The magic number is 6. That's how many dropped passes Coach Andrew Taylor had to endure on Saturday's defeat to the hands of his mentor, Lloyd Carr.

"Dropped passes are the number 1 fundamental for any receiver. To have 6 in the game is just inexcusable. If they don't start to catch the passes CJ's throwing at them, the only thing they will be catching is some pine."

The Wildcats started out on fire, converting a 44 yard field goal only a minute into the game.

Chad Henne would then go to work. With his All-American halfback, Mike Hart, out for the next five weeks with a broken arm, Henne picked up the slack. Before the half, he had thrown 2 touchdown passes, both to Mario Manningham. He tacked on a third in the 3rd quarter to Greg Mathews, puting the Wolverines up 21-3.

Brandon Roberson would add a touchdown of his own in the third quarter, which would be followed by a 44 yard field goal by Michigan's kicker, Bryan Wright, early in the fourth.

On Northwestern's late game drives, the dropped passes severely hindered them. They failed to convert crucial 3rd and 4th downs that would have put them back into the game.

Taylor could only sum it up one way, "It's pitiful."

Kevin Mims, who had 7 tackles, 3 for loss, and 2 sacks, was named player of the game.