Return of the "Mad Magicians"

Submitted by umhero on

It's nine months until we get to see the football team play real games again, the basketball team isn't what we hoped for, and the hockey team is in serious need of defense. It's time to dream a little and speculate. Imagine the possibility of a return of the "Mad Magicians." In 1947 Fritz Crisler coached an undefeated team that outscored opponents 394 - 53. They employed a razzle-dazzle offense that often had the ball change hands three or four times on a single play. Here are some clips of the "Mad Magicians" in the Rose Bowl: http://mvictors.com/?p=519 Implementing an offense as amazing as this is unlikely to happen in one season, but imagine the possibilities for 2011. The following players have all played QB in high school, they all have speed, and I'm sure that old Fritz would find a way to involve them all. Tate Forcier Denard Robinson Jeremy Gallon Terrence Robinson Devin Gardner Dillon Baxter I realize that this speculation is merely fodder for my dreams of National Championships, but it would be fun, wouldn't it? Someone send Coach Rodriguez Fritz Crisler's old playbook, maybe he can work some of it in once practice starts. :) Disclaimer: I suspect some readers will somehow take this post as a criticism of the team or staff. This topic was provided for fun. I am all in, and don't believe a 1948 offense could actually work against modern defenses. I do however look forward to some of the gadget plays that will be implemented with the weapons we have. Go Blue!!

Drake

January 11th, 2010 at 8:20 AM ^

Dont count Dillon Baxter as committed just yet. You saw what happened with Murphy/Grimes, everyone said they were silent commits and now Murphy is headed to Maryland and its looking very bleak for Grimes.

umhero

January 11th, 2010 at 8:34 AM ^

This was a football fantasy to myself to sleep last night. It was inspired when I watched Baxter in the Army All-American game, and I imagined how well he would fit it the Michigan offense. This was nothing more than a dream.

rdlwolverine

January 11th, 2010 at 11:54 AM ^

I watched them about a month ago on Youtube. They are the first ones I have seen from those Crisler teams where the quality of the film was good enough for the viewer to really follow the ball. I love the downfield laterals, "Tebow" jump passes, and the defense not knowing which back would receive the snap.

clarkiefromcanada

January 11th, 2010 at 9:15 PM ^

I read your quote "they employed a razzle-dazzle offense that often had the ball change hands three or four times on a single play" with interest. This past year I was kind of concerned with the ball changing hands at all (save from Tate to the back or from Tate to the receiver). It's exciting to think about the possibilities but in the modern era I'd like to see me some focus on ball security in the next season.

Section 1

February 18th, 2011 at 5:17 PM ^

It is just astonishing, that these two guys were left off the Big Ten 50 Icons list.  Inexplicable.  Chappuis should arguably have won the Heisman.  Bump Elliott is the pure embodiment of a Big Ten Icon.  (National football star, on a National Championship team; mutli-sport freak of an athlete; a winning Rose Bowl Coach at Michigan; hugely influential athletic director at Iowa and arguably the father of the Hawkeyes' postwar athletic department successes, hiring Hayden Fry and Dan Gable among others.  Bump Elliott is your basic Super All-American in every possible way.)  Chappuis, meanwhile, was an even bigger threat on the football field, and was on the cover of Time magazine: