Ahead of Michigan facing Georgia in the 2021 Orange Bowl in the CFP Semi-finals, a look back at the first meeting between the schools. Three subplots out of this game involving a righteous game-used vintage Michigan uniform, a question of why Georgia wore its home red jersey at Michigan Stadium, and finally, how Fritz Crisler and company dealt with scheduling and playing a segregated school.
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Hail, Hail to the Chief | Happy 101 Gerald Ford
A hearty salute to the memory of President Gerald Ford born July 14, 1913, who today would have turned 101. In honor of the 1934 team MVP, a repost. Here are a few of my favorite shots of the POTUS in and around campus. Above, via eBay one of the classic shots of Ford hiking the pigskin in the 1930s. Below, via the Bentley Library, Ford addressing captain Mark Messner and the team in 1988: Here with Bob Ufer kicking off his presidential campaign in 1976 at Crisler Arena: And finally at practice with General Bo: In honor of Ford’s 101st birthday, here is a repost of the speech President Ford delivered to the Annual Congressional Dinner of the University of Michigan Club back in March 1975 and worth a read: [Introductory portion omitted] You know, as a matter of fact, I can still remember spending a good part of my sophomore and junior years washing dishes in the DKE house–of which I was a proud member–and I mean washing dishes. As a matter of fact, I washed so many dishes I was the only athlete in Michigan history who ever had a football knee and dishpan hands at the same time. [Laughter] As I mentioned a moment ago, I was lucky enough to play football, first on Ferry Field…
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U-M to Honor Willis Ward?
Maybe. I recently posted that a at screening of Black and Blue it was suggested that it’s high time for the university to formally honor Willis Ward: Near the conclusion of the Q&A session following the screening at the Alumni center, Moorehouse suggested that it’s time for the university to honor Ward in some way, and I agree. And after all, as Moorehouse pointed out, the only memorial on campus (if you don’t count buildings or roads in parking lots) for former athletes is this plaque dedicated to Owens…a Buckeye! Well, there seems to be some momentum. At last week’s monthly meeting of the U-M Regents, the idea of honoring was presented to the regents. As I understand it, an informal motion was approved to discuss the matter with the athletic department, with the hope of finding an “appropriate way” to honor Ward. Memo to Dave Brandon: Do the right thing. This is long overdue! [Ed. Update March 18]. Mary Morgan of the Ann Arbor Chronicle recapped the meeting including the activities around honoring Ward: Public Commentary: Willis Ward Three people spoke about Willis Ward, an African-American who played football for UM in the early 1930s. [For background on Ward, see John U. Bacon’s Chronicle column: "When Ward, Ford Played Ball for UM"] Buddy Moorehouse introduced himself as a 1982…
