For the final edition of TWIMFbH, we look briefly at the first Rose Bowl (1902), Jim Harbaugh’s hire data (2014) and finally, a bit on legendary defensive lineman Mark Messner, who turns 53 today:
Go Blue! This clip goes on air this morning as part of the WTKA 1050AM Keybank Countdown to Kickoff.
script:
Today your beloved Wolverines make their first appearance in the Peach Bowl. According to my count this will be the 13th different bowl game that Michigan played in all-time. U of M also looks to tally 11 wins in a season for the 10th time in school history.
The first team to capture 11 wins was Fielding H Yost’s perfectly perfect 1901 team who outscored opponents 550 to nothing. Coincidentally that team concluded the season in the first bowl game of any kind played at any level – the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. And that’s why it’s the Grand Daddy of them all.
This week in Michigan Football History was most recently notable as it was on December 30th exactly 4 years ago that Jim Harbaugh left the NFL and was announced as your head football coach.
And while today’s game will be the first time we’ve ever played on December 29th, it was on this day in 1965 that the great Mark Messner was born. The explosive defensive lineman started 49 straight games from 1985 to 1988, and Messner remains Michigan’s all-time leader for tackles for loss (with 70), a record that may never be broken. He was the season sack leader 3 times, and a 2-time All-American selection.
Did you know Messner, a native of Hartland, Michigan, originally committed to UCLA? Indeed, it was during a trip out west he fell in love with the campus scene, and who could blame him? Before he headed home he told the Bruin coaches right then and there he’d be going out west after high school.
But someone was waiting for him when he returned. That’s right – General Bo George Patton Schembechler knew Messner was on his way home and they were parked in his family driveway. Bo walked right up to Messner, jammed a tape in his chest and told him “YOU’RE A MICHIGAN MAN, and YOU BELONG AT MICHIGAN” and he drove off.
So Go Blue! Beat the Gators (again!) and Happy 53rd birthday to Michigan Man Mark Messner. For more Check out MVictors.com and WTKA.com – for the Keybank Countdown to Kickoff this is Greg Dooley
