In Your Opinion: What are the greatest Michigan Football games of all-time?
Just rewatched The Game. You know what game I'm referring to...and it got me to thinking.
Interested to see what the board thinks. What do you all think are the greatest Michigan football games of all-time?
(And to be a little clearer, in my opinion, the greatest doesn't have to be the best actual football game. Just because we played a nail-bitter at Indiana awhile back...or those close Hoke games versus Northwestern, doesn't make it the greatest game. Okay, that's not clearer at all...interpret it however you want.)
January 13th, 2022 at 10:30 PM ^
1969 OSU (Bo's first year-beat the team of the century)
1997 OSU (National championship here we come)
2004 MSU (Braylon-fest)
You may now submit wrong answers as I've covered the correct ones.
January 13th, 2022 at 10:55 PM ^
The first wrong answer that comes to mind is the 1991 game vs ND, ie "the Elvis Grbac to Desmond Howard on 4th down TD" (forever known now in Mich-land as "The Catch.") https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9sdXdbfsTk8
The 2nd wrong answer is the 1997 game vs PSU when Mich obliterated the #1 ranked Nittany Lions and announced to the world beyond a shadow of a doubt that Mich was a National Title contender. The exclamation point on the game was "The Hit." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-uDRncVoT0
January 13th, 2022 at 11:00 PM ^
Neither Bob Stephenson nor Daydrion Taylor ever played a down of football after that.
Sucked the air out of that stadium.
January 14th, 2022 at 8:50 AM ^
That was the first big play PSU had on offense, and they were just starting to get an offensive series going. I think that play was their second or third first down of the game, and the crowd was just starting to get back into it after the opening kick. That play ended all joy for PSU that afternoon...
I took almost another quarter for the energy to return to either sideline... That hit was brutal, and everybody knew it.
January 15th, 2022 at 7:44 PM ^
For an in-depth look at the hit and its effects on the two players involved: The Big Hit: 15 Years Later | Michigan | Penn State | Big Ten Football - Bing video
January 13th, 2022 at 11:15 PM ^
I agree, one of the greatest games is the PSU in 1997. Plus Lee Bollinger let us into the President's house after singing the victors on the lawn. And the picture of the carpet cleaning company in the Michigan Daily the next day was priceless.
But the "Hit" was such a tragedy for both players that I cannot remember it as fun to watch at all anymore.
January 14th, 2022 at 11:34 AM ^
It's interesting to watch as both payers lowered their heads right into each other. As much targeting reviews annoy me, the focus on not lowering ones head is probably saving careers (and maybe lives).
January 13th, 2022 at 11:16 PM ^
Gotta tell you. I am not a big fan of The Hit as being a positive high point of anything.
January 13th, 2022 at 11:20 PM ^
Me either. It was a great game with a bunch of great moments.
The hit is not one of them. It is, at least, contextually understandable that people made a big deal of it at the time. But understanding of head injuries in particular has advanced significantly since then. We don't have to condemn it, but it's not the sort of thing I look at with any sort of joy.
January 14th, 2022 at 3:08 AM ^
I rewatched that game, probably last year to bring myself up and when the hit happened I reacted like the first time I saw a horror film. I cringed and each replay (since time stopped for a very, very long time) just made me cringe more and more. I couldn't continue the game, much like the first time i watched a horror film. Tragic...the hit that is. A random Nightmare on elm street sequel no longer equates. Oddly enough i did watch both this game and that film when I was a teenager and only one still terrifies me today.
January 14th, 2022 at 4:38 PM ^
I don't think that anybody is looking at it with "joy". However, it's impossible to discuss the 1997 game at Penn State, which was one of the most dominating road victories over a highly ranked in Michigan history, without acknowledging "the hit" and its impact on the game.
January 14th, 2022 at 7:59 AM ^
1. 1997 v PSU and v OSU and v Washington State (the tri-fecta of love)
2. 2021 v OSU
3. 1969 v OSU (restablished the program)
4. 1991 v ND (the catch)
5. 1985 v OSU (pass to Kolesar) and v Nebraska (Fiesta Bowl)
6. 2000 v Alabama (Orange Bowl)
7. 1993 v Washington Rose Bowl (Wheatley fest)
8. 2016 v MSU (because we stepped on their neck)
9. 2006 v OSU (ok we lost but this was a really great game)
January 14th, 2022 at 8:34 AM ^
The assignment was to pick one.
January 14th, 2022 at 7:41 PM ^
Sort of “Okay, that's not clearer at all...interpret it however you want.” And the OP references gameS so….
January 14th, 2022 at 9:36 PM ^
Not really. re-read the OP.
Number 1 for me has to be the 1969 Beat The Team of the Century game. Kicked off the Ten Year War and put Michigan Football back on the map.
Number 2 is Judgement Day, 1997. An absolutely dominating performance against #2 Penn State vaulted Michigan from #4 into the number one spot and knocked Nebraska to #2, which was the final position of those two teams at the end of the season. Crucial game for the NC.
Number 3 is last year's OSU game. Like 1969, put Michigan Football back on the map.
January 14th, 2022 at 9:10 AM ^
What about the Woodson 3 pick game at MSU?
Also the Desmond Heisman game...Those two seem to be missing from many of these lists.
January 14th, 2022 at 9:28 AM ^
"Great loss to OSU" is pretty much the definition of an oxymoron. Almost got a divorce when my wife described that game as such... (still married, I got over it)
January 14th, 2022 at 1:51 PM ^
r.e. the ND game:
Apart from Desmond's two spectacular TD's in that game, the greater significance was that Lou Holtz had beaten us 4 times in a row (I think he is the only coach that ever beat Bo three straight years). So The Catch helped break that streak.
January 14th, 2022 at 2:57 PM ^
Can we do a "Where are they now?" on the pink shorts, shown here just above Desmond Howard's 4th and inches touchdown from Grbac?
Note: I'm specifically referring to "where are the shorts", but we would have to find the guy to learn the fate, so that is fine. Get him a beer.
January 14th, 2022 at 11:08 AM ^
2004 MSU was actually a pretty bad game. Consider that Michigan trailed a 4-4 MSU team already known to be mediocre for 49 out of 60 minutes of the game and needing some pretty near miraculous comeback to avoid an upset home rivalry loss. Enjoyable at the end, sure, but a great performance? Eh....I wager most Michigan fans spent about 75% of that game thinking up "LLLLOYD OUT" posts.
January 14th, 2022 at 11:57 AM ^
What would it take for a win to be on par with 1969 OSU, and why does 2021 OSU not make the cut?
In both cases, you have what their fans consider to be their most talented team in a generation. 1960s Michigan had been fairly mediocre, but had won the conference that decade, and was a solid team in 1968. 2021 Michigan had been a true national contender once in the previous 15 years, with no B1G titles in 17 years, had some good years and bad over the last decade, obviously had taken its lumps against OSU for two decades, and was coming off one of its worst years in generations. In both games, OSU was a solid betting favorite, although a larger favorite in 1969. Overall, a lot of similarities pregame.
In both games, OSU was shockingly dominated on one side of the ball (M defense in 1969, M offense in 2021). The 1969 D had 6 INTs in that game, while the 2021 offense did not have to punt for the last 41 minutes of game time. On the other side of the ball, while M didn't blow the doors off, both units did enough, especially in key moments, to ensure a 2 score win.
To me, the two differences are that (1) 2021 M had a much better season, so the win was surprising but not the earthquake that 1969 was, and (2) we have the benefit of history to see that 1969 was the turning point from an era of OSU domination to ten years of parity, followed by increasing M domination over the next 20. We may look back in 10-15 years and put 2021 right next to 1969 as the greatest and most important wins in M history.
January 14th, 2022 at 9:21 PM ^
The difference is that in '69 OSU fans were absolutely certain that they had the greatest team in college football history.
The entire season was a coronation; I can't think of anything quite like it in CFB in my lifetime. It was impossible for them to lose to anyone and they knew it. And when it happened they were so shattered they covered the landscape with "24-12 REMEMBER ANN ARBOR" bumper stickers and signs.
January 14th, 2022 at 12:58 PM ^
Not trying to correct my elders, Old - but...
Judgement Day 1997 was vastly superior to osu '97! Here's why:
Road game, vs a higher ranked team, and one that I believe Lloyd hadn't had a win against previously?
The performance was as dominant a win as any Michigan has had against a higher ranked team on the road in my life - and I was at the '69 osu game (as a child I'll admit)!
Obviously osu '97 was for the Rose, and ultimately a chance at the NC - but without Judgment Day it wouldn't have been!
If I recall correctly, the beatdown was so thorough & impressive Michigan vaulted over a few teams to move to #1 in the AP poll - where they would remain through the final poll following the Bowl games!
January 13th, 2022 at 10:31 PM ^
From my viewing lifetime I’d put Braylonfest, rose bowl v texas, 2006 OSU, 2021 OSU, 2000 orange bowl, 1997 osu and WSU on the list. Just top of head
Edit: Under the Lights 1 as well
January 13th, 2022 at 11:38 PM ^
I appreciate that you put some losses on there.
Those both heartbreaking, yet fantastic, games.
January 14th, 2022 at 8:37 AM ^
Indeed, if including losses that were fantastic games - that &&^$ing Colorado Hail Mary game was a hell of a football game on many levels. Big momentum swings, great plays by a cadre of future NFL stars on both sides etc... .
January 14th, 2022 at 9:51 AM ^
A loss is not the greatest game in Michigan History.
January 13th, 2022 at 11:54 PM ^
UTL1 doesn't rank in my top 10 because for 50+ minutes we stunk. Only the closing minutes saved that game for us.
OTOH, in 'Braylonfest' we played well much of the game but staae got enough breaks to go their way that they were often on the verge---but not quite fully---of putting us away.
No comparison, Braylonfest was a much better game overall, and largely because of the unsung contributions of Jason Avant.
January 14th, 2022 at 1:56 AM ^
UTL1 was awesome. Yes, we were outclassed most of the game. Not even desperate, dead.
At half, I walked thru concessions w/my niece who was enrolled at St Mary’s, she acted like M getting drilled was the ordinary course.
But when Denard came to life it was unreal, the wildest ride at M stadium I’ve ever experienced. Had season tickets as a student from ‘84-90 and back for many games after, many before college. Nothing like it.
Pandemonium. And joy, lots of joy.
January 14th, 2022 at 2:06 AM ^
It's in my top 10 for sure because those last few minutes were SO GOOD that it makes up for the rest. Also I was there and doing it on that stage singing dynamite in the stands afterwards was...amazing.
January 14th, 2022 at 9:03 AM ^
Agree. Guessing most that have it ranked high were at the game. The 4th quarter and post game in the stands were something that I think was only just passed by 2021 OSU.
January 13th, 2022 at 10:32 PM ^
By several measures (close most of the way, both teams highly ranked, much at stake, epic late-season Upper Midwest weather, metaphorical monkey on the back of the coach and the team) the 2021 OSU game should be on this list for a long time.
I'd have to go back to early 1998 to top it.
January 14th, 2022 at 10:33 AM ^
Agree! Seeing the swarm of people on the field was awesome. I could feel their collective sigh of relief through my TV. Haven’t felt this good for this long about the outcome of a single game.
January 13th, 2022 at 10:34 PM ^
1997 Ohio State and Washington State
2003 Ohio State
2021 Ohio State.
January 14th, 2022 at 2:18 AM ^
While these are all great choices and are probably the top 4 in my adult lifetime, the 2011 OSU game hasn't been mentioned and it was pretty good. It didn't have the conference title at stake, but it was a high scoring, exciting game that ended an 8 year drought (which felt worse at the time than this recent 10 year drought) and provided a ton of (unmet) promise to kick off the Hoke era.
And while the actual football was kind of awful, the Sugar Bowl that year was a BCS win that was at least...close/exciting at the end? And the setting of New Orleans around New Years was amazing. That was easily the best trip I've made revolving around Michigan sports.
January 13th, 2022 at 10:36 PM ^
I almost never hear people mention the ‘88 OSU game. What a roller coaster.
UM dominated 1st half, 20-0
OSU dominated 2nd half, scored go-ahead TD with a minute left
Kolesar returned KO to midfield, then caught the game winner from Demetrius Brown, covering the length of the field in two plays
Oh yeah, and the game was in Columbus
January 13th, 2022 at 11:13 PM ^
Kolesar and Burnie Legette are why I chose to wear #40
January 13th, 2022 at 10:39 PM ^
2011 Notre Dame should not be on the list.
It was a preview of the pure incompetence of Hoke and a decades worth of luck used in one game.
The misuse of a generational runner who bailed him out time and again.
I will never understand how a game that was a clear preview of Hoke being all smoke and mirrors garners so much praise.
January 13th, 2022 at 10:49 PM ^
Because Michigan came back from a big deficit behind Denard Robinson and beat a big rival in the first ever night game with an amazing atmosphere.
It was a *great* game. We can be frustrated with the Hoke era and still enjoy it. This isn't that hard.
January 13th, 2022 at 10:51 PM ^
Because it was FUN!
January 13th, 2022 at 10:54 PM ^
I was there, and it was the best experience I've ever had attending a sporting event. Thirty minutes after the game ended, no one had left. We were singing, dancing, hugging strangers, it was amazing.
January 13th, 2022 at 10:59 PM ^
It was fun to attend - especially with my Domer wife.
January 13th, 2022 at 11:01 PM ^
Well, Shoelace did have 450 total yards…
January 13th, 2022 at 11:12 PM ^
By many measures it was not a great game for Michigan, sure. But I don't think I've ever been as balls-out insanely happy as I was when we pulled that off. So it's always going to be on the list for me.
January 13th, 2022 at 11:19 PM ^
Lol because that game and '21 Michigan/OSU were almost unquestionably the two best game atmospheres at Michigan in the history of the stadium.
Sure there were better games, or more important games, or games that you favor more.
But those two scenes live in the college football hall of fame. That stadium has never experienced anything like those two.
So regardless of the game or Hoke/Denard. It was a last second hail mary, a comeback win, a legendary performance, first night game, rival, alternate uniforms that got approval for the first and only time, maize pom poms...the stars aligned and the crowd was nuts.
People are obviously going to consider all of that and call it a great game.
January 13th, 2022 at 11:31 PM ^
This. Soooo much this.
Been in that Stadium since I was 3 - am 45 now. ND with my wife and OSU with my daughter are my two favorite memories in there.
January 13th, 2022 at 11:29 PM ^
Yeah a great pandemonium feeling, reminded me of crazy things that would happen at the end of Big 12 shoot-outs.
Only thing better would have been if Michigan had returned the ND fumble of the kickoff for a touchdown, one yard short.
January 14th, 2022 at 1:18 AM ^
One inch, MAYBE.
January 14th, 2022 at 7:15 AM ^
Because it was an amazing and iconic experience for those lucky enough to be there. And some people choose to enjoy things in the moment rather than look for every dark cloud hiding behind silver linings.
January 13th, 2022 at 10:43 PM ^
In no order, here's the ones that stick out to me the most
1984 vs #1 Miami (YTM)
1986 at Ohio State
1986 vs Nebraska Fiesta Bowl
1997 at Penn State
1993 vs Ohio State
1995 vs Ohio State
2000 at Ohio State
2005 vs Penn State
2006 vs Notre Dame
2011 vs Notre Dame
2021 vs Ohio State ...I feel safe saying I will remember that for as long as I'm able.