• Bob Bergeron’s Kick – 40 Years Later!

    Deadlocked 13-13 with Iowa on the afternoon of October 22, 1983 and just twelve ticks remaining, Michigan sent a walk-on kicker on the field to win the game. At that moment the Homecoming crowd of nearly 105,000 certainly squirmed, knowing the recent woes of the Wolverine kicking game over the past several years—particularly in clutch situations. Thankfully kicker Bob Bergeron was not thinking about history or even the significance of that moment. His mindset was focused on doing his job—something he’d done 1000s of times before. The rest is history.

  • See Harry Newman Stuff Pug (1932)

    Have a look at these shots from Michigan’s 1932 battle with Northwestern played in the Big House: The ball carrier is #23 Earnest “Pug” Rentner, an All-American back for the Wildcats.    Here’s another shot in a separate eBay auction featuring Michigan’s star Harry Newman apparently snatching a ball out of mid-air: The caption attached to the second shot claims this is Newman intercepting a pass from Rentner, but I’ve seen no evidence in the recaps that Newman got a pick in this game.  He did a bunch of other things (fumble recovery, long passes, punt return, a field goal, etc.) but no interception. Despite the sparse Big House crowd (it was the Depression, man) this game was one of the most anticipated match-ups along Michigan’s march to the 1932 national title.   The Wildcats had put together quite a squad in the early 1930s and shared the conference crown with Harry Kipke’s Wolverines in 1930 and 1931 but…the teams didn’t face each other those seasons.  Via Hail to the Victors 2012: Pug and The Purple GangThe next week was the most anticipated battle of the season. Northwestern and Michigan shared both the past two conference titles and two of the biggest stars in college football: the Wildcat’s 1931 All-American back Earnest “Pug” Rentner and of course U-M’s dangerous Harry Newman. As…

  • Bovember All Offense

    [Ed. Given it’s Movember again, had to repost this beauty from back in 2013 from Dr. Sap, celebrating the greatest ‘stashes in U-M history.] The All-Schembechler mustachioed offense.   I supplied the stache’d Schembechler and the mustache ratings. Offensive GuardSTEFAN HUMPRIES1980-1983 CenterTOM DIXON1980-1983 Offensive GuardREGGIE McKENZIE1968-1971 Don’t let the look deceive you, #76 was as good as it gets on the O-line. Anchored the All-American O-line in 1981.  Every player ended up being an All-American selection. The standard by which all U-M guards are measured. Offensive TackleJON GIESLER1975-1978 QuarterbackSTEVE SMITH1980-1983 Offensive TackleGREG SKREPENAK1987-1991 Dude still looks tough today even without all the hair and the bowtie. Fastest dual-threat QB Bo had and could do it on the ground or in the air. Bo’s largest player at 6-8, 322. Fact: was a Road Grater and Pancake Machine FlankerANTHONY CARTER1979-1982 Tight EndCRAIG DUNAWAY1979-1982 Wide ReceiverVINCE BEAN1980-1984 Knew he was special when he scored a touchdown the 1st time he touched the ball. Most memorable catch was the game-winning touchdown against Notre Dame in 1980.  I still refuse to accept the final score! Played opposite AC but had a knack for getting BOTH feet in bounds. TailbackBILLY TAYLOR1968-1971 KickerBOB BERGERON1980-1983 FullbackSTAN EDWARDS1977-1980 The charter Movember member loved to wear stylish teal Puma cleats back in the day. Might have been the lightest player to don…

  • Did Michigan Really Want the Little Brown Jug Returned?

    The story of the origins of the Little Brown Jug rivalry is being retold and again this week.  I’ve maintained for the past few years that the idea that Yost wrote a letter to Minnesota asking that the jug be returned is not only silly, there’s plenty of evidence to backup that it’s just false.  To those just tuning in this week for some jug knowledge here’s the basic breakdown of what really happened, and further, why the idea that Yost wrote a letter to get the crock back is far-fetched at best.