Michigan History 2003 football team vs the Minnesota Twins

Weird, I watched that game at my buddies' house on East U. Didn't remember that it was a Friday. But I do remember that it was the start of a fall break and the campus and surrounding neighborhoods were pretty quiet. It's interesting that Lloyd would make such a fuss over playing on a Friday considering that the players were essentially heading into a long weekend. And if I recall correctly, that was only the first or second fall break ever at U of M (I'm pretty sure we didn't have a fall break my freshman or sophomore years, do they still have it?). 

But man, Michigan is so stodgy and wedded to tradition sometimes. Yeah, playing on a Friday is unusual and not the best but jeez, just get over it and play the damn game. 

That video is WAY too long and that wasn't that scandalous of a story.

That said .... Carr did tend to "complain" about these logistical oddities and trying to gain an advantage from such.

In 1995, the Wednesday before the U-M/PSU game, Central PA got 24 inches of snow and there was a question about whether the game would need to be delayed until Sunday.  Carr was adamant about that not happening, and said the game should just be moved to Ann Arbor in that case.  That didn't happen and honestly (this was before I was even at PSU) it seemed like a ridiculous request.

In 2004, Michigan started the season hosting Miami University on Labor Day Saturday.  Miami had a game the Saturday before due to some logistical scheduling issue.  That meant Miami got to start fall practice early --- Carr thought Michigan should also get an exemption to start practice early because of such.  The NCAA didn't grant him that request.

Checked out about 9 minutes into the Twins season update. Good god get to the point.

Yeah, I watched this the other day and it's way too long and trying to invent drama that never really existed.  This had happened once before.  We had to play a Friday night Metrodome game in 1991 because the Twins were playing in the World Series the following day.  

My memories from 2003 was that both Michigan and MSU said, "no," to Minnesota's requests to playing Thursday night.  In response, the Gophers then said it will have to be played Friday night or not at all and that's what ended up happening.  The Twins were out of the playoffs by the time the MSU game happened.  Michigan wasn't exactly happy about it but they agreed.  There was never any war or major resistance.   And while the game ended up being the biggest comeback in school history, the rest of college football ended up forgetting about it rather quickly.  

The Metrodome may have been an eye sore but I was rather fond of Michigan's 11-0 record there.   

Was duck hunting on the Colorado river that weekend.  We drove into the little town, ate pizza, had a beer, and watched the 4th quarter.  Fun.

I remember that night!

Standing in the doorway between the den and the living room TVs. As noted, Michigan scored the biggest comeback victory in school history, 38-35...while my Chicago Cubs scored a thrilling 11th inning 5-4 victory that put them up 2 games to 1 against the Florida Marlins. (Yes, the eventual World Series champion Florida Marlins. Cubs should have been there but Game 6 of the series was the infamous "Steve Bartman" game. Ugghh.)

Transcontinental, Baby!

In all honesty: Had I been AD, I'd have shitcanned Lloyd at halftime of that game. The 2003 team was loaded. Both sides of the ball. MNC contender. Sr Navarre. Experience along the OL. Chris Perry. Young, but talented at WR and Jason Avant. Massaqoui at TE I think? Marlin Jackson, Burgess as well I think, just loaded with talent and expereince.

But they had a shit game at Oregon (shocker, couldnt travel to the left coast and win a football game), choked @ Iowa due to a punting disaster IIRC. I think the ST coach got shitcanned and never coached again. Guy might be in an asylum or something? IDK. Then this Minn game happened and they were about to go from #3 in the country to unranked in like less than a month.

Of course, in typical Lloyd fashion, he rallies the troops to win out, including The (100th) Game, the last outright B10 title untill 2022 and go to the Rose Bowl. Where they subsequently shit the bed against USC. 

The single most unsatisfying B10 title team to sweep ND, MSU and OSU in the history of Michigan football

I vaguely recall this.  The video doesn't mention it, but we had, in fact, played (and lost) a road game the weekend before, at Iowa. Our preseason top 5 team was 4-2 with a conference loss.  After that tough loss at Iowa, we were going to have a short week of preparation before a road game against a ranked, 6-0 Minnesota. Carr legitimately cared about academics, more than the average coach, but I think this was also a consideration.

If we'd lost this game, which would have basically eliminated us from Big Ten contention, the reschedule of the game probably would have been a story forever.  But we pulled off the miracle comeback, didn't lose another game the rest of the regular season, and it became just a footnote.

I never knew that about Minnesota having to offer us compensation.  Interesting.

This is the single craziest Michigan game I ever remember watching. The comeback was epic, but the Barber/Maroney/random mobile QB show Minnesota put on was something to behold, what a tandem those backs were. Best I’ve ever seen in the BiG10. Their epic 4th quarter meltdown to us, however, was something to behold-er. 
 

Also, John Navarre scored a 36 yard YAC touchdown on the best designed fake ever. Yes, the statue amongst statue QB’s, John Navarre. 
 

Carr didn't want fans to have choose "which" football to see. Wanted families at high school football on Friday and at Big Ten games on Saturday. He thought it worked well that way and respected that tradition.

That's the way I remember it.

Not saying he didnt like his routines and that it wasn't a money/academics/preparedness thing...but I see the comments that Carr was stodgy and just want to mention that this isn't that bad of an idea. I think he wanted to complain to help college football and so that it wouldnt happen much and to save face with his players' parents and fans who may wish to travel. No doubt figured games would have fewer folks on a friday than saturday. At the metrodome though, didnt always matter the day, it didnt always have many Minnesota fans anyway. And not tons of Michigan faithful traveled (moreso michigan alumni already living in MSP would attend).

At the end of the day, everyone knew it wasn't truly Carr's decision. At most his opinion would be taken into account, but venues are only available when they're available.

I remember it being a Friday night.  I was on board the USS Wasp on a pre-deployment workup.  We were able to get satellite tv reception because we were not that far from port.  I watched the first half and then we lost the signal. 

I went to bed assuming UM lost, but found out in the AM that UM had won.  

That was the first fall break (as someone else pointed out) and I was driving back to Chicago from AA with a car packed full of buddies as we listened to the play by play.  The Cubs were in the NLCS vs the Marlins at the time and won Game 4 the next day.  They then won Game 5 and I (wrongly) thought they would win the pennant.  I attended the Bartman game days later and had my teeth kicked in.  

That Michigan/MN game was big.  Michigan was good that year (lol Navarre era) and the MN win put them back on a Rose Bowl trajectory after two tough road losses.  

Seems like yesterday but it was almost twenty years ago.  Man oh man.