The Cloudy History of the Michigan Spring Game
EDIT - Bumped per request - LSA
Spring football. For the average joe fan, it's the final drop of Michigan Athletics they'll taste until the Fall.
Spring football culminates in the annual spring game (or in last year's case, the Spring Stretchy and Punting Exhibition).
But it always wasn't like that. For many, many years Michigan played a Blue-White game every single season up until Lloyd Carr first started messing with it in 2000 when one of the squads were spotted a 17-0 lead to begin the game...
Being the insane statistics and numbers fan that I am, I have been doing a lot of research using the Google Newspaper archives to look the history of the Michigan Spring Game.
While the Google News archives are not complete by any stretch since there are many, many years and months missing from the Michigan Daily archives, I found a pretty decent chunk of information. Not just from the Daily, but the Toledo Blade and other newspapers from around the state of Michigan that covered Michigan Football at the time. The building of this list of spring game scores will only continue until it's 100% complete. I am already planning several trips to Bentley Library to research spring game info in addition to information on several other sports in my quest to build a SuperGuide for all Varsity sports at Michigan.
The only other instance that I know of a school documenting their spring game history is Nebraska, who has scores going back to 1950.
The earliest Michigan spring game that I have found record of took place on May 2nd, 1930(!).
Confirmed spring game dates and scores throughout history
Date | Winning Team | Losing Team | Score | Source |
5/2/1930 | Currently Unknown | Source | ||
5/5/1934 | Currently Unknown | Source | ||
5/4/1935 | Currently Unknown | Source | ||
5/1/1937 | Currently Unknown | Source | ||
5/9/1942 | White | Blue | 7-0 | Source |
5/20/1950 | Blue | White | 50-0 | Source |
5/14/1952 | Blue | White | 36-0 | Source |
5/14/1955 | Blue | White | 31-7 | Source |
5/12/1956 | Blue | White | 34-7 | Source |
1957 | Blue | White | 31-25 | Source |
5/17/1958 | Blue | White | 21-6 | Source |
5/9/1959 | White | Blue | 22-21 | Source |
5/7/1960 | Blue | White | 7-0 | Source |
5/12/1962 | White | Blue | 28-19 | Source |
5/13/1963 | Blue | White | 25-0 | Source |
5/9/1964 | White | Blue | 32-29 | Source |
4/17/1965 | Blue | White | 34-0 | Source |
4/16/1966 | Currently Unknown | Source | ||
4/15/1967 | Blue | White | 20-7 | Source |
4/12/1969 | Blue | White | 35-0 | Source |
4/18/1970 | Blue | White | 28-13 | Source |
4/17/1971 | Currently Unknown | Source | ||
4/22/1972 | White | Blue | 14-12 | Source |
4/21/1973 | White | Blue | 17-7 | Source |
4/20/1974 | Blue | White | 41-7 | Source |
4/19/1975 | Blue | White | 17-3 | Source |
4/17/1976 | White | Blue | 13-0 | Source |
4/16/1977 | Blue | White | 35-24 | Source |
4/15/1978 | Blue | White | 15-14 | Source |
4/14/1979 | Blue | White | 21-0 | Source |
4/19/1980 | Blue | White | 35-7 | Source |
4/18/1981 | White | Blue | 19-18 | Source |
4/17/1982 | Currently Unknown | Source | ||
4/16/1983 | Blue | White | 16-8 | Source |
4/14/1984 | White | Blue | 18-15 | Source |
4/20/1985 | Blue | White | 27-20 | Source |
4/19/1986 | White | Blue | 18-13 | Source |
4/18/1987 | White | Blue | 20-17 | Source |
4/16/1988 | White | Blue | 20-17 | Source |
4/15/1989 | Blue | White | 24-17 | Source |
4/21/1990 | White | Blue | 31-6 | Source |
1991 | Cancelled due to field conditions | Source | ||
4/11/1992 | White | Blue | 14-12 | Source |
4/10/1993 | White | Blue | 21-20 | Source |
4/9/1994 | White | Blue | 10-6 | Source |
4/8/1995 | White | Blue | 45-44 | Source |
1996 | Cancelled due to field conditions | Source | ||
4/12/1997 | White | Blue | 22-20 | Source |
4/18/1998 | White | Blue | 20-17 | Source |
4/17/1999 | No Score Kept | Source | ||
4/15/2000 | White | Blue | 23-22 | Source |
4/14/2001 | White | Blue | 21-7 | Source |
4/13/2002 | No Score Kept | Source | ||
2003 | Cancelled due to field conditions | Source | ||
4/10/2004 | No Score Kept | Source | ||
4/16/2005 | No Score Kept | Source | ||
4/10/2006 | No Score Kept | Source | ||
4/14/2007 | White | Blue | 42-41 | Source |
4/12/2008 | No Score Kept (Held at Saline HS) | Source | ||
4/11/2009 | No Score Kept | * | ||
4/17/2010 | Blue | Maize | 49-37 | * |
4/16/2011 | Blue | Maize | 14-7 | * |
4/14/2012 | Blue | Maize | 17-0 | * |
4/13/2013 | No Score Kept | * | ||
4/5/2014 | No Score Kept | * | ||
4/4/2015 | Blue | Maize | 7-0 | * |
4/1/2016 | Maize | Blue | 14-13 | * |
Italics- Yes, score was displayed on the scoreboards. It was artificial and in no way an actual game.
*These weren't that long ago so do I really need to source this? I was there.
Wasn't that 2012 sping game the one that was on BTN and they just did a scrimmage 1st O vs 2nd D and 2nd O vs 1st D and the BTN just kept adding points to the blue team since our offensive players wear blue practice jerseys?
It was a wonky scrimmage style. Blue team was considered 2O/1D. Same thing for 2010 and 2011.
I remember Brandstatter on the PA trying to explain in 2010 and barely anyone got it.
A good friend of mine played in the 1965 Spring game. He was #17 on the white team and managed to block an extra point, which was one of the few highlights for his team. Final score Blue 34 - White 0.
Does he know the date of the game by any chance?
I doubt he remembers the exact date but I'll ask him.
So far he says it was a Saturday in early April and the same day as the SAE pledge formal... still looking for more clues...
I'm sorry, but can we please leave Brady Hoke and all these silly shots we're taking at him in the past? He had his reasons for not wanting an actual game. I'm sorry but the whole stretch/punt game is quickly getting old. It's amazing to me how people can resent Hoke so badly yet always find a way to bring him up and take shots at him. Let it go.
March 29th, 2015 at 12:38 AM ^
people railed on RR for years and even still now. Hoke is one of the worst coaches in program history, he is going to be brought up from time to time.
March 29th, 2015 at 12:10 PM ^
Yes. But don't try to throw in a little jab with everything you say. Obviously critisicm of he and RR is justified and will be with us forever, but the same recycled jokes get old fast.
March 30th, 2016 at 10:03 AM ^
The stretchy punty exhibition was 2014, if I'm not mistaken. So the recycled joke isn't even accurate.
I just looked at our lacrosse schedule. It amazed me that we had a home game on sunday and not saturday after the football game. I also haven't gotten any emails or anything about the spring game. It's almost like they don't want people there which seems to go against Harbaugh's "bigger is better" attitude, prom signs, and 1st base coaching.
March 27th, 2015 at 10:15 PM ^
REMINDER: U-M will play its spring game on Sat., April 4, at noon from Michigan Stadium. The game will be broadcast live by @BigTenNetwork.
— Michigan Football (@umichfootball) March 27, 2015
They tweeted this today, but they really haven't had much info on the official site. Anyone know if they are still doing the Mott charity thing?
March 27th, 2015 at 11:36 PM ^
I'll take more of that 1950 Blue team, please!
March 28th, 2015 at 12:51 AM ^
The Snow Bowl team! They knew how to get shutouts done.
Hoke's punt exhibition will not be missed. I am actually considering making the trip from NY to AA just to catch a glimpse of the Harbaugh era.
These are the moments I remember most from past spring games....
*1998 - Fresh off the national title season so there were a ton of fans, cheerleaders, half the marching band. My first look at Tom Brady who threw a couple impressive bombs. This was in the days where fans got to go on the field afterwards, meet the players and ask for autographs...it was the perfect opportunity for fans to get their national championship memorabilia signed.
*2000 - Another beautiful day weather wise. Creative move by Lloyd to have the offense start down 17-0. Hensen, Terrell, A-Train, Walker and the best offensive line in the nation. But they fell short of a comeback. Hayden Epstein kicked a 60 yard field goal to end the day and got mobbed by the team.
*2002 - My main memory of this game was listening to the fans around me moan and groan every time Navarre came on field to run the offense. I felt bad for him.
*2004 - Parking lot at Crisler was full. I got a ticket for parking in a staff spot, gambling that it wouldn't matter on a weekend. I know. Stupid. Two players (I can't remember their names) sang the national anthem before the game and they actually had beautiful voices. But the mic system kept going in and out and they kept starting over until it went out for good and the team started annoyingly singing on the sidelines just to get the song over with. Braylon had just graduated and was waiting for the NFL draft. He walked around the stadium in a hot pink dress shirt.
*2005, 06, 07 - When my interest in the spring games started to dwindle. Half the team always seemed to be too injured to participate. They weren't in game format. Just different groups practicing different things around the field. Weather was always dark, cloudy, cold. I did think that Mister Simpson was going to be the next Wolverine legend.
*2009 - Decided to go back because of the new things under RichRod, a tour of the new locker rooms and the new alumni flag football game. Weather was FREEZING. The line to get into the locker rooms was over an hour wait so I didn't bother. The flag football game was a hoot. Players that were currently in the NFL were ordered not to play but that didn't stop Larry Foote, who made some amazing catches and did some showboating. The flag football game was the highlight of that day.
And I haven't been back since. But now that we have some Harbaugh, I plan on being there.
March 30th, 2015 at 11:15 AM ^
in theory (not trying to nitpick, sorry ahead of time), but Braylon would have actually played in the 2004 spring game, but in 2005 he would not have. If he graduated after the '04 season, the next spring game was in 2005. not sure if you are just one year off
My first spring game was 1989--a few years after I graduated, but just as I was settling in as a townie. MGoBride and I had just bought our first house--in Ann Arbor. And a buddy and I went to the game with a few sandwiches and a full cooler--probably of Stroh's. That was the time Leroy Hoard opened things up with a 78-yard run from scrimmage. I remember it being a pretty nice spring day. Kind that makes you feel good to be alive.
I'll be watching tomorrow, and will envy those of you there.
Thanks for all of the time spent educating. It's very much appreciated.
M Go Blue!
March 30th, 2015 at 12:07 AM ^
because of finals, and now I see we've played shitloads of games as much as a month later.
March 30th, 2016 at 11:46 AM ^
Obviously something changed in 1965. I'm guessing, without any absolute knowledge, that is the year that Michigan went from the quarter system to semesters. I know that the 1964 commencement was on Friday, May 22, 1964 (LBJ Great Society speech--easy to google).
https://president.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2014/06/speakers…
That document has a list of commencement dates. It went from May 22 in 1964 to Saturday, May 1 in 1965. And the spring game moved with it. Obviously nothing changed to cause the move back 1 week earlier that we have seen the last 3 years, but the move from May to April was done for reasons.
It appears that the traditional date for the spring game is 2 weeks before commencement, but that tradition changed about 1992, when I think it was 3 weks before commencement. From there it seemed to vary between 2-3 weeks, and has been 4 weeks for the last 3 years. It has not (at least since WW2) been later than 2 weeks before commencement, though.
March 30th, 2015 at 12:26 PM ^
I see now that my memory is a bit exaggerated. Still, it seemed that Lloyd disliked the event and did his best to discourage attendance or enthusiasm, in contrast to our rival schools' heavy promotion of the event.
I've attended six or seven times, can't remember specifically, once during the Rodriguez era and all the rest when Lloyd was the coach. They were generally boring affairs with few compelling features. The best part was going on the field afterwards, getting to see the players up close (Courtney Morgan was <6'1") and throwing footballs around. When they stopped letting fans on the field due to "safety reasons," it was less fun.
was attending one with my Dad and my brother. It was probably around '95 or '96. I didn't know it but at the time I just had a few years left with my Dad ('99). It was a very laid back, very fun time.
Its family/friend experiences like that which really make Michigan football special for me.
Like alot of things, time has given me perspective.
From what I remember now, he may not have been Brady, but he was efficient enough to get the job done.
Sometimes I think we have to figure out a way to be less whiny as a fan base.
Agreed to less whining. Did Ufer whine when M struggled?
We're M fergoshsakes!!!
Always
There is no way coincidence brought these three together, each representing M football in some capacity. Ufer kept a summer place not to far from me so it was not out of the ordinary to see him in Grand Haven and he wore that perpetual smile.
He didn't even try to hide his homerism. Bo gave him credit for being the most exciting radio personality in Michigan history, but he said his obsession with Michigan football made him an easy mark for practical jokes. In Tradition, and I wish I had a copy with me, Bo tells of the time he told Bob that a certain player - one so talented he dictated the outcome of more than a few games - had suffered an injury and the chances of him playing in the upcoming game looked bleak at best. Ufer, in Bo's words, "Almost suffered a coronary.": Bo underestimated how this might effect Ufer who became almost white and caused Bo, whose intentions were to tell him almost immediately he was just jerking his chain, to delay the truth. So he never told him until the Friday before the game. Now I don't know if Ufer cussed often, but I believe the four words, Son of a bitch, may have been used.
Check out the source of the 1985 spring game and the picture of the "star" of the Blue Team that won, 27-20. https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1350&dat=19850421&id=bDJPAAAAIBA…
a sparty DUI.
Huh.
And the Michigan spring game got top billing over the OSU spring game. Even the Scott Skiles DUI got a bigger headline than the OSU spring game. Yay Toledo Blade c. 1985!
1 year probation and a $100 fine plus 120 hours community service for cocaine possession. Wonder what that felony would result in today ?
March 30th, 2016 at 12:15 PM ^
I know it's gonna be chilly...but from what I saw from national sources, Friday is gonna be a lot better than Saturday and Sunday.
I thought I could help you with 1982 also, but I didn't record a final score, sorry.
Thanks for posting!
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!
Google News archive doesn't have a paper for that weekend on any of the local ones and I couldn't get that score.
Comments