Danwillhor

October 9th, 2015 at 8:23 PM ^

how old are you? I was their age at the time so I think that's why I know what you mean - I thought of myself as grown at the time. I look at any teen-21 year old now and they truly seem like kids in every way. It's why I don't follow recruiting anymore beyond what I see on this blog. It's creepy. They're kids, lol.

Joined: 12/02/2008

MGoPoints: 8609

UM Fan from Sydney

October 9th, 2015 at 8:07 PM ^

Nice. I have since forgotten about that beauty. Avant was so good. Just a solid and really consistent receiver.

Joined: 09/17/2015

MGoPoints: 58076

EGD

October 9th, 2015 at 8:13 PM ^

That was a great catch. Probably his second-best catch at M after the one in the corner of the end zone on third down in OT during Braylonfest.

Joined: 09/16/2009

MGoPoints: 35199

1 percent

October 9th, 2015 at 8:15 PM ^

Not only an incredible catch ... But he's wearing probably my favorite looking cleats of all time. His celebration was pretty legit too, a little between the legs for good measure.

Joined: 09/09/2010

MGoPoints: 11273

Danwillhor

October 9th, 2015 at 8:16 PM ^

to say "best hands ever" when Avant gets brought up. I'm sure he had a few but I can't think of a single blatant drop. Yet, I can think of him catching a dozen passes that he shouldn't have. From that catch to 3rd & 2 Henne-rifle, full power 2 yard slot banger catches with less than a half second of reaction time to going over the middle in double coverage and a LB looking to murder him on a high throw.....he was automatic. He'd catch it. When we HAD TO HAVE a 1st down - Avant. Bennie Jops had the best hands on a TE I can recall but he had a drop I remember because it was an easy catch and it was so rare. I can't think of Avant getting his hands on a ball and dropping it. In sure he did a few times.....but maybe not? haha

Joined: 12/02/2008

MGoPoints: 8609

Danwillhor

October 9th, 2015 at 8:28 PM ^

crazy, huh? It was in one of the early OOC games at the time. I'm pretty sure it was a MAC school, UM was in cruise control at the time and it was a 10 yard curl route that was right at his face mask. I already began clapping and then laughed in shock, haha. I laughed and even the crew mentioned how rare it was. I don't think they truly knew how rare as it's the only one I can think of.

Joined: 12/02/2008

MGoPoints: 8609

Danwillhor

October 9th, 2015 at 9:22 PM ^

but we're all old. WD will be 30 in what he'll feel like is a few months. Enjoy it, man. Enjoy it because it's so fast. I clearly remember when we recruited everyone in that Avant clip. I remember where I was and what I was doing when Henne committed. I remember many debating between he and Morelli, two Pennsylvania guys that many viewed as 1-1a but if you look up Anthony Morelli on Google you'll only find that famous Alan Branch pic. I remember offering/landing this relatively unknown kid named Branch from NM that was 6-4 300lb returning punts in HS. We're both old, man. I just want another title before we go.....hahaha

Joined: 12/02/2008

MGoPoints: 8609

Bando Calrissian

October 9th, 2015 at 8:24 PM ^

This was the game Frank Beckmann couldn't call--I think he had surgery that week? Brandstatter was on the call.

While we're on the topic of Jason Avant... During the Braylon game against MSU the next season, Avant caught a touchdown pass at the end of the game. If you watch really closely, he lands near the band and stays down for a minute. I wasn't in the corner, but a friend of mine who was right in front of him said that when he landed, he dislocated a finger on the ball. He popped it back into place himself right there on the ground, got up, and went back to the sideline. Guy was a warrior.

EDIT: I remembered it wrong--it wasn't on a touchdown. 1:15:10 of this video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4g0P7n0MwI

 

Joined: 07/02/2008

MGoPoints: 68120

SFBlue

October 9th, 2015 at 8:26 PM ^

I was at this game. Drove from Ann Arbor, and it rained like Hell on the way there and back.

It seemed like ESPN was playing that highlight on every TV screen at every bar in Chicago that night. 

Joined: 11/02/2009

MGoPoints: 15699

E.L. blue fan

October 9th, 2015 at 8:42 PM ^

My dad and I drove out there for the game, it was the first game we ever went to together and was the start of a tradition where we try to go to a road game every year. We were sitting on the 5 yard line on that side of the field so we had a great view, one of my favorite sports memories. 

Joined: 03/11/2010

MGoPoints: 706

nes5775

October 9th, 2015 at 8:57 PM ^

I remember I had a great angle to see that catch! We were sitting in the NW student section and remember that they were pissed that they didn't show the replay on the big screen. Obviously they appreciated the effort!

Joined: 04/15/2011

MGoPoints: 143

Brewers Yost

October 9th, 2015 at 9:04 PM ^

Great hands and a respectable NFL career.

Oddly, my most vivid memory of him at UM was when he was injured against OSU. His reaction was the opposite of what you expect; definitely fired the team up, 35-21 good guys.

Joined: 07/14/2008

MGoPoints: 2365

Uncle Joey

October 9th, 2015 at 10:44 PM ^

I was at this game front row with my family, Avant had two amazing catches right in front of us. My sister hung her Michigan flag over the railing and one of the security guys told her to take it down. After he left, she hung it back over the railing. He walked by later, and gave us the stank eye, but just kept walking.

Joined: 09/19/2010

MGoPoints: 81