• Dirty Harry (WTKA audio)

    July 9, 2011 /

    When I hopped in the car Friday morning I was happy to hear the discussion on the WTKA 1050AM morning show focused on the 1930s and in particular, former M coach Harry Kipke.   Ira took a few calls including a notable one from listener Don who broke down the whole discussion of “worst” three year stretch ever, and the fall of the Kipke era.   Here’s Don’s call: [display_podcast] Well done, Don. As far as Don’s online Michigan historian, I’m pretty sure that’s me and he’s correct that you can find a lot more on that era on these pages. Regarding the worst stretch ever, I started that discussion three seasons ago when local writers started calling RichRod’s first the worst of all time.  And despite what folks say (including our athletic department), by almost any measure the 3 year stretches from 1934-1936 and from 1935-1937 are worse, and Don adds some great points about our dismal performance against our rivals. It’s not so much that I care if you make a statement about the worst or best or whatever.  But out of respect for those who care about the history and traditions of this university, at least mix in a “one of the” or “among the” before you drop in the word “worst” or “best”, assuming you are not willing to…

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  • Husking History

    July 1, 2011 /

      Today the Big Ten officially welcomes Nebraska to the conference, so I say welcome to fans & the Husker bloggers.  I’ve actually been to Lincoln for a “Big Ten” game – versus Iowa in 2000 and had an outstanding time.  Other than the stadium being completely doused in red (something we’ve seen before), my other lasting impressions include a strapping man launching T-shirts out of his portable missile launcher, and the pro football feel to the whole event with the omnipresent ads, sponsored replays, etc.  It’s a different environment than Michigan for sure, but not unlike what you get in other stadiums in the conference. Speaking of the bloggers, a few are celebrating the day with a post and Big Red Network even solicited notes from the conference blogosphere.  Brian chimed in: From MGoBlog – Welcome. Michigan looks forward to proving once and for all that the 1997 Nebraska team couldn’t hold a candle to Charles Woodson and company. Please try to blend in when you overwhelm our stadium. So did I: From MVictors — Welcome.  Nebraska and Michigan share many things historically of course: a deep running tradition of excellence, the 1997 national championship and Fielding Yost.  Our teams even shared the outcome of the game when we met 100 years ago this fall in Lincoln – a…

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  • Badgers and Bad Bleachers (1905)

    June 24, 2011 /

    There is significance to this hard fought 12-0 Michigan victory over Wisconsin in 1905.  First, this was really the last real test for Yost and crew before the showdown with Chicago on Thanksgiving day, where Yost would suffer his first defeat. The game also made headlines because the Ferry Field temporary stands for the game collapsed and gave everyone a big scare.

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  • Mascots and Phase II

    June 21, 2011 /

    I love that this stuff can carry sports talk radio.  I do.  I can’t stand many of the callers but I like hearing people talk passionately about throwback jerseys, mascots, stadium mods and whatever.  Inevitably it invokes some discussion of history and tradition.  On Mascots:  Make sure you check out James Dickson’s excellent piece last week in Michigan Today on the history of mascots, Rich Eisen’s take then and now and much more.  It included this excellent shot of the big bad wolf a.k.a. Willy the Wolverine getting a smooch from a mullet-sporting, chest hair-flaunting, wife beater-rocking LSA junior: One note – you know about Yost’s quest to bring in Biff and Bennie, but don’t forget about my boy Intrepidus from the 1930s. I summarized my take on the mascot situation in one tweet: The Michigan mascot in my head wears fierce armor made from pieces of the stadium halo, and the ’93 Final Four banner as a cape.   Make that happen and I’ll sign on.  Someone sketch that out for me and I owe you a beer. On Phase II: On the talk of completing the south end zone.  Here’s my little idea to toss into the hopper.   I’d like the idea to add more seats and all that, but I’d love to see a general admission concourse like…

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  • Three and Out– John U. Bacon

    June 18, 2011 /

    It’s official, John U. Bacon wrapped up the book and you can pre-order on Amazon.com now.  Three and Out will be released on October 25, so get some!   (Ed. As a reader notes, I believe the final title is Three and Out: Rich Rodriguez and the Michigan Wolverines in the Crucible of College Football and that’s the written title on the Amazon listing…perhaps the Denard Heisman pose won’t be the final cover pic either):

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