So certainly you’ve heard by now that the Michigan Marching Band won’t be heading to Dallas. I don’t like it either. Fergodsakes. Local radio host Lucy Ann Lance suggested via Twitter that perhaps we could have a fundraiser to get the band to Dallas. I’m not wild about putting that on the fans and geez, I hate to give the Machine more ideas about where to squeeze. That said, there is a historical precedent for passing the proverbial hat to get the MMB to big games. From my rundown of the 1910 season, there was a big plea made by students to make sure the band made the trip to the big game at Penn that year. An alumnus of 1848 helped out: Random Notes: The Michigan band wanted to make the trip to Philadelphia to support the football squad, but needed to raise some money to supplement the university’s funding to make it happen. The Daily reported that a Mr. Joseph R. Smith, U-M class of 1848, sent $2.50 to the band leader to help. Eventually, thanks in large to the attention given to the matter in the Daily, the funding was secured and the band made the trek to the game to support the Wolverines. I can tell that this happened frequently back in those days. In fact,…
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Bob Ufer’s Football Application
I love dropping by the U-M Bentley Historical Library. I stopped in recently doing a little research for the 2012 edition of HTTV and check out this gem Brian W., one of the archivists, shared with me: Now we know that the late, great U-M radio voice Bob Ufer played freshman football in Ann Arbor and was a U-M track star at Michigan, but I didn’t know he gave varsity football a run. Apparently so, as above is one of Fritz Crisler’s preseason surveys filled out by old Ufe himself. (Here’s Tom Harmon’s 1943 form, posted in 2010, worth a look if you haven’t seen it). He was living at the Phi Delt house at the corner of South University and Washtenaw at the time and as a good Pennsylvania worked in the steel mill during the summer. “VOICEM” Speaking of Ufer, had to scan eBay for a cool photo and jackpot. Here he is in 1976 showing off his luxurious sled and his fitting vanity plate:
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@TreezyUM21?
Hopefully Treezy’s head doesn’t go on swoll when he gets the #21 It was radio play-by-play man Frank Beckmann who asked Brady Hoke about the #1 jersey after the Spring game on Saturday: Are you going to consider handing out the No. 1 jersey this year? “Yeah, we’ll consider it.” IIRC there was a bit of hesitation in Hoke’s response and confirming that he’d “consider it” isn’t exactly saying it’s at the top of anyone’s list. But I do take heed that it came from ol’ Blue Skies, who might have shot out the question because he knows something is in the works. I can tell you one guy who doesn’t want to talk about the #1 jersey: Desmond Howard. He was asked about the #1 by a couple folks and he made it clear he didn’t understand the process (if there is one) or who decides how that jersey is handled. My impression by his tone is that he was annoyed by the questions and I don’t blame him. And I don’t think he’s the only one at the university who feels that way. After all, the university made it a big deal to induct his #21 as the inaugural Michigan Football Legend and it’s as if, despite the fanfare around the Legend distinction, the #21 somehow still takes…
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#SpringGame
Just a few photos to share from the Alumni Game and Spring Game. The weather was far from the story, as other than a shower before the Victors Classic the weather was actually pretty nice. Former TE/QB/P Andy Mignery warms up while ‘64 team captain and Maize coach Jim Conley looks on. (Yes, Conley started because Conley always starts). Former C Rod Payne flashes his rice hat and the thumbs up, as former PK Ali Haji-Sheikh checks out the MVP trophy. #hashtag QB Johnny Wangler running off the field after the first drive. Wangs looked sharp and earned the MVP honors. Good to see Team 132 captain Kevin Koger on the sideline taking it in. LB Brandin Hawthorne made a big impact in the final couple series, with a few big hits and an interception. Here’s a hit near the goal line (the technique was much better than it appears above). Desmond Howard joined the media afterwards and identified himself as ESPN analysis and 1991 Heisman Trophy from winner from Michigan. #weknow Related: Great shots from Brad at Maize and Blue Nation
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Coach Red Simmons Passes Away at 102
Coach Simmons during our interview at Crisler in 2009 (MVictors photo) It was very sad for me to see the press release this morning. We lost a great man and incredible tie to the history of athletics in this area. Simmons ran track with Jesse Owens and Willis Ward and was a pioneer in weight training and in women’s athletics at Michigan. For football fans: I’m confident he’s was the last living person to see the inaugural game at the Big House in 1927. Here are a few videos I took of Simmons during our interview: Part 1: On his friend, track legend Jesse Owens Part 2: Police Department Part 3: Hired by Fritz Crisler Part 4: Working out at Crisler Arena Part 5: More Workout at Crisler And here’s a link to several quotes from our interview a few years back, a few of my favorites: On meeting Fielding Yost: I met him, I think it was 1927. He was at a high school meet at some point. It was so long ago. My impression was that he was a very sociable man. He’d walk around and talk to you. There was no feeling that he thought he was special. He was just a regular guy.” On his friendship with Jesse Owens: I became friends with Jesse Owns in…
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Sweet Ring Bro
HT to Brad for the RT, recently Michigan man Elliott Mealer tweeted out a look at his Sugar Bowl ring. Love how they did the helmet with the decals on the side and the team 132 below: Cheers to those who stayed. Follow MVictors on Twitter
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2012 Alumni Game Roster, Early Line
You can check out the roster for the 2012 Michigan Alumni Game, official called the Victors Classic online now on mgoblue.com. Last year the Blue defeated the Maize 38-30, and Alijah Bradley took home MVP honors and the bizarre 30 foot trophy. I’ve got the early line at Blue –1.5 thanks to the strength at quarterback, notably John Navarre who can still wing it. Toss in All-American Mark Messner, who I believe is making his Alumni game debut(?), you have to lean toward the lads in blue. One note: Recently I learned that ‘64 Rose Bowl champion and team captain Jim Conley (left, from 2011) would be a game time decision. If he can go for the Maize you have to move this game to a pick ‘em. I’ll be down on the field tomorrow morning taking pics, talking to some players and tweeting out the goods so tune in. Pics and Recap from the 2011 game here. Follow MVictors on Twitter
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Righteous Pigskin
One of the great things about talking about Michigan football history is that I find often the story tends to evolve after the initial post, tweet or article. The boys at Stunt3 Multimedia know this well, and here’s another example. They’ve been showing the latest cut of their fine documentary Black and Blue around the country and talking to many folks along the way. I recently interviewed director Brian Kruger from Stunt3 (check out the full interview in the next issue of GoBlueWolverine Mag) and he talked about a great discovery: “A few weeks ago a woman called me. She said her father was John Regeczi, who played on the teams with Gerald Ford and Willis Ward, those three years. She was very excited about that and she was telling me some stories. After about ten minutes I figured the conversation would wind down, but then she said, ‘Oh, and by the way, we have the game ball.’ [laughs] I was like, ‘What?!’.” Indeed it appears as thought the game ball to the controversial 1934 Michigan-Georgia Tech game exists. Brian told me the owner, who lives in California, was kind enough to take a few pics of the ball and send them over to Kruger, who in turn relayed a couple to me. Check it out: And I thought my…
