• Seeing and Hearing Willie Heston

    Today marks the 110th anniversary of Willie Heston’s final game at Michigan.  Heston was Michigan’s first superstar, a two-time All-American, who scored (somewhere around) 72 touchdowns.  From 1901 to 1904, Heston’s teams went 43-0-1 and are credited with four national titles. I’ll have more on Heston later this year. Hearing WillieBack in 2012, I posted a short audio clip of Fielding Yost from the 1940 nationwide radio tribute the man titled, ‘A Toast to Yost from Coast to Coast’.   Check it out if you missed it.   In that post I promised to share a few more clips, and thanks to the Bentley Historical Library for passing these along. The man who introduced Yost to the crowd in attendance and the radio audience was none other than the great Heston.   Here are two clips of the great Willie and in the first, we have a surprise.   Before offering up his tribute to his old coach, Heston acknowledges that current student-athletes and national icon Tom Harmon is in the audience.  Old 98 shares the mic & even has a little back and forth with Heston that is all in all pretty priceless. The second clip has Heston delivering his testimonial to Yost.  Enjoy: As an aside, while I’m sure you’ll be hard-pressed to find another audio clip of the Harmon and Heston…

  • Jalen Joins Shep to discuss the Fab Five (03-03 WDFN audio)

       Jalen Rose joined Michigan hoops radio voice and WDFN morning show host Matt Shepard on Shep, Shave, and Shower on 1130AM this morning: [display_podcast] They talked quite a bit about the legacy and potential reinstatement of the Fab 5.  Jalen clearly thinks the F4 banners need to be restored and feels a jersey or two should be retired.  ESPN has an extensive documentary on the controversial quintet coming up on March 13 at 9am.  You can preview some of the clips here HT to Jeff Papworth. One historical nitpick: Jalen says a key piece in restoring the Fab Five back to Michigan will be restoring their Final 4 banners.  He adds that the Fab 5 had were the team “that helped Michigan get to two of its three final appearances ever.”   Of course Michigan was also in the 1965 and 1976 NCAA finals, losing to UCLA and undefeated Indiana respectively. You can catch all of the WDFN podcasts here. 

  • Dave Brandon joins WTKA and WDFN (audio 1-14)

    AD Dave Brandon joined Sam and Ira this morning on WTKA.  You can hear this and all the WTKA podcasts here. [Update, Brandon later joined 1130AM WDFN – second clip added:] [display_podcast]   Funny, Brandon mentions in the second clip (WDFN interview) that he was impressed on how Hoke handled his appearance on Letterman:

  • Denard Robinson (audio from Sept-13 press conference)

    The man of the hour and here’s the audio: [display_podcast] The thing about Denard is that he’s highly likeable.   He’s clearly humble, there’s a bit of an ‘aw shucks’ thing going on and that huge smile just tops it off.  I think that extends outside the Michigan fan base too.  As you do, I know quite a few State fans who really couldn’t stand Tate especially after the "I don’t get nervous" comment.  I saw it differently of course, but I guess I understand. There were several questions about his workload running the ball, both at Rich Rod and Denard.  One interesting fact.  He was of course a quarterback in high school but most schools recruited him as a receiver or cornerback but did you know Denard only rushed for 462 yards his senior year at Deerfield Beach (while throwing for 1809)?  So he’s just seven yards away (read: 1 carry) from beating his rushing totals from his entire high school senior year. P.S.  They handled out an updated copy of the Michigan record book at the press conference today, haha, that’s never a bad thing.

  • Rich Rodriguez Full Presser (08-09 audio)

      RR: "Have any of you ever kissed a girl?"  You know you’re getting old when driving over, the thought enters your mind that this "late" night press conference will be cutting into your precious ‘Antiques Roadshow’ time.   Yikes. Full audio from this evening below. Follow MVictors on Twitter for live updates during press conferences this season. [display_podcast]   Key takeaways/notes: RR called out "a handful of guys" that aren’t in shape.  Wouldn’t name names.  He didn’t name anyone beyond the "guys upfront" for being in exceptional shape. Coach Rodriguez wouldn’t comment on the WVU allegations, deferred to his previous statements. First practice in pads is Friday morning "full contact"; two-a-days start Sunday. All the quarterbacks took the first snap together, haha.  "All three guys are competing."  Said Devin is in "great shape". On the Woolfolk comments and Tate.  "I’m glad our seniors are taking some ownership and leadership in this team." …  "Tate knows he’s a lot of work to do to prove himself, not only on the field but off the field." On whether Tate is doing the right things to prove himself. "I don’t watch summer practices."  Weeee. All the injured players in the from the spring are back 100% except Will Heiniger.  Michael Shaw and some other players are still in summer school, into next week.…

  • Tom Izzo joins Jim Rome (6-17 audio)

    The interview starts off a bit slow but Rome gets into the LeBron questions and Izzo’s future near the end.  Izzo normally has a raspy voice but he definitely sounded worn down – no wonder.     Of note: It might be a Dumb-and-Dumberesque chance, but when asked, Izzo did leave the door cracked for another look at the NBA. Izzo dropped a U.P. reference in there, which has got to leave JR scratching his head, no? Izzo revealed a big driver to his looks at the NBA is to challenge the notion that college coaches can’t make it in the NBA.  His pulse picked up a bit during that discussion. Rome didn’t go into the media/coverage subplot here and I was a little surprised he missed that.  In 11 minutes he had room to hit that and usually JR is very in tune with what’s being discussed locally.  I was hopeful Izzo would make mention of, “Those nerds on The Red Cedar.”  No go. Audio: [display_podcast] Related:

  • Tropp Returns to Yost tonight

    To this day, the most read post on these pages remains the breakdown of the Conboy-Tropp-Kampfer mauling from January’s Michigan-Michigan State game. Spartan Andrew Conboy was kicked off the team and left school, opting to take his chances within the Canadiens organization.  It looks like he’s currently playing with the Hamilton Bulldogs. Corey Tropp was also kicked off the MSU team but earned his way back onto Rick Comley’s squad, and will return to Yost tonight. Wolverine Steve Kampfer is of course still skating for coach Berenson. Should be an interesting night tonight.  Here’s a look back, first at Red’s comments from January on the weekly coaches’ show at The Arena just after the incident: [display_podcast] And here are those stills that I took from Section 22: Conboy and Tropp zero in on Kampfer Conboy gives Kampfer the old clothesline from behind …and takes Kampfer down. Tropp cocks his stick, but actually pulls back a bit Then Tropp gets a look… …and then takes a swing.. …and connects. Michigan immediately dispatches the team doctor To Conboy’s credit, he appears to shove Corey Tropp with his right arm… ..and then pushes him away with his left