While I was with Dr. Sap visiting Capitol Varsity Sports last month we stubbed our collective toe on something. After we witnessed Russ Hawkins execute the helmet painting process A to Z, our hosts mentioned a unique twist to the U-M helmet they made in 2012. As prescribed by the athletic department, they added gold flakes into the maize paint…and showed us an example: Say what? So then there was the question: Did the team wear helmets with gold flakes nestled in the maize last season? Before checking with #1000SSS, I asked around and couldn’t find anyone aware of the change or a release talking about the flakes.* I checked out some close-ups of photos and didn’t really notice anything. Sap found one U-M collector, Dan Oles, who got his hands on a 2012 helmet that indeed had the flakes. Oles wrote to Sap, “I contacted a few players via twitter asking if the regular season helmets had maize glitter paint. They all confirmed that they did.” Oles even shot a note to Jon Falk who confirmed the change. Fast forward to today. I verified with media relations & with Falk that indeed the team had the bedazzled headgear in 2012. The change to the paint was announced as part of the Cowboy Classic uniform reveal…but the news release didn’t…
-
-
Michigan Football Uniform Timeline: The Shoes (1968-1983)
Here's a rundown of the changes to the shoe changes of the Michigan Football team since 1968, via the great Steve "Dr. Sap" Sapardanis. Early on, Michigan had been a hodge-podge of shoe manufacturers until Nike changed all that staring in 1983:
-
Russell Davis Shines at the Shrine (1979)
[Ed. Given I ran into big Russell Davis on Saturday, what a perfect time for this guest post by Dr. Sap!] Guest post by Dr. Steve “Sap” Sapardanis Back in the 1970s, the first week of January was typically not a good one for the Michigan Football team or its players. It usually meant devastating Rose Bowl defeats. But on January 6th, 1979, Rick Leach and Russell Davis changed all that. Leach was one of three QB’s for the East All-Stars playing in the Hula Bowl in Hawaii. Russell Davis was playing fullback for the East squad in the East-West Shrine Game played in Palo Alto, California. Many expected Leach to be overshadowed by his more high-profile counterparts – Notre Dame’s golden boy, Joe Montana, and Penn State’s Heisman Trophy runner-up, Chuck Fusina. Davis was just a fullback…and when had a fullback ever done anything of note in an All-Star or Bowl Game? When the day was over with, Bo Schembechler had to have been all smiles. Each player walked away with Offensive MVP honors in both games. Leach showed a national TV audience that he could throw the football with the best of them, completing 7 of 12 passes for 187 yards and 2 touchdowns. He led the East All-Stars on a 23-point 4th quarter comeback that had to…
-
What If Denard had Decals?
Guest post by Steve “Dr. Sap” Sapardanis Last year, we kept track of the helmet stickers every game for each player deserving these awards based on not only the individual but team accomplishments. After the Ohio State game, Denard Robinson led all players with 42 award decals. Ever since then I wondered what would Denard’s helmet look like if it had decals on it? With a little PhotoShop work, wonder no more. Below are a couple of possibilities – one with all 42 decals on one side, and another with half, or 21 on one side. In order to fit 42 decals on one side of the helmet, the decal size would need to be reduced, but you get the idea. That’s what happens when you are made of Dilithium! Think there are a lot of decals on Denard’s helmet? Mike Hammerstein in 1985 and Desmond Howard in 1991 were two former UM players that had a ton of decals on their helmets. #66 sported 47 decals on his helmet in the 1986 Fiesta Bowl against Nebraska: #21 in the 1992 Rose Bowl and against OSU in 1991: To me, there was nothing like seeing Michigan and Ohio State clash at the end of the season. Having both teams’ helmets filled with decals just added to the spectacle. So I…
-
Sap and the Outback Jersey Breakdown
Ed. Instant historical analysis of the Outback Bowl jersey reveal compliments of Steve Sapardanis aka Dr. Sap: HELMET The matte finish is a first for the U-M headgear. Back in the 70s and 80s there was no gloss finish on the Michigan helmets. Much like their coach, there was no flashiness to them – they were maize and blue and that was that. You’d be surprised at how basic and crude those old helmets look compared to the newer ones of today. From 1977: If you wanted the old ones to look shiny, you would have to rub some car wax on them! In the past 10 years or so the paint used has been more automotive grade with a much more durable and glossy finish to it. As long as it’s not a chrome finish, I can deal with it. The blue color seems deeper and darker, but might have more to do with the matte finish more than anything else. Can’t really speak to the yellow unless I see it next to a current helmet that has the newer "neon" yellow color to it. The Outback Bowl helmet seems to have a more deeper yellow than (older helmet) orange hue to it. Via mgoblue.com photo gallery JERSEY You have to go back to Jim Mandich in 1968 to…
-
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:
-
Throwback Coverage
Via the indomitable Dr. Sap, his homegrown retro EA College Football covers. My favorite up first. Lytle: Terrible Tommy: Ricky Leach: Wangler to Carter (including an appearance from the most interesting man in the world in his suede jacket): General Bo:
-
Dr. Sap’s Decals – Purdue
Many to hand out this week via Dr. Sap: Jet-Pack Guy: 2 decals – one for the spot-on landing and one for the sweet helmet! Mike Martin: 3 decals – two on the same play: one for the sack and one for the safety in the 2nd QTR. One more for sack #2 later that same QTR. Matt Wile: 3 decals – Non-Returnable Kickoffs in 1st & 2nd QTR’s and extra decal for putting 2nd QTR kickoff through the uprights!! Denard Robinson: 2 decals – 1-yard TD run in 1st QTR; 28-yard run in 2nd QTR Jake Ryan: 2 decals – 1st QTR Tackle For Loss, 4th QTR TFL Craig Roh: 2 decals – 1st QTR Tackle For Loss, 4th QTR Sack Brendan Gibbons: 2 decals – 2 field goals in 2nd QTR J.T. Floyd: 2 decals for PBU in 2nd & 3rd QTR’s Courtney Avery: 2 decals – 2nd QTR INT, 4th QTR Sack Fitzgerald Toussaint: 3 decals – 2nd QTR 2-yard TD run, 3rd QTR 59-yard TD run and +1 editor’s pick, for carrying 20+ times, the first time in a couple seasons. Roy Roundtree: 1 decal for 49-yard reception in 2nd QTR Jeremy Gallon: 1 decal for 42-yard reception in 2nd QTR Martavious Odoms: 1 decal for 33-yard kickoff return in 3rd QTR Vincent Smith: 1 decal…
