• Sights & Sounds | Family Reunion (Michigan 47, Western Michigan 14)

    As JJ McCarthy's pass sailed diagonally across the field, a truck pulled up to the gates of Michigan Stadium. Its cargo was approximately 110,000 cans of that sweet nectar of hype, hope, and expectation. Of course, you usually received your annual dose around the first week of August each year, but you know, COVID and all. To the Sights and Sounds from Saturday. This is my gameday peek into events off the field on Saturdays, aka whatever you call the opposite of Xs and Os:

  • Pregame Pics | Appalachian State

    In and around the gridiron before from this fine morning:   The obligatory Peppers   No Horror part Deux, thank you   The new radio duo loving it.  And P.S., I shook Dierdorf’s giant hand and now I can barely type this   The inside of the mascot head smells like Doritos, Jagermeister and shattered dreams. (HT: Sklars)   The Funchise — surprised everyone by coming out in the COVETED #1.  His statement here.  Uniform timeline will be updated.   The block M nosebumper made it on the field, Uniform Timeline will be updated.  First change to the bumper since 1985 when MICHIGAN replaced the helmet manufacturer in that slot.   NOTHING wrong with seeing that name roam the west sideline   Follow MVictors on Twitter 

  • Brandyman Can Do Play-by-Play | Jim Brandstatter Interview

    Brandy and Dierdorf in the Summer of ‘69  [Bentley] You certainly know by now that this season longtime U-M color analyst Jim Brandstatter shifts over one chair, replacing Frank Beckmann as the play-by-play man.  Next to him will be Brandy’s former teammate and pal, longtime NFL broadcaster & Hall of Famer Dan Dierdorf.   I spoke to both men this summer for a piece you can find all season in the home game program.   For you – I posted the full Dierdorf interview last week.   Like Dan D., Brandstatter is just an outstanding guy – incredibly kind.  File under FWIW – as a pee-wee I grew up in East Lansing a few houses down from Brandy’s older brother (and Spartan) Art and his great family. Here’s the balance of my chat with Brandy: ——————————————————————— MVictors: All right, so when did you decide to go for the play-by-play gig? Jim Brandstatter: I really didn’t decide, it was kind of decided for me. This whole thing, when Frank announced his retirement they had gone out and they were looking for people and they were, nothing really fit the bill. As I understand it they really wanted a guy who had Michigan background–someone who brought Michigan with him to the broadcasts. Then it wasn’t until the third week in January that I was asked…

  • Reintroducing Dan Dierdorf, Michigan Man | Interview

    You probably know that this season longtime U-M color analyst Jim Brandstatter shifts over one chair, replacing Frank Beckmann as the play-by-play man.  Next to him will be Brandy’s former teammate and pal, longtime NFL broadcaster & Hall of Famer Dan Dierdorf. Before the season I got to chat with these guys for a piece for the game program--so look for that each Saturday.