This list is completely arbitrary and not a genuine analysis of the relative merits of state fossils.
M's Best Blowouts
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For those of you who have forgotten what a blowout win is, it’s a win where <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />Michigan scores many more points than the opponent. Those days will be here again soon, but unfortunately probably not this year. So hang in there, and here’s a list of my favorite blowouts to keep you smiling until we’re seeing them live again. (Which should be real soon, I promise.)
· 10 2007 Michigan 38, Notre Dame 0 – Cripplefight 2007 between two teams headed in different directions, but we didn’t know it at the time. For Michigan it was redemption following two horrible weeks that I won’t recount, and was the first of eight straight wins. Mike Hart guaranteed victory, and victory he achieved in blowout fashion. Also known as Yakety Sax Part Deux.
· 9 2004 Michigan 43, Miami (not that Miami) 10 – This is the game we all expected to be Matt Gutierrez’ coming out party, and instead it was Chad Henne’s. I can still recall learning about Chad starting from the guy who’s lawn we parked on. Even though it was a blowout, it was actually closer played than the score indicated due to a plethora of Miami (NTM) turnovers. Two TD passes to Braylon Edwards were an omen of good things to come.
· 8 1998 Michigan 27, Penn State 0 – Penn State was fired up for this game following the embarrassment from the year before. An early goal line stand over four downs made it clear Michigan came to play. 27 points later, Michigan had its first home victory ever over the Nittany Lions.
· 7 2002 Michigan 49, Michigan State 3 – This game was Bobby Williams’ death knell. The prior year was clockgate, and Lloyd was pissy. Maybe it was just me projecting on Lloyd, but he seemed to relish this one a little more than usual. He certainly didn’t call off the dogs until well after it was decided with a couple insurance TD’s for good measure. (It is honestly the only game I can recall where I thought he ran it up a little.) He seemed to be declaring that if you needed an extra second to beat us last year, this year we don’t even need the *2nd half* to beat you punks.
· 6 2003 Michigan 38, Notre Dame 0 – This was awesome in a conveniently wrapped package, seeing as there was only doubt for about ten minutes of gametime. Steve Breaston had a couple great returns, late in the game Brady Quinn got a welcome to college football that involved lots of mass and pain, and the Leprechaun got teary eyed. ESPN had tabbed Notre Dame for “The Season”, and it was secretly very enjoyable to watch that week’s episode to see how they would hide the fact they were destroyed. As I recall, Tyrone Willingham was only vaguely aware at best that they had been blown out. Return to Glory, indeed.
· 5 1993 Michigan 28, Ohio State 0 – From the 1985 season when I really understood college football, through the year 2000, we lost to Michigan State five times, and lost to Ohio State three times with a tie. Think about that a second. 1993 is a perfect example of why, in 2000, Wolvrine32 had virtually no respect for Ohio State. In 1993 we were unranked at 6-4 and facing a #5 Buckeye team that rolled into Michigan Stadium only to slink home after a thorough and meticulous beating. These things run in cycles, and we owned them in the 90’s. Let’s hope the tables turn back in the coming decade.
· 4 1997 Michigan 27, Colorado 3 – Not only the backdrop of Colorado’s prior visit to the Big House, but also the talk of the Michigan “M” standing for mediocre and the sheer shock of the whole thing make this an all-time blowout great. I went to the game with an ND friend, and he actually cringed several times when Hessler (Colorado’s hapless QB) got sandwiched. Neuheisel pulled him less from ineffectiveness than from concern for his well-being. Things got ugly. It was awesome.
· 3 1991 Michigan 31, Ohio State 3 – This is the Desmond Howard “Heisman Pose” game. Also my first Michigan game I actually attended, with the best seats I’ve ever had at a game. What a great day. Howard also caught two long passes and generally ran in circles around any DB in a white jersey he could find.
· 2 1997 Michigan 34, Penn State 8 – Judgement Day couldn’t have gone more to plan, at least without footage of Beano Cook actually sobbing after the game. This game was a massacre, and if Penn State QB Mike McQueary doesn’t still have recurring flashes of Glenn Steele bearing down on him, then he lacks some form of basic survival instinct. (Sometimes I think of Steele sneaking up on McQueary working in a real estate office and pulling a Terry Tate just to mess with him.) I still remember the PSU crowd cheering mildly sarcastically after that 4th quarter TD, both because they had avoided the shutout and because Penn State had scored the first TD in a second half on Michigan all season. A minor footnote in a major win for the program. (A good friend described it afterward as a “three hour orgasm.”)
· 1 2006 Michigan 47, Notre Dame 21 – Make no mistake, Lloyd could’ve named his score here. This was a decent Irish team, which only scored 14 in the first half because Henne threw one bad interception and Ron English got confused and put in Jim Herrman’s playbook for the last drive of the half. God I loved this game. Context: it followed the Year of Infinite Pain, and was the message to all college football that we were back. Also, Brian posted the following on MGoBlog that my wife still refers to as The Michigan Prayer: “Win you bastards. Win. Win for Michigan. Win for America. Win for that little boy in the hospital. Win for me. Don’t lose. Win.”
Bonus coverage, 1992 Michigan 61, Houston 7 – This is bonus because although the opponent or context wasn’t anything special, I can still see Tyrone Wheatley zipping down the sideline for a TD on the opening kickoff, my second home game as a student. Michigan 7, Houston 0, 14:49 remaining, 1st Q. And no one touched him. Plus, it’s the most we’ve scored since the Bo era. Oh wait, no it isn’t, we put 63 on Minnesota that year. Man, Gary Moeller could really coach him some offense.
July 31st, 2009 at 2:25 PM | 
Great topic
Great topic
July 31st, 2009 at 3:08 PM |
Blowouts
Blowouts
I do as well--and I really think, if all the cards fall right, that UM can go into East Lansing and make Sparty sniff their assholes. I'm predicting 49-13 for UM, as I see that being the game where things come together. MSU will, IMO, be so overconfident (even if UM somehow comes in at 4-0) and jacked that they won't be able to tie their shoes right. UM will be on the road, no pressure, and I sense something Big.
That being said, it is what it is.
July 31st, 2009 at 2:27 PM |
UM70! - Illinois 21
UM70! - Illinois 21
Circa 1981. Bo had an axe to grind against Illinois' coach (White?). Steve Spurrier would have been proud.
Preparation is not suddenly accomplished, it is a process steadily maintained.
July 31st, 2009 at 2:43 PM |
One of my favorites too
One of my favorites too
Was there in the student section and loved that one. My memory may not be accurate, but I recall that Bo had a huge grudge because Illinois had fired one of his old assistants (Mallory, maybe?). Also, I feel like Illinois actually went up 21-7 or something and it looked a little dicey, then Bo unleashed something horrible. We were actually feeling sad for the cheerleaders who were getting really gassed doing their backflips off the wall after every touchdown.
July 31st, 2009 at 3:26 PM |
fired coach
fired coach
Illinois had been coached by gary moeller in 79 but he was fired after the season. So this was the first game against the illini since he had been given the boot
Those who stay will be champions
July 31st, 2009 at 11:33 PM |
Memory Lane
Memory Lane
Here are highlights of that game courtesy of wolverine daily:
http://www.wolverinesdaily.com/video/1981-michigan-70-illinois-21
I remember this game as well.
As the clip points out, it was Michigan's first home game since Ufer passed away. There was a lot of emotion behind that 63-0 run over the last three quarters.
Help My Friend Allison Fight ALS
MSU/IU at the JCB
July 31st, 2009 at 2:33 PM |
WAYYY Back
WAYYY Back
Circa 1976-78?? Texas A&M came into town with a beast named George Woodard at running back. He seemed to be the first of the 6'2, 240 lbs guys who could MOVE. UM was, I believe, and underdog, having been upset by someone else??
Anyway, UM ripped Woodard and the Aggies a new asshole and whomped 'em 41-3. The defense was unbelievable and unbelievably fast that day. Probably the most dominant game over a more than respectable team by Michigan that this reporter has ever witnessed.
That being said, it is what it is.
July 31st, 2009 at 2:34 PM |
Good read
Good read
Looking forward to augmenting this list over the next three seasons.
July 31st, 2009 at 2:35 PM |
Missed that
Missed that
I missed and/or forgot the "Michigan Prayer". This post is good and that makes it worth it no matter what.
It would make a great T-shirt (maize text on a blue shirt), maybe even with a picture of a little boy in the hospital on the back.
July 31st, 2009 at 2:38 PM |
A&M game was 1977
A&M game was 1977
Great site for looking up historical scores:
http://www.jhowell.net/cf/scores/Michigan.htm
Preparation is not suddenly accomplished, it is a process steadily maintained.
July 31st, 2009 at 2:42 PM |
How about Mich-OSU in '02 (as
How about Mich-OSU in '02 (as
How about Mich-OSU in '02 (as in 1902)
86-0
All in and always in
July 31st, 2009 at 2:43 PM |
34-8
34-8
I was watching in a bar in a midwestern city in our "Michigan Room" in a midwestern state that shall remain nameless (although it is known for Corn). UM had just blown out Penn State, and we switched over to the Nebraska-Missouri game )OOPS! DAMNIT!).
What a farking great game--Missouri and Nebraska rading haymakers like Ron Lyle-George Foreman in 1975.
As the last, futile pass from Scott Frost bounced around, I stood and cheered mightily: "YES! The Godz have finally sided with Michigan! Fuck you Zeus!"--only to see the ball get kicked, the entire Missouri team stand and watch, and some Husker who hadn't caught a pass since 1943 dive and make a miraculous grab to send it to overtime and it was over and I have never forgiven Zeus to this day.
That being said, it is what it is.
July 31st, 2009 at 2:45 PM |
10 was a great game
10 was a great game
I remeber that game so vividly. The "Shutout Jesus" shirts came out after that game. I fell off a motorcycle and ripped my shirt to shreds. Does anyone know if these shirts still exist? If so where? I want that shirt back, so BAD. I leave in South Bend and the Neuter Dame faithful used to give me some of the dirtiest looks. My "Rudy Sucks" and "Rudy Was Offsides" shirts work but not like "Shutout Jesus".
Great list though! A lot of fond memories!
GO BLUE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
July 31st, 2009 at 2:47 PM |
Bonus coverage
Bonus coverage
That Houston game was my first experience at the Big House. I was 10, and Tyrone Wheatley was my first Michigan hero. That game was fabulous. Thanks for the memories.
July 31st, 2009 at 2:49 PM |
Mo vs Houston
Mo vs Houston
Didn't Mo intentionally run up the score against Houston and make a comment about it being some sort of karma for the way Houston had torched Sam Houston St or some shit?
great and omniscient Grand Poobah of the WLA
July 31st, 2009 at 3:04 PM |
I Believe
I Believe
That was in response to a shellacking that Houston had poured on Illinois the previous season--a Big Ten Geltleman's Agreement--if you will.
I remember Wheatley saying how fired up the locker room was before the game, that he had never seen a Wolverine team so jacked up to go out and hit some peoples in the mouth.
That being said, it is what it is.
July 31st, 2009 at 3:54 PM |
i was at this game....
i was at this game....
also. after the game i remember asking my dad why they had just pounded houston like that? and this is what he told me. the week before illinois played houston down there and there was like 20 seconds left in the game and houston was going to kneel on the ball. well they faked it and ran it in for another TD. after the game houstons coach said that he was going to kick the ass of the best team in the big ten the next week. well i don't think that worked out for him oh to well now did it???
July 31st, 2009 at 2:51 PM |
2008
USC - 35
OSU - 3
2008
USC - 35
OSU - 3
2008
USC - 35
OSU - 3
eenie meenie miney mo, catch a WR by his toe. if he scores six, let him go
July 31st, 2009 at 4:32 PM |
aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand
aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand
aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand the joke falls flat on its face.
eenie meenie miney mo, catch a WR by his toe. if he scores six, let him go
July 31st, 2009 at 3:22 PM |
1983
1983
George Blowhard Perles replaced guitar legend Muddy Waters at Moo State. He immediately starts talking smack to the media, specifically that State "knocked the socks off" Michigan in recruiting. General Bo marches into sparty town and explains 42-0 to Mr. Perles that his socks remain (as they ever were, tyvm), on his foot in the M boot planted squarely up sparty's ass.
July 31st, 2009 at 2:58 PM |
Am I the only one seeing the
Am I the only one seeing the
Am I the only one seeing the text of the Diary as Giant? At least compared to that of the comments.
But on topic:
The 98 PSU game and the 02 MSU game were two of my favorite games that I attended as a student. Just seeing the look of dejection in the eyes of the Penn State and Michigan State people as took the long walk up the stairs out of the stadium early was awesome.
July 31st, 2009 at 3:22 PM |
Michigan 130 West Virginia 0
Michigan 130 West Virginia 0
July 31st, 2009 at 3:29 PM |
lmao
lmao
College of Physicians & Surgeons
"The difference between a man and a boy is, a boy wants to grow up to be a fireman, but a man wants to grow up to be a giant monster fireman."
- Jack Handey
July 31st, 2009 at 3:26 PM |
All a great list. The Penn
All a great list. The Penn
All a great list. The Penn State game is probably my favorite. I think that's the best game by a Michigan team in at least 20 years and the biggest victory.
One of my favorites that you left out is the 1995 game against Illinois. 38-14. That was the year that Lou Tepper said "we're not afraid of Michigan." We were kind of shaky looking with a brand new QB and we went in and destroyed a ranked Illinois team. We were overdue to kick the crap out of Illinois because they tied us once and beat us once in the previous three games. I especially enjoyed how the defense chased Johnnie Johnson from the game.
July 31st, 2009 at 3:39 PM |
1997...
1997...
Michigan - Colorado game...
27 - 3
Set the tone for the season that was to come...
July 31st, 2009 at 4:23 PM |
There were many. 1982 Win Over Purdon't 52-21
There were many. 1982 Win Over Purdon't 52-21
is the one I remember most.
Game was way more decisive than the score indicated.
Last game for QB Steve Smith, TB Lawrence Ricks and WR Anthony Carter in the Big House.
July 31st, 2009 at 5:06 PM |
2006 ND
2006 ND
Great post.
My favorite blowout was also the 2006 ND game. I specifically remember: Brady Quinn looking like he was going to cry because he played so terrible; Shawn Crable destroying Brady Quinn; and the stunned look of 80,000 fans as Manningham pulled in the first Henne bomb for a touchdown.
Add all of this to the fact that it was a total slap in the face to Weis E. Coyote, and that was the most gratifying blowout I have witnessed.
Hail.
July 31st, 2009 at 5:17 PM |
I agree, hands down
I agree, hands down
It's easy to forget now but ND was #2 in the country and ESPN had shown enough Weis and Quinn during the offseason to make Brett Favre jealous. Quinn was the Heisman frontrunner at that point. That was the most enjoyable sports event I ever watched on TV.
July 31st, 2009 at 5:28 PM |
The Heisman Pose game
The Heisman Pose game
I was there, and my best memory is seeing all of those OSU fans LEAVING THE STADIUM AFTER THE THIRD QUARTER.
I never, ever thought that there would ever be such a blowout on either side of this series at this point in time that fans would not stay for most of the game. And, while I knew that something barely perceptable had shifted in the rivalry at that moment, I didn't know it would be the fourth game in a 10-2-1 streak for UM. I actually walked up to the top of the stadium so that I could get a better view of the scarlet stream headed south. It was a glorious sight, indeed.
Bring back the good ol'days. Soon.
July 31st, 2009 at 5:34 PM |
1976 OSU
1976 OSU
A 22-0 victory in Columbus that helped alleviate some of the pain from 1972-1975.
August 1st, 2009 at 12:18 AM |
Good one
Good one
My dad was at that game. It was 0-0 at the half and my dad said UM came out and just took it to OSU in the second half.
July 31st, 2009 at 11:39 PM |
Anytime Notre Dame is blown
Anytime Notre Dame is blown
Anytime Notre Dame is blown out that provides for some hearty LOL's
No question, Jim.
August 1st, 2009 at 12:51 AM |
Good list, except that #9
Good list, except that #9
Good list, except that #9 (Miami-Oh) is out of place. We've blown out enough good teams to not have to throw in a game against a MAC school. Besides, that game actually was competitive until the fourth quarter. A few proposed replacements for that spot:
1976 OSU - ended an 0-3-1 stretch against them with a 22-0 win in Columbus.
1981 Illinois - fell behind 21-7, scored 63 unanswered thereafter.
1983 MSU - George Perles had mouthed off in the offseason about how his recruiting class was better. We won 42-0.
1991 Gator Bowl (Ole Miss) - destroyed them 35-3, racking up 700 yards of offense. Our offensive line was named the player of the game.
1994 Hall of Fame Bowl (NC State) - a 42-7 laughter over a team that may have been favored (I can't recall). After starting the '93 season 4-4, we finished it with four straight crushing wins (including the aforementioned OSU game).
1995 Illinois - Lou Tepper had said beforehand that he wished he could play us twice, he was so confident. We led 38-0 after three quarters (final score: 38-14).
1996 MSU - we scored three TDs in the final two minutes of the first half, turning a 10-7 deficit into a 28-10 halftime lead and never looked back (45-29).
August 2nd, 2009 at 2:06 PM |
119-0 vs. Michigan State:
119-0 vs. Michigan State:
119-0 vs. Michigan State: 1902
130-0 vs. WVU: 1904
62-0 vs. Kentucky (ess eee cee speeeed!): 1908
August 2nd, 2009 at 4:33 PM |
My favorites
My favorites
The first 38-0 win over ND was better than the cripple fight 38-0 one to me. That first one, during HS cross country season, one of the female runners had a father who was a ND fan. We had a steak dinner on that game. The 47-21 blowout was great too. Me and some friends tried calling said father of female runner right after the game. He didn't answer, so we drove to his house. He came out and chucked eggs at us. Fun times.
I also really enjoyed the vengeance of that 49-3 MSU game. Ahh the memories!
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August 3rd, 2009 at 1:59 AM |
Antwaan Randle El
Antwaan Randle El
I have to put in a mention for the game against Indiana in 2000 (58-0). Although beating up on Indiana is normally not a huge point of pride, as I recall Randle El was putting up some good numbers that year and was pretty heavily hyped coming into the game. Their offense had put up 38, 34, 42, 45, and 33 points in their first five games of the season. I remember leaving the stadium just beaming after the whooping we put on IU.
Great topic, and great post (solid choices; good descriptions).
I only disagree on one point: I DO expect some blowouts this year.