How a bowl win in Tampa 30 years ago spurred a dominant 5 year run

I was at that game. Fuck I'm getting old.

coincidentally, I was wasting time online today and was looking at the box score from this game, which led me to looking at stats and info from these same 5 years. I was trying to figure out which team from this era (89-93 seasons) was the "best". Was it the 89 team that went undefeated in the Big Ten and sadly lost to USC in the Rose Bowl? The 91 team that also went unscathed in the Big Ten but lost to two different #1 teams? 92 undefeated with 3 ties that git revenge on Washington in the Rose Bowl? I think if they all played head to head somehow, the 92 team was probably the best. Senior Elvis, Wheatley, Everitt anchoring the o-line, rushing d only giving up 90 yds per game, and a fantastic secondary. Each level of the Offense and Defense had exceptional talent. What say you, denizens of MGoBlog?

I'll be glad when we're making history again vs reminiscing

That was a very good run. No argument here.

It would probably be asking too much of the readership here, but why not concentrate on overall records and speak, in passing, of the quality of the opposition (e.g., beat teams ranked X, Y, and Z at the end of the season)? I'm tired of hearing about "our rivals." The FSU game that MGrowOld cited had more "measuring stick" value than 2-3 Sparty games of that era combined.

East Landfill and Cumblowus seem especially juvenile

 

Per FAQ:

How can I avoid downvotes?

Don't be redundant. Don't use stupid nicknames like O$U. Spell things correctly. Don't post useless replies like "I agree" and whatnot.

I kind of feel like the epic run had already started in 85. We were a field goal away from competing for a national title that year and went to the Rose Bowl in 86. (We were also a combined 6-0 vs. OSU, MSU and ND those seasons.) In 87, with the graduation of Harbaugh, all three conference losses were close late 4th quarter heartbreakers by 6, 4 and 3 points. Indiana got the blocked punt in a rainstorm and Demetrious Brown threw pick number 7 on a 3rd & goal that would have beaten Sparty. Why he didn't try to throw to wide open Greg McMurtry in the end zone is anybody's guess. Finish those games that season and that's an insane 8 year run. But we did set the consecutive conference win record during that 88-92 run. OSU nearly tied it a few years ago but thankfully lost a game short.

meatchicken is coached by Hairball, maybe this is a sign.

I was in a BSchool finance class. In walks John Kolesar (who made the game winning catch). I got to know John during and after he joined my/our fraternity. He saw me, sat down in the seat across the aisle and all I said was, “nice catch.” I haven’t forgot the grin on his face to this day. Priceless. Hope he is doing well.

"Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it."

I bet you're the coolest kid in the whole 6th grade

but it gets sad. It's sad Bo never won a National Championship. And it's sad that our dominant run lasted only 5 years and ended with a best record of either 10-2 or 9-0-3. It is great that we won 5 straight B1G titles, but our rival took home a National Title, and upstart Miami was on an actual dominant run at that time.  

It seems like our favorite thing to do is look back at our history, and cherry pick events where our current circumstances mirror events that lead to great things, and see those great things on the horizon. But I think those achievements are looked upon with rose colored glasses. Our history states we are the bridesmaid and never the bride. And we are repeating that today. I mean Harbaugh has gone 10-3, 10-3, 8-4 +/-1. That is the company line. That is Michigan Football trademarked and all rights reserved. Those records even come with the what ifs and the if onlys that are mentioned in comments above. The bad OSU ref jobs and the damn losses to Iowa. And on top of that, the Michigan fanbase grumbling under their breath and looking fondly upon the early 70s, under a younger Bo. 

TL;DR version, I want more than what our past predicts. 

Not that I mean any disrespect to the OP though. Thanks for sharing. Those strong teams of the 1970s/80s no doubt made my dad a fan, and he past that fandom down to me as I will my kids (God willing and the creek don't rise). 

for a run like that over the next 5 years. 

but I imagine there would have been a furvent cry for Gary Moeller to be name the head coach immediately after going for it on 4th down.

Alabama was just a meh program trying to find itself after Bear Bryant retired a few years earlier.  This was Bill Curry's first season after Ray Perkins had been fired the previous year.  The SEC was a 10 school outfit back then, and get this, they played a 6 game schedule.

Bama went 4-2 finishing tied for 4th and 7-5 overall.

Moeller was gutsy for sure.  Foreshadowed the Desmond 4th down call.

Too bad his career ended early. 

This was the only year I had season tickets after graduating in '85 ( since I been living out of state ever since). We let the gophers upset us at home otherwise we would have been undefeated. But Cooper's ASU team beat us on New Years Day. But who knows being undefeated and number 1 in the country may have given us a bit more motivation.