This weekend I got a sneak peek at the latest Michigan football-related documentary, Perseverance – The Story of Dr. Billy Taylor. You can see it yourself later this week as the film premieres in Ann Arbor at the Michigan Theater this Friday November 16th in two showings: 7:30PM and 9:55PM. Touchdown BT himself will be there and I suggest you grab a seat. One thing I didn’t expect going in: I loved the pace of the film. While the BT backstory follows the typical documentary formula of blending photos, news clippings and video footage with music, it moves very quickly and seamlessly, more in line with the up tempo style of the 30 for 30 series than say a PBS Ken Burns feature. Given the subject matter and the potential for a few gems in the form of classic stories, old pics and vintage footage to emerge, naturally going in I assumed I would like the film. To my delight there were gems aplenty packed but it brought much more—they did a wonderful job of weaving this story together. Like a memorable documentary should, Perseverance delivers a series of special moments that grab you such as: * Taylor discussing his strategy for sleeping inside abandoned houses, upstairs vs. downstairs, where he lived in Detroit over a two year stretch. *…
-
-
Charmed I’m Sure | Michigan 38, Northwestern 31
Win 902 will be remembered for a long time and Brady Hoke is clearly a bit charmed. While Treezy’s ridiculous catch will naturally be the play everyone remembers, that comeback required quite a couple mistakes by Northwestern and few great plays to set up Gardner’s heave and of course to win the game in overtime. First, let me grab my retro-spectacles to ensure my vision is 20-20. That’s better…I can see clearly now. For openers, Northwestern took that delay of game penalty on 4th down on the U-M 44. They should have just punted it there and not sacrificed the five yards. Then, with the ball at midfield, the punter hit a short, line-drive right into Gallon’s hands which is just about the worst thing that can happen. I’m assuming that Fitz told his punter to get the ball off quickly to avoid a block, but Hoke outflanked him by setting up the return to the surprise of a few folks including Brian Griese up in the ESPN booth. Then Treezy somehow was singled covered down the field before the lucky tip and the epic grab. To Michigan’s credit, props to Hoke for calling the punt return. Heck, he even putting an extra man back there instead going with the block. Next, after Roundtree’s grab, cheers to the offense for…
-
Mud Bowl 2012 (Photos)
SAE dominated FIJI 30-12 in balmy conditions down on the corner of South University and Washtenaw on Saturday morning. When they announced the game was moved to November naturally I assumed it would be frigid and it turned out to be one of the nicest mornings for a Mud Bowl in memory. The event once again benefitted Mott Children’s Hospital and no doubt raised quite a bit of money based on the crowd and the sponsors. Thanks to Geoff Voss for providing these, more later. Holding? Loosely enforced in the Mud Bowl Glad they added a scoreboard. The most common question at previous Mud Bowls: “When do the girls play?” The second most common question, “What’s the score?” Flop around in some frigid mud? No problemo. But, “Ewww, keep that damp dirty towel away!” Related: SAE Mudbowl 2010 – Photo Gallery SAE Mud Bowl 2009: Recap & Photos Mud Bowl 2008: SAE Rolls (photos, video) Follow MVictors on Twitter
-
Dr. Sap’s Decals – Northwestern Style
Ed. Steve Sapardanis aka “Dr. Sap” is back with his decals. This week I added the Editor’s Pick & added a bit to the Fan Award. Here are the picks from Week 1, Week 2, Week 3, Week 4, Week 5, Week 6 and Week 7 and Week 8 and Week 9. OFFENSE ROY ROUNDTREE – I’m sure most of you had the same reaction I did with Roundtree’s performance on Saturday – IT’S ABOUT TIME!! We knew he had it in him, it was just a matter of WHEN he would have his breakout game. Not only was he targeted more times against Northwestern than he was all year, he drew THREE pass interference calls – I don’t even know if Desmond had as many in one game. Welcome back, Treezy! DEFENSE KENNY DEMENS – He didn’t play a perfect game but he did make the tackle of his life – TWICE! It’s a play and situation you dream of as a kid growing up playing Pop Warner Football. Demens not only made the big stop to win the game on 4th Down, but he also made the stop the play before on 3rd Down! OUTSTANDING! SPECIAL TEAMS BRENDAN GIBBONS – We’ve called him, “Gibby” and “Lefty” but I think we should just call him “MONEY!” Eleven field goals…
-
Merry TipMas
Hail! Your TipMas Treezy:
-
Hail! Al Wistert, Back in the Big House
Back in the Big House today, here’s Albert (Al) Wistert. He’s the final living Michigan man to have his number (#11) retired and unretired via the Michigan Football Legends Program: Official release, via Media Relations: Wisterts Recognized as Michigan Football Legends, Safety Kovacs to Wear No. 11 Jersey ANN ARBOR, Mich. — The University of Michigan Athletic Department officially recognized the Wistert brothers, Francis, Albert and Alvin, as Michigan Football Legends today (Nov. 11) during a pregame ceremony at the Michigan-Northwestern football game. Senior safety Jordan Kovacs (Curtice, Ohio/Clay) will wear the famed No. 11 jersey for the remainder of the season, switching from No. 32. A Michigan Football Legend patch over the left upper chest will be affixed to the No. 11 jersey worn by Kovacs and all other future players donning the Wisterts’ jersey number. The Wisterts, one of the great Michigan athletic families in school history, each wore the No. 11 jersey for the Michigan football program. All three brothers played tackle, were selected consensus All-Americans and were inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame and Michigan Hall of Honor. Francis “Whitey” Wistert (1931-33) played on three consecutive Big Ten Championship teams, including two back-to-back national championship squads. Whitey was also Big Ten Conference MVP in baseball and later played for the Cincinnati Reds. He was…
-
History of the GO BLUE Banner (1962) | This Week in Michigan Football History
Saturday’s edition of This Week in Michigan Football History drops back to exactly five decades ago to November 10, 1962 as Bump Elliott’s struggling 1-5 Wolverines took on Illinois. It was that day, according to John U. Bacon, that one of the greatest traditions in college football was hatched: the coveted Michigan GO BLUE banner. This week head back to this day exactly five decades ago in 1962, as head coach Bump Elliott and his struggling Wolverines were about to get a boost as they faced Illinois in Ann Arbor. Team 83 had but a single win in 6 tries, and was shut-out 3 times. They clearly needed a lift, and they got it from an unlikely source: head Michigan hockey coach Al Renfrew and his wife Marge. According to Meechigan historian John U. Bacon, in an effort to raise the spirits of Bump’s men, Marge sewed a maize ‘M’ on a large sheet and presented it at the Friday practice. The players liked it so coach Coach Elliott agreed to have it propped up in the stadium tunnel before the game played on this day 50 years ago. After Bump’s men prevailed 14-10 over the Illini– the banner, needless to say, was here to stay. According to Bacon it moved to midfield the following season where it has become…
-
Mud Bowl Preview
The SAE Mud Bowl is Saturday, my sources (HT: GV) tell me the home team will face FIJI in the annual slopfest. I’m still unclear if two teams of ladies will entertain during halftime. Game time is around 9am and I’ve got the early line at FIJI –6. The visitors feature quarterback Ben Fry, a standout in high school at Grosse Pointe South who was also on the U-M varsity roster last year. While success on a regular field doesn’t always translate to the mud, I understand Fry is quite a weapon. We’ll see. The event benefits Mott Children’s Hospital once again this year. Follow MVictors on Twitter
