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Michigan Football vs UNLV 2023 (Patrick Barron)

Michigan Football vs UNLV 2023 (Bryan Fuller)

By now you've seen the smiley faces everywhere that JJ McCarthy has branded, the reminder to just go out there, have fun, and smile more. It was a beautiful little gesture that took a seven year old to remind us. A friend that I tailgate with brings an extra sharpie just in case anyone would like to draw their own smiley face for the game. After all, it's just sports, right?

At the UNLV game, for JJ, it was about more than just sports.

Yesterday, JJ McCarthy replaced his signature smiley face with something more powerful, the number 47 to honor his childhood friend, Ryan Keeler. Ryan died of arrhythmia this past February at the age of 20. JJ and Ryan played football in high school together and Ryan would go on to commit to Rutgers and eventually transfer to UNLV for the 2023 season. Saturday was supposed to be a fun reunion, instead it was an emotional day. A more in-depth story can be found at the Michigan Daily and is worth the read.

They talked about it on the broadcast, and then this happened.

Call it fate, coincidence, divine intervention, or what have you, there's no denying the poetic beauty of throwing a 47 yard touchdown pass immediately after CBS highlighted the significance of JJ's gesture. 

Players were asked about it at the post-game press conference but they ended up getting a bit choked up. 

There was no shout out to Jim Harbaugh this week via hand gesture, train formation, or "FREE HARBAUGH" shirts, just tribute to the memory JJ's friend.

Sometimes it's just sports. Sometimes it really is more than that.

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Exactly 300 photos this week! 

Michigan Football vs UNLV 2023 (Patrick Barron)

Michigan Football vs UNLV 2023 (Bryan Fuller)

About the Photographers

If you'd like to support us, one of the simplest things you can do is follow us on social media (links just below) where we post way more photos than here. In the offseason I also do a LOT of wildlife/national park photography. While we're not allowed to sell any of our sports photos per our credential agreement (sorry to anyone who reached out asking about one), I sell prints from my adventures which I sell on FineArtAmerica. You can buy prints (or just look at some pretty pictures) here: Patrick Barron Art Collections Or if you'd like, you can simply support me by buying me a coffee!

Social Media Accounts:

Patrick Barron:
Twitter: @BlueBarronPhoto
Instagram: @BlueBarronPhoto
Instagram (BUT WITH BEARS): @BlueBarronPhoto_Wild 

Bryan Fuller
Twitter: @FullOfTwitt
Instagram: @BryanFullerPhotography

[I do the same bit as last week after THE JUMP]

This is what JJ's shirt meant, right?

Right?

My favorite part about Victor is that he plays "NO TAKE, ONLY THROW" between throws, despite having only one job.
 

IF I MAY BE VULNERABLE HERE FOR A SECOND - Mike Hart was my first favorite player when I was a youngster attending Michigan games and SEEING HIM AS HEAD COACH EVEN FOR ONLY TWO QUARTERS FILLED MY HEART UP SO MUCH AHHH. Anyways, get Chad Henne in as an analyst and then we're really cookin'.
 

A great host you say? They will be here by nightfall.

 

Next week - Michigan football head coach Sherrone Moore