Drew Brees and the 2000 Boilermakers' victory over Michigan
So looking back with the knowledge that Drew Brees is a Super Bowl MVP, does it make that 2000 loss to Purdue a little easier to accept? No, of course not, but knowing just how good Brees is do you chalk that loss up to the Michigan offense or defense?
Michigan offense: in the first half Michigan raced to a 28-10 lead but only scored a field goal in the second half before losing 32-31. That offense was stacked with Drew Henson, Anthony Thomas, BJ Askew, Marquise Walker, David Terrell, Steve Hutchinson, Jeff Backus, Jonathan Goodwin, Mo Williams, Ronald Bellamy and Bennie Joppru.
Michigan defense: adjustments? We don't need to stinkin' adjustments! History has shown the defense wasn't nearly as talented as the offense: the d-line had bupkis, while the back 7 featured Victor Hobson, Larry Foote and Jeremy LeSueur.
In retrospect I think you can say the defense acquitted itself much better than the offense. The defense just wasn't nearly as good which was made painfully apparent in THE HORROR (The Prequel) when it gave up 54 points to Northwestern. With that being the case giving up 32 to Purdue was a reasonable outcome for that undermanned unit. Brees was after all the Big Ten player of the year, Maxwell Award winner, and a Heisman finalist. And future Super Bowl winning QB and MVP of the game.
That offense on the other hand should have been able to put up much more than a mere field goal in the second half. Doing so would have allowed the team to run away and hide by outscoring the Boilermakers. A win in West Lafayette and the team would have eventually wrapped up an undisputed Big Ten championship.
September 9th, 2010 at 9:54 PM ^
I was at that game... if I remember right UM scored TDs on their first 4 possessions of the half, and it was easy. Then, Lloyd went into a shell, run A-train run. Brees meanwhile just dinked and dumped on us all day. I also remember that we let PU kick the winning FG twice - they missed the first one, but UM was offsides or something like that, and he got a 2nd chance didn't miss.
BTW, on the same note, Ask Alabama if their Orange Bowl loss to Michigan and Tom Brady hurts any less.... I don't think so.
Go Blue, Beath the Irish!
September 10th, 2010 at 8:43 AM ^
Actually I believe Purdue missed the field goal to take the lead with about 2 minutes or so in the game. Then we had the ball and just needed a first down to run out the clock but went conservative and gave the ball right back to them. It was just like in 2001 vs MSU, all we needed was a first down to ice the game, but again, Lloyd went conservative.
September 9th, 2010 at 9:56 PM ^
Thanks for the memories. Even though it was a loss, those were exciting times. Michigan football is so storied.
Those names. Dang.
To answer you, it does a little. No doubt. The guy wasn't any Danny Awful from Florida. He wins in any system.
September 9th, 2010 at 9:59 PM ^
Even Superbowl MVPs get lucky sometimes... :)
September 9th, 2010 at 10:10 PM ^
...So that is what a reopened wound feels like.
September 9th, 2010 at 10:21 PM ^
Even if "Lloyd went into a shell", run A-train, run. That O-line and those running backs were way too talented to be contained to a field goal in the second half.
September 9th, 2010 at 10:23 PM ^
I grew up a Michigan fan in Chicago (other favorite teams: Bulls, Bears, Cubs, Blackhawks) because for some reason 7-year-old me thought Notre Dame was stupid. Plus I played on a "Wolverines" (yes, they used the actual maize and blue colors on the jersey) city league basketball team.
I started to really, really care about sports at about 11 or 12 (before that it was toys and the pool and well I didn't really have the emotional maturity to properly get ENRAGED by a football game in which I wasn't participating).
My first traumatic moment happened on my 10th birthday (Miracle at Michigan)
Dreisbach to Hayes was my first real joyous moment quickly followed by Timmy B running for 313 against the hated Buckeyes.
I remember being upset at the back-to-back (95 and 96) losses to freaking Northwestern.
I watched with glee when Woodson gave me my avatar and his performance against Ohio State and Wazzou.
The back-to-back losses in 98 to Notre Dame and Syracuse angered me greatly, but I understood *why* it happened.
The two losses in '99 (especially to Illinois of all teams) were out of nowhere, but they weren't calamaties.
Then came me watching on my crappy ''14 tv in my bedroom in the middle of October at the tender age of 16. Watching a highly ranked Michigan team come out firing on all cylinders and going up 28-10. Then came Drew Brees. And a field goal with no time left. And I was so furious I cried.
It's been the only time I've ever cried because of Michigan football.
(The Bartman Game in '03 was the second instance of me crying due to anger over a sporting event. Also, whipping remote controls against the wall.)
September 9th, 2010 at 10:59 PM ^
Someone described the 2000 defense as the "Hologram" D (they only looked like they were on the field.)
The first half for Michigan was the best offensive football I have ever seen. Four possessions, four 70-80 yard drives for TDs. It was like playing the old handheld electronic football of the seventies. Score every possession, so be sure to take your time doing it.
Had we not owned the clock in the first half, Purdue would have scored many more. (Further, Purdue's first half scoring was inspite of a controversial Todd Howard interception in the endzone.)
September 10th, 2010 at 12:00 AM ^
Watched that game, and at halftime I think Brees had 3 incompletions, with two being clear drops by his WRs. I figured they would make a game of it in the second half, and they certainly did. Him and Henson put on one of the best games I have ever seen by two college QBs, at least in the first half.
September 10th, 2010 at 2:54 AM ^
On Michigan's last drive, they faced a 3rd and about 8 or so. Thought it would be a great play call for Henson on a roll-out, with a pass/run option. It was the call, but instead of keeping it (unless the receiver was wide open and the throw was money), and forcing Purdue to let time run or take a TO, he made a tough pass into coverage, incomplete. Purdue then moves down the field. The penultimate play (negated if Henson just runs and slides down) gets Purdue a few more yards. Dorsch squeeks the kick just inside the left goal post. A yard or more further, and he misses the kick to the left.
2000 defense couldn't stop anyone when they needed it.
September 10th, 2010 at 7:51 AM ^
link or it never happened
/sarcasm
September 10th, 2010 at 9:09 AM ^
why is ronald bellamy on your list? did he play in the NFL?