One Frame At A Time: Notre Dame
This whole sequence—Hoke trying to call a timeout as Gardner barely gets the play off, Gardner scoring, Hoke shrugging—is spectacular; the ever-so-subtle smirk at the end just kills me, though. However, is this even the best GIF of the week? Hit the jump to find out my choice and vote for your favorite.
[JUMP like Funchess on a middle screen]
As always, click each link or still to open each GIF in a lightbox, and don't forget to vote for your favorite at the end of the post.
HONORABLE MENTION
From elsewhere: Eminem is on, well, something (via Gifulmination). Gallon photobombs Gardner (via Michigan's official Tumblr).
From yours truly: Beyoncé says "Go Blue". Dileo diving catch. The wheel route always works. Gardner-Gallon unstoppable back-shoulder throw. Gallon reverse with Gardner as lead blocker. Dan Fox dives for Gardner, instead hits sunglasses-wearing ND band douche (it's night, bro). Now that I know this girl was okay I don't feel morally reprehensible for posting this.
10. The Hardest Hit DG Took All Game
"Great job, Devin. Now excuse me while I slap the everloving s*** out of your chest."
9. Devin Funchess Is Tall, Rather Athletic
I have zero complaints about Al Borges's masterful gameplan from Saturday. I would, however, like to see tight end Stretch Armstrong utilized a little bit more in the future.
8. Rees'd It
I have no idea how Tommy Rees didn't see Blake Countess, either, but that's what makes him Tommy Rees, and we love him for it. Alternate GIF showing the full play/return.
7. Fitz Toussaint Cutback Surprise
Man, what a move. Don't miss Louis Nix's futile diving effort in the background.
6. Devin Funchess, Terrifying Free Safety
Yes, that white thing you see fly through the air is a mouthguard. Either that or Corey Robinson has (had?) some unusually large teeth.
5. Cluck Of The Irish
The final interception deflected not once, but twice, before settling into the arms of Blake Countess. Yeah, that'll make up for the fluky TJ Jones touchdown, football gods. Alternate view zoomed in on the Taylor kick.
4. Option Route: Definitely A Threat
That's pretty much unstoppable.
3. Jeremy Gallon. Just... Jeremy Gallon.
The first, and most remarkable, touchdown (more from this later, of course):
Before we get to Gallon's second TD, here's Brian Kelly, who I guess should be a defensive coordinator, because—if my amateur lip-reading is correct—he says this after seeing Michigan's alignment...
...and Gardner subsequently throws it to Gallon in the right corner:
Alternate view of the route/catch; that's a perfect throw by Gardner.
This was not called pass interference because Jeremy Gallon doesn't need your damn flags anyway:
Touchdown the third came on a brilliant playcall by Borges to get Gallon all alone on a crossing route:
RPS +3. Gallon +ALLOFTHEPOINTS.
2. Hokeshrug
Let's contrast this with the head man on the other sideline:
He seems pleasant.
I can't wait to see how the voting splits between this and...
FRAMES OF THE GAME
Jehu Chesson Bowls A Turkey
Here's where I remind you that Jehu Chesson is a 196-pound redshirt freshman. And yeah, I'll post the bowling GIF again:
I've bowled plenty of times and never recorded a turkey. Jehu Chesson did it with three living humans. The first "pin" he hit, Elijah Shumate, is listed at 213 pounds; Dan Fox (#48) weighs 245, Bennett Jackson (#2) 195. With one violent thrust of his arm, Jehu Chesson wiped out 653 pounds of football player without losing his feet. That's incredible.
VOTE
September 10th, 2013 at 4:04 PM ^
But the surprise cutback by Fitz was just sick!
September 10th, 2013 at 4:05 PM ^
September 10th, 2013 at 4:18 PM ^
September 10th, 2013 at 4:39 PM ^
Looked like helmet to helmet to me. I didn't see the game but my first reaction on seeing that GIF was "Did Funchess get ejected?" because according to the new rules he should have been.
September 10th, 2013 at 4:27 PM ^
It looks like Funchess was arguably jumping up to go for the ball, and this hit looks bad because he is just a very large person moving very fast. But anyway, refs never call interference or targeting on Hail Mary passes, for whatever reason.
September 11th, 2013 at 9:16 AM ^
The gif looks much worse than it did on HDTV. I watched that play several times and it's pretty clearly a shoulder check, much like his crack back block against central. The helmets only connect because the dude's head is still moving forward while his body is being violently propelled backwards.
September 10th, 2013 at 4:07 PM ^
September 10th, 2013 at 4:14 PM ^
I cannot help my giggling every time I see that gif with Hoke and his "dah well."
September 10th, 2013 at 4:16 PM ^
I think Kelly actually says "they'll throw for it."
September 10th, 2013 at 4:31 PM ^
They'll go for it?
September 11th, 2013 at 8:05 AM ^
thats what i got, but it doesnt make sense if it was on 1st down...
September 10th, 2013 at 4:17 PM ^
September 10th, 2013 at 4:20 PM ^
My favorite part of the Funchess one-handed catch screen play is the Nix's 1.5 inch vertical jump as he attempts to bat down the pass.
September 10th, 2013 at 6:04 PM ^
When I saw this Saturday I died laughing.
September 10th, 2013 at 4:22 PM ^
We add a weekly Epic Hoke Shrug of the Week award in the post games too? You know for every time Gardner has one of those, OMG What are you doi......YEAHHH! moments?
September 10th, 2013 at 4:22 PM ^
I wish I could vote for the contrast between the Hokeshrug and the Kelly meltdown. I absolutely love it.
September 10th, 2013 at 7:04 PM ^
I was told by a Figthing Irish fan that when ND is on NBC they never show Kelly on the sidelines. Because this game was on ESPN and ABC affiliate, they decided to show the HC is all his MFing glory. I think I remember an article about NBC showing it once, dealing with the fall out, and deciding not to show him again. I am glad recruits are able to see the difference.
However, the Hoke comparison would not draw the right parallel because of the good result. I think a better gif comparison, if there is one, would be after the punter missed the ball against Ohio, Hoke put his hands on the sholder pads and camly talked to him. I remember thinking at the time that I was was impress at how calm Hoke was because I was yelling at the punter from my couch.
September 11th, 2013 at 9:27 AM ^
I think that is the best contrast. Kelly looses his shit over a time out. Gardner makes a huge mistake and doesn't get chewed out ...
September 10th, 2013 at 4:32 PM ^
I love Jehu Chesson's bowling for domers.
September 10th, 2013 at 5:55 PM ^
he deserves a letter just for that block. Awesome!
September 10th, 2013 at 4:33 PM ^
quite a chest slap, but I don't think Devin put his hand there because it was painful. Heather Cox started to ask him about the number, so I think he just playfully tried to cover it up with his left hand.
September 10th, 2013 at 4:40 PM ^
If you watch the live interview right after the game, Devin definitely says, "Owww" before he responds to the question.
September 10th, 2013 at 4:44 PM ^
But didn't he say something like "hardest hit I took all day."?
September 10th, 2013 at 5:14 PM ^
That hurt.
:)
I voted for that one. My wife and I enjoyed that one quite a bit. :)
Rob
September 10th, 2013 at 4:45 PM ^
check that out later this evening. I still have the game on DVR. I obviously missed that live.
September 10th, 2013 at 4:49 PM ^
When I saw it on the tv replayed I thought "Ouch, coach." Looking at it as a gif, maybe it's the speed, but it doesn't look as hard to me either.
September 10th, 2013 at 10:03 PM ^
Upon Further Review, after the Brady Hoke chest slap on Devin, he did mutter "that hurt".
September 10th, 2013 at 4:39 PM ^
Anyone else notice Jackson level that guy on Gallon's third touchdown? Michigan WR's show no mercy out there.
September 10th, 2013 at 4:40 PM ^
Beyonce, the reverse, morally reprehensible stuff. Love it.
It's a bit of a cheat to have a modified video vs. a regular one. Hoke Shrug for the win. (And it's the closest vote I can remember in awhile, if ever).
September 10th, 2013 at 4:50 PM ^
I voted for "The Hardest Hit DG Took All Game."
Call me a sentimental fool, but I just love the way Hoke shows his feelings for his players and how they respond.
That slap on Gardner's chest was a "I'm proud of you, son" thump ... and the quick look on Gardner's face in acknowledgement just warmed my heart.
The Hoke Shrug will live forever. But the chest thump by Hoke speaks volumes about the character of the man.
September 10th, 2013 at 4:59 PM ^
but Funchess knocked out Corey Robinson's mouthguard. The play happened right in front of me (sort of, I was 40 rows up) and live, it was nasty. The mouthguard just sat onthe field for a long time; the guy next to me pointed it out as we appreciated the hit.
September 10th, 2013 at 5:06 PM ^
because he is a total douche on the field but somehow still gets players to go there
Also, does anyone have video of the Hoke & Gardner postgame interview? I can't find them anymore
September 10th, 2013 at 5:10 PM ^
My vote is for Chesson. I don't think the receivers get enough credit for good blocks because a lot of time it's out of screen view.
September 10th, 2013 at 5:14 PM ^
Just wondering when someone (yeah...not me) will put up a website...."Brady Hoke Shrugs At Things" ?
September 10th, 2013 at 5:25 PM ^
September 10th, 2013 at 5:43 PM ^
Can you resize that picture? Its hard to see some of the detail in it...
September 10th, 2013 at 5:35 PM ^
and couldn't be more disadvantageous to the latter.
September 10th, 2013 at 5:58 PM ^
I felt likely belonged to Funchess. He probably was not ready to enter the game as a DB. I could be wrong though, the flight of it looked like it could have come from the top of his (Funchess) helmet.
September 11th, 2013 at 12:46 PM ^
I've noticed twice this season Funchess playing while his mouthguard is in his facemask. Not sure if he just forgets, or doesn't like it...
September 10th, 2013 at 6:01 PM ^
My vote is for Jeremy Jackson who, apparently, absolutely punished Notre Dame's saftey in the back of the endzone on Gallon's third TD.
Hopefully there is another angle or a zoomed version of the play.
September 10th, 2013 at 6:11 PM ^
I have a GIF request... After Rees' 2nd interception, he comes to the sideline and BK clearly yells at him saying, "IT WAS FIRST DOWN!"
September 10th, 2013 at 6:16 PM ^
Michigan receivers got NASTY over the summer.
September 10th, 2013 at 7:03 PM ^
on the long version of Rees'd it - watch Ross - he comes downfield from behind the play and eventually gets into position to throw a nice block. A lot of those guys have gotten snaps on special teams, right? Seemed like the whole defense tried to help Countess set up that return far better than the chaos you see sometimes.
September 10th, 2013 at 7:10 PM ^
So many awesome moments captured here, making it hard to choose. The Chesson block was a really big play that helped Gallon score from a distance. Hoke shrugging will live on at MGoBlog forever. However, I voted for Fitz's incredible cutback, not only for how awesome it was and how it helped to gain valuable, tough yards on the ground, but in light of his gruesome injury last November, I can't help but feel good for the guy. Fitz FTW!
September 11th, 2013 at 4:10 PM ^
Now it looks like Chesson is pissing block M's all over ND's defense.
Which, he kinda is.
September 10th, 2013 at 9:01 PM ^
September 10th, 2013 at 9:51 PM ^
Hoke shrug = instant classic = screams to be an mgoteeshirt
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