This was a strange one at times. Pregame Saturday had more of a feel of a true season opener as last week it felt like fans were still suffering over their hangover following the loss in South Bend. The mood was up, the day was hot but beautiful and it just seemed more lively out there. Then the game started and once again the fans got testy after a few stalled drives in a row, and a few instances where the offensive line seemed overwhelmed or at best, confused. There were even a couple glaring defensive breakdowns. More and more it does seems to be about what we thought it was – the offensive line. If there’s a shot at a truly great season it’s coming down to the in-season maturity of that group. I’m certain the coaches are taking a hard look..like, this hard: Jury’s out. Sights and Sounds: He Stayed. That’s Michigan Man Dick Caldarazzo, offensive guard on Bo’s 1969 team, looking great in the blue lot before the game: Forbidden fruit. Each week this guy taunts the band as they march out of the stadium, imploring them to take a cookie. Of course your beloved Meechigan Marching Band is supposed to be in Queens guard mode and dutifully march on as if there were no cookies dangling…
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Sights & Sounds | Michigan 18, Penn State 13
A few sights and sounds from the 2014 Penn State game including blue pants, a lightshow, Roy Roundtree pregame and much more:
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Bailing out the Band (1910)
So certainly you’ve heard by now that the Michigan Marching Band won’t be heading to Dallas. I don’t like it either. Fergodsakes. Local radio host Lucy Ann Lance suggested via Twitter that perhaps we could have a fundraiser to get the band to Dallas. I’m not wild about putting that on the fans and geez, I hate to give the Machine more ideas about where to squeeze. That said, there is a historical precedent for passing the proverbial hat to get the MMB to big games. From my rundown of the 1910 season, there was a big plea made by students to make sure the band made the trip to the big game at Penn that year. An alumnus of 1848 helped out: Random Notes: The Michigan band wanted to make the trip to Philadelphia to support the football squad, but needed to raise some money to supplement the university’s funding to make it happen. The Daily reported that a Mr. Joseph R. Smith, U-M class of 1848, sent $2.50 to the band leader to help. Eventually, thanks in large to the attention given to the matter in the Daily, the funding was secured and the band made the trek to the game to support the Wolverines. I can tell that this happened frequently back in those days. In fact,…
