What if? Michigan football version

Submitted by mGrowOld on

One of the more interesting books I've read recently was called "What If".  The premise of the book was simple.  Take a significant event from history, say the Battle of Midway, and change the outcome.  Then ask experts and historians to project what likely would've happened (in the case of Midway it was projected the Japanese would've successfully invaded Hawaii and prolonged WWII into the early 50's).

It's a slow day on the board and rainy day here in Cleveland so I started to think about what the Michigan version of "What If" would look like.  Here are a few of mine but I'm sure there are a TON more:

1. What if Bo didn't have a heart attack the night before his first Rose Bowl game?

2. What would the outcome of the 1979 Rose Bowl have been if Charles White's phantom TD had been called correctly?

3. Does Michigan win the National Championship in 88 if Miami doesn't recover not one but TWO onside kicks in the final 5 minutes of the game?

4. What if Moeller doesn't get "Moellered" that night and remains the HC?

5. What if the original Les Miles hire had gone through and he, instead of RR, replaced Lloyd?

6. What if Casteel had come with RR as originally planned?

 

TallyWolverine

August 11th, 2012 at 3:47 PM ^

1989- What if Michigan had 11 guys on the field to tackle the Rocket on one of his two kickoff returns, instead of 7 guys? What if the "phantom holding call" wasn't created by the annual "we hate The Big 10" referees? Bo would have gone out like he deserved.

mGrowOld

August 11th, 2012 at 5:05 PM ^

Oh man you just brought back up a memory I had managed to repress for almost 13 years.  Here's a couple of interesting tidbits about the holding call you reference which wiped out a brilliantly called fake punt that put the ball inside the Trojan 10 yard line with time winding down.

1. The ref who called it was a Pac 10 ref

2. The number of the player he said was holding wasnt on the field for the play

3. When shown the replay of the game and asked who the holding call was on two days later he was unable (or unwilling) to say who exactly he saw hold

That was easily one of the most blatant examples of a "fuck you Bo - you are NOT going to win this game no matter what " call ever.  Argueably as bad as the 79 Rose Bowl TD referenced.

TallyWolverine

August 11th, 2012 at 9:22 PM ^

I forgot all those specifics!!! I just want to thank you for refreshing my resentment towards the PAC-10 for their obvious thievery in Rose Bowl games of my childhood. I remember Bo wouldn't give any interviews after the game. I also remember my head about to explode and wondering how my dad remained so calm about it. He stated matter of factly, "They do it every year."

BigBlue02

August 11th, 2012 at 4:28 PM ^

I can't believe no one has mentioned it....what if Tyler Ecker pitches the ball to Steve Breaston?

BeatOSU52

August 11th, 2012 at 4:33 PM ^

What if Pryor went to Michigan instead?

 

Would Rich Rod still be here?...I think we would have won a significant amount more games with Pryor in that 3 year span.

 

 

Blarvey

August 11th, 2012 at 4:56 PM ^

What if Big Ten and Pac Ten teams were allowed to play in more than just the Rose Bowl prior to 1975?  It took Bo eleven years to win a bowl game and since the 50s and most of the 60s are kind of the dark ages for Michigan football, the program had not had much postseason experience. Meanwhile, multiple SEC, Big 8, and Independent teams were playing in bowls and gaining experience while a 10-1 2nd place Michigan sits at home.

mGrowOld

August 11th, 2012 at 6:34 PM ^

Boy the second part of your "what if" sure is interesting.  I never thought about the impact Bo would've potentially had on voters if he hadnt passed away and started actively campaigning for Michigan.  That would've been real hard for people to reject despite Urban's protests otherwise.

I just thought of another one too.  What if MSU doesnt vote for OSU after the 73 game and Michigan goes to the Rose Bowl undefeated?  They'd have played a USC team that OSU hammered so does Michigan get a mythical title there?

So many questions.......

BlueinLansing

August 11th, 2012 at 6:57 PM ^

those two onside kicks we win and I don't spend the next 4 hours wandering up and down the railroad tracks wondering wat dafuq I just saw and people would not have been worried about my well being because I would have been out getting absolutely hammered in celebration.  Probably would have hooked up with the hottest girl on campus which would have resulted in a sex filled glorious relationship that sees us get married, have 3 kids living somewhere along the Florida coast because my law practice would be large and succesful. 

On the weekends I would choose between my properties in the bahamas or northern Michigan where I would undoubtedly have at least 2 maybe 3 mistresses, probably resulting in children that I would have to secretly support, but God the sex was great.

Unfotunately my hot wife would probably find out and divorce me, she would get just about everything I had ever worked for including my most prized asset, my Michigan football season tickets. I would be forced to watch Michigan football from my roach infested apartment on my dirt and beer stained sofa while I remember much better days and thinking "what if?"

 

So Thank You Carlos Huerta

the Glove

August 12th, 2012 at 11:38 AM ^

What if Matt Gutierrez doesn't get injured the week before the first game of the season in 2004? He was named the starter over Chad Henne and knew significantly more of the playbook. I also don't think he would have had to completely depend on Braylon Edwards as Chad did.