My favorite shot that came from my camera. Denard with the high percentage pass to Devin Gardner: So a few off the beaten path factoids: I confirmed that the players (TBD) who will don the formerly retired 47 (Oosterbaan), 87 (Kramer), 48 (POTUS Ford) and 11 (Moose, Ox, Whitey Wistert) will indeed wear it for the rest of the year, after they are announced on their respective game. Oosterbaan’s 47 is up first. My guess? WR Jeremy Jackson. There don’t seem to be any specific plans yet to honor Tom Harmon via jersey, ceremony or otherwise. Still, the October 20 game against Michigan State has been slotted, on the game tickets at least, to honor Old 98. It’s long been rumored that the Harmon family’s relationship with 1000 S. State Street (#1000SSS) has been cool at best. To be clear, I’ve heard a few things through the years but nothing at all from #1000SSS or from the Harmon family. Ask me over a cocktail. Speaking of honoring former players…to date there are no formal plans to honor Willis Ward in 2012 despite the U-M Regents’ indication that they would push the idea to Dave Brandon earlier this year. Stay tuned. From Hoke, to special teams coach Dan Ferrigno to the kickers, there has definitely been some thought put into how…
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Michigan Records Within Reach
The 2012 football media guide is available for perusal so I perused. Here are a few notable records that could be reached this season. As usual, I don’t think any of the records go much past the mid-1940s, although they list a few of Harmon’s stats in the late 1930s and occasionally offer “pre-modern” data. Some of the defensive records only date to the 1960s. Roy Roundtree has caught a ball in 19 straight games. Braylon has the career record with an impressive 38. Obviously Treezy won’t catch him, but if he runs the season out including the B1G title game and a bowl, he could up 3rd all-time with 33 straight, just ahead up Marquise Walker with 32. U-M tracks plays which I assume are downs in which someone touches the ball. Naturally it’s all quarterbacks. Denard (1126) trails Chad Henne (1567) by 441 but participated in 479 last season and 547 in 2012. If he’s healthy it should happen. Did you know that Will Hagerup’s 2010 effort was second all-time for season punting average? I didn’t. Now, I’d like to see Harry Kipke’s stats in here but nonetheless, assuming Hagerup earns the job back from Matt Wile, you’d have to think that Zoltan Mesko’s season standard of 44.46 yards/punt (left) is obtainable with a good bounce or two. …
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Help Colt Kick It
HT to mgoblog, where I spotted this and thought I’d spread the word as well. There’s a golf outing September 15 to benefit the 4-year-old son of former K Jeff DelVerne. I couldn’t make out all the details on that post so I’m reposting here, and you can grab the full form here. And if you can’t support the outing, consider providing direct help here.
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TWIMFbH Returns For its Third Season
Yes sir! This Week in Michigan Football History returns for its third season as part of the WTKA 1050AM KeyBank Countdown to Kick-off pregame show. I’ll be coming strong with toughness and even a hint of chippyness. Ira Weintraub will once again will be handling the 1s and 2s, and we’ve got a nice draft line up of seasons/dates/games/etc. More good news: the segment will be sponsored by Stadium Trophy, which has partnered with WTKA on its ‘Michigan High School Scholar Athlete of the Week Award’ segment. Support these guys: Not familiar with TWIMFbH? Here’s the complete archive from 2010 and 2011 so you can impress your friends. Follow MVictors on Twitter Related: The Complete TWIMFbH archives from 2010 and 2011.
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Through the Eyes of The Daily
So the gang at The Michigan Daily, with some help from notable Daily alums, produced this: Inside is a set of actual clippings, photos and stories covering the football program since The Daily’s existence. I’ve held an actual advance copy and helped out a tiny bit on a late edit. (Naturally I suggested a little more pre-1940 content). It looks beautiful, pick up a copy. Ships on September 1. Follow MVictors on Twitter Related: 1910: A Century Ago: 1910 Michigan Football through the Words of The Daily
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Manor of Speaking: Kicking it Off August 27
Mark your calendars: The U-M Club of Greater Detroit is holding their annual Michigan Football Kick-off dinner Monday, August 27 at Laurel Manor in Livonia. This event is typically sold out, but because it’s at the Manor they have room if you want to join in. Details here. Coach Hoke is expected to join, and I’ll be on a panel with the lovely and talented Angelique Chengelis of The News and the prolific Brian Cook of mgoblog. (Beg: someone please ask a question about U-M history, memorabilia and/or The Little Brown Jug.) Again – there is plenty of room and plenty of beer. Sign up here.
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2012 Season Tickets Arrive. Check your Math.
That same old maize envelope arrived again today – football season tickets have arrived. This year the artwork on the ducats honors a Michigan player (or coach, in the case of Moeller) and his team. According to the official press release: For the Wisterts, Ford, Kramer, Oosterbaan and Harmon, the ticket artwork is the official team photo from their senior or final season at U-M, while Team 115, Moeller’s 1992 Big Ten and Rose Bowl Championship team, also will be recognized. One issue here..and why I added the emphasis above. Team 115 is actually the 1994 squad, not the 1992 team. 1994 was not one Moeller’s finest, finishing 8-4 and his last at the helm. If counting at home, remember U-M didn’t play a game in 1882, so Team 4 played in 1883 and so on. You can just subtract 1879 from the season to determine the Team #, (e.g., 2012-1879 = 133). The photo on the ticket is also the 1994 team so that’s good. Perhaps the athletic department changed gears on how they wanted to honor Moeller. (Ed. And HT to @griffinhickman note that the athletic department removed the mention of the 1992 team from the online version of the release). The others look correct – they are the senior season of the player identified. Here’s a breakdown:…
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East Lansing JDRF Walk Results–$400K raised & counting
Huge! Over 100 walk “teams” joined the day and packed the MSU campus. As of this afternoon over $400,000 was raised through the current tally, will likely creep closer to $450K when the final numbers are released. Hats off to Coach Dantonio for representing: THANKS. A huge thanks to those who helped via links, RT’s, and word of mouth– thank you. There’s still time to help, click here. A special those to those who donated over $1750 and who now don the coveted MVictors banner!