The most SATISFYING Michigan win you've ever seen...
Not necessarily the biggest upset or not necessarily even a rivalry game (although that can be factored in), but a game that made you feel as if you'd just won the lottery, football or basketball.
I'll give you mine: Football: vs Penn State, 2005-killed JoePa's undefeated season
Basketball: vs. Michigan State, 2011-at East Lansing. Sucked all of the juice out of my MSU coworkers the next day, and showed that Beilein and the Wolverines could put cracks into Izzo' machine.
Whoops. Disregard. Wrong posting place.
April 12th, 2020 at 10:02 PM ^
Michigan beats No. 1 OSU 24-12. 1969. Revenge for the year before when Woody went for two up by over 30 points in the 4th quarter when he went for two "Cause I couldn't go for three". I was 13 years old and at the game with my Dad. Best victory ever, followed by game 7 the year before for the Tigers World Series Win with Lolich.
I absolutely have to share those 2 as some of my all-time memories (I wasn't at game 7, was at '69 upset of osu but was just 9 at the time - not sure I got how big a deal it was!)
But maybe my most personally satisfying M win ever was Judgement Day. I'm not sure Michigan has ever played a better, more completely game of football in my lifetime.
More than that, I knew that day in those pre-CFP days that although we couldn't control the polls, NO ONE was beating us that year!
Both turned out true, too.
April 12th, 2020 at 11:12 PM ^
Michigan beating ohio state in 1995. Not just because it was a rival game as you mentioned -- but ruined their title hopes with Biakabutuka going off for 313 yards.
After the game, Cooper said it was his biggest disappointment ever.
So yeah, that's pretty satisfying.
This one for sure. I was at the game and watching Biakabatuka run wild like that, and there was NOTHING OSU could do about it, was a high point in my Michigan fandom.
Being in my early 30's and Living in Philly in my adult life, 2005 PSU is a good one.
For me 2008 Wisconsin is best. Wisconsin fans during this game were by far the worst of any game I experienced as a student. The change in demeanor with the clown fiesta of a comeback was one of the best feelings.
You got the Penn State part right, but the year wrong.
Judgment Day. 1997. Despite being undefeated and making it into the top-5, there was some skepticism around the country, around the Big-10, and even around some in the fan base about whether Michigan was elite.
It only took a few possessions for everyone to realize that, ohhh yeah, Michigan was.
April 15th, 2020 at 11:58 PM ^
This was my answer too, and it was pure domination from Penn State's first possession, when Michigan's D line showed the Nits it was going to be a long night for them. That was my first trip to Happy Valley. At the Rathskeller the night before, PSU fans were cordial and respectful, likely because they had beaten Michigan, sometimes badly, in the three previous contests. I went back for every M game there through 2006 and every year the reception was noticeably more icy. Maybe they didn't like the cheer: We Own . . . Penn State.
HELL YES! Wanted to surf the answer to find this game before posting it. Penn State had been elite for a few years with Kerry Collings/Ki Jana Carter etc. and this was a HUGE game.
The thorough domination of JoPa coupled with the hardest hit in the history of football (Daydrion Taylor) made this my most satisfying moment in the history of Michigan football despite what later turned out to be the end of Taylor's career. Had I known that at the time the game would have been less satisfying I'd imagine, but at the time, man what an ass kicking.
I also can't forget the 1980 win over OSU in Columbus in my junior year, with Bobby Thompson sacking Art Schlichter on the final play. So satisfying because of the sheer abuse given to by the OSU fans that day. Afterwards, they were overturning cars with Michigan license plates, so we bolted straight to the border. Very satisfying.
April 13th, 2020 at 10:25 AM ^
At the game in 2011, so satisfying as the other teams fans were being total dbags. The second the int was secured for the win they were gone. Silent and walking out tail between their legs. They also disappeared completely till after the game in 2012..
Other satisfying wins...
2015 beat down of Florida, shut the sec fans up regarding Michigan...
95/96/97 wins over Osu.. Every time undefeated seasons were on the line and every time they were sent home..
06 ND.. effectively put an end to Weiss..
April 13th, 2020 at 10:40 AM ^
Lloyd's last game. Took down Meyer and Tebow in spite of two uncharacteristic goal line fumbles. A modicum of redemption after the way the season started and ended.
April 13th, 2020 at 11:23 AM ^
Nov. 22, 1997. Michigan 20 - O$U 14
Had to have it, and went out and won a hard fought ballgame!
April 26th, 2020 at 12:11 AM ^
Yes. And the Rose Bowl several weeks later!
April 13th, 2020 at 12:09 PM ^
I'd like to add the 2000 Orange Bowl win over Alabama. I took so much shit from Bama fans on rec.sports.football.college in the week leading up to that game.
Afterwards, I was on r.s.f.c posting a schedule for the same folks who'd been woofing all week to come and get their whoopin, and to please be punctual for their assigned timeslot, because I had a lot of them to get through...
This game was not the most satiisfying, but it was definitely epic, in large part because it was the game where Tom Brady put on the finest QB performance in the history of Michigan football. I remember after the game remembering just that. "This Brady dude was amazing."
If you go back and watch that game and focus on Brady, he was God Mode. Had he wheels and be more athletic, this game would have moved him into the first round but alas, the fate of being lanky and slow in the draft.
April 13th, 2020 at 12:35 PM ^
I was at the '96 Virginia game. At the time, it was the biggest Michigan comeback of all time. Hadn't heard of the Barber twins at the time and they were a nightmare most of the game. When Hayes made that catch in the corner with no time on the clock, I never experienced the electricity that went through the stands. Best Big House memory for sure.
April 16th, 2020 at 10:49 PM ^
1995.
September 23, 1989, Pasadena, CA: Michigan vs UCLA
I had fifty yard line seats (having bought them scalped), mid-to-high up in the UCLA alumni section, with one of my UM Bursley undergrad roommates (I am class of '79). There were literally no other Michigan fans in our section. UCLA was leading 23-14 in the fourth quarter, having scored with about seven minutes left. Frosh Elvis Grbac then leads us on a long drive and we score a TD and extra point with about a minute left (23-21 UCLA). Then we execute a sensational onside kick, with our guy snagging the high hop in full stride up the sidelines and getting knocked out of bounds at about the UCLA thirty yard line! A couple of great power runs by Leroy Hoard got us down to about the twelve yard line with one timeout and a few seconds remaining. J.D. Carlson then finishes the job with the short field goal as time expired (24-23 Michigan)! My buddy and I went crazy screaming and carrying on throughout the last few minutes of that classic comeback, as everyone around us stared in contempt...it was beautiful!
I was at the UCLA came as well. Our seats were in the south end zone looking right down the sideline. I want to so Tripp Welbourne was the guy who grabbed that on side kick. One of the best executions of the play I have ever seen. Living out in LA at the time had taught me to realize the standard local reaction to the event. It wasn't contempt, it was yawn, so what, time to go to...
That's why west coast sports are so worthless, there is no emotional investment.
Under the Light I was the most exciting game I ever watched in person.
Could you see anything?
2007 football win over MSU. I was at the game, in the MSU student section. The amount of shit talking beforehand and during the early game was epic, the silence afterwards even more so.
April 14th, 2020 at 11:47 PM ^
I’ll go with the Basketball Tournament win over Kansas in 2013. The shot Burke made was the most satisfying moment. Loved every second of it.
Whipping Tebow in 08.
April 15th, 2020 at 11:37 AM ^
2006 Notre Dame: Michigan 47, Notre Dame 21
As expected, it's hard to beat a rival at their home stadium and I believe Notre Dame was favored as well, so when we went all air show against them, with Mario catching three TD's, it was great.
Also 2010 at South Bend, a 28-24 comeback win. Denard earning some serious glory that day.
April 15th, 2020 at 12:30 PM ^
Great thread. Posts above reminded me of many fond memories.
I watched Desmond Howard make the catch which ended the ND streak.
1995, Biakabutuka runs over previously undefeated OSU team to the tune of 313 yards. We win 31-23.
It was the Stone Age, i.e. before cell phones. There were several pay phones along the Stadium Blvd. fence at Michigan Stadium. An hour before the game, I watched over a dozen OSU-clad goobers, standing in line for the pay phones, quite obviously calling their bookies to get their bets on the Bucks down. I was thrilled that they all lost their money, not to mention that they pissed away their cash to buy tickets and come up to watch their team, which was hoping for a Natty, get pounded.
April 15th, 2020 at 10:28 PM ^
Football, @PSU in '97 and @ND in '06.
Dominant road wins are the absolute best!
Basketball though, probably the national semifinal vs. the Flyin' Illini in '89. Third time was indeed the charm!
1976 football vs. OSU. Finally broke four-year drought that ruined my teenage years. Bo went for two to make shutout look even bigger than it was. Michigan followed with another in an endless series of Rose-Bowl losses to USC.
1989 basketball final v. Seton Hall. AD Bo fires Bill Frieder, acting head coach Steve Fisher leads UM on an improbable championship run.
April 16th, 2020 at 12:46 PM ^
Lots of great memories in this thread. Judgement Day for sure. But, I have to post about a game I was at: 2002 against PSU, OT - 27-24 UM
I was there with my Dad and we had seats between the 5 yard line and the goal line about 25 rows up. Super Fan wasn't far from us and the PSU fans, in the corner of the end zone, were taunting him during the game by chanting "Sit Down, Fat Guy". After Chris Perry scored in OT, the entire corner was chanting "We Own, Penn State" and the PSU fans could only stand there, with long faces, and take it. It was great. I thought the Big House was deafening during OT. I couldn't hear my Dad, even when he shouted in my ear. The ride home, to Chicago, went by very quickly.
there are so many great answers above.
97 PSU f-ball
89-Seton Hall
and many more.......
on a personal note:
I saw one game with my dad in AA, the '81 ND game.
my dad was a devout Catholic, but he hated ND. i had told him about A.C. and sure enough, right in front of my seats AC caught a 12-yard hitch, juked a defender into Livingston County and pranced majestically into the EZ.
my dad is gone, but I'll always have that memory.
the other memory is with my now-deceased longtime season ticket mate.
the final game of 1977 @ Crisler. M took down #1 Marquette in overtime. my friend said that i was flying down the mezzanine with my arms flapping like big bird when tommy staton made the key steal in the game.
this was the game where my buddy, after a season of being told down in front by some disinterested English teacher who brought her knitting to the games, finally lost it. my boy slowly turned and with a maniacally, menacing look and tone said to the older woman, "look lady, I don't know where you think you are, BUT THIS AIN"T NO TEA PARTY!"
"was a devoute Catholic but he hated ND" is not something you read about too often. kudos to your old man for not following the herd.
April 16th, 2020 at 10:46 PM ^
So many good ones come to mind. For football I'll go with 2011 against ND, but there are a lot of great candidates. For basketball, I think I'll go with the 2013 win over Kansas, but that 2011 game at State is up there for sure.
Most satisfying game that I attended was 1996 OSU. After Biakabatuka ran all over OSU at home in '95, I decided to join a few OSU friends for The Game in the Horseshoe. Entering as 17 point underdogs to an unbeaten OSU, I really was not very confident. Yet at the same time there was clear trepidation among the OSU faithful after finding ways to lose to Mighty Michigan year after year under Cooper. Indeed, OSU led 9-0 at the half. Then, in the 2nd half, the Michigan defense totally shut down the Buckeyes while Brian Griese came off the bench to manage the game to a 13-9 glorious victory. It was nearly silent as the OSU faithful were simply stunned and speechless. How glorious!
The one I always think of is the 97 game at Penn St, trounced em 34-8 I think. PSU was fairly new to the Big 10 and it ended up being quite a tough fought game.
Maybe not THE most, but damn satisfying: 1976 in Columbus. We had gone 0-3-1 over the previous years. (I know, not that bad by today's standards.) Whispers had begun about Bo not being able to win the big one. It was still 0-0 at the half. Then we exploded for 22 points in the second half for a 22-0 shutout of the Bucks. Particularly sweet memory of that day: watching as Woody realized that we had run a fake on the second PAT (he hadn't been watching the play) and that we were up 15-0! The first of 3 in a row over Woody.
April 20th, 2020 at 11:35 AM ^
Might just be recency bias, but beating the brakes off of MSU last year felt cathartic. It was the first time I watched a rivalry game in the Harbaugh era and what was "supposed" to happen actually happened.
But more importantly, the sparty fanbase was entirely resigned. There was no more hope, no more chip on their shoulder, no "defeat with dignity" angle to take. Sparty fans that used to love bringing up football don't even want to talk about it. You try to bring it up and all they want to talk about is stuff from years ago.
That game was just a thorough beat down of a completely inferior team by a team with better players, better coaches and better execution from kickoff to the final whistle. The cherry on top is that Michigan basically ended Dantonio's career and forever put a permanent damper on his legacy. It was delicious and I shall relish it for the next two years or whenever the next time comes that we get to beat them again.
Before clicking the link, my first thought was PSU 2005, so a vote for the OP!
Football vs. OSU 1995
The ‘98 Rose Bowl. All of 1997 was magical and I was at every home game, but to finally win a national championship, at the Rose Bowl (where M had only won a handful of times in my life up to that moment) was incredible. My roommate and I had driven out to LA, nonstop, and it would’ve really sucked to lose that game, and then had to drive all the way home the next day.
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