Fantastic special on the '97 team right now on BTN
Just a heads up. The special started at 10 so a lot left of it. Already been some great insights and quotes regarding Lloyd's coaching style. Hoke has made a cameo talking about the team as well. Hoping to see some more from him. I always love hearing from Lloyd. He really knew how to get a team fired up.
September 4th, 2013 at 10:17 PM ^
I tuned in just in time to see this again:
It NEVER gets old.
September 5th, 2013 at 4:27 AM ^
September 5th, 2013 at 7:27 AM ^
I love seeing Hoke at the end of that clip.
September 4th, 2013 at 10:23 PM ^
September 4th, 2013 at 10:25 PM ^
That team's success really was all about attitude.
September 4th, 2013 at 10:26 PM ^
16 years later, and I still remember every detail about every guy on that team. Between that, the hockey team, and the basketball team, best year of sports ever.
September 4th, 2013 at 10:48 PM ^
The Red Wings first cup since 55 was in 97 too. Very memorable year.
September 4th, 2013 at 10:56 PM ^
Michigan Wolverines national champions
Detroit Red Wings Stanley Cup champions
Cleveland Indians American League champions. There will never be a year like it again
September 4th, 2013 at 11:05 PM ^
Sounds like that was the year you started following sports and decided you liked those teams...
September 4th, 2013 at 11:31 PM ^
September 5th, 2013 at 12:11 AM ^
September 5th, 2013 at 1:08 PM ^
That was really the outlier.
September 5th, 2013 at 5:56 AM ^
September 4th, 2013 at 10:32 PM ^
September 4th, 2013 at 11:00 PM ^
I was thinking the same thing while watching the 98' Rose Bowl. A few throwbacks every offseason would be awesome!
September 4th, 2013 at 11:15 PM ^
I was at the Rose Bowl and I still remember how happy I was after the win. That was truly a special team.
September 4th, 2013 at 11:46 PM ^
September 4th, 2013 at 11:51 PM ^
And not just mine, I think.
September 4th, 2013 at 11:58 PM ^
1. The Orange Bowl wasn't until the next day, and even though we led the polls there was no telling what would happen. Lloyd spoke inspiringly of winning the national championship, but it was not actually decided.
2. Michigan did not play as dominantly as I had hoped. We won and won well, but it was a bit scary. Not the most charismatic effort of the season.
3. The ending of the game was way screwy. Note Carr's famously befuddled expression as he walked onto the field, not even positive that it was over. The ending took some steam out for me. Not much, but some.
4. The Rose Bowl is a grand setting, but not the most electric sports venue. It's like watching football on a cruise, with a bunch of other fans on a cruise, too. The whole fanbase isn't there. It's not like being at home.
5. The week-to-week gauntlet that season was thrilling. The 5-week break (in the days before the unending social media hype machine) released some of the energy.
And one reason why their should be no loss of energy:
1. They just won the national championship at the Rose Bowl!
Can't believe it's been 16 years.
September 5th, 2013 at 8:05 AM ^
September 5th, 2013 at 9:35 AM ^
September 5th, 2013 at 10:01 AM ^
September 5th, 2013 at 2:42 PM ^
Also see: Joe Paterno. Seem to remember he had us unreasonably low on his ballot, too. It wasn't just The Cup.
September 5th, 2013 at 10:04 AM ^
said, except, the Rose Bowl is electric. It is unquestionably the most electric atmosphere of all of the Bowl games, and in most years where Wisconsin is not playing Stanford, I think it manages to feel about as big as the MNC game. The kickoff of the Rose Bowl to me is the culmination of the college football season.
September 4th, 2013 at 10:36 PM ^
He scored later anyway. The all-time big-game performance.
September 4th, 2013 at 11:01 PM ^
Chills, man. Chills.
I can't help but think we're getting really close to this kind of team. Maybe in a couple years.
September 4th, 2013 at 11:10 PM ^
You heard it here first.
September 5th, 2013 at 10:02 AM ^
Paper tiger with relatively significant recent success.
September 4th, 2013 at 11:01 PM ^
I just spent the entire show reliving the stories of 97 with my wife (who I met in 2004)...
How many people went to Adam Sandler the night before the Game?
jdon
September 5th, 2013 at 8:16 AM ^
For those who were not there, you have to understand the environment. It was the night before the Game, and we were undefeated and about to play a strong OSU team for a chance to essentially play for the national championship in the rose bowl. The campus was insanely pumped up - take the last 15 minutes of UTL 1 and sustain that over a week and that is about half of the excitement level. I was in several large lecture halls where the entire class broke into the victors while awaiting the professor.
So Adam Sandler, who was really popular back then and funny as hell, was having a concert at Hill Auditorium the night before the Game. Sandler was apparently running really late, so the packed crowd is just waiting and waiting, and for about 30 minutes, the crowd is singing the victors over and over and over. Finally, the lights o down, and Sandler's voice comes over the sound system in the tune of his famous Thanksgiving Turkey Song ("look it up kids), saying "love to eat turkey, 'cause its great. Hope you kick the shit out of Ohio State." The crowd went wild and it took about 10 minutes before the crowd stopped signing the victors for Sandler to start the show.
Just an awesome memory.
September 4th, 2013 at 11:03 PM ^
September 4th, 2013 at 11:41 PM ^
September 5th, 2013 at 6:29 AM ^
September 5th, 2013 at 12:34 PM ^
September 5th, 2013 at 10:22 AM ^
September 4th, 2013 at 11:12 PM ^
That's the one
September 4th, 2013 at 11:20 PM ^
I just started watching it, can't believe I haven't seen it before.
1:55 in and Drew Sharp Ruins the whole thing... Can we contact BTN and have them not include him please.....
September 5th, 2013 at 7:52 AM ^
Nothing Drew Sharp says in this special is cringe-worthy, so I'm not sure why you'd take issue with it. I don't like Sharp that much, either, but he's fairly innocuous here.
September 5th, 2013 at 2:04 PM ^
September 5th, 2013 at 2:49 AM ^
The Big Ten did a solid job putting this together. Well worth your time...
September 5th, 2013 at 8:28 AM ^
I love Marcus Ray's comments throughout the entire program. His trash talk is hilarious. When he knocks Boston down, and standing over him: "Don't you EVER talk trash in the Big House again!" Classic!
September 5th, 2013 at 8:49 AM ^
I was waiting for instant replay a few times to overturn the calls/spike at the end of the game. But, they must have edited them out. /s
September 5th, 2013 at 9:01 AM ^
They did actually. Just like they "edited out" the insanely obvious offensive pass interference call that was made a few plays earlier when the WSU reciever shoved Woodsen out of the play before the catch along the sidelines.
September 5th, 2013 at 9:13 AM ^
was one of the plays I was referring to. It was funny how the ref pulled out his flag and waved it in his hand as he signaled completion.
September 5th, 2013 at 7:28 PM ^
I am getting that same vibe I got in early season '97. There was an energy. An intangible, different, unexplainable presence. It resurfaced for me, today. I wanted to believe last weekend that the strength I saw on display was real. But, I didn't feel that electric vibe. Not until today. I typically focus on remaining neutral so that I can sense perturbations in the force. Today, when I saw this thread, I felt the matrix shift. Something is stirring deep underneath the surface, looking for release. This team is the real deal. Devin Gardner, do not focus on turnovers. Turnovers do not matter when you crush your foe. The focus simply needs to be on crushing the Irish. Every single player (and I know you hear me), quiet yourself and see yourself delivering maximum effectiveness. This thing is yours. So take it. Hail to the Victors.
September 5th, 2013 at 7:29 PM ^
There.