Steve “Dr. Sap” Sapardanis is a Schembechler-era savant and once again he’ll be diligently handing out his postgame helmet stickers after each game. Sap has pored over hours and hours of U-M games over several decades, and in these posts he’s able to tie the present to the past. I encourage you to subscribe to Dr. Sap on YouTube, or follow Sap on Twitter:
By Steve “Dr. Sap” Sapardanis
Before I talk about how great the entire Michigan team played in all phases of the game on Saturday, and before I talk about how Michigan outhit Nebraska in all phases of the game, that performance (for both teams) should serve as a reminder for everyone on how much work it takes to restore a once-proud & mighty program back to where it was a few decades earlier. Attitudes have to change and players have to buy in to the new staff’s direction.
Remember the “All In For Michigan” slogan a few years/coaches ago? The Michigan program, players & fanbase have been exactly where Nebraska is right now. It takes time – and a few blowouts like this – but The Big Red will be back, just not this year.
Enough perspective – onward to some helmet stickers!
OFFENSIVE CHAMPION – There have been some impressive offensive performances down through the years of Michigan football. I can remember the 1991 Mazda Gator Bowl where the entire offensive line was awarded the game MVP award as the Wolverine offense churned our 715 yards of offense that January 1st. On Saturday, there were so many impressive players on offense – Higdon, Patterson, Wilson, the O-Line – that I couldn’t single out just one. As a result, I’m awarding helmet stickers for the ENTIRE OFFENSIVE UNIT! Just a very solid, all-around performance from everybody on offense. The best performance of the year! Was it perfect? No. But as Bo Schembechler used to say, “It’s easier to correct mistakes after a win than it is after a loss.”
DEFENSIVE CHAMPION – I’m not sure I have ever witnessed defensive team speed as prevalent as it was on Saturday. Now some of that may have something to do with Nebraska, but my gosh – the way Bush, Metellus, Gary, Winovich & company were flying around Michigan Stadium – it was impressive to watch & behold. Much like how dominant the 1985 Michigan Defense was in the shutout victory over MSU:
Notice how they were awarded the player of the game honors, I gotta do the same with Don Brown’s Dudes. Can’t single out just one dude – helmet stickers for the ENTIRE DEFENSIVE UNIT!
SPECIAL TEAMS CHAMPION – Let’s see…Moody continued to boom his kickoffs into the end zone. Hart’s punting prowess was Harry Kipke-like. Nordin hit a couple of long field goals. DPJ returned a punt for a TD. Thomas recovered a muffed-punt for…0 points? So ya – not a perfect performance – but helmet stickers for EVERYONE ON SPECIAL TEAMS!
HOF CHAMPION – It was great to see Charles Woodson get voted into the College Football Hall of Fame. In my mind, he was/is still the best player in the country standing before you! Here’s the video of #2 saying so:
Old #2 never had a helmet sticker on his headgear, so I am bestowing an honorary HOF HELMET STICKER for Woodson.
One Comment
Mark G
Agree on the Defense and the way they swarm like ’85. Still have yet to see a Michigan team so dominant.
I remember watching the MSU game at an off campus apartment. One shot had Bo in his sideline crouch and I swear he was laughing!!!