Talk Football: Are there two consecutive plays in UM history bigger than Sainristil/Edwards against OSU

Submitted by Buy Bushwood on February 16th, 2023 at 10:32 AM

Obviously, I'm taking out the two special teams plays in between.  But I can't think of two consecutive plays in a game that we're more significant for UM history than those two plays.  We live in great times.  

GoBlueZ06

February 16th, 2023 at 11:21 AM ^

Hardly a year worth remembering, BUT:

2008 Wisconsin, the largest comeback in Michigan history at the time (may still be?) in the 500th game at Michigan Stadium.

"Minor is MAJOR" TD to bring us back into the ball game, and then very next snap was the Thompson pick 6 with a convoy right back into the same endzone to eventually knock off Bert's Badgers. 

tybert

February 16th, 2023 at 11:35 AM ^

Wow, 2008 Wisconsin game, Probably one of three highlight games from RR in his 3 years. After that win which made us 2-2, I thought we'd go 8-4 with road losses at PSU and Ohio. Ended up 3-9.

2009 (Tate) and 2010 (Denard) wins over ND were the only other highlights during RR's era. 

rob f

February 16th, 2023 at 11:36 AM ^

Going back quite a ways, 1979's Wangler-to-Carter game ending TD was preceded by a brilliantly-executed Lawrence Reid-to-Lee Corso lateral that kept the clock from striking zero.

 

Hannibal.

February 16th, 2023 at 11:38 AM ^

If you are talking strictly back-to-back, it's tough to think of a bigger pair.  This year's OSU road win was probably our biggest win since 1997.  There are certainly some memorable wins and huge plays in there, but I'm not sure that there'a a "back-to-back" that was more meaningful.

 

Edit -- the closest thing that I can think of is the 2004 MSU game -- three plays with an onside kick recovery, a run by Hart, and then a TD pass to Braylon.

GoBlueZ06

February 16th, 2023 at 12:56 PM ^

To go into their house and validate it that emphatically... I view them almost as two halves of the turning point in the rivlary. Not one person in their fanbase thought they would lose that game, and to go do it in Columbus for the first time since Henson and Co. in 2000? Hard not to argue it as equal to 2021 in importance. 

2021 from a meaning and atmosphere etc will always be at the top, especially having been there that day, but I can see the argument for this past season as being just as important overall.

jmblue

February 16th, 2023 at 1:58 PM ^

2022 was definitely a confirmation, and incredibly satisfying after two decades of frustration at their place.   But the 2021 game was a massive turning point for this program (and maybe OSU's too).  If we don't win that one, we're then going into 2022 with all the pressure on us.

jdib

February 16th, 2023 at 11:53 AM ^

For me, it's the fact we were at OSU, on their home turf, in favorable conditions that had them thinking there's no way they could possibly lose.  Just when the seas were parting for them(or so they thought) to take the wind out of our sails with a huge momentum play they were absolutely DENIED by Sainristil.  A smaller guy getting up to bat it out of the big guy's hands.  Then Edwards just plunging the dagger deep into the heart of the OSU defense.  It was such a beautiful series of moments I don't even know how else to describe it.  I don't know where I'd place it but it's definitely up there considering it's a time in our rivalry where we needed it most.

michengin87

February 16th, 2023 at 11:59 AM ^

Mine is the 1997 season opener.  UM is ranked 13th and opening the season with #7 Colorado.  Lee Corso is on ESPN GameDay with a very young Herbie.  Lee has already picked Colorado to win this game as well as the national championship.  Fortunately, we have Keith Jackson and Bob Griese in the booth.

Michigan opens with a drive that ends stalled and then a missed field goal.  Ghosts of Kordell Stewart from 3 years earlier are already starting to feel like they are coming back to haunt us.  However, on the 2nd play of Colorado's drive, Charles Woodson makes a leaping fingertip interception on our own 43.  The very next play, Brian Griese rolls out and throws a strike to a wide open Jerame Tuman who is tackled at the 1 yard line.

We of course punch it in, but those 2 plays set the tone for the game as Brian Griese solidified the starting job with 2 TDs on 21 of 28 passing and 258 yards while Charles Woodson began his Heisman campaign and the defense holds Colorado to 3 points for a 27-3 rout.

MinWhisky

February 16th, 2023 at 12:08 PM ^

Yep and I was at the game.  UofM's Thom Darden went over the top of an OSU offensive player to intercept the ball and thwart an OSU drive near the end of the game.  It caused Woody Hayes to rip up a sideline marker.  At the time of the interception, my eyes were on Woody.  Everyone who could stepped away from him, fearing what he might do.  The poor guy holding the sidline marker couldn't move.  Hilarious.  I can still laugh as I recall what happened.

50 years ago, Thom Darden's interception triggered Woody's tirade, clinched Michigan win | Sandusky Register Sandusky native a standout at Michigan, sealed a win over Ohio State in 1971.

CD420

February 16th, 2023 at 12:55 PM ^

I believe there may have been one play between them but 1988 M v OSU Kolesar running the kick to the OSU 40 than catching a 40 Yd pass - won  that game at the end almost all by himself