• The Snow Bowl (1950)

    But none of these games, even the Rose Bowl, told the story of the 1950 season. It was all about what happened in the amazing game in Columbus that year. It was November 25, 1950, in Columbus—a game that will forever be known as The Snow Bowl. The lead-up, game and aftermath of one of the greatest games in college football history: 1950's "Snow Bowl" - Michigan at Ohio State.

  • The Zero-Sum Game (Ohio State 42, Michigan 41)

    As someone covering the history of this program I always love it when I see historic events unfold before us, and fortunately I get to see a lot of that following Michigan.  Saturday was an all-timer and yes, I’m one of those people who can enjoy an epic game even if we come out on the wrong side.   While many of you who watched the twists (and the result) of the 2000 Northwestern game no doubt hurled a remote or two during the game, I was in Evanston that day and while I was frustrated at times, in the end I was fine knowing I witnessed one for the ages.  Damn I wish we had that two-point conversion back but I’m fine, even good.  Most of all now I’m actually a little excited to see the bowl game and I’m not sure I could say that before kickoff.   To the questions on the collective mind: > Should we have gone for 2?  I liked the call, and I have trouble finding fans who disagree.  I know you are out there, but it feels like most everyone liked the balls and more importantly, the call.  If anything we should have gone for two earlier in the game as the nerds will tell you. > Like the play?   I think most fans…

  • Deserving Better (Ohio 26, Michigan 21)

    I left Columbus with more questions.   Like many of you I’m puzzled why Denard wasn’t used in the second half especially down the stretch.   If he was hurt and out of commission he sure didn’t look it in the postgame and Hoke didn’t say as much in the postgame.  While Hoke never really talks about injuries, it’s not like there’s some gamesmanship required here—the bowl game is five weeks away.   And let’s say he was dinged up and couldn’t run the ball for some reason–toss him in the backfield as a decoy, no?    Other than the lack of Denard down the stretch, the other frustration was how he was used in short yardage.   He showed no indication that he was ever going to pass it and really didn’t throw in warm-ups.    So if you aren’t going to have him throw it–at any point–then on short yardage put him in the backfield with Gardner and hand it or toss it to Denard, or fake it to #16 and have Gardner run it, or toss it to Gallon or ARGH.  After the 2001 Michigan State Spartan Bob game Lloyd Carr summed up how he felt about his team, when he said, “They deserve better.”    Kovacs was on the brink of tears in the postgame.  The defense made huge players to keep Michigan…

  • Michigan-Ohio State 2011 | Postgame Photos

    A few from the field in the fourth quarter and the aftermath: Everitt Rules So here’s Fitz’s not-a-touchdown.  When I saw it live I thought his knee was down.  Watching the replay, I can’t believe they felt they had enough to overturn it but whatever.   Denard’s postgame football grenade put everyone on the turf right after the final whistle.   Nothing’s easy.  Denard was dinged up a bit in the student section before ‘The Victors’ and had to find some space   Seemed like Mike Martin didn’t want to leave the field   Related: Beat Ohio Postgame (Photos) Dr. Sap’s Decals–We Beat Ohio! The Victors Ohio Pregame (Pregame Photos) Let’s Do This! TWIMFbH—Climate Controlled Conditions in Chicago (1896!) Elsewhere: Ohio Postgame Presser Transcript: Brady Hoke Denard is the story again (Freep) Senior leadership, Brady Hoke’s direction bring U-M new dawn Victory Formation Michigan’s senior class needed streak-ending win over Ohio State Follow MVictors on Twitter

  • Woody Hayes says, “Don’t give this to Bo!”

    The next edition of eBay Watch once again looks over at Mastro Auctions for another cool item, this time an autographed copy of Woody Hayes’ 1969 tome, ‘Hot Line to Victory‘. It’s just one item in a collection of old programs and other goodies, but this is the standout item to me. Here’s the full auction. There are many autographed copies of Hot Line out there, but this one has a special note inside: If you can’t make it out it reads: To Gene RyanFrom John W. Printer [not sure what that means] Be sure not to pass any of this information on to Bo!Regards,Woody Hayes I wish I knew who Gene Ryan is and whether he truly had some ties to Bo Schembechler, but either way this is pretty cool. Michael Rosenberg talked a bit about Hot Line to Victory in his great book, War As They Knew It. In it he Rosenberg describes Woody’s tome as a “football textbook” and added, “the book was intended for the general public–Hayes wanted to share strategy and tactics with anybody who would listen.” While we don’t know who Gene Ryan is (yet), we do know that Woody’s comments not surprisingly were in jest. Obviously, Bo could have grabbed a copy off the shelf himself, but Woody made it easy. According to…