A wildly hyped match-up in 1978, and it had everything: Montana, Leach, Devine, Bo, Golden Domes, Winged Helmets, Touchdown Jesus and of course....nearly 100 years of history between the Natural Enemies....Michigan and Notre Dame.
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Testudo Champions | Dr. Sap’s Decals
Guest post by Steve “Dr. Sap” Sapardanis Well, I was one of those guys who predicted a shutout against Maryland – just not like that – yikes! The defense is starting to look very 1980/1985-ish. But the offense? The offense is still a work in progress, or is it? I don’t know. I guess we’ll find out where this team is in the next two weeks. In the meantime, here are the Champions for the Maryland Game: OFFENSIVE CHAMPION – Gotta go with Drake Johnson. With no De’Veon Smith and Ty Isaac not being able to hang on to the ball, The Drake made plays and looked comfortable running the ball – brace and all on his left knee. When the team was sputtering and looking for a spark on “O,” #20 made the most of his opportunity. DEFENSIVE CHAMPION – It’s obvious the D-Line is playing lights out these past few games, but when the game/match was resembling an FA Cup Final and tied nil-nil after 15 minutes, Desmond Morgan was the difference on defense. His INT and strip thwarted Maryland drives when the game was still in doubt. The more I see of #3, the more I think that he is starting to look like a classic Michigan middle linebacker. SPECIAL TEAMS CHAMPION – Speaking of soccer, you…
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Wire Photo Wednesday
eBay provides a seemingly never-ending flow of classic photos featuring historic Michigan figures or scenes. Today here are a few favorites after scanning the auction site: The Cake of Victory – Bo’s men famously cut down Ohio 24-12 in 1969 and soon after, apparently the Ann Arbor Quarterbacks Club had Schembechler slice up this victory cake. Ferry Facility – A very cool shot of the athletics “Club House” facility outside Ferry Field. Via the U-M Bentley Historical Library: A “club house,” or locker room, located at the east end of Ferry Field, was completed in time for the 1912 football season. Previously the Michigan and visiting teams used the locker rooms in Waterman Gym on the north edge of campus, making the almost one mile trek along State Street before and after games. The building, designed in the style of an old English club house by the Detroit architectural firm of Smith, Hinchman and Grylls, provided separate locker room facilities for home and visiting teams as well as offices and lecture rooms for the Michigan coaches, as well as a lounge area. Total cost of the club house and equipment was $37,000. Now known as the Marie Hartwig Building, the former club house currently houses the Ticket Office, Sports Information Office, Development Office and other Athletic Department…
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Ufer Returns Saturday – Toe Meets Leather at Noon
God bless your maize and blue fedora-covered ears, old Ufe returns Saturday. Continuing an awesome tradition, starting at noon Saturday WTKA 1050AM will air another game from the Bob Ufer radio archives, this time the 1976 battle between the #1 ranked Michigan men and Stanford from Ann Arbor on September 18, 1976. Here’s the game boxscore from the U-M Bentley Historical Library if you need it: So after weeks of ignoring those important in your life, tune in while you are making good with your spouse, friends, family or putting rake to leaf in the yard. Go Blue! More on Bob Ufer here. Follow MVictors on Twitter there.
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Russell Davis Shines at the Shrine (1979)
[Ed. Given I ran into big Russell Davis on Saturday, what a perfect time for this guest post by Dr. Sap!] Guest post by Dr. Steve “Sap” Sapardanis Back in the 1970s, the first week of January was typically not a good one for the Michigan Football team or its players. It usually meant devastating Rose Bowl defeats. But on January 6th, 1979, Rick Leach and Russell Davis changed all that. Leach was one of three QB’s for the East All-Stars playing in the Hula Bowl in Hawaii. Russell Davis was playing fullback for the East squad in the East-West Shrine Game played in Palo Alto, California. Many expected Leach to be overshadowed by his more high-profile counterparts – Notre Dame’s golden boy, Joe Montana, and Penn State’s Heisman Trophy runner-up, Chuck Fusina. Davis was just a fullback…and when had a fullback ever done anything of note in an All-Star or Bowl Game? When the day was over with, Bo Schembechler had to have been all smiles. Each player walked away with Offensive MVP honors in both games. Leach showed a national TV audience that he could throw the football with the best of them, completing 7 of 12 passes for 187 yards and 2 touchdowns. He led the East All-Stars on a 23-point 4th quarter comeback that had to…
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Football Returns. Here’s Proof (Photos)
Most eyes were on #7, that’s QB Devin Gardner of course What a great day and I couldn’t resist swinging by to check out the first practice of the year out at Schembechler Hall. Big news? QB Nick Sheridan is hanging up the cleats and Rodriguez advised he intends pursue coaching. He’s got a semester or so of work left and I guess he can’t technically be an assistant until he finishes up. Sheridan was watching practice today and I’m going to try to do an interview in the next couple weeks. Stay tuned. Anyway, here’s a few photos from the big day. Rodriguez spoke to the media for about 10 minutes and eventually we got to head outside to watch 4 “periods” (5-8) of practice: Joe Schad of ESPN interviews Ryan Van Bergen Fred Jackson coaching up the backs Calvin Magee works with the backs as well Denard Robinson warms up. Rodriguez admitted that they’ll be doing “different things” with #16, “moving him around.” RR hinted that this would be at WR. The guys wearing blue are the defense. Here the corners working on getting low. That’s Ricky Leach (holding his lucky blue jacket) along with some former players. I know this is what you want:
