I really don’t function too well when I’m watching these games and it’s gotten worse since as I was in New Orleans two decades back. Funny, the lingering painful image I have from ‘93 is not Webber’s timeout but rather Donald Williams out on the wing with his legs and arms extended (wrist snapped), slinging in three and after three like he was Spike. It got worse at the 1998 Rose Bowl. Arms folded, I barely said a word or moved the whole game. Thinking about the never-ending string of late-game third-down measurements still makes me twist. I’ve seen highlights of course (and more importantly, I know how things turned out!) but I’m not interested in watching the entire replay again because it was so agonizing. Last night, once I arrived in section 227 I offered the occasional fist bump to the fellers around me but never moved from the seat—for anything–from tip to the time I walked out. I don’t think I’m alone. My dad once asked one of his pals, a big Michigan fan, why he didn’t really ever go to the Big House despite living within an hour. Reply: “Because they break your heart.” It was heart breaking last night. At times It’s Great to Be a Michigan Wolverine but for a lot us, especially when we’re…
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Two Decades in the Making
photo: Melanie Maxwell at AnnArbor.com I was at the 1993 Final Four in New Orleans two decades ago as a U-M student and it was certainly a trip I’ll never forget it. After we drove down (yep, from Ann Arbor to New Orleans) we went over to pick up our tickets. Just a moment after they were in my hands I was offered $3,500 my pair to the semis and finals from a broker holding a bound stack of bills the size of a roll of duct tape (my primo student seats were 18 rows behind the bench). I remember Mitch Albom happened to be there at that moment and saw us struggling with the dilemma. He asked us if we were staying out of trouble or something like that. (None of your business old man!) For a few different reasons I couldn’t bite on that tasty offer. File under Cool Story Bro. The sting of that brutal ending in ‘93 lingers for sure but the whole experience was amazing. The semifinal game against Kentucky was one of the best I’ve ever seen and the ensuing trip to Bourbon Street and the ensuing sunrise, etc.., were truly epic. And regarding that sting, I’ve seen enough football nailbiters—both bitter and sweet—to numb the pain of Webber’s untimely timeout. I still…
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Santa Delivers
Here’s Santa himself paying the Michigan football team a visit in Pasadena back on Christmas Day in 1947: Fullback Jack Weisenberger receives a gift from Kris Kringle and one can only assume the old man handed over USC’s offensive and defensive playbook. A few days Fritz Crisler’s magical crew stomped the Trojans 49-0 to seal the national championship. Wiesenberger scored three touchdowns! Merry Christmas and Go Blue! Follow MVictors on Twitter and get it quick
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Jug Secured!
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Provisioning for Michigan Stadium 2012: Bridge is Closed version
A couple updates on my annual post of what to bring to Michigan Stadium. This year local police have added a few other items to pack: “Bring a dose of patience, a sense of humor and some excitement for the game,” Check. Check. (Yes, we have those. We were around from ‘08-‘10). And Check. Why? The Stadium Bridge is still closed and I’m guessing there will be quite a few folks who traditionally rely on that route to get to the stadium coming from the north and east sides of the state. AnnArbor.com posted a map, etc. For those finding discovering this little issue today here’s your t-shirt: You should also bring your history tidbits and you can get all those here: TWIMFbH: Bo Shows ‘The U’ How We Do Things (1984) Oosterbaan, Banners and Books Honoring Oosterbaan: An Interview with Ben McCready This Week in Michigan Football History: The Incomparable Bennie Oosterbaan & September 25, 1948 Here’s what else to bring: 1. AM/FM Radio. Forget the latest incarnation of the radio that sticks on your ear, they are unreliable. Bring in a radio you trust to listen to the play-by-play from Brandy and Beckmann. You’ll get injury reports, sideline observations, statistics and analysis of key plays that are under review (although Brandstatter always seems to think the replay…
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Avoid The Bammer
We Michigan fans love our maize and blue gear and our clever T-shirts but beware: quite a few Alabama fans are on a different spiritual realm. Take The Bammer here, as seen before the 2011 Capital One Bowl against Michigan State: Having face paint and kilt is one thing, but the tattoos are obviously around 24-7. That’s dedication. After this photo was snapped Bammer grabbed my bro, a Spartan fan, and told him, “Now ya’ll take it easy on us, ya hear?” and he winked. At that precise moment, my brother’s pregame tailgate-infused glee and optimism was wiped away and he knew his Spartans were doomed. Doomed. Avoid The Bammer. Go Blue. 2000 Orange BowlI’ve had my own run-in with Alabama fans, namely at the Orange Bowl in Miami. Bullets: Alabama fans were dang annoying (not that we Michigan fans aren’t). When we won the game on the missed extra point I got the double whammy of the euphoria of a huge Michigan victory alongside the devilish joy of schadenfreude. Speaking of winning on the missed extra point. I’ve heard a few folks, looking back, telling me something like, “Yeah, great game but too bad that game ended that way.” I totally disagree with this. I don’t feel it was cheapened by how it ended. Those extra points in overtime are…
