Before the season most expected Michigan to lose four to six games (me) this year so sitting at 5-1 at this point shouldn’t be shock. But when drilling down at each game, losses vs. UConn or Notre Dame or even at Indiana were stomachable. But if you insisted during preseason that one of those losses would be to MSU you’d get a little cringe from anyone, definitely from me. That hurt. Monday I wrote, "you could argue that the future of Michigan football is in the balance" on Saturday’s game. That was admittedly a tad strong but given the manner of the result, the scales just tilted against the future of Rich Rod in Ann Arbor. There’s plenty of opportunity, starting Saturday, to tip things back. This morning you’ve got a fanbase of M fans, as in Missourah, as in ‘show me’ this team can hang in the Big Ten. Sights and Sounds Check out my pregame photos here. I’ve been trying to post these just as the game starts so if you like this kind of thing, head here early in the first quarter during home games if you want to check them out. Includes former captains Mark Messner, Jim Conley, Denard and more. One of those pregame shots included the Screaming Eagle parachute drop which I think is…
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Put My Large In 2 Mediums
Thanks to reader Biggie Munn for passing this along. I was in the Howell Arby’s a few months back and I noticed the Michigan-themed cups. It occurred to me (with a Spartan sitting next to me) that everyone might not appreciate that. I also noticed the last few cases of Coke Zero have had a Michigan football theme to them. A few Spartans aren’t happy. Via spartantailgate: When I buy a 12 pack of Coke Zero and open the box to get one of the pop cans, why do I see a certain college name and logo on it? Arby’s do you like losing business by being bias? Do those who are obsessed with this particular school in question call you and demand that you promote this school and their football program? Via Rivals: Is this a state wide campaign? I can’t imagine the National Headquarters in Florida promoting this. Would they be a part of promoting FSU or UF in northern Florida? I would think not. IMO this is NOT wise in the state of Michigan either. When discussing this with an Arby’s spokesperson she said the promotion was part of the agreement with U.M. for the Big Chill Hockey game in Ann Arbor. If this is true, I suggested that they consider adding the event and both Universities…
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This Week in Michigan Football History: Yost, President Coolidge and the 1926 Wolverines
Here’s the next entry in ‘This Week in Michigan Football History’ to be played tomorrow on WTKA 1050AM’s Key Bank Countdown to Kick-off pregame show before the Indiana game. This time we head way back to October 2, 1926, for the season opener in Fielding H. Yost’s final year as head coach, and the last season the Wolverines would play at Ferry Field. You get a little history on Yost, on the state affairs on the construction of the new stadium (it was a mess), and on a special trip out east where Yost and the boys met President Calvin Coolidge. The sponsor is Wolverine Beer so here’s where you can find it, or check out the Beer Wench’s Blog. I’m still waiting to have my first Wolverine beer, perhaps someday soon. You can hear all of the This Week… clips here.
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Broken Records
The offense continues to pile up yards and tripping up team records–the media relations folks will be busy today updating the record book. A few notes: * The team fell just six total yards short of passing the team record for total offense of 727 yards set last year against Delaware State. * You heard that Forcier set the record for passing efficiency (minimum 10 attempts), something they do track. Here’s who he passed: * 65 points is a mighty number, but to crack the top five all time Michigan will have to get really close to triple digits. Four times Yost’s point-a-minute teams exceeded the century mark, with the high remaining ‘The Mountaineer Romp’ in 1904 when the Wolverines doubled Saturday’s tally: * Of course the record for fewest punts was tied as Will Hagerup only saw the field in warm-ups (and not even that much then). This happened three other times according to the books: * Ahh, the obligatory history nerd nitpick. The books cite the most punts by an opponent as Ohio State with 21 during the awesome 1950 punt fest, the Snow Bowl. I strenuously object, like Demi Moore in A Few Good Men. Media Relations might argue the punting statistics don’t go back that far (understood), but it appears the Gophers punted 25 times in…
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Bowling Green Postgame: Still Feeling Alright
The favorites off my camera from the post game: Gardner feelin’ alright: Thumbs up from Shaw, who’s doesn’t dole out the thumbs up for anyone in my experience: Tate and Denard reflecting briefly on the big day: "How much of this stuff do he think we can stand? So much rhythm, grace and debonair from one man?" (What, no ascot???): Denard chilling as the clock winded down: QB Force got a huge cheer from the crowd when he came in. I asked him about after the game; he definitely heard it and appreciated it: Not too bad? Elsewhere: Nice shots from Brad at Maize and Blue Nation. Lon from AnnArbor.com got the shot of Denard leaping to check Gardner after the game. Dell’s shots from UMGoBlue
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This Week in Michigan Football History: The Incomparable Bennie Oosterbaan & September 25, 1948
Here’s the next entry in ‘This Week in Michigan Football History’ to be played tomorrow on WTKA 1050AM’s Key Bank Countdown to Kick-off pregame show before the Bowling Green game. This time we head back to September 25, 1948 for the season opener and the first game for at the helm for the legendary Bennie Oosterbaan. A little different flavor this time, as we focus less on that season and team and more on Oosterbaan himself: [display_podcast] The sponsor is Wolverine Beer so here’s where you can find it, or check out the Beer Wench’s Blog. I’m still waiting to have my first Wolverine beer, perhaps some day soon. You can hear all of the This Week… clips here. Here’s much more on Oosterbaan on MVictors: eBay Watch: The Wolverine Pack & 1926 eBay Watch: Hanging Bennie in Effigy (1958) eBay Watch: Have a Highball with Bennie Oosterbaan
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1933 Michigan National Champions Charm
A real doozy of an item showed up recently on eBay, described to be a pendant awarded to Michigan’s 1933 national championship team under coach Harry Kipke. Very cool: It appears to be in outstanding condition, made of 14K gold, and assigned to a quarterback named “W.W. Renner”. This appears to be originally the property of a William Renner who was on that ’33 squad and who wore #63: Renner is listed as “Art” on the 1933 team photo caption but as “William W.” on the official roster and in his later years, including when he was captain of the 1935 squad. I think the “Art” reference is an error as there was an Art Renner who played in the 1940s. I’ll let the Bentley know so they can check it out. I rarely use Wikipedia as a research source but the entry on Renner has some excellent detail, including this nugget about the Youngtown, OH native’s exploits against the Buckeyes during that 1933 championship year: In the 1933 Michigan-Ohio State game, played before the largest crowd to see a Big Ten Conference football game to that date, Renner came into the game at the end of the first half and ran the ball for a game-winning touchdown. An Associated Press story described Renner’s impact in the scoring drive against…
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Calling All Kickers
Photo – Michael Rich Rodriguez’s plea to the Michigan student body after the game: [display_podcast]
