What was your first Michigan Football game?
9-18-2004 vs San Diego State, a 24-21 win. Tight game and a week after our offense shat the bed against an ND team that turned out to be bad. Started off so promising with a TD bomb to Braylon the first play. Nothing much the rest of the way, SDSU even led at one point. This was the coming out game for 3 star freshman Mike Hart who had his first 100-yard game.
Season ended in a B1G Championship and Rose Bowl appearance.
I was 9 years old (bottom right) What about you?
I was at that game as well. Frustrating to see the Rocket do it twice to us! At least Grback played well for trying to come back.
My worse game ever at Michigan stadium was the 2008 loss to Toledo. I drove 1000 miles to see the team and I think we were like 2-3, was confident we could be .500 under new coach RR. I left that game shaking my head thinking RR will not make it here, if he cannot even beat a MAC team at home. At least I got to see family during the trip up.
I was too young to remember my first game.
The first game I have distinct memories of was Wisconsin in 1977. I am reasonably sure I went to most home games that year except Ohio State; that was about the time my dad started buying four tickets instead of two.
I was eleven then but I had been going to games for several years at that point. My dad would take either me or my younger brother to most games, and my mother to one or two year. My first game was probably in the early seventies, but could have even been in the late sixties.
Went to a bunch of games as a kid (3-8 year old range) but don’t remember much. Used to have much of the 1984-1985 teams autographs ... don’t know what happened to that either.
Remember M winning the Little Brown Jug when I was a freshman in HS so that must have been 1992. Score was 63-13
My first game
Jan 1, 1991 myself, dad, uncle, and cousin at the Gator Bowl
my son’s first game
jan 1, 2011 my son, myself, dad, same uncle at the Gator Bowl
Notre Dame 1981...I was in awe walking into Michigan Stadium that first time.
Same here. It felt so much bigger before the renovations.
That one had a semi-dirty hit on the kneel-down at the end right?
Not related, but whatever, SDSU's campus and more just San Diego in general is one of the most beautifulest things in this world.
1992. in Columbus. 13-13 tie. Never seen a stadium so upset.
There has to be a winner in The Game.
Win over Miami (NTM), first game of my freshman year in 2004. Their first post-Roethlisberger game, so they were coming off probably their greatest season ever. We whupped 'em. Then lost in South Bend the next weekend to an Irish team that would end up going 6-6.
I only remember Jim Harbaugh started. It could have been in '85 or '86. Throwaway game I went to with my dad and his friend (whose tickets they were). I went to a few more in the late '80s with one of my dad's friends or another, but I was more of a Detroit Tigers fan at that point in my life. I liked being there with my dad and eating at the Fleetwood, and didn't quite understand the football game. I actually thought Michigan had stolen The Wave from the Tigers.
The first one I remember the details of was Indiana 1991. I stayed up in Ann Arbor all weekend. Desmond Howard blew my mind.
Opening game 1995, Carr's first game as Michigan HC against UVA
1969 not sure of the exact first game but I do remember being at the Oct 4, 1969 beatdown - Michigan 17 Missouri - 40.
Grumbling about Bo ensued.
I live in Lansing and my first game was at Spartan stadium in 2003. My dad was never into football but works at Michigan Farm Bureau and could get tickets to that game every other year. My first home game was unfortunately the horror.
Nov 1980, Purdue, 26-0.
1967 Michigan vs Navy, we lost 21-26. The attendance was 72,361. Both endzones were empty.
Ron Johnson rushed for 270 yards! A Michigan record at the time. The downfall was turnovers. One INT late in the 4th Q as Michigan was driving for the winning score (Vidmer was 9 for 23 for 78 yds) and fumbles. Sophomore TE, and future M captain and All-American Jim Mandich, had 3 receptions for 40 yards, and fumbled away 2 of them.
Old school box score here.
Memory is a little fuzzy but I’m pretty sure it was the ‘95 Minnesota game. I was 12. First definite memory was penn state ‘96. That was a loss. I know I went to a couple in ‘97.
Anyone remember which year there was a home game against Notre Dame that was hotter than hell? Was it ‘99?
Ohio State in 2003 for the 100th game. My parents flew me out for my 19th birthday present from San Diego. Loved it and still remember everything about the day, even walking 3 or 4 miles to the stadium and back with OSU fans. Breaston scored Michigan's 1st touchdown on an option play, Braylon and CP showed up big that day too. The fans around me were all awesome, especially when they found out I was a fan from San Diego. I'll take my sons (and wife if I can convince her) someday.
1984 #1 Miami with Bernie Kosar who was being touted as a Heisman candidate came to town. I was in grad school (undergrad UM-Flint--but had never ventured to Ann Arbor for a game). It was beautiful. The Michigan defense had Kosar befuddled all game, sometimes dropping 6 into coverage and ending up with 6 interceptions. I believe it was Harbaugh's first start. Michigan won 22-14.
Michigan wins 27-0 vs Penn State in 1998 in the Big House.
It was Tom Brady on the offense vs. LaVar Arrington on D for the bad guys. Even from way up high on the south end zone, I could see that Arrington was a terror out there.
I was 9 years old, my oldest brother was an ungrad at Michigan, and Bump Elliot was the coach. So, do the math, it was 1967. I remember the stadium wasn't crowded and my brother had no problems getting tickets and sitting with us. Other than that, I don't remember much about that game.
Mine was in 1967 too, I was 10. I was at the Navy game where Ron Johnson ran for 270 yards, I'm guessing you would have remembered that one if it was your first.
1991 OSU Game. Desmond Howard..."The Pose"
Unfortunately I was in the opposite endzone and didn't even see the pose until I got home.
2002 - Walk off field goal against Washington for the win!
September 30, 1978. Michigan beat Duke 52-0 in a pretty steady rain.
As a student, Michigan v. Virginia September 18, 1971.
First 4 games: Northwestern (away) 21-6, Virginia (home) 56-0, UCLA (home) 38-0 and Navy (home) 46-0. After 4 games M 161, Opponents 6. Oh yes, we beat Ohio State 10-7 at home. It was sleeting in the 4th quarter - froze my ass off. Went back to Bursley and stood under a hot shower for at least 1/2 hour. In my 4 undergraduate years, we never lost a home game, tied 2.
First ever game 1964 (I think) with Bob Timberlake playing QB. Don't remember the opponent, but I have the program somewhere.
Yes, I am old.
First game I was old enough to remember: 1973 OSU The Tie. I was thirteen and it was a mindblowing experience in numerous ways, one of them a contact high from the joint that was passing across me from my aunt's brother to some other hippie. We were sitting in the end zone where Lantry's missed field goals were coming right at us. I remember the second shorter one looking good, but history tells me the long one before that was closer. Even though I'd never been at a win or loss I could feel the whole place deflating. It was such a huge day for me. We lived in New York and my dad worked for American Airlines so we could fly free. We got up early, flew to Detroit, rented a car, went to the tailgate at the golf course with my uncle and grandparents who lived in Ann Arbor, went to their place for dinner, and flew home the same evening. We did the same thing once or twice a season during those years. I think the last one was the 75 loss to OSU, a real crusher. There are photos of me at games a decade earlier, sitting in my mom's lap, but at three even Michigan Stadium didn't register in my memory.
My first Michigan Football Experience occurred Sept 28th, 1974, a 52-0 blowout of Navy.
I was then a student at WMU living in Smith-Burnham Hall, one of my new friends there talked me into hitchhiking with him back to his folks house in Redford with the promise of tailgating, free food and beer, and of course, tickets to that game. We were able to find a ride on the dorm bulletin board that took us past Battle Creek, from there it was thumbs up on the freeway shoulder--- that got us past Ypsi. From there my buddy Don called his dad from something called a "Pay Phone" ( keep in mind, this was back in the dark ages before cell phones), and we safely got to Redford.
Next morning, an early departure for Ann Arbor got us to the tailgate at the corner of Stadium and Main---we parked in the backyard right across from Michigan Stadium. Yes, there used to be a house there, Don's dad worked for a small company that always used that house and lot, they held a couple dozen football season tickets used primarily to entertain customers. Three or four of my first half-dozen Michigan games in '74 thru '76 I tailgated there; by '77 I had season tickets with my friends Mark, Mark, and... Mark (one of the 3 Marks went by "Rick", his middle name).
I've had season tickets ever since.
Hey neighbor, How long did you live in Burnham? I lived in Ernest Burnham in fall of 1975 and spring of 1976. Hoping we can get together for that beer soon.
Take care ?
Wow.
I was still at room 223 Smith Burnham in '75-76, lived that summer in the student ghetto on Vine Street, then next in Kendall Manor Apartments about 3/4 miles down from my favorite Kalamazoo sub shop, The Galley.
Did you play a lot of Euchre back then? If so we may have crossed paths in one of the dorm Euchre tournaments, besides enjoying Bronco Burgers in the Burnham's Cafeteria.
Sorry for the late response, was out with the wife. I was on the fourth floor, room 470. Do you remember the fire alarm going off late one Saturday night for a real fire? I was not there, but my roommate was passed out in bed naked and had to be dressed and helped out of the room by two female RA's. Too funny, made the student newspaper. Remember the euchre tournaments, too. We really need to get together and talk about these things. Small world!!!!
Yes, I sure do remember that fire. A couple of friends lived on the 4th floor of Ernie that year, one was then a co-worker at the Patterson-Douglas Avenue Meijer, his first name Randy, the other I knew from high school band (we were both in the saxophone section at GR West Catholic, my grad year 1973, his 74), his name was Tom B-----. I think Tom lived just a few doors down from the fire, as I recall.
Yep, definitely a small world! Are you originally from the Rockford area?
Yes, graduated in 75. What's a good way to meet up with you? Zains parking lot???
LOL, not a whole helluva lot open in these days of social distancing, but yeah, as soon as bars and restaurants reopen, we'll have to meet up somewhere sometime, like maybe a local brewpub, or maybe the famous Corner Bar in Rockford for instance---I haven't been there in at least a dozen years.
Could even put together a general invite thread for other North Kent-area MGoUsers to join up for a beer, once the world return to some sort of normalcy.
Sounds great ?. Corner Bar is a good option. Bronco burgers, what a blast from the past. Ate them practically every day ?
The Galley was the best!
Damn right it was! Oh how I miss their sub sandwiches, didn't they have about 45 or more different combos you could choose from? And the bread they used, so crusty and chewy and delicious, I've never found a sub shop anywhere as good as Galley Subs!
Amazing that your post came right after mine about OSU 73. That Navy game in 74 was my second! Flew out for that one too.
11/8/75 UM v Purdue. Went with my Scout Troop. Jim Smith went crazy and became my new football hero. This is the game that began the 100,000+ attendance streak which is still running.
September 25th 1971.
Meeeechigan 38 UCLA 0
The first of nearly 200 games attended.
GO BLUE ??
2000 orange bowl!!
2002 Michigan vs. Washington. Phil Brabbs FTW.
Concussion Gate!!
1985 UM v Purdue. Harbaugh and Morris vs Jim Everitt and Rod Woodson. UM blew them out, I think it was a shut out. I grew up out of state but with family back in michigan sending me swag for birthday's and xmas. Was so pumped to go to a game live. Was everything I imagined and more. I was 14 at the time and squeezed in a couple more before I headed to A2 for my freshman year in '88. I have been to most games since. Took my kids to their first games much earlier than I made it. The Illinois shoot out and the WMU thunderstorm games were their first and very memorable games.
2013 vs Akron with my father. Brady Hoke bought donuts for the first 5,000 fans. That was about the only highlight of that game day experience
Michigan 31, Illinois 0
Sept 16, 1978
I remember Ricky Leach scrambling around, but not much else.
My first game as both a student and a member of the MMB!
Actual first game September '77: #3 UM vs #5 Texas A&M 41-3
It was 7-3 at the half, A&M had a barefoot kicker who was hitting them from 60 yards in pregame.
1993 vs Purdue. I had applied to Michigan during my senior year of HS and was visiting campus. My sister was a sophomore there at the time (living in MoJo, I believe), so she showed me the campus, took me to a class, took me to the Purdue game, hooked me up with some of her guy friends to play ball at CCRB (and to stay with one of them since I couldn't stay with her and her roommate), and so on.
2005 PSU. Manningham in the back of the endzone to win the game under the lights. It twas fantastic. The next 7-8 years after that I either scalped or was gifted tickets while going to almost every game. It was ugly at times. After getting married and having three kids I'm lucky to make it to one game a year nowadays.
1989 vs OSU. Bo's last home game (and last win). Had goosebumps the whole day and got to walk across the field afterwards. If I would've known that would be Bo's last game, I would've kept the ticket stub.