MICHIGAN WOLVERINES SPORTS

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While the University of Michigan football program continues its season of struggles under first-year coach Rich Rodriguez, fans in Alabama are celebrating the rapid return to prominence of their team, led by Nick Saban.

In his second year at Alabama, Saban has the Crimson Tide back on top - at least in my Associated Press Top 25 ballot. With last week's No. 1 team - Oklahoma - falling to Texas, No. 2 Alabama moves up a spot. There's certainly no guarantee it will last (just ask USC, or the Sooners), but that won't stop the Alabama faithful from celebrating all the same.

Alan Warren | The Ann Arbor NewsMichigan's Stephen Schilling checks on Sam McGuffie after he took a hard hit over the middle on a pass reception in the fourth quarter against Toledo at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday

The Big Ten's worst offense hoped to get better Saturday.

Instead, the University of Michigan football team's attack regressed against Mid-American Conference opponent Toledo.

The Wolverines continued a season-long spate of turnovers and scored just 10 points in a 13-10 home loss to the Rockets, who had been surrendering 35.8 points per game.

"You guys are surprised, but we knew we could do this as a defense - run to the ball, make plays and hit," Toledo safety Tyrrell Herbert said. "Football ain't about what's in the paper. It's about being ready to play, strap on the pads and anything goes - and today as a defense, we came out and did that."

Alan Warren | The Ann Arbor NewsMichigan's Jonas Mouton hits Toledo's Nick Moore after he makes one of his 20 catch Saturday at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor.

All week, the University of Toledo offense prepared at a quickened pace, determined to attack before the University of Michigan's defensive pressure became an issue.

Once quarterback Aaron Opelt started firing with both precision and speed on Saturday, the Rockets' ability to execute and to sustain drives became a driving force behind a 13-10 upset victory over the Wolverines.

And if Opelt was looking for a dedicated target to carry out his plan, he found it in Nick Moore.

From the beginning, the fundamental strength of the University of Michigan defense was its experience.

But over the first six games of the season, injuries have taken their toll on the unit, thrusting youngsters into key roles.

On Saturday, freshman cornerback Boubacar Cissoko and redshirt freshman defensive end Ryan Van Bergen were cast into the starting lineup, marking the first significant playing time for both.

Cissoko was forced to fill in for Donovan Warren, who continues to be hampered by a quadriceps injury.

Alan Warren | The Ann Arbor NewsA Michigan fan watches the game against Toledo in the fourth quarter at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday.

RELATED: Full Wolverines coverage

Dexter Mitchell had a hard time finding the right word to describe his anger as he made his way out of Michigan Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

"I'm disgusted," the Saginaw resident said. "Disgust. Disbelief."

"It's like, 'Are you sure that was the score?'"

Toledo 13, Michigan 10.

Alan Warren | The Ann Arbor NewsMichigan's Rich Rodriguez reacts to the missed field goal attempt by K.C. Lopata that would have sent the game into overtime against Toledo at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday

A week ago, it was the University of Illinois football team and nationally regarded quarterback Isiah "Juice" Williams who beat Michigan.

On Saturday, it was a bunch of no-names from a slumping Mid-American Conference program who entered Michigan Stadium. Toledo had lost three consecutive games, its defense was surrendering 35.8 points per game and its offense didn't score last week against Ball State.

None of that mattered against the Wolverines. Seconds after Michigan kicker K.C. Lopata punched a 26-yard field-goal attempt wide left, the Rockets became the first MAC opponent to ever defeat the Wolverines, and the latest team to topple Michigan this season.

At their best, sports give us something to cheer about. The make us believe in the improbable. They distract us from the every day problems of the world.

For University of Michigan football fans, Saturday's game merely extended them.

Watching the Wolverines lose to the University of Toledo was a lot like watching the Dow Jones Industrial Average careen through a topsy-turvy week. It was tough. It was ugly. And no one is quite sure if rock bottom has been reached yet.

AP PhotoMichigan coach Rich Rodriguez is off to a 2-4 start in his first season with the Wolverines after Saturday's loss to Toledo.

ANN ARBOR -- Think West Virginia would return the buyout and take back Rich Rodriguez?

What bothers me as a purist, and what should bother every Michigan football fan, is the lack of an offensive backup plan. It showed against Toledo Saturday, a team against which a backup plan should be unnecessary.

Rich Rodriguez said he was "a little down" after Michigan's first ever loss to a MAC team.

Allen Warren | The Ann Arbor NewsMichigan linebacker Jonas Mouton knocks the ball loose against Toledo.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Holy Toledo.

Michigan's K.C. Lopata missed a 26-yard field goal with 4 seconds left, giving the Rockets a 13-10 win over the once-mighty Wolverines.

Toledo coach Tom Amstutz, who has spent most of his life in the city just south of the Michigan border, gazed at the scoreboard displaying the stunning score as he celebrated on the Big House field.

Alan Warren | The Ann Arbor NewsMichigan's Rich Rodriguez reacts to a lost fumble in the fourth quarter against Illinois at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor last Saturday.

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• Live blog: Toledo at Michigan

Leisa Thompson | The Ann Arbor NewsMichigan punter Zoltan Mesko is averaging 42.09 net yards per punt this season, an average that tops the nation.

When he was 11 years old, Zoltan Mesko's parents planned to leave their native Romania and move to the United States. At first, they worried their only child might be reticent to leave his friends and the life he knew behind.

Those fears were quickly allayed by his response.

"Hey, let's pack our bags and go," he told his mother, Elizabeth.