• Messner vs. Mandarich

    I always think about this interview during MSU-Michigan week. Here’s U-M great Mark Messner talking about his great battles with MSU’s superfreak lineman Tony Mandarich, along with a bit about Bo’s drug policy and how the team self-regulated bad behavior. Read on:

  • How Bo Nabbed the #1 High School QB | Storytime with Dr. Sap

    In honor of national signing day 2014, Steve “Dr. Sap” Sapardanis is back with a little story of how Bo nabbed the nation’s #1 quarterback. A few hours ago one of the nation’s top recruits, Jabrill Peppers, sent over his LOI and Michigan fans from coast to coast rejoiced.  Did you know there was a time when Bo Schembechler landed the nation’s top high school quarterback? This quarterback was so talented (4.5 speed and a cannon for an arm) that every major college wanted him.   By most accounts he was the #2 overall high school recruit in the entire country.  But there was just one problem – he wasn’t exactly sold on going to Michigan. Bill McCartney was assigned the recruiting responsibility to bring him to Ann Arbor but the QB had his mind made up – he was going to go to (/gasp!) Michigan State. The Spartans had just beaten Bo a few years earlier in Michigan Stadium and MSU’s passing scheme was exactly the type of offense this recruit wanted to play in. When Coach Mac reported back to Bo that he couldn’t change this prized recruit’s mind, The General realized it was time for this QB to have a face to face with Coach Schembechler.   Bo went to this player’s high school and waited for him in…

  • Dr. Sap’s Decals: When the Decals Returned

    Ed. The Decals don’t stop just because it’s a bye week.  Here’s Steve “Dr. Sap” Sapardanis with a guest post and a little decal history: After a two-year hiatus, award decals returned to the Michigan helmets in 1985.   Bo removed them from the helmets after the 1982 season because he felt there was not enough emphasis and focus on The Team, so off they came. Michigan still kept track of them for the 1983 and ’84 seasons, but in 1985 somebody convinced Bo to put the decals back on the helmets. (My guess is that somebody was Jim Harbaugh, but that is a story for another time.) When Bo first debuted them in 1969, the decals were crudely shaped footballs that were more orange than yellow in color.  In 1975, a snarling Wolverine head was added while the shape became more rounded and elliptical.  Ten years later, the now more spheroid-shaped footballs centered the Wolverine head on them and added laces. The 1985 season was a great year for Michigan and that team will forever be remembered for having one of the best defenses in U=M history. As a result, it should come as no surprise that the top two decal award winners came from that side of the ball. All-American Mike Hammerstein had 48 decals on his helmet at…

  • Photos: Michigan 12, Michigan State 10 (2012)

    A few sights from Saturday pregame and postgame:   So during pregame, the Spartan kickers ran over to the U-M (north) side of the field.  Gibby trotted over to keep an eye on things.     Dantonio took the field with a smirk as he was thoroughly abused by the tunnel taunters   You can’t get the half boar, half rat hat at Moe’s (yet)     Bell checking out the new fangled shiny helmets.  Not a fan but they did look better on TV (and even in this photo).  In person it looked like the shade of green was much lighter.       Many former football greats were on hand, including Mark Messner (above) who no doubt recalled his epic battles with Michigan State’s Tony Mandarich     Honoring Willis Ward on the 78th anniversary of the Georgia Tech game.  Props to John U. Bacon for first writing about the story, and Brian and Buddy at Stunt3 for the wonderful Black and Blue documentary.   Speaking of Brian – you can hear our live edition of This Week in Michigan Football History from Saturday right here     At this point Fowler figured it was time to GTFO     Lewan and Gholston smokem peace pipe after the game Elsewhere! Photos:  mgoblog Photos: MBN Photos: AnnArbor.com Photos: Michigan Daily…