1997 Was Better
I just came back here a week ago and really miss 1997
UM was badass and beat all the teams I didn't like
The internet didn't exist, so I didn't have to deal with trolls
I was 21 years younger, better looking, in better shape, hair was thicker
I am sure these complaints have been made before here but maybe if concerns are repeated and enough people join in then Brian will invent a time machine
BTW- How were people able to spell words correctly before spell check? I can't remember, but spelling is a common feature for many individuals with a middle school education and one I miss here
September 5th, 2018 at 10:57 AM ^
My son was born and the Red Wings won the Stanley Cup. Let's go back to 1997!
September 5th, 2018 at 10:58 AM ^
Actually if we can go back about 6 more years to 1991 I'd like to not meet my ex-wife...
September 5th, 2018 at 11:09 AM ^
Sounds great!
1994 was when my decision making abilities took a major hit.
September 5th, 2018 at 11:47 AM ^
Personally prefer 1998. Rose Bowl win, hockey wins national title, Wings win their second of back to back Cups.
September 5th, 2018 at 1:51 PM ^
If we go back to 1997, it would still be followed by 1998.
September 6th, 2018 at 10:18 AM ^
That 7 month span from June 7, 1997 to the 98 Rose Bowl was my all time favorite period for sports fandom.
September 5th, 2018 at 10:58 AM ^
I had the internet way before 1997.
September 5th, 2018 at 11:10 AM ^
That's because you're a turbonerd. Or had rich parents.
/not an insult
September 5th, 2018 at 11:12 AM ^
I had Prodigy and Compuserve back in 1994. Must have been a rich mofo.
September 5th, 2018 at 12:41 PM ^
Hardly. You just had to have gone to college before 1997.
September 5th, 2018 at 1:35 PM ^
I went to college in the mid 2000s
September 5th, 2018 at 2:04 PM ^
Uh, or was just in college maybe. UM dorms had firebreathing internet in 1995.
September 5th, 2018 at 6:33 PM ^
Way back in 1994....on your 56k modem?
September 5th, 2018 at 11:02 AM ^
and this blog wasn't here,,,,,much better
September 5th, 2018 at 11:02 AM ^
The internet actually existed in very archaic forms as far back as the early 70s. You could not view porn on it then, though.
September 5th, 2018 at 11:17 AM ^
Soooo.... it was completely useless then. Got it.
September 5th, 2018 at 11:19 AM ^
Shit man, I wonder what they did for fun?
September 5th, 2018 at 11:26 AM ^
I wasn't around but I imagine they had tons of actual sex, were high all the time, and went to see juggernaut Michigan teams vaporize their opponents.
September 5th, 2018 at 7:19 PM ^
Back then they went to a movie theater and jacked off in a room full of other men jacking off. Either that or they went out and actually met women.
September 5th, 2018 at 8:34 PM ^
I’m curious by your username, not thee columbus, but IN Columbus, if so I’ll buy you some rounds.
September 5th, 2018 at 11:03 AM ^
Good things would happen like being down two touchdowns to Iowa at halftime and figuring out a way to win.
September 5th, 2018 at 11:28 AM ^
What is this "figuring out a way to win" that you speak of?
September 5th, 2018 at 11:28 AM ^
Yep. And curbstomping Penn State in their building. Still my ATF Michigan win.
September 5th, 2018 at 12:14 PM ^
We should FaceTime Charles Woodson every time we are down at halftime this year.
September 5th, 2018 at 11:05 AM ^
Feeling like an old fart yet?
September 5th, 2018 at 11:09 AM ^
Why are farts always old? Why can't there be young farts?
September 5th, 2018 at 1:05 PM ^
Because young is only for guns and Turks
September 5th, 2018 at 11:07 AM ^
I wasn’t born til 98. So be thankful you ever got to experience good football. My memories(for the most part) started with rich rod
September 5th, 2018 at 12:15 PM ^
you were 2 last time we won at the Shoe. How are you still a fan?
September 5th, 2018 at 11:08 AM ^
Face it, spell check existed in 1997.
The first spell checkers were widely available on mainframe computers in the late 1970s...The first spell checkers for [some models of] personal computers appeared in 1980.
From wikipedia
Yes, I realize that this only strengthens your case.
September 5th, 2018 at 11:08 AM ^
1997 was indeed a great year. lets not forget that the fall of '97 was also the beginning of what would be a nat'l championship in hockey in '98 for our wolverines.
but we were childless then and there is no amount of time i'd give for the kids. and since i was never very good looking in the first place, there wasn't much to lose in b/w then and now in that regard.
September 5th, 2018 at 11:10 AM ^
#Hottake: The '97 team's "resume" so to speak was highly inflated by where teams were ranked when they played them. Many of the signature wins ended up being over unranked teams at the end of the season.
That being said, winning was still better than losing.
September 5th, 2018 at 11:15 AM ^
They should have lost to Iowa that year....
September 5th, 2018 at 2:07 PM ^
I believe at the end of the 1997 season, Michigan had the nation's toughest schedule by multiple ranking methods. Even if Colorado was a littler overrated when we played them.
September 5th, 2018 at 2:26 PM ^
Preseason AP poll opponent position:
1. Penn State
8. Colorado
9. Ohio State
11. Notre Dame
21. Iowa
24. Wisconsin
25. Michigan State
Final AP poll opponent position:
9. Washington State (Rose Bowl)
12. Ohio State (Finished 0-2 with losses to M and bowl game)
16. Penn State (Went 2-2 after M blew them out on "Judgement Day")
In the B10, Purdue did finish ranked but wasn't on the schedule in 1997.
Literally every opponent Michigan beat ended the season ranked lower than when Michigan played them. During the season they played 7 ranked teams including 4 in the top 10.
Here is the first result for "1997 football strength of schedule" (Sorensen) that puts M at 38th.
http://www.phys.utk.edu/sorensen/cfr/cfr/Output/1997/CF_1997_Ranking_Schedule.html
There is certainly an element of weaker SOS when you win all of your games as you can't play yourself, but the schedule did not look as tough at the end of the season.
September 5th, 2018 at 11:11 AM ^
I am in way better shape and weigh less than I did in 1997. But yeah had season tickets and it was a good time.
September 5th, 2018 at 11:17 AM ^
I weighed less then, too. Granted I was 10, but still.
September 5th, 2018 at 11:51 AM ^
I was in elementary school rockin my Starter Michigan jacket every day in the winter. Good times.
September 5th, 2018 at 11:17 AM ^
Well done, and thank you. And to Brian, if you're reading, we appreciate you.
September 5th, 2018 at 11:19 AM ^
I'd like to go back to 1997 and load up on all kinds of tech stocks and then sell them right before the crash.
September 5th, 2018 at 11:21 AM ^
I got married on 97' and unlike some posters....it has worked out. I married waaaaaay up, so there is that. While i remember the Iowa game, I don't remember a ton of details outside of the Rose Bowl. I simply remember being good and having a ton of confidence in the team and a few superstar players that lifted the whole team up. I really miss having confidence in the team:(
September 5th, 2018 at 11:26 AM ^
1997 was the year my family moved back to Michigan. It was an amazing year (including 96).
September 5th, 2018 at 11:28 AM ^
Take me to '97 with you, please.
September 5th, 2018 at 11:30 AM ^
You know it's pathetic when even Illinois, Rutgers, Purdue, and Indiana have a road win vs a top 25 opponent and we don't.
September 5th, 2018 at 12:54 PM ^
its sadder still when folks who are michigan 'fans' are so negative that they don't recognize that top 25 win chart as false. You've got V-tech, gators (x2), even a ranked illinois team and i'm guessing there are some others.
September 5th, 2018 at 2:55 PM ^
The Va-Tech and Florida games don't count as road wins because they were played at neutral sites.
September 5th, 2018 at 5:24 PM ^
when we play florida in florida, that's a road game for us, home for them. same with any rose bowl when playing usc or ucla
September 5th, 2018 at 11:30 AM ^
This is a great, great post.
I'm down with the return to 1997 if I can bring my current wife with me. If not I'll pass on reliving 1997-2008 with my ex again please.
Hey....while we're in 1997 can we re-do a couple of the f'ups the Browns made when they returned to Cleveland in 99? For starters I would really like it if they would start looking at this kid Syracuse has at QB named McNabb. I know everybody's got a woodie for this Couch fellow in Kentucky but I'm telling you McNabb is going to fucking TORCH the defending national champions in the 1998 opener and never look back.
September 5th, 2018 at 11:37 AM ^
The internet existed. I had an awesome dial-up connection.
September 5th, 2018 at 1:23 PM ^
Winsock and Netscape!