The theme of this week's episode is the rise and fall of great pigskin powers. The game? 1937 Michigan vs. Chicago. If these teams met at the turn of the 20th century it would have been one of the biggest games in the country. I'm talking Stagg vs. Yost huge. But on that November 6th day 84 years ago back in 1937, it was about two once-great programs in tatters.
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Braylonfest! (2004) | This Week in Michigan Football History
For this edition of TWIMFbH we head back to October 30, 2004 and a game forever known as 'Braylonfest.' The stunning comeback against our in-state rivals was one of the ages, and coincidentally occurred 17 years to the day of the 2021 match-up against Michigan State for The Paul Bunyan Trophy.
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The Groundbreaker – George Jewett (1890-1894) | This Week in Michigan Football History
In this edition of This Week in Michigan Football History we look at traditions past and present, old and new. First, we note today is the 87th playing of the SAE Mudbowl down on campus. Next, we note the calendar features two big wins over rival Minnesota in the 1940s, including one in 1943 that snapped a 10 (TEN!) game winless streak against the Gophers. Finally, we celebrate the legacy of Dr. George Jewett, and welcome the 16th Big Ten Rivalry Trophy – The George Jewett Trophy - as Northwestern faces Michigan Saturday.
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Yost Faces Michigan, Leads Nebraska Bugeaters (1897, 1898) | This Week in Michigan Football History
This week we feature a couple of interesting historical notes. First, that Fielding H. Yost, while head coach at Ohio Wesleyan, actually played Michigan to a 0-0 tie in 1897. Yost then moved west to Lincoln, Nebraska in 1898 where he led the Bugeaters (Huskers) to a conference title. For his efforts did you know that Hurry Up is actually in the Huskers Hall of Fame? Wild, right? Impress your friends. Check it out:
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The Featherweight Fullback, John Maulbetsch (1914, 1926) | This Week in Michigan Football History
This week’s edition of TWIMFbH covers an underrated figure in Meechigan history, John Maulbetsch. The small running back became a media darling after a 1914 trip to play Harvard, and the east coast newspaper men couldn’t get enough of him. He went on to coaching after his playing career and on this day in 1926, he led the Oklahoma A&M Aggies against Michigan in 1926.
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The Legend of Bennie Oosterbaan | This Week in Michigan Football History
ational championship season of 1948. Before all that we lead off with a quick look at two of Bo's more dominating performances over UCLA on this day in 1971 and Navy in 1976.
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Tar Heel Heat (1965), Hello Mike Hart (2004) | This Week in Michigan Football History
For this week's episode, a quick look at a weird 1960s season opener in Chapel Hill, North Carolina where Bump Elliott's crew faced the Tar Heels. Guess what? Two things were super hot that day: Michigan's start to the game, and the weather! We conclude with a short trip back to 2004 when Lloyd Carr's team looked to bounce back from a setback in South Bend. San Diego State's DARK SIDE DEFENSE was the problem. The solution? A dose of Henne-to-Braylon, and a dash of freshman Mike Hart.
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Denard’s Nod to Ron Kramer (2010); Bo Blasts Badgers (1976) | This Week in Michigan Football History
ad of Michigan's battle against the Washington Huskies on September 11, 2021, we first honor U-M legend Ron Kramer, who passed away on this day in 2010. We close with a focus on the 1976 season opener against the Wisconsin Badgers, where Bucky kept it close for a while until Bo Schembechler unleashed the hounds.