Article on top Michigan moments -- 2016-2020
This is by a senior naming the top Michigan sports moments of his college years. Interesting that the 2017 MSU game makes the list. I had a big "round number" birthday that week, and remember everything about that Saturday fondly but the game itself which was miserable:
The 2017 Michigan-MSU game was absolutely miserable...on the field at least. But that was my senior year and it was strangely one of the most fun experiences I had in the student section.
The rain seemed actually better the atmosphere. It was a strange night
I can definitely understand that. I was in the MSU student section for the WMU and USF games in 2013. In those games, the defense outscored the offense and there wasn't much to give hope for a successful year. But I think both games had rain delays, and despite embarrassingly bad offensive performances, standing in the student section in the pouring rain was actually really fun for some reason.
Beating OSU to clinch the B1G East isn't on that list? Oh wait...
The B1G East was already won the week before, haven't you seen the trophy in Michigan's case? Champions, baby.
Not sure if this is the purpose of your post, but I'm going to take some liberty here to assume you wanted to know everyone else's favorite sports moments from their college years.
I was on campus fall of 2009 - Spring of 2013. My favorite Michigan sports moments of that time were:
1. 2011 - Under the lights Pt 1. vs Notre Dame - greatest live sporting event I've ever attended
2. 2013 - Sweet Sixteen game vs Kansas - I watch this game at least once a year
3. 2011 - OSU at the Big House - We stormed the field?
4. 2012 - MSU at the Big House - an absolutely ugly game, but the only time I got to see M beat MSU in football as a student
5. 2013 - Final Four victory vs Syracuse - McGary picking apart the zone
6. 2010 - @ Notre Dame - Denard 87 yards to the house
7. 2011 - Sweeping MSU in basketball - starts improbable run to the tournament
8. 2009 - Notre Dame @ Big House - Tate to Greg Matthews for the win
9. 2011 - Sugar Bowl - Drew Dilleo throws jump ball to the *checks box score*.... long snapper?
10. 2011 - Frozen Four Run - Hockey?
Non U of M Moments: Detroit Lions MNF game 2011 vs the Bears, Detroit Tigers World Series run in 2012.
1999 ND
1999 OSU
2000 Orange Bowl
2000 OSU
2002 Washington
2002 PSU
1999 — We avoided getting blown out by Duke.
I am sure some cool hockey stuff happened.
Cool list. I was a student from Fall 2013 to Spring 2017. I think my list would be:
1. Michigan hires Jim Harbaugh. After watching the 2013 and 2014 teams from the student section, I was elated. Completely changed morale on campus and made Saturday’s in 2015 and 2016 so much more memorable.
2. MBB 2017 BTT run. I was traveling to Chicago when I heard about the plane crash I was there for several days doing interviews, which I couldn’t focus on. I was glued to my phone looking for updates and then watched the boys play in practice uniforms against Illinois. That run was insane.
3. UTL II versus Notre Dame. My second game in the student section. Michigan looked like a Top 10 team and Gardner looked like a Heisman candidate.
4. 2015 wins over ranked BYU/Northwestern teams. I’ll put these two together because they were the two home games during the three game shutout stretch. Some of the funnest moments being in the student section with the Darboh catch, Deveon Smith run, “defense” chant at the end of the NW game. It was all building so much anticipation for the game against MSU.
5. 2013-2014 MBB sweeps MSU during the regular season. That team was loaded and seeing the team win both times as a freshman was awesome. Was able to go to the game at Breslin that year. Of course we did lose to them in the BTT.
6. 2016 win over MSU at Spartan Stadium. Went to the game as a senior. Only time I got to see a win versus MSU during my four years. Of course MSU was pretty terrible that year, but still very satisfying.
7. MBB 2017 win over Louisville. Poetic justice beating Pitino in his last game at Louisville. After this I bought tickets to the Sweet 16 game against Oregon.
8. 2015 win over Florida in the Citrus Bowl. We absolutely eviscerated them, and it built up so much anticipation for the 2016 team.
9. 2016 win over Wisconsin. Surprisingly the only Top 10 matchup that Michigan won during my four years. Watching the Speight-Darboh connection and Lewis interception in the 4th quarter was epic.
10. MBB 2016 win over Indiana in the BTT. The unlikely hero in Kam Chatman drains a three as time expires and locks us in to make the Big Dance.
Sigh....that play, before The Spot, is so emblematic of how the UM-OSU rivalry has gone the last 15-20 years. Watching one guy skate circles around half of Michigan's defense.
Only spent 2 years at UM after transferring in from another school, but 2017 MSU was undoubtedly my favorite live sports experience at UM, despite the loss. Most energetic the building ever was (even including the 2017 OSU game). Obviously wish the team had pulled that one out but even with the loss I'd say it was more fun than my 2nd place, 2018 UNC hoops at home.
I'm Old School - 1985-1989 - Cant remember except for basketball and football. Hockey and baseball teams were not good at the time. Was at all of these but the Final Four in 1989.
1. 1989 National Championship vs Seton Hall
2. 1989 Rose Bowl Champs vs USC
3. 1985 OSU - Harbaugh to Kolesar
4. 1989 Final Four vs Illinois - Sean Higgins at the buzzer
5. 1986 Ohio State - Harbaugh guarantee game
6. 1986 Indiana Basketball - Regular season finale vs Bobby Knight. Blew out IU to win Big Ten title.
7. 1985 Notre Dame - my first football game as freshman
8. 1986 Iowa - Mike Gillette GW FG
9. 1988 Michigan State - Mike Gillette fake punt TD
10. 1988 Football vs Illinois - Clinched Rose Bowl
To be fair, he said they were moments that defined his 4 years in college, not necessarily the "top" moments. Losing to MSU in the rain absolutely sucked but maybe it was the most memorable moment of that semester.
Edit: And then you read the article and see that he talks about it being a "favorite" moment of a plurality of his class. So... never mind.