42–39 with less than three minutes remaining. A subsequent onside kick by the Wolverines was unsuccessful, and the Buckeyes came away with the victory. This game was significant in the BCS Bowl Line-up, as rather than being matched with the Buckeyes in the championship game, the Wolverines were matched in the Rose Bowl a record seventh time with the USC Trojans.


2006 Michigan Wolverines football team, Game summaries, USC (Rose Bowl)
Michigan lost to the USC Trojans in the Rose Bowl Game on January 1, 2007. The game was tied 3–3 at the half but the high powered USC offense came out in the second half, giving USC the 32–18 victory.


2006 Michigan Wolverines football team, Statistical achievements
The team earned the Big Ten rushing defense statistical championships for all games by holding opponents to 43.4 yards per game. The team also earned the Big Ten rushing defense statistical championships for conference games by holding opponents to 50.9 yards per game. They were the conference leaders in quarterback sacks for conference games (3.3 sacks per game) and all games (3.3 sacks per game).


2006 Michigan Wolverines football team, Statistical achievements
Garrett Rivas set the current Michigan Wolverines football records for career scoring (354), surpassing Anthony Thomas' 2000 record (336), field goals (64), surpassing Remy Hamilton's 1996 record (63), and point after touchdowns (162), surpassing J. D. Carlson's 1991 record (137). He has also tied Mike Gillette's 1988 record of 13 career 40-yard field goals.


2006 Michigan Wolverines football team, Players
Michigan returned 18 of 22 starters for 2006, one of the highest totals in the nation.


2006 Michigan Wolverines football team, Players
Key returning starters for the offense included quarterback Chad Henne, running back Mike Hart, and wide receiver and kick returner Steve Breaston. Henne and Hart, who both started in 2004 as true freshmen, looked to rebound from their 2005 sophomore slumps. Hart, Breaston, and captain Jake Long all missed significant time due to injury in 2005.


2006 Michigan Wolverines football team, Players
On defense, captains LaMarr Woodley, David Harris and Leon Hall respectively anchored the defensive line, linebacking corps and defensive secondary. Woodley and Hall were four-year starters.


2006 Michigan gubernatorial election
The 2006 Michigan gubernatorial election was one of the 36 U.S. gubernatorial elections held November 7, 2006. Incumbent Democratic Governor of Michigan Jennifer Granholm was re-elected over Republican businessman Dick DeVos and three minor party candidates. Granholm was re-elected with 56% of the vote.


2006 Michigan gubernatorial election, Democratic primary
Granholm had no opposition in the primary election, which was held August 8. She retained incumbent Lieutenant Governor John D. Cherry as her running mate.


2006 Michigan gubernatorial election, Republican primary
DeVos was originally facing two other Republicans; state Representative Jack Hoogendyk of Portage and state Senator Nancy Cassis of Novi, both dropped out by summer 2005. A political unknown, Louis Boven, tried to challenge him in the primary, but failed to meet Michigan election requirements to get on the ballot. Boven later ran an unsuccessful write-in campaign.


2006 Michigan gubernatorial election, Republican primary
DeVos selected former State Representative and Oakland County Clerk Ruth Johnson as his running mate on August 14.


2006 Michigan gubernatorial election, Minor parties, Candidates, Libertarian Party
The Libertarian Party of Michigan held their convention on May 16 at the Comfort Inn in Chelsea. The party nominated Gregory Creswell, with Scotty Boman as his running mate.


2006 Michigan gubernatorial election, Minor parties, Candidates, Green Party
The Green Party of Michigan had their convention at the Wolverine Dilworth Inn in Boyne City, Michigan. The Green Party's nominee was Douglas Campbell. His running mate was David Skrbina, a philosophy professor at the University of Michigan–Dearborn. Campbell, a registered professional engineer from Ferndale, joined the Green party upon learning of its existence in 2000, and was the Wayne-Oakland-Macomb county campaign coordinator for Green Party presidential candidate Ralph Nader, 2000.


2006 Michigan gubernatorial election, Minor parties, Candidates, Constitution Party
The Constitution Party's candidate was Bhagwan Dashairya, a member of the US Taxpayers' Party. The Michigan US Taxpayers' Party is affiliated with the United States Constitution Party, but Michigan election law does not provide a mechanism for changing the name of a political party. Dashairya was the first Asian Indian to run for Governor of Michigan. Dashairya's running mate was Carl Oehling.


2006 Michigan gubernatorial election, General election
After her first election as governor in 2002, Granholm was widely seen as a rising star in the Democratic Party. Her popularity dropped after she took office in 2003, largely due to a weak economy and high unemployment. In August 2006, her approval rating was 47 percent.


2006 Michigan gubernatorial election, General election
DeVos, a multimillionaire, had developed substantial political contacts with the full participation of his wife, former Michigan Republican Party chair Betsy DeVos, despite which, fully 85% of the DeVos campaign's contributions were from DeVos' inheritance. As the 2006 election approached, the DeVos family was listed among the biggest Republican campaign contributors in Michigan. The DeVos campaign spent $42.5 million, at that time the most spent on a gubernatorial campaign in Michigan history. $35.5 million of that total came from DeVos' personal fortune, and was at that time the most spent personally by a Republican candidate running for governor. The Granholm campaign spent $15.7 million. The combined money spent by both campaigns made this election the most expensive gubernatorial election in Michigan history. As DeVos funded his campaign himself, he was not eligible for public funds.


2006 Michigan gubernatorial election, General election
The DeVos and Campbell campaigns each made the state's economy their major issue. DeVos criticized the Single Business Tax, high unemployment, and job outsourcing which occurred during Granholm's first term; Campbell assailed the $12 billion taken from Michigan's taxpayers and appropriated to the military siege of Iraq (which he calls "Duh-bya's Folly") and advocated for a local currency, independent of the U.S. dollar which he and running mate David Skrbina say is in imminent jeopardy of collapse. Granholm countered that her policies saved thousands of jobs. She also attacked DeVos's partisanship, wealth, and tenure at Alticor.


2006 Michigan gubernatorial election, General election
One of Granholm's most prominent lines of attack was the accusation that Alticor, under DeVos's tenure, outsourced thousands of jobs to China while cutting 1,400 jobs in Michigan, a charge that the DeVos campaign and numerous media factcheckers denied. DeVos, Campbell and Granholm criticized the Michigan Civil Rights Initiative which was exclusively supported by Creswell. and passed by a wide margin.


2006 Michigan gubernatorial election, General election
On August 25, 2006, Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick pledged to actively campaign for Granholm and utilize the campaign team which got him re-elected as mayor. The Michigan Democratic Party held their state convention in city of Detroit at Cobo Hall while the Michigan Republican Party held their convention in the City of Novi in Oakland County at the new Rock Financial Showplace.


2006 Michigan gubernatorial election, General election
In October 2006, the Creswell campaign spent over $10,000 on radio advertising, which while small, was the most spent on a such advertising by any Michigan gubernatorial campaign outside the Democratic or Republican parties. The largest investment was made in advertisements on Detroit AM Radio stations WJR and WXYT. These commercials specifically targeted Devos and Granholm by referring to them as candidates of "The two old parties," and berating them for supporting state-supported preferences based on race and sex:  A clear reference to MCRI. Campbell spent less than $1,000, as was the case with the Dashairya campaign.


2006 Michigan gubernatorial election, General election, Debates
The DeVos and Granholm campaigns agreed to three televised debates and a single joint appearance. This agreement did not include any provision for participation by third-party candidates. Granholm and DeVos appeared together October 12 at the Detroit Economic Club in which each candidate delivered their job plans.


2006 Michigan gubernatorial election, General election, Debates, WKAR-TV debate
The first debate occurred on October 2 at WKAR-TV in East Lansing. Both candidates spent the hour trading charges and countercharges. Detroit News pollster Ed Sarpolus indicated that there was no clear winner in the debate, but Bill Rustem, senior vice president of the nonpartisan policy firm Public Sector Consultants in Lansing, favored Granholm.


2006 Michigan gubernatorial election, General election, Debates, WKAR-TV debate
The consensus of pundits Bill Ballenger, George Bullard, Kathy Barks Hoffman and Rick Albin and capital correspondent Tim Skubick, speaking on the October 6 WKAR-television program Off the Record, was that both DeVos and Granholm emerged losers, losing 2 and 4 percentage points' support after the event. No major gaffes or zingers came out in the debate. Some of the positions were made clear on embryonic stem cell research  and abortion. No major gaffes came out in the debate, but one minor zinger was made by Granholm about DeVos' investment in Alterra, a chain of nursing homes which sexually abused and neglected its patients.


2006 Michigan gubernatorial election, General election, Debates, WOOD-TV debate
The second was October 10 at WOOD-TV in Grand Rapids. DeVos was more aggressive than before, declaring that Granholm had lied about him having a controlling stake in Alterra Health Care, an elder-care company that suppressed information about the abuse of residents by its employees. According to  SEC filings, DeVos and his investment partners jointly owned 40% of Alterra stock totalling $173 million. The chairman of Alterra's board, while a close associate of DeVos, nevertheless maintains that DeVos had no part of running the company himself.


2006 Michigan gubernatorial election, General election, Debates, WOOD-TV debate
DeVos also asserted that he had convinced President Bush to set a date to meet with the three major Michigan auto companies. Granholm responded that she didn't believe that was true. DeVos admitted after the debate that he misspoke; the President agreed to have a meeting at some point after the election, but did not confirm a date. On October 24, two weeks after this debate was held, a mid-November date was set for the meeting.


2006 Michigan gubernatorial election, General election, Debates, WXYZ-TV debate
The third televised debate was October 16 at WXYZ-TV in Southfield. Unlike the previous debates, this one had an invited studio audience of 30 undecided voters, some of whom asked questions to the participating candidates. Like the two previous debates, only two of the five candidates were admitted. Granholm and DeVos sparred on various issues including college tuition, Canadian trash, business taxes, President Bush and negative ads, while Creswell supporters picketed outside.


2006 Michigan gubernatorial election, General election, Debates, WXYZ-TV debate
During the opening statements of the third debate, Gov. Granholm attacked DeVos for using pictures of dead children as a campaign tool against her. However, it was later revealed that DeVos was not the person using the pictures, but supporters of him, who were cheering for him outside of the debate studio.


2006 Michigan gubernatorial election, General election, Debates, CMN-TV (of Troy) debate
On October 18 CMN-TV in Troy broadcast an additional debate. This debate was not covered by the agreement between the DeVos and Granholm campaigns. It was the only televised debate to which all gubernatorial candidates were invited. It also was only the only televised debate in which the majority of gubernatorial candidates participated. This debate included Libertarian Gregory Creswell, Green Douglas Campbell, and U.S. Taxpayer Candidate Bhagwan Dashairya (Dashairya identified himself as a Constitution Party (listed on ballot as U.S. Taxpayers Party) candidate).


2006 Michigan gubernatorial election, General election, Polling
DeVos, buoyed by the political ads he ran, led in the polls for most of the late spring and early summer. DeVos' lead eroded when Granholm started running ads; meanwhile, Granholm built up a lead as voters found out more about the candidates culminating in the three debates, and as political fortunes soured for Republicans across the country due to a massive backlash against then president George W. Bush and fatigue over the continuing War in Iraq.


2006 Michigan vs. Ohio State football game
The 2006 Michigan vs. Ohio State game was a regular-season college football game between the unbeaten Michigan Wolverines (ranked No. 2 in the nation) and the unbeaten Ohio State Buckeyes (ranked No. 1 in the nation) on November 18, 2006, at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. Called the "Game of the Century," this was the first time in the historic rivalry that the teams entered the matchup ranked No. 1 and No. 2 in the nation. In an offensive shootout, Ohio State won 42–39.


2006 Michigan vs. Ohio State football game
Michigan and Ohio State first faced each other in 1897, and have met annually since 1918. Considered by some the greatest rivalry in  sports, the rivalry had to that point been the de facto Big Ten Conference championship game on 22 occasions, with the game affecting the determination of the championship an additional 27 times. Ohio State entered the 2006 season ranked No. 1, while Michigan was ranked No. 14 in the AP preseason poll. With both teams winning all of their regular season games prior to their matchup, Ohio State remained No. 1 in all major polls, while Michigan moved up to No. 2 in the polls.


2006 Michigan vs. Ohio State football game
Both Michigan and Ohio State scored on their first offensive possessions, while the Buckeyes would eventually go up 21–7 midway through the second quarter. The Buckeyes took a 28–14 lead into halftime, with the Wolverines closing the gap in the third quarter, scoring on a Mike Hart touchdown run and a Garrett Rivas field goal. Ohio State would extend their lead again following an Antonio Pittman touchdown run, though Michigan would bring the game within four points on another Hart touchdown run. A Troy Smith pass to Brian Robiskie would extend the Buckeyes' lead to 42–31. A late touchdown and two-point conversion would not be enough for Michigan, as the Buckeyes' would go on to win the game 42–39.


2006 Michigan vs. Ohio State football game
Following the game, Ohio State claimed the Big Ten championship outright for the first time since 1984 and also claiming a berth in the BCS National Championship Game, while the Wolverines would accept a berth in the Rose Bowl. Smith became the seventh Ohio State player to win the Heisman Trophy, while multiple players on both teams were recognized with conference and national awards. Michigan was defeated 32–18 by the USC Trojans in the Rose Bowl, while Ohio State was defeated 41–14 by the Florida Gators in the national championship game.


2006 Michigan vs. Ohio State football game, Pre-game buildup
Michigan and Ohio State first faced each other in 1897, and have met annually since 1918. Coming into the game, Michigan held the all-time lead in the series 57–39–6, though Ohio State had won the previous two meetings. Called simply "The Game" by some, the rivalry is considered one of the greatest in sports. The rivalry was specifically intense during a period known as the Ten Year War from 1969 to 1978 when Woody Hayes of Ohio State and Bo Schembechler of Michigan coached opposing teams. Schembechler died at the age of 77 on the eve of the game. This would be the first time since 1973 that both teams came into the rivalry game undefeated.


2006 Michigan vs. Ohio State football game, Pre-game buildup
At the beginning of the season, both teams were ranked in the top fifteen. Following a victory over the then-second-ranked Texas on September 9, the Buckeyes' top rank was cemented. Michigan's victory over the then-second-ranked Notre Dame the following week on September 16, would bring them into the top ten at No. 6 in the AP poll. Both teams would go on to win their remaining games and enter the rivalry with Michigan, ranked No. 2 in the BCS standings, while Ohio State was ranked No. 1.


2006 Michigan vs. Ohio State football game, Pre-game buildup
This would be the first time in the BCS-era that the top-two-ranked teams would play each other in the regular season. Due to the No. 1 vs. No. 2 rankings from the conference rivals and the hype that led up to the matchup, the game was referred to as the "Game of the Century."


2006 Michigan vs. Ohio State football game, Pre-game buildup, Michigan
In the preseason polls, Michigan opened the 2006 season ranked No. 14 in the AP Poll, while being ranked No. 15 in the Coaches' Poll. The Wolverines' opened the season against the Vanderbilt Commodores and defeated them 27–7. Following a 41–17 victory over Central Michigan, the No. 11 Wolverines traveled to Notre Dame Stadium to play the No. 2 Fighting Irish. Following a dominating performance on offense and defense, which included three interceptions of Irish quarterback Brady Quinn, the Wolverines defeated Notre Dame 47–21 and moved to No. 6 in the polls the following week. Michigan opened their conference schedule defeating the Wisconsin Badgers 27–13, and the Minnesota Golden Gophers in the Little Brown Jug game.


2006 Michigan vs. Ohio State football game, Pre-game buildup, Michigan
Michigan remained consistent at No. 6 in the polls and defeated their in-state rival Michigan State 31–13, holding the Spartans to just 60 rushing yards, while they themselves ran the ball for 211 yards. Following the victory, Michigan moved up to No. 4 in the AP Poll and No. 5 in the Coaches' Poll. The Wolverines then traveled to Beaver Stadium and defeated Penn State 17–10, moving up to No. 2 in the AP Poll and No. 3 in the Coaches'.


2006 Michigan vs. Ohio State football game, Pre-game buildup, Michigan
After a 20–6 victory over Iowa and a 17–3 victory over Northwestern, the Wolverines moved to No. 2 in all major polls. Although a closer game than expected, Michigan finished off their non-conference schedule with a 34–26 victory over Ball State. Michigan's 34–3 win over Indiana would bring them to 11–0 on the season and keep them ranked No. 2 in all major polls. On November 17, legendary Michigan coach Bo Schembechler collapsed and was taken to the hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. Schembechler's death happened just one day before one of the biggest games in the rivalry, though he had not planned on attending the game.


2006 Michigan vs. Ohio State football game, Pre-game buildup, Michigan
Coming into the game with Ohio State, the Wolverines ranked twelfth in the nation in rushing offense, led by Mike Hart who had 1,373 yards and 11 touchdowns. Michigan quarterback Chad Henne compiled 1,932 passing yards, 18 touchdowns and seven interceptions, with Mario Manningham, Steve Breaston and Adrian Arrington leading the team in receptions. The Michigan defense ranked third in the nation, allowing only 231.4 yard per game, while also having the best rush defense, holding opponents to only 29.9 rushing yards per game and giving up only three rushing touchdowns.


2006 Michigan vs. Ohio State football game, Pre-game buildup, Ohio State
In the preseason polls, Ohio State opened the 2006 season as the No. 1 ranked team in both the AP and Coaches' Poll. The Buckeyes' opened their season by defeating the Northern Illinois Huskies 35–12. Ohio State traveled to Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium to play the second game of a home-and-home series with Texas, following the 25–22 defeat in 2005. Ohio State defeated the then-second-ranked Longhorns 24–7, remaining the No. 1 team in all major college football polls. Ohio State defeated the Cincinnati Bearcats 37–7 the following week, with Troy Smith throwing for 203 yards and two touchdowns.


2006 Michigan vs. Ohio State football game, Pre-game buildup, Ohio State
Ohio State faced the No. 24 Penn State Nittany Lions in Columbus and defeated them 28–6 after scoring three touchdowns in the fourth quarter. The Buckeyes defeated the No. 13 Iowa Hawkeyes the following week 38–17 in Kinnick Stadium. Ohio State finished their non-conference schedule defeating Bowling Green 35–7 and then defeated Michigan State the next week in Spartan Stadium 38–7, with the Buckeyes defense controlling much of the game. Blowout victories over Indiana and Minnesota would be followed by a 17–10 victory over Illinois for the Illibuck trophy. A 54–10 victory over Northwestern the following week gave the Buckeyes an 11–0 record heading into the rivalry game, with their ranking remaining consistent at No. 1 in all major polls.


2006 Michigan vs. Ohio State football game, Pre-game buildup, Ohio State
Quarterback Troy Smith entered the game against Michigan with 2,191 passing yards and 26 touchdown passes, while also leading the Heisman Trophy debate. Ted Ginn Jr. and Anthony Gonzalez led the Buckeyes in receiving yards with 677 and 673 yards, respectively. The Buckeyes rush defense had given up only 90.2 yards per games and three touchdowns, while they were tied for first in the nation with 21 interceptions. James Laurinaitis and Malcolm Jenkins led the team with five and four respectively.


2006 Michigan vs. Ohio State football game, Game summary
Traditionally, the rivalry game between Michigan and Ohio State kicks off at noon on ABC. However, due to the circumstances of matchup, ESPN and ABC moved the kickoff time to 3:30 p.m. EST, making it one of the only times the rivalry game would be played under the lights.


2006 Michigan vs. Ohio State football game, Game summary
The 2006 edition of "The Game" kicked off at 3:44 p.m. EST on November 18, 2006 in front of a crowd of 105,708 at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. The game received extensive media coverage from ABC and ESPN, including extensive coverage in the preceding week, as well as the visit from ESPN College GameDay the morning of the game. The game itself drew a 13.0 rating, with an estimated 21.8 million viewership on ABC, making it the most watched regular-season college football game since the 1993 game between Florida State and Notre Dame.


2006 Michigan vs. Ohio State football game, Game summary, First quarter
Ohio State won the coin toss and elected to defer, giving Michigan the ball to start the first half. The opening kickoff by Aaron Pettrey was taken for a touchback by Michigan, with the Wolverines starting their first possession at their own 20 yard line. Mike Hart received the ball on the first play from scrimmage, rushing for three yards. Three straight completions from quarterback Chad Henne, driving them into Ohio State territory. A nine-yard run from Hart, followed by a 25-yard pass from Henne to Mario Manningham, brought Michigan to the Buckeyes' one yard line.


2006 Michigan vs. Ohio State football game, Game summary, First quarter
A touchdown run from Hart gave the Wolverines an early 7–0 lead. Quarterback Troy Smith and the Buckeyes' responded on their ensuing possession, with Smith passing the ball on the first eight plays of the possession. A touchdown pass from Smith to Roy Hall tied the game at 7–7. After converting a first down on their next possession, the Wolverines were forced to punt. Ohio State was also unable to move the ball on their next possession, punting after seven plays. On the ensuing Michigan possession, the Buckeye defense sacked Henne for a loss of three yards as the first quarter ended.


2006 Michigan vs. Ohio State football game, Game summary, Second quarter
The second quarter began with Michigan again being unable to move the ball, and being forced to punt after a three and out. The Buckeyes took their first lead of the game two plays later on a 52-yard touchdown run from freshman running back Chris Wells, with the score now 14–7 in favor of Ohio State. A personal foul penalty committed by the Buckeyes extended the ensuing Wolverines drive, though they would punt three plays later.


2006 Michigan vs. Ohio State football game, Game summary, Second quarter
Starting from their own 9, Ohio State drove 91-yards in four plays, scoring on a 39-yard touchdown pass from Smith to receiver Ted Ginn Jr., extending the Buckeye lead to 21–7. Following three straight runs by Mike Hart, the Buckeye defense again gave the Wolverines a first down on a pass interference penalty. Michigan took advantage of the penalty scoring two plays later on a 37-yard touchdown pass from Henne to Adrian Arrington, cutting the Ohio State lead to 21–14. Ohio State started their next drive with seven consecutive pass attempts, driving 72 yards to the Michigan 8. A touchdown pass from Smith to Anthony Gonzalez gave Ohio State a 28–14 lead. Time expired on the ensuing kickoff, giving Ohio State the two touchdown advantage going into halftime.


2006 Michigan vs. Ohio State football game, Game summary, Third quarter
Ohio State received the ball to start the second half, with the Wolverine defense forcing their first three and out of the game. Three runs for 58 yards by Mike Hart set up Michigan at the Ohio State 2. Hart scored his second touchdown of the day on a two-yard run, cutting the Buckeye lead again to one possession at 28–21. Three plays later, on Ohio State's next possession, Troy Smith threw an interception to Alan Branch, giving Michigan possession of the ball at the Buckeye 25 yard line.


2006 Michigan vs. Ohio State football game, Game summary, Third quarter
Michigan was unable to convert a first down off of the interception, settling instead for a 39-yard field goal from Garrett Rivas, cutting the Ohio State lead to 28–24. Ohio State responded three plays later on a 56-yard touchdown from Antonio Pittman, giving the Buckeyes a 35–24 lead. After driving to the Ohio State 34, Michigan was unable to convert on a fourth down, turning it over to Ohio State. Three and outs by both teams on their ensuing possessions, gave the ball back to Ohio State with over a minute remaining in the quarter. A fumble by Smith again gave the ball back to the Wolverines, this time at the Ohio State 9. A rush from no gain from Hart was the last play of the third quarter.


2006 Michigan vs. Ohio State football game, Game summary, Fourth quarter
On the second play of the fourth quarter, Michigan scored on a third touchdown from Mike Hart, cutting the Buckeye lead again to one possession at 35–31. Troy Smith turned the ball over for a third time on the ensuing Buckeye possession, this time on a fumble that was recovered by the Wolverines at the Michigan 32. After a three and out, Michigan was forced to punt, pinning Ohio State back at their own 17.


2006 Michigan vs. Ohio State football game, Game summary, Fourth quarter
An 11 play, 83 yard drive by the Buckeyes took them to the Michigan 13, where they scored on a touchdown pass from Smith to Brian Robiskie, giving the Buckeyes a 42–31 lead. Michigan's next possession began with five straight completions from Chad Henne. After driving to the Ohio State 16, the Wolverines scored on a touchdown pass from Henne to Tyler Ecker. The Wolverines completed a two-point conversion on a pass from Henne to Steve Breaston, making it a three-point game at 42–39 in favor of Ohio State. The ensuing onside kick by the Wolverines was recovered by Ted Ginn Jr. of the Buckeyes. Time expired in the game, following three straight runs from Antonio Pittman, giving Ohio State the 42–39 victory.


2006 Michigan vs. Ohio State football game, Statistical summary
The game was considered an offensive shootout, with both teams combining for 900 yards of total offense, and 81 total points. The Buckeyes' compiled 503 yards of total offense, compared to the Wolverines' 397 yards. Ohio State quarterback Troy Smith completed 29 of 41 passes for 316 passing yards. Smith's top receiver in the game was Ted Ginn Jr. who had 104 yards on 8 receptions, followed by Brian Robiskie with 89 yards on 7 receptions. Overall, Smith threw four touchdown passes and one interception.


2006 Michigan vs. Ohio State football game, Statistical summary
Chad Henne entered the game as the Wolverines' starting quarterback. Henne completed 21 of 35 passes for 267 passing yards. Mario Manningham was the top receiver for Henne, who had 86 yards on 6 receptions, followed by Adrian Arrington who had 90 yards on five receptions. Overall, Henne threw two touchdown passes in the game.


2006 Michigan vs. Ohio State football game, Statistical summary
In terms of rushing offense, Ohio State outgained Michigan 187 to 130 yards, led by Antonio Pittman who ran for 139 rushing yards on 18 carries. Michigan was led on the ground by Mike Hart, who carried the ball 23 times for 142 yards. Ohio State was led by Pittman's 139 rushing yards, and also saw freshman Chris Wells run for 56 yards, while Manningham rushed for 13 yards on 2 carries for the Wolverines'.


2006 Michigan vs. Ohio State football game, Statistical summary
Defensively, David Harris led Michigan with ten total tackles in the game, followed by Terrance Taylor with seven. Alan Branch had one interception and Rondell Biggs accounted for the Wolverines' only quarterback sack of the game. For Ohio State, James Laurinaitis led the Buckeyes with nine total tackles in the game, followed by Antonio Smith with eight. Smith, Lawrence Wilson, Joel Penton and Jay Richardson all accounted for the four of Ohio State's quarterback sacks.


2006 Michigan vs. Ohio State football game, Aftermath, Potential rematch
Both before and after the game, many believed there would be a rematch between Ohio State and Michigan in the BCS National Championship Game, with some suggesting that regardless of the outcome, both team were still the best two in college football. Going into the game, Ohio State was ranked No. 1 in the BCS rankings by just 0.003 points over Michigan, while USC, Florida, and Notre Dame rounded out the top five. Following the game, Ohio State remained No. 1 with a BCS average of 1.000, while Michigan remained in the No. 2 position.


2006 Michigan vs. Ohio State football game, Aftermath, Potential rematch
Following USC's victory over Notre Dame the following week, the Trojans jumped the Wolverines into the No. 2 position, with Florida in the No. 4 position. In the final week of the regular season, Florida defeated Arkansas in the SEC Championship Game and USC was defeated by UCLA. The final BCS rankings were released on December 3, 2006; Ohio State remained in the No. 1 position and Florida went into the No. 2 position, ensuring there would be no rematch in the championship game. Michigan remained No. 3 in the rankings and trailed Florida by only 0.0101 points.


2006 Michigan vs. Ohio State football game, Aftermath, Michigan
Following the loss, Michigan finished the regular season with an 11–1 record and ranked No. 3 in all major polls. Since Ohio State earned a bid in the BCS National Championship Game, Michigan received a bid in the Rose Bowl, where they played the No. 5 USC Trojans. At the end of the season, many Michigan players were recognized for their individual accomplishments. Defensive end LaMarr Woodley was unanimously named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, while also being named the Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year by the coaches'.


2006 Michigan vs. Ohio State football game, Aftermath, Michigan
Offensive Jake Long received the Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year award from the coaches'. Several players also received a unanimous selection to the All-Big Ten First Team, including Woodley, running back Mike Hart, and cornerback Leon Hall. Many players were also named to various All-American Teams, including Woodley, Hall, Long, Hart and defensive end Alan Branch. Woodley also received the Lombardi Award and Ted Hendricks Award. The Wolverines' finished the season with a 32–18 loss to USC in Rose Bowl and were ranked No. 8 in the final AP Poll and No. 9 in the final Coaches' poll.


2006 Michigan vs. Ohio State football game, Aftermath, Ohio State
Following the win, Ohio State finished the regular season undefeated at 12–0, their first undefeated regular season since their 2002 national championship. The Buckeyes' remained No. 1 in all major polls and received and earned a position in the BCS National Championship Game, where they played the No. 2 Florida Gators. At the end of the season, many Ohio State players were recognized for their individual accomplishments, including quarterback Troy Smith who was unanimously named the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year.


2006 Michigan vs. Ohio State football game, Aftermath, Ohio State
Many players were also recognized nationally including Smith, defensive tackle Quinn Pitcock, and linebacker James Laurinaitis, who were named to various national All-American Teams. Smith was awarded the Heisman Trophy (the seventh in school history), the Walter Camp Award, the Davey O'Brien Award, and was named the Associated Press Player of the Year. Laurinaitis also received the Bronko Nagurski Trophy for best defensive player. The Buckeyes' finished the season with a 41–14 loss to Florida in the BCS National Championship Game and were ranked No. 2 in both the final AP and Coaches' poll.


2006 Micronesian Games
The 6th Micronesian Games were held on Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands from June 23-July 2, 2006. The Games featured competition in 15 different sports/disciplines.


2006 Micronesian Games
In February 2006, the Games were canceled by the Governor of the Northern Marianas, Benigno R. Fitial, due to a financial crisis and a lack of planning. However, after pleas from athletes, coaches and parents, and the creation of a financial plan, the Games were allowed to go on.


2006 Micronesian Games
On June 23, 2006, the games were officially opened by the Governor of the Northern Mariana Islands, Benigno R. Fitial. The torch lighter was swimmer Xenavee Torwal. She has won 22 gold medals in past Micronesian Games as Xenavee Pangelinan.


2006 Mid-American Conference Baseball Tournament
The 2006 Mid-American Conference Baseball Tournament took place in May 2006. The top six regular season finishers met in the double-elimination tournament held at Olga Mural Field at Schoonover Stadium on the campus of Kent State University in Kent, Ohio. This was the eighteenth Mid-American Conference postseason tournament to determine a champion. Third-seed Ball State won their third tournament championship to earn the conference's automatic bid to the 2006 NCAA Division I Baseball Tournament.


2006 Mid-American Conference Baseball Tournament, Seeding and format
The winner of each division claimed the top two seeds, while the next four finishers based on conference winning percentage only, regardless of division, participated in the tournament. The teams played double-elimination tournament. This was the ninth year of the six team tournament.


2006 Mid-American Conference Baseball Tournament, All-Tournament Team, Most Valuable Player
Kyle Dygert was named Tournament Most Valuable Player. Dygert played for Ball State.