The publisher hooked me up with a free copy of the paperback version of John U. Bacon’s Three and Out. Read it already? Well, the new release has fresh content in the form of the Afterward, which looks back on Hoke’s first season, offers some final thoughts including Bacon’s response to some of the reaction to the book. Want one? For starters it’s easy, just like MVictors on Facebook. I’ll select a winner from the new likers (likees?) this weekend. Already a like MVictors on Facebook? Don’t fret, there’ll be something for you as well coming up. Follow MVictors on Twitter
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Kramer Just Being Kramer
I hope you had a chance to check out the piece on Bennie Oosterbaan that I contributed to Saturday’s game program. If not, I’ll post that in full on these pages in days to come. I will also have a story on #87 Ron Kramer in this weekend’s UMASS program and I think you’ll like it. Several of his friends helped out including former Lions teammate Tom Nowatzke, longtime Detroit TV and radio broadcaster Bob Hynes, and the widow of legendary U-M athletic director Peg Canham-Keeley. Speaking of Mrs. Canham-Keeley, I met her a few years back while I was doing a segment on the official Michigan Football Tailgate Show. She was standing behind the set and I noticed her necklace—a 1970s-era M football ring (inset)—and had to learn more. I led to this MVictors post from back in 2009. Anyway, Canham-Keeley and I swapped a few emails & I couldn’t quite fit all of her thoughts on Ron Kramer into the program piece. So here are a few bonus memories and thoughts on the truly one-and-only Ron Kramer, #87: “The funny thing is though when I first met Ron back around 1975 I couldn’t stand him. My first impression was of him taking a can of beer, taking a bite out of it, drinking the beer in one gulp…
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Remaining Calm (Michigan 31, Air Force 25) | Sights & Sounds
At halftime Coach Mattison told Doug Karsch “..they’re getting us on the same play..”. Above (click for poster size) is what it looked like all day. Hats off to Air Force and I’m not taking anything away from the Falcons. As you know, they ran that thing to perfection. It seemed the U-M corners did their job – engaging the block, containing the corner and forcing the run inside. It’s just that the inside was a gaping hole you could fit a Stealth Bomber though..let alone any one of Sam McGuffie’s brothers. That was close. If Air Force could have done something/anything else, namely, toss it downfield more than 15 yards, or execute a fake kick, or execute a real kick, I think we’re 0 and 2. On the other side of the ball, it’s amazing how numb we’ve become to Denard’s exploits. Denard’s performance seemed to be an afterthought on postgame the talk. We untie our shoe laces, compose songs and videos about how much we love the young man, and sleep in #16 jerseys but I just get the sense that his performance yesterday was met with a fat yawn. Four TDs and 416 total yards, 200 each on the ground and air and those 2 ridiculous scoring runs? I get that it’s coming off the Bama game…
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Dr. Sap’s Decals
Ed. Dr. Sap is back with his decals for week 2. I added the Editor’s pick and Fan award this week. Here are the picks from Week 1. Back when Bo was coaching the Michigan Football team, he awarded decals for individual as well as TEAM accomplishments. He also selected Champions each week. Not only were the obvious categories (offense, defense, special teams) selected, but Bo also made it a point to recognize the not so obvious ones – Scout Team Champions and Team Hustlers – each week. It was just another masterful way to recognize and motivate each player, regardless of position and class, to further the cause of THE TEAM. Below are my choices as well as a Uniform Champion. With all the tweaks to the Michigan uniform recently, I’ll weigh in on what’s cool and what’s not. OFFENSE DENARD ROBINSON – did it all on offense for UM. Ran for 218 yards and 2 TDs and threw for 208 yards and 2 more TDs. DEFENSE JAKE RYAN – did #47 proud by making plays at the beginning of the game and on the last drive for Air Force by knocking down their last pass. SPECIAL TEAMS BRENDAN GIBBONS – his 31-yard field goal made it a touchdown game instead of a field goal game – BIG difference.…
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You Wear It Well
Hail #47. Hail Bennie Oosterbaan. Thank you Jake Ryan: Follow! MVictors on Twitter AFA Stuff: Air Force– (Pregame Photos) Oosterbaan Honored – Official Release Provisioning for Michigan Stadium 2012: Bridge is Closed version TWIMFbH: Bo Shows ‘The U’ How We Do Things (1984) Oosterbaan, Banners and Books Honoring Oosterbaan: An Interview with Ben McCready
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Michigan-Air Force 2012 (Pregame Photos)
Sights and sights from pre-game today. Actually turned out to be a nice day: The fabulous Air Force chicken (is that unpatriotic of me?) mocking Denard’s Usain Bolt comments It was basically like a practice for Hoke in pregame – he was coaching up the D-line hard Court’s moms and his pops with the custom gear – not available in stores Custom made pylons Gardner still doing a few drills with the QB Gear note #1 and #2. The helmet numbers are gone; blue socks with the maize ‘M’ are here Gear note #3: Brendan Gibbons’ adidas soccer gear? Meet Ben McCready – Bennie Oosterbaan’s godson and namesake Follow MVictors on Twitter or MVictors on Facebook Related: Oosterbaan Honored – Official Release Provisioning for Michigan Stadium 2012: Bridge is Closed version TWIMFbH: Bo Shows ‘The U’ How We Do Things (1984) Oosterbaan, Banners and Books Honoring Oosterbaan: An Interview with Ben McCready
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Bennie Oosterbaan Honored as a Michigan Football Legend
Oosterbaan Recognized as "Michigan Football Legend," Linebacker Jake Ryan to Don Famed No. 47 Jersey
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Provisioning for Michigan Stadium 2012: Bridge is Closed version
A couple updates on my annual post of what to bring to Michigan Stadium. This year local police have added a few other items to pack: “Bring a dose of patience, a sense of humor and some excitement for the game,” Check. Check. (Yes, we have those. We were around from ‘08-‘10). And Check. Why? The Stadium Bridge is still closed and I’m guessing there will be quite a few folks who traditionally rely on that route to get to the stadium coming from the north and east sides of the state. AnnArbor.com posted a map, etc. For those finding discovering this little issue today here’s your t-shirt: You should also bring your history tidbits and you can get all those here: TWIMFbH: Bo Shows ‘The U’ How We Do Things (1984) Oosterbaan, Banners and Books Honoring Oosterbaan: An Interview with Ben McCready This Week in Michigan Football History: The Incomparable Bennie Oosterbaan & September 25, 1948 Here’s what else to bring: 1. AM/FM Radio. Forget the latest incarnation of the radio that sticks on your ear, they are unreliable. Bring in a radio you trust to listen to the play-by-play from Brandy and Beckmann. You’ll get injury reports, sideline observations, statistics and analysis of key plays that are under review (although Brandstatter always seems to think the replay…
