For Saturday’s edition of This Week in Michigan Football History we go back 22 years when one of the most over-hyped players in college football was knocked down a notch by the foot of one Mr. Remy Martin Hamilton:
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script after the jump
This week we stroll back 22 years to 1994 as Gary Moeller’s #6 Wolverines headed to South Bend to face the Number 3 Fighting Irish.
The game was widely billed as Act 2 for the Irish’s freshman Wonderboy, quarterback Ron Powlus.
The media hype meter was set to “LUDICROUS” after Powlus tossed four touchdowns the week prior against Northwestern at Solider Field.
On ESPN, pundit Beano Cooke suggested Powlus make room on his mantle for AT LEAST 2 Heisman Trophies, and commentator Chris Collinsworth couldn’t contain himself by later suggesting that Joe Montana “move over” to make room for the new, ahem, Irish legend.
Unfortunately for Notre Dame fans the only legend emerging from this game was on other sideline – a Michigan kicker named Remy Martin Hamilton.
For those wondering, yes, Hamilton’s parents owned a bar in Wildwood, New Jersey, and they named him Remy Martin after the popular cognac.
And According Natural Enemies author John Kryk, Hamilton wasn’t named the started until the day of the game.
The 1994 match-up would be settled in the final moments. With under a minute to go Powlus tossed a TD pass to Derrick Mayes to put Notre Dame up 24 to 23.
With just 46 ticks left, Meechigan QB Todd Collins scrambled for 15 yards and a first down AND then found Jay Riemersma over the middle at the Irish 42.
After connecting with Seth Smith for a short pass, Collins, just as he was about to be dragged down and sacked, found Smith a second time with seven seconds left to set the stage for Hamilton. For the millions watching at home it sounded like this:
Almost immediately after the ball left his foot, Hamilton celebrated — certain that the kick was perfect. As the ball sailed through to seal 26-24 victory on this day 22 years ago, surely somewhere in Football’s Valhalla Bo smiled and uttered, TO HELL WITH NOTRE DAME.
