You know the story about his tricked out maize and blue shoes. Brace yourself for the rest of the story of “Touchdown” Billy Taylor. You can be a part of it as the first screening of a new piece of Michigan Football history is unveiled. Perseverance – The Story of Dr. Billy Taylor is a new documentary and will premiere at the Michigan Theatre on Friday November 16th in two showings: 7:30PM and 9:55PM. [As soon as they post the link to the tickets, I’ll post here. You can buy them on TicketWeb right now 7:30PM or 9:55PM.] I had a chance to meet co-director Dan Chace recently in Ann Arbor and he’s clearly jacked about the film. I haven’t seen the documentary yet but plan to as soon as I can get my meat hooks on a copy. Much more later on this. In the meantime, here’s the full press release: NEW DOCUMENTARY FILM ON FORMER MICHIGAN RUNNING BACK, BILLY TAYLOR, DIRECTED BY MICHIGAN ALUMNI TEAM, SET TO PREMIERE AT MICHIGAN THEATRE, ONE NIGHT ONLY, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16 Ann Arbor’s Michigan Theatre has just added a November 16 Premiere Screening date for a recently completed documentary film entitled, Perseverance – The Story of Dr. Billy Taylor. The film highlights Billy Taylor’s notable football accomplishments at Michigan, but goes deeper,…
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It Must be the Shoe Laces! Billy Taylor’s Tricked out Pumas
In 1971, one player did something that was so shocking even the flamboyant Fielding H. Yost would have flashed his famous smile. “Touchdown” Billy Taylor wore teal blue shoes with, you guessed it – maize laces! It was in the 1972 Rose Bowl Game against Stanford, and yes, those tricked out Puma shoes have not been photoshopped. Here's the full story:
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From the Den of Michigan’s Mellow Men? (1969)
It sure looks authentic but I’m not sure I’ve ever seen one before. Take a look at this 1969 Big Ten Championship Ring currently up for bid: Better resolution pics and descriptions available on the auction page, the seller is asking for $3,500 Buy it Now and is soliciting other offers. As I always do on these ring auctions, I’ll lead with the disclaimer that a) we don’t know if any of what the sellers claims are true, b) we don’t know the circumstances of how the ring ended up with the seller and c) don’t assume anything and d) don’t judge. That said…this is quite a specimen for sure and I’m guessing there’s a collector or two out there that would love to have this. This is of course would be part of the spoils of Bo’s legendary 24-12 shocker over Woody & the Buckeyes in Schembechler’s first season in Ann Arbor. On top of all that, the seller claims this ring originally belonged to one of the famous “Mellow Men” on the 1969 team. Here’s an excellent refresher on the Mellow Men via the great “Touchdown” Billy Taylor from mgoblue.com: “The Den of Mellow Men” Billy Taylor / 1969-71 Letterman When I came to Michigan, I was part of the largest collection of black athletes ever at the…
