BYU game - 2 historic comparisons
I had a young colleague (around 25) mention yesterday he'd never sat in the Stadium and had such a thorough comfort level, especially against a good team. He's attended games since a young age (as I have), but I'm 48. That comfort level is largely my Michigan childhood experience. Still a couple games came to mind.....
In 1977 a top 5 Texas A&M team came to town. We were also in the top five and the previous week the nation watched OSU lose by a point to Oklahoma (also both in the top 5). The anticipation for the game was enormous. The result was a laugher. Michigan 41-3 with a score indicative of the play. I had to battle mom pretty hard for that second family ticket. Glad I won.
In 1980 Purdue came to town after having beaten us the previous season. They had Mark Herrmann at QB and ran a pass-heavy offense that felt very much like trying to defend against the spread prior to defensive coaches beginning to figure it out. They averaged something like 500 yds/game offense. Again, heavy, heavy anticipation. Again, a comfortable laugher. Bo employed a 4 man front, 1 linebacker, and 6 DBs. Herrmann never figured it out and we won 26-0, Didn't have to fight mom too hard for this ticket as it was into November and the weather was cooling. Also the game featured 2 of may all time M favorites.... Carter caught a TD and Andy Cannivino was the single 'backer.
Here's hoping we TCB against a crappy Maryland team then repeat our efficiency against a good Northwestern team. Go Blue.
September 29th, 2015 at 12:57 PM ^
September 29th, 2015 at 12:59 PM ^
September 29th, 2015 at 12:59 PM ^
The Buckeyes had a 9–0–1 record heading into the 1993 game and were looking to claim an outright Big Ten title against a Michigan team that had already lost four times. Michigan receiver Mercury Hayes and running backs Jon Ritchie, Che Foster, and Ed Davis each scored a touchdown as the Wolverines shocked the Buckeyes, 28–0. After the game, Cooper said: "This is one of the most embarrassing games I've ever been involved with." "They outplayed us on offense, on defense, and in the kicking game. If you'd told me we would come up here and get beat 28-0, I'd have probably stayed home."
September 29th, 2015 at 1:06 PM ^
Hoping for history to rhyme this year
September 29th, 2015 at 1:10 PM ^
Man, I really miss John Cooper!
September 29th, 2015 at 1:45 PM ^
That was an injury-riddled season and most everyone got healthy just in time.
September 29th, 2015 at 1:45 PM ^
the morning of the 93 game michigan was a 1.5 point favorite and that flipped overnight because OSU was the favorite going into the game...
September 29th, 2015 at 1:47 PM ^
Didn't recall that, but you are correct:
"Sure, the game was at Ann Arbor. Still, fans on both sides wondered why Michigan -- No. 21 in the New York Times computer rating and out of the top 25 in the Associated Press poll -- was favored over Ohio State, which was No. 7 according to The Times and No. 5 with The A.P. Now they know."
September 29th, 2015 at 3:06 PM ^
Michigan was ranked #3 in the 1993 preseason. They had the early loss to ND (which wasn't as close as the score indicated...I believe that was the game where injuries started piling up too)...there was that first game against Penn State (highly ranked at the time) and OSU had some close escapes. It was really smoke-and-mirrors that they went 9-0-1 and Michigan exposed them.
September 29th, 2015 at 2:43 PM ^
My ex-brother in law told me in the middle of the 4th quarter that he overheard a couple of buckeye fans talking about kicking my ass after the game.... I was giving it to 'ol John C. and the bucks pretty bad that afternoon.
No cussing, but I did loudly remind him that he was about to become 0-5-1 against Michigan on that day.
When I found out that a couple of buckeyes wanted to kick my ass, I proceeded to head over to some empty seats closer to them where they could clearly hear me.
I said to my brother in law: "If there were any Ohio State fans that thought they could kick my ass I'd be waiting at our Tailgate Spot in Allmendinger Park and they should feel free to stop by if they were man enough."
Well, that being said they weren't because they left their seats and moved up some rows closer to the exit.
Oh, and they never showed up at the park either.
Typical Buckeye pussies....
September 29th, 2015 at 4:43 PM ^
you sound really cool
September 29th, 2015 at 1:01 PM ^
In 2003 Notre Dame was ranked 15. But I am not sure if this counts as Notre Dame is often overrated.
September 29th, 2015 at 1:03 PM ^
September 29th, 2015 at 1:45 PM ^
too. That became Brady Quinn's "debut" late in the second half IIRC. Hopefully Maryland does not play the role of Oregon because that was a really big let down after housing ND a week earlier.
Purdue later that same year had a similar feel and I believe they were ranked also.
September 29th, 2015 at 1:41 PM ^
September 29th, 2015 at 1:02 PM ^
2011 Nebraska was the only game I've attended with a similar feeling. We went out against a good team and just thoroughly dominated on both sides of the ball. Fitz ran wild. Needed that to stay in the BCS bowl conversation as it was the week before OSU I believe.
September 29th, 2015 at 1:07 PM ^
September 29th, 2015 at 1:08 PM ^
September 29th, 2015 at 1:23 PM ^
While we did whoop Nebraska in 2011, that game was only 17-10 at the half. We outplayed them all game, but BYU this year was something else entirely.
September 29th, 2015 at 1:52 PM ^
That was a fantastic game, particularly when the heat was off in the second half. My wife (Nebraska grad and a huge Husker fan) and her parents left at the end of the third quarter. I, on the other hand, did not.
September 29th, 2015 at 2:07 PM ^
This was the first game that came to mind also. I live in Nebraska so I really wanted that one and we dominated throughout.
Of course they got their revenge the next two. I am hoping the next time we meet Nebraska we will be in full on Harbaugh mode.
Fans are not at rational and nice as they are portrayed.
September 29th, 2015 at 1:03 PM ^
In 1982 Texas A&M tried to woo Bo away with a then-outrageous offer of $3M over 10 years to coach them and be their AD. Bo turned them down, noting that he was at a point in his life where he recognized that there are more important things in life than money.
Wonder if that beatdown put the seed in the Aggies' heads to try to get Bo?
September 29th, 2015 at 1:09 PM ^
on Bo's decision.... They wound up getting Jackie Sherrill from Pitt for big money.... If memory serves, Sherrill was rather a sleazebag at A&M, although competing for recruits in that neighborhood during those years would have been.... interesting.
September 29th, 2015 at 1:16 PM ^
IIRC, Bo mentioned in one of his biographies that the booster atmosphere at TAM made him uncomfortable.
September 29th, 2015 at 1:56 PM ^
Definitely in the BO book. Sounded like he was uncomfortable with the whole interview process - slimy.
September 29th, 2015 at 1:04 PM ^
September 29th, 2015 at 1:04 PM ^
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September 29th, 2015 at 1:38 PM ^
September 29th, 2015 at 2:11 PM ^
both were at the Big House. You may be thinking of the 06 drubbing in Southbend. That was hilarious but not quite a shut out.
September 29th, 2015 at 1:04 PM ^
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September 29th, 2015 at 1:06 PM ^
September 29th, 2015 at 4:04 PM ^
If the site ever goes down, you can just jump on the unmoderated 24x7 conference bridge.
September 29th, 2015 at 1:11 PM ^
In 1998, Penn State came to the Big House ranked in the top-10, and had been dismantling people. Michigan had started the season off with two losses, and entered the Penn State game after squeaking by four unranked opponents (Northwestern 12-6, Iowa 12-9, Indiana 21-10, and Minnesota 15-10). Then M came out and absolutely demolished Penn State, winning 27-0--the first time Penn State had been shut-out in more than a decade.
September 29th, 2015 at 1:15 PM ^
September 29th, 2015 at 1:20 PM ^
I was going to say that this was the game it most reminded me of. Obviously not with respect to the quality of the opponent, but just a game where everyone expected a close game that could go either way and then have us just thoroughly dominate every aspect of the game.
September 29th, 2015 at 1:21 PM ^
Sure, but that 1997 game is possibly my favorite Michigan game of all time.
The BYU game reminds me more of the 1998 game through, probably because it was a shutout and because the stakes weren't as high going into it.
September 29th, 2015 at 1:58 PM ^
It was an absolute annihilation. ABC cut away in the fourth quarter as Michigan outgained PSU 416 - 169.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1997_Michigan_Wolverines_football_team#We…
In contrast, the 27-0 1998 score hid a number of missed PSU opportunities/drives into Michigan territory, including a blocked 34 yd FG, a turnover on downs at the Michigan 1, and a missed 32 yd FG, and a drive that stalled at the Michigan 32. While Michigan was clearly the better team, combined with some turnovers, you could play woulda/coulda/shoulda and imagine a close game.
http://www.mgoblue.com/sports/m-footbl/recaps/110798aaa.html
There was no imagining a close game in 1997, even by the most ardent PSU fan.
September 29th, 2015 at 2:03 PM ^
even the most ardent Michigan homers were stunned by the level of the beat-down we put on Penn State in 1997.
September 29th, 2015 at 3:00 PM ^
My father still has the VHS recording he made of that game in his display case.
September 29th, 2015 at 3:49 PM ^
And the only reason it wasn't a shutout was because they scored a meaningless TD in the waning minutes, if memory serves.
September 29th, 2015 at 4:04 PM ^
September 29th, 2015 at 6:29 PM ^
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September 29th, 2015 at 1:19 PM ^
Texas A&M 1977 and Purdue 1980. You're right about the A&M game, It was hugely hyped. I remember the Goodyear Blimp flying around campus most of the week - which added to the excitement level. Of course it was on national TV too. A&M came out and their barefoot kicker Tony Franklin kicks a field goal to give A&M the lead 3-0. Then, Michigan rattles off the next 41 points while shutting down the vaunted A&M running game.
The Purdue game was a little less memorable to me. But yes, we saw Bo's teams shut down these kind of pass-happy offenses all the time. He'd give them the short, underneath passes all day and shut off the mid to long passing game completely.
September 29th, 2015 at 1:29 PM ^
September 29th, 2015 at 2:42 PM ^
A & M ran a huge (like 270 lbs) back George Woddard into the middle of the line 40-50 times that day. They did not seem like tye even wanted to win.
September 29th, 2015 at 3:48 PM ^
I remember Tony Franklin kicking 60 yard field goals in warm ups and thinking we were going to get beat. What a laugher that game turned into. . . at least what I remember of it - there was a lot of peppermint schnopps flowing in my section of the end zone
September 29th, 2015 at 1:20 PM ^
To me, Ohio State beatings rank way above anything else. Notre Dame and MSU next, then everything else. BYU game is pretty far down the list.
September 29th, 2015 at 1:28 PM ^
I guess the comparisons I chose were based on the feeling I had during our beatdown of BYU... Not a rivalry, not a hugely important game in terms of history... just an unexpectedly solid beating of a solid team that really made me feel good about the state of the program. Businesslike feel I suppose.
September 29th, 2015 at 1:22 PM ^
I don't remember the precise anticipation level beyond it being the season opener against 7th ranked Colorado. I do remember still feeling the trauma from the end of the 1994 game (and the failed Hail Mary the following year in Boulder). I was sitting in the same seats for both games, near the end zone where Westbrook scored. Every time Colorado got the ball, I kept worrying they would come charging back to ruin the day.
It never happened. 27-3 Michigan. It was the day we met the 1997 defense and the start of Woodson's Heisman campaign. IIRC, he had a pick and a TD on offense.