Take a look at this illustration from a 1932 newspaper featuring future Michigan head coach Fritz Crisler: Crisler is depicted giving an overhaul to “last year’s model” of a Princeton Tiger, trying to repaint the frightened kitty in the likeness of a ferocious feline.    The disheveled subject was a fitting representation of the 1931 Princeton squad who finished 1-7.   Fritz was brought in to fix the mess and he quickly did just that.   Over the next six seasons, he went 35-9-5, claiming national titles in 1933 and ’35.   The run ended when Fielding Yost lured him away from New Jersey to replace Harry Kipke in Ann Arbor. An early visit to Ann ArborIn the upcoming season, probably weeks after this cartoon was published, Crisler actually visited the town where he’d cement his legacy.   On October 29, 1932, Kipke, Harry Newman, and crew defeated the Tigers 14-7 in front of 26,000 homecoming fans.   Perhaps Crisler liked the digs.   The Victors would go on to take the national championship that season and the next. For those reading closely, you noticed that Princeton also claims the national title in 1933.  The most widely accepted method of determining the champ was the Dickinson Formula [more on this here].  Michigan earned the most points in ’33 and was awarded the Knute Rockne Trophy.  Despite…

Greetings, if you’ve been looking for a new eBay Watch post, the next edition will be published on the prolific mgoblog this evening, helping Brian Cook while he’s on vacation. I’ll start with an event celebrating the 100th anniversary of the football program and as usual, the tale winds from there. I think you’ll like it. Update: Just posted the guest column, dig it.

Did you catch the scene on ESPN of coach Beilein’s talk prior to the Connecticut game this evening? Nice speech and all, but was the real visitor’s locker room closed? Tell me they were at a nearby YMCA or something! Check it: I realize these are the lockers for the away team, but dude. The tiny lockers, the low bench seating, the portable white board and the topper: the Gatorade cooler for the drinks! Is there a creepy guy passing out washcloth-sized towels? Salami and Thorpe had nicer digs.

From the Ann Arbor Chronicle, writer Joel Goldberg interviews Marlena Studer, the woman behind the wine inspired by our departed coach Schembechler: Bo Merlot. I haven’t tried it but the price keeps dropping at the local store. As soon as it hits $12 I’m all over it. Check out the whole interview here. One criticism I’ve heard is that it wasn’t made from Michigan grapes, Studer explains: JG: As someone who runs a website about Michigan wine, I have to ask why Bo Merlot comes from California. MS: I researched getting Michigan wine for our Bo Merlot, but there’s limited juice available. I’m expecting we’ll bottle about 3,000 cases of Merlot this year and probably about 2,000 of the Sauvignon Blanc. Michigan couldn’t come close to that quantity and quality for us to sell at the price point we need to sell it. Down the line we might be able to bottle a Michigan wine, for a smaller production. This was also Cathy’s choice. Cathy and Bo loved California wine; they spent a lot of time going to vineyards in California, and Bo was all about the Rose Bowl; it was California! We expect that this year the wine will be bottled in Michigan. I’m in process of applying for a license; that makes it not only a project that’s…

I drove by old Yost Ice Arena today to see how the repair was coming along. Recall that the build-up of snow atop the old field house caused some damage the top of the wall, or parapet [MVictors photos] causing the Miami, OH game to be rescheduled. Here’s an update. Not a surprise to me as they are completely replacing the section that was discovered to be leaning forward. To date, it appears as though the crews have cleared the old brick and are ready to replace it. Here’s a little of the old before/after, first with the January damage and then what it looked like today: And some interesting rubble on the ground, providing some insight into the detailed brickwork of the 1920s: Go Blue tonight – beat Lake State!

HT: Michigan Sports Center Michigan announced that Delaware State will fill the October 17, 2009 slot on the schedule. They could have added Ann Arbor Pioneer and the home schedule would have still been a big one, with Notre Dame, Ohio State, Penn State all coming to town. My initial reaction would be the same as when I learned that Appalachian State was scheduled, and while it turned out was a disaster, you have to admit one of the most exciting games of the year despite the pain in your gut the whole time. I guess 3-9 teams don’t get to bitch about the strength of the opponents on the schedule. How about we get a few things done next year then worry about the quality of our flexible schedule. For more on the DSU Hornets, click here (hit mute on your PC if you want to avoid the produced audio). Here’s how the schedule looks: