Looking Back is a Special Feature by Jeff Cummins Highlighting Key Rivalry Games
The first chapter in this year’s series looking back at the football rivalry between Michigan and Michigan State takes us back to 2012. The previous season had been wonderful for Michigan, as the maize & blue had firmly reestablished their birthright of national football relevance. But there had been one snag. Brady Hoke’s first team found a way to lose to Michigan State.
As 2012 rolled around, Hoke was reminded of that fact, almost hourly. The flash and dash of the Rich Rodriguez-inspired zone read spread option offense hadn’t worked against Michigan State; neither had UM quarterback Denard Robinson been able to summon up his customary magic. None of the new age stuff worked against the Spartans, but that was just what Hoke was built for. He realized immediately that the Michigan-Michigan State game had always been about smashmouth football, and on Oct. 20, 2012, Hoke reintroduced the Wolverines to a Schembechler tradition: Michigan played old-fashioned, rock ‘em, sock ‘em football, punctuated by an aggressive, bone-crunching defense.
Sure enough, the game proceeded in classic Big Ten fashion, as a low-scoring, field position-oriented struggle, with Michigan offensive tackle Taylor Lewan and MSU defensive end Will Gholston waging a battle for the ages. The teams traded the lead a few teams in the fourth quarter, and on the final drive, Robinson scrambled and connected with receiver Drew Dileo for a critical 20-yard gain that set up Brendan Gibbons for a 38-yard field goal that brought the Paul Bunyan trophy back to the Michigan locker room.
Thanks to youtube poster parkinggod and the Big Ten Network for the attached highlight film. As always, we own nothing and this film and blog post are used strictly for the enjoyment of our readers.
- Michigan vs Alabama – Looking Back – 2024 - December 30, 2024
- Michigan vs Alabama – Looking Back – 2012 - December 29, 2024
- Michigan vs Alabama – Looking Back – 2000 - December 28, 2024
- Michigan vs Alabama – Looking Back – 1997 - December 27, 2024
- Michigan vs Alabama – Looking Back – 1988 - December 26, 2024
- THE GAME – Michigan vs Ohio State Football – Looking Back – 2021 - November 29, 2024
- THE GAME – Michigan vs Ohio State Football – Looking Back – 1998 - November 28, 2024
- Michigan Wolverine Football Podcast — Game 11 Northwestern Commentary and Ohio State Preview - November 28, 2024
- THE GAME – Michigan vs Ohio State Football – Looking Back – 2006 - November 26, 2024
- THE GAME – Michigan vs Ohio State Football – Looking Back – 1973 - November 25, 2024