Reminder: Michigan Football Won the National Title

Submitted by Bo Harbaugh on March 16th, 2024 at 10:18 PM

I don't think this gets talked about enough.  Just a reminder, your 2023 Michigan Wolverines won the CFB National Title. Last year of the 4 team playoff and college football having some semblance of amateur athletics - and it was Michigan again, Michigan.  What a way to end an era.

Best team all year, best team in the B1G the past 3 years.  3 in a row against OSU, each game with huge stakes, each year with the stakes going higher.  No UM-OSU game will ever match the stakes of last year unless (with all their crying and attempts to invalidate UMs dominance) and until they meet in a National Title game, nothing will cleanse them of those losses.  Nothing OSU ever does will match the misery UM put on them the past 3 years....beating them at their best - all that talent and they have nothing to show for it.

And for all the analysts thinking UM takes a huge step back next year, be careful.  Top 3 defense returns, best D-line in the country, amazing back 7 and the running game will still Smash. 

But no matter what happens going forward with UM football, I go to the grave with a smile on my face, from the last 3 years and the culmination with the ultimate National Title Glory.

 

MGoBoard
Football

Buy Bushwood

March 17th, 2024 at 11:33 AM ^

While true, this title comes with an asterisk.  We did have the unfair advantage of sharpening our steel by playing two of the biggest games of the year without our head coach in the face of gale-force fabricated scandal.  No other team had to face that kind of character-building adversity, and it clearly gave us an edge in mettle during the playoff. I mean, imagine what OSU could have done had they had the opportunity to build such fortitude.   

Joined: 10/24/2020

MGoPoints: 21653

Hensons Mobile…

March 16th, 2024 at 11:27 PM ^

Well, I tried but I guess I failed. You're right, Top 5 is quite a stretch. Top 5 defense, maybe?

Anyway, I thought it was 6 because of this:

https://www.si.com/college/pennstate/football/penn-state-football-nittany-lions-slide-rankings-after-michigan-loss

Penn State tumbled in the polls Sunday following its 24-15 loss to Michigan at Beaver Stadium. The Nittany Lions dropped three spots to No. 9 in the AP Top 25 and the Coaches Poll after falling to 8-2 on the season.

I'm pretty sure I'm doing the math right. Sports Illustrated fan blog or whatever not too good at the English or the math or both.

Joined: 09/12/2019

MGoPoints: 49403

smotheringD

March 17th, 2024 at 9:15 AM ^

Not top 5, but I love this short clip about that game (pretty sure I copied this from an Athletic article about Sherrone):

In a cramped corner of Penn State’s visitors’ locker room, Sherrone Moore headed straight for his offensive line.

This was Moore’s first major stress test as Michigan’s head coach, and it was a doozy: a top-10 matchup on the road, nearly 111,000 fans in the stands, Jim Harbaugh stuck in a hotel room. The team learned of Harbaugh’s suspension on the flight to State College, and Moore found out 90 minutes before the game that he’d be the acting head coach. Now he had to tear up his game plan and figure out a way to protect a five-point lead with his line struggling to block Penn State’s pass rush.

Moore let Michigan’s offensive linemen know what was coming. The room was small enough that other position groups could hear the message loud and clear.

"Fellas, we’re going to run the ball right up their ass."

The scene that day in State College is the simplest explanation for why Moore is now Michigan’s head coach. He decided Michigan was going to impose its will on Penn State, and 32 consecutive running plays later, the Wolverines walked away with a 24-15 victory. Moore, overcome with emotion, unleashed a postgame interview that will be replayed for the rest of his coaching career.

“I want to thank the Lord,” Moore said, tears streaming down his face. “I want to thank coach Harbaugh. I f— love you, man. I love the s— out of you. We did this for you.”

Moore provided a rare glimpse into the core of a coach who typically maintains a guarded demeanor in public. But for the people who know him well, nothing about that day was a surprise — not Moore’s poise under pressure, not his ability to rise to the occasion, not the emotions that poured out in his postgame interview.

Joined: 09/15/2010

MGoPoints: 7586

4 yrs at Markley

March 17th, 2024 at 2:04 AM ^

I didn't want any Rose Bowl gear, knowing that we were playing for the Natty and I wanted gear that said "National Champions" vs "Rose Bowl Champions".

Just bought a Rose Bowl Champ shirt yesterday because a.) they're marked down, and more importantly, b.) It represents our win in "The Granddaddy Of Them All" AND Sabin's retirement party.

 

Joined: 03/10/2014

MGoPoints: 497

grumbler

March 16th, 2024 at 11:09 PM ^

The bullshit over cheeseburgers and Big Ten corruption was, indeed, infuriating.  But the way the players rose above all of that made the end result even more satisfying.  I'd never want to see a bunch of players go through the adversity Michigan's players did this year, but the fact that they overcame the efforts of so many to steal their season makes me all the prouder to be a Michigan fan.  

In retrospect, I think that the players may come to realize that the increased challenge made victory all the sweeter, even if it didn't seem like it at the time. 

Joined: 08/17/2011

MGoPoints: 14112

Bill22

March 17th, 2024 at 10:04 AM ^

I think the adversity definitely “circled the wagons” and brought the team closer together.  I predicted at least one loss before the season, just because going undefeated is so difficult and rare.

The outside attacks, pressure and noise raised the team’s focus and I think provided another level of motivation, that wouldn’t have otherwise existed.  Just my opinion.

Joined: 09/07/2016

MGoPoints: 6724

Qmatic

March 16th, 2024 at 10:58 PM ^

And on another note, I’ll semi thread-jack to give a shout out to another group of champions. My wife’s alma mater, Lincoln High School in Warren, MI became the first public school from the city of Warren to win a basketball state championship today.

As a product of South Warren (though attended HS on the north side) I am so proud for my hometown and community that has had a lot of struggles and it has been decimated in a lot of ways; but the community has been lifted and rallied around this team.

So hey, my mgowife and I both have alma maters as the best of the best in their sports this year so we’re happy in the Q house for a while!

Joined: 01/09/2013

MGoPoints: 32780

leftwing19

March 16th, 2024 at 11:02 PM ^

Sorry to hijack the thread with a lame segue, but if anyone is looking for a great show to start as the “off season” nears, The Gentlemen on Netflix was very entertaining. 

Joined: 06/23/2011

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