• Sights & Sounds: Zero Tolerance (Michigan 38, Northwestern 0) 2015

    Fans & pundits grasp to find historical context at times like these, but no matter what you come up with doesn’t really help you explain or understand what’s going on.  It’s head shaking.   Michigan is destroying these teams.  This game felt over when Michigan went up 14-0 just a few minutes in.  It was certainly all but done at 21-0.   Teams aren’t even getting decent looks at field goals right now.  All this said – State looks better than any of these teams we’ve crushed.  Connor Cook is an outstanding QB.  Despite this, at this point, it’ll be a big letdown if Michigan doesn’t win. Sights and Sounds: Opening Kickoffs –  The last Wolverine to take the opening ball to the house was Coach Wheatley against Houston in 1992.    Coincidentally the big board showed a few highlights from Tom Harmon’s performance at Cal in 1940 – and Old 98 took the first kickoff back in that game as well.  Sadly #1000SSS didn’t show this highlight, Harmon’s TD run where the final “defender” was Harold Brennan, a drunk Cal fan. More on that epic run & incident here. TDs in 3 Phases:  via #1000SSS, the holy trinity achieved: • The last time U-M posted touchdowns on offense, defense and special teams was 2003 against Indiana. Steve Breaston scored on a 69-yard…

  • Will the Decals Return?

    So if Harbaugh is indeed introduced next week, a big question for Michigan uniform mavens concerns whether #4 will re-introduce the helmet decals.  Bo actually invented the concept while at Miami, and brought them to Ann Arbor in 1969.  Here’s a brief run down of the stickers over the years thanks to Dr. Sap: You’ll note above that the decals actually took a break in the mid-1980s during Harbaugh’s tenure, but did indeed return for his final two seasons, including his captaincy in 1986.  We also know that Coach Harbaugh used them in Palo Alto: Coach Hoke was asked about this by Wojo back in 2011 and obviously nothing happened, but with Harbaugh?   You’d have to think there’s a good chance we’ll see them on the field in 2015.  What do you think? [poll id=”72”] Update:  Amani Toomer chimes in with authority: Related: Harbaugh’s Top 5 games while at Michigan The full U-M uniform timeline can be found here. Follow MVictors on Twitter

  • Anthony Carter’s Gator Bowl Watch (1979)

    The second biggest unknown out there right now is where Michigan will end up this bowl season.   The Insight Bowl in Tempe seems likely, but the Gator Bowl isn’t out of the question.  Here’s a piece of Michigan and Gator Bowl history-–a watch which the seller claims once belonged to the great WR Anthony Carter (and thanks to reader Art for sending this over). So who do we know this once belonged to AC?   It comes with this not very official-looking document saying as much: Anyway, I wouldn’t be shocked if this did indeed belong to Carter.   Michigan lost a tight Gator Bowl to North Carolina but AC shined, hauling in 4 catches for 141 and two touchdowns.  The difference was probably the crazed dawg donning the Carolina blue.  The Wolverines were up 9-0 when Lawrence Taylor knocked QB John Wangler out of the game.  B.J. Dickey replaced Wangs and connected with AC for a score with under two minutes to go, but they failed to convert on the two-point conversion that would have tied the game. 1979 was an interesting year for Bo and crew.  All told they finished 8-4, dropping their final three games and finishing #18 in the land.   Speaking of that crew, Bo’s assistants that season included Jack Harbaugh and Les Miles, and now this post…

  • The Fence

    I get both sides.  I get the case to keep Rich Rodriguez– I understand the mix of talent and injuries that were huge factors as to why we’re in this mess, and to start over would set the program back further.  And I see the results and I’ve observed the neglected & misguided defense and clearly understand why people think it’s time to move on. I know there are a lot of you out there that are on the fence.  The lunatic middle.  You understand that a guy has to have a few recruiting classes, there are a few positive signs and of course there’s Denard.  At the same time you can barely watch this team get manhandled by decent opponents.  I think there’s a big camp out there that’s just going to put their trust in Brandon to make the call.   He’s done nothing in the past few months to think that he’s not going to do what’s best for Michigan. I’m no longer on the fence but I understand.  I’ve stated here that you don’t get thirdsies on defensive coordinator (I think that should be in the next contract.  Twosies maybe).  If I’m Dave Brandon we bring in a new coach.  Having been somewhat close to the program for the past few years I really like these players…