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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Freshman Quarters
Via a piece in the Portland Tribune: In the bowels are meeting room, training rooms and team locker rooms. The Wolverines have separate locker rooms for the freshmen and upperclassmen, a throwback to the Bo Schembechler era. “Bo wanted the freshmen to be by themselves for a year so they could become a very tight group,” Ablauf says. “The idea was, that would benefit them by the time they’re seniors and leaders on the team. We got away from that when the renovation happened in 2010. When Coach Harbaugh came in, he re-established the separate locker rooms.” Interesting. Don’t think I’d heard that, and despite personally being in the in the bowels (including the main locker room) for media day, I don’t recall seeing a separate area. Follow MVictors on Twitter
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TWIMFbH – Winning the September Heisman (2009)
Admit it. Perhaps not to the extent of @mgojen, but you have a few fond memories of the RichRod era. You squealed like a little girl when this happened back in 2009: It was indeed a fantastic moment in an otherwise rough stretch. All this happened six years ago this Saturday so why not? It’s the subject of This Week in Michigan Football History: [display_podcast] Don’t forget to catch the whole KeyBank Countdown to Kickoff on WTKA 1050AM starting 4 hours before each game, and of course live in the Bud Light Victors Lounge when they lace them up in Ann Arbor. See you out there. Script: While Rich Rodriguez’s tenure in Ann Arbor was widely a struggle, it certainly wasn’t without its moments. One of those came on this day 6 years ago, and Charlie Weis and his #18 ranked Fighting Irish visited the Big House for what would prove to be another epic chapter of the great rivalry between our storied programs. The Wolverines got the upper hand early, as over 110,000 fans saw the Blue jump to a 14-3 lead thanks to a Brandon Minor run and at the end of the first quarter and a blazing 94-yard kickoff return by Daryl Stonem. But the second quartered was owned by the Irish as quarterback Jimmy…
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Dr. Sap’s Decals – Bumper Stickers for the Utes
Bo reveals his “bumper stickers” in 1969 (via the illustrious Dr. Sap Archives) Steve “Dr. Sap” Sapardanis returns with his decal-worthy champions for the games. I’ve always said we’d do this until the helmet stickers return. Will they return in 2015? In the meantime: Offensive Champion – I thought Jake Butt showed that he is ready to have a huge, breakout year. The play-action waggle play that Brian Griese brought to prominence back in the late 1990’s is going to be the bread and butter of this offense – provided Michigan can run the ball better than what they did last night – and no one is going to benefit more from this play than Butt. His touchdown grab was money and showed that he is ready to be the go-to-guy on offense. Defensive Champion – What can I say about Jabrill Peppers? I have never seen a defender make blockers miss and use the swim-technique so well and so fluidly to get to the ball like #5 did last night. You can see that this guy has been coached well and has been blessed with some tremendous talent. The scary part? He is only going to get better! Special Teams Champion – I liked how Blake O’Neill effectively used his Aussie punting style to flip field position and limit…
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Salt Lake City Sights & Sounds (Utah 24, Michigan 17) – Jim Harbaugh’s first game
Darn. It turns out there is no magical khaki lint for #4 to sprinkle around the locker room but you, the most rational and reasonable Michigan fan, was still hoping there was. Guilty as well. Sights and sounds from Harbaugh's debut:
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Lighter and Darker: 2015 Uniform Updates
Given the volume of updates to the Uniform Timeline I’m posting them here to update your personal records: 9/3/2015 Salt Lake City, UT (vs. Utah)JERSEY/PANTS: All-white jersey and pants (4) combination return for first time since 1976 Orange Bowl and include with maize and blue stripes on end of sleeves (3) and down the side of the pants (5). Design mimics road uniform design worn for the 1973-1975 seasons. Maize (1) and blue (2) tones are darker [this is confirmed with U-M equipment staff]. Items removed:* Block M from back neckline* Block M on pants (first time since 1993) PANTS: Some players also wear thigh pads with embossed block M:HELMET: Darker tone of maize on helmet: As always, all of these changes are found on the Uniform Timeline – if I missed anything significant let me know. Follow MVictors on Twitter
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TWIMFbH: Let’s Finally Play (Most of) A Football Game. Fergodsakes. (2011)
Brady trots out of the tunnel for the first time (& leaves headset in locker room by mistake) To kickoff the sixth season of This Week in Michigan Football History we dip back to 2011, to the official start of the last glorious period of redemption for Michigan football. Yes, our friends from Kalamazoo visited the Big House for a bizarre and historic day, when an otherwise obscure figure in Wolverine history made history as did Mother Nature. Dig it: [display_podcast] Don’t forget to catch the whole KeyBank Countdown to Kickoff on WTKA starting 4 hours before each game, and of course live in the Bud Light Victors Lounge when they lace them up in Ann Arbor. For those so inclined, here’s a little more from my 2011 post on the history of games ending early: It’s certainly not the first Michigan football game to end before the planned allotted time. Most notably two of the most famous games in college football history ended early: The 1902 Rose Bowl (the first bowl game ever played) ended with plenty of time on the clock because Yost, Heston and crew were putting a colossal smack down on Stanford. From the Bentley: With eight minutes remaining in the game, Stanford captain Ralph Fisher approached the Wolverine bench and offered to concede; Michigan consented.…
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Jim Harbaugh’s Top 5 Games at Michigan
A guest post by Steve “Dr. Sap” Sapardanis #5: 1984 Miami (FL) – Jim Harbaugh’s first start as a Michigan Wolverine would come against the #1-ranked, defending National Champion Miami Hurricanes and he didn’t disappoint. Wolverine fans, myself included, had long felt that the maize and blue lacked one thing on offense for a few years – a tall, pocket-passing QB, ideally from California. That finally happened with the Palo Alto, CA 6-3, 202 pound Harbaugh. Having heard that he had attended a high school passing camp with John Elway as his instructor, sealed the deal for me – Harbs was going to be the next starting QB in my opinion and his first start was highly anticipated by many. His first two passes against Miami – an out pattern to Vince Bean for 11 yards and another to Steve Johnson for 16 yards – showed off his strong arm, much to the delight of the Michigan Stadium crowd, as Michigan went on to win, 22-14. It was an impressive victory for the Wolverines and a great start for the new QB from California. #4: 1985 Notre Dame – Remembering how Michigan finished the 1984 season at 6-6, not many gave U-M a chance in the season opener against Notre Dame in 1985. It was a statement game for both…
