20th anniversary of The Time Out

Submitted by Coldwater on
20 years ago today, Chris Webber called a time out that his team didn't have. That mistake ended the National Championship
game, the Fab Five era, and Webber's association with the University of Michigan.

How appropriate is it that on the anniversary, Michigan is back in the Final Four for the first time since? This time lets just win the whole damn thing.

htownwolverine

April 5th, 2013 at 8:47 AM ^

Sometimes I like fate. Redemption is a wonderful thing when you can get back off the ground and return by doing things the right way as our basketball has done under Beilein.

dahblue

April 5th, 2013 at 8:49 AM ^

Yeah, that time out was huge...if we ignore the fact that we were losing and he traveled first.  Leave the anniversaries for an MSU message board.

Naked Bootlegger

April 5th, 2013 at 9:03 AM ^

One of the most obvious traveling calls to make, too.  I was incredulous that it wasn't called at the time.   The non-travel controversy would've been as big (or bigger since it was against UNC) as the TO dramatics if Webber had not called the TO and if we had converted to tie or win that game.

 

ijohnb

April 5th, 2013 at 10:41 AM ^

really crapped the bed there.  UNC applied a little token pressure off the miss but all he need to do was go get the ball from Chris.  Really that possession should have been all Jalen taking it coast to coast and getting some kind of leaner off.  Rose really liked those situations, and it surprised me that he did immediately go get the ball before Webber even had a chance to do something else.

ILMichFan70

April 5th, 2013 at 12:56 PM ^

I was 12 at the time too and was so upset by the ending. I remember it being the first time that I was really down after a loss.

It's 20 years later and now we have a chance at redemption and a chance to forget this bad memory.

Blue in Yarmouth

April 5th, 2013 at 9:12 AM ^

but I remember almost crying when that happened. I was 18 years old watching that game and thinking there was no doubt that Weber would tie the game for us and we would end up winning it in OT. Then I see him travel and subsequently call a timeout we didn't have. As depressing as it was for many fans, I can't imagine what the young man went through following that...

sdogg1m

April 5th, 2013 at 9:24 AM ^

Michigan had a rough road to the championship game that year. I remember that they nearly lost to UCLA. They were picked to lose to Kentucky and had to play one of their best games to beat them. Michigan just wasn't able to put the foot on North Carolina's throat when they had the lead.

I think this may have been the game too that Jalen talked about partying prior to. Staying up late and drinking never helps a physical performance the next day.

ijohnb

April 5th, 2013 at 10:45 AM ^

that they were out partying on the Sunday before the championship game.

And they actually had a pretty easy road to the Final Four, C. Carolina, UCLA (meh), George Washington and Temple.  They really kind of just played like garbage before the Kentucky game.

Darth Wolverine

April 5th, 2013 at 9:28 AM ^

I'm sick of hearing about the Fab 5. They were great, sure, but didn't win a damn thing. Let's focus on THIS year's team.

MGlobules

April 5th, 2013 at 9:31 AM ^

just feeling badly for the team. Thinking that people being angry at a kid for the confusion was insane. And then seeing how vindictive other team fans were for making fun of what happened. Unsportsmanlike responses, for sure. To me the proper response would have been something like ouch! Poor kid. Quiet headshake and a knowing look. Moving on. 

Sons of Louis Elbel

April 5th, 2013 at 9:35 AM ^

As my fellow MGoMOTs may remember, the game fell on the first or second night of Passover, meaning I was at a Seder during the game, and recorded it. Must've been well past 1am by the time I finally saw the infamous TO. Damn you, Mike Talley...

Swayze Howell Sheen

April 5th, 2013 at 9:46 AM ^

it was a long 18-hour car ride home. To add insult to injury, we stopped for gas in Ohio. Some a**hole working there said "hey, what happened in the game last night?". 

That said, we did have some great meals in New Orleans. 

swalburn

April 5th, 2013 at 9:51 AM ^

That is absolutely my most painful sporting moment of all time.  I was a sophmore in High School and I adored the Fab Five.  I still have the baggy Michigan shorts and maize authentic Webber jersey.  I remember disecting a fish in biology class the next day and being devastated.  I hate Donald Williams to this day.

My second most painful was the next year when Colorado beat us on the Hail Mary.  I remember wondering if Michigan was cursed at that point.

Edit:  Actually in hindsight, I think Colorado was 2 years later because I was Senior.  Either way, it was awful.

WolverineHistorian

April 5th, 2013 at 10:13 AM ^

Year and a half to be exact. Even though the team struggled through the tournament, I still think they were better than UNC. But obviously in that moment, it didn't matter. There was someone on the Michigan bench that was signaling timeout from across the court, but Webber should have known there was none left. I just think he panicked in that moment.

jaybrew

April 5th, 2013 at 9:55 AM ^

I vividly remember staying up late with my dad to watch the game, and the horror as my 6th birthday turned from a chance to watch a Michigan national championship turned into a nightmare circumstance.

Billy Packer's voice still makes me cringe.

Here's to better things this time around!

umumum

April 5th, 2013 at 10:29 AM ^

I too was there and unlike most big games in my life, a little part of it has stayed with me longer than the others and longer than it should.   Travel, sure--but calls are missed all the time.  I'd love to be rationalizing our win with Tarheel fans.  Time out--I have never thought of them the same since.  Yea, I know it was mentioned during the last real time out, but obviously not loud or clear enough.  Rather than pretending to contribute during the huddle, the 4th assistant (Jay Smith) and/or the grad assistant(s) should have been walking around saying it over and over.  [I've watched the tape many times--they didn't].  When I've coached, I made the team say it back to me outloud.  Was Chris responsible for his own mistake?  Of course, but it was a team mistake as well;  Chris has borne too large a share---and I'm not sure he's over it yet or that it doesn't play a part in his complicated relationship with the U.

And Pelinka was wide open under the basket.

On a happier note, the win over Kentucky and Pitino was sweet.

CRISPed in the DIAG

April 5th, 2013 at 10:29 AM ^

I've never watched a replay of this game.  Too painful.  By accident, I have seen replays of the time-out sequence and wondered:

1) Why didn't Jalen rip the ball out of Webbers hands?  IIRC, when Webber gains possession, Jalen is in position to receive an outlet pass.  He's facing Webber and clapping his hands.

2) Traveling. Yep.

3) Webber was scared shitless and completely overwhelmed by the moment.  Why else would he listen to a single (reportedly) bench player yelling "TIME OUT"?

At the time, I recall thinking:

1) The game is physical.  UNC rotated some big men (Montross, Salvadori, some other goon) that made things troublesome inside.

2) Donald Williams should really start missing some shots soon.  Right?

3) Webber and maybe Jalen are going pro after they win this game.

4) UM didn't finish UNC when the had the chance with, I think, 3 or 4 minutes to go.

Ah, well.  It happened.  Hopefully this group makes us forget that game a little.

lilpenny1316

April 5th, 2013 at 11:56 AM ^

Everyone seems to forget or not realize that Michael Talley is over there on the bench signaling for the T.O.  I'm not excusing Webber, but when you have a bitter former starter on the end of the bench motioning for the T.O., that feels like more than just a coincidence.

bluefanindc

April 5th, 2013 at 1:54 PM ^

I will never forget that game. I sat in my parents living room, thinking they are about to tie it up, but C-Dubb called that infamous time out that I had to live down with friends for over 20 years. I damn neared cried without really watching the ending of the game, as I knew the outcome.  But redemption is what we live and strive for. They will make up for it this weekend and Monday night.