"That guy's one shining moment" moments
I was thinking back on the Wisconsin 2000 (EDIT: 2001 -- my memory sucks) game, and the fortuitous bounce that won it for us.
Then this got me thinking about those guys who stick around at Michigan for their entire careers, and end up doing basically nothing except for one dramatic, season-changing play.
I'm talking about a guy with the "Special Teams Contributor" (sounds nice) career path of, say, Shakir Edwards, Alijah Bradley, Adam Patterson or Doug Dutch, but who has one random play that completely changes one game, etching his name in our collective 'M'emory.
- Wisconsin, 2001: Brandon Williams, seldom-used career backup DB, collects a punt that bounced off a Badger leg. Michigan kicks a GW field goal and escapes.
- Tyrece Butler recovers a Braylon fumble against Washington in 2002, converting a 4th down and setting up the GW field goal
- Jacob Stewart intercepts Minnesota in 2003 and runs it in for a touchdown, sparking the comeback
- Scott McClintock (I know, he was starting at that point, but his career was certainly Special Team-y) jumps on a fumble against Iowa in 2004 when M was up 17-10 late in the 3rd quarter and the Hawkeyes' offense was looking like they finally had us figured out. Instead, M gets the ball, we hand it off to this tiny freshman guy named Hart who scores his first career TD.
- Jeff Smokevich, Wisconsin 1999. M has controlled Badger running game all day, but it's 4th and 2 early in the 4th quarter, and Wisconsin is in our red zone down 21-9 with eventual Heisman-winning big back Ron Dayne coming right at this seldom-used 5th yr senior DE. Smokevich holds up his block and makes the stop - Turnover on Downs*
September 25th, 2009 at 10:42 AM ^
Who got the onside in Braylonfest? Forget who it was a fullback maybe?
September 25th, 2009 at 10:45 AM ^
Brian Thompson, although he did start a few games in his career. I remember a TD against Northwestern too.
September 25th, 2009 at 10:48 AM ^
Brian Thompson. He was the starting fullback I think in 2003 and 2005. I remember him being used as a receiver out of the backfield once a game.
Nice one!
September 25th, 2009 at 10:46 AM ^
Can we add Tyrone Butterfield and and his fantastic "decision" to drop the pass late in the Virginia game? His drop was the only way we got another play for Mr. Hayes.
September 25th, 2009 at 9:11 PM ^
Butterfield didn't stick around. He transferred after his sophomore season.
September 25th, 2009 at 10:56 AM ^
darnell hood, career special teams guy finally gets in for 2 carries at running back against IU. He didn't score or anything, but he stuck around for 5 years and he finally got on the field to do something other than block or tackle.
September 25th, 2009 at 11:01 AM ^
Bishop Gallagher HS in Harper Woods sent us a few guys back in the day. Some reeked of mediocrity, but at least one was a solid contributor. You know, Julius and Markus Curry, Hood and this one dude named Braylon.
September 25th, 2009 at 11:07 AM ^
Oh, man, if we were to name every senior who got Thank-You carries in garbage time...
Still, nice ref! The one thing I remember about Hood was he always made the EA Sports rosters, even in the 55-man roster days, which for a backup was pretty weird I thought.
September 25th, 2009 at 11:22 AM ^
why i remember that one is because lloyd and brandy were making a big deal out of it on michigan replay.
September 25th, 2009 at 9:00 PM ^
This was a special case, because Hood was actually a defensive player at the time (he'd switched from TB to CB as an underclassman), but the coaches wanted to reward him for his hard work (he'd been an outstanding gunner on special teams), so they put him back on offense for that week and gave him some carries.
September 25th, 2009 at 11:03 AM ^
The punt muff to GWFG occurred in Madison in 2001.
2000 was the 10-7 game, won by Henson's heartstoppingly dangerous pass to Terrell in the north endzone.
September 25th, 2009 at 11:10 AM ^
Oh yeeeeaahhh!
Not for the first time: my memory sucks (e.g. it combined both of those games into one).
September 25th, 2009 at 11:19 AM ^
the more appreciative I become of WolverineHistorian on YouTube for matters such as this.
September 25th, 2009 at 11:05 AM ^
Shouldn't Phil Brabbs go at the top of this list? He took part in more than one game, but if I mention The Phil Brabbs Game, you all know exactly what game I am talking about.
September 25th, 2009 at 3:48 PM ^
I don't think he kicked in many (if any) games beyond Washington, and he sucked for the first 59:57 of that game... but lord that was a huge moment.
I hope his health improves.
September 25th, 2009 at 11:07 AM ^
Little guy wearing #8 comes in for a few snaps at the end at QB (after Coner if I remember correctly) to get his name in the record books. I look around for my free program to see who he is, but I can't find it, and I don't particularly care. I see he's signaling in the plays this year, so that's nice for him. Seems like a good fit. Wonder what would happen if we ever had to let someone like him play for an extended period of time...
September 25th, 2009 at 1:27 PM ^
Jeff Kastl? Naw, he wore 13. I don't know. I don't really pay attention to depth walk-ons.
Antonio Bass was awesome against the LOLphers last year though, eh? I'm still mad they gave the Heisman to Bradford over Bass.
September 25th, 2009 at 1:58 PM ^
Ok, first: he meant DEATH.
second, Jeff Kastl actually went to my HS and led our team to a state championship his senior (my freshman) year. It was crazy when I went to my first game 4 years later and saw him holding that clipboard, and even throw a pass(?!?!)
second, Jeff Kastl actually went to my HS and led our team to a state championship his senior (my freshman) year. It was crazy when I went to my first game 4 years later and saw him holding that clipboard, and even throw a pass(?!?!)
September 25th, 2009 at 2:44 PM ^
Oh, I get it. You meant that other timeline.
I'm from another dimension, where Michigan was 10-2 last year, and where walk-ons are backups, not the starting quarterback, and everybody gets sarcasm.
By the way, Kastl is coaching at Ashland U in Ohio now I believe.
Both he and Brabbs tweet.
September 25th, 2009 at 3:37 PM ^
Removed by author
September 25th, 2009 at 11:09 AM ^
Does Steven Threet's 50+ yard rush against Wisconsin last year qualify for this list?
September 25th, 2009 at 11:12 AM ^
Reminded of a buffalo falling down a flight of stairs, graceful. I'd say it qualifies, if you can honestly remember another Threet highlight I'm impressed.
September 25th, 2009 at 11:22 AM ^
The beautiful bomb to Junior against Utah.
I think that's it.
September 25th, 2009 at 12:21 PM ^
in the Miami game where the DE went after the running back and Threet went in for the touchdown from like 10 yards out. To me, it was a 'This offense is going to be great!' moment.
September 25th, 2009 at 11:20 AM ^
is right at least twice a day.
September 25th, 2009 at 11:21 AM ^
That def counts. Unless you can think of a screen or swing pass he completed. I tried and am at a loss
September 25th, 2009 at 11:33 AM ^
John Thompson's interception and subsequent stampede into the endzone in the Wisconsin game last year? I know JT started a bunch of games, but the only time you ever really heard about him was when someone was complaining about how he was too big and too slow to be on the field.
September 25th, 2009 at 4:03 PM ^
My memory of the OT victory over Iowa in 2005 is that John Thompson and Jerome Jackson basically won the game for us, although it wasn't a single spectacular play for either of them.
September 25th, 2009 at 11:41 AM ^
I think this would be more in line with a UM player who did not see the field much, and in those brief moments did something memorable/spectacular/game-changing.
September 25th, 2009 at 11:55 AM ^
Long Snapper Griffin recovers a fumble against Illinois on punt coverage. Guy was a WorkHorse for UM. Great Long Snapper for 2 years. But that play made him a houshold name for a guy who played the most ignored position on the field.
September 25th, 2009 at 11:58 AM ^
This is really a fantastic thread idea. I remember a good deal of these plays, but often forget the men who made them possible.
I wish I had a few to add, but I can't think of anyone offhand.
September 25th, 2009 at 12:23 PM ^
For making a huge 30 yard reception against tOSU in 2003 (wow, was it that long ago?)
Or are his lapses (not running out of bounds against tOSU, RUNNING out of bounds in the Alamo Bowl) too much for him to be on this list?
Are we talking about really, obscure players? Ecker might be too familiar.
September 25th, 2009 at 12:38 PM ^
Aargh, Pitch the ball!
September 25th, 2009 at 1:23 PM ^
If I close my eyes I can still see Breaston running a step behind him, waiting, just waiting, for the pitch that never came.
:(
September 25th, 2009 at 1:33 PM ^
Ecker also had the game winning TD against Minnesota in '04 if I'm not mistaken.
September 25th, 2009 at 1:59 PM ^
Jerome Jackson against Iowa in '05 with the game winning TD in OT. I think that game also featured Antonio Bass throwing a pass to Avant who was wide open and would've walked in had he hit him in stride...
September 25th, 2009 at 3:56 PM ^
but if I say "Scott Dreisbach," most people's instant reaction is OMG MERCURY HAYES VIRGINIA WOOOOOOOOOO.
I'd also throw out Nick Sheridan v. Minnesota last year.
September 25th, 2009 at 3:58 PM ^
pick six against OSU 1997. The "other" CB was always overshadowed by Woodson.
September 25th, 2009 at 4:19 PM ^
One hit, that began (and summed up) an historic season:
http://wolverines.fandome.com/video/1910/Michigan-Player-Daydrion-Taylo…
or better yet, here for the Historian:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3YFOcfwWgqc&feature=related
(about 5:28 in, but why not watch the whole thing?)
I was at a bar with a lot of Penn St. and Michigan people
in northern California. Wow, you should have heard it after
that smash.
September 25th, 2009 at 4:42 PM ^
How about Ryan Pflugner, does he count? Or is that just mean?
September 25th, 2009 at 9:42 PM ^
I support this.
September 25th, 2009 at 5:16 PM ^
Laterryal Savoy neeeaaarly had his moment against Notre Dame...
Does Ryan Mallett versus Notre Dame in 2007 count?
September 25th, 2009 at 9:04 PM ^
I'd argue that he did have it in that gave. He made two big catches immediately before that drop that set up the final score. Without those catches, we're looking at a 50-yard FG attempt just to tie.
September 25th, 2009 at 7:38 PM ^
I was at that Kickoff Classic game against Virgina. I have a souvenir soda cup from that game that I still use. I was going to mention Scott Dreisbach but Blue in South Bend beat me to it. Isn't that really that only good game Dreisbach had for UM? I think he had a melt down against Penn State and was never the same again. Even though Brian Griese was still in Carr's dog house I think he had no choice but to play him. (I also went to the Purdue game that same season when UM won 5-3, awful game.)Can't remember for sure. What about UM running back Chris Howard. I don't know if he did anything spectacular on the field but he did get married to Gabrielle Union and that has to count for something.
September 25th, 2009 at 8:45 PM ^
Except Howard was the starting back in 97 over Clarence Williams RAGE and freshman A Train, who was basically a kick returner. Right?
September 25th, 2009 at 9:06 PM ^
Yeah, I don't think being the starting tailback on a national-title team quite counts. (Thomas was more than just a kick returner, though; he had over 500 rushing yards.)
September 25th, 2009 at 9:23 PM ^
Dubuc, a TE from the same school as several of our other Quebec recruits, didn't see a ton of playing time but did catch a key TD pass at Wisconsin in 2001 (our only offensive score in the game). See it at 1:59:
Kornblue, a walk-on placekicker, patiently waited behind Jay Feely, Kraig Baker and Hayden Epstein before finally getting a chance to kick a field goal (a 40+ kick, IIRC) late in the 1999 Northwestern game. It was good!
September 26th, 2009 at 7:50 AM ^
Nice one! I remember Dubuc!
Why did Kornblue kick for Epstein? I still can't think of Hayden without remembering Brian's "Epstein Misses a Field Goal" play in the Every Three Weekly.
September 26th, 2009 at 10:10 AM ^
It was a blowout, so Lloyd gave him a shot. Nice gesture.