Posted on

๐‘ณ๐‘ถ๐‘ถ๐‘ฒ๐‘ฐ๐‘ต๐‘ฎ ๐‘ฉ๐‘จ๐‘ช๐‘ฒ: ๐‘ฏ๐’‚๐’“๐’ƒ๐’‚๐’–๐’ˆ๐’‰ ๐‘น๐’†๐’•๐’–๐’“๐’๐’”

Looking Back is a Special Feature by Jeff Cummins Highlighting Key Games

The fifth installment of the series examining the first games of Michigan coaches takes us to 2015. By the end of the 2014 football season, Michigan was in desperate need of change. Once again, optimism had faded into disappointment, with even a tinge of embarrassment. The fan base clamored for a coach who could restore confidence, belief, and success.

That December, a Michigan graduate close to the athletic department sent out a text to a blogger. Heโ€™d just seen a potential coach with the initials โ€œJHโ€ enter Schembechler Hall. On Dec. 30, 2014, Michigan hired Jim Harbaugh as the next head coach of the Michigan Wolverines. It would be an understatement to say that Harbaugh rejuvenated the fan base immediately.


Harbaugh returned to Michigan as a veritable โ€œprodigal son.โ€ A Michigan graduate who played for Bo Schembechler in the 1980s, Harbaugh had been critical of his alma mater on occasion. More important, he was a winner who had succeeded at the highest levels, and he brought instant credibility to the Michigan football program.

On Sept. 3, 2015, Michigan entered Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City to begin the Jim Harbaugh era with a visit to Utah. Michigan alumni traveled to Utah in droves, and there were numerous spots of maize and blue throughout the stadium. Local news reports indicated Michigan fans had been spending a lot of money at nearby restaurants, and tipping well. The excitement around Harbaughโ€™s return was palpable, and even Utah residents appreciated the enthusiasm. Once the game began, Utah wasnโ€™t so hospitable.

The Utes had an established roster, and they were able to open holes for Devontae Booker and Travis Wilson, enabling Utah to take a 17-3 lead in the third quarter. Gradually, Michigan woke up. Quarterback Jake Rudock connected with Jake Butt and Amara Darboh for a pair of touchdowns, but the Wolverines were never able to close the gap, and Utah won, 24-17.
Still, the tenacity that Michigan showed in the second half made it clear that Harbaugh was the right person to lead the Wolverines, and he eventually led them back to college football Valhalla.


Harbaughโ€™s counterpart, Kyle Whittingham, defeated Michigan for the third team in three attempts as Utah coach. Each time, I remember thinking โ€œI wish that guy was on our side.โ€ Now, he is. Tomorrow, weโ€™ll see his first game as Michigan coach, and get a better idea where heโ€™ll take the football program.

Thanks to Fox Sports and YouTube poster College Football Archive for the following broadcast of the 2015 Michigan game against Utah. As always, we own nothing and do not profit from this blog post in any way.


This and other great content can be found at newyorkwolverine.com

Posted on

๐‘ณ๐‘ถ๐‘ถ๐‘ฒ๐‘ฐ๐‘ต๐‘ฎ ๐‘ฉ๐‘จ๐‘ช๐‘ฒ: ๐‘ณ๐’๐’๐’š๐’… ๐‘ช๐’‚๐’“๐’“

Looking Back is a Special Feature by Jeff Cummins Highlighting Key Games

The fourth installment of this series examining the first games of Michigan coaches takes us to 1995. Before the season even began, 1995 had been a tumultuous year for Michigan. Gary Moeller resigned due to an off-field incident, and athletic director Joe Roberson hired defensive coordinator Lloyd Carr, but only on an interim basis.

Carr was thoroughly qualified to be a head coach, having served as Michiganโ€™s defensive coordinator since 1987. In addition, Carr had been assistant head coach for the past five seasons. Nothing about the job would surprise him.

Still, the offseason left Michigan followers with an uneasy feeling, which only got worse when the Virginia Cavaliers jumped out to a 17-0 lead on a brutally hot day in the Pigskin Classic at Michigan Stadium.

Michigan followers, both fans and alumni, couldnโ€™t be blamed for fearing the worst. Michigan was facing a large deficit in a season opener at Michigan Stadium. Thatโ€™s not the sort of start that develops a lot of confidence.

Gradually, Carrโ€™s Wolverines began to make plays, notably Mercury Hayes, who wrestled a ball away from a defensive back when the game seemed all but lost. Hayesโ€™ tenacity ignited a spark in his teammates, who fought back with what felt like a sense of anger. Was there enough time left for them to pull off a miracle?

With time left for just one play, Michigan had the ball at Virginiaโ€™s 15-yard line. Scott Dreisbach faded back and threw a fade pass into the far corner of the north end zone. Hayes caught the ball, and managed to get one foot in bounds. Just like that, Michigan won. The only time Michigan had the lead was when time had run out. In one play, Hayes made himself a name for the ages among the Michigan faithful, and the Wolverines had won arguably the most exciting season opener in their illustrious history.

The victory also proved to be an outstanding first step for Carrโ€™s Wolverines, and by November, the interim tag been removed from his title. Lloyd Carr was head coach of the Michigan Wolverines, and he was here to stay.

By now itโ€™s common knowledge that Carr led the Wolverines to heights they had not achieved in decades. At the time, it required a leap of faith. After a win like that, Michigan supporters were more than happy to put a little faith in Lloyd Carr.

Thanks to ABC Sports and YouTube poster RXwolverine2 for the broadcast of this game. As always, we own nothing, and we do not profit in any way from this blog post.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NpTXz_q6mM

This and other great content can be found at newyorkwolverine.com

Posted on

๐‘ณ๐‘ถ๐‘ถ๐‘ฒ๐‘ฐ๐‘ต๐‘ฎ ๐‘ฉ๐‘จ๐‘ช๐‘ฒ: ๐‘ฉ๐’ ๐‘พ๐’‰๐’?

Looking Back is a Special Feature by Jeff Cummins Highlighting Key Games

The third installment takes us back to 1969. The previous season would have been considered quite successful by many teams, but a season-ending loss left a bitter feeling for the Michigan football community. Bump Elliott resigned following the 1968 season, and athletic director Don Canham needed to replace him. Numerous coaches and university officials throughout college football sang the praises of Bo Schembechler, prompting Canham to hire him. Few at Michigan knew who Schembechler was, and a local newspaper ran the headline, โ€œBo Who?โ€

The Michigan players learned about Bo very quickly. He ran grueling practices that prompted players to question their life decisions. Many simply gave up, but others stayed, and formed the nucleus of a team that would make 1969 one of the most memorable seasons in Michigan history.

Bo also benefited from a talented core of returning players. Elliott might have had difficulty winning certain games, but he built a solid roster, and Bo made the most of it. Michigan benefited from standout performers including tight end Jim Mandich and running back Billy Taylor, as well as scrappy players like nose tackle Henry Hill.

The modern era of Michigan football began on Sept. 20, 1969. Vanderbilt emerged from the tunnel first, but Michigan scored first when Garvie Craw scored on a 1-yard run. In the second quarter, Glenn Doughty took a handoff, broke several tackles and ran 80 yards for a Michigan touchdown to increase the Wolverinesโ€™ lead to 14-0. Michigan won, 42-14, and left no doubt that the Wolverines were in good hands with Schembechler at the helm. There were several bumps on the road as the season unfolded, but Boโ€™s vision for his team was clear: The Wolverines would run when they had the ball, and stop the run on defense.
The 1969 Wolverines would go on to earn one of the biggest victories in the history of Michigan football. For now, it was enough that the Schembechler era got off to a good start. Other goals would be accomplished in due time.


Thanks to YouTube poster Jess Chabot for the highlight film of the 1969 Michigan game vs. Vanderbilt. As always, we own nothing and do not profit from this blog post.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-blBLT8IXo&themeRefresh=1

This and other great content can be found at newyorkwolverine.com

Posted on

๐‘ณ๐‘ถ๐‘ถ๐‘ฒ๐‘ฐ๐‘ต๐‘ฎ ๐‘ฉ๐‘จ๐‘ช๐‘ฒ: ๐‘ป๐’‰๐’† ๐‘น๐’Š๐’„๐’‰ ๐‘น๐’๐’…๐’“๐’Š๐’ˆ๐’–๐’†๐’› ๐‘ฌ๐’™๐’‘๐’†๐’“๐’Š๐’Ž๐’†๐’๐’•

Looking Back is a Special Feature by Jeff Cummins Highlighting Key Games

The second installment of this weekโ€™s series looking at the first games of Michigan head coaches takes us to 2008. The college football landscape was starting to change, and veteran Michigan coach Lloyd Carr had just retired. Michigan had recently hired Bill Martin as athletic director, and he was charged with fixing the financial woes of the department, among other things.

Martin also inherited the task of hiring a new coach, an exercise that turned out to be one of the most curious coaching searches in the universityโ€™s history. The name of Les Miles popped up several times, usually with dubious sources. For a few hours, it seemed Michigan found its head coach in Greg Schiano, but the Rutgers coach reconsidered and removed his name from consideration.

Finally, Michigan settled on West Virginia coach Rich Rodriguez, who had led several successful teams in recent years. His offensive approach favored the spread option, a strategy that Michigan defenses had found challenging to stop, at times. Defense was a different matter entirely. Rodriguez placed little focus on defense, leaving that matter to his defensive coordinator, Jeff Casteel, who chose not to join Rodriguez on the new Michigan coaching staff. Instead, Rodriguez hired Scott Shafer. Sadly, the union of Rodriguez and Shafer seemed doomed from the start.

In fact, the entire Michigan community seemed split on Rodriguez. Some welcomed a daring excursion toward what they deemed a new frontier. Others regretted the departure from many Michigan traditions. The split in the football community was punctuated by the departure of offensive lineman Justin Boren, who transferred to archrival Ohio State, a move that stunned and angered many among the Michigan faithful.

Nonetheless, on Sept. 3, 2008, with Michigan Stadium undergoing a visible expansion, the Rich Rodriguez era dawned under sunny skies, and optimism was prevalent. It didnโ€™t last long.

Michiganโ€™s opponent, Utah, was coached by Kyle Whittingham, now a familiar name for Michigan fans and alumni. Whittingham was Utahโ€™s defensive coordinator when the Utes visited Michigan Stadium in 2002. On that day, Michigan won a defensive struggle against Utah. This time, the Wolverines would not be so fortunate.

Rodriguez initially chose Nick Sheridan to run the offense, but Sheridan threw an interception into coverage, and Rodriguez insert Steven Threet into the game. Slowly, Michigan fought back. Trailing 25-10, the Wolverines got a hand on a Utah punt in the fourth quarter, giving them good field position. Then Threet found Hemingway in the corner of the south end zone, and Michigan was back in the game. Freshman running back Sam McGuffie scored on a 3-yard run, leaving Michigan behind by just two points. Needing a 2-point conversion, Threet threw to Toney Clemons in the back of the end zone, but the pass was just a little too high.

Finally, on a desperate fourth down, Threet threw to Daryl Stonum on the sideline, but again, the pass was too high, and Utah outlasted Michigan, 25-23.

Michiganโ€™s comeback showcased the potential of the Rodriguez offense, but things never truly jelled during the Rodriguez era, which lasted just three years. Kyle Whittingham went on to lead Utah to a perfect season that year. Wouldnโ€™t it be nice if he accomplished the same feat this year?

Thanks to ESPN and YouTube poster JJ for the attached highlight video of this game. As always, we own nothing and do not profit from this blog post in any way.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIH5CMeXzfo

As always, we own nothing and do not profit from this blog post.


This and other great content can be found at newyorkwolverine.com

Posted on

๐‘ณ๐’๐’๐’Œ๐’Š๐’๐’ˆ ๐‘ฉ๐’‚๐’„๐’Œ: ๐‘ฉ๐’“๐’‚๐’…๐’š ๐‘ฏ๐’๐’Œ๐’†โ€™๐’” ๐’‡๐’Š๐’“๐’”๐’• ๐’ˆ๐’‚๐’Ž๐’† ๐’‚๐’” ๐’‰๐’†๐’‚๐’… ๐’„๐’๐’‚๐’„๐’‰

Looking Back is a Special Feature by Jeff Cummins Highlighting Key Games

The first installment in this weekโ€™s series on the first games of new Michigan coaches takes us back to 2011. Michigan was ready for a fresh start, and the Wolverines got a fresh hero in Brandon Herron.

Prior to that game, few among the Michigan faithful had even heard of Herron. The senior linebacker from Dallas, Texas had mostly toiled in anonymity during his time in Ann Arbor, but the hiring of Brady Hoke as head coach signaled a return to Michiganโ€™s core football approach, which included a heavy focus on defense.

Still, midway through the second quarter, the Wolverines looked surprisingly sluggish, possibly due to a 30-minute weather-related stoppage. Western Michigan was threatening to take the lead for the second time, and the Wolverines were obviously in need of a spark. Freshman linebacker Jake Ryan blitzed and got just a piece of the ball, which landed in the waiting hands of Herron. Escorted by a squad of blockers, Herron made his way 94 yards into the south end zone of Michigan Stadium, and the Wolverines produced their first signature play of the 2011 season.

From that point, Michigan methodically increased its lead to 34-10, punctuated by Herronโ€™s second score of the game, when safety Jordan Kovacs forced a fumble that Herron gleefully returned 29 yards for a touchdown. With 1:27 left in the third quarter, ominous weather prompted officials from both schools to call the game, and for the first time in school history, weather forced an early end to a Michigan football game.

After a slow start, Hokeโ€™s first game as head coach produced a thoroughly Schembechler-esque domination. Kovacs led the defense with 10 tackles, two sacks and a forced fumble. Fitzgerald Toussaint was showcased as the teamโ€™s featured running back in a return to a traditional smashmouth Michigan running game, and quarterback Denard Robinson completed all five of his passes, foreshadowing a legendary performance just a week later.


Most important of all, Hoke earned a victory in his first game as head coach, returning the team to its hardnosed roots, which would pay dividends later in the season.
Thanks to ABC Sports and YouTube poster Mr_E_Man 8131 for this broadcast of the 2011 Michigan season opener.

As always, we own nothing and do not profit from this blog post.


This and other great content can be found at newyorkwolverine.com