Favorite Under-the-Radar Moment
What's your favorite Michigan football play or moment over the years that seemed to more or less go unnoticed -- that didn't generate much discussion, either at the time or since, that you think deserves more attention?
I have two. One is from 1997, the OSU game, when the Buckeyes got the ball back at the end of the game. As a long time fan, I was used to Michigan playing the bend-but-don't-break defense in those situations, protecting against the quick score, but inevitably letting other teams eat up 10 yards a play, until they turned the ball over (Iowa, 1986), or at least moved it onto our side of the field with a chance to win it (Reggie Ho, Notre Dame, 1988, or Tony Eason, Illinois, 1982). So I was bracing myself. But ... that's year's defense was obviously something different than preceding defenses. They just, simply, shut the door. Four and out. End of game. No momentum, no drive, no last second Hail Mary, no nuttin! To Ohio State!!
It was ... it was something I'd never seen before. It was awesome, it was bliss.
(Obviously, that year's defense gets lots of attention. I just personally was so struck by that moment. Ohio State, four-and-out. Thanks for playing, drive safely on the way home. Sweet.)
The second is more recent. Last year's MSU game, Mel Tucker calls three straight time-outs to ice Jake Moody, each time just before the ball is snapped, forcing Moody to kick four times in a row. Moody is spectacularly unbothered, and calmly boots all four field goals through the uprights, none of them even close to the goalposts. I've literally never seen that before. Last year's team had so many great players I think Moody slips through the cracks sometimes, but that man is an ice-god. Yes, we lost that game, but Jake Moody was ... not the reason. Ice-God.
Those are the two that come to my mind. What are your favorite plays/moments that didn't get the attention you think they deserved? I'd love to hear as we (finally) start approaching the first game of the season!
August 22nd, 2022 at 4:50 PM ^
Like this thread topic. For me, one that jumps out is Gemon Green's stick on Nebraska's last drive. Dax Hill's excellent coverage put the capper on the game, but Nebraska dialed up a decently designed screen play before that that Green ID'd and beat the blocker to the spot to blow it up. Making tackles one on one in space is never easy, and if he'd blown that, there was a convoy for the back to follow into field goal range.
A missed throw on a crossing route also bailed us out on that drive, but as far as highlighting Michigan players' contributions, Green made a clutch play.
August 22nd, 2022 at 5:17 PM ^
That's a good one.
I remember another from the same game much earlier. Hawkins discarded a blocker and made a stop on (I think) fourth and goal.
August 22nd, 2022 at 4:58 PM ^
There are so many. The first that comes to mind is the Michigan vs Washington game in 2002 (I was there). We all remember winning the game by a last second field goal. We may also remember we could have sealed the game with about 1:30 left with a field goal from our ~25 yard line. Yet Nienburg missed it!
Seemingly out of luck, we actually get the ball back with about 1 minute left. At about 30 secs left, Navarre passed to Edwards and he "catches" the ball and then drops it. The refs call it a fumble and its picked up by Michigan to maintain the ball just inside the 50. This is the pivotal under the radar moment because if the refs had just called it incomplete (which is definitely debatable), the game is over.
August 22nd, 2022 at 5:20 PM ^
Same game, same final drive --- Washington 12-men-on-the-field on the play with 0:12 left. That doesn't happen and U-M probably just has to throw up a Hail Mary or a crazy hook-and-lateral on the final play. They weren't going to try a 59-yard FG.
August 22nd, 2022 at 5:46 PM ^
I thought about that one, but that wasn't a game ender.
August 22nd, 2022 at 6:34 PM ^
A moment that stuck out to me from 2004 was when we played Iowa. They had the ball around midfield and Tim Massequoi (sp?) laid a brutal hit on a receiver that just caught the ball, causing a fumble and a Michigan recovery. It was just so obvious that this team was dominating in every aspect of the game.
My memory isn't what it used to be, but I think the entire Earth was destroyed. Great game.
(Edited due to being old & forgetful, apparently.)
August 22nd, 2022 at 7:18 PM ^
Uh, we got destroyed by Iowa at home in 2002. Not sure what you mean by "this team was dominating in every aspect of the game."
August 22nd, 2022 at 7:52 PM ^
Since I actually meant 2004.
I told you my memory wasn't what it used to be...
August 22nd, 2022 at 5:01 PM ^
Same thing for me with the 97 team, but earlier in the season. Vs. ND - 4th Q. Three turnovers leaving ND with no more than 30 yards to go on each possession.
Stonewalled them. Nothing - got the ball back. It was then I knew this defense, and team, were different. And I didn't worry again after that (except against Iowa - Jesus that was scary)
August 22nd, 2022 at 5:11 PM ^
Also 97
VS Iowa
Tim Dwight almost single handedly ruined that glorious season until Sam Sword picked off the pass with time winding down to preserve a 28-24 Michigan Victory.
August 22nd, 2022 at 6:14 PM ^
Good call. Every time I rewatch the highlights of that game I'm amazed at how committed our offense seemed to be to give Notre Dame the game ... and how committed our defense was not to let that happen.
August 22nd, 2022 at 7:21 PM ^
I don't know if that ND quarter was under the radar. I remember it meriting endless discussion at the time, including on talk radio, since sites like this didn't really exist. Those three stops were huge.
Honestly, there's not much about the 97 season that truly passed under the radar. Name an event and someone has gushed over it. Northwestern throwing away from Woodson literally all game, challenging him once, and Woodson getting the pick? Someone has hyped it. Woodson's *other* interception against MSU? Someone has hyped it (I recall trying to make one of those transgressive hot-take notes on a local internet discussion board about how ACKSHUALLY that was a more impressive interception than his leaping one-hander due to how he broke on the ball, but that was just an immature 18-year-old trying to show off how smart he was, very much like clickbait today).
August 23rd, 2022 at 10:12 PM ^
To be fair - at the time, most chalked it up to "luck of the Irish" running out and turning on them. I don't recall much (that week) about the defense other than they did a yeoman's job.
They were much more than yeomen as it turned out.
August 22nd, 2022 at 5:02 PM ^
This is a great topic. En route to 42-27, Moten - just after dropping an INT that I thought was for sure going to be one of "those moments" we looked back on - gets caught 1on1 in open field with just him between JSN and the endzone - and drops him with a solid open field tackle, short of the sticks on 3rd down.
Dude will be a gamer. I dunno if anything 42-27 goes under the radar, but most of the defensive plays remembered are TFLs (the Hutch/Ojabo sacks, Josh Ross tearing through the line on 3rd down). This one was a ho-hum, solid but seemingly unspectacular play by a DB. And in reality, it was pretty dang spectacular.
August 22nd, 2022 at 5:41 PM ^
My initial thought was a different defensive play from this game. Mike Morris' batted ball on 3rd down early in the second quarter. It felt like OSU was getting their offense figured out. The OSU receiver was wide open for a first down had Morris not knocked it down. The first half was relatively low scoring, but at that point in the game, it was starting to feel like it could turn into a track meet. That play seemed to slow things down a little. I remember Harbaugh was super pumped about it.
August 22nd, 2022 at 6:16 PM ^
This is a little off-topic, obviously, but geez, the score would have been even more of a blow-out had the Buckeyes wide receivers not played out of their freaking minds. I couldn't believe how many 3rd and long catches they made. So annoying, but man, JSN in particular is unreal.
August 22nd, 2022 at 8:33 PM ^
And don't forget the 4th down conversions too...
August 22nd, 2022 at 5:09 PM ^
The play before "Touchdown Manningham" (PSU 2005) - 6 seconds left and Henne throws an incomplete pass to Breaston. Of note, the throw was (1) not particularly close to the side-line and (2) was a full 5 yards short of the end zone.
Now, Breaston could/arguably should have caught the ball. But if that happens, there's a good chance the clock hits 0:00 before U-M calls timeout: he likely wasn't going to score or get out of bounds because the PSU defender was there.
Carr's gotta be thankful for that --- the criticism he would have faced for the game ending on that play call would have been immense!
August 22nd, 2022 at 5:16 PM ^
I was just behind the endzone (on the field) where that happened and have no memory of it, ha
I remember Breaston's return, Paterno and Lloyd both arguing for 2 seconds back on the clock, and honestly very little else other than abject delirium and delight
August 22nd, 2022 at 5:42 PM ^
The 3 plays prior to the last one (the U-M fans around me were definitely grumbling "uh, Lloyd, take a shot at the win!"):
- 0:18 left, ball at the PSU 16. Henne takes a 7-step drop ----- in order to fling some sideways pass to Breaston who is at the PSU 16. This is another one Breaston arguably should have caught - if he had, he probably would have been tackled right away and in-bounds. U-M would have had to burn their last timeout - all for a play that gained zero yards.
- 0:12 left, sideline pattern to Manningham for 6, OOB.
- 0:06 left, aforementioned play.
Now it all worked out for U-M ..... but the game could have ended with U-M having the ball at the PSU 16 and 0:18 left, but never taking a shot at the EZ in their last 3 plays!
August 22nd, 2022 at 5:18 PM ^
Although it will never be as celebrated with accolades I will forever remain thankful for the Tater game over ND. So much I need to forget about that time except for the wins against ND.
August 22nd, 2022 at 6:07 PM ^
One week before being overshadowed by the Bill Lynch Gum Throw
August 22nd, 2022 at 8:36 PM ^
Obviously that was the game winner, but don't forget this gem from that game...
August 22nd, 2022 at 6:00 PM ^
Hot dog guy. I was in the band and we weren't in the student section yet, but man it looked like an lot of fun when he was slinging those things.
August 22nd, 2022 at 6:08 PM ^
Haha that guy was awesome and I completely forgot about him! Was that 2006? I was too far up but that guy got profiled in the Daily and was like a guest analyst for them. It was either '05 or '06 I think.
August 22nd, 2022 at 6:09 PM ^
And along the same theme - the Central game in 2006 with the thunderstorm delay. All the fans stayed and the band played and because we mostly blew out everybody but Ball State that year before the game, it was one of the most fun moments in the Big House
August 22nd, 2022 at 6:24 PM ^
1999 Citrus Bowl - Two moments in this game when I thought we could see what Tom Brady was capable of doing. About 1:50 left in 3rd Quarter, 3rd and 9, score tied at 24, Brady picks up the first down running after getting blasted by a defensive back. Yes, he turns it over on an interception that drive but it reminded me of Brian Griese picking a first down running in the last drive of the 1998 Rose Bowl. Later, Brady hits Tai Streets on a crucial 4th and 2, which eventually leads to the go ahead score in that game. The penalty flag on that play was waived off.
August 22nd, 2022 at 7:24 PM ^
While there has been loads of them, one that sticks out in my mind, and I never saw mention of in any media, happened in the 1997 MSU game up in EL. Everyone remember CW's fabulous interception, but I saw something that wasn't even during a play that made me hoot and holler. We had the ball (I think it was the third quarter) and had moved it down to somewhere in the vicinity of Sparty's 35 yard line. The players were lining up for the play, we were in the I-formation with Chris Floyd up front and Chris Howard as the tailback. Sparty puts on an A-gap blitz with Ike Reese (noted tough-guy ILB for MSU) and he jumps the gun. Refs blow the whistle, everyone stands up out of there sets except Reese, who charges into the backfield like he's gonna clobber Griese. Chris Floyd casually steps up, lowers his shoulder, and absolutely smokes Reese, sent him backwards in the air. The refs ignored it and penalized Sparty 5 yards for offsides. It didn't contribute anything to the game, but it sure increased my enjoyment.
August 22nd, 2022 at 7:25 PM ^
Don't know if this even qualifies, but when everyone talks about the Braylon game, nobody mentions that before his 3 td catches, Michigan set up the first field goal in the comeback with a deep pass to Braylon. Even before the TDs they basically just bookmarked the "chuck it to Braylon" portion of the playbook and won with it.
August 22nd, 2022 at 8:48 PM ^
Don't forget the "surprise" onside kick we recovered after the field goal. Not sure we win the game without that...
August 23rd, 2022 at 12:19 PM ^
I also remember Braylong coughing up the ball deep in Sparty territory early in the 3rd quarter. I was mad at Braylon for a solid 5 minutes of game action. I was wrong. Sorry Braylon
August 22nd, 2022 at 7:28 PM ^
The Dileo Slide!!!
August 22nd, 2022 at 9:56 PM ^
Lawrence Reid's fumble to Lee Corso.
August 22nd, 2022 at 10:25 PM ^
I thought of that, but frankly, for everyone at the game and paying attention at the time, that got a lot of attention. Certainly it did from Lee Corso. Watching him go apopleptic was awesome.
(I have some sympathy, though. If that had happened to us I would still be bitching about it today. A completely bull-shit play, but ... because it was our guy who did it, smart and strategic!)
:-)
August 22nd, 2022 at 11:42 PM ^
Another one on similar lines was Todd Collins' astounding throw to Walter Smith at Notre Dame to set up that final field goal in ... 1994?
I'll tell you, as often as we've hard our heart broken ... it's remarkable how many times we've ripped the hearts out of Notre Dame. I mean ... how many times have we beaten them on a play with less than a minute left? 1994, 2009, and 2011 come to mind immediately, but I'm sure there were others.
And even that doesn't include Desmond's play in 1991, for instance!
August 23rd, 2022 at 8:21 AM ^
For me, this may be a stretch, or maybe it was the alcohol coursing through my veins at the time, but two moments come to mind I've never heard anyone talk about. The first was watching the teams leave the locker room before THE GAME. I can remember looking up and thinking, "we are walking with purpose and confidence". Not too much hootin' and hollerin', just a bunch of men on a mission. OSU, I thought, looked almost bored or annoyed that they had to be there.
The second moment was coming out of halftime. The teams were leaving the locker room and I can remember thinking that we tasted blood and OSU looked scared. Perhaps revisionist history or confirmation bias (or alcohol) given we are months past it but I did think these things and I've never seen/heard anyone else say the same or a similar thing.
August 23rd, 2022 at 7:58 PM ^
I was at that game. Even the sparties were pissed.
August 23rd, 2022 at 8:10 PM ^
UCLA-Michigan, Rose Bowl, but regular season game. 1989. Vada Murray recovers an onside kick 1 second to go. JD Carlson Kicks the 24 yard field goal to end the game. 24-23, we go on to 10-1 in Bo's final season, only to lose in that same Rose Bowl to USC after getting screwed by the Refs at the end of the game. I was at both games. We got drunk in the parking lot after the UCLA game because we were blocked in, couldn't go anywhere. Met some nice gals though. Good memories. Good times.