Mario Manningham Doing the "Worm" after Penn State 2007

Submitted by WingsNWolverines on

With the "2007" talk going on yesterday I figured I'd share a moment of one of the more happier and hilarious moments from 2007 with Manningham doing the worm after Michigan beats Penn State 14-9 in their B10 Home opener. Lol always classic.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDfqxk_3BHU

Section 1

August 23rd, 2012 at 4:05 PM ^

Garbage.  Unbefitting Michigan football players.  Bo Schembechler would have kicked Manningham's, and Denard's asses for that kind of stuff.  Hoke should not tolerate it.  You hand the ball to the referee.  Like scoring touchdowns is your business.

Michael Scarn

August 23rd, 2012 at 4:23 PM ^

Yea, why would Denard use his platform to spread a message about a cause that involves helping an impoverished community? Talk about "look at me" selfish behavior.

Kid takes a knee in prayer to his dead brother after he scores a TD and then hands the ball to the ref. Such conduct is clear unbecoming of a Michigan player. GTFO.

Section 1

August 23rd, 2012 at 4:41 PM ^

So next time read more carefully.

"The worm, the hand grenade, Let's Eat."

I am certainly not going to go out of my way to hammer Denard for his kneeling.  You'd have known that, if you had been more careful.  But as much as I respect Denard's devotion, I'm not sure what it has to do with scoring touchdowns at Michigan.  Somehow, with all of the personal stories of all of the players at Michigan for more than 100 years before we got the to the 2000's, Michigan players found ways to not add personal celebrations to touchdowns.

Section 1

August 23rd, 2012 at 4:58 PM ^

They were 20 year-olds in 1989, and in 1969.

Actually, some were 25 and 26 and 27 year olds in 1947; because they had served years in the armed forces in a World War.  And those guys in particular would be good for younger guys to emulate, and this year's jersey-number celebrations would be a good time to remember that.

SirJack II

August 23rd, 2012 at 8:20 PM ^

Wow, I don't know, I agree with Section 1. How gleeful people were after the grenade thing; imagine if Sparty did it (easily imaginable, isn't it)? And the Let's Eat thing comes off to me as unecessarily cocky (and obnoxious). Well, part of me thinks this. The other part is just happy to see Denard happy.

I guess I wanted to chime in because I'm surprised no one else is seconding Section 1's thoughts (and at the moment, basically every one of his comments is grayed out; not unusual, I know, but this time I think that's unfortunate).

Section 1

August 23rd, 2012 at 8:52 PM ^

Oh yes, please; more happy Denard.  By all means.  It had been a long hard slog for him before those touchdowns in the OSU game.  "Let's eat!"  And at least Denard had the good sense to do it as/after he ran off the field. 

But it's going to be really unfunny if that sort of thing continues with other players and we get a celebration penalty.  Some doofus B1G referee could easily mistake it for hand signals to the crowd, which will immediately draw a flag, and there won't be any use in explaining the difference between eating cereal and taunting an opponent.

I expect you were there for the OSU game, Sir Jack.  I was right behind the OSU bench, looking directly at Zach Boren who is now an OSU captain, as he was waiting patiently, then sort of disgustedly, at midfield to shake hands with the team they had just lost to, and behave like a gentleman.  (I've posted before on this blog about the uneven history with Zach Boren; so my record on that subject has already been made.)  And I was really embarassed the way that our guys were clowning around and then tearing off to the northwest corner of the Stadium to jump into the stands, etc.

None of these things were terribly egregious: Manningham at the end of a game; "Let's Eat" while running off the field; the grenade stunt after the clock expired.

But when in the previous 40 years -- or more -- of Michigan football was there such a display?  Somebody cited Desmond Howard, once, when he effectively won a Heisman.  "Runaway."

And there was Anthony Carter after the most mind-boggling pair of plays in Stadium history.  I recall that Carter did it a few other times.  I'll have to ask some of AC's teammates if there were repercussions.  Carter was notorious for getting special treatment from Bo. 

SirJack II

August 23rd, 2012 at 10:04 PM ^

Yes, after I got over the immense relief and joy that we finally beat the Buckeyes, I thought that aspect of the postgame was disappointing. It must have been difficult to contain the desire to just enjoy it and goof around, but you should first get your handshakes in with archenemy in the greatest rivalry of sports. Both teams owe each other that. That's part of what makes this rivaly superior to a certain other "rivalry" we have.

Michael Scarn

August 23rd, 2012 at 4:53 PM ^

I read perfectly carefully. You included Let's Eat and claimed Bo would've kicked Denard's ass for it. I was citing the fact that the 2 things Denard does that don't fit within your precious definition of what a Michigan Football player can do both have good reasons behind them. I forgot that AC never high stepped and Desmond never struck the pose.

I'm fine with "act like you've been there before" but to act like Michigan is somehow above celebrating such peasant-like things as touchdowns or big wins is ridiculous.

FatGuyLittleCoat

August 23rd, 2012 at 5:40 PM ^

I see absolutely nothing wrong with these kids having fun. Football is a game, and if they want to celebrate, let them. They aren't hurting anyone, and it is now just part of the culture. The days of Bo are gone, man, and you need to let that go. Remember what Michigan accomplished under him, but realize that not every coach that coaches here will be him. Brady is doing a fantastic job with these student athletes and I'm proud of the way that these kids represent Michigan.

Section 1

August 23rd, 2012 at 6:21 PM ^

It really is funny, in the precincts where Brady Hoke is now worshipped and held up as an avatar of some sort of Michigan traditionalism, how flexible some of the Michigan traditions are.

Sometimes I really do think that nothing matters except winning (a notion that would have been galling to both Bo Schembechler and Woody Hayes), and that Michigan, and its fan base, are becoming just a sort of a high-class New York Jets.

But there's something else, quite important, that I haven't said yet and which really ought to be said; it is entirely possible that Hoke has said something to the team, or to individual players, about "Let's Eat" or the hand grenade stunt.  Time will tell.  Actually, perhaps only time will tell, if Brady Hoke won't disclose it if he is asked about on-field celebrations and Michigan traditions thereon.

Section 1

August 23rd, 2012 at 9:04 PM ^

Don't try to pretend that Denard was promoting a Pahokee charity last November, 2011.  It was about football gamesmanship, and revenge on teams that had beaten Michigan previously, and claiming status for the football team:

 

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Quarterback Denard Robinson has begun spoon-feeding himself air after big plays and touchdowns.

"This program has been starving," he said last week. "It's time to eat."

 

 

http://espn.go.com/colleges/michigan/football/story/_/id/7283997/denard…

Michael Scarn

August 23rd, 2012 at 7:59 PM ^

Wait a fucking second.  Are you serious?  Like did you actually just articulate those two points as if they had any basis in reality? 

A few players celebrated while PLAYING a GAME of football and the conclusions you draw are that :

1. Brady Hoke might not actually care about Michigan Tradition.

2. Michigan's fan base has gone to shit; we are now a slightly better version of one of the most universally hated fan bases in all of sports.

Astonishing.

Sorry for the language, but come on.

Matthew

August 23rd, 2012 at 9:29 PM ^

If this was anyone but Section 1 posting this, I would think they were joking.  Unfortunately, Section 1 isn't joking and wants Denard and Mario to get off his lawn.  Anthony Carter high stepping and pointing to the sky is cool though.  As is all the Michigan players on the field jumping onto the player who just scored a touchdown, which has happened for as long as I can rememeber.  Finally, we have found someone who agrees with the NFL and NCAA celebration penalties.  

 

EDIT:

PS:  Section 1, we get it: You are better than all of us.  You have better seats than us.  You know more powerful people than us.  You probably drink better wine than any of us will ever lay hands on (because you are way above beer).  But, dude, go somewhere else.  They play a game and they have fun doing it.  Also, the next time the Buckeyes are classy will be the first time.  

Section 1

August 23rd, 2012 at 9:49 PM ^

They are all good seats in Michigan Stadium.

I'd like a Yuengling, if you've got one.  They are selling it in Toldeo now.

Lots of people on this blog know lots of the football players.  I think it would be interesting to hear anybody's story about the Bo / Moeller / Carr / Rodriguez / Hoke rules on celebrations.  I didn't claim any monopoly whatsoever.  I'd welcome more input on the subject.  I like information.

I'm glad you asked about the clebration penalty rules.  Because I don't care for them.  I don't like any rules that get so inconsistently enforced.  I just don't wont to see Michigan draw any such penalties.  And for most of my life, it was never a concern.  Our guys never did that shit.

And OSU -- I don't care who the opponent is (and have you read what I have posted about L'affaire Boren?!?) I never have a problem when I pay attention to reporting accurately what I have seen, and try to be fair in describing it.

An Angelo's Addict

August 23rd, 2012 at 4:10 PM ^

meh, i remember when I saw this on screen and couldn't tell if it was actually him doing the worm. You need to respect the other team but I don't see why the players can't have a little fun

WingsNWolverines

August 23rd, 2012 at 4:12 PM ^

you not when I say everyone in there even the die hard Buckeye fans about died when they saw that lol. The best part was the manager rewound it and played it over 3 times. Lmao. I'll never forget that.

BigShotDave

August 23rd, 2012 at 4:17 PM ^

Didn't Lloyd suspend him the following week for that stunt?  It's probably not true, but I remember wondering if the suspension contributed to Mario deciding to leave school early for the NFL.

Red_Lee

August 24th, 2012 at 10:23 AM ^

Best thing about this video is watching Hart. What about finding a highlight where Hart doesn't fall forward when he's tackled? A few times in that video I thought for sure the defense was going to push him back, but he always managed to slip forward.

 

And yeah, I remember Braylon doing that flip against OSU 2003. The victory formation was right near us in the student section. I pissed myself with freshman excitement because I figured beating Ohio was going to be a common thing during my years there. And then 2004-2010 happened...