Content Idea - Reader Input Desired
I'm cooking up a summer content idea for all you fine people and wanted some input before I get going. The overarching idea is a weekly breakdown of sorts of an old Michigan football game... I'm not sure exactly how it would be formatted but essentially the concept is I, a baby who hasn't seen any games from before 2007ish, and Craig Ross, a guy who has seen every Michigan game for 50+ years, would watch an old Michigan game together (from any time spanning the late 60s up through the mid-2000s).
We'd watch the game, Craig talking about what he remembers and how what we're watching lines up with his memory, and me taking it all in and observing what I'm noticing (watching the game for the first time) and how it compares to a modern lens/what I'm learning about it. After we watch the game, I'd write up a piece about the game blending in both Craig and I's analysis, dropping in clips of the game, breaking down big plays, and then some context being added before and after the game about the lead up to the game, how the game impacted that season overall, and how it squares with Michigan football history overall. The idea is the pieces would be part nostalgic (since most of you folks are much older than me) but also in hopefully interesting and informative looks back in time as we get ready for another season.
Assuming all of you, the readers, think this isn't a garbage idea for content, I'd like to know which games you'd most like to see us break down. Obviously I can't guarantee we have perfect footage of every game you nominate and I'd pick the most enticing ones, but let me know which ones stand out as the most interesting to see broken down in retrospect, or the ones you'd most like to have me watch, having never seen any of these before. I'd love to hear from all of you!
Please just do the good games--it's hard enough being a Michigan fan already; do we really want to relive the bad losses? I'd vote for choosing games that in hindsight were pivotal turning points within the seasons they were played. That might allow you and Craig to provide even more big picture perspective as you review and analyze the games you select.
I was thinking a little differently when I pondered the question.
I don't like punching myself in the balls, and I understand that my suggestion probably won't be received well, but I think it would be interesting to consider some of the improbable losses (Minnesota in 1986, The Horror) with common threads. In those cases it would be running QBs. That has intermittently been a point of weakness for Michigan defenses across several coaching staffs.
I don't like punching myself in the balls
but I think it would be interesting to consider some of the improbable losses
I'm beginning to think you do like punching yourself in the balls.
I’d add the Kordell Stewart Colorado game to this list. That was a hard watch, but it may be therapeutic to go back, take another look, and re-live it with you guys.
I love the idea. I would start with Michigan vs. Ohio State from 1997.
I would also add some very old games from 1947-1948 era and maybe a Tom Harmon game. The 1940 Ohio State game would be fun.
Came here to say UM/OSU '97. Incredible game with great, iconic moments, and of course iconic players.
Four of the best 1990s games I would love to see broken down besides the obvious osu and Michigan state games.
Michigan vs Virginia 1995
Vs Iowa 1997
Vs notre dame 1991
Rose bowl 1993
I second the suggestion of the Michigan Virginia game! One of the first games I sorta remember watching (I guess I was 11)
Same. I was 10 and I believe this is my first time I can remember being super excited for college football. Before that I would kind of watch some of the game with my dad.
I can tell you this it was hot as balls in the stadium! I was 14
I was there and 15 years old...and it was hot as hell that day...thank you Mercury Hayes (and Tyrone Butterfield for the drop)
I'd love to see a rewatch of 2003 Michigan-OSU, especially if it included deeper opinions than I've seen regarding why the current streak could be more durable than what we were hoping for, but never materialized, back then.
At risk of self-congratulation, I would probably find maximum value in a series with that kind of context:
Rather than historical recaps that are largely limited to M nostalgia deep dives, let it become a review of games (they can still be feel-good stories) that found and enrich our expectations for the current decade.
The downside to recent games is that anything in the Harbaugh era is likely to be familiar to most of us, and the years immediately preceding the Harbaugh era don't have a lot of games I'd like to rewatch (with some exceptions early in the Hoke era).
My suggestions:
- Hoke: 2011 Ohio State and Notre Dame, 2013 Notre Dame
- Late Lloyd: Capital One bowl against Florida, 2006 Notre Dame
- Early Lloyd: 1995 Virginia and 1997 Iowa as suggested elsewhere in the thread, 1999 Penn State,
- Mo: 1991 Notre Dame, 1993 Rose Bowl win over Washington, 1994 Notre Dame
- Late Bo: 1988 Ohio State,1989 Rose Bowl win over Southern Cal, 1986 Fiesta Bowl over Nebraska, 1985 and 1986 Ohio State games
- Mid Bo: 1980 Ohio State, 1978 Notre Dame, 1977 Ohio State
- Early Bo: 1969 and 1971 Ohio State, 1969 Purdue
Great idea. But the game to start with has to be the game that kicked off the modern era of great Michigan football. 1969. M 24 OSU 12. Totally destroyed the "team of the century. "
I was there as a freshman and was forever hooked. They carried Jim Mandich off the field right towards me under the north goal post.
Hail Garvie Craw. Hail Barry Pierson. Hail Henry Hill. Hail Don Moorehead. Hail Cecil Pryor. And Hail Jimmy Mandich.
I was gonna suggest that. I think my parents went, but I was too young to watch the game. I've seen the highlights on Youtube (thank you WolverineHistorian!) but never the full game.
Would also love the 97 Iowa game. Sort of a forgotten piece of that legendary season.
I was at that game in the South EZ with a huge Iowa fan. Griese hit Tuman for the lead but it still felt like it was slipping away when Iowa drove to about our 25 - and the The Sword got perhaps his only career INT to end it.
Definitely a game I've watched more than a few times on YouTube. Griese said years later that the comeback and holding off Iowa at the end was when the team really believed it could win them all. Down 21-7 after a horrendous 1st half.
As soon as I saw this idea my first thought was 95 M vs Virginia Kickoff Classic. It was unbelievably hot. The stadium ran out of water.
‘97 Iowa game is also a must.
‘03 Ohio State game
That Washington game where Braylon screwed around and got help from the officials and Michigan finally kicked a field goal for the walk off win.
Braylonfest. My memory was Braylon went from shaky to incredible.
I was home sick with pneumonia. I would love this!!!
I was working at Skeeps during this game. Was pretty full of sparties. I was miserable for much of the game but the emotional swing watching that with lots of msu fans around was incredible
every OSU/ND win from mid-80s on.
I'm not sure this fits, but I'd love to read an article about the 2008 Capital One Bowl. How M/Lloyd beat UF/Urbz. What they changed from the regular season in the bowl game. Etc.
This is pretty awesome. I remember how shocking that game was, even without the multiple(?!?!?!?!) Mike Hart fumbles.
2 lost inside the 5 yard line. IIRC he had only like 1 lost before that (or something ridiculous). And then to win by 5, what a game! Should have been a blowout.
Good one
Great call Millhouse! I remember ESPN calculated Florida’s win % in the high 90 percents before the game even started. ESPN essentially said it was nearly mathematically impossible for M to win days before the game.
Let’s find out how they were so SO wrong.
It would also be cool to see games that were otherwise run-of-the-mill regular season games, but where an event happened that changed the course of the season, became a meme, or a defining moment revealed a breakout player. It would be cool to hear commentary reminding everyone of the context/narratives that were being discussed at the time.
Examples: The Jourdan Lewis interception vs. Wisconsin in 2016. When John O'Korn lit up Purdue in 2017. The MOON game. 2006 vs OSU.
Wait - did you really just ask for the M00N game to be replayed, recapped, and discussed?
JFC...
I'll pass on that one, thank you...
Man, if you could synch that all up on video (probably couldn't show the game unfortunately) and have Dave be the peanut gallery making fun of Craig's memory that sounds like gold Jerry gold.
Mystery Science Theater 2000 style. That would be awesome.
Everyone has made great suggestions. I'd just add the Michigan-Alabama Orange Bowl game in 2000.
I'd call it MGoBlog Science Theater 4000, because the shorthand would be MST 4K.
Yeah, except nothing from 2008, because that particular season really does make me hear:
"So...once again...in case you've forgotten....uh, Manos: The Hands Of Fate"
Outstanding idea. Suggestion for games:
OSU in '88, '91, and '94
'89 Rose bowl
Notre dame in '91
and if you have to do a loss, MSU in '90. That was a crazy game for many reasons.
"I's"?
1981 and 1989 Rose Bowls are really fun, if we're talking only about wins, and maybe 1985 vs. Ohio State? (Harbaugh to Kolesar).
24-12
How did it take so long for this to show up in the comments? This game was at least as iconic as 2022 OSU, for all you youngsters out there.
(24-12 = 1969 OSU, just in case....)
This is the game. Also the 1973 game as well--I get the vote clouds this game, but it was a memorable game in its own right.
I’d like to see 1969 OSU game. Also, AC game ending catch against Indiana.
I’m old enough to remember the games from the 90s, so I’d like to go back a little further.
Great idea!
I'm not so good with specific games, but generally:
- Games that you feel relate to current schemes or personnel for Michigan. So if Craig is like, "I remember so-and-so, reminds me of X person on the team," and there's a game that features that old player, then you zero in on that game. Same for schemes, especially with Harbaugh digging into this more 'old school' approach with many modern wrinkles.
- Copy-paste of the above, but featuring key opponents' personnel and schemes.
- Copy-paste of the two above, except with a future-leaning view. "I predict Michigan/Michigan's opponent will look like this game in a few years."
I know it's not what you asked for, but I think recording the audio of you two talking things over and editing it into a video podcast with the play running could be really neat, too.
I would love it to be a podcast thing. Have one of those shortened cuts and have a convo during it. I would love to listen to that.
Great idea. Incidentally, Craig is very complimentary of your writing. You are doing a great job.
games: any win v Ohio, 1983, 1997
wins v ND
reg season v UCLA ~ 1990 at their place
The UCLA game in the big house in 1990ish was my first game I remember going to. That would be a cool one.
1985... all or any of it. The team started the season unranked and went on to outscore all opponents 342 to 98, only losing to #1 Iowa on the road and finishing #2.
It's fascinating because of the defense and also because they were quarterbacked by one Jim Harbaugh.
My senior year. Loved that team. Overachievers (not a lot of players other than JH had long NFL careers).
Loved being at MSU for a 31-0 beatdown with all 4 TDs scored in our end and hearing the frustrated MSU fans (our D completely shut them down but for one drive that ended with a missed FG) - what are you going to do now George (Perles)? - to which my college roommate and I said - it's 4th and 13, I think it's a punt :>)
Great idea. Love Ross's takes by the way. Cool guy.
2006 OSU (I know, painful, but was a turning point in a bad way for UM) and Devin Gardner's heroic game against OSU.
What a tremendous idea Alex, I absolutely love it.
I’ll pick one per decade that I remember (or at least I think I remember) that i would love to hear your analysis on:
1973 Michigan vs OSU - the Lantry game
1986 Fiesta Bowl vs Nebraska
1993 Rose Bowl vs Washington
2004 Michigan vs MSU - Braylonfest
Oh, the 1993 Rose Bowl. For a sec I thought you meant the '92 Rose Bowl. I was at that game; a pointed stick in the eye would be preferable.
Was at 93 game. Ty Wheatley just scored again…,