Over the past few days I’ve heard many Michigan fans comparing the 1990s Ed Martin scandal to the Sweatervest mess. To me, this is much more similar to the events that led to the downfall of former Wolverine star and 1930s head coach Harry Kipke. There’s a reason why we have buildings named after Schembechler, Yost, Crisler and Oosterbaan while the Kipke surname adorns a service road/path on the athletic campus. Love this wire pic- on eBay right now Like Tressel, Kipke had early success—winning league championships in his second and third seasons before taking back-to-back national championships in 1932 and 1933. Unlike the Vest, Kipke’s fortune turned sharply midway through his coaching career including the worst stretch in Wolverine football history from 1934-1936. While it’s not clear to me when the corruption started, it’s safe to say Kipke had a bit of a system rolling when he was sacked in 1937. Along with illegal summer practice up at Ford and some sketchy associates, under Kipke’s watch incoming freshman were given “jobs” (note me also doing air finger quotes right now). According to a university report players were basically guaranteed a wage at certain jobs whether they showed up or not. The local employer was “instructed to bill another Ann Arbor firm for the time the freshman collected for not…
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Prophecy (Mostly) Fulfilled
2008:
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What I’m Wearing October 1
Antique Little Brown Jug pin from 1934.
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Brandon Laughs off “Pirated” Throwback Model (Audio)
[ed. A few updates including audio] AD DB joined Ira and Sam on WTKA this morning primarily to talk about the news that U-M adding varsity lacrosse. He discussed the process involved in getting to yesterday’s announcement; an interesting view into modern college athletics. Of course the WTKA boys didn’t let Dave Brandon leave without getting some other insight. Brandon reiterated his desire to add seating and a concourse in Michigan stadium—specifically in the South end zone—when the time was right and in particular, when there is clear demand to fill those seats. (It would take the stadium capacity up to around 119,000 he says). And can you spot the throwback uniform most likely to be on Denard’s back for the Notre Dame game this fall (1980s boy band vs. unofficially leaked model)? Say Word? Brandon chuckled at the suggestion that the “model” unveiled by the Freep last week was an actual real thing. Clip: [display_podcast] Brandon quotes, on whether it is an accurate representation of what Michigan will be wearing these when they face Notre Dame. “No. [laughs] That was some kind of a pirated picture. I don’t know where that came from but that’s not what the players will be wearing.” And along with Ohio State now being Ohio, Brian Kelly is officially now “the Notre Dame coach”:…
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Retiring #21 Gets the Heisman
Momentum seems to be building for another former M player (or 2) to have their jersey number retired, something that hasn’t happened since 1994 when we hung up President Ford’s #48. As Mike Rosenberg discussed recently, Coach Carr brought it up and supports the idea: "Desmond Howard and Charles Woodson, as winners of the Heisman Trophy, I think they are both deserving of having those jerseys retired," Carr said Wednesday. "I believe that … I think it’s an issue that is very important to Michigan football." I’m not big on retiring jerseys but if the tradition is going to continue, I’d love to see Desmond and Woodson honored. And while I don’t think there is racist intent, it’s still a bit glaring after all these years (and Heismans) that no African American is represented among those retired. So this brings me to this, and thanks to my man and local writer James Dickson (see MVictors guest posts) for allowing me to post this beauty. A while ago JD dug up this October 1997 report from Amy Whitesall of Ann Arbor News, announcing that #21 would be hung up for good: Except of course none of that ever happened. So what’s deal? The report was pretty specific (U-M board voted Tuesday…ceremony next season…) so you’ve got to believe something was seriously…
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The ‘H’ is for Handlebar (1896)
Another amazing gem from Michigan memorabilia collector Dennis Dail (thanks DD). Inspired by the post of the 1897 Ohio Wesleyan team photo featuring a 26-year-old Fielding H. Yost in his first coaching gig, Dail sent along this outstanding shot of Yost from his playing days: [Removed the full image that was originally posted at the request of an MVictors reader. Original photo was claimed to be owned by a different owner] To the doubters, it’s unmistakably Yost…note the flared out left ear, slightly cleft chin, long nose and piercing eyes compared to the 1901 team shot from the Bentley: There are a few important things to note here (beyond the striped socks to the delight of the folks in Beaverton). First off, you’ll notice the beefier, left-tackle-playing-weight version of Yost and obviously the epic moustache. Then you’ve got to love that the studio put Yost in a scene, with a cabin behind him and some type of animal pelt on the floor. Most importantly is the sweater with the letter ‘L’ , as in Lafayette. Yost of course attended and played for West Virginia but he temporarily defected from the Mountaineers to join Lafayette before their game with traditional eastern power Penn. As you can imagine this was a big deal in the Philadelphia papers (“The Yost Affair”), and it…
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Model Inspiration?
Thanks to reader & memorabilia collector Dennis Dail for sending this over. Like you, Dennis was checking out the unofficial, non-non-non final model renderings of the Notre Dame throwback jersey: Like a few folks, Dennis isn’t crazy about the designs and is a little puzzled finding a tie to jerseys in M football history. But…he did find a potential source of inspiration in his collection of wire photos—from the Michigan hockey program! Check out this wire photo of 1938 goalie William Chase: So there you go. As mentioned, I’d like to see something more along these lines. And as my man MGoShoe tweeted, if stripes are inevitable slap them on the makeshift shoulder pads: Then again…I liked the car Homer designed (except for the color):
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Yost and Ohio Wesleyan (1897)
Ohio Wesleyan was Yost’s first head coaching job and he led the Battling Bishops to a 7-1-1 record. I don’t believe they were part of a conference (they would be part of the formation of the Ohio Atlantic Conference in 1902) so as Yost tended to do, he simply declared his fine team “Champions of Ohio”. Good on you, FHY.
