Of The Decade: ESPN Images Comment Count

Brian

First in what will be a series covering the aughts in Michigan football extending through mid-August. This one mostly written by someone else.

Via Craig Barker, who is sometimes of the Hoover Street Rag, ESPN's decade wrapup video:

Aaand everything in it:

Knowshon's leap
Bowden vs. Paterno in the 2006 Orange Bowl
Ian Johnson's marriage proposal

"The Bush Push" as Matt Leinart scores a touchdown, with an assist from Reggie Bush, to beat Notre Dame in 2005
Calvin Johnson vs. NC State behind the back
Miami's Ed Reed is hurt, dawg. Please do not ask him if he's all right. Hell no. He's putting his heart into this dawg. Let's go.

Florida State's Christian Ponder makes a leap into the end zone against South Florida.
Michigan State's Charles Rogers makes a one handed catch vs. Notre Dame
A UCLA player makes a one handed grab
Florida State's Peter Warrick one handed grab vs. Virginia Tech in the 2000 Sugar Bowl
Georgia's Knowshown Moreno leaps a Central Michigan defender during a 2008 game
Kentucky's behind the back pass
An Oklahoma player flips into the end zone during the Bedlam game in 2008.
Florida/FSU fight
Miami/FIU fight at the Orange Bowl
Virginia Tech's Frank Beamer slaps player's helmet
Virginia Tech player accidentally slaps Frank Beamer
A different Virginia Tech player accidentally slaps Frank Beamer again

Iowa's Drew Tate beats LSU late to win 2005 Capital One Bowl
Oklahoma player makes a one handed grab against Nebraska
An Army player makes a grab off a huge deflection
USC's Reggie Bush has several highlights.
USC's Reggie Bush as introduced by Keith Jackson

Miami's Ed Reed is so motivated to get to the Rose Bowl, he steals the ball from teammate on a recovery of a BC interception in a 2001 game.
Oregon's LeGarrette Blount punched a Boise State player in the 2009 season opening game.
Pittsburgh's Larry Fitzgerald makes a diving catch against Oregon State in the 2002 Insight Bowl.
Pittsburgh's Larry Fitzgerald makes an exceptional catch against Texas A&M in 2003.
Georgia Tech's Calvin Johnson makes a diving catch against Georgia in 2005
Georgia Tech's Calvin Johnson leaping catch against NC State in 2005
Michigan's Braylon Edwards bobbling catch against Indiana in 2004.
Michigan's Braylon Edwards makes a TD catch in overtime against Michigan State in 2004.
NC State player goes head first into goal post against UNC
MSU player lays out a Badger
FSU player lays out a Cane in the rain
Clemson player knocks off a BC Eagle's helmet
Miami player attempts to stop a WVU run, but Mountaineer will not be denied.
Texas's Vince Young pump fakes and goes against Oklahoma State
Texas's Chris Simms gets picked off and returned for a TD by Oklahoma after pass is stripped. [Ed: The famous Flying Squirrel Attack.]
Rutgers gets pumped up in the locker room
USC's Dwayne Jarrett makes a spectacular one handed grab at Washington.
One handed falling down grab (looks D-II)
USC's Mike Williams makes a magical grab against Oregon State in 2003.
Alabama's Tyrone Prothro absurd catch against Southern Miss in 2005.
Oklahoma's Adrian Peterson makes a spin move
Oklahoma's Adrian Peterson blows a guy up
Auburn running back #2 with a juke move
West Virginia's Steve Slaton with a juke move
Rutgers player leaps over a Louisville defender
Stanford #2 leaps into end zone against Texas
Georgia's Knowshon Moreno leaps into end zone against Arizona State in 2008.
Clemson's CJ Spiller points as he runs into the end zone against Georgia Tech.
Virginia Tech's Michael Vick evades a sack in the 2000 Sugar Bowl.
An FSU player blows up the helmets of two UNC players in their 2009 game.
A Penn State player gets leveled by USC player in the 2009 Rose Bowl.
A Minnesota player gets blown up by a Purdue player.
Arizona's Jolivette gets blown up by a Mallard in their 2000 game.
Ohio State's Troy Smith celebrates against Penn State in 2006
TCU's LaDanian Tomlinson runs wild in 2001.
West Virginia's Owen Schmitt bashes his head with his own helmet.
Texas Tech lineman Brandon Carter launches stream of liquid into air
Alabama's Mark Ingram celebrates a touchdown in the 2009 SEC title game.
A UCLA player [the QB] gets destroyed by a USC player [Ray Maualuga ] on the sideline [Ed: one week after the Crable helmet-to-helmet. Argh.]

Miami's Santana Moss says "Big time players step up in big time games, that's all I got to say"

An Army/Navy hand shake
Georgia celebrates as a team at the 2007 Cocktail Party against Florida.
Notre Dame's Charlie Weis on crutches on the sideline with Notre Dame players
USC's Reggie Bush scores a touchdown against Washington
Michigan's Mike Hart stiff arms Ohio State's Malcolm Jenkins during their 2006 game.
Sad Tim Tebow is sad.
Florida's Tim Tebow gets stopped by Ole Miss during their 2008 game
Florida fan is sad
Florida's Tim Tebow issues "The Pledge"
Florida's Tim Tebow is contemplative
Georgia Tech #22
Georgia Tech salute
Virginia Tech massacre and then the Hokies rally Blacksburg and the VT community
Penn State's Adam Taliaferro is paralyzed during the Nittany Lions 2000 game against Ohio State
Penn State's Joe Paterno reminds Adam Taliaferro that they're all praying for him
Adam Taliaferro returns to Happy Valley, walking on to the field before their 2001 game against Miami.
Iowa State's Paul Rhoads salutes the Cyclones in their locker room after beating Nebraska in 2009
Miami coach Larry Coker celebrates
Oklahoma's Josh Heupel celebrates Sooners victory in the 2001 Orange Bowl
Boise State's Ian Johnson asks Chrissy Popadics to marry him after winning the 2007 Fiesta Bowl
Boston College's Matt Ryan beats Virginia Tech in the rain in 2007.
In Triple Overtime, Navy beats Notre Dame in South Bend in 2007 for the first time in 44 years
Navy's Paul Johnson is excited to have won the game
Notre Dame's Charlie Weis, not so much
Unidentified player is sad
Nebraska player is sad during the 2002 National Championship game
Miami's Willis McGahee is sad after injuring his knee in the 2003 Fiesta Bowl
Florida's Tim Tebow is sad again after losing the 2009 SEC Championship game
Marshall's Byron Leftwich is carried to the line by his teammates against Akron
The Trinity 15-lateral Play to beat Millsaps in 2007.
Texas Tech's Michael Crabtree scores a last second touchdown to beat Texas in 2008. [Man up Crab!]
Texas Tech's Michael Crabtree is very happy
Texas's Colt McCoy is sad.
Georgia's David Greene upsets #5 Tennessee at Neyland in 2001, as Larry Munson explains that Georgia "stepped on their face with a hobnail boot and broke their nose!"
Tennessee's Phil Fulmer just looks like he has been kicked in the midsection with a hobnail boot
Michigan State's John L. Smith explains "The kids are playing their hearts out and the coaches are screwing it up" against Ohio State in 2005 after OSU blocked a field goal and returned it for a TD to end the half.
Michigan State's John L. Smith slaps himself during a press conference after the 2006 Notre Dame game (The source of the Mike Valenti "Got Stanton out there running the option in Hurricane Katrina" rant)
Oklahoma State's Mike Gundy demands that you come after him, for he's a man, he's forty in defending his quarterback against a "slander" in the newspapers after defeating Texas Tech.
LSU's Les Miles requests politely that you "Please ask me after. I'm busy. Thank you very much. Have a great day.” as he discusses the Herbstreit rumor regarding his new job as Michigan's head coach before the 2007 SEC title game.
"The Bluegrass Miracle" as Kentucky's Hal Mumme gets a Gatorade bath a little too early as LSU rallies to beat Kentucky in 2002.
Stanford pulls the biggest upset of the 2000s (point spread) as the Cardinal beat USC in the Coliseum in 2007.
USC girl is sad
Michigan's Chad Henne finds Mario Manningham with no time left to end Penn State's perfect season in 2005
Rutgers plays its part in the Thursday night upset tradition as they beat #3 Louisville in 2006.
Craig Krenzel finds Malcolm Jenkins on a 37 yard pass to keep Ohio State's perfect 2002 season alive as Brent Musburger exclaims "Holy Buckeye!"
The Horror, let's move on. OK, fine
Defending I-AA Champion Appalachian State blocks a last second field goal attempt to preserve their 2007 season opening upset of #5 Michigan
App. State coach Jerry Moore gets carried off the field
Sad Michigan fans are sad.
Coach Tressel leads the Buckeyes on to the field at the 2003 Fiesta Bowl
Ohio State keeps the dream alive with a very late flag for Pass Interference against Miami
Miami's Ken Dorsey cannot find a man, Ohio State wins 2003 BCS national championship.
Sad Ken Dorsey is sad.
LSU defender is happy during the 2004 Nokia Sugar Bowl
Pittsburgh celebrates a victory
Purdue's Drew Brees celebrates the Boilermakers advancing to the 2001 Rose Bowl
Air Force player celebrates a great play.
Tim Tebow celebrates a great play during the 2009 Orange Bowl
Florida State's Chris Rix celebrates a great play against Florida
Boise State executes a textbook hook and lateral to score late against Oklahoma in the 2007 Fiesta Bowl
Boise State players are happy
Boise State's Jared Zabransky executes a textbook Statue of Liberty play to Ian Johnson in the 2007 Fiesta Bowl
Boise State's Chris Peterson is very very happy about the result of the previous play
Texas' Vince Young scrambles for the winning touchdown against USC in the 2006 Rose Bowl.
Texas players are very excited about the results of that previous play
Texas' Vince Young is covered in confetti

aaand scene. Many thanks to Craig for breaking it down. Condolences to the all but totally ignored 2004 Auburn Tigers.

Comments

the_white_tiger

July 19th, 2010 at 7:15 PM ^

Phenomenal video, all of that is what makes college football great. John L. Smith slapping himself never gets old. Oh, and watching this video, it really has not been a great decade for Michigan (and Oklahoma). A lot of moments against those teams.

EDIT: Also, minor quibble, but this...

An Oklahoma player flips into the end zone during the Bedlam game in 2008.

...was Sam Bradford in his Heisman-winning year. That's some moxie, grit, whatever, right there.

Yinka Double Dare

July 19th, 2010 at 3:34 PM ^

"Alabama's Tyrone Prothro absurd catch against Southern Miss in 2005."

Not seen?  Alabama's Tyrone Prothro absurdly disgusting injury against Florida in 2005 less than a month after his absurd catch.  Not seeing that again is probably for the better.

Yostal

July 19th, 2010 at 3:38 PM ^

Happy that my insanity could be of use to others.  As for the sometimes of the Hoover Street Rag, well, it's the nature of getting married and starting a family, but hey, happy to be around here when I can as well. :)

wildbackdunesman

July 19th, 2010 at 3:51 PM ^

Brian, you are mistaken.  That Braylon Edwards catch against MSU was not in OT.  Both of his TD grabs where he steals it from a Spartan along the right sideline in the endzone were in the 4th quarter comeback.  His OT TD he catches the ball short of the endzone and runs it in.

bigmc6000

July 19th, 2010 at 4:28 PM ^

But Avant's grab along the sideline against Florida was pretty damn stellar as well.  Granted I haven't seen every single catch in college football for the past 10 years but I'd have to say it's up there.  Or maybe that's just my Maize-n-Blue glasses :)

strafe

July 19th, 2010 at 4:44 PM ^

I had just convinced myself that "yeah, I guess I like most other sports as much as college football" in an effort to take the edge off the wait until Sept 4th.

But I really don't think any other sport comes close to capturing the emotion and excitement of college ball.

UMQuadz05

July 19th, 2010 at 4:45 PM ^

1.  Just when I think I'm over it, somebody brings up the Horror.

2.  Not a fan of the generic piano rock.  Needs more Rilo Kiley.

Other than that, a great video.

Yostal

July 19th, 2010 at 4:51 PM ^

I did try to avoid it, but I was called on it by the non-Michigan fans who read the original posting.

By the way, fot the record, the songs in the video are "Tick Tick Boom" by the Hives and "Chances" by Five for Fighting.

Yostal

July 19th, 2010 at 5:08 PM ^

It occurred to me as I was doing this, that this project (in my mind, but likely not in reality) was likely a labor of love for some PAs in Bristol, that it started out as an assignment "Pull together the best stuff from the 2000s in college football" and they started with the obvious stuff, and then they went for iconic stuff, and then they probably went for suggestions, ideas, and notes from knowledgable college football people, and then some research.  I suspect that someone remembered that Ed Reed clip, which became those Ed Reed clips, which led to Ed Reed stealing the ball from his teammate.  That has to be one of my favorite images in there, because it's leadership taken to an insane extreme, and yet, totally understandable as well.

GVBlue86

July 19th, 2010 at 5:15 PM ^

Wow. Great video. I think my favorite moment in there was the Iowa State coach and his post game speech. That's what college football is all about, coming together as a team and doing something you didn't think you could do. Also another reason why the NFL will never come close to college football, IMHO. I thought the music was perfect for this honestly. I'm a sucker for pianos on inspirational vids.

 

GET HERE NOW FOOTBALL SEASON! Go BLUE!

wolverine1987

July 19th, 2010 at 5:21 PM ^

I hadn't seen the clip from the guy saying "I don't got nothing else but ya'll" from the Georgia Tech locker room. Between that and the Iowa St. Coach "I'm so proud" speech, major tear up for for me.

tom

July 20th, 2010 at 10:07 AM ^

Said Georgia Tech player is Tashard Choice. I'm a Tech Alum and he's my 2nd favorite player next to Megatron. I saw him numerous times at Waffle House (most of the time picking up a carryout order that easily could have fed a family of 4) and he always returned my drunken Hello's. Really nice guy.

JimBobTressel-0

July 19th, 2010 at 5:20 PM ^

I especially liked JoePa's moment regarding that Adam kid...and that Iowa State moment had too much heart....and that Rutgers pump up circle...hell, I loved it all. Going to watch it again.

WolvinLA2

July 19th, 2010 at 5:42 PM ^

I just don't understand the people who don't absolutely love college football.  They and I are on completely different wavelengths.  Very cool video.

wolverine1987

July 19th, 2010 at 6:30 PM ^

I know every great college receiver doesn't pan out.  But Williams' failure mystified me.  I watched a lot of SC games his two years, and he was the most physically dominant receiver I saw at the college level.  He just dominated guys and threw them away, and had great hands. He lacked excellent speed, but that's not a dealbreaker in the NFL. He apparently lacked motivation, which will kill you there.

Zone Read Left

July 19th, 2010 at 7:04 PM ^

at the sad part of the video being the PSU paralyzed player leading the team on to the field, the Gtech salute, the Vtech massacre commmeration, and...

 

... Tim Tebow issuing "the pledge" after losing to Ole Miss.

markusr2007

July 19th, 2010 at 7:12 PM ^

College football owns the patent on awesomeness. All of this color, emotion, loyalty, anger, fear and hatred for tradition and bragging rights.  Bragging rights may last 7 days or 12 months.

There's a lot of money involved in college football just like the pros.  But quarterbacks diving into the end zone (or flipping around like a helicopter blade into it) will always be better than a well-paid Terry Bradshaw sissy-sliding in for six.

Just my opinion.

 

 

bronxblue

July 19th, 2010 at 7:26 PM ^

That was a great vid, though I found it funny they had so many USC clips (esp. Bush) considering what we now know about the Carroll years.  Personally, I'm fine with it - they were one of the dominant teams of the decade, and no amount of sanctions will change that - but usually ESPN is very careful to remove highlights like that. 

Lordfoul

July 19th, 2010 at 8:31 PM ^

I waited and waited for...

a) Lloyd to carried off the field

b) Tate to make his cut against ND

c) Alan Branch to destroy (to mild a term?) Anthony Morelli

...but to no avail.

Still a great montage though.  Thanks for the video hook-up.

wolverinehusker

July 19th, 2010 at 9:59 PM ^

It's really a testament to the power of college football that I can get so wrapped up in moments that means so much to me, good and bad (Manningham's catch...the block...), as well as those that I don't have any connection to but still make me go a big wet one. 

Mrali20

July 20th, 2010 at 7:53 AM ^

Loved the video and emotions it stirred up. Only small correction is that Guy Morriss was the Kentucky coach getting an early Gatorade bath, not Hal Mumme.

witless chum

July 20th, 2010 at 10:18 AM ^

...any slack from you guys, given that the slap was supposed to mock Charlie Weiss? I thought we were supposed to get along when we were disliking Notre Dame. John L really hated the Irish, for whatever reason.

The unidentified MSU player was Nehemiah Warrick, from a game in Madison in 2007. The head he hunted belonged to Kyle Jefferson, who lived.

maguziak

September 26th, 2012 at 11:47 AM ^

Love this video. Never gets old of watching this.

But the player in the yellow in that juke move was not West Virginia's Steve Slaton. It was a Cal player against Tennessee in 2007, probably Desean Jackson