Previously: Krushed By Stauskas (Illinois 2014), Introducing #ChaosTeam (Indiana 2009), Revenge is Terrifying (Colorado 1996), Four Games In September I (Boston College 1991), Four Games In September II (Boston College 1994)

This game: WolverineHistorian highlights

Michigan and Boston College alternate seasons of change throughout this series. In 1995, it's the former's turn; a spring evening out in Southfield begets a sudden change at the top:

Gary Moeller resigned as Michigan football coach Thursday after a drunken incident at a suburban Detroit restaurant last week.

Defensive coordinator Lloyd Carr was appointed interim coach while the search for a successor begins for one of the nation’s top football programs.

Moeller’s resignation, announced at a news conference by Michigan Athletic Director Joe Roberson, stunned players and staff.

“This is one of the saddest days of my life,” Carr said, his voice choking. “A man I respect, have the utmost admiration for, is no longer here. I would not be honest if I say we are not wounded or feel great pain.”

Days before the game, Michigan announces they've passed a bylaw to put the athletic department under the oversight of the university administration and, if necessary, the regents. The impetus had been something unheard of in today's age—the department went rogue when negotiating Moeller's buyout (via the Michigan Daily archives):

By the time Michigan heads to Chestnut Hill for a rare 6:30 pm Saturday kickoff on September 16th, the Wolverines are 3-0 with two wins over ranked teams: #17 Virginia on Mercury Hayes's last-second touchdown catch and a much more comfortable game at #25 Illinois (remember, this is 1995). The team is ranked #11 and Carr's interim tag looks destined to disappear.

The Eagles are coming off a bye week after splitting their own two contests against ranked teams, losing at Giants Stadium to future #1 Ohio State before upsetting #20 Virginia Tech in Blacksburg. They're unranked after entering the season at #22, an overreaction to Dan Henning's successful first season in 1994; they'd lost four players to the NFL Draft in the offseason, including #7 overall pick and OG combine wonder Mike Mamula, as well as thousand-yard rusher David Green. They wouldn't have four players selected in the same draft again until 2019.

ESPN is carrying this weird-ass matchup at this weird-ass time. Carr appears unconcerned by the kickoff time (via the Daily archives):

For all Lloyd's grumpiness, he's an underrated comedian.

[Hit THE JUMP for one of the meanest pregame quotes ever and much more]

Meanwhile, Massachusetts native and Michigan captain, guard Joe Marinaro, provides one of the most brutal pregame quotes I've ever seen when he looks back on his recruitment—and then you get the context (Daily archives):

"C'mon, Mike, I meant everyone else sucked! Except our friends. Those guys are fine, too. The important part is you tried."

Michigan's first possession begins at their own 23-yard line. They move backwards 12 yards and Nate DeLong shanks the ensuing punt to, you guessed it, the 23-yard line. The Eagles get a first down, then chaos ensues. I want to share the play on its own before mentioning the aftermath:

Please go back and watch nose guard Will Carr haul ass down the field, then go back and watch again to see Charles Woodson do the same (a bit faster) and sacrifice himself for the cause. It's a beautiful play.

The return comes back because of a block in the back. Nobody musters much in the way of offense until the Eagles take advantage of a short field to punch in a four-yard touchdown run, and even then BC botches the extra point in comical fashion: 

Michigan redshirt freshman quarterback Scott Dreisbach, a high school All-American who beat out Brian Griese to replace Todd Collins, starts the game 1-for-11.

The coaches stick to their guy. After a couple nice runs by Tim Biakabutuka, Dreisbach finally connects on a deep ball to Mercury Hayes midway through the second quarter, setting up a Remy Hamilton chip shot to halve the deficit. As the half nears a close, Clarence Thompson nabs another interception. Tight end Jay Riemersma gives his quarterback a little help:

Shortly thereafter, Biakabutuka makes Boston College look like Andover Prep:

That's Marinaro at right guard helping open the initial, gaping hole. I wonder if he knew the guy he was escorting down the line.

Michigan gets a quick stop and Lloyd Carr—prepare yourselves for this—aggressively uses his timeouts to preserve 18 seconds before halftime as BC lines up to punt. He's rewarded when Clint Copenhaver either gets his hand on the ball or causes the punter to shank it:

Either way, the Wolverines are in field position for a quick throw to Amani Toomer to set up another Hamilton field goal, making it 13-6 at the break.

The second half is mostly uneventful. Dreisbach gets on track while the offense leans on Biakabutuka as a workhorse. Hamilton makes his third field goal with 2:33 left in the third quarter to extend the lead to two possessions. When Boston College tries to respond, Rob Swett becomes the third Wolverine to pick off Mark Hartsell with the help from some intense pressure and a tip by Chuck Winters:

Ed Davis, now very much Biakabutuka's backup, punches in a one-yard score to make it 23-6, Wolverines.

A sophomore backup quarterback named Matt Hasselbeck leads a scoring drive for pride. He also throws a late interception to Winters, who returns the ball inside the ten, maybe fumbles when he's tackled, and is ruled down by the officials. Lloyd Carr, mercifully, chooses to run out the clock. As he jogs off the field, he moves to 4-0 as a head coach: 

Much of the postgame media attention falls on Dreisbach's uneven performance; he finishes 9-of-21 for 177 yards with no touchdowns and a pick and is commended for his strong finish. It isn't until the quiet Monday presser that Carr drops what would be a bombshell today. This is buried midway through a page-nine Daily article on Michigan needing to heal up during its bye week after minor injuries to Mercury Hayes and Biakabutuka are mentioned:

Times have changed! Nobody thought to ask about Dreisbach's fourth-quarter exit because it came with the game well in hand; Griese didn't attempt a pass in mop-up duty.

Michigan would lose four of their final eight games in Carr's first season, dealing with a thumb injury that knocked Dreisbach out for the season in a late September practice as well as the unexpected rise of Northwestern as a Big Ten title contender. The Wolverines would get to play the role of spoiler, however, when Biakabutuka's legendary 313-yard performance headlined an upset of #1 Ohio State.

Boston College stumbled to a 4-8 season that included losses to Michigan and their three primary rivals, failing to live up to their preseason hype. While 1995 was disappointing, 1996 would be a calamity.