Update 12/01/03: I haven’t heard anything else about this since I posted this. Have you? I hear Jim on 1050 WTKA but I still have nothing.
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Michigan Crashes Back to Earth, Falls to Ducks
Comeback effort too little, too late as M falls to University of Oregon Ducks ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN SEPTEMBER 21, 2003 Ann Arbor News writers Jim Carty and Antoine Pitts differed when describing Michigan’s final offensive play. Carty wrote that the last play was “one last drop by [M receiver Braylon] Edwards”. Pitts said the drive ended when “quarterback John Navarre’s pass to Braylon Edwards sailed high.” This sums up a common debate over the past few years. Is John Navarre throwing bad passes, or are Michigan’s talented receivers not making catches? This debate certainly was a good one on Saturday, as there were several bad throws, several missed catches and some in between. The bottom line is that this team is not as good as everyone hoped after last week, and certainly is not good enough to get away with bad execution, whether it be drops or sailing passes. As complete as the team domination last week of Notre Dame was, this was as equivalent in terms of a total team collapse. Every facet of Michigan’s game could be criticized. Is the hope of a national title over? Probably but not completely. Losing early like this gives Michigan a chance to rebound. But as I told the Mudbowl on Sunday morning, I more concerned about Michigan’s ability to win the…
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Former Buckeye Player Sells Gold Pants Charm
As reported by Rusty Miller in the Detroit News, it appears as though one of the Buckeyes sold their cherished pants charm. This unique piece of jewelry is awarded to Ohio State football players if they beat Michigan. This one was from 2002. It has the score of the game and the player’s initials (M.C.?). The item was sold on eBay, reportedly for around $1000. I wonder which player sold his charm? (“Some people call him Maurriiiice”). Hmm. Here is an excerpt from the eBay listing: These are the coveted Gold Pants Charm that Ohio State Football players and coaches receive after each defeat of Michigan. This 2002 pair was awarded to a current player after last years win over Michigan in November of 2002 (14-9) at Ohio Stadium. The game that vaulted Ohio State to the Fiesta Bowl and eventually a National Title. It all started in 1934. The game against the University of Michigan in 1934 placed new coach Francis Schmidt into the hearts of Buckeye fans everywhere. Ohio State won the game 34-0, its largest margin of victory in the series to that point. Coach Schmidt changed Buckeye lore forever when, before the season, he was asked about beating Michigan. Schmidt commented that he didn’t see the problem. After all, the University of Michigan football players put…
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Victors Manhandle Irish 38-0 in 2003
Notre Dame crushed in every facet of the game by inspired Wolverines ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN SEPTEMBER 14, 2003 Somewhere in the middle of the third quarter I heard a faint jingle. A group of young Notre Dame students sat adjacent to us in Section 22, and two of them were pathetically shaking their car keys in the air. The kids were trying to symbolically indicate that the next snap would be a “key play” for ND. This was a pitiful sight as the Fighting Irish faced yet another third down and long somewhere in their own side of the field. The key jingling was not an accurate reflection of the significance of this down, but a desperate pipe dream that this play would somehow defy the brutal reality of the beating that their beloved Irish were taking. As was the case all day, the Wolverine defense immediately snuffed the play and the students’ key-waving was replaced by head-shaking and disbelief. The 38-0 pounding continued from kickoff until the final seconds rolled off the clock. Chris Perry talked before the season of leaving a legacy at Michigan. No matter how this season shakes out, this game will be remembered for decades to come. That’s what this rivalry does: each game is a chapter in the storied history of this match…
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Houston Cougars Humbled by Michigan, Irish Next
Navarre struggles. TA coming to town on Saturday. ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN SEPTEMBER 7, 2003 Oh yes, it was sweet being back at Michigan Stadium after missing Game #1 at the DALMAC. Jess and I arrived in our seats about 20 minutes before the start, just in time to see the band and the team come out. The weather was perfect: literally no clouds and a mild mid-70s. As for the game, it is tough to give any good takes due to the quality of the opponent, but I will say that Houston crushed a team (Rice) the week before, and many good/great teams (e.g., Ohio State, Purdue) struggled or lost against so-called patsies. The Michigan Wolverine defense looked much improved, which probably had something to do with the return of Shazor and Jackson. They both played great. The Houston offense really couldn’t do anything; only mustering a field goal after converting a 4th down. The holes created by the M offense were as big as I can remember. The M fullback, Dudley, had some great blocks for Perry and Underwood and the rest of the runners. “Duds” was the player of the game of WJR. John Navarre looked average. I felt the receivers could have made a few more catches, but Navarre wasn’t putting the ball in a good place.…
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Lloyd Carr & Todd Harris – What Really Happened
During halftime of the Ohio State vs. Michigan game, Wolverine head coach Lloyd Carr ripped into Todd Harris, an ABC sideline reporter. Harris asked Carr why he didn’t try to move the ball down the field given that the Blue had timeouts left. Carr told Harris his was a “dumb question” and marched off. Here’s a transcript of exactly what was said: Harris: “Well coach I know you get second-guessed all week long, how come you didn’t go with anything when you have two timeouts left in the half? Carr: “Why would you ask a dumb question like that?” Harris: “Well, I’m just curious with 44 seconds left with a chance to make a move down the field and possibly get a field goal.” Carr: [stares for a second then walks away, appearing to smile and shake his head, disappointed in the young man or disgusted or both] Harris: “All right Keith [Jackson], back to you. I guess coach didn’t want to answer that.” Lloyd Carr is a stubborn man. He is also a very good coach and has assembled an excellent staff. His record speaks for itself. Michigan is expected to win just about every game they play and he brings in the top recruits (look at the NFL players he’s produced). You can’t win them all, yet many…
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Michigan Takes Down CMU in 2003 Opener
TORCH LAKE, MICHIGAN AUGUST 30, 2003 Quick takes on the Michigan versus. Central Michigan game 2003: – The artificial field is going to be a big boost for Michigan. The players loved it and felt they could really show their true speed. I hear you could smell the rubber throughout the stadium. – The offense could have racked up as many points as they wanted to. The only downside was the dropped passes. Braylon Edwards is on Coach Carr’s s-list and the rumor is that Edwards has big ideas about the way things should be run, and they differ from the ideas of the coaching staff. – The defense giving up over 200 rushing is no good. They will be better next week against Houston but we’ll really know the deal when Notre Dame visits on Sept. 13. – The fans didn’t throw marshmallows on the field, but I bet the opposing fans will in the coming weeks if people keep talking about it. – Navarre is listed in the New York Times as one of six people on their Heisman Watch. He had good numbers on Saturday but they could have been better if the receivers held onto the ball. I thought Matt Gutierrez looked pretty good late in the game. He connected on a very nice rollout pass.…
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Lloyd Carr Ends Silence on Marshmallows
No longer allowed in Michigan Stadium ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN AUGUST 26, 2003 From the Ann Arbor News on why [Lloyd Carr] hopes that Wolverine fans (especially the student section or the “Maize Rage”) won’t throw marshmallows: “With the new field and the heat that we’ll have, those marshmallows are going to melt and cause some problems.” Editorial: We assume by “some problems” Carr means that the spongy, sugary treats will get into the turf, on the player’s shoes and uniforms, etc. Either that or he fears that Tony Pape and the other big fellas might break out the S’mores during a goal line huddle. We’ll see.
