[Ed 11/10/22 – Bumped, in honor of Red Simmons’ induction into the Michigan Hall of Honor Friday night (11/11/2022).] Former women’s track head coach Red Simmons is a fixture on the athletic campus, whether it’s attending football, hockey, or basketball games, or working out each morning at Crisler Arena. Oh, did I mention Simmons turns 100 in three weeks? I recently sat down with the Michigan legend to talk about his amazing life for a piece for GoBlueWolverine Magazine for next month. Definitely check that out, but in the meantime, I wanted to share this nugget. Simmons was a track star at Redford High School and was offered a slot on the U-M track team. He told me that part of his desire to come to Ann Arbor stemmed from a trip he and his pals took when he was 17 years old: Simmons: “My heart was set on coming to Michigan. In 1927 when the football stadium was opened, two other guys from Redford and I hitchhiked up here to see the game. At that time I thought, ‘Boy I’d love to go to this school.’” It didn’t occur to me until after the interview that Simmons is very likely the last living person to attend the first game at Michigan Stadium. I’d love to know if anyone knows…
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Pass The Remy | This Week In Michigan Football History (1944, 1994)
This Week in Michigan Football History continues Season 13 this Saturday in the glorious new Bud Light Victors Lounge, as part of the WTKA 1050AM Countdown To Kickoff. Again we'll double dip, first to 1944 to note the first Michigan night game, then we take a trip to 1994 where a gent named Remy Martin Hamilton left the game in Notre Dame, IN never having to buy a drink again.
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Cold Case Closed: Herron (2011) vs. Harmon (1939)
Thanks to the new U-M Bentley Game Film vault, we’ll have a chance to see game events previously only experienced through photos, written descriptions, or rarely, first-hand accounts. And maybe we’ll use these videos to learn a few new things, and possibly, clear up a few mysteries or misconceptions. In the 2011 season opener against Western Michigan, U-M’s Brandon Herron took an interception return 94-yards to the house. But was it the longest ever?
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Borrowed and Blue
While Alabama’s Bryce Young won the Heisman over Aidan Hutchinson last night, rest assured that Michigan won the battle over historical ownership of the line, “Those Who Stay Will Be Champions.” Today Michigan “owns” the Bo Schembechler-attributed line, but Bo probably borrowed it directly or indirectly from Alabama’s legendary head coach Bear Bryant. It's ok, trust me.
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Wing-Footed Elephants at Michigan & Trumbull (1900)
Looking at Iowa, one thing that’s kind of curious is that despite their long history of playing Michigan (starting in 1900) and their involvement in our league (they joined the Western Conference in that same year), we’re really not stacked with a bevy of major moments in history that would yield a rivalry with the Hawkeyes, although there are certainly important ties between our programs.
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The Rise and Fall of Harry Kipke (1929-1937) | This Week in Michigan Football History
The theme of this week's episode is the rise and fall of great pigskin powers. The game? 1937 Michigan vs. Chicago. If these teams met at the turn of the 20th century it would have been one of the biggest games in the country. I'm talking Stagg vs. Yost huge. But on that November 6th day 84 years ago back in 1937, it was about two once-great programs in tatters.
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The Groundbreaker – George Jewett (1890-1894) | This Week in Michigan Football History
In this edition of This Week in Michigan Football History we look at traditions past and present, old and new. First, we note today is the 87th playing of the SAE Mudbowl down on campus. Next, we note the calendar features two big wins over rival Minnesota in the 1940s, including one in 1943 that snapped a 10 (TEN!) game winless streak against the Gophers. Finally, we celebrate the legacy of Dr. George Jewett, and welcome the 16th Big Ten Rivalry Trophy – The George Jewett Trophy - as Northwestern faces Michigan Saturday.
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The Distinguished Digit, The Sacred Seat | Origins of the 1 in Michigan Stadium capacity
A discussion on the origins and significance of the "1" in the Michigan Stadium official capacity. Includes an interesting theory coming out of a 1960s article in Sports Illustrated.
