For this edition of TWIMFbH we head back to October 30, 2004 and a game forever known as ‘Braylonfest.’ The stunning comeback against our in-state rivals was one of the ages, and coincidentally occurred 17 years to the day of the 2021 match-up against Michigan State for The Paul Bunyan Trophy.
Much thanks to Ira for adding the radio calls! As always, join Ira, Sam and Steve and listen to This Week in Michigan Football History on the WTKA 1050AM Keybank Countdown to Kickoff ahead of each game.
Go Blue! Full script:
Good MORNING – historically speaking, on the list of all-time epic Michigan football comebacks there’s one so great it has a single name: of course I’m talking about Braylonfest.
As we face our farming friends from East Lansing at high noon today we remember this wild day in Meechigan lore that occurred PRECISELY 17 years ago on October 30, 2004.
Despite not having won a game at the Big House since 1990, the Spartans dominated most of this one. In fact, it looked like it was in the bag for coach John L. Smith’s Gang Green.
With just under 9 minutes left to go State’s DeAndra Cobb scored on a TD run to put MSU up 27-10. I’m guessing some of you out there gave up(!) – turned off the TV or left the game. But the men on the western sideline did not surrender and began to crawl back. It started with an 86-yard drive that netted a Garrett Rivas field goal and burned a couple minutes off the clock.
Still down two touchdowns, Lloyd Carr rolled the dice went with an onside kick. That glorious, greasy PIGSKIN was well struck, mishandled by a Spartan, and gobbled up by Wolverine Brian Thompson. The offense trotted out and it took freshman QB Chad Henne just 15 seconds to do this:
[SOUND]
Suddenly Michigan was right back in it but there was still work to do. After forcing a Spartan punt with 3:24 left, Henne went back to work and this time needed just 14 seconds to find the man of the hour – AGAIN:
[SOUND]
A late MSU FG attempt fell short, and we took matters to overtime. The teams swapped field goals in the first OT, exchanged touchdowns in the second (including a remarkable TD grab by Jason Avant) to set up the third overtime.
Michigan got the ball first and on a critical third and 9, Henne spotted you-know-who running free over the middle:
[SOUND]
A two-point conversion put the Wolverines up eight but it didn’t matter. The defense stopped Sparty in their last chance ending the game…and “Braylonfest” reserved a spot in the pantheon of brilliant Meechigan Football performances.
