The gist: A complete, all-cylinders win against a 28-point underdog doesn’t do much, but there’s something. After the mess last week a game like that muffles the notion that this team might be going sideways and it restores a bit of the hope that you had preseason. Based on what he did out there, it should also build your confidence that Shea Patterson is indeed a guy who could lead this team to good things in the big games. Mood: Despite that most M fans would trade blowing the doors off a team like Western Michigan for a third down conversion in a big game, it still feels good. “Mood” creeps up a couple slots: meta: Based on popular demand I added the little indicator arrows to represent where the mood was adjusted from the prior week (if applicable), and the mood history for the current season at the bottom. As always thanks to Scott @TheBlockhams for the faces. Uncharmed Start: For the superstitious among us, a couple things had you reaching for the rabbit’s foot: First off, I love the voice of stadium PA man Carl Grapentine, but he fumbled his traditional opening line when he wished the stadium “Good Afternoon“. It was well before kickoff and thus several minutes before noon. As many of you know Mr. Grapentine typically…
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What Can You Bring Inside Michigan Stadium? (2023 version)
Updated for 2023 Season What to Bring Fans are encouraged to bring ONLY necessary items to football games at Michigan Stadium. All subjects and items are subject to search. Permitted Items Prohibited Items Official policy here. Follow MVictors on Twitter
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Bo the Merciless (1981) | This Week in Michigan Football History
November 7, 1981 was a day of very mixed emotions in Ann Arbor. For starters, it was the first home game since the passing of the iconic Bob Ufer. Second, the opponent was Mike White and Illinois, a head coach and program that was on a list Bo Schembechler kept that you didn’t want to be on. Game highlights from WolverineHistorian, note back-up QB B.J. Dickey hurling the pigskin down the field late in the fourth quarter: Today we head back 34 years, to November 7, 1981, when Bo Schembechler’s #12 ranked Wolverines welcomed Illinois. Normally a crisp fall football Saturday in Ann Arbor is met with great joy, but on this day there was a somber mood in Ann Arbor as this was the first home game since the passing of the iconic Meeechigan radio voice Bob Ufer. Weeks earlier, he was honored by the student athletes when the coveted GO BLUE banner was redesigned to read BOB UFER. The marching band joined the tribute, creating a formation that spelled out his name upon Canham’s carpet. Before kickoff the fans observed a moment of silence. But there was business at hand and this was a big one – and the opponent created a different type of emotion for Michigan’s head coach. Across that field on the eastern sideline was…
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Beaver Beatdown – Sights & Sounds (Michigan 35, Oregon State 7 – 2015)
“I GUESS I HIT THAT HOLE YOU NERDS!” (via Michigan Daily) Following another Smith score to put U-M up 26-7, Harbaugh personally called for the 2 point conversion. He gave some kind of signal to the celebrating players – it looked like a bear claw from the press box. He sat hunched over outside the team area basically begging for Rudock and a few other guys to get the message and line up—flashing the bear claw gesture as hard as he could. Rudock and crew eventually got the message, lined up, and successfully executed the 2 point conversion to put U-M up 28-7. On the trot back to the sideline Rudock tried to slide back to the bench with the rest of the unit but Harbaugh put his hand in Rudock’s chest—stopping him in his tracks. There was a quick chat between QB and coach, I assume something along the lines of maintaining composure even after a TD and paying attention. After the chat, #4 delivered a pair of hearty butt slaps and Rudock went back to the bench. Here’s the deal – Harbaugh is in absolute control (most of the time) of the sideline and what the players are doing on the field. The only other way he’d have it is if the rules allowed him to play a…
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Look For This
It looks like a beautiful day out there. A little nip in the but right now, barely a cloud in the sky. A couple of things to look for out there today: Michigan Helmet Stickers, version #4 – We’re collectively still not clear on what they look like (**Update – now we do, see below). Given Harbaugh’s propensity to bring stuff back from the Bo era, my gut says they’ll be similar to version #3 that the Wolverines wore from 1985-1994 or version #2 from 1975-1982, maybe smaller. Of course version #3 is what they looked like when Coach Harbaugh was quarterback Harbaugh: Hopefully, the new decals will have updated maize and blue tones to match the 2015 helmet and jersey. Remember we’ve whiffed on this before with the first incarnation of the helmet numbers – which would have been a closer match to the 2015 helmet: ** Update: These indeed appears to be mimicking version “#3” – the 1985-1994 version. We’ll be sending something to the Dr. Sap labs for full analysis: Jerseys – Look for the darker tone of blue on the jerseys – almost black to the naked eye – along with the darker maize pants and stripes. Do you have that pair of pants in your closet that is such a dark blue that you question…
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Air Cover Needed!!!
Once a year I ask readers directly for support – and year after year you’ve responded. Together we’ve raised over $13,000 for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JRDF). On Saturday August 1 I’ll be back in East Lansing to go face-to-face with the Spartans to take part in the Walk for a Cure. In 2011 those who chipped in got their name on the righteous JDRF Jug, in 2012 on the coveted JDRF banner, in 2013 they righted a horrible wrong last year a coveted JDRF helmet decal. This year you’ll get a hearty tweet with an epic U-M (or team of your choice) photo from yesteryear in your honor. Here’s how to get in the action: Donate to my walk group – something, anything. Join me in East Lansing for the walk on Saturday August 1st. Learn about JDRF and Type 1 diabetes—you probably have some friends/relatives/co-workers that are affected. All of the above FAQ: Why East Lansing? A: My family help create the EL Walk years ago, so what’s a brother to do? Why are you involved in T1D? A: Found out about the disease when my nephew Jack was diagnosed when he was 3 and I’m trying to help. Isn’t “curing” T1D just about diet and exercise? A: No! Its onset has nothing to do with diet…
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Beautiful Day
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Dr. Sap’s Decals | Leaving the Snake Pit and 2014 Behind
Steve “Dr. Sap” Sapardanis bids adieu to a painful 2014 with a final offering of decals to a handful of seniors. But before that, did you catch ESPN’s GameDay on Saturday? It included a nice piece on the rivalry and the Michigan banner, including a short clip of the Buckeyes tearing down the coveted slice of canvas in ‘73 synchronized with Bob Ufer’s epic audio description of that dastardly deed. Guess who put that together and shipped it off to ESPN? That’s right..Dr. Sap himself! Here’s a low res version of the full clip Sap provided to our friends in Bristol: Those painful dekes: OFFENSIVE CHAMPION DEVIN GARDNER? – We watched a gutty and gutting end to New 98’s career on Saturday. In between the first pass/interception of the game and the fumble that gave OSU the clinching score, Gardner played his heart out and did all he could to help UM win. Problem is, he also helped OSU win. Take away those free 14 points and we have an even ballgame. I don’t want to remember Gardner for his interception and fumble. I want to remember him for his courage for keeping UM in the game. I want to remember him for his compassion when he went over and consoled J.T. Barrett when he broke his ankle. Instead, I…
