Favorite UM Football Moment

Submitted by SanFrancisco_W… on

Well, with 8 days left until this season kicks off I feel like this would be a fun time to have everyone on the greatest UM site tell stories about their favorite Michigan football moment.  This doesn't necessarily have to be an in-game moment, but can involve memories from tailgating, fant interactions etc.

I guess I'll start:

I actually have 2.  My first was when I asked my dad why he was a Michigan fan and why he had raised me to be a Michigan fan.  He told me he became a Michigan fan after a weekend in Columbus as a high school senior.  He rode his bike from his brother's house to the Horseshoe and snuck onto the field and sat at the fifty yard line.  He got caught and was subsequently fined by the University for trespassing.  This pissed him off and thus be was henceforth a Michigan fan.  Therefore, had my father not been busted that day, I would have probably been raised an OSU fan.  Thank Christ that isn't the case.

The second is my first trip to the Big House.  UM-Iowa in 1997.  The game was amazing, but the first moment walking into the stadium will be with me for the rest of my life.

 

RONick

August 26th, 2011 at 3:44 PM ^

Hmm, tough.  I have a few really good ones that I like to remember.

First game ever - 1994 opener against Illinois.  Dreisbach went on a long scamper of ~80 yards or so.  I couldn't believe a slow white quarterback could actually do that!

1995 Virginia game - I never saw my dad jump so high as when Mercury Hayes caught that touchdown.  What a comeback!

1997 Iowa game - I had 50 yard line seats and was getting pretty ancy until our 4th quarter comeback.  Great football game!

2002 Washington game - I had never heard the stadium get so loud!  Watching that kick go through the uprights was like watching a miracle right before my eyes.

2004 Braylonfest - I was actually on my way home after my own football game (D2 school, played a noon game) and listened on the radio until I got back in time to watch the end of the game.  I have never watched one player completely take over a game like that in football.  It was even better that this was against MSU... couldn't have happened to a nicer bunch.

michgoblue

August 26th, 2011 at 3:47 PM ^

I love this thread for so many reasons:

1.  It has been done so many times, but unlike other threads, a topic like this will never draw the ire of the board-police who flip out over SIAP.

2.  What better way to pass a friday while waiting for my house to be flooded and my power to go out than to remember these awesome memories; and

3.  When we get threads like these, it means that the season is getting REALLY close. 

Go Blue!

superstringer

August 26th, 2011 at 3:54 PM ^

Just took the bar in 1991. Saw the game at BC then the home game vs ND. So seeing Desmond's 4 TD v BC was awesome, but....
<br>
<br>#1. Elvis to Desmond on 4th down.

burtcomma

August 26th, 2011 at 4:14 PM ^

The very first time I saw Anthony Carter on the turf at Mihcigan Stadium when he returned a punt against Northwestern in 1979......Knew then we had a great one!

oriental andrew

August 26th, 2011 at 4:20 PM ^

Aug 30, 2014.  Or not.

Actual favorite moment - Michigan beating ohio state on our home turf in 1997 to go undefeated in the regular season.  South U was jam-packed with students and it was awesome.  Until that guy fell out of the tree. 

althegreat23

August 26th, 2011 at 4:53 PM ^

Haven't been to a Michigan game yet (hope to change that pretty soon)

My favorite three moments are:

1. Braylon's domination of State in 04

2. Mario Manningham's TD vs Penn St at 0:00

3. The 47-21 shellacking we gave Notre Dame in 06. My mom is a Notre Dame fan so that one was pretty sweet.

WingsNWolverines

August 26th, 2011 at 5:41 PM ^

1. I had the privilege of going with my father to the 1997 Michigan Ohio State game. One I will never forget. Charles Woodson took that game over from start to finish. I can remember sitting next to this Buckeye fan in our section and his eyes bug out when Woodson returned that famous punt for a touchdown. His eyes fixed on the field and his lips moved but he didnt speak and I could tell by his lip movement he was saying "wow." My number 1 game.

2. 2008 Michigan vs Wisconsin. I can remember the crowd being brutal at half time. Booing the team as they left the field "YOU SUCK THREET" was yelled several times from behind me. 19-0 at half time and things looked bad. Till it became 19-7. Then a strike from Minor 19-14. Then the unthinkable happened. A tipped ball caught by Thompson I believe it was, and a 25 yard rush into the endzone and the Big House exploded louder than I have ever heard it before. Then the final play on the 2 point conversion to tie it up 27-27. I couldn't see the extra receiver down field but I didnt care. Wisconsin cost themselves the game and Michigan won their 500th game at Michigan Stadium. I had tears in my eyes I was going that crazy. One of the most amazing games I've ever seen.

3. 2009 Michigan vs Notre Dame. You couldnt ask for a better ending! Forcier powered himself and the offense down the field for the game winning drive and I knew as soon as Matthews dropped the first pass I thought to myself "just watch, he'll catch this next one." Forcier scrambles in the pocket and finds a window to Matthews and Michigan gets the game winning touchdown.

too many others to name lol

 

blueguard5

August 27th, 2011 at 9:16 AM ^

i was only in 1st grade at the time of the '97 Michigan-OSU game, but i'm still pissed my mom took a friend instead of me. come on, mom, you knew i was a michigan fan. we had friends over for the wisconsin game the week before (my dad is a wisconsin alum, as are some of my mom's friends) and i kept on harrassing anyone cheering for bucky. my dad put window decals of the W and i kept on turning them upside down.

 

my dad always complains that my mom brainwashed me, but clearly he just didn't try hard enough.

Bombadil

August 26th, 2011 at 6:58 PM ^

Penn State 2002: I was a student worker for Waste Management at the stadium. I'd finished my work and the usher let me take an open seat with about 2 minutes left in regulation. Got to see the final 5 minutes of regulation and overtime. I remember the talking with the maintenance guys who were having a heluva time fixing all the divots in the grass field.

Ohio State 2003: I had season tickets this year. Until UConn last year, this was the last game I'd been to upon graduating. Seeing us stop OSU from going to the title game was awesome.

bigtime23

August 26th, 2011 at 7:43 PM ^

This one is easy for me.   Senior year - Harbaugh TD pass to Kolesar against OSU that sealed the W.   Under the temporary lights (brought in for the TV cameras).  Freezing cold; slipped with other fans on the frozen beer on the ground during the TD celebration.   Crowd went crazy.   

BLUE HIKER

August 26th, 2011 at 9:39 PM ^

Had a bowl game pool at work.  Florida was a HUGE favorite.  I was the only person who picked Michigan to win in the entire pool.  I still have that sheet hanging in my office with my pick highlighted.  I think Tebow still has bruises from that game.

BlueSpiceIn SEC.hell

August 26th, 2011 at 9:39 PM ^

I have been to a lot of away games but this was easily most memorable because I almost didn't get into the game.     Went to South Bend - could not find anyone selling a ticket. NOTHING to be found.    M ranked #6 and ND #3 in AP poll - they only had 59,075 capacity then. Had to bribe the kids selling ND game day programs with food from tailgate and $20. Got a couple of their passes and canvas bags with programs, 2 kids stayed at tailgate...Sold programs with them through the gate and in the concourse -gave them everything back in bathroom, snuck up during kickoff, couldn't get into student (always standing) section b/c ushers were watching like hawks -finally got into entrance in end zone -  NO seats -stuck walking all the way to top of stadium in the endzone. found two local kids who didn't like ND but their family had season tix.  Paid for all they wanted food and drink - sat dead center in the endzone top of stadium in front of NBC peacock and proceeded to watch Collins march us down the field straight toward my end zone and Hamilton kicked the game winner - if you youtube the game the camera was where I was sitting.  I so loved beating ND at South Bend but even sweeter beating Lou Holtz

MGoSoftball

August 26th, 2011 at 9:51 PM ^

first M game on TV while watching it with my dad on a large screen (19" Black and White)   It was the 1969 M/osu game.  I remember it like it was yesterday.

My dad said that the Lions couldnt beat those rednecks, certainly not a first year coach.  Boy was he wrong.

jb5O4

August 26th, 2011 at 10:06 PM ^

1. Sneaking onto the Big House field at 2 AM. Me and some friends threw a football around, we recreated the Henne to Manningham play (I got to be Manningham). I also struck the pose right where Howard did it. This was a few nights before I graduated.

2. Michigan-Penn State 2005. I was one of the last people to leave the Big House that night. Unforgettable.

Uferisms

August 26th, 2011 at 11:08 PM ^

I have been to many of the great victories, PSU OT, PSU last second, 1997 Season, MSU 3 OT, etc.  But what may not be the most memorable moment in the stadium at the time is now one I am most proud of.  Iowa crushed us in the 2nd half and won 34 - 9.  Midway through the 4th my son (12 years old) wanted to leave but I refused telling him you never turn your back on your team.  It was about a year ago (he is now an MGoSenior) he told me what an impression that moment made on him and how it taught him to be a true fan.

Looking forward to the Purdue game this year (Oct. 29) when my brother and I wil celebrate the 40th anniversary of our first game in the Big House (Oct 30, 1971 vs. Indiana).  Going to try to trade my seats for the seats we sat in for that game.  Still have the ticket stub.  Sec. 19, Row 67, Seat 25 & 26

 

 

The Man Down T…

August 27th, 2011 at 12:10 AM ^

UM/OSU 1989 was the last game I attended with my dad before he passed.  The tailgate was great and the game incredible.  We would find later that  we attended Bo's last home game.  

Purdue 2007 was the first Michigan game I attended since that game and I took my kids to it. We hung out with the UMTAILGATE guys and then watched the game.  Yeah, we lost, but watching my kids eyes as they came out of the tunnel into the stadium was awesome.

migoblu

August 27th, 2011 at 11:22 AM ^

1.)    The 1995 UM/osu game, driving home from work on Saturday, screaming and pounding the steering wheel with each Tim  Biakabutuka run. At home, screaming and laughing with my wife as the Michigan offensive line and Tim continued to dominate the bugeyes.

2.)    The 2004 UM/MSU 3 overtime game: At the stadium getting harassed by the MSU fans sitting in front of me until Braylon and Chad starting putting on their show. With each Henne to Edwards TD pass those MSU fans shrinking down in their seats with head in hands. Then with the final MSU incompletion, those MSU fans were gone. How the hell they got out of their seats and disappeared so fast is beyond me.

3.)    The 2009 ND game: Leaving the stadium on a cloud, I couldn’t stop smiling and every few steps towards the bus screaming “Go Blue”.

Here’s hoping for a few more of these feelings during this upcoming season! I hope all you UM supporters have a great season of health, happiness, and victories on field and in your lives!

A maize ing blue

August 27th, 2011 at 2:32 PM ^

My first post on here.
1. Born in chicago my mom was a great hs athlete. Her whole side of the fam are ND fans. My dad wasnt a very big sports fan EXCEPT for michigan football tought me and my twin older brothers how to play hail to the victors on the piano when I was five. Always will remember that day. So thankfull my dads from kzoo.

2. First time I stepped in the big house. Never will forget that chill in my spine

maizenblue87

August 27th, 2011 at 7:50 PM ^

1975 - first game I attended, UM - Mizzo
<br>
<br>circa 1979-1982 I was in high school, went to games with my brother who was a UM student. Their frat all had tickets in one part of the student section, and in those days there were no rules. I swear they had a keg in the stands.
<br>
<br>1983-1989 as a UM student myself. The wave was first done in the stadium my freshman year (I think it originated at Washington or WSU who we played that year). 1985 on a whim drove out to Iowa City for the game #1 vs #2 (we lost 12-10).