Most Michigan fans know that Fritz Crisler made his way to Ann Arbor from Princeton after he turned around the Tigers’ football program.  Here's a special pass issued by Crisler himself, allowing the holder to visit the “secret” football practice from 1937.   It’s signed by the coach himself and is quite a beauty

After living the game day experience through the eyes of the media for the Western Michigan game, I looked forward to dialing things back into fan mode. I queued up before the gates opened to the U-M Golf Course it wasn’t long before I was settled in with a drink and a newspaper as the sun rose. Game day in Ann Arbor means different things to different fans. For some it’s an opportunity to get outside and enjoy the color, sounds and excitement of college football.  Others see their meticulously planned tailgate parties as a sacred ritual. No matter how serious you treat the game day experience, it’s hard to trump what it meant to Scott Hawkins on Saturday morning. Marine Scott Hawkins, six days before heading to Afghanistan When I spotted Hawkins tailgating next to our group he looked any other young man hanging out that morning.  The difference is that Hawkins won’t be back next week or for the rest of the season: the 20 year-old Marine is being deployed to fight in Afghanistan on Friday and won’t return until at least April. And he’s leaving much more than friends and Michigan football behind–his wife Crystal is pregnant with their first child. “They baby is due a month before I’m scheduled to come home,” said Hawkins. Couldn’t they…

Worth a listen, at least starting about midway through: [display_podcast] Albom:  “What has life been like for you on the Michigan campus over the past two days?” Forcier: “It didn’t hit me until I went to one of my lectures one day and the professor was taking attendance.  There was about 200 people in my class and when they said my name about half of them turned and looked up at me.  And I was like, ‘Oh God!’.” Sidekick:  “What’s the real story [behind the Clausen and Forcier family quarterback rivalry]?” Forcier:  “Just growing up, we’ve known his family…always seeing them at the same camps.  We’ve always had a rivalry between us because we had three quarterbacks, we all went D-1…It’s nice to finally play somebody in their family and we got the win.” Mitch:  “You’re going to be sitting on top of that rivalry for a year now.  Until next September anyhow.” Forcier:  “I plan to play him again.  I plan to beat him again, too. [laughs]” Mitch: “..Try to remember that Eastern is no push over.” Forcier: “I saw what they did to Northwestern. We don’t just gotta beat the teams, we gotta destroy ‘em. For us to get respect we have to destroy everybody.”

Via a tweet from @freepwolverines, Tate Forcier will own a small portion of this week’s cover of Sports Illustrated (is he covering Favre’s face?  That’s a first).  I was able to poke around briefly on the SI website and found an upload of the new cover, perhaps a little early?   Full cover image here, featuring the Vikings’ Adrian Peterson.

Apparently the unwritten rule prohibiting cheering in the press box got a temporary stay on Saturday, at least according to writer Thayer Evans who was covering the Notre Dame for the New York Times ‘Quad Blog’ [HT: Faulkner]: Central Michigan beat Michigan State on a 42-yard field goal with 3 seconds left. As the game’s final minute ticked away before the start of the game here, news media in the press box gathered around televisions to watch. Central Michigan initially missed a potential game-winning 47-yard field goal, but got to try the kick again after Michigan State was penalized for being offside. The announcement of the penalty that set up the game-winner prompted clapping and an announcement in the press box. “Cheering is not allowed in the press box,” the announcer said, “but it is right now.”

I wasn’t in the press box this week and that was a good thing.  I would have had to chew off my tongue on that last drive to avoid cheering for Tate and the crew.   A few random notes and thoughts on Tate and Rich Rod’s big day: This was one ranks up there somewhere with best games in the Big House of recent history maybe all-time.   I heard many folks saying it was the best they’d ever seen and I can’t blame them if you consider the body of work: from the coin flip to Clausen’s desperation toss.   The Braylon Edwards/Michigan State comeback comes to mind but remember that much of that game involved the Wolverines getting hammered.  The Manningham/Penn State finish was wonderful of course against a top ranked opponent.   The 1991 Desmond catch game against the Irish (my god, 18 years ago?  We called Desmond “Magic”back then) seems comparable as I file through recent history.  Toss in all of the off-the-field intrigue and you’ve got yourself a special Saturday to remember. Sights/Sounds: I love the prevalence of the ‘To Hell with Notre Dame’ brand, from drops on WTKA 1050AM to the giant signs and t-shirts found before the game: While this was probably the best “Maize-out” I can remember, I love the complete disregard of the Maize-out…

That’s all I’ve got.  I wrote down a bunch of notes during the game but to quote the great Bob Ufer: “Who cares?  Who gives a damn?”

A thoughts on today game before I head out.  P.S. – For those coming back here for another behind-the-scenes recap from Notre Dame, sorry, I’ll be back in the crowd for this one.  I’m sure a lot of enemy fans are getting a good chuckle over the glee of the U-M faithful after the Western Michigan game.  I understand that a little bit, but this team looked different.  The tackling was much better and the difference with having a quarterback that can throw on the run (and just run) was clear.  I left South Bend convinced that Michigan had the better team last year despite the final score (see game recap, Pushing the Rock): History just might be on Notre Dame’s side (not the Las Vegas history), as recall it was 100 years ago this fall when Notre Dame first beat Michigan, in Ann Arbor no less.  Frank ‘Shorty’ Longman and crew came to town and stunned Yost and company 11-3 on November 6, 1909. Prediction: For today, I just can’t help but think that Forcier will struggle a bit and Clausen will have a solid day.  I think the M defense will look good but will give up the occasional bomb.  All told, I see the Irish pulling away 31-20.