Good evening to all the Michigan faithful, from the coast of Lake Michigan to the Coast of Lake Erie. Before we face the Spartans for in-state bragging rights, let's have a quick history lesson, including the story of how the FIRST man to wear the #1 jersey for the Maize and Blue spoiled the Ohio Stadium Dedication game.
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Harmon vs. Kinnick (1939) | This Week in Michigan Football History
Two gridiron greats met on October 14, 1939 as Iowa, and its legend Nile Kinnick, traveled to face Michigan and its superstar Tom Harmon. Here's what happened, and we discuss who should have won that 1939 Heisman Trophy:
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Hitching a Ride to the Opener (Red Simmons Interview)
[Ed 11/10/22 – Bumped, in honor of Red Simmons’ induction into the Michigan Hall of Honor Friday night (11/11/2022).] Former women’s track head coach Red Simmons is a fixture on the athletic campus, whether it’s attending football, hockey, or basketball games, or working out each morning at Crisler Arena. Oh, did I mention Simmons turns 100 in three weeks? I recently sat down with the Michigan legend to talk about his amazing life for a piece for GoBlueWolverine Magazine for next month. Definitely check that out, but in the meantime, I wanted to share this nugget. Simmons was a track star at Redford High School and was offered a slot on the U-M track team. He told me that part of his desire to come to Ann Arbor stemmed from a trip he and his pals took when he was 17 years old: Simmons: “My heart was set on coming to Michigan. In 1927 when the football stadium was opened, two other guys from Redford and I hitchhiked up here to see the game. At that time I thought, ‘Boy I’d love to go to this school.’” It didn’t occur to me until after the interview that Simmons is very likely the last living person to attend the first game at Michigan Stadium. I’d love to know if anyone knows…
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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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Interview with Larry Lage, Associated Press | MVictors History Show
An interview with longtime Michigan Associated Press (AP) sportswriter Larry Lage. We covered a ton of ground including: - His Ann Arbor roots and early days at Michigan Stadium - Performing as the 'Sparty' mascot at MSU (and how he kept it a secret) - Escaping the Malice at the Palace in 2004 - Getting cussed out and booted out of practice by Nick Saban - Growing up with two deaf parents and how this affected his perception and his career - The COVID vibe at sporting events, and the good & the bad for his profession - Much more...
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Playing on Halloween, Tiny Crowds, Indifference for Paul | This Week in Michigan Football History
For the home opener of this unique year, This Week in Michigan Football History discusses Halloween, small Big House crowds, and one reason why Michigan fans aren't down with the Paul Bunyan Trophy. This Week in Michigan Football History.
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It’s Alive! Michigan Mascots
A brief history of Michigan football's living mascots, or at least creatures associated with the football program. Mascot, Yost's version of "Mike, Whiskey & Brandy and more:
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Slippery Rock and the Michigan Tradition | This Week in Michigan Football History
On this day in 1979 the #1000SSS gave the keys to the Big House over to Slippery Rock, who hosted Shippenburg. Over 61,000 fans attended, good enough for an all-time Division II attendance record. Here’s the history of this great Michigan tradition: Most Saturdays in the Big House you’ll public address announcer Carl Grapentine share scores of college games around the country, including a score that’s not quite like the other. I’m talking about Slippery Rock of course, and to this day it receives a big roar from the Meeechigan faithful if they happen to win. Calling out the Slippery Rock score at the Big House started in 1959 when then-PA man Steve Filipiak (FILL-IPEE-ACK) saw the score of a team with a funny name come across the wire. He decided to liven up what was a boring game and—-> the crowd LOVED it. The tradition continues today as it should. Did you know it was on this day 39 years ago in Michigan football history that a record crowd entered the Big House to see….Slippery Rock play in Ann Arbor. Yes, opportunistic AD Don Canham was no dummy and over 61,000 fans witnessed The Rock take on Shippensberg, It was enough to set the All-Time Division II attendance record. Did you know Slippery Rock got its name during the…
