What's your best memory ever going to a Michigan game?
To negate the bad karma/bpone shitpost earlier about the "worst memory ever going to a Michigan game", I present you with the "best memory" thread. We need to counter this bad juju and keep the positive momentum going given the run the team has been on the past 2 years.
My best moments were
1) Michigan beats OSU in CBUS, 2000 - Freezing day, up in the UM corner of the stands. Started off poorly - down 9-0, think they ran back the opening kick for a near TD. This was the Henson game, and it was glorious, before the rivalry took a turn for the worse.
2) Dominating a once again overrated (#2) ND team in 2006 in South Bend. Crushed Brady Quinn's soul that day. And Manningham and the defense were on fire.
I did not attend the OSU games the past 2 years, but those are by far my favorite 2 games of the past 20 years overall.
What say you? Keep this positive mojo going!
December 17th, 2022 at 12:23 PM ^
My first game. It was nothing special, we destroyed an awful northwestern team, but I got to see my heros Elvis Grbac and Desmond Howard, and a young rookie named Tyrone Wheatley dazzled in the 2nd half once the game was out of reach.
I haven't been to many Michigan games, but save a national championship, I don't think anything can beat the feeling of my first game.
December 17th, 2022 at 1:56 PM ^
Wow, my first game was Homecoming that season against Indiana. Absolutely loved that team. Desmond was on top of the college football world.
December 17th, 2022 at 2:47 PM ^
Lucky you. My first game was App St
December 18th, 2022 at 3:25 AM ^
First game, 1981 vs Notre Dame. A first-timer amazed by the entire atmosphere, from the enormous maize & blue crowd and sheer volume of noise to the "cross in any direction" traffic cop outside the stadium. Saw Steve Smith hit Anthony Carter for a 71-yard TD as the Wolverines beat the hated Irish. Got half-smashed on a bottle of something cheap that we bought at the party store across Stadium. Sang "The Victors" at the top of my lungs so many times that I couldn't speak normally for two days..
First game = priceless.
December 17th, 2022 at 12:23 PM ^
Last year I didn't think anything would top 42-27...this year's game at OSU did!
December 17th, 2022 at 12:25 PM ^
1. Braylonfest
2. Touchdown Manningham!
December 17th, 2022 at 12:27 PM ^
Scott Dreisbach to Mercury Hayes to beat Virginia.
December 17th, 2022 at 1:47 PM ^
Same here, I was sitting on the same side he caught it but opposite end zone so I couldn't see, I only knew he caught it by the crowd reaction.
December 17th, 2022 at 2:28 PM ^
That entire fourth quarter was pretty amazing. As loud as I can remember the Big House pre-renovation.
December 17th, 2022 at 12:29 PM ^
Two:
Sharing the comeback against Virginia with my family, their first time at a Michigan game.
Now the rare times I'm able to make it back to Ann Arbor for a game. It's special.
December 17th, 2022 at 12:45 PM ^
That Virginia game is my favorite memory too. It was my first game back after I graduated, and my seats were perfectly placed by the end zone where we scored those three TDs in the fourth quarter.
I have been fortunate enough to attend close to 100 games in my life, starting as a kid, but since graduating I haven't been able to afford to go to the big rivalry games, so I didn't get to experience OSU last year. I'm guessing that would be my #1 if I had been there.
December 17th, 2022 at 6:35 PM ^
My favorite game was a random game against Purdue. As a poor student, I was able to get two tickets on the 40 yard for my parents. They were so excited after the game - loved the seats because of the view for the game and could watch all the knucklehead students as well. It was great to see them smiling!
December 17th, 2022 at 12:31 PM ^
1996, Boulder, CO. UM avenges Hail Mary loss to Colorado by successfully defending another Hail Mary on maybe the crappiest time management ever seen. UM did not even have to give CU the ball back but did a premature kneel on 4th near midfield, giving CU time for one last throw. Maybe Carr did this on purpose just to banish the Hail Mary demon.
UM went into the locker room down 13-10, and pitched a shutout in the 2nd half, with some incredible plays by David Bowen and Jarrett Irons. Woodson was a Soph and just coming into his own and had some nice plays. Made a great 4th down stop with about 5 minutes left near our own goal line. Then proceeded to run it right down their throats for ~3 first downs. It felt like a great redemption as we physically imposed our will on them. And, Boulder, CO, where I lived at the time, is an amazing place to watch a football game. Alas, I doubt UM will ever come back.
December 17th, 2022 at 1:51 PM ^
Do you remember the thunderstorm that immediately followed that game? I remember thinking the world might end.
December 17th, 2022 at 10:17 PM ^
I vaguely remember. I was only 24 so likely I was getting laid by a harem of Michigan women immediately after the game. What I remember the most was the absolute shock when Driesbach knelt down on 4th down, and there was still like 3 seconds on the clock. That’s probably the moment I dropped my acid tab, and where my memory becomes dubious.
December 17th, 2022 at 12:31 PM ^
Freshman year. 1969. 24-12. Bo vs Woody game #1.
December 17th, 2022 at 12:44 PM ^
senior year for me, so much better seats. around the 40 about 30 rows up. I can still see in my mind's eye Cecil Pryor coming off the field after yet another 2nd half stop, arms raised in exultation. The game also has a soft spot for me since one of the stars was Barry Pierson, a fellow yooper (although St. Ignace, his hometown, is more honorary UP than real UP, to me at least).
December 17th, 2022 at 1:08 PM ^
My freshman year, too, 24-12 vs. OSU. They carried Jim Mandich off the field right towards the student section, where I was sitting in the end zone.
Damn, we have a bunch of old farts on this board.
December 18th, 2022 at 12:26 AM ^
👍This old fart gives two thumbs up to the above discussion of the 1969 Edition of The Game!👍
December 17th, 2022 at 2:05 PM ^
I was a senior in high school at the game. It was monumental, but it didn’t have quite the same fever pitch as UTL I or 1979 Indiana.
Favorite road game? PSU in 1997, hands down.
December 17th, 2022 at 12:33 PM ^
Fab 5 beating Ohio State in Rupp Arena.
Under the Lights Denard to Roundtree
1997 Michigan Defeats Ohio State
December 17th, 2022 at 12:33 PM ^
The Game 1969
My freshman year and Bo's first year.
Ohio State came in undefeated and a lock to win. SI said that several pro teams would have trouble with the Buckeyes.
Michigan won 24-12
December 17th, 2022 at 12:36 PM ^
Desmond Howard's catch in the ND game.
December 17th, 2022 at 2:38 PM ^
I am going to second that one. We were on about the 20 yard line in that corner and had a great view of that play. Emblazoned in my memory is my late dad yelling out--"That's an All-American!!!". Had never before nor since seen him that excited about anything.
December 17th, 2022 at 12:36 PM ^
There are so many good ones but I will go with recency bias and 45-23.
December 17th, 2022 at 12:41 PM ^
Tie between first game, vs Virginia pigskin classic and going to the NC in 97 with my dad knowing it could be the only time we experience that together in person.
December 17th, 2022 at 12:46 PM ^
1. 1997 at Penn State
2. Braylonfest
3. Nebraska Fiesta Bowl
December 17th, 2022 at 12:50 PM ^
1) Timmy - November 25, 1995 - Section 43 row 75 - 313 yards on 37 carries. Each and everyone of them was just a joy in steamrolling OSU...
2) Braylonfest - Section 42 7th row great memories..
3) Henne to Manningham - Section 34 about 80 rows up, it turned into a mash pit as people were jumping and falling over each other after the game.
December 17th, 2022 at 12:52 PM ^
97 OSU Woodson punt return
December 17th, 2022 at 12:55 PM ^
I have only been to a couple of games, none of those being home games unfortunately, but my first Michigan was the most memorable: 1991 Gator Bowl vs Ole Miss in Jacksonville (lived in FL at the time). Being a kid and seeing them live was just amazing. I couldn't believe how enormous those dudes were! And seeing my heroes: Grbac, Howard, Bunch, Alexander, etc... And they kicked the ever loving crap out of Ole Miss. Staying afterward and listening to the band play was super fun too.
December 17th, 2022 at 12:55 PM ^
Football-wise: beating OSU in 1997.
Personal-wise:
Going with my dad. Memorably, our last game together-Washington 2002.
Also: Taking my kids. Two games at Minnesota, one at Wisconsin, and one glorious evening with my girls at Michigan Stadium. Hope to take my son to his first Michigan game in Minneapolis next fall.
December 17th, 2022 at 12:59 PM ^
If beyond football: last fall’s once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see my team play in Duluth, the city I live in, with my whole family.
December 17th, 2022 at 1:03 PM ^
love all those pics, SRJK. very handsome family. thank you for sharing.
December 17th, 2022 at 1:12 PM ^
Old 98. So, were your girls Harmon fans or Gardner fans? I probably know the answer.
December 17th, 2022 at 2:25 PM ^
To be really, transparently honest: they were "outmoded jerseys available for low cost" fans. Or, at least, their dad was.
December 17th, 2022 at 12:56 PM ^
Three way tie:
1) 1989 Rose Bowl beating USC, my senior year at Michigan
2) A few weeks later, beating Virginia at Rupp Arena, in the Southeast Regional finals, on the way to winning March Madness
3) "The Catch" by Desmond vs ND in 1991
December 17th, 2022 at 1:31 PM ^
#2 was awesome on TV. (What did Rice and Higgins collectively shoot from distance on many attempts?) Must've been lots of fun in person ...
December 17th, 2022 at 12:57 PM ^
Beating Ohio State at home 42-27 last year. Hutchinson crushed the unstoppable offense. Haskins broke their talented defense. The Buckeye fans talking trash all game all went silent and moped out of the stadium while I made fun of them. The line they got the angriest at was when I said "Harbaugh owns Ohio." They really hate Jim H and thought they could look down on him because of how the series had gone the last few years. Would've loved to say that again after 2 wins in a row.
December 17th, 2022 at 12:57 PM ^
A freshman Charles Woodson picking off Bobby Hoying in 1995, overpowering and humiliating Terry Glenn to seal the win after Biakabutuka ran all over them. That pick happened right in front of me, I was 14 and sitting next to two Buckeyes on the verge of tears, cursing that Northwestern was headed to the Rose Bowl
December 17th, 2022 at 1:00 PM ^
No question. At UTL 1, and the end of game run down the field and catch in EZ (even if as far from our seats as possible) was unreal. #2 was Henne to Manningham against PSU. Did not get to last year’s OSU game.
December 17th, 2022 at 1:34 PM ^
"Gallon! They left him alone!"
Imagine being an ND fan in the stadium (or maybe on the way to your parking spot after they scored a late TD with less than a minute to go). You're relieved after two straight years of last-minute losses. And ... wow.
I really wish Michigan had taken that last kickoff fumble to the end zone. Terrance Robinson, I think, just missed.
December 17th, 2022 at 2:12 PM ^
Boom! Don Criqui’ed
December 17th, 2022 at 1:01 PM ^
easy, and it has nothing to do with recency bias, either
December 18th, 2022 at 6:19 AM ^
+1,000,000
Extremely glad you got to see this. I'm extremely grateful for the teams these past two years giving you and other fans who have been watching for numerous decades triumph over the agonizing issues of the past decade or two. The more recent dip prior to these past 3 seasons or so was agonizing for me, and I can't imagine how much worse it has been for those of you who got to experience the triumphs of the 80's and 90's but then had to go through the 2010's as I did.
"easy, and it has nothing to do with recently bias, either" is a comment I highly appreciate, especially coming from you. Whatever the fandom (music, sports, etc.) I've always felt more resonance with "favorites" when compared to discussions/arguments about who the "best" has been over a period of decades. Especially in sports comparing one person or group compared to those from another decade(s) feels like a fool's errand. A running back from the 60's existed within a very different college football "game" with significantly different rules, teammates, ways the players were utilized, etc. then college football as it exists now or even in the 80's has.
I was alive but wayyy too young to fully watch and appreciate Charles Woodson while he was playing. One of the biggest sources of UM's football joy in my early years was the A-Train's career at Michigan. I'll always connect his time here with his amazing teammate David Terrell. Fortunately I got to watch Mike Hart's amazing college years at an age where I could fully appreciate and cheer for him.
Having Hassan Haskins, followed by Blake Corum (class and character on and off the field, too), and now Donovan Edwards (particularly their performances in the past two back-to-back seasons, and Courm and Edwards within the same season)...for me that has been one of, if not the most breaktaking and undeniably awesome aspects of the domination of the last two years.
The predictions in the Illinois game threads of Michigan's season being over as soon as Blake Corum went out of the game seemed quite ridiculous, and thank god for Donovan Edwards (particularly) proving it. JJ's scrambles and huge sliding runs have only added to the awesomeness of the rushing attacks.
December 17th, 2022 at 1:03 PM ^
Being in Indianapolis two weeks ago for the Big Ten Championship was incredible, but I have to go with UTL 2. The atmosphere that night was electric. The flyovers, the Beyoncé halftime light show, beating ND. I was feeling that high for weeks afterward.
December 17th, 2022 at 1:03 PM ^
2021 OSU is obviously #1. But that’s too easy so two others that were big for a couple reasons:
2013 ND: I was a freshman and this was the second game of the season. It came right after the conclusion of the first week of classes. This experience at this night game felt surreal to me: I had accomplished my dream of attending U-M and it finally hit me that I was a U-M student and still couldn’t believe it.
2021 B1G title game: I began following Michigan football in 2005 and it felt like 16 long, often torturous, years finally capped off with a B1G title. OSU the week prior was such a euphoria and emotional blackout that you didn’t really take the time to bask in what the moment meant. I came across this Jane tweet as I laid in my Indy hotel bed and it brought back a rush of nostalgia. Just such a happy moment.
December 17th, 2022 at 1:06 PM ^
A lot of great games to choose from…. However, the Michigan v OSU game in 2021 in Ann Arbor was fantastic…
December 17th, 2022 at 1:19 PM ^
1995 OSU-Michigan game with Biakabatuka. Fun fact, my daughter was in utero at the time and ended up going to Michigan some 19 years later.
December 17th, 2022 at 1:20 PM ^
On November 16, 1968, Ron Johnson set an NCAA record by rushing for 347 yards on 31 carries. He also scored a Big Ten record five rushing touchdowns in Michigan's 34–9 victory over the Wisconsin. It was snowing and there were only a few thousand left at the end. I’ll never forget
December 17th, 2022 at 1:20 PM ^
Like the worst games, here's my top 10 in chronological order:
1. 1979 Indy - Wangler to Carter (in my EZ too). Ufer's Valhalla moment
2. 1980 Purdue - 26-0, held PU and Mark Herrmann w/o a 1st down in the 2nd half. Wangler to AC twice for TDs, both in my EZ
3. 1983 at MSU - 42-0 sat with my blue UM jacket in MSU student section
4. 1985 Ohio - last game as a SR. JH throws for 3 TDs, including 77 yd backbreaker to Kolesar. I believe this was the 1st UM home game to end in darkness with temp lights
5. 1991 Ohio - Heisman pose right down in front of us
6. 1995 Ohio - Timmy B 313 yards
7. 1997 Ohio - BEST EVER - Woodson
8. 2003 Ohio - 100th game and we dominate for the most part
9. 2011 Ohio - Hoke's biggest win ever
10. 2021 Ohio - snow and the flu