October 28th, 2010 at 4:11 AM ^
IIRC the Penn State QB said that Michigan "dominated" PSU in every aspect of the game.
Just watched a few minutes of the 2nd half. God that squad was so good. Sigh... someday we'll be back on top.
October 28th, 2010 at 6:55 AM ^
Speaking of McQueary, I guess the '97 game is why, despite him recruiting Justin King to PSU, it still comforts me to see that ginger freak on their sideline.
October 29th, 2010 at 11:34 PM ^
a decade later.
October 28th, 2010 at 4:12 AM ^
double post fail
October 28th, 2010 at 4:41 AM ^
Wow, I had forgotten that was the game when Michigan's offense came out to dance. Most of the season, the offense hadn't been that spectacular but on the road against a top 5 Penn State the running game was nasty (265 yards at 4.9 yards a pop) and the passing game was effective with a healthy sprinkling of Woodson's magic.
(Notice the Nebraska/Mizzou game in the ticker, too... the game with the crazy (should have been illegal) kick for a TD.)
October 28th, 2010 at 5:04 AM ^
The passing game with the TEs, RBs and Woodson in the slot was effective by 1997 standards but did the WRs have even one catch?
October 28th, 2010 at 6:22 AM ^
That first half was simply Football Porn.
October 28th, 2010 at 6:44 AM ^
Seriously. That offensive line flat out dominated that first half. All the RBs had to do was run straight into the back of the Center and they'd get at least 4 ypc.
October 29th, 2010 at 2:07 AM ^
That was when Tai Streets had the dislocated fingers on both hands, but played anyway. (WR depth was a bit lacking.) Woodson was basically our only functional WR the last month of the regular season. Fortunately, Streets recovered in time for the Rose Bowl.
It was also funny to see both teams operate out of the I-formation even on 3rd and 14 and the like.
October 29th, 2010 at 11:03 PM ^
I was at that game, I remember it like it was yesterday.
And yet it feels like I am looking at a museum exhibit, as much a historical artifact as watching the wishbone.
Kinda strange.
In the Rose Bowl, Washignton State had what was considered an extremely radical offense. They sometimes lined up with 5 recievers and no backs in the backfield. Just shocking.
We shut them down anyway, which we never got enough credit for.
Well at least we know that if we ever win a National Championship with RichRod, it will be with Offense this time.
October 28th, 2010 at 4:42 AM ^
Hearing Keith Jackson brings back fond memories. I wish he could call every game on television.
October 28th, 2010 at 6:22 AM ^
Sack on the first defensive play of the game? Money.
Oh, the days when we could afford to bring five every other play.
October 28th, 2010 at 6:43 AM ^
I think it would be easy to UFR this game. Half of the running plays are "run up the middle, gets tripped up in the wash".
Is it just me, or does the Game just look so much less complex in 1997 than it does now?
October 28th, 2010 at 8:29 AM ^
I was going to say the same thing. It's surprising that the game has changed so much in such a (relatively) short period of time.
October 28th, 2010 at 9:48 AM ^
we dropped at least three kick returns in this game. Even in 1997 they couldn't hold on to the damn ball.
October 28th, 2010 at 7:01 AM ^
EASILY one of the best Michigan football games EVER
October 28th, 2010 at 7:52 AM ^
The only thing that slightly darkens my memories of that game, was what occurred after it. We ran out on South U and someone (it may have been me) got the inspired idea that we grab a traffic barrier and take it to the president's house to knock on the door. We did, Bollinger opened, and let us in.
That bit was brilliant!
However, in his basement, we watched as this happened:
October 28th, 2010 at 7:43 AM ^
watching the o and d lines in this game... geez... they were crushing PSU on every down.
also get to 8:21 in the first half vid to see Woodson catch a TD pass from Griese.
October 29th, 2010 at 2:15 AM ^
That TD pass really reminds me of the TD to Roundtree in this year's ND game.
October 28th, 2010 at 8:12 AM ^
I played a pick up touch football game near my apartment in Dallas in 2000. Daydrian Taylor was on the other team. He told me that he was still feeling the after effects of the famous hit from this game.
Nice guy.
October 28th, 2010 at 8:27 AM ^
I remember seeing that hit on TV. The whole stadium went dead silent immediately. It was the hardest hit I've ever seen in my life. It was quite scary seeing both of those guys flop to the ground and lay there limp.
October 28th, 2010 at 9:37 AM ^
Yeah. It was extremely troubling. The thing I remember was the people with whom I was watching didn't notice it on the initial full speed. I was the only one and I was blood thirsty excited. Then I saw the aftermath and felt ill.
Correct me if I am wrong, but I think Taylor's Michigan career ended with that play?
All I could see was Buonniconti and Chucky Mullins with them laying there.
October 28th, 2010 at 12:55 PM ^
I'm pretty sure neither player played another down of football again after that.
October 28th, 2010 at 3:28 PM ^
on my way to class and he had the whole neck brace thing on. I wanted to go up to him and just thank him for making me hit the rewind button over and over that night for that hit. That hit, in a word was "Whoa".
October 28th, 2010 at 8:27 AM ^
I loved this game, but my favorite UM game will alway be the 2000 Orange Bowl against Alabama.
October 28th, 2010 at 9:12 AM ^
The NFL talent on that team was amazing, and probably tough to find a better Michigan D than 97's
October 28th, 2010 at 9:52 AM ^
This was the best Michigan game I've ever attended. Been to lots of great ones, including the @MSU, OSU and Rose Bowl that year, but nothing was like that day/night.
October 28th, 2010 at 9:51 AM ^
I was fortunate to be at that game in the cold, mist. Fast forward to 5:50 and see the greatest hit/tackle in football. Neither player ever played another down. What a hard hitting defense!
October 28th, 2010 at 10:19 AM ^
It was a crushing hit, but any hit that ends the career of two players can never be classified as "great" in my book.
October 28th, 2010 at 3:25 PM ^
This game and UM team were incredibly physical. Chris "I'm Running Downhill Directly At You At All Times And I Dare You To Get In The Way" Howard running straight ahead. That screen play to him was deadly as well.
This game makes the "power" teams of today look like lightweights (MSU and Wisky, I'm looking at you).
October 28th, 2010 at 10:11 AM ^
That was of the 1st times I remember saying to myself you know what this is going to upset some people but I'm not missing this game.
I was scheduled for a wedding that day to someone not so close, I called up made an excuse sent them a card with some cash in it and enjoyed one of the best games of my life. Truly a great move.
October 28th, 2010 at 10:57 AM ^
of Keith Jackson. I could listen to that man all day.
October 28th, 2010 at 1:19 PM ^
He was doing stock car racing on an clip from the 80s on ESPN's 30 for 30 last week. Sounded like he even hit that out of the park. I remember he also did college hoops with Dick Vitale in the late 80s and early 90s. Greatness again.
He was really a southern Al Michaels who happened to make his mark in College Football. Age probably kept him from doing more year round stuff the last couple decades. He could excel at any of it.
October 28th, 2010 at 11:17 AM ^
"If this is Judgement Day, the judge has just thrown Penn State in jail!"
October 28th, 2010 at 11:32 AM ^
They need to tack video of the party at Lee Bollinger's house on the end. Part of the whole game experience.
Also: Is this Brady's first game?
October 28th, 2010 at 12:55 PM ^
I know he played earlier in the year at least against Indiana, and maybe some other games as well.
October 28th, 2010 at 3:10 PM ^
Once we were up 38-3 on UCLA in 1996, Brady came in the game and threw a pick six.
You're right about the 97 Indiana game. I can't remember too many other instances where Brady played before 98.
October 28th, 2010 at 12:38 PM ^
Ignoring Nebraska's illegal kick to beat Missouri later that night, it was the perfect day.
Mike McQueery...what a joke of a QB. I remember his pregame comments promising to throw right at Charles Woodson. The gameday crew was there. Corso picked Penn State. Earlier that season, Beano Cook said we didn't have a chance in this game. He said we shouldn't even bother sending the team. Send the Michigan band instead and have them play the Victors for 3 hours so both sides can leave happy.
My first thoughts when this game started? I couldn't wait for the defense to get out on the field and show their stuff. What a far cry that is from today where I spend the entire week dreading the thought of watching our defense.
October 29th, 2010 at 11:13 PM ^
We went over and taunted the hell out of him after the game.
He made it up to us and made it clear that he would vote us #1 in the AP poll.
October 28th, 2010 at 2:03 PM ^
I kept waiting for the game to turn around and for the #3 Penn State team to show up and they never did. I was pretty scared that first drive of the second half up until Ray intercepted that pass. That was ballgame.
October 29th, 2010 at 11:16 PM ^
The entire 4th quarter, we Michigan fans did our own version of the Penn State cheer:
Where is . . .
Penn State?
October 28th, 2010 at 7:24 PM ^
In the spirit of remembering this classic game, here's a couple more vids about. The first being Bo and Don Shane previewing it from Beaver Stadium on the Big Ten Ticket. And the second being a short recap of the WXYZ News in Detroit.
October 29th, 2010 at 11:27 PM ^
October 28th, 2010 at 11:51 PM ^
That's the first time I had ever seen an impromptu celebration in the streets. Lee Bollinger officially became the man when he opened up the door and let some students in. That might have been the coolest day on campus as a student.
It started with Sparty blowing a late lead at Purdue, with thanks to Sedrick Irvin who let an onside kick go past him which Purdue pounced on and led to a game winning kick.
The UM game was awesome and even the Nebraska/Mizzou game was bonkers.
And the party outside the Prez house clinched it.
October 29th, 2010 at 8:58 AM ^
I was in the front knocking on the door. We were all in a brilliant mood and Bollinger picked up on it and let a bunch of us in, high fives and all.
We actually spent about 20 minutes there, Bollinger and his wife were there and I think they had some people over as well. No one misbehaved or acted in any way disrespectfully inside the house. Not that I noticed, anyways. We weren't entirely sober, obviously, but we never considered celebrating by setting couches on fire.
We did pause to watch parts of the Nebraska - Missouri game, with its heartbreaking ending, in the President's basement. See my previous post in this tread to relive that play, which cost us a split of our MNC.
October 29th, 2010 at 2:44 AM ^
That game, and season, will never get old. When PSU scored, those were the first points any team scored on us in the 4th quarter all season - and it was the 9th game of the year! What a team.
October 29th, 2010 at 11:30 PM ^
should watch the video of this game for inspiration tomorrow just before kickoff.