Biggest day in Michigan football since...

Submitted by fitty88 on
With 5-6 hours to kill to the event, thought it would be interesting to answer this question. Not to over-hype it (too late), and all "have to win football games" disclaimers apply, but how do folks finish that sentence? Ironically, as I thought about this, I think it is 2006 1 versus 2 Michigan-OSU. The stakes there, the exposure, the death of an iconic coach, it's really the last time Michigan Football was relevant in a real way. Anxious to see others thoughts...
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unadulterated joy

alum96

December 30th, 2014 at 6:38 AM ^

That is the only answer.

End thread.

UM has been lost in the wilderness and irrelevant at the national level since that late November weekend.  2011 was a bit of a hoax year, we beat up on Fickell and a bunch of 8 win or less teams, and stole a Sugar Bowl that to this day I am unsure how it happened.

Some could argue the RR signing day but I still think the 2006 OSU game/weekend (due to Bo). 

I hope the next time we have a thread like this it will be something like "Oh last year's playoff game."

 

 

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BlueFish

December 30th, 2014 at 7:54 AM ^

I, too, feel Mo's dismissal was a watershed moment for the program (as suggested by the sig...), but The Game weekend 2006 was arguably bigger.

Carr was a solid steward of the program, but I'll always wonder what Mo could've accomplished, and where the program would be if he'd finished his career here.

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BlueFish

December 30th, 2014 at 8:34 AM ^

Someone made a comment about Mo's firing, which I agreed with.  Why it was deleted, I don't know.  Sure makes my post look kinda nonsensical.

EDIT: All posts are still visible on the iPhone app (from which I posted).  The original post about Mo was by Grove City Wolverine at 6:44a.  I don't know why his/her original post (and the response to me) aren't showing on the web.

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BlueFish

December 30th, 2014 at 8:56 AM ^

I found it odd that I couldn't edit my own post, as there had been no responses (on the web). Checking the mobile app, I see Grove City has responded to this post, which is again visible only on the mobile app. Is there a site bug here?

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GoWings2008

December 30th, 2014 at 9:06 AM ^

1969 is what came to my head.  UM hires a relatively unknown coach who ends up leading them to a victory over the arch rival and the beginning of the 10 yr war.  The difference now is that the coach we're getting IS a known quantity in the NCAA and NFL.  Arguably a very big day, but a NC and a coach that has defined UM football since then...tough to argue.

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LSAClassOf2000

December 30th, 2014 at 6:51 AM ^

In keeping with the theme here, I have told people for years now that we began this walk in the woods sometime during the afternoon of September 1st, 2007, a moment or so after the final whistle of The Horror. It seemed for a while - particularly through late 2013 and this season - that it might be years before we even could hope to emerge from the woods, but now we are doing just that, I think.

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DonAZ

December 30th, 2014 at 7:38 AM ^

Agree ... though I think that's a view made in hindsight.  I was all of 9 years old when Bo was hired, but from what I understand Bo's hire -- at the time -- was not universally acclaimed.  Who the nay-sayers thought should have been hired, I don't know.

In a sense the Harbaugh hire is a renewal of what was started back in 1969.  That's unlike, say, when Rodriguez came in 2008 ... that felt like it was going to be a seismic shift to "modern football," but of course it did not turn out that way.

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DonAZ

December 30th, 2014 at 8:06 AM ^

Get out ... now that's just crazy talk ... :-)

But a momentous day that was ... for after all, had Michigan not hired Crisler, then Michigan Stadium might not be paid for:

"In that hole that Yost dug, Crisler paid for, Canham carpeted and Schembechler fills up every Saturday!" -- Bob Ufer.

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GoBLUinTX

December 30th, 2014 at 8:10 AM ^

Michigan was coming off of four consecutive mediocre and losing seasons.  Prior to the hiring of Crisler Harry Kipke enjoyed a number of stellar seasons but seemed to tire of things by the mid 1930s. So in that regard Harbaugh's hiring is even bigger.  Michigan has been down longer and gone through more coaches than any other similar stretch of time.  Time will tell what Harbaugh can do for Michigan, but potentially this single day in Michigan Football history will be the most significant.

BTW, an excerpt about Crisler's hiring.

 

Michigan invited him to name his price, and Crisler demanded what he thought would be unacceptable: the position of athletic director when Yost stepped down and the highest salary in college football. Michigan accepted, and Crisler became the new head coach of the Michigan football program.

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Bill in Birmingham

December 30th, 2014 at 9:19 AM ^

I certainly understand those who say 1/1/98. I have said more than once because of that day, I can die a happy man. However, I agree with this comment. I just heard Pat Forde say on Mike and Mike that this was a "transformational" hire. He noted in the past decade there have been only three that compared to this: Saban to Bama, Meyer to UF and Meyer to OSU. Only time will tell. But if he is right, and I think he is, it can change the direction for the program for decades, even beyond his tenure.....as did Bo's hire in 1969.

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Get Jim Harbaugh

December 30th, 2014 at 7:05 AM ^

Well, obviously it is the biggest event since that game. I am sure everyone thinks that. Ever since that game, it has been nothing but shit except for the capital one game (even then, that wasn't a HUGE deal) and 2011 season.



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Bo4President

December 30th, 2014 at 7:08 AM ^

1997-1998 National Championship!

This almost feels bigger because of all the factors: coming home to bring us back to glory, NFL coach leaves to college, biggest deal ever, etc.

Given the situation Jim had in NFL and him leaving for us, should be marked as one of the greatest days in Michigan History.

Statue Next to Bo please.

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UMxWolverines

December 30th, 2014 at 8:09 AM ^

I don't view it as that big of a win even though the Gators were favored by a lot. In fact that game actually kinda pisses me off because for some reason Lloyd decided to wait until his last game to unleash an offense that would have won us more games in years past. That game doesn't change the fact that a top five team was completely unprepared for Appalachian State and Oregon. It was still a consolation prize bowl game.

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bacon

December 30th, 2014 at 7:27 AM ^

The first under the lights game. That was an amazing moment in Michigan football history. The energy around the program, the win in the last moments, the interview with Denard after the game in the stadium, that was a great day for Michigan Football.

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rob f

December 30th, 2014 at 7:37 AM ^

Yesterday, when Jim was seen wearing that Michigan hat. Getting off that plane in Detroit. And we then knew, once and for all, without the slightest of doubts, that Jimmy Harbaugh had come back home!

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1974

December 30th, 2014 at 7:41 AM ^

Assuming we're restricting this to _happy_ days, I'd go with the national championship win.

In retrospect 2006 looks like a mirage to me. UM's ascent was based much on beating an overrated ND team early in the season. Their performance against USC and OSU's against Florida made the conference look overrated, too. Very good team with some great players, but not a great team ...

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