PISCATAWAY, N.J. -- Ruth's Chris Steak House in Ann Arbor thought it would have a fun promotion.
Instead, it may have bit off more than it can chew -- or its patrons can.
The steakhouse started a promotion last week giving Michigan fans a percentage off their total food bill equal to the final winning point differential.
►Report card: U-M grades from the win over Rutgers
Then Michigan beat Rutgers, 78-0, on Saturday, the largest point differential since 1939, which would mean a 78% discount. But, as stated before the promotion began, the restaurant's conditions state that 50% would be the limit for the deal today through Thursday.
As of Sunday afternoon, the restaurant is already booked through Thursday.
Located at 314 S. Fourth Ave., it's a promotion the restaurant plans to continue through football season.
“We love to support our community’s fan base and extend the celebration to our guests,” Paul “Buzz” Goebel, general manager of Ruth’s Chris Steak House Ann Arbor, wrote in announcing the promotion last week.
There are a few other caveats -- the "gratuity is based on the total bill prior to the discount, may not be combined with any other promotions or offers, excludes group or private dining, discount excludes alcoholic beverages."
Today they'll see what kind of impact the blowout meant for them.
Two-point try: Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh insisted he wasn't trying to rub in the score.
It appeared that way when U-M went for and converted the two-point conversion after scoring the fourth touchdown in the win over Rutgers.
Holder Garrett Moores, placed on scholarship before the season, took the snap and ran into the end zone untouched to make the score 29-0, instead of 28-0. At that point it seemed excessive, but Harbaugh said the Wolverines had been planning to try based on a Rutgers alignment they saw on film.
"This is something we had practiced all week and we saw a look that we thought we could get a two-point conversion on," Harbaugh said. "We had it called each of the extra points. We didn't call it after that fourth touchdown. It was dialed up and called off the first three times and the fourth time we got the look we had prepared for. Our guys executed it very well."
Free Press writers Mark Snyder and Drew Sharp break down what they just saw in Michigan's 78-0 evisceration of Rutgers on Oct. 8, 2016. (via Facebook Live)
Mr. Everything: Fullback Khalid Hill continues to shine as U-M's touchdown leader. He scored three more Saturday, two on the ground (two carries, two yards, two touchdowns) and one on a catch for 11 yards.
After never scoring in his career before, now he has eight total touchdowns.
He is the first Wolverine with at least three touchdowns in a game since Jehu Chesson had four against Indiana last season.
"If you were to tell me this last year, that I would have these touchdowns and do what I'm doing, it would seem far-fetched, to do it now is amazing," Hill said.
The O-line: Michigan shuffled its starting offensive line to open the game, with freshman Ben Bredeson starting in place of Ben Braden at left guard.
But that unit only lasted two plays as left tackle Juwann Bushell-Beatty – who was already replaced starter Grant Newsome, whose season ended last week – was injured.
He left the field under his own power but spent time on the sideline with his right knee being examined.
Bushell-Beatty’s departure shook up the line again, as center Mason Cole bounced out to left tackle and Patrick Kugler took over for him at center for the rest of that drive and the following two series.
Bushell-Beatty got his helmet back after a few series and eventually returned to the game with Cole moving back to center. Braden stepped in at left guard and then Bredeson played later with the second string.
The No. 2 line from left to right: Nolan Ulizio (who also entered as sixth lineman on one play with the starters), Bredeson, Kugler, Michael Onwenu, and David Dawson.
Contact Mark Snyder at msnyder@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter at @mark__snyder.
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