Steve “Dr. Sap” Sapardanis is back this season with his weekly postgame helmet stickers. Sap would do a backflip if coach Hoke decided to reinstate this tradition that Bo brought to the team in 1969. Until that day comes, Sap will bring you his game Champions who will be decorated, albeit virtually, with his helmet stickers. I’ll typically toss in the Fan Award and the Editor’s Choice: OFFENSIVE CHAMPION DOUG NUSSMEIER – Yes, it was great to see Devin Gardner look so good throwing the ball. Yes, it was great to see #1 catching touchdown passes (again). Yes, it was great to see Derrick Green and De’Veon Smith run with some authority and confidence. But in my mind, ALL of this starts with the OC. Coach Nuss got the offense started on the right foot and for that he gets a decal for that offensive performance. May not have been tremendously complex, sophisticated or flashy, but it was simple, effective and confidence-boosting and that is exactly what Team 135 needed to start the season. DEFENSIVE CHAMPION GREG MATTISON – The defense just seemed and looked ready to me, today. Believe me I get it – this was Appalachian State 2014, not the 2007 version of the Mountaineers – but the defense was not lost out there. Maybe it has something…
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Dr. Sap’s Decals | Wind-chilled Hawkeye Edition
Straight to Sap’s honors for that mess in Iowa City. I added the Editor’s pick: OFFENSIVE CHAMPION NONE – I didn’t see one. Not Devin Funchess Manball. Not Devin Gardner. Not Fitz Toussaint. Not Derrick Green. Not Jake Butt. Not Jeremy Jackson. None. DEFENSIVE CHAMPION JAKE RYAN – He forced the pick-six to start the game, laid the wood later in the first half and seemed to be back to his normal, pre-injury, self. He was hitting guys like I haven’t seen a Michigan Linebacker hit guys since Ron Simpkins back in the late ‘70s. SPECIAL TEAMS CHAMPION RAYMON TAYLOR – Michigan didn’t block Iowa’s attempted field goal in the first half, but Taylor recovered the muff. It was momentum that you take when you are on the road in the Big Ten. I guess that momentum was blown away by all the wind in the 3rd quarter… HUSTLER / SPARKPLUG JEREMY GALLON – Not a Champion, but certainly a Hustler on Saturday. I can honestly say that after the first few games of Gallon’s Michigan career I NEVER thought I’d be saying this in his senior year: “I’m gonna miss that guy.” He has truly been deserving of wearing the #21 jersey and has come to play every game this year, and last year and the year before that.…
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Dr. Sap’s Decals | Seeing Husker Red
Thankfully we caught Dr. Sap in a good mood Saturday despite that thing he watched on the field. Perhaps he was cheered up by the knowledge that a Nebraska man presided over Ricky Leach’s wedding. Here are your dekes and once again I contributed the Ufer Fan Award and Editor’s pick: OFFENSIVE CHAMPION DEVIN FUNCHESS MANBALL – That’s his new name – DEVIN FUNCHESS MANBALL – because that’s the only Manball I see out there right now. How many positions can this guy play? Did I hear it right? Gallon had zero catches in the 2nd half? This offense, as one-dimensional as it is, would be NOTHING without DEVIN FUNCHESS MANBALL. Can he play the slot? Can he line up in the backfield? Can he kick a 45-yard-plus field goal? DEVIN FUNCHESS MANBALL needs to have more touches – plain and simple! DEFENSIVE CHAMPION JAMES ROSS III – #15 in my opinion may have played his best game as a Wolverine. Some big stops on key plays that got the defense off the field is EXACTLY what you want from your linebackers – SOLID! SPECIAL TEAMS CHAMPION BRENDAN GIBBONS – This one was going to Wile, but you can’t miss a field goal and be the Special Teams Champ. Gibby’s bank shot gave UM its first lead in what –…
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Dr. Sap’s Decals – Akron
Sorry Spidey, I couldn’t even muster a Robert Frost Ufer fan award based on this. Related: Dr. Sap’s Decals – Central Michigan Dr. Sap’s Decals – Winners Get Chicken Dinners (Notre Dame) Real Stuff from Akrontraz: Glazed Over (Michigan 28, Akron 24) Sights and Sounds | Escape from Akrontraz UnZipped (Akron Game Photos) Follow MVictors on Twitter
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Dr. Sap’s Decals – Snakepit Style
Ed. Steve Sapardanis aka “Dr. Sap” is back with his decals. This week I added the Editor’s Pick & the Fan Award. Here are the picks from Week 1, Week 2, Week 3, Week 4, Week 5, Week 6 and Week 7 and Week 8 and Week 9 and Week 10 and Week 11. OFFENSE JEREMY GALLON – I think “10-Gallon Hat” played his best and toughest game as a Wolverine on Saturday. He made several big time and clutch catches that kept drives alive and played with a level of determination that I had not seen out of him. He clearly understood the magnitude of the game and stepped up his own accordingly. DEFENSE FRANK CLARK – His blind-side sack on Braxton Miller in the second quarter was a TREMENDOUS hit and one that evoked memories for me of another seismic hit in a big game. In the 1979 Rose Bowl, Michigan linebacker Jerry Meter almost decapitated USC QB Paul McDonald on a similar play. I’ve put the two next to each other below – amazing how similar they look! SPECIAL TEAMS DENNIS NORFLEET – I’m going with #26 here not because of his returns. It was his heads up play on OSU’s muffed punt that gave Michigan the ball. He swatted the ball towards his teammates and allowed…
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Dr. Sap’s Decals – Hawkeye Style
Ed. Steve Sapardanis aka “Dr. Sap” is back with his decals. This week I added the Editor’s Pick & the Fan Award. Here are the picks from Week 1, Week 2, Week 3, Week 4, Week 5, Week 6 and Week 7 and Week 8 and Week 9 and Week 10. OFFENSE DEVIN GARDNER – Let me get this right: over 300 yards passing and SIX touchdowns? Dude looks like he’s been playing QB all season and not just 3 weeks. Hope DG saved some magic, and TDs, for next week! DEFENSE JAKE RYAN – Here’s why I think “manster” is such a big deal on defense: it’s not his forced fumbles or his tackles for loss. It’s the fact that offenses have to treat him much like defenses have to treat Denard – YOU MUST ACCOUNT FOR THE MANSTER! It’s that simple. When was the last time UM had a defender that the offenses had to account for? You got it, Charles Woodson. ‘Nuff said. SPECIAL TEAMS BRENDAN GIBBONS – Sure he scored 6 points, but the reason he gets the nod this week is his TACKLE on a 2nd quarter kickoff. And get this – it was not even his first tackle of the year! Gibby had a tackle earlier in the season. Now that’s my kind…
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Dr. Sap’s Decals – Northwestern Style
Ed. Steve Sapardanis aka “Dr. Sap” is back with his decals. This week I added the Editor’s Pick & added a bit to the Fan Award. Here are the picks from Week 1, Week 2, Week 3, Week 4, Week 5, Week 6 and Week 7 and Week 8 and Week 9. OFFENSE ROY ROUNDTREE – I’m sure most of you had the same reaction I did with Roundtree’s performance on Saturday – IT’S ABOUT TIME!! We knew he had it in him, it was just a matter of WHEN he would have his breakout game. Not only was he targeted more times against Northwestern than he was all year, he drew THREE pass interference calls – I don’t even know if Desmond had as many in one game. Welcome back, Treezy! DEFENSE KENNY DEMENS – He didn’t play a perfect game but he did make the tackle of his life – TWICE! It’s a play and situation you dream of as a kid growing up playing Pop Warner Football. Demens not only made the big stop to win the game on 4th Down, but he also made the stop the play before on 3rd Down! OUTSTANDING! SPECIAL TEAMS BRENDAN GIBBONS – We’ve called him, “Gibby” and “Lefty” but I think we should just call him “MONEY!” Eleven field goals…
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Dr. Sap’s Decals – Illinois
Ed. Dr. Sap is back with his decals for week 6. This week I added the Editor’s pick, the Fan and the uniform entry. Here are the picks from Week 1, Week 2, Week 3, Week 4 & Week 5. Context: Back when Bo was coaching the Michigan Football team, he awarded decals for individual as well as TEAM accomplishments. He also selected Champions each week. Not only were the obvious categories (offense, defense, special teams) selected, but Bo also made it a point to recognize the not so obvious ones – Scout Team Champions and Team Hustlers – each week. Here are the picks this week: OFFENSE DENARD ROBINSON – I don’t know what else can be said about #16? Just when you think he is down, done, or hurt, Denard comes back stronger than ever! Maybe it’s the added weight/muscle? Maybe it’s the coaching staff calling plays to protect his body more? All I know is that when he came back into the game against the Illini, you could see/feel him take the team on his shoulders and WILL them to victory. That’s a sign of TRUE leader, and dare I say, true CHAMPION? DEFENSE KENNY DEMENS – The linebacker may have played his best game as a Wolverine with a key 4th down stop early in the…