This week we head back exactly 45 years to the opener of the 1969 season and a new era in Michigan Football History. It was of course the debut of Bo…and Canham’s beloved new carpet: Speaking of Canham’s carpet, I love this old shot of Dierdorf and Bo: You can catch all of the This Week in Michigan Football History clips here…And don’t forget to catch it live Saturday on the KeyBank Countdown to kick-off on WTKA 1050AM or inside the Bud Light Victors Lounge starting at 11:30am. Follow MVictors on Twitter
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Sights & Sounds | Michigan 34, Miami 10 (2014)
Overwhelming a hapless MAC school in the second half of a game is sorta fun, but few left Michigan Stadium Saturday with a new opinion on the direction of this team. Many of the empty seats will be occupied next Saturday when Utah visits you can bet. To the Sights and Sounds: Big Jon – Always great to see Jon Falk in the house – even if it is upstairs on not on the sideline: Pomp: Several items out there Saturday: SSB? – The band celebrated the 200th year of the writing of the Star Spangled Banner. Nerd nit: And 200 years later the scoreboard doesn’t show the proper punctuation when they display the lyrics to the song. At half the band either spelled out LIBERTY or LETHARGY, it wasn’t clear from on high. Nevertheless, here’s Big house the beautiful pregame: Not from THERE. Miami band displayed a “NOT COLUMBUS” banner on the opening number before playing THE VICTORS. Pandering? Guilty. Do I Love it? Guilty. Capacity – Two minutes before kickoff, sparse in the student section and the unsold whatever-we-call-it section just north of the students: Booing – There were some loud BOOs in the 2nd quarter and the crowd was obviously frustrated. I’m not a big BOO-bird when given the opportunity, and no, I’d never boo college players. …
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Les Miles in the Cradle
Up on mgoblue.com right now, a nice piece on the Michigan coaching ties to Miami, OH, and its famed Cradle of Coaches. It includes a few great quotes from longtime assistant coach Jerry Hanlon, Tirrel Burton, Jon Falk, and others. Hanlon: “I’m a double ‘M Man,’ ” Hanlon said. “You can’t get Miami out of my blood because it gave me my start. It’s going to be tough this Saturday, but I think I’ve worn the maize and blue a little too long.” More importantly, I got a kick out of this. The lead pic features Bo’s staff in 1975 during team photo day…but look who’s chilling in the background! Here’s Les Miles, a senior offensive guard in ‘75, in the front row of the team photo if you need him:
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TWIMFbH – The RichRod Era and To Hell With Notre Dame (2008+)
This Week..heads back to September 6, 2008 with RichRod looking for his first win in Ann Arbor against Miami, OH. For obvious reasons we quickly spin away from 2008 and take a little Notre Dame/Michigan history, specifically to the cancelation of 1910 that tossed gasoline on the rivalry: [display_podcast] You can catch all of the This Week in Michigan Football History clips here…And don’t forget to catch it live Saturday on the KeyBank Countdown to kick-off on WTKA 1050AM or inside the Bud Light Victors Lounge starting at 8am. For more on the Notre Dame Rivalry: Teaching Notre Dame Modern Football (1887) When Michigan Canceled The Notre Dame Series | 1910 Yost Gets a Dog to Get Shorty’s Goat (1910) Get Natural Enemies (by John Kryk) #THWND! Follow MVictors on Twitter
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104,559 Asses – The History of The Wave at Michigan Stadium (1983)
Origins of 'The Wave' at Michigan Stadium (1983)...
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Wire Photo Wednesday | Taking a Timeout
It’s Spring Break for many here in Michigan and thus WPW takes the foot off the gas this week, featuring just one shot of General George S. Patton Schembechler: Schembechler Hall was dedicated this past weekend, and of course the centerpiece is the new Bo statue. Details on the 7 1/2 foot bronze Bo features the mandatory ‘M’ hat, sunglasses, a headset (with “BO” in Dymotape label) in his hand, and a Rose Bowl watch on his wrist. The above 35MM shot of Coach Bo looks to be in the ballpark of the era of the pose that was used for the statue, and that looks to be a Rose Bowl watch shining on his left wrist as he calls timeout. You can find that photo on eBay right now. Follow MVictors on Twitter
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The Bo Brackets | The Final Four Results
[Ed. Steve “Dr. Sap” Sapardanis returns with the next round of the Bo Brackets. You can find background including how the teams were selected here, and a breakdown of the Schembechler 16 results here and the Elite 8 here.] Oosterbaan Region Champion – 1973 vs.Yost Region Champion – 1976Everybody expected this game to be a George Patton-like ground assault, but it didn’t start out that way. On the first play from scrimmage, 1976 sophomore QB Rick Leach called an audible and hit a wide open Curt Stephenson for a 76-yard touchdown pass to open the scoring. Just as surprising was how the 1973 UM squad responded. Dennis Franklin completed three straight passes to Paul Seal, Gil Chapman and Clint Haslerig to set up All-American Mike Lantry’s 33-yard field goal, and that’s how the first quarter ended, 7-3 in favor of Bo’s 1976 group. The second quarter featured more of what everyone was expecting to see – three yards and a cloud of dust. When the dust settled, Ed Shuttlesworth and Rob Lytle traded touchdowns in between another Lantry field goal. As Bo’s two best teams from the ’70s went into the locker room at halftime, the 1976 contingent was clinging to a one point lead, 14-13. In the third quarter, Leach overthrew a wide open Jim Smith and Dave…
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The Bo Brackets | Elite Eight Results
[Ed. On this day of what would be Bo Schembechler’s 85th birthday, Steve “Dr. Sap” Sapardanis returns with the next round of the Bo Brackets. You can find background including how the teams were selected here, and a breakdown of the Schembechler 16 results here.] 1969 vs. 1976 Result: 1976 211969 10 In an impressive combination of speed and power, Rick Leach, Rob Lytle & Russell Davis combined to rush for 349 yards and three touchdowns as the 1976 squad defeated Bo’s 1969 team, 21-10. Don Moorehead’s passing (227 yards) and Billy Taylor’s rushing (110 yards) staked the ’69 Wolverines to an early lead until a colossal collision changed the complexion of the contest. Leading 10-7 midway through the third quarter and facing a 3rd and 7 on their own 23-yard line, Moorehead handed off to Taylor on a draw play. Before Taylor could put two hands on the ball, ’76 linebacker Calvin O’Neal hit the Michigan running back so violently that both players were out cold before they hit the Tartan Turf. Jerry Vogele recovered the fumble for the ’76 Wolverines at the 15-yard line. Three plays later, Leach kept on an option keeper to give the ’76 team a lead they would not relinquish and the ’69 Wolverines were reeling. A 4-yard TD run by Davis…
