After securing my copy of the Akron game, which somehow didn't instantaneously melt my hard drive, I solicited GIF requests on Twitter. A sampling of your responses:

There were also requests for kittens, corgis, Henrik Zetterberg, and a Men In Black-style memory erase. This quickly devolved into people sending me GIFs of adorable animals. I may have requested this, too.

Worst win ever? Worst win ever.

[After THE JUMP: actual football GIFs. Well, for the most part.]

As always, click the stills/links to open each GIF in a lightbox. For non-Chrome users, you can stop the animation of GIFs I didn't lightbox by hitting the 'escape' key.

HONORABLE MENTION

LOL no.

10. This Game, Basically

I'd rank this higher if I didn't feel like a pretty terrible person just by posting it; however, it sums up the game too well. Raymon Taylor gets beat clean over the top, Akron's receiver hauls in a great throw, and it appears that the Zips score a touchdown while Taylor gets a face full of butt. Upon further review, the touchdown was overruled; Akron still had the ball mere feet from the end zone, and Taylor still got a face full of butt. If this had been the play to set up one of Akron's failed goal line opportunities—they actually scored after this one—then this would be #1 on account of being a perfect representation of this game for Michigan, Akron, and the fan experience.

9. With A Little Help From My Friends

Jehu Chesson's first career catch should've been a ~15-yard gain if not for the "tackling" "effort" by #91 on Akron, who's slightly hampered by a Chesson stiff-arm, still gets both hands on him, and... perfectly redirects Chesson towards the end zone without stopping any of his momentum. You can see him in the background gesticulating out of either utter frustration or confused triumph as Chesson bolts into the end zone. Zoomed-in view of the tackle attempt.

Michigan almost lost to this team. I don't even...

8. CORGIS ON A TREADMILL

[Insert joke about Michigan's rushing offense here.]

7. Hoke Of The Jungle

I suspect this will be posted more by trolling enemy bloggers than Michigan fans, but it was too good to pass up.

6. Gardner Glides, Glasgow Destroys

Michigan runs the inverted veer, Devin Gardner keeps, and as he does his World's Fastest Jogger thing he picks up key blocks from Graham Glasgow, Devin Funchess(!), and Jeremy Jackson en route to the end zone.

ENHANCE

This is a vicious and perfectly legal block from Graham Glasgow. NCAA rules forbid blocks in the back unless they happen in the "blocking zone", which is defined as the area within five yards laterally of each side of the center (the tackle box, essentially) and within three yards of the line of scrimmage. The helpful blue line is, in this case, quite helpful indeed. And no, I have no idea why Akron's linebacker thought he could make a play by running backwards towards Gardner—he looks like he's in rewind while the rest of the play is in fast-forward, and that's how you end up eating fieldturf for lunch.

5. EXCLUSIVE PRACTICE FOOTAGE FROM LAST WEEK

Well, this explains a lot. (via)

4. Devin Gardner Is Relatively Excited

As you can see, this tremendous celebration occurred after Michigan took a 7-0 lead, which explains why there was still this much joy in the universe.

3. Uh, We'd Rather Not Run That Play, Thanks

I'm really sorry for this. Blame my Twitter followers, who requested this more than any other GIF from the game, albeit for pretty understandable reasons.

2. THE FLYING ENNUI

Michigan's strong start to the second half briefly excited Henri; the ensuing events caused him to perform what's commonly known in the otter community as "The Flying Ennui" maneuver.

FRAMES OF THE GAME

The merciful finish.

Thank you, Greg Mattison; also Thomas Gordon, Terry Bowden—for calling a pitch on the previous play—and the official for his near-mocking incomplete signal right in front of the complaining Akron receiver.

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