What a night. While a gameday experience can't cover for a loss, that's about as close as you could come. But of course, we won. Well done by the students who are bringing it two games in. And the fans who bothered to wear maize. And the athletic department for arranging all the accouterment. And to the team: had we lost this one it would be remembered as a crap sandwich with extra maize mustard. But this night, this event, these tributes, this party, was about as close as it gets. The sights and sounds were aplenty, here are a few:
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A Banner Idea (1962) | This Week In Michigan Football History
This week we head back to this day in 1962, as head coach Bump Elliott and his struggling Wolverines were about to get an unexpected boost as they faced Illinois in Ann Arbor. The idea led to one of the great modern Michigan traditions: the M Club, GO BLUE banner
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Charmed I’m Sure | Michigan 38, Northwestern 31
Win 902 will be remembered for a long time and Brady Hoke is clearly a bit charmed. While Treezy’s ridiculous catch will naturally be the play everyone remembers, that comeback required quite a couple mistakes by Northwestern and few great plays to set up Gardner’s heave and of course to win the game in overtime. First, let me grab my retro-spectacles to ensure my vision is 20-20. That’s better…I can see clearly now. For openers, Northwestern took that delay of game penalty on 4th down on the U-M 44. They should have just punted it there and not sacrificed the five yards. Then, with the ball at midfield, the punter hit a short, line-drive right into Gallon’s hands which is just about the worst thing that can happen. I’m assuming that Fitz told his punter to get the ball off quickly to avoid a block, but Hoke outflanked him by setting up the return to the surprise of a few folks including Brian Griese up in the ESPN booth. Then Treezy somehow was singled covered down the field before the lucky tip and the epic grab. To Michigan’s credit, props to Hoke for calling the punt return. Heck, he even putting an extra man back there instead going with the block. Next, after Roundtree’s grab, cheers to the offense for…