Michigan fans: which is your all-time best UM squad and why?
So UM fans, you've savoring a great season and being "back", and are in a fine mood while waiting for your BCS game. While we're waiting for bowl season to start, thought it would be a good time to invite some looking back to other good seasons.
With all the great teams you've fielded over the years, what is your all-time best ever University of Michigan Wolverines football team, and why?
Just to get started, here's my take on the best Nebraska team, the 1971 13-0 NC Cornhuskers:3-0 vs. #s 2-3-4 teams in final poll (Oklahoma, Colorado, Alabama); Trailed in only one game (#2OU); 6 first team All Americans, 4 2nd team or honorable mention.
Oh yeah, and we'll try to give you a little more competitive game next year in Lincoln.
December 13th, 2011 at 8:37 PM ^
The "Point-a-Minute" teams outscored their opposition those years 550-0 and 644-12, respectively.
December 13th, 2011 at 8:40 PM ^
Haha 1901. Always the go to. Always a winner.
December 14th, 2011 at 11:27 AM ^
Heston: four years as the starting left halfback for Michigan. Playing both ways (naturally) and regarded as every bit as good a defensive player as a running back. Michigan went 43-0-1, and outscored opponents 2,326 to 40.
Knute Rockne coached against Red Grange, and he created the Four Horsemen. Knute Rockne said that Willie Heston was clearly the best ball carrier he ever saw.
In an era when football injuries were so frequent and so serious that the President of the United States considered banning the game, Willie Heston was regarded as indestructible; injury-proof.
If there had been a Heisman Trophy in the 'aughts, Willie Heston would have won three or four of them.
He did it all, while attending Michigan's Law School.
This is the original Michigan Man.
December 13th, 2011 at 9:12 PM ^
Gotta go 1901 on this one. Michigan had some strong squads in the years leading up to that, but Yost took it to a whole new level. Plus, the man called his shot. Immediately upon his arrival in Ann Arbor, he said "Michigan isn't going to lose a game," and backed it up for 56 straight games until suffering a 2-0 loss at then-powerhouse Chicago in the final game of the 1905 season.
December 13th, 2011 at 9:20 PM ^
he coached the 8-3 1898 Husker squad (think they were the "Golden Antelopes" back then).
December 13th, 2011 at 9:52 PM ^
Rocking the pimp hat!
December 13th, 2011 at 8:39 PM ^
I think it was around 1903 when the final season score was something like 500+ points scored to the 3 allowed.
December 13th, 2011 at 8:44 PM ^
From a personal standpoint: 1997. I wasn't born until '91, so I have no memories of Bo squads, but '97 is the year I got into football initially, plus I've got a football autographed by the entire team. Then probably this year's team as runner-up
From a dominant standpoint definitely the "Point-a-Minute" teams Yost rolled out there
December 13th, 2011 at 8:49 PM ^
So earlier today we had favorite player and why, now we have favorite squad and why. The logical progression is favorite ball boy and why by later tonight, right?
December 13th, 2011 at 8:55 PM ^
Personally: 06 Michigan team, as Im only a teen and it was with the group of Hart, Henne, Long, Manningham, etc... that really got me into Michigan football
December 13th, 2011 at 8:59 PM ^
1997 for me since it is the only undefeated, untied, National Championship team of my lifetime.
How did Nebraska play 13 games in 1971? Did they have the preseason classic exemption back then?
December 13th, 2011 at 9:31 PM ^
somehow we managed to schedule a game vs Hawaii (@Hawaii) between our last conferance game and the bowl game.
December 13th, 2011 at 10:57 PM ^
IIRC, Michigan played an extra game at Hawaii at some point in the late 90's or early 00's before there was a 12th regular season game. I think the NCAA would give an exemption to teams for an extra
<br>game at Hawaii because of the long trip.
December 13th, 2011 at 11:00 PM ^
I believe the game against Hawaii happened after the last conference game against Ohio.
December 14th, 2011 at 12:59 AM ^
Records of the 13-game FBS visitors to Hawaii this year:
Colorado 3-10
New Mexico State 4-9
Fresno State 4-9
Tulane 2-11
BYU and Utah State did not take advantage of the exemption. And these are the only visitors of the 50th state who are going bowling.
December 13th, 2011 at 9:03 PM ^
1972 10-1 and the defense only allowed 54 points ALL YEAR. Their only loss was 14-11 at OSU when Bo kept going for it on fourth down inside the the Buckeye 10 and kept getting stuffed.
Field goals would've launced that team to the Rose Bowl undefeated and ranked #2 in the nation. The 72-74 teams, led by the great Dennis Franklin, when 30-2-1 and never played in a bowl game. Bo himself said one reason for his poor bowl record was that his greatest squads never got a chance to play - the 72 team is my choice for best ever.
December 13th, 2011 at 9:05 PM ^
In 1980, Michigan got off to a slow start at 1-2 and were written off. They caught fire and went on a tear - winning their remaining nine games in the regular season. Topped it off with Bo's first Rose Bowl victory. That was also AC's first of three All-American seasons. Michigan as well had an awesome stable of backs with Butch Woolfolk, Larry Ricks and Stanley Edwards.
December 13th, 2011 at 9:06 PM ^
In the part of my life that I remember. Hard to top 12-0. Blowout of Colorado, tough defensive stops late in the game against ND, great comeback against Iowa, Woodson's interception at MSU, the domination of Penn St., Woodson's punt runback against Ohio. Finally, I went to the Rose Bowl that year for my first time and watched them cap an undefeated season on a beautiful day.
I would say the 1988 team was a close second. That was my first year as a student at Michigan. Lost two heartbreakers to open the season - Gillette missing a FG against ND in the final seconds and then Michigan squandering a 30-14 lead in the 4th quarter to #1 at the time Miami. ND went on to win the National Title and Miami was second. Michigan didnt lose again although tied Iowa but won the Rose Bowl against USC and finished ranked 4th.
December 13th, 2011 at 9:12 PM ^
screen pass to cleveland gary. first down.
screen pass to cleveland gary. first down.
screen pass to cleveland gary. first down.
screen pass to cleveland gary. first down.
screen pass to cleveland gary. first down.
and repeat...
December 13th, 2011 at 10:14 PM ^
Those teams were loaded on offense and defense; played a baller's schedule, but never made it through unscathed, but top 5 both times. Just incredible talent on the field and a rather evolved Bo on the sideline. Dominant teams.
December 13th, 2011 at 9:26 PM ^
1975-1978, my dad played on those teams, and thank I WolverineHistorian for posting games from back then so I can get a chance to see the old man in action
December 13th, 2011 at 9:57 PM ^
Team 132 definitely makes my top 3.
December 14th, 2011 at 11:39 AM ^
Are you sure?
December 13th, 2011 at 9:57 PM ^
Team 132 definitely makes my top 3.
December 14th, 2011 at 11:39 AM ^
Ok, I believe you now.
December 13th, 2011 at 9:57 PM ^
Team 132 definitely makes my top 3.
December 14th, 2011 at 11:40 AM ^
Alright, I get it! I believe you! For realzies.
December 13th, 2011 at 9:59 PM ^
Tell your old man that i think those teams were amazing too. I LOVED Ricky Leach and think the 78 Rose Bowl against Washington is one of the best games I've ever seen even though we lost.
I can still see Stan Edwards juggling the pass from Leach with under a minute to go before it was intercepted off his shoulder pad. If he catches it cleanly (and he should've) then he walks into the endzone untouched.
Damn.......
December 13th, 2011 at 10:05 PM ^
'97 in second place a good distance back.
December 13th, 2011 at 10:17 PM ^
This wasn't Michigan's best team, but it's not far off. They finished 10-1-1 (and the loss was only by two points). Hammerstein and Messner were monsters on the DL. Jim Harbaugh was healthy (after breaking his arm in '84). Jamie Morris was running wild. A great team......that coincidentally beat Nebraska in the Fiesta Bowl.
December 13th, 2011 at 10:54 PM ^
Made up for the 6-6 year previously which started out so promising with the win over prev. year NC Bernie Kosar and Miami. 86 was also great with the Harbaugh guarantee over Ohio but also with the most painful loss to Minnesota in the Big House.
December 14th, 2011 at 11:36 AM ^
Finished 10-1-1, a great defense and a great offense and a highlight great John Kolesar catch and run from Harbaugh against OSU to close out the dastardly Buckeyes in the final home game. Then, a tremendous second half comeback to beat Nebraska (trailed 14-3 at half) in the Fiesta Bowl! Man, that was a great season.....If only we could have had Brad Cochran hold onto that interception a few plays before Iowa drove down the field to make the field goal to beat us 12-10 and if ......Finished #2 overall in final polls behind Oklahoma.....
December 13th, 2011 at 10:23 PM ^
December 13th, 2011 at 10:34 PM ^
1997, followed by 86/87 team. That year we went to the Rose Bowl with Jim Harbaugh and lost to ASU. The only other loss that season was to Minny, and we beat OSU in Columbus. Jamie Morris, Leroy Hoard, Jumbo Elliott, Garland Rivers, Mark Messner. That was a great team.
December 13th, 2011 at 10:40 PM ^
and 2011 or any year we beat ohio!!!
December 13th, 2011 at 11:34 PM ^
No doubt it's '97, mainly because I'm not over 100 yrs old. But the defense that year was just absurdly good. I'm still convinced to this day we would've beat Nebraska because the defense would've shut down the option. They would've figured it out. CWood, national title, how can you go wrong?
December 13th, 2011 at 11:37 PM ^
But I think your example might be "most accomplished". Those point a minute teams were the most dominant. But If they played the 1997 team, they'd lose by a point a minute. Because they'd were smaller, slower and weaker. Athletes just get better. So the best team is 1997.
Just like that '71 Cornhusker team accomplished a lot on paper, but would have been waxed by the '95 team, which may have been the best college football team I've ever seen. Even just going back to the 70's, you're going to have linemen outweighed by 50-60 pounds. And if things keep going as they are, in another decade all those 90's teams will look outdated.
December 14th, 2011 at 2:15 AM ^
The 1979 team is my favorite. My dad had somehow wrangled season tickets for us when we moved to Ann Arbor in 1977, and I started to get into going to the games with him. Then 1979 came along and I watched, stunned, as a freshman not much bigger than me touched the ball on a punt return for the first time as a Wolverine and took it back for a TD like everyone else was standing still. And then the Indiana game came along ... my dad wanted to leave once Indiana tied the game (this was before overtime, and it was a miserable day), but I convinced him to stay.
In retrospect, I'm not sure how I survived the wet-with-rain-and-beer walk back to our car afterwards, as almost all I could say was "You wanted to leave! I can't believe you wanted to leave!" Probably interspersing that with "Anthony Carter is amazing! and we get to watch him for the next four years!" saved me :<)
After that, probably the 1992 team, since I got to go to the 1993 Rose Bowl as Tyrone Wheatley ripped off two monster TD runs to win a game that seemed like it was going to be lost at every turn.
December 14th, 2011 at 3:07 AM ^
1. 1997
2. 2006
3. 2011
(Born in 1990)
December 14th, 2011 at 8:33 AM ^
What else but the 1997 squad. A year in which we were not ranked highly in the preseason polls. Experts were harping on our disappointing year in '96 and so were we. I loved how Chuck Woodson tells Lloyd Carr, "I'm sick of all the talk, I just want to win!)
All title teams are in contention but this one was special in my mind. Plus I wasn't around in '48 or '01.
December 14th, 2011 at 8:42 AM ^
Undefeated national champs. Good enough for me.
December 14th, 2011 at 10:38 AM ^
For me 1997 was the best!! It was incredible watching that team and the success they had and then driving with a buddy to MSU and getting tickets just minutes before the game. Sitting in an all MSU section as Michigan fans and getting to see the greatest football play I have ever seen in my life!! (Charles Woodson superman interception). Its a memory I will carry with me for the rest of my life! GO BLUE!