What's your favorite road win?

Submitted by BlueMarrow on October 19th, 2019 at 12:06 PM

I'm hoping tonight becomes my favorite!

Although I remember a lot of very special wins against THE third best university in ohio, and moo U, tonight's game brings back memories of a game that left us on cloud nine, and believing in a National Championship.

The 1997 team went in Happy Valley ranked No. 4, and whooped the No. 2 ranked Pedos 34-8. One of the greatest defensive teams of all time left the Pedo fans silent as corpses. 

The game was especially enjoyable because it was played on the night of a reunion with a lot of my former roommates. Nothing like sharing a win with friends who are equally voracious fans.

What's your favorite and why?

Here's to a big win tonight! Go Blue!

Murphy.

October 19th, 2019 at 12:16 PM ^

Personal favorite was 2016 Michigan State. My boss at the time was an MSU grad with season tickets. He couldn't go to the game and since I was the only Michigan grad at the company (small company), he offered me the tickets.

I was able to take my mom, my dad, and one of my younger cousins (it was his first Michigan game). Being able to talk trash while sitting in an MSU-heavy section knowing that nobody was going to bother your older parents or your (much more intimidating) cousin was amazing.

M-Dog

October 19th, 2019 at 12:17 PM ^

Judgment Day!  

I was at that game.  That game and the Cap One bowl (Lloyd's last game) were the only times I was ever in awe of my own team.

Some impressions of the game:

I had 2 tickets from the DC alumni association.  My wife (girlfriend at the time) got sick and could not go.  I was just going to bag it . . . why schlep 3 hours in the rain by myself to see a game we are supposed to lose in a hostile environment? . . . but I decided at the last minute, WTF.  One of the best decisions I ever made.

Game time was at 3:30 on a gloomy, misty, cloudy day.  A real Big Ten football day.  Clocks had already been set back so it was getting dark already.  I was late so I had to listen to our first series on the radio.  It was a good drive, but ended only in a field goal.  When I got close to the stadium, I could see it lit up in the distance.  It looked like a battleship floating in the middle of the ocean in a storm.  It was eerie, yet stunning.

When I made it into the stadium, Penn State was starting their first drive.  I entered the stadium at field level just in time to see McQueary "The Rooster" and his trick play blown up for a big loss, up close and personal.  After that, Michigan just unloaded.  We stopped every PSU drive and scored on all of our drives in the first half.  It looked like an NFL team against a high school team.

I sat in the upper deck which was new at the time.  The other deck was not built yet, so you could see Mount Nittany in the distance.  When it got into the middle of the 3rd quarter, what I vividly remember is the endless stream of taillights in the darkness, all leaving town in the dimming shadow of Mount Nittany.  Penn State had quit.  We Michigan fans started our own version of the Penn State cheer:  "Where is . . . Penn State?, Where is . . . Penn State?"

When the game was over, the team came over to the Michigan section near the end zone to celebrate with us.  That small section of fans was louder than the entire Big House on many football Saturdays.

After the game about 50 of us gathered around a guy with a portable TV to watch the end of the Nebraska-Missouri game.  Missouri was winning late in the fourth quarter.  We went nuts, up until the famous illegal kick that was recovered by Nebraska to force OT.  Once it went to OT we knew the writing was on the wall.  Game, Nebraska.

The game was broadcast on ABC and ESPN was doing a mini Judgement Day "Game Day" from Penn State.  (FSU and UNC were the other undefeated Judgement Day contestants).  Beno Cook was doing the PSU broadcast.  Earlier in the day, he stated that Michigan should not even bother to show up, just send the band.  So we went over to the broadcast booth and let him have it good, singing Hail to the Victors to drown out his segments.  He was clearly embarrassed by his earlier statements.  To calm us down, he informed us that he would be voting us #1 the next day, despite Nebraska's OT win and FSU's win.  We sarcastically shouted "We love you Beno!" when he went to break. 

I hit the bars after that, careful not to show too much of my Michigan sweatshirt under my coat.  But my cat-that-ate-the-canary grin gave me away all night.  I did not leave until it was so late that I had to find a flea-bag roadside motel near Harrisburg because I just could not stay awake any longer driving.  

Slept like a baby that night.
 

uminks

October 19th, 2019 at 12:20 PM ^

My favorite was back when I was 13 and we shutout OSU in Columbus, 22-0.  OSU was ranked in the top 10 and I was rooting hard for the shutout by the end of the game.

Avant's Hands

October 19th, 2019 at 1:26 PM ^

Not what would have popped into my head, but this one is actually underrated by the fanbase in general I think. No Mike Hart, on the road at night, against Juice Williams (?) who always killed us with his legs, and Henne was spending the year fighting his shoulder. The defense stepped up when they needed to and Henne really carried the team to a win. MSU 2007 is similar

NorcalBlue

October 19th, 2019 at 12:29 PM ^

Judgment Day without question.  Or the dismantly of ND in...2006 was it?  38-0 or something like that - love it.  Had a winged helmet on Touchdown jesus gif I sent around the office to all the Irish lovers.

AlbanyBlue

October 19th, 2019 at 12:40 PM ^

Has to be 1997 PSU. That defense, OMG. This is where the mythology of the Michigan teams of the Bo and Carr eras reached the pinnacle. Most of these years, we lost too many games we shouldn't have, but we always had a fighting chance against our rivals, and more often than not, came out on top.

 

uofmchris1

October 19th, 2019 at 12:42 PM ^

2006 @ Notre Dame. Just an all around classic ass whooping. Had a smile on my face the entire game. Plus, it was against the golden boy - Brady Quinn.

kalamazoo

October 19th, 2019 at 2:00 PM ^

Yeah, at that game too, Penn State 1999. A little underrated in this list, but it was very loud and very unlikely of a comeback in the 4th quarter, 5 minutes left. Brady was able to make just enough good decisions to make it work. I couldn't believe when he couldn't find anyone in the end zone and he lumbered in for a touchdown.

See Brady 's touchdown here:

https://youtu.be/LBvgKcB16Bc?t=321

 

Second place for me was the 1997 game at Penn State. I wasn't there, so had the opportunity to party on S. University after the game in Ann Arbor. The president of the U was Lee Bollinger at the time, and all of us college students sang "The Victors" on the front lawn of the President's house, and Lee comes out finally to a large roar, and he says, "This is your house, come on in!" At which point we all slam in, see that they were watching FSU in the basement, terrorize the carpets and floors for about an hour until he kicks us out. Next day, front page picture in The Daily was the carpet cleaning company at the house, pretty funny. Thanks for the memories Lee.

Kevin C

October 19th, 2019 at 1:04 PM ^

2006 ND.  Finally, a win in South Bend, a blowout to boot, and the beginning of the end of the Weis mythology.  ("Weis created Tom Brady!").

Johnny10er

October 19th, 2019 at 2:48 PM ^

That was my second road game. My uncle had season tickets, took me to at least one game a year from when I was 5 till he died. 97 season, told me it was going to be a special year, and to save my money because he wanted to take me to the rose bowl. I was in 9th grade, so did the usual things like cutting grass raking leaves, shoveling snow to make money. He ended up paying for most of the trip with some help from my grandparents.

We had a blast. We cried. The rose bowl was beautiful.

He bought me a drink at the hotel bar. The excitement, pure joy in half of that stadium was something I’ve only seen and felt a few other times.

(First road game was the game in Happy Valley that almost got snowed out, pretty sure it was 95. Cold as hell, and I was PELTED with hard packed snowballs. And a loss.)

raleighwood

October 19th, 2019 at 1:15 PM ^

My favorite was clearly 1997 against PSU.  Possibly the most dominant Michigan performance against a Top 10 team that I have ever seen (home or road).

I was at the PSU game in 2006.   Another great road performance.  Mike Hart was at his best getting some tough yards and Alan Branch destroyed Anthony Morelli.

ND games in 2006 (Manningham's double move for a long TD) and 2010 (Denard ran wild) are up there, too.

Have enjoyed seeing people mention OSU in 1976.  I was 11 and remember that game.  First Michigan win against OSU that I was aware of.

Carter the Darter

October 19th, 2019 at 1:28 PM ^

1997 over Penn State was the peak.  Better than any road win at Columbus except 1976 which I was only 4 at the time.   

Avant's Hands

October 19th, 2019 at 1:31 PM ^

I'm going to agree with a few others and say 2006 ND. I grew up around South Bend and root for OSU and MSU to both clobber the Irish when they play. Really can't stand ND and I've never understood why they get this reputation for having these great fans. Anyway, I can't even describe how great it felt to murder/death/kill that 06 team that was supposed to walk through college football. The tone of voice of the announcers as they continually described how open Manningham was is still a treat.