Greatest moments as a Michigan fan

... being on the field after the '97 OSU win.

I still have that game on VHS.

1) Leroy Hoard's 61 yard 4th quarter run against USC in the 1989 Rose Bowl...because it was against USC. People thought that I was certifiably insane.

2) Bob Ufer's call on Wangler to Carter in 1979.

3) Woodson punt return against Ohio State-1997

4) Harbaugh to Kolesar 1985 had me dancing in the streets of Tallahassee, Florida.

5) Tim "he doesn't want to go down" Biakabutuka in 1995 against Ohio State.

 

Bosnia in 1997 in the Army, I was afforded the opportunity to listen to the UM v OSU game, and it will forever be etched in my memory. 

Nothing even comes close to that, and I have been to many games at the Big House. 

Those of us in our mid-40's are the types that start these threads.  AC vs. Indiana was our first spectacle and '89 to '93 (in my case) is proving to have been a fairly good time to attend UM sports-wise.  

Final 0:06 of Indiana '79 and 4th and 1 to layed-out Desmond are best plays that come to mind immediately although since I am a Michigan fan I always simultaneously think of MSU tripping Desmond or that damn Rocket Ismail.

But I think overall UTL 1 takes the cake for best stadium experience.  That was special. 

Spring game in 1984. I believe this was when you were invited down on the field after the game and could take pictures with players, get autographs, etc... I was 3 years old and my dad took me down on the field after the game/practice. We got to meet a bunch of players and took a lot of pictures wtih the players at the time (Hammerstein and Mallory of note).

The best part, I got to take a picture with Bo in front of the old Michigan VW beetle just in front of the stadium entrance by Crisler. My dad went to the bust that year and got it signed to me from Bo. "To SoDak Blues, Go Blue, Bo Schembechler".

Not really a memory since I don't remember much of the actual day, but that framed picture is the greatest piece of Michigan memorabilia I have. I want to do the same exact thing for my one year old son in the coming years with Jim. 

UTL I, Final Four game against Cuse which I was at, The Trey.

First time in their crappy stadium for me. It was an eyeopener to see those lunatic fans at home. Fun to watch them all leave early. The three previous years were a tie and two close loses. I was a senior and REALLY wanted the win.

Me and my buddy were drunk and enthusiastic. I remember hugging a grandpa and high fiving his grandson in my post game euphoria.

important and that is due, I think - no I know - the level of happiness it brought my son. Like your's, it ended on the floor of the Big House, completely covered in snow, and looking around, realizing the only two in attendance were me and my then 7-8 year old son. The year was '89 and it began with a UM vs. WI bb game. My son and I walked in and prior to even taking our seats, we were both enthralled with the simple beauty of watching Glenn Rice, working from the left corner of the base line, displaying that almost pefect ryhthm and a grace displayed only by those sharing these extraordinary gifts that we all conclude, I assume, is a product of being effortless, such is the smoothness. I believe he sank 11 or 12 in a row prior to missing and moving to another location. Great game. WI had a tremendous forward that season whose name I believe was Michael Finley. Did they have a player by that name? I only know he was an extremely talented, jumping jack who had a knack for being whereever that ball careemed off the rim.

Like you and your father when you were 8, I asked my son if he would like to visit the Big House, not knowing if we would be allowed in or not. The look on his face was all I needed to see to know his answer. So we trekked through the snow to get there and in working our way to the end zone where I would watch him put on the greatet display of football perhaps every performed on that snow laden turf.  There was no need to wonder what the coach had called. My coach had called the same plays for me some 27-28 years earlier, although lacking that special athletic talent visited upon the most rare of us, but very proud it had been passed on down to my son, my performaces, although no less as great, were limited to merely beating the best my state had to offer; therefore, I had to perform on the local high school field. 

After that tremendous display of football he allowed me to watch, I was honored to join him when he asked if I would like to join him in making snow angels, remembering how quickly we were able to transform then from marvelous athletes into simply being children. Both bundled to the point wher getting wet was a virtual impossibility, we did this for probably 15-20 minutes before I asked and he told me he was ready to go. This actually worked out well in regard to allowing for  traffick, always lesser when leaving Crisler than the Big House, to get a head start on us. I think it took all of 15 minutes, after I secured him in his seat belt and working my way out of A.A. to look over and smiling at that beautiful young face that I knew would wake up about a half hour away from our 3 hour destination, fully prepared to relay to momma all the wonderful events that  him and Daddy had experienced that day. One of the greatest gifts, I thought and still do, a father can give to his son.

stepping to the line and nailing 2 free throws to clinch the title and he just had  a career free throw percentage of 66%. Glen Rice set the record for most points in a single tournament which I think still stands. 1989 in the Kingdome!!!

1. Driving home through mid-Michigan late at night listening to WTKA flicker in and out on Al Randall and Jim Hunt's call of the 1998 hockey championship game, hearing the Langfeld goal just outside of Ann Arbor, and taking a detour to drive through town and hear the students yelling out their dorm windows.

2. 1995 OSU end-to-end

3. The entire 2006 football season, OSU/Rose Bowl losses and all.

4. Being at Crisler when the 2009 NCAA tournament bid was announced.

5. Trey Burke. That's all.

1995 Virginia. In the student section with my Dad, it was his birthday.

Second to that 1997 Notre Dame.

2011 Michigan Nebraska. Kicked ass. First game dad and I ever stood in the big house for football together.

Has to be Braylonfest.  Was able to "sneak" into the student section for that one.  (Friend's brother's ticket and ID, which latter they didn't even ask for.)  They say the Big House doesn't get loud, but that game is proof they're full of it.  I swear there was a ringing in my left ear after one of Braylon's catches.

Was in the building when Trey Burke hit the shot against Kansas. Best of all brought my pops along to enjoy it as well. Easily one of the best moments of my life.

Glen Rice.  6 consecutive games.   Shock the World.

Just a 12-year-old kid with serious hoop dreams. 

'96 Grise to Streets on a slant for a long TD. 

the rose bowl in 97, we were worried about the tickets as I, a freshmen in high school in California had to find some online. I found 3 from some ticket broker company thing that seemed sketchy but it was our only option. They were legit row 2 in the end zone. Never forget seeing Charles run to my end zone after the game celebrating. Wished fans ran on the field but nope. As a California kid I only saw a handful, pigskin classic vs Virginia was my first but a national championship sneaked past it for my #1 trip.

I guess these are the greatest moments as we experienced them; so it is how awesome it was as perceived by us at the time and now with perspective.

Which of course is different than Michigan's greatest moments, period, because those are easier to rank objectively. 

Either way, this is tough. Here's a shot:

1. The 1997 season. All of it. The first year I went to almost every home game (missed only ND because I was broke) and it was, of course, the best of my lifetime. Scalped my way into the student section for the OSU game (my first visit to that part of the Stadium) and it was... c'mon, you know how it was. 

2. The 2002 NCAA West Regional at Yost. 36 hours of madness. You really have to read the link to get my full thoughts on it; it was unbelievable. And, somehow, I lucked into center-ice seats.

3. Here's where we get into the really subjective stuff: 2000 Michigan over OSU. Not one of the greatest wins of my lifetime, but it was my first trip to Columbus. I bought tickets with birthday money on the spur of the moment on Friday, called my best friend who was in Eastern Ohio for college that evening, and we met up. We were verbally abused, physically threatened, and absolutely exhilerated.

4. Hard to choose between dozens of great options, but I guess I'll lean with the 1989 basketball championship. The mists of time have clouded the emotional impact of it, and I was young enough (9) that I couldn't truly appreciate the gravity of it as I would later (how did I not become a total basketball zombie? I was a Michigan fan and a Pistons fan and they BOTH WON that year). 

But I remember following the tournament as much as I could. I had seen both of Michigan's losses to Illinois on tv as well as various other games, but I was asleep in bed before Higgins beat the Illini in the Final Four.

But, that Monday, everything was about the game. The Ann Arbor News dropped its usual paper header and printed a picture of Glen Rice with giant-font "Go Blue!" written in maize across a blue field on the top. I was permitted to attempt to nap for an hour in exchange for a rare opportunity to stay up on a school night. 

And I watched the whole thing.

I ran out of the room three times as Rumeal lined up to take those free throws, overcome with stress. And three times I ran bank.

And they went in.

As a boy, there's nothing better.

 

This may not be my actual #1, but since I don't want to repeat all the others...

I remember the night before the M-OSU football game in 1993.  It was my freshman year at Michigan and a buddy had an extra ticket to the hockey game--which was also against Ohio State.  So we go to Yost--my first visit, which was a pretty amazing experience in and of itself--and Ohio State has a three-goal lead heading into the third period.  Michigan scores three goals in regulation and then a fourth in OT to win.

I wake up the next morning and go to the football game, hoping but not really expecting that 7-3 Michigan can upset the top-5 ranked, undefeated Buckeyes.  A few hours later I walked out of the stadium with a satisfied grin, having watched M dominate and win 28-0.  

Rushing the field after the 97 OSU game (I was in the 2nd wave that didn't get tackled by security guards) and UTL.  The OSU game meant so much to that special season).  The UTL game was the single most fun experience I've had at a Michigan game.  30 minutes after the game was over, the buzz in the stadium was still incredible.

Trey burke's step back 3 against Kansas was awesome too but had to watch that one on TV.

The announcement of Jim Harbaugh as Michigan's new head coach.  I can't think of anything in my life vis a vie Michigan that made me happier.

Been a Fan since I was basically old enough to watch and comprehend. So since about 2003.

My favorite memories (forget the years in which they happened).

1. Michigans triple overtime victory vs. MSU with Chad henne at the helm and Braylon's 3 Spectacular TDS.

2. Michigans 21 or 28 point (I forget how much) comeback win vs. Minnesota on a Friday night. I remember watching this game in our kitchen by myself, my parents were out for the night and I had a babysitter. I couldn't of been more then 10 years old. I was so ecstatic I'll never forget Navarre to Breaston, back to Navarre rumbling down the field. At the time I Thought I was the coolest trick play ever.

3. Michigan vs. Penn State at the big house. Henne to Manningham with the walkout touchdown as time expired. I believe this was 05 or 06? I was sitting 5 rows up in the south end zone (where the touchdown took place).

4. The first under the lights game at the big house. This was the most amazing and electrifying sports event I had/have ever been too. Absolutely freakin Amazing.

in Michigan football lore that it's difficult to pick just one as the best. One I don't see mentioned just yet is our win in South Bend in 2006. Prior to that we'd lost our opener like 5 years in a row, and two of those were against Notre Dame. That year we were Notre Dame's third game and they were ranked 2nd in the nation. No one knew how good we could be; we were ranked thirteenth so nothing special. We laid a 47-21 whuppin' on those boys, that was sweet!

UTL 1 just watching it at home with my family as they all doubted we'd come back...

UTL - greatest atmosphere in ever had the pleasure of watching a sporting event in.
Trey Burke's shot vs Kansas - my grandma's funeral was that day, and my family and I were all still all dressed up and still emotional. Watching that comeback and that shot go in....We all started bawling.
Manningham TD catch vs PSU.
Courtney Avery's INT to seal W vs OSU.

Hanging out with my dad after beating OSU, sat through the whole trophy ceremony. We had nothing in common other than loving UM. My brother died just 8 months before. It still feels surreal to think about.

So there's lots of memories for me... 

Driesbach to Hayes FTW!

#6 putting us back in the game against Penn State with 2 3rd quarter touchdowns.

Biakabatuka vs. Ohio State, In the third or 4th quarter I remember him carrying 2 buckeye tacklers on his back along the west  sideline, the sun broke through a cloud and I swear that the sunbeams were dancing around Touchdown Tim  as he dragged those buckeyes 8 more yards that day.

Three years of Charles Woodson, nothing more needs to be said... GOAT.

The '97 year... Too bad the BCS didn't start that year we'd have kicked Nebraska's ass!

Tom Brady in the 2000 season, That team was 7 points over 3 games from being undefeated, and Brady's performance in the Orange Bowl was Magnificent.

Navarre bringing us back against Minnnesota and the win against the buckeyes at home to cap off another Big Ten Championship.

Braylonfest. Awesome end of story, My wife and I we going to leave and when we got to the concourse Michigan scored to make tie it up and we headed back in then state scored again so we went back outsde and watched the rest of the game on on of the monitors at a concesson stand in the north endzone. We didn't want to jinx the team..

Beating Sparty in OT in the trashheap in EL and Tyler Eckert not lateraling to Breaston in the Alamo bowl capped off a disapoining season in '05. I sold my Penn State tickets to my Brother-in-Law's brother so that he could take his German born bride to her first American football game, She's been a Michigan Fan ever since Henne to Manningham...

2006- What a great ride... almost as good as '97 until Bo passed and the season ending losses.

The Mike Hart Guarantee angainst ND, and beating Urban and his Gators to send Lloyd off with a win...  

Brandon Graham singlehandedly taking over the second half against Wisconsin, he carried the team on his back that day.

Forcier's touchdown pass to Matthews to shut up the obnoxious Domer sitting behind me. I took my Brother In Law to that game, afterwords he said "I never understood why you hated Notre Dame so badly until today".  I felt a sense ofredemption that day...

Denard's shoelaces flapping in the wind... 

UTLI I remeber when ND scored leaving :30 on the clock I told the people in my area that we almost made it back... Then the magig of Denard to Gallon took over and the rest was history... we didn't get home until 3am baking in the afterglow of that win was special...

Beating MSU for Win 900...

Watching our QB wear #98 was cool and even better was beating ND in UTLII.

Three Goose eggs in a row. and my wife saying to me: "Now that's the Michigan football of old, dominating defense. and a pounding ground game." Running into Jake Rudock at the Pizza House after the Northwestern game and telling him "You're a Wolverine for Life now. 

Anyway, you asked and I told...

1997 OSU and then the 1998 Rose Bowl. I remember being glued to the TV the whole game. 

The comeback win over KU. I watched that game at a bar with the only other Michigan fan in the area. We were in a bar in Kansas...I thought I was going to get killed. 

Being at Crisler for habaugh's halftime speech after he was hired. Such a great feeling to be there. 

Michigan - 7,000

Ohio State - -6

1. The 1997 OSU game and its aftermath.  I rank this #1 even though some drunken bastard fell from the tree outside the President's house and landed about 20 feet from me.  As I recall, he was saved by a combination of (a) his inebriation, (b) quick-thinking students placing mattresses at the base of the tree, and (c) his hitting every branch on the way down.  

2.  UTL I.  

3.  Taking my kids to their first Michigan game last year, and having them hear Jake Butt's name announced for the first time.  

1) Being in row A last year directly by where it all went down when harbaugh had his first "flip out" as HC vs oregon state.... I have never felt the place go so electric after being so quiet for so many years. Seriously. 

Runner up) Being there when Denard took out ND "under the lights."   Ok, that was pretty electric no matter where you were sitting. 

 

 

 

Watching Jim Mandich getting carried off the field. One of the best days I ever had watching with my dad. 

 

Only saw this mentioned once amid all the fine choices... but Forcier to Matthews to beat ND and give us one of the precious few happy moments in a long period of horribleness. I made Forcier my avatar that day and haven't changed it since.

In no special order:

1. Going to Pasadena to see us win the Rose Bowl.

2.  1989 Final Four vs. Illinois

3.  Meeting Bo

 

Saturday night at MSG was pretty cool too but I wouldn't call it a greatest moment.