Author: Jeff Cummins

Jeff Cummins has written about football since 1998, including nine years with The Record of Hackensack, N.J. He frequently contributes feature stories to Touchdown Illustrated, an insert in the national college football game program, published by University Sports Publications, and he has also written the official pregame stories for the game programs of the Rose Bowl, the Cotton Bowl, the Sugar Bowl, the Gator Bowl, and the BCS National Championship game. He has written the preview story for the official program for the NHL Winter Classic at MIchigan Stadium, and numerous college basketball feature stories for College Hoops Illustrated, another game program insert published by University Sports Publications. In addition, he has written stories about theater, music, physical therapy, and newsletter marketing. He’s an avid Michigan football fan and long-time New York Jets season ticket holder, and he can be reached at jeffcummins@optonline.net.
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Michigan vs Michigan State Football — Looking Back – 1998

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

The fourth installment in this year’s series looking back at the football rivalry between Michigan and Michigan State takes back to 1998. As years go, 1998 started in heady fashion for Michigan. The Wolverines had just completed their first perfect season since 1948 and were named the AP National Champions. The school had just added 5,000 seats to Michigan Stadium, restoring The Big House’s status as the largest on-campus stadium in the country. The Wolverines had signed the top high school quarterback of 1998, Drew Henson, and one of the top running backs in the country, Justin Fargas, whose father played the role of “Huggy Bear” in the 1970s TV series, “Starsky and Hutch.”

Yes, 1998 started as a grand year for Michigan football. The greatest threat of injury came from players patting themselves on the back.

Unfortunately, the season started with a National Championship hangover. Not only had Charles Woodson departed for the NFL, but Marcus Ray had been suspended several games for talking with an agent. Suddenly, things weren’t so good for the maize and blue.

However, week 4 brought the return of the Big Ten slate of games, and a matchup with Michigan State proved to be just the tonic for the Wolverines.

It didn’t start that way, though. Tom Brady hadn’t reached the level of play fans came to expect in later years, and he was intercepted by Aric Morris on the Wolverines’ first possession, which led to a 43-yard field goal by Paul Edinger.

The Wolverines didn’t take long to respond. Jay Feely, a quiet hero in the 1997 campaign, leveled the score with a 51-yard field goal. By halftime, Michigan led by three points, and the game had the feel of another classic.

In the second half, the only thing that was classic was the performance of the Michigan defense. The Wolverines held the Spartans scoreless, while Feely connected for his third field goal of the day and Brady scored from a yard out to give Michigan a 29-17 win that provided the necessary jump start to the 1998 season, helping the Wolverines reestablish themselves as a force in the Big Ten.

Many thanks to ABC Sports, YouTube poster Pizza Pizzichetti and YouTube for the broadcast of this game. As always, neither I nor anyone involved with umgoblue.com profit in any way off this blog post, which is intended strictly for the entertainment of readers.

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Michigan vs Michigan State Football — Looking Back – 1995

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

Among the many traditions that are part of the Michigan vs. Michigan State football rivalry, one is rarely discussed: New coaches are usually given a brutal introduction to the series.

The third installment of this year’s series looking back at the football rivalry between Michigan and Michigan State takes us to 1995. The national economy was slowly starting to wake up, and if you listened carefully, you could hear a few people discussing something known as “the Internet.” If you paid attention to college football, it was becoming apparent that Michigan’s interim head coach, Lloyd Carr, was pretty good. Unfortunately for Carr, the Michigan State Spartans didn’t plan on giving him a warm welcome to the in-state rivalry.

Of course, it didn’t help that Michigan State also had a first-year head coach named Nick Saban, and in the mid-1990s, he was just looking forward to a bright future. The matchup of first-year coaches produced a classic Big Ten battle. With snow flurries falling to produce a memorable environment, Remy Hamilton gave Michigan the first lead of the game with a 35-yard field goal. Shortly after that, Michigan State’s Derrick Mason took a punt and weaved his 70 yards for a touchdown to give the Spartans a 7-3 lead, and the momentum. By halftime, the Spartans led, 14-3, and the mood surrounding the Michigan team was as dark as the snowy fall sky in East Lansing.

The Wolverines then came out with a new resolve to start the second half. Michigan lined up in several two-tight end sets, and started to run the ball with conviction, as Tim Biakabutuka and Chis Howard took turns battering their way through the Michigan State defensive line. Finally, with three backs in the backfield, quarterback Brian Griese handed off to Will Carr, normally a defensive lineman, and Carr barely made it over the goal line for the touchdown. After Griese connected with Mark Campbell for the two-point conversion, Michigan State’s lead was cut to a mere three points. The teams then traded scores, but when Griese found Mercury Hayes in the back corner of the end zone for a 22-yard touchdown, it looked as if Michigan was in control. The Wolverines had a four-point with 3:38 to play. Greg Mattison was coaching the defense. Jarrett Irons was playing middle linebacker. Chuck Winters was playing safety. A freshman named Charles Woodson was playing cornerback.

But Spartan quarterback Tony Banks still had time. On 4th and 11, Banks connected with Mason for an 11-yard gain, and the meaurement indicated it was a Michigan State first down. Then Woodson bobbled a would-be interception, and Mason caught the ricochet for a catch deep in Michigan territory. On the next play, Banks scrambled and saw Nigea Carter twisting around toward the goal line. Banks heaved the ball, and Carter twisted the right way at the right time for a Michigan State touchdown. Suddenly, Michigan trailed with just 1:24 left to play, in hostile territory.

Finally, with six seconds left on the clock, Michigan had one, final, desperate hope. Griese faded back to pass, and threw with all his might, but his pass landed harmlessly on the ground. Suddenly, a 7-1 MIchigan team had just lost a game they weren’t supposed to lose. It shows that nothing can be taken for granted against Michigan State.

Thanks to ESPN Classic, ABC Sports, YouTube poster ROLL TIDE Graham 2 and YouTube for the highlight film of this game. As always, neither I nor anyone involved with umgoblue.com make a profit off this blog post, which is intended strictly for the enjoyment of readers.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ukwTFhCxXK0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ukwTFhCxXK0

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Michigan vs Michigan State Football — Looking Back – 1973

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

The second installment of this year’s series looking back at the football rivalry between Michigan and Michigan State takes us back to 1973. The ’73 Wolverines might just be one of the most underappreciated teams in the school’s illustrious football history. They did not win the National Championship. They did not play in the Rose Bowl, but that’s a story for another day. For that matter,, they did not play in a bowl game of any kind. You can’t even find any video of the 1973 Michigan vs. Michigan State game online, though I certainly tried.

Yet the 1973 Wolverines didn’t lose a game all season.

Bo Schembechler usually learned his lessons as a head coach. After losing to Michigan State in his first season in 1969, Michigan reeled off eight consecutive wins against the team from East Lansing. The 1973 win might have been the most emphatic victory in that entire stretch. In the first quarter, Dave Brown fielded a punt at his own 47-yard line and dashed 53 yards for the touchdown to give Michigan the early lead. Later in the first quarter, Mike Lantry tacked on a 35-yard field goal, and the rout was on. Not even a driving rain could slow the Wolverine offense, as Michigan cruised to a 31-0 victory.

Since there is no film of that game to be found, I’m improvising by attaching the documentary “Michigan Football Memories.” Thanks to Michigan Football Television, HKO Media, YouTube poster WolverineDevotee and YouTube for this video. As always, neither I nor anyone involved with umgoblue.com profit in any way from this blog post, which is intended purely for the entertainment of readers. Enjoy!

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Michigan vs Michigan State Football — Looking Back – 1989

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

Lance Dottin might just have been the most unlikely player to make the clinching play in any Michigan rivalry game coached by Bo Schembechler, but when Dottin cradled a desperation pass from Dan Enos, the Wolverines secured a hard-fought win over their in-state rivals, the Michigan State Spartans.

The first installment of this year’s series looking back at rivalry games between the Wolverines and the Spartans takes us back to 1989, Schembechler’s last season as Michigan head coach. Fittingly, the two rivals engaged in a classic, low-scoring slugfest. Michigan controlled most of the game, jumping out to a 10-0 lead. But few leads are safe in this series.

In the late 1980s, the coaches of both teams had very similar philosophies, both centered around toughness and precision. In Ann Arbor, Michigan had the luxury of having two very capable quarterbacks: Michael Taylor, who could run the option, and Elvis Grbac, a traditional pocket passer. In ’89, Grbac established himself as the starter. Grbac started this game for the maize and blue, and once he led Michigan to the lead, Schembecher wasn’t about to make any changes.

Oh, Michigan State had chances alright. The Spartans attempted a field goal in the first quarter, but Vada Murray blocked it, preventing Michigan State from taking the first lead of the game. The Wolverines then settled into a classic Bo Schembechler drive. On 4th down & goal to go from the 1-yard line, Michigan lined up in the wishbone formation, and Grbac handed off to Leroy Hoard, playing left halfback. Hoard barreled in for the go-ahead score, setting the tone for most of the game. J.D. Carlson tacked on a 35-yard field goal in the second quarter to give the Wolverines a 10-0 lead at halftime.

That lead stood for most of the game, until Enos (later a Michigan assistant coach for about 15 minutes) found Courtney Hawkins in the end zone to cut Michigan’s lead to 10-7. But the UM defense made sure the Spartans got no closer, and Dottin sealed the win with his interception.

Thanks to ABC Sports, YouTube, and to YouTube poster Pizza Pizzichetti for the full broadcast of this game. Settle in, grab a hot dog, and listen to a couple of old friends, Bob Griese and the late Keith Jackson, as they call this classic game. As always, neither I nor anyone involved with umgoblue.com profit in any way from this blog post, which is strictly intended for the enjoyment of readers.

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Looking Back — Michigan Football Season Openers – 2017 Florida

Looking Back is a Special Feature by Jeff Cummins

The final look back to season openers takes us to 2017. This season signified a passing of the touch among the Michigan players. Leaders such as Jabrill Peppers, Chris Wormley and Taco Charlton were gone, but names such as Khaleke Hudson, Rashan Gary and Chase Winovich were eager to take their place.

For the second time, Michigan traveled to Dallas for its season opener. This time, the Wolverines were facing a Florida team coached by Jim McElwain. Simply put, if Wilton Speight had not thrown two interceptions, Michigan would have won by 30 points.

As it was, the Wolverines dominated Florida far more than the final score would indicate. Devin Bush immediately showed he would be a linebacker for the ages, flying all over the field at warp speed to track down ballcarriers. Chase Winovich and Rashan Gary proved that they were certainly capable of replacing Wormley and Charlton. And then there was the offense. Ty Isaac, Chris Evans and Karan Higdon pounded the Gators relentlessly, and head coach Jim Harbaugh exploited Florida’s lengthy defensive huddles by snapping the ball quickly, springing running backs for sizable gains.

Freshman receiver Tarik Black, who wouldn’t spend much time in a winged helmet, made his presence felt with several big receptions. Still, Florida managed to hang around, largely limiting Michigan to a bunch of Quinn Nordin field goals. At halftime, Florida actually led by four points, and for Michigan fans, their fears of speedy teams from the south were as prevalent as ever.

That changed dramatically in the second half. In addition to the dominance of Michigan’s skill players, the linemen in maize and blue started to impose their will. Facing a 4th down and 1 yard to go, Michigan snapped the ball early and Isaac gained 18 yards over the left side of the line. From that point, momentum put on a maize Michigan jersey. Yes, you read that correctly. Michigan wore maize jerseys and pants for the first time in many decades.

But if the Michigan uniforms were new, their style of play was as old school as it gets. Michigan went back to trap blocking, pulling guards and opening up huge holes for its running backs. On second down and goal from the Florida 3-yard line, Speight handed the ball to Higdon, who rumbled into the end zone almost untouched, and Michigan never looked back. As the game wore on, it was obvious that Michigan’s players were in considerably better physical condition than Florida’s players, and the Wolverines played at a much quicker tempo. The back breaker came when Winovich sacked Florida QB Malik Zaire in the end zone, stripping the ball in the process. Linebacker Noah Furbush fell on the loose ball for Michigan, and the Wolverines had a satisfying 33-17 win over Florida at a neutral site to start the season. Not bad at all for the folks from Ann Arbor.

How will the 2022 version of the Wolverines fare in their season opener? We’ll find out soon enough. Thanks to Fox Sports, YouTube, and YouTube poster parkinggod for the following highlight video. As always, neither I nor anyone involved with umgoblue.com profit from this blog post in any way. Enjoy!