The Daily [and MSC] noted earlier this week that the Michigan student section is going to attempt to form a block M within the student section at the game today: On Saturday, when Michigan plays Wisconsin, students and Athletic Department officials hope to add another tradition to the repertoire by coordinating a human version of Michigan’s iconic block ‘M’ in the middle of the student section. Volunteers from the Michigan Student Assembly will hand out several thousand shirts — some maize, some blue — to fans entering certain rows. I’ll join a few others in saying I’ll believe it when I see it. But best of luck. While the Michigan students have done a nice job wearing maize from week to week, I think we might end up seeing more of a smattering of blue dots that will loosely resemble a treble clef. The stunt is touted as a new tradition, but did you know Michigan students have formed block M’s in the crowd for nearly 100 years? From the cover of Historic Photos of U-M Football features the students at the 1916 Penn game doing their thing, not with t-shirts but with cards: And based on this postcard found at the Bentley Library we know the tradition dates back at least to 1908: UPDATE: Hey, they did it –…
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How about this non-conference schedule? (1957)
Here’s a quick version of eBay Watch, it’s a 1957 pocket schedule currently up for bid. Check out the non-conference line-up: Over the past few seasons, the attention the Buckeyes have been getting over their battles with Texas and, last Saturday, with USC, have made a few Wolverines fans get scarlet in the face. Calls to sports talk radio have asked the question, Will Michigan set up a home-and-home with one of these elite teams in the non-conference? The fact is Michigan’s got Notre Dame on the schedule until 2031 and there doesn’t seem to be any indication that this will happen. Bill Martin’s already indicated his preference to add another Big Ten game to the schedule once the rest of the conference is on board. The Wolverines didn’t have much trouble with these teams as those were different days. Coach Bennie Oosterbaan and crew went out to Los Angeles and handled the Trojans on September 28, 1957, 16-6 in front of 43,000 fans. The next week, Michigan came home and shut out Georgia 26-0 to the delight of 84,000 in Ann Arbor. The balance of the ‘57 season didn’t go so hot, going 3-3-1 in their remaining games to finish 5-3-1 good for 6th in the conference.
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Buckeye fan: Delany should step in!
From ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg, mailbag, some of the Buckeyes are FREAKIN’ OUT, MAN: Ben from San Diego writes: Adam… Do you think that it could ever be possible for Jim Tressel to be on the hot seat if he keeps winning in the Big 10 and beating Michigan, but losing the big non-conference games? If so, how many more embarrassing losses will it take? Do you think there could ever be pressure from Jim Delaney [sic] to make changes on the OSU coaching staff, given that OSU is embarrassing not only themselves, but the Big 10 as a whole? As a Buckeye fan, I’d rather see us lose to Michigan than be blown out like this on the big stage again. It really hurts! I don’t care about Michigan anymore!! Save us…..Jim Delany???????
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Pushing the Rock
While there’s still a shot a getting to six wins and preserving two great streaks, this season is turning into an exercise of focusing on themes and trends inside games rather than the end result. A loss a Notre Dame is always tough to take and we still don’t know how good the Irish are, but I saw some good things out there Saturday. The comeback effort turned into a Sisyphean task, as a few times the Wolverines were on the brink of scoring a critical touch only to have a brutal fumble or pick wipe it all away. This game was obviously lost on the turnovers, the worst occurred before the rain came down, but that can be fixed. This offense isn’t quite ready to enough register points to overcome the kind of hole they put themselves in the first quarter, but certainly showed signs. After last week I never thought I’d say this but Threet looked sharp, didn’t he? I don’t mean sharp as in ‘much improved for a guy who’d be a third stringer on most teams’, I mean sharp as you want your quarterback to be. I haven’t seen the replay on that early screen to Minor that was dropped and picked up by the Irish- I assume that shouldn’t have been thrown but otherwise, didn’t…
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Interview with Michael Rosenberg: Part II
Detroit Free Press sports columnist Michael Rosenberg’s first book, War as They Knew It: Woody Hayes, Bo Schembechler, and America in a time of unrest, will be released September 10. I sat with Rosenberg this weekend after the Utah game. In Part I, the focus of the conversation was on the book. In Part II, we talk about his recent column where he sharply criticized Rodriguez, some of this thoughts on the Utah game and the rest of the season and close with a few more thoughts on the book. In a column earlier this year you went after Rich Rod pretty hard, you called Rodriguez ‘bullheaded’, you characterized him as a ‘serial job shopper’. Has your view of Rodriguez changed at all since you wrote the column? Rosenberg: No. But let me clarify a few things here. I do think he’s bullheaded. I think in some ways I think that’s helped him in his career, but I think he’s bullheaded. My issue is not that he was looking at other jobs. My issue is that this is his alma mater, he’s telling them publicly and privately how much he loved it there, and he’s going to be there, he made a big thing about turning down Alabama, and he’s going to stay there and show you can win national…
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Interview with Michael Rosenberg: Part I
Detroit Free Press sports columnist Michael Rosenberg’s first book, War as They Knew It: Woody Hayes, Bo Schembechler, and America in a time of unrest, will be released September 10. There have been a few reviews of the book out there already, and from what I’ve read it’s getting high marks. Rosenberg sent me an advance copy and I burned through the 330+ pages in a few days. It’s a wonderful read, well written and meticulously researched. A quick scan of the acknowledgments and book notes reveal the breadth of interviews, videos, books, and news sources that Rosenberg poured through to weave the tale of this period. The Ohio State-Michigan rivalry certainly plays a key role in this book but it’s more of a backdrop. Rosenberg unveils how each man and their teams both dealt with and were affected by the social and political turmoil of this time. Mixed in are some new stories and a fresh, deeper look at some of the old legends. For me, the most interesting elements of the book: * Rosenberg’s accounts of the various protests in Ann Arbor and Columbus during the period. * The insight into the mind of Woody Hayes – the guy is completely off the charts. * And apologies to my English teachers/professors but I was also re-introduced to and…
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Provisioning for Michigan Stadium: 2008
[Webmaster’s note: Slightly modified from last year’s version] Here we are on the eve of Michigan football’s 2008 season opener. Many of you out there are no doubt assembling your tailgating gear, food, wares, etc., for the early start tomorrow. Part of this preparation includes your in-stadium provisioning, which is a completely separate exercise. A few thoughts: 1. AM/FM Radio. To listen to the play-by-play from Brandy and Beckmann. You’ll get injury reports, sideline observations and insight, statistics and analysis of key plays that are under replay review. Probably most critical: you’ll have a chance to block out the blabber from an idiot nearby that is giving his own play-by-play or screaming at the coaches. 2. M Lid. While not an absolute requirement, it certainly helps to keep that sun from beating down on you, especially for the noon games such as tomorrow’s tilt. For those in the North end zone or West side of the field, could be critical. 3. Digital Camera. You never know who you’re going to see at the game or what live action you might catch. Make sure you upload any vintage game video on YouTube for everyone to enjoy throughout the ages. 4. Tickets & Lanyard. Obviously you’ll need those tickets to get in but for the big games I always try to bring…
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A-Rittz Drops Factoids
Another post-worthy mention coming out of Adam Rittenberg’s ESPN Big Ten Blog: Dan from Minneapolis writes: Adam, you pointed out the unique nature of first time coaches in the UM – MSU rivalry. I also wanted to point out uniqueness about first time coaches in the UM – OSU rivalry. Aside from Cooper, going back to WW Hayes, first time coaches have WON their first meeting in the series. Correct me if I am wrong but that is quite impressive Adam Rittenberg writes: You’re correct, first-time coaches have fared well in the Michigan-Ohio State series, perhaps because the games typically are played later in the season when coaches have a better feel for their teams. Woody Hayes lost his first meeting with Michigan, 7-0, in 1951, but Earle Bruce beat the Wolverines in 1979 and Jim Tressel did the same in 2001. The Buckeyes went through four coaches during the 1940s who went 1-2-1 against Michigan. Michigan hasn’t had a coach lose his first game against Ohio State since Harry Kipke in 1929. Kipke’s first game, interestingly enough, was played midway through the season on Oct. 19. Rich Rodriguez will have a tough task to keep Michigan’s run alive, but it helps that the game is at the end of the season. Next, Dave Dye of the Detroit News drops…
