Mother Nature seems intent on stealing the spotlight from Brandon Herron and Brady Hoke.
Severe weather has delayed Hoke’s debut as Michigan head coach a second time, with the Wolverines leading Western Michigan 34-10 near the end of the third quarter. The Detroit News’ Bob Wojnowski reports the stadium is being evacuated:
Michigan Stadium is now officially being evacuated. Entire stadium bowl being emptied. Lightning keeps striking. Bizarre scene.
Lightning was again reported in the area of the game, which was already delayed once early in the quarter due to similar circumstances.
The Michigan defense seemed to get a bit of a swagger after the first stoppage halted play just a minute into the half. On Western’s first possession after the delay, quarterback Alex Carder was drilled by Michigan safety Jordan Kovacs, forcing a fumble that Herron scooped up and returned 29 yards for a score. Herron set a school record earlier in the game when he returned an interception 94 yards for a touchdown.
Not to be outdone, Michigan’s offense decided to get in on the fun after the defense forced a punt on the next drive. Fitzgerald Toussaint led off the drive with a 43-yard burst to the WMU 44-yard line, and two plays later Michael Shaw finished it off with a 44-yard touchdown run.
Western appeared to get its feet on the ground, driving to the Michigan 25, but Carder fumbled again after getting hit by Ryan Van Bergen, who also recovered the ball.
Michigan had driven the ball to the WMU 26 before play was stopped again. When play resumes, Michigan will have a 2nd-and-8 with 1:40 left in the third quarter.
Stats After (Almost) Three Quarters
Passing
Robinson, UM: 9/13, 98 yards
Carder, WMU: 22/31, 183 yards, interception, 2 fumbles
Rushing
Toussaint, UM: 11 carries, 80 yards, 2 touchdowns
Shaw, UM: 4 carries, 54 yards, touchdown
Robinson, UM: 8 carries, 46 yards
Tevin Drake, WMU: 10 carries, 65 yards
Receiving
Jordan White, WMU: 12 catches, 119 yards
Junior Hemmingway, UM: 1 catch, 37 yards