Content Idea - Reader Input Desired
I'm cooking up a summer content idea for all you fine people and wanted some input before I get going. The overarching idea is a weekly breakdown of sorts of an old Michigan football game... I'm not sure exactly how it would be formatted but essentially the concept is I, a baby who hasn't seen any games from before 2007ish, and Craig Ross, a guy who has seen every Michigan game for 50+ years, would watch an old Michigan game together (from any time spanning the late 60s up through the mid-2000s).
We'd watch the game, Craig talking about what he remembers and how what we're watching lines up with his memory, and me taking it all in and observing what I'm noticing (watching the game for the first time) and how it compares to a modern lens/what I'm learning about it. After we watch the game, I'd write up a piece about the game blending in both Craig and I's analysis, dropping in clips of the game, breaking down big plays, and then some context being added before and after the game about the lead up to the game, how the game impacted that season overall, and how it squares with Michigan football history overall. The idea is the pieces would be part nostalgic (since most of you folks are much older than me) but also in hopefully interesting and informative looks back in time as we get ready for another season.
Assuming all of you, the readers, think this isn't a garbage idea for content, I'd like to know which games you'd most like to see us break down. Obviously I can't guarantee we have perfect footage of every game you nominate and I'd pick the most enticing ones, but let me know which ones stand out as the most interesting to see broken down in retrospect, or the ones you'd most like to have me watch, having never seen any of these before. I'd love to hear from all of you!
Three of my favorites back-to-back-to-back to close out 1980 season
#16 Purdue and Mark Herrmann at #11 UM - won 26-0. A prolific passing attack got zero 1st downs in 2nd half. McCartney went with a 4-1-6 much of the game and the pass rush did its job.
#10 Michigan at #5 Ohio - Schlichter had been a Heisman candidate much of the season. You Tube has Ufer's call of the game with ABCs TV. We win 9-3 on Wangler to Carter being only TD, then a late stop for the win.
#16 Wash vs. #5 Mich in 1981 Rose Bowl. After a close 1st half when Tom Flick looked like 1984 Dan Marino, we pitch a shutout in the 2nd half. Bo is carried off the field when we win 23-6. Post game interview cool. Merlen Olsen interviewing Bo and AC. And later being in the MMB, hearing the full length Victors played to a cheering crowd as players walked off the field was so cool.
I've watched those 3 in a row on a Friday night after the wife went to bed. Best 4-5 hours of my time and good beer too.
2008 v Wisconsin would be cool. Crazy comeback + first season I really followed Michigan.
2007 @ PSU.
Judgement Day
#4 Michigan goes on the road and absolutely pastes #2 PSU 34-8. This was the game where we all started believing that we could go undefeated.
i can’t believe I haven’t seen this one mentioned yet.
100% agree.
A favorite of mine that I haven't rewatched in 10 years.
Alex, I would recommend the Notre Dame games during the Rick Leach era (1977-79) and John Wangler’s season in 1980. Leach and Wangler were the first true passing quarterbacks under Bo (though Rick Leach was dual threat) and that time period reflected the power of what having both a passing game and running game meant in terms of dominating the competition with superior talent. Very similar to the debate in the current day where we want to see JJ unleash his passing prowess.
My millennial-ass answer is as follows, trying to find games that others might not think of:
UTL II (UTL I has been done a lot already)
The Jeremy Gallon explosion game against IU (2013?)
The 2010(?) fever dream game against Illinois
The January 1, 2000 Orange bowl game against Alabama. It was a tale of two halves and the second half prominently featured Tom Brady. For me, that was the game that foretold the legend of Brady that would become familiar throughout the NFL. It was also maddening because the first half featured the over commitment to the run game that was a staple of the Lloyd Carr era.
Sit down young man, and allow me to introduce you to Braylonfest!
If you're into any psycho-masochism at all, revisiting some of the Lloyd Carr years' games like Northwestern, Illinois, Syracuse, etc. and seeing how unprepared we were for some of those could potentially make for a fun(?) read on our end.
I don't have much feedback to offer, put me down as someone who thinks this sounds like a fun read. Great idea Alex and Craig!
Love the idea. Game suggestion: 1988 Michigan vs #1 Miami (YTM).
Please Alex do the 1979 AC game winning TD game vs Indiana.
**I am not putting down the significance of this game just trying to figure out how it was so damn important**
I am very intrigued why beating a team that we have lost to twice since 1968 was such a big deal. Last second wins vs Illinois (the rich rod win), Rutgers, and Indiana have been considered stinkers but this game is up there with our OSU and Rose bowl wins. Just really curious what the mindset was at the time.
We were on a 7 game winning streak vs them and the scoring was in our favor 90-7 the following two matchups. Should be interesting getting some info from Craig on this.
Some late entries: 1968 vs Wisconsin (the Ron Johnson game); most any game in 1971 (features the Mellow Men and the many All-Americans); and 1975 at Wisconsin (first game for freshman Rick Leach).
For those few of us who were there, the 1995 Purdue game was unforgettable. Uncommonly cold even for Michigan, with numerous strange forms of precipitation and field conditions to match. M won the game with a FG and a Clarence Thompson safety off a corner blitz. Final score was 5-0.