This week WPW takes a look at three outstanding shots, each featuring a unique perspective of three Michigan greats – Cazzie Russell, Tom Harmon and Bill Yearby: Crisler is known as the house that Cazzie built, but here’s a look at Cazzie’s original digs: Yost Arena. Dang it looks pretty cool in there and I love the angle of that photo. Memo to #41: Nice socks, Milhous. Speaking of that venue, who’d like to see a hoops game at Yost? Get on board #1000SSS. And maybe they’d even bring back the Old Man?: Speaking of cool angles, I’m not sure I can recall a old shot quite like this, here you’ve got Old 98 Tom Harmon in 1938 trotting out of the tunnel handling a pigskin. Uniform snobs will note the block M socks. I also love the cheerleader’s sweater and the shiny pants (that guy has a little Barney Fife in him). Turning to the crowd, clearly if you didn’t wear a hat (children and ladies included) to the game back then you were a square, Daddy-O. A real flat tire. What I can’t make out is what’s on the guy’s sweatshirt behind Harmon? Best guess – it either reads “Maroons” (played in the Big House 10/8/38) or “Spartans” (the season opener 10/1/38). Hmm, who do you…
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Wire Photo Wednesday Cries Wolverbear!
WPW keeps rolling with a great shot that sheds some light on uniform history: First up, this isn’t a wire photo but something a little cleaner: it’s a 35MM negative from the 1962 game in East Lansing that is incredibly crisp. In the U-M lily whites you’ve got a wincing Tom Prichard (21) backed up by a flying Ron Kocan (88). The Spartans snuck by 28-0. More importantly, this slide appears to have solved a little uniform riddle that has bugged me and the illustrious Dr. Sap for a while. We had seen some photos from this era of players wearing what seemed to be a circular patch on their jerseys…but couldn’t confirm what it was. Sap dug an old shot with the mystery patch that we mulled over a year or 2 back (also obviously from the ‘62 State game as well, featuring Prichard, could be the same play): The first shot clearly confirms what is chilling on the left shoulder…the wolverbear ! </insert Happy Valley roar sound, slightly higher pitch> Viva the sailor wolverbear! Here’s more on the U-M logo history via my man Craig at HSR. Here’s the auction for the 35MM slide. Here’s another shot from the 1962 game via my friends at The Only Colors. Oh, and the Uniform Timeline is now updated…scroll down to…
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Coach Beilein Joins Sam & Ira (WTKA audio Feb 25, 2014)
It’s always fun to hear what the coach has to say after a big win. This morning coach B talked about everything from the zone, his relationship with Steve Fisher, to his philosophy & history of working on the refs, to Mitch McGary’s status and much more: [display_podcast] As always, catch all of the WKTA podcasts here. If you missed it, check out sights and sounds from Sunday’s big win.
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Sights & Sounds: Sweep Tight ! (Michigan 79, Michigan State 70)
Broom and Boom: We got you in Hoops, Ice Dancing and Jinxes. (Oh, and embroidery). Pres-elect Schlissel getting a tour from U-M Marketing chief Hunter Lochmann. Timmy Hardaway in the house representing and showing off his extra long digits. D Funch giving Stauskas some pointers during pregame Clean Several NBA Scouts on hand, here are a few looking over whatever they look at. They must have been drooling over Payne. I told one of them that #Levert was a pure athlete. Reply: “Yes he is.” “AP…Why do they call me the Angry Midget? Why?” Jon Falk! His last day officially on the job is coming up! :( Maize Rage feeling it! They joined the dance team for a spicy little routine during the game. Capt. Jake Ryan with Laura Hoke as Coach Mattison looks on. Scoop: at this pace no chance Jake’s flowing locks return for ‘14. There is a lot going on here, all good to me. Beilein going ballistic after the blocking call in front of him – he wasn’t alone. My pal Jil Gordon representing! Zack Novak Attack (was was Back) Happy Coach Happy Coach part II. “This happens all the time guys. Just like this.” Staus-KISS! – that’s pure $CAN right…
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Super Toe’s Forgotten Field Goal | Storytime with Dr. Sap
Guest post by Steve “Dr. Sap” Sapardanis On a cold, cloudy, 34 degree November Saturday in Ann Arbor, Mike Lantry pulled Michigan from the depths of despair to the heights of ecstasy. In the last minute of the tenth game of the 1972 season against the Purdue Boilermakers, “Super Toe,” as Bob Ufer referred to him, kicked a game-winning field goal….that no one remembers. Before getting into the reasons why this moment is lost in U-M lore, here’s how it all went down: Trailing 3-0 at the half against a very determined Purdue defense, Michigan came out and scored a touchdown on their first drive of the second half. Unfortunately, Lantry’s PAT was wide right and the Boilermakers now only trailed, 6-3. After Purdue tied the game at 6 with field goal on the last play of the 3rd quarter, Lantry had a chance to give Michigan the lead early in the 4th quarter. This time his 49-yard field goal attempt came up short. Later in the final quarter, as Purdue drove down the field looking for the win, Randy Logan intercepted a Gary Danielson pass to set up a final shot for Michigan. With the weight of the game (as well as the season) on his shoulders and left toe, Lantry composed himself and calmly booted a 30-yard field…
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Wire Photo Wednesday | Spotting a tiny Maize Boat on the Horizon
WPW is on vacation but it’s still Wednesday I suppose. So a quick edition this week – thanks for those who have sent suggestions, especially Dr. Sap :) Love this shot of Yost chatting it up with his former player “Big Bill” Edmunds – some context here via the Alumnus: Previous editions: Wire Photo Wednesday | Carlos Danger Izzo & Silver Ike Wire Photo Wednesday: Illini Stew & a Trashed Yost Wire Photo Wednesday : Smooth Swing, Smooth Ride Wire Photo Wednesday – The inaugural Follow MVictors on Twitter
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Wire Photo Wednesday | Carlos Danger Izzo & Silver Ike
Try to look away – you can’t: Unruly ‘fro + pornstache + saber-toothed collar + tight jeans = pure money. Accept it before it destroys you! Not sure what I’d do with it but I want it. In honor of the 2014 Sochi Games, here’s a look at Michigan’s first Winter Games medalist, goalie Willard “Ike” Ikola. From these pages a few years ago: A few years later Ikola minded the nets for the US Olympic hockey team in the 1956 Games, leading the Americans to the silver medal. Although they dropped the championship game to the Soviets, the American inflicted some serious and surprising damage getting to that point. In the battle against heavily favored Canada, Ikola stood on his head, stopping 38 shots on the way to a 4-1 shocker. He, along with teammate John Matchefts, became the first Wolverines to medal in the winter Olympic Games. Ikola went on to a legendary coaching career at Edina East High in Edina, MN. In 1991 he was named the John Mariucci Award as the American Hockey Coaches Association Coach of the Year, and later into the national high school coaches HOF and Michigan athletics Hall of Honor. Ikola was featured in Sports Illustrated in this 1991 article. Above that’s Don McEwen, Michigan’s 2-time national champion…
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Lunch with Old 98
I know it’s last minute, but if you are in Ann Arbor looking for something cool for lunch: Special Event: A Bentley Brown Bag Film — Friday, February 7, 12:15-12:45“One Saturday Afternoon” (The Tom Harmon Story) Bring your lunch and joins us for a screening of the 1965 television program “One Saturday Afternoon”; a look back on Tom Harmon’s career on the 25th anniversary of his winning the Heisman Trophy. Hosted by Bing Crosby, the 30 minute film features clips of Harmon’s football exploits at Michigan, his World War II heroics, rare footage from his early TV variety show and interviews with Fritz Crisler, Forest Evashevski and others. More info here. If you check it out let me know how it goes! Follow MVictors on Twitter
