Damn I wanted Denard, Treezy and crew to go out on a big note but it wasn’t to be. Michigan fans know this game can be brutal and there you have it. USC doesn’t convert on that fourth down late in the game, or even if we wrap up Shaw and bring him down on a couple late scrambles, and it’s surely over. I thought the defense was just inches away for sealing this game against a team we probably shouldn’t have beaten. Give Gardner credit for generally remaining cool and getting the team down the field for the go ahead score. Lewan overall did a fine job on Clowney. This game will be remembered for Clowney’s bomb blast, the back-and-forth nearly four hour battle and it being Denard’s finale. It was fun to be down there in the fourth quarter to watch it play out but it was just heartbreaking watching the team creep off the field and sulk during the postgame. For a team with no running back and a depleted secondary they still had the chance to do some great things this year but really didn’t. The highlight of the season has to be squeaking by a very mediocre Michigan State team and there’s no way 8-5 can be considered anything but a disappointment despite facing 4…
-
-
Outback Bowl 2013 – 2nd Half Photos
A few from second half. A big thanks to photog Kelley Kuehne for all the shots today: Jadeveon Clowney after he got hit in the giblets More from the Outback: Outback Bowl 2013 – Postgame Outback Bowl 2013 – First Half Photos Outback – Pregame Shots TWIMFbH: Beating the Irish in the Beauty Contest Follow MVictors on Twitter
-
Outback Bowl 2013 – Postgame
Tough one. Wild game. A few shots from postgame. I think Roundtree was in tears in the locker room. Follow MVictors on Twitter
-
Outback Bowl 2013 – First Half Photos
A few from the first half, more later: Follow MVictors on Twitter
-
Outback – Pregame Shots
Just a few from pregame, more later
-
TWIMFbH: Beating the Irish in the Beauty Contest
Happy New Year’s eve everyone. Hoodwinked and Whipsawed Here’s your sneak listen to This Week in Michigan Football History, to be played during the 1050AM WTKA pregame show tomorrow. We’re talking a little 1947 pigskin, or more specifically, the 1948 Rose Bowl: [display_podcast] P.S. I’m on my way to Tampa, check back in here and follow MVictors on Twitter for notes, photos, snark and more.
-
Emotionally Disconnected Band?
HT to Papa Dools for this one from this weekend’s WSJ. It’s a piece on Michigan grad Arthur Bartner (left) who’s commanded the USC marching band since 1970. Of note: Mr. Bartner, who played football and basketball in high school in New Jersey, gave up sports to join the marching band at the University of Michigan, where he eventually earned his doctorate in music education while directing local high school bands. At Michigan, he said the band felt emotionally disconnected from the football program. So when he took the helm at USC in 1970, he took the unusual approach of trying to marry the band and the team together, modeling his program as closely as he could after the team and maximizing the interaction between them. Hmm. So from googling around I assume Bartner’s band tenure was in the early 1960s. I also understand that Bo did things to create a tighter bond between the band and the football squad. That said, I’m curious from past or current band member—do/did you feel an emotional connection with the football team? Do you care? Follow MVictors on Twitter
-
Willis Ward at 100
Born on this day a century ago, Willis Ward. The former Michigan track and football star was honored this season at Michigan Stadium: His involvement in the controversy around the 1934 Michigan-Georgia Tech game is of course chronicled in the documentary Black and Blue. October 20, 2012 was declared “Willis Ward Day” in the State of Michigan. Have a toast tonight to Willis Ward!
