• Dr. Sap’s Decals – Snakepit Style

    Ed.  Steve Sapardanis aka “Dr. Sap” is back with his decals.  This week I added the Editor’s Pick & the Fan Award.  Here are the picks from Week 1, Week 2, Week 3, Week 4, Week 5, Week 6 and Week 7 and Week 8 and Week 9 and Week 10 and Week 11. OFFENSE JEREMY GALLON – I think “10-Gallon Hat” played his best and toughest game as a Wolverine on Saturday. He made several big time and clutch catches that kept drives alive and played with a level of determination that I had not seen out of him. He clearly understood the magnitude of the game and stepped up his own accordingly. DEFENSE FRANK CLARK – His blind-side sack on Braxton Miller in the second quarter was a TREMENDOUS hit and one that evoked memories for me of another seismic hit in a big game. In the 1979 Rose Bowl, Michigan linebacker Jerry Meter almost decapitated USC QB Paul McDonald on a similar play. I’ve put the two next to each other below – amazing how similar they look! SPECIAL TEAMS DENNIS NORFLEET – I’m going with #26 here not because of his returns. It was his heads up play on OSU’s muffed punt that gave Michigan the ball. He swatted the ball towards his teammates and allowed…

  • Charmed I’m Sure | Michigan 38, Northwestern 31

    Win 902 will be remembered for a long time and Brady Hoke is clearly a bit charmed.  While Treezy’s ridiculous catch will naturally be the play everyone remembers, that comeback required quite a couple mistakes by Northwestern and few great plays to set up Gardner’s heave and of course to win the game in overtime.   First, let me grab my retro-spectacles to ensure my vision is 20-20.  That’s better…I can see clearly now.   For openers, Northwestern took that delay of game penalty on 4th down on the U-M 44.  They should have just punted it there and not sacrificed the five yards.  Then, with the ball at midfield, the punter hit a short, line-drive right into Gallon’s hands which is just about the worst thing that can happen.  I’m assuming that Fitz told his punter to get the ball off quickly to avoid a block, but Hoke outflanked him by setting up the return to the surprise of a few folks including Brian Griese up in the ESPN booth.   Then Treezy somehow was singled covered down the field before the lucky tip and the epic grab.   To Michigan’s credit, props to Hoke for calling the punt return.  Heck, he even putting an extra man back there instead going with the block.  Next, after Roundtree’s grab, cheers to the offense for…

  • Gopher Game Photos

    Check out more postgame jug photos here, and of course pregame shots here.  Slash!  Gardner heading here:   Gardner and Capt. Robinson comparing notes Gopher drumline adding some pageantry     Gang tackle.  There are few extra legs and feet in there somehow like the Iwo Jima Memorial   Deep sigh.   Guys, it’s hard to take the ‘No More Minnesota Nice’ thing seriously when you flash the hearty double thumbs up next to Mandy Pepperidge – who herself looks like she just found a box of puppies.   And memo to the guy below:  I know Gangnam Style is irresistible but you made a commitment when you put on that shirt and the eye black.   I haven’t seen the reply yet but this is the play where Roundtree wrestled the catch down near the goal line to set up the score.   Would love to see a little more of Wrestlin’ Roy the rest of the way.   Here he is telling the back judge what was up:   Until just now, I thought there were merely cute little helmet cozies on the back of the bench, certainly worthy of a post here for many reasons.  Upon further review- they are actually hooked up to a propane-fueled heating (or cooling?) system.  Gophers know how to deal with the elements, that’s for certain.…

  • Cool Cat

    It’s a beautiful day!   No question the star of the game was this guy, who once again showed poise beyond his years: That photo was taken after Burke’s first start of the year in game 2 against Towson.   Back then I wrote this: Burke is a cool cat for a true freshman by the way.  He admitted he was a little nervous before the game after [getting] the nod for the start, but he certainly wasn’t nervous breaking the game down for the media. I think that was the last time he was nervous because that’s a cool dude.   He’s cooler than Treezy with shades in the Maize Rage.  And he not only led the team with the ball most notably creating the game winning score, he made several very nice plays on defense.   In the final seconds (after he’d been on the court all but a couple minutes of the game) he had the awareness to help out Novak to stop Green’s drive just past the stripe, and he while he didn’t get the rebound, he turned, got a body on Green and broke up Green’s attempt to tip the ball in.  Radio >>  As an aside, I had the unique opportunity to listen to a portion of the game on the radio while heading back to the area. …