Category: Football

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Paul Bunyan Trophy — Looking Back – 2000

Looking Back is a Special Feature by Jeff Cummins

The third installment of the series looking back at the football rivalry between Michigan and Michigan State takes us to the year 2000. Change was everywhere as the 21st century began. The national economy was roaring, and many people invested in Internet startup companies, in spite of the fact that few people really understood how to produce a profit through the Internet. Widespread fears that computers would shut down as a result of the “Y2K bug” proved largely unfounded.

Change was even felt on the Michigan football team. Tom Brady graduated, and he was off to New England, presumably to serve as Drew Bledsoe’s understudy. In Ann Arbor, another Drew, Drew Henson, took the reins as Michigan’s starting quarterback. Henson’s ascendence promised to make the Wolverine offense more dynamic.

In fact, one of the few institutions that was slow to embrace change was the battle between Michigan and Michigan State for the Paul Bunyan Trophy. For decades, fundamentally sound football usually led the way to victory in this series, and that wasn’t about to change. In this game, Michigan mixed the run and the pass masterfully. Tackling machine Larry Foote led the Michigan defense, which shut down Michigan State at every critical point. The Wolverine defense toyed with the Spartans all day, allowing Ryan Van Dyke to throw for 292 yards, but thwarting any scoring attempts. By contrast, Michigan’s attack wasn’t prolific, but it was methodical. Anthony Thomas gained 175 yards on the ground, while Henson threw for 138 yards. In the end, that balance combined with solid defense proved to be the winning formula for the Wolverines, who retrieved the Paul Bunyan Trophy after a one-year absence.

The Wolverines finished the season with a 9-3 record, including a perfect record at Michigan Stadium for the second time in four years. Losses to Purdue and Northwestern kept the Wolverines from winning the Big Ten championship, but they rebounded with a vengeance, finishing the regular season with victories over Penn State and Ohio State. Michigan topped Auburn 31-28 to win the Florida Citrus Bowl, the Wolverines’ third consecutive bowl victory over an SEC opponent.

Thanks to ABC Sports, YouTube, and YouTube poster Pizza Pizzichetti for the broadcast of this game. As always, we own nothing, and this blog post is provided strictly for the enjoyment of readers.

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Paul Bunyan Trophy — Looking Back – 2004

Looking Back is a Special Feature by Jeff Cummins

The second installment of the series looking at the football rivalry between Michigan and Michigan State takes us back 20 years, to 2004. Michigan had won the Big Ten championship the previous season, and the team was entering a new era. Chad Henne, Jake Long and Mike Hart emerged as freshman leaders on a Michigan squad building for the future. Following an early loss to Notre Dame, Michigan started to build momentum, and the Wolverines entered the game against Michigan State firing on all cylinders.

As the game began, Michigan misfired early and often, while Michigan State played inspired football. DeAndra Cobb scored on a pair of long touchdown runs, and the Spartans took a 27-10 lead early in the fourth quarter. Time appeared to be running out on the Wolverines, setting the scene for a comeback for the ages.

Michigan began its comeback with only 8:43 remaining in the fourth quarter. After Michigan got a field goal, Brian Thompson fell on the ball after it bounced off a Spartan, giving Michigan possession. Suddenly, Michigan was playing with a sense of reckless abandonment. With 6:12 left to play, Henne threw what amounted to a jump ball into the end zone, and Braylon Edwards came down with both the ball and the momentum. Now, the Wolverines were buoyed by a wave of positive emotion and energy. Several minutes later, Edwards made an eerily similar catch to tie the score with less then three minutes left in regulation time. Michigan State had one final chance to win the game before going to overtime, but Dave Rayner’s field goal attempt wasn’t even close, and the two old foes went to overtime.

As overtime began, the sun dipped below the rim of the stadium, adding an element of intrigue to a game filled with tension. The teams traded body blows through the first couple of overtime sessions, and then Henne found Edwards on a post pattern to give Michigan the lead. Then Henne connected with Tim Massaquoi in the back of the north end zone to give Michigan an eight-point lead, its first lead of the game. For the first time in the entire game, Michigan’s defense took the field with a lead to protect. After a long, frustrating afternoon, the Wolverines finally had the Spartans where they wanted them!

Fittingly, the game came down to a fourth down play. Spartan quarterback Damon Dowdell rolled out, and threw a pass into the end zone, where Michigan defensive back Markus Curry was able to get just a finger on the ball, redirecting it harmlessly away from the receiver. The Wolverines and their fans felt both exhilaration and relief at the same time, as Michigan pulled out a 45-37 win over Michigan State in triple overtime in one of the most dramatic games the rivals have ever played.

The season ended in bittersweet fashion for the Wolverines. Michigan tied Iowa for the Big Ten championship, but lost to arch rival Ohio State and fell to Texas in the Rose Bowl, leaving Michigan fans with a bad taste in their mouths.

Still, that doesn’t take away from the game that Edwards had. Decades from now, students at that game will tell their grandchildren that they watched Edwards grab lightning in a bottle when Michigan beat Michigan State in 2004. It doesn’t get much better than that!

Thanks to ESPN Classic, YouTube, and YouTube poster RXwolverine for the video of this game. As always, we own nothing, and this blog post is provided strictly for the enjoyment of readers.

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Paul Bunyan Trophy — Looking Back – 1959

Looking Back is a Special Feature by Jeff Cummins

Many places claim to be the birthplace of Paul Bunyan. As far as the Michigan and Michigan State football programs are concerned, Paul was born in East Lansing.

The football rivalry between Michigan and Michigan State began in 1898, but 1953 marked a new chapter in the rivalry. Michigan State joined the Big Ten conference in 1953, and the rivals agreed that the Paul Bunyan Trophy would be awarded to the winner of the game each season. You could even make the argument the trophy changed the rivalry to some degree. The two schools had always been very different. The University of Michigan had long been regarded as an elite research institution, while Michigan State began its existence as Michigan Agricultural College. Michigan dominated the series for decades, building a resentment among Michigan State students, alumni and fans. Michigan State’s entry into the Big Ten suddenly gave the Spartans a solid platform to confront the Wolverines.

The first installment of this year’s series looking back at the Paul Bunyan rivalry takes us back to that ’53 game, which was played in East Lansing. A pair of midseason defeats tarnished Michigan’s record, but the sight of Michigan State on the opposing sideline should have ignited a fire under the Wolverines. It certainly inspired the Spartans, who always gnashed their teeth at the sight of the maize and blue.

Worse yet, Michigan State coach Clarence “Biggie” Munn had the Spartans well prepared for Michigan. Munn had considerable success recruiting players from Texas to play for Michigan State, and that gave the Spartans a significant advantage.

The rivalry between Michigan and Michigan State has always been marked by the ability to run the ball. The team that runs better usually wins, and Michigan State used a pair of rushing touchdowns and a fierce defensive effort to top Michigan, 14-6, giving the Spartans their fourth consecutive victory over Michigan. Munn retired from coaching after the 1953 season to become the athletic director at Michigan State. Michigan fans and alumni didn’t shed any tears over his departure from the sidelines.

Many thanks to YouTube and YouTube poster College Football Historian for the highlight film of this game. As always, we own nothing, and this blog post is provided strictly for the enjoyment of readers.

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Michigan Wolverine Football Podcast — Game 7 Prediction — Illinois

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In this episode @pcallihan and @Clint_Derringer break down Michigan’s pivotal matchup against Illinois, focusing on the team’s struggles in road games and the need for clean execution. With Illinois showing strength in close games, Michigan’s offense, led by QB Jack Tuttle, must step up against Illinois’ formidable defense. They emphasize the importance of consistent offensive line play, strong defensive tackling, and dominating all phases of the game to keep Michigan’s playoff hopes alive. This is a must-listen for fans eager to dive into the game’s key storylines and Michigan’s path forward.

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