This Week…returns Saturday on the WTKA 1050AM Key Bank Countdown to Kick-off pregame show. As we did last season, we look back to find a game played the actual day of the upcoming game & run down a little history. This week the pickens were slim, but we made lemonade. On September 3, 2005 Michigan opened the season against the Huskies of Northern Illinois. We walk through the season of nail biters including the wild finish against Penn State and the final play of the year, with an assist with Ira on production and Mr. Benny Hill: [display_podcast] Here’s a look back at that wild play (sans Mr. Hill):
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The Jug Brotherhood +++
A hearty well done to reader Brian Snider for being the latest member of the Little Brown Jug club, and did he ever. Snider created not only a 5 gallon version (like the actual jug), he knocked out four and three-gallon versions: Snider joins: Eric Mierzwiak – 2009 post Mark Foster – 2010 post Dennis Dail – Post from earlier this year Each member of the group has drawn on the experiences of the others. Perhaps we need to form a Union – The Brotherhood of Primers and Jug Painters, Local 1903. Great work Brian! Update #1: Snider is offering the 4 gallon version of the jug on eBay right now. It’s the easy way to enter the Jug Club. Update #2: And speaking of auctions, check out a new mgoauction featuring a Jug print signed by the A-Train, Chuck Woodson and Butch Woolfolk: For more on the jug, get with the lore: Part I: What Really Happened in the 1930s Part II: Spinning Myths Part III: Getting it Right Part IV: 2013: A Space Quandary Part V: Red Wing Roots Part VI: Is the Greatest Trophy in College Sports a Fake? Part VII: Open Questions Part VIII: Doc Cooke and the Real Origins of the Rivalry
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The Meyer Morton Award Trophy – Michigan
Meyer Morton Reader David is the son of former Michigan player Don Dugger who won the annual Meyer Morton award in 1954 under coach Oosterbaan. The award has been given out since 1925 to “the football player who shows the greatest development and most promise as a result of the annual spring practice.” They used to issue an actual trophy and yes, David owns it today and sent over a photo: Sweet. Although I can’t spot the confirmation on mgoblue.com, I believe FB John McColgan was the recipient this spring. I discussed the MM in more detail here and I shared this photo of the 1932 winner–future President Gerald Ford, holding the trophy: Very cool.
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We’re Talking About Practice
And the conversation is short. More punting, more Brady Hoke watching punting and a very brief glimpse at a couple plays. Some of the punts were slightly shanked and both Andy Reid of The Wolverine and Kyle Meinke of AnnArbor.com were nearly clocked with pigskins that sailed out of bounds. Careful now! He was listed in the depth chart as an “OR” along with Michael Shaw, but today Fitzgerald Toussaint #28 took the first snap. And here’s proof as Fitz looks for daylight: Hey, was Braylon contacted? An unfamiliar sight for sure as someone (per media relations, it’s senior safety Zac Johnson) donned the coveted #1 jersey. Don’t be alarmed, this was not a permanent assignment, they just needed to use that uniform today. Hoke: “I’m going to have to explain this later, you watch,”
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Closer to the Poof Scenario
The latest Ohio State media guide apparently wiped Tressel’s 2010 coaching season from the books: — 94, career wins for Tressel at Ohio State. The media guide does list Tressel’s win total after subtracting the vacated 2010 season. So he’s 94-21 (instead of 106-22) and is credited with an 8-1 record vs. Michigan (9-1 before 2010 was erased), nine bowl appearances (instead of 10) and six Big Ten championships (he had seven before the self-imposed penalties took away last season). We’ll see how the Big Ten treats it. As discussed here, if the Big Ten agrees that the 2010 season never happened for Tressel, he’ll be wiped from #2 behind Fielding Yost in the all-time conference coaching standings which requires a minimum of ten seasons at the helm. Tressel would just have nine, and thus…see ya. The bonus: guess who’s currently at #3? Bo Schembechler of course, meaning General Bo will nestle up to Yost in second place if this goes down:
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Game Notes of Note
Even the half-bumble bee, half wolverine can’t believe #5 is #10 From the Western Michigan game notes, these delightful ditties: Tate Forcier ranks 10th all-time in completions, wow. It’s true. I verified it with the statistics database: Denard needs just 369 yards of total offense to pass Tom Brady in that category at #8 all-time. My favorite: with just 82 more yards on the ground, Denard will pass Old 98 Tom Harmon in career rushing yards. Take a cool drink, 98: Bonus: Not listed in U-M’s Game Notes, but in the B1G notes – Denard is just 123 yards behind Ricky Leach for #3 all-time in the Big Ten for rushing yards by a quarterback.
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The Shift
Is this about right?
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Michigan Men Without Hats
Here’s the only pic I could find with something on Brady Hoke’s head other than a headset, and I’m positive pretty sure it was Photoshopped: Some guys don’t like to wear hats or visors, I get that. My buddy Scotty Mudbowl has a small coconut and lids make him look like a little kid. Some fellers with big heads (me) have trouble finding a hat that is comfortable (yes, even the adjustable ones). Hoke clearly doesn’t have the pea head issue so I’m guessing it’s a comfort thing. It may seem like a silly question but I’m guessing the topic has come up once or twice behind closed doors on State Street. Adidas sells a lot of hats and as you recall, we all made a fuss over a couple special edition hats Rich Rod wore last season (in support of the troops and the fight against breast cancer) that I’m guessing sold big time. Fans want to own the hat that the coach wears. There’s also a historical element here, but it’s certainly far from a Michigan “tradition”. Just about every Michigan coach wore a hat on the sidelines: Fielding Yost in 1905, George Little (from his Miami, OH days, but we’ll go with it), Tad Wieman Kipke, Crisler, Oosterbaan Bo’s ordering a new Fridge from France (“..and…
