What ever happened to "This Month in MGoBlog History"?
Reading some of the reactions to the possibility of losing CJ Carr made me think of how it must have been on this board in the dark days of Michigan football. This, in turn, reminded me of one of my favorite recurring diaries from when I first joined MGoBlog: "This Month in MGoBlog History". For anyone that doesn't remember or those that weren't on the board yet, this was a monthly series that would summarize the front page content for the same month but 10 years in the past. For example, September 2017 would summarize the front page content from September 2007.
Reading it could be heartbreaking, hilarious, frustrating... But it was always a fun trip down memory lane and featured links to some of the front page content that made this the best damn sports site on the internet. Above all, it made us realize just how minor today's recruiting misses, etc. really are compared to some of the dark days of the past. For example:
This Month in MGoBlog History - December 2007: A Spinning Coaching Carousel Ends in Rich Rodriguez
Quiz: which option for head coach is this comment about?
"Overall Attractiveness: Awful. Awful, awful, awful. The worst possible candidate. The mere idea this guy -- who's never even been a coordinator anywhere and has his MAC team performing at a level well below the program's historical baseline -- could get the job is infuriating. Only at Michigan could this happen, and if it does I guarantee you that Bo is going to haunt the mofo that signs the contract."
Then there was the time we thought Terrelle Pryor was a lock to join the team:
This Month in MGoBlog History - January 2008: Terrelle Pryor, Come on Down
It's fun to go back and read some of these, but I'm so glad that all of this is in the past. Losing out on CJ Carr is nothing compared to what this program saw during its down years.
Does anyone have any personal favorite episodes of "This Month in MGoBlog History"?
Which recurring posts/diaries or front page content would you like to see brought back?
I hope Maize.Blue Wagner (the author of these diaries) is well!
Here's an imperfect link to some of the previous diaries for those that are interested.
I do miss Barwis from that staff. He had incredible energy, Dad and I could pick him out on the field from row 83 without too much effort. Just had to follow the sound of that whistle and look for the guy eating souls
Could definitely do with a recap. This Month in: This Month in MGoBlog History.
I do miss that diary post, but the majority of them were quite negative, so maybe I don’t miss it so much.
Answer to the quiz: Hoke
IIRC correctly, he walked from the west coast to take the job.
Winner winner, chicken dinner!
I never knew (or must've just put it out of my memory) that Hoke was even a consideration in 2007.
I'm never going to miss an opportunity to say that I didn't think he was the guy. After seeing his press conference, I fell into a deep depression. Gut feeling.
I knew Rich Rod was a huge mistake when he was hired. I had no Michigan affiliation then--my first year there was his last. I knew that because I'm an 80s Boston College dropout (I met Doug Flutie the year he won the Heisman in my freshman year!) and thus was kind of a fan, so I watched a lot Big East football. His WVU teams were regularly 4th behind Miami, VaTech, and BC and magically vaulted to B.E. supremacy after, and only after, those programs defected to the ACC. All three regularly ran all over his defenses and stuffed that run-first no-pass offense into a sack then drowned it. Just like top Big Ten teams when he at Michigan...
Gotta admit though...Hoke actually won me over with the press conference. Maybe he did come off as sweaty and weird but that enthusiasm! I guess I just wanted to believe...
Although hindsight is 20/20 there were plenty of us that had hope after the 34-31 win over ND. Until the day he dies I will buy Tate Forcier a drink if ever provided the opportunity.
That's the only game I've ever been to at Michigan stadium and first watching UM live. It was a magical day. I took my twin bro who was visiting from UK and he became an instant UM fan from that day.
I have been to every Notre Dame vs. Michigan game since 85 and although not UTL 1 or Desmond's catch at South-Bend in 91 it was a great day indeed.
The ND series is the only air I could breath through RR and Hoke.
UTL1
1997 2nd half- aged me.
Desmond 91
Henne to Manningham 06
Denard at ND 2010
TATER 2011
PERRY 03
Remy 94
2019 because its the last for some time.
I’m gonna guess the potential coach comment was about one Urban Meyer. I will say I am pleased that UM never stopped so low as to tender him an offer.
I'm happy we never offered him as well, but the quote was not about him.
I emailed him to bring it back but he's got other things to keep him busy.
Does it have to be a diary post or could it be brought back as front page content?
Those were interesting articles and seem like they would be good content particularly during the off season.
It's history.
CJ Carr's grandpa left the cupboards bare. I guess that trend continues. The Carrs refuse to fill the cupboards. On the bright side CFB is fucked 6 different ways anyway and won't be enjoyable bc Michigan must abide by their holier then thou imaginary standards that absolutely no one is holding them to.
I agree with every single word you wrote.
I would also like to add that bacon jam is a wonderful addition to any life event
Hey Marine, it's row 84.
Thanks I don’t know how I still mess that up. I think it’s because I spend so much time leaning or sitting a full row forward. I also typically have to walk down row 83 in order to access my seat anyway
The darkest days for Michigan football were the best years on the blog.
For real. This place was lit during the dark days
Absolutely true.
I do remember the Wolverine Liberation Army (WLA) doing some insane stuff involving this blog and that being a time when you could tell Brian was really feeling his oats.
The smartest group of assholes in internet history. This board needed and still needs those guys around.
I came for the content and stayed for those smart assholes.
I would accept that as an axiom.
June 2, 2012
Now that's starting off with a bang!
"Hurst fills a huge need along the defensive line, but the coaches will likely bring in another defensive tackle, with the top target being Poggi. TX DT Hardreck Walker, who just got bumped up to four stars on Rivals, is another possibility.
The remaining needs are another wide receiver—that spot is currently being held for IL WR Laquon Treadwell—as well as potential depth at strongside DE and in the defensive backfield" -Ace
At Michigan
• Consensus All-American (first team, Associated Press and Sporting News; second team, American Football Coaches Association [AFCA], Walter Camp and Football Writers Association of America [FWAA] - 2017)
• Recipient of the 2017 Bo Schembechler Team MVP award and Defensive Player of the Year award
• Four-year letterman (2014-15-16-17)
• Consensus first team All-Big Ten honoree by the coaches and media (2017)
• First team All-Big Ten selection by the Associated Press (2017)
• Appeared in 46 games along the defensive line with 17 starts at defensive tackle
• Contributed 134 tackles, 33.0 tackles for loss, 12.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, two pass breakups, and one blocked field goal
• Four-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree (2014-15-16-17)
• Owner of the highest single-season grade for any interior defender in Pro Football Focus history (96.5 in 2017)
• Earned U-M Athletic Academic Achievement honors all three eligible seasons (2014, '15, '16)
• Named to the watch list for the 2015 and 2017 Chuck Bednarik Awards
June 4, 2012
From Ace, "Poggi chose Michigan over Alabama and also held offers from the likes of Auburn, Cal, Florida, Iowa, Michigan State, Ole Miss, Mizzou, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Penn State, South Carolina, Stanford, Tennessee, Texas A&M, USC, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and others. Needless to say, he's got a strong list of suitors."
Key Statistics
• Totaled 87 tackles, 31 tackles for loss, 16.5 sacks, three forced fumbles and 37 quarterback hurries on defense in addition to 18 receptions for 165 yards and two touchdowns on offense as a senior
• Recorded 49 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, 10 sacks and one forced fumble as a junior
• Tallied six sacks as a sophomore
At Michigan
• Co-recipient of the 2017 Robert P. Ufer Bequest presented to the player who demonstrates the most enthusiasm and love for Michigan, traditionally a senior
• Four-year letterman (2014-15-16-17)
• Appeared in 44 games, making 17 starts (four at tight end and 13 at fullback) while also contributing on special teams
The Ten Most Embarrassing Michigan Items You Can Own
A top-ten list of the dumbest stuff you can buy with a block M. For the Michigan themed tree face, Brian writes, "Some things on this list are products sane people own pointlessly branded with college logos. This is not one of those things. It's a face you put on a tree. This face you put on a tree comes with a faux Michigan hat… that you put on a tree."
June 8, 2012
Recruiting Royce Jenkins-Stone
At Michigan
• Four-year letterman
• Appeared in 48 games at linebacker, making eight starts.
• 2015 All-Big Ten honorable mention (media)
June 12, 2012
Unknown Pac-12 Opponent Probably Utah
The first game of the Harbaugh era is first mentioned here in 2012.
"Still, it's a little unsatisfying. Michigan got one-off games with the Utes twice in the past decade; now they're giving them a full home and home. Yeah, they're in the Pac-12 but Colorado sucked it up to play a one-off with OSU last year. Meanwhile, non-Pac-12 nonconference options will be extremely limited starting in 2017. It would have been nice to get a series in with someone from another conference. Meh." -Brian
June 21, 2012
Brian writes, "So he's got a shot. He'll have to wait for it, obviously, with a redshirt to pack on some pounds all but certain. At his size he could play WR or S if corner doesn't work out; Michigan would very much like him to stick at the position they're projecting him for right now since 6'2" corners are rare commodities."
At Michigan
• Will graduate from the College of Literature, Science and the Arts with a degree in psychology in Winter 2017
• Four-year letterman
• Played in 47 career games and made 18 starts at cornerback
• Contributed 68 career tackles, four tackles for loss, one sack, six interceptions with 22 pass breakups
• All-Big Ten honoree; 2016 second team (coaches and media)
June 27, 2012
Michigan Museday Wore Red Just This Once
Notable because there is a reminder for the HTTV launch party. The very first edition of HTTV! The rest of the article looks into the history and data behind redshirting.
June 28, 2012
Federally-Mandated Playoff Opinion Post
Here, Brian makes his opinion known about the newly formally approved 4 team playoff. He thinks that six is the perfect number.
"Yes! Lack of home games aside, this should be fun as long as the title game rotates to the north some after its inevitable first year in Dallas. The main screwup would have been a plus-one, which has not occurred, and they've gingerly started removing the bowls' looting from the equation by bidding out the title game. While it could be better, it is a lot better than what we had before, and all it took was two teams in the same division having a rematch to get it."
Nice work! Are you volunteering to take up the mantle?
I wouldn't mind - I did enjoy putting this together.