2023 ecu

Bryan Fuller and I both sat this game out for some family time, David Wilcomes picked up the mantle this weekend.

Full Album Link:

Michigan Football vs Bowling Green 2023 (David Wilcomes)

I pointed out yesterday that this weekend was probably the least enthusiastic I've felt for a football Saturday (at least in the Harbaugh era), but that this feeling was still, you know, fine. I tailgated for eight hours, drank some cheap champagne while watching some noon games on my phone, saw a bunch of friends. It was delightful. The game was frustrating but fine. I watched the end of the Rocky Mountain showdown on the floor of the Detroit airport at 1:30 in the morning. I think a lot of us are burned out from two straight years of non-meaningful non-conference schedules. But much like a pizza (and some other unnamed metaphors), even when it's not that good, it's still pretty good. 

If there's ever something we'll remember this game for, though, it was the stadium lights. The new maize and blue strobe lights were put into effect and boy did the stadium operators try to get their money's worth.

One criticism of the Rutgers Shi Stadium experience (real words I just typed) were the strobe lights after a touchdown. They were a bit much. I don't think we've gone full Rutger, never go full Rutger. But we are fully flirting with Rutger ideations. 

I sat in my seat for a few minutes after the game had ended and they just... kept on going.

 

The game has ended and the lights have been doing this for like a solid two minutes pic.twitter.com/qSjVqnRQtz

— Patrick Barron 🐻🦬🏈 (@BlueBarronPhoto) September 17, 2023

Some people found it to be overkill, others loved it. I felt like they were a bit much but this does look really pretty:

 

i’m coming out of my cage and I’ve been doing just fine pic.twitter.com/vPKa2MxnZi

— Alejandro Zúñiga (@ByAZuniga) September 17, 2023

If nothing else it made for some fun lighting.

What did you think of the lights? Fun? Overkill? Just right?

Anyways, I'm ready for conference games. You're ready for conference games. Kris Jenkins is ready for conference games.

I think we're all ready for some meaningful games now. But in the meantime, photos!
 

Social Media Accounts:

David Wilcomes
Website: davidwilcomesphotography
Twitter: @dwilcomesphoto
Instagram: @davidwilcomes

[Head coach NUMBER FOUR after THE JUMP]

Full Album Links:

Michigan Football vs UNLV 2023 (Patrick Barron)

Michigan Football vs UNLV 2023 (Bryan Fuller)

By now you've seen the smiley faces everywhere that JJ McCarthy has branded, the reminder to just go out there, have fun, and smile more. It was a beautiful little gesture that took a seven year old to remind us. A friend that I tailgate with brings an extra sharpie just in case anyone would like to draw their own smiley face for the game. After all, it's just sports, right?

At the UNLV game, for JJ, it was about more than just sports.

Yesterday, JJ McCarthy replaced his signature smiley face with something more powerful, the number 47 to honor his childhood friend, Ryan Keeler. Ryan died of arrhythmia this past February at the age of 20. JJ and Ryan played football in high school together and Ryan would go on to commit to Rutgers and eventually transfer to UNLV for the 2023 season. Saturday was supposed to be a fun reunion, instead it was an emotional day. A more in-depth story can be found at the Michigan Daily and is worth the read.

They talked about it on the broadcast, and then this happened.

Call it fate, coincidence, divine intervention, or what have you, there's no denying the poetic beauty of throwing a 47 yard touchdown pass immediately after CBS highlighted the significance of JJ's gesture. 

Players were asked about it at the post-game press conference but they ended up getting a bit choked up. 

There was no shout out to Jim Harbaugh this week via hand gesture, train formation, or "FREE HARBAUGH" shirts, just tribute to the memory JJ's friend.

Sometimes it's just sports. Sometimes it really is more than that.

Full Album Links:

Exactly 300 photos this week! 

Michigan Football vs UNLV 2023 (Patrick Barron)

Michigan Football vs UNLV 2023 (Bryan Fuller)

About the Photographers

If you'd like to support us, one of the simplest things you can do is follow us on social media (links just below) where we post way more photos than here. In the offseason I also do a LOT of wildlife/national park photography. While we're not allowed to sell any of our sports photos per our credential agreement (sorry to anyone who reached out asking about one), I sell prints from my adventures which I sell on FineArtAmerica. You can buy prints (or just look at some pretty pictures) here: Patrick Barron Art Collections Or if you'd like, you can simply support me by buying me a coffee!

Social Media Accounts:

Patrick Barron:
Twitter: @BlueBarronPhoto
Instagram: @BlueBarronPhoto
Instagram (BUT WITH BEARS): @BlueBarronPhoto_Wild 

Bryan Fuller
Twitter: @FullOfTwitt
Instagram: @BryanFullerPhotography

[I do the same bit as last week after THE JUMP]

Special Guests

Randy and Jason Sklar are joining us because they have a show at the Ann Arbor Comedy Showcase tonight, and two more tomorrow. They are also tailgating with us tomorrow at Venue. Tickets to all three shows are available here.

Tailgate Info for Tomorrow

Venue by 4M (1919 S Industrial Hwy, Ann Arbor—just at the end of the Stadium Blvd bridge. Starts at 12:30 PM. Venue will have food and drinks and parking for purchase. They have parking for $50 until it fills up. Anyone can come to the tailgate, but if you aren't seeing the Sklars live this weekend you have to give us a hot take in the hot take voice.

The Sponsors

We are broadcasting live before a retail audience at Underground Printing's downtown store on Main Street—stop by and pick up some gear, check them out at ugpmichiganapparel.com, or check out our selection of shirts on the MGoBlogStore.com. And let’s not forget our associate sponsors: Peak Wealth Management, Matt Demorest - Realtor and Lender, Human Element, Ann Arbor Elder Law, Michigan Law Grad, The Phil Klein Insurance Group, Venue by 4M, SignalWire where we usually record this, and Winewood Organics.

Featured Musician: Cut Worms

The Video:

[After THE JUMP: What was said.]