26 Years Ago Today
Michigan went for it against Notre Dame and Elvis connected with Desmond in the end zone. Play still gives me goosebumps. Here's a story from last year on the 25th anniversary, with Desmond talking about the play:
http://www.sportingnews.com/ncaa-football/news/desmond-howard-the-catch…
"That play didn't happen on Sept. 14, 1991,” Howard told Sporting News. “That play actually happened during the summer preparing for that season. I give coach Gary Moeller a lot of credit because he had the cojones to give us that chance to be great."
I can't wait to play those sons-a-bitches again.
September 14th, 2017 at 7:29 PM ^
September 14th, 2017 at 7:39 PM ^
Tell me again, Lou- who couldn't run the ball?
Your tears and spittle over this game are delicious.
September 14th, 2017 at 11:53 PM ^
September 14th, 2017 at 11:56 PM ^
I think a fair number of fans, including me, thought the same thing.
September 15th, 2017 at 1:58 AM ^
September 17th, 2017 at 2:49 PM ^
he wouldn't..
September 15th, 2017 at 12:44 AM ^
September 15th, 2017 at 5:18 PM ^
I have to think that Mo would have done great things at UM had he kept his problems under control. As good (and frustrating) as Lloyd was, Mo would have been better. I think 2 NCs to Llyod's 1.
September 15th, 2017 at 5:17 PM ^
Delete duplicate
September 14th, 2017 at 7:18 PM ^
I remember holding my breath while the ball was floating in the air which seemed like an hour in that moment.
September 14th, 2017 at 7:20 PM ^
I was a freshman and it was my first ever game. I had such lousy seats, all I saw was his feet go up in the end zone and I had to wait to see if he caught it based on the reaction of the crowd. One of my most happy and enduring sports memories ever. Also, I'm old...
September 14th, 2017 at 9:47 PM ^
Another look, I was at the opposite end and remember seeing the ball go up in the air and saying, "Oh shit....YEAH!!!"
September 14th, 2017 at 10:59 PM ^
September 15th, 2017 at 1:40 AM ^
September 15th, 2017 at 12:49 PM ^
I was in the womb. In Flint. Is that close enough for everyone?
September 15th, 2017 at 12:31 PM ^
Great memory.
September 17th, 2017 at 1:02 PM ^
I launched out of my seat when the pass went up, watched Desmond laid out for it, but couldn't see whether or not Desmond reeled it in. The roar that shook the Big House helped clue me in that it was a good thing. A very good thing.
BTW — we're getting old. 26 years!?!
September 14th, 2017 at 7:25 PM ^
I remember that well. I was a senior at CMU and it was the same day Central beat Staee 20-3. Great football day.
September 14th, 2017 at 9:27 PM ^
and when they announced that CMU-Sparty score, Michigan Stadium went absolutely crazy.
And then to see Desmond lay out for that ball on 4th and 1 - cant describe the jubilation.
I love Michigan and am a Chips fan - to me, that was the GREATEST day of football.
September 14th, 2017 at 9:54 PM ^
Love your screen name. My boy Johhny Rad proclaimed "It's a great day to hate State" after that game.
September 14th, 2017 at 10:24 PM ^
Only way to rewatch that is while listening ty Led Zepplin IV.
September 14th, 2017 at 7:38 PM ^
I had graduated earlier that year and was in Baltimore visiting my pal Tim, who was in law school at UMD. It's one of two nights I have ever vomited from too much alcohol, and the other time gets an asterisk because I think the beer was skunky or something.
Good memories. Sort of.
EDIT: Also, to hell with Notre Dame.
September 14th, 2017 at 7:38 PM ^
September 15th, 2017 at 12:47 AM ^
September 15th, 2017 at 7:47 PM ^
September 14th, 2017 at 7:40 PM ^
September 14th, 2017 at 7:43 PM ^
I was still in training in the Navy, stationed in Idaho. Another squid, from Chicago, was my roommate - really cocky ex HS QB type. It was a great game to watch and enjoy a roommate smack down!
September 14th, 2017 at 8:00 PM ^
September 14th, 2017 at 8:34 PM ^
September 15th, 2017 at 9:51 AM ^
September 15th, 2017 at 8:19 AM ^
I'm pretty sure I was there to drink all their beer and meet tall women. The rest of em...
Should there be a problem, radiation exposure could be reduced by three factors: Time, Distance and Shielding.
The desert provided one of those, Distance.
So, it's where the DOE/USN built their first nuclear plant prototypes and subsequently trained future operators. The training has been moved elsewhere since, but all the spent fuel from the Navy nuclear fleet is still being stored there.
September 14th, 2017 at 7:47 PM ^
I remember his first game when he came in against ND and rallied the team and fell just short. Incredible memories or that era.
September 14th, 2017 at 9:33 PM ^
he was too damn good on those returns. Should have kicked the damn ball out of bounds and not let him have that 2nd one.
But Elvis was so poised and great for a freshman, considering the tough situation and opponent to make your debut.
September 14th, 2017 at 10:21 PM ^
September 15th, 2017 at 11:51 AM ^
September 17th, 2017 at 9:39 PM ^
September 14th, 2017 at 7:53 PM ^
Notre Dame beat us all four years I was in Ann Arbor. Reggie f-ing Ho, Rick f-ing Mirer, Rocket f-ing Ismail, Mike f-ing Stonebreaker all haunted me.
But this game exorcised those demons.
The PSU and OSU games in 1997 also rate. The first because it's when I first thought we genuinely were going to get it done, the second because of all the times we had beaten heavily favored Buckeye squads in years prior.
Next will be November 25.
September 14th, 2017 at 8:42 PM ^
Those were some rough yearsyears. The three last-minute losses of theirs (Tate, Denard, Denard) many years later felt really good.
September 14th, 2017 at 9:43 PM ^
This is part of what made that play so incredible. We were absolutely snakebit by ND starting in 1987. Michigan had national title potential (and the corresponding high ranking) in every season from 88-90 and we lost each time, often in soul-crushing fashion. It seemed like we'd never win.
And we were barely up, with Rick Mirer waiting on the other sideline to take the ball down and beat us again. And Mo went for it.
And Grbac THREW.
And there he was.
We've won bigger games and climbed higher mountains since then, but I don't think there was a moment I was more excited watching a football game.
*BTW I feel like we actually underrate Desmond Howard. Maybe it's because Woodson won the Heisman AND the national title so soon after. Maybe it's because we've had other transcendant receivers, which robs Howard of the privilege of being the greatest at his position (this here blog gave the title to AC and it's not like it's a bad choice).
But that WH highlight video of him is absolutely amazing. He was Reggie Bush and Percy Harvin before there was a Reggie Bush or Percy Harvin. And he made the most incredible catches. What a brilliant player.
September 15th, 2017 at 8:40 AM ^
"We've won bigger games and climbed higher mountains since then, but I don't think there was a moment I was more excited watching a football game."
That is exactly my feeling about the game. Primal scream when Desmond came down with that ball.
I think Desmond may also get less play than Charles because he had a shorter NFL career without sustained success as a receiver. Also, we remember Charles for laying on hits, and can take pride in him as representing both the flash and defensive grit we want to see in Michigan football.
September 15th, 2017 at 5:39 PM ^
He made the most of his somewhat limited NFL career with a well-timed Super Bowl MVP.
Not too many guys have a Heisman and a Super Bowl MVP.
September 14th, 2017 at 8:00 PM ^
I was only 10 but taped the game and kept watching the VHS of this TD over and over again. Still have the Sports Illustrated magazine with that cover.
September 14th, 2017 at 8:18 PM ^
Every second of the game in person. There is no football team I loathe more than the one from That Trade School In South Bend. None, and not even despite Ara my fellow Armenian descendant. I am very pleased the series has resumed, Jimmy is our coach and purple-face is their coach. We must defeat the domers. Always henceforth.
September 14th, 2017 at 9:47 PM ^
watching Notre Dame lose and seeing their lame ass carbon copy Wonder bread fans mope out of the sports bars is almost as much fun as watching Michigan win.
The Irish Envy message board is calling for Kelly's head again. Last year, it was "Jon Gruden has accomplished everything he can in pros and as a sportscaster. I think he would love the challenge of Notre Dame." This year, it is "John Harbaughs daughter might play lacrosse at Notre Dame next year. Good chance that John will get tired of pros and take the Notre Dame job." The only thing worse than arrogance is stupidity combined w arrogance.
To hell with Notre Dame. Hope they enjoy their 6-6 season.
September 14th, 2017 at 8:52 PM ^
September 14th, 2017 at 9:26 PM ^
September 14th, 2017 at 10:15 PM ^
September 14th, 2017 at 9:15 PM ^