For your files: THE MODERATOR: We’re joined by Coach Nick Saban, and we’ll start with an opening statement. COACH SABAN: Well, I’m really proud of our team. I thought they did a great job of competing in the game, played with a lot of energy, toughness, very physical. There’s certainly a lot of things that we can improve on. I don’t think there’s one player that could sit in the locker room and tell you now there’s not something that we could work to improve on, and we certainly need to focus on that in the future. But Michigan has a really good team. They’ve got a great quarterback. And I thought our offensive line sort of dominated the line of scrimmage. And we ran the ball effectively. I thought AJ did a good job of getting us in the right place and also making a few effective throws. We need to be a more explosive team in the passing game, which I think we’re capable of, which we need to clean up and improve on. We did a good job on special teams for the most part. So this was really a good team win for us. And the expectation that we have and the standard we want to play to in business or in sports is about who…
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Hammered (Michigan-Alabama 2012, Postgame Photos)
ust a few photos from the post-game, Michigan-Alabama 2012 from Dallas
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It’s Been a Tad While Since..
Rich Rodriguez becomes the 1st former-Michigan coach to win a college football game since Tad Wieman, who took over for Fielding Yost from 1927 to 1928. Elton “Tad” Wieman went on to be an assistant at Minnesota (1930-31), then an assistant at Princeton. When Michigan lured Fritz Crisler to Ann Arbor from Princeton, Wieman took over as head coach of the Tigers. He won his first game on October 1, 1938. His last victory for the Tigers (and in his career) was on October 24, 1942 against Brown. That was the last time a former Michigan head coach won a college football game. P.S. I was happy for Rich Rod and especially for his son Rhett, who was on the sidelines and joined his dad on the field after the game. Those who live in my neck of the greater A2 woods know what kind of young man he is and feel for all he’s been through the past few years. Follow MVictors on Twitter
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Inside Jerry World: Alabama Pregame Photos
Here are a few photos prior to the 2012 Michigan-Alabama game in Dallas:
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Helmet Numbers 2.0
This should be the last time we see these in a while, but looks like Michigan slightly changed the style of the helmet number stickers (they are a bit more squared off) and the color – they now match the maize wings:
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Avoid The Bammer
We Michigan fans love our maize and blue gear and our clever T-shirts but beware: quite a few Alabama fans are on a different spiritual realm. Take The Bammer here, as seen before the 2011 Capital One Bowl against Michigan State: Having face paint and kilt is one thing, but the tattoos are obviously around 24-7. That’s dedication. After this photo was snapped Bammer grabbed my bro, a Spartan fan, and told him, “Now ya’ll take it easy on us, ya hear?” and he winked. At that precise moment, my brother’s pregame tailgate-infused glee and optimism was wiped away and he knew his Spartans were doomed. Doomed. Avoid The Bammer. Go Blue. 2000 Orange BowlI’ve had my own run-in with Alabama fans, namely at the Orange Bowl in Miami. Bullets: Alabama fans were dang annoying (not that we Michigan fans aren’t). When we won the game on the missed extra point I got the double whammy of the euphoria of a huge Michigan victory alongside the devilish joy of schadenfreude. Speaking of winning on the missed extra point. I’ve heard a few folks, looking back, telling me something like, “Yeah, great game but too bad that game ended that way.” I totally disagree with this. I don’t feel it was cheapened by how it ended. Those extra points in overtime are…
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TWIMFbH: Punching a Ticket to Football’s Valhalla (1995)
This week in Michigan Football History - August 25, 1995, a look back at the Virginia Michigan game dubbed The Pigskin Classic. Michigan QB Scott Driesbach led a stunning comeback, connecting with Mercury Hayes with 4 seconds left to win the game.
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Fitz and Frank Stay Home (Official Statement)
Via U-M Media relations. Not a surprise to me. Statement from Head Coach Brady Hoke on running back Fitzgerald Toussaint and defensive end Frank Clark: "Fitzgerald Toussaint and Frank Clark have been suspended for one game and will not make the trip to Dallas for Saturday’s game.” "The decision was not easy, but I feel it is in the best interest of this program and for these kids, and those always will be my priorities. We have choices every day, and you have to be accountable to this program, your teammates, your family and the University of Michigan." "These are our sons. These are real lives, and I think too often many people forget that. It’s not always just about football, or a football decision. It’s about teaching life lessons, and if this helps these kids or someone else make a right decision later, then we’ve won. That is ultimately what we are here for, to help them grow and mature to become better sons, fathers, husbands and members of society.” "They are good young men who made poor choices, and we will continue to support them as members of our team and family."
