Writer Fredric Alan Maxwell is pulling together a biography of Michigan legend Tom Harmon titled, ‘The Late Great 98’. Michigan Today released an excerpt of the book that will be released chapter by chapter over time in a unique format, and will eventually result in a hard copy book. Details are found on tomharmonbio.com: The Late Great 98 is the Tom Harmon Biography-in-progress that is being published on an advanced subscription basis. People who purchase reduced-rate advance copies will be e-mailed Harmon stories and chapters as they are written, which they can review and comment on, thus becoming part of the editorial process. Hard cover books containing the final draft will be printed and delivered by mail to subscribers before they are sold in bookstores. Maxwell’s book intro discusses some of the controversies around Harmon’s military service in World War II. There were accusations out there discrediting Harmon’s military service, summarized below: …very persistent rumor is afloat to the effect that Tom Harmon, when he crashed in South America was yellow, that he, contrary to all traditions and rules of the Air Service (sic), bailed out first whereas it is the duty of the pilot to be the last to jump. Rumor has it that that was the reason that Tom was the only one to survive that crash. It…
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Blue Books: Historic Michigan Football Photos
I just received a fresh copy of ‘Historic Photos of University of Michigan Football’ from Turner Publishing. Michelle O’Brien authored the collection, which pulls together fascinating photos from the vaults over at the U-M Bentley Historical Library over the past 100+ years. It isn’t confined to games and practices; it also includes a few unique looks at the band, the fans and in some cases, the excitement on campus and outside the stadium. Each photo contains a detailed caption describing the photo often along with a relevant background from the period. O’Brien did a very nice job-it’s a fine collection and would make an excellent gift. While I’ve seen a few of the photos before but most were new to me. Here’s a few of my favorites, click to enlarge: Louis Elbel, the man that composed The Victors after the 1898 Michigan game at Chicago, conducts the Michigan Marching Band in 1952 The original Little Brown (White?) Jug. I love the “Not to be taken from the Gymnasium” instruction painted on the top. Can you imagine? A photo as they break ground on Michigan stadium, with a clear shot back to Yost Field House in the background. Gorgeous.
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Michigan Bowl Projections
Summarized: Actually CFN has the Wolverines in: Champs Sports Bowl Dec. 27 / 4:30 p.m. ET Orlando, Fla. ESPN Tie-Ins: ACC No. 4 vs. Big Ten No. 4 or No. 5 Way Too Early Projection: Georgia Tech vs. Michigan As does Bruce Feldman on ESPN, staying close to home: Motor City (MAC vs. Big Ten) Ball State vs. Michigan My take, it’ll be a challenge to get to six wins but I think it can happen based on what I saw in South Bend Saturday. Penn State, Ohio State likely sure losses. Toledo likely win. That’ll leave the Wolverines needing to go 4-2 of Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan State, @Minnesota, @Purdue, Northwestern. – Wisconsin – Illinois – Toledo – Penn State – Michigan State – Purdue – Minnesota – Northwestern – Ohio State
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Pushing the Rock
While there’s still a shot a getting to six wins and preserving two great streaks, this season is turning into an exercise of focusing on themes and trends inside games rather than the end result. A loss a Notre Dame is always tough to take and we still don’t know how good the Irish are, but I saw some good things out there Saturday. The comeback effort turned into a Sisyphean task, as a few times the Wolverines were on the brink of scoring a critical touch only to have a brutal fumble or pick wipe it all away. This game was obviously lost on the turnovers, the worst occurred before the rain came down, but that can be fixed. This offense isn’t quite ready to enough register points to overcome the kind of hole they put themselves in the first quarter, but certainly showed signs. After last week I never thought I’d say this but Threet looked sharp, didn’t he? I don’t mean sharp as in ‘much improved for a guy who’d be a third stringer on most teams’, I mean sharp as you want your quarterback to be. I haven’t seen the replay on that early screen to Minor that was dropped and picked up by the Irish- I assume that shouldn’t have been thrown but otherwise, didn’t…
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How It’ll Go
I think Michigan’s defense will do very well against Clausen, but I give the Irish an edge today. Like Sean at Michigan Sports Center, I see a close game with a couple big plays making the difference. I see Michigan scoring one offensive touchdown that is the result of a sustained drive. But Michigan needs this one; I think they’ll be ready.
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Blue Books: Holtz Courting Lloyd Carr
This week we’ll go again to the absolute definitive tome on the Michigan-Notre Dame Rivarly, John Kryk’s Natural Enemies. There are several anecdotes of interest in the book, some I’ve mentioned on these pages before, and I’ll revisit some of these in the future. Today, a selection from Chapter 11 ‘Extra Points’. Lou Holtz will be honored at Saturday’s game and they are unveiling a statue. I’m sure Jason Peter has some thoughts on how to decorate the Holtz likeness. I don’t know if Lloyd Carr will ever be honored with a monument at Michigan but I’m sure he’ll get his name on a facility or prominent street. An obscure street near Michigan stadium was the reward for Depression era coach Harry Kipke, who won national championships but was also fired at the end of the decade. But according to Natural Enemies, Lou Holtz wanted Carr to join him in South Bend on a couple occasions: In an interview for this book in 2003, current Michigan head coach Lloyd Carr revealed that in the 1980s Lou Holtz twice tried to woo him to his staff at Notre Dame. Carr said he believes that the first offer from Holtz came in 1986. “One night I was sitting at home and Lou called me. I was shocked, honestly,” Carr recalled. “He said,…
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It’s Michigan-Notre Dame you fools
Get excited. I don’t care if the Irish are struggling and Michigan punts 13 times. History matters and it’s going to be awesome in South Bend in the rain and thunder. This is going to happen every year until at least 2031, so shape up: Running out of Ticket artwork ideas by 2031See you in South Bend tomorrow, chumps. Thanks to Kelley and Brendan (Irish sounding fellows, no?).
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Calvin Magee on coaches show
No audio, but Calvin Magee covered the first part of the Rodriguez radio show tonight. A few tidbits: * The team will go down a day early a practice on the Notre Dame field on Friday. Probably more of a walk-through, but I didn’t know you could do that sort of thing. * Magee called Steven Threet “the guy”, which I think is saying something. He didn’t rule out playing Sheridan. * Talked a little about their first trip to South Bend, Rodriguez and the Mountaineers visited in 2001, a 34-24 loss.