Michigan vs Alabama – Looking Back – 2000

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

The third installment of the series looking back at football games between Michigan and Alabama takes us to the Orange Bowl on Jan. 1, 2000. It’s difficult to fathom, but there was a time when people didn’t recognize Tom Brady’s excellence.

Brady spent the first half of 2000 platooning with Drew Henson. Henson was the more recruited quarterback, having been rated as a five-star recruit in high school. Brady gradually seized full-time control of the quarterback position as the season went along, and Michigan’s play improved with Brady at the helm.

Twice, Michigan fell behind by 14 points, but each time Brady calmly rallied the Wolverines, honing his reputation as the master of comeback victories.

Trailing 14-0, Brady connected with David Terrell for a pair of touchdown passes in the second quarter, one for 27 yards and one for 57 yards. By halftime, the game was tied at 14 apiece, and fans realized they were watching a classic.

Alabama reclaimed the lead and the momentum in the third quarter when Shaun Alexander scored on a 50-yard run and Freddie Milons added a 62-yard punt return to extend Alabama’s lead to 28-14.

Undeterred, the Wolverines came roaring back again. Brady found Terrell again for a 20-yard scoring strike and Anthony Thomas added a 3-yard touchdown run to tie the score and send the game to overtime. Brady wasted no time in overtime, throwing a 25-yard touchdown pass to Shawn Thompson. Hayden Epstein added the extra point, and the Wolverines had the lead for the first time. Alabama responded promptly as Andrew Zow threw a 21-yard touchdown pass to Antonio Carter. A mere extra point by Ryan Pflugner would now tie the score.

Except, Pflugner’s kick sailed wide, and the Wolverines claimed the Orange Bowl championship with a 35-34 overtime victory. It’s always tempting to wonder how Michigan’s season might have turned out had Brady been the sole quarterback since the first game, but that was useless to consider now. Michigan had won the Orange Bowl and concluded the decade of the ’90s with a bang.

We thank YouTube and ABC Sports for the attached broadcast.

Michigan vs Alabama – Looking Back – 1997

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

The second installment of the series looking back at football games between Michigan and Alabama takes us back to the Outback Bowl on Jan. 1, 1997. Michigan completed the 1996 regular season on a high note, knocking off an undefeated Ohio State team for the second consecutive year, this time in Ohio Stadium. The Wolverines roared into Tampa feeling pretty good about themselves, but each game is different.

Michigan appeared to start the game with a bang, but a holding penalty negated a tremendous kickoff return. A brief offensive series went nowhere, and the ensuing punt rolled backward, giving Alabama excellent field position. Fortunately, the defense stiffened, and Alabama settled for a field goal and a 3-0 lead.

Michigan advanced deep into Alabama territory in the fourth quarter, but Brian Griese’s arm was hit as he attempted to throw, resulting in an interception that Dwayne Rudd returned for an Alabama touchdown.

Trailing by 11, Griese connected with Russell Shaw for a 9-yard touchdown pass, and fullback Chris Floyd bulled his way into the end zone for a 2-point conversion to cut the deficit to three points. That was as close as Michigan got, as Alabama recovered the onside kick and ran out the click to beat Michigan, 17-14.

In spite of the loss, Michigan’s performance contained many silver linings. This game showcased many players and strategies that would lead Michigan to success in 1997. Cornerback Charles Woodson showed off multiple abilities, playing on defense, offense, and special teams. Griese connected with Woodson on a post pattern, which the Wolverines would use to jumpstart the offense against Ohio State the next season. Floyd displayed an impressive ability to lower his shoulder and bulldoze his way through would-be tacklers.

Then, of course, there was the defense, which held Alabama to 17 points, foreshadowing an excellent performance in 1997.

Thanks to YouTube for the ESPN broadcast of the 1997 Outback Bowl, which is attached.

THE GAME – Michigan vs Ohio 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 Michigan-Ohio State rivalry takes us to 1998. The national economy was roaring, Michigan was coming off a perfect season and National Championship in 1997, and Michigan Stadium had just undergone a renovation that expanded the seating capacity by 5,000 seats. Life was good for the maize and blue.

However, the 1998 season didn’t start the way that Michigan fans and alumni would have wanted. Adversity hit the Wolverines like a Mack truck, placing a damper on many celebrations. Fortunately, the Wolverines responded with renewed determination, and Michigan roared into Columbus with a perfect record in Big Ten Conference play, something that appeared unlikely just two months earlier.

Unfortunately for the Wolverines, Ohio State capitalized on its home field advantage in this game. The Buckeyes thoroughly outplayed the Wolverines in the first quarter, taking a 14-0 lead, and it could easily have been much worse. By halftime, Ohio State had expanded its lead to 21-0, and things were looking bleak for the Wolverines.

The Wolverines mustered up all their pride in the second half. Michigan scored 10 points in the third quarter to make the score respectable, but a touchdown pass from Joe Germaine to David Boston all but ended the drama. Ohio State won, 31-16, and advanced to the Rose Bowl. In a bizarre twist, Michigan played Hawaii to end the regular season, routing the Rainbow Warriors, 48-17. The Wolverines then defeated Arkansas in the Citrus Bowl, 45-31, to finish the season with a record of 10 wins and three losses.

Thanks to YouTube, ABC Sports, and YouTube poster College Football Historian for the video of this game. As always, we own nothing and we not profit from this content, which is provided strictly for the enjoyment of readers.

1998 Michigan @ Ohio State; The Game; ABC College

THE GAME – Michigan vs Ohio State Football – Looking Back – 2006

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 Ohio State takes us to 2006. After a few subpar seasons, Michigan’s junior class was finally meshing, and the Michigan football team was living up to its potential. Down in Columbus, the the Ohio State Buckeyes were also hitting on all cylinders, setting up a showdown for the ages.

Just days before the game, former Michigan coach Bo Schembechler passed away, changing the tone of the matchup. Suddenly, some Buckeyes were mildly sympathetic to Michigan. Michigan coach Lloyd Carr chose not to use Schembechler’s passing as a motivational tool to spark the Wolverines, a decision that could easily be debated. The atmosphere was already charged; both teams entered the game with perfect records. Ohio State was ranked No. 1 in both polls, and Michigan was ranked second. The pregame hype for the 2006 game surpassed any other meeting in the series history.

Once the game began, Michigan drew first blood. Quarterback Chad Henne established a consistent connection with receiver Mario Manningham, and Mike Hart scored on a 1-yard run to give the Wolverines the first lead, much to the dismay of the vociferous throng in Ohio Stadium.

The battle raged back and forth over three hours. Ohio State took a significant lead, but Michigan fought back. Late in the game, Henne connected with tight end Tyler Ecker for a 16-yart touchdown pass, and then followed that with a completion to Steve Breaston for a 2-point conversion. Suddenly, Michigan trailed by only three points.

Unfortunately, the Wolverines never got any closer. The play that bothers Michigan fans to this day came with Ohio State leading, 35-31, with less than seven minutes remaining in the game. On 3rd down and 15, Michigan defensive end Shawn Crable was penalized for hitting Ohio State quarterback Troy Smith with his helmet during a tackle, extending an Ohio State drive. Crable’s infraction gave Ohio State new life in a matchup in which one mistake could easily alter the outcome.

The irony is that neither team ended up winning the National Championship that season. Ohio State fell to eventual champion Florida, while Michigan fell flat in the Rose Bowl, losing to USC, 32-18. Many of the stars from that Michigan team returned for their senior years in 2007, but the 2006 team was probably the final legitimate chance for Carr to win a second National Championship.

Thanks to YouTube, ESPN, and YouTube poster Dave R for the broadcast of this game. As always, we own nothing and this blog post is intended strictly for the enjoyment of readers.

Little Brown Jug — Looking Back – 2003

Looking Back is a Special Feature by Jeff Cummins

Ahh, the 2003 season. Things had gone off the rails a bit during the previous two seasons, but the Wolverines got back to basics in 2003. John Navarre was now firmly entrenched as Michigan’s starting quarterback, and a rededicated Chris Perry emerged as the Wolverines’ most dangerous running back. The Wolverines had reloaded, and they were ready to make some noise.

The fourth installment of the series looking back at the Little Brown Jug rivalry takes us to the latter part of the 2003 season. Michigan was obviously enjoying a good season, and the Wolverines were virtually unbeatable at home. Road games were a different story.

Michigan had dominated Minnesota since 1987, a fact that wasn’t lost on the Minnesota players. Michigan struggled for most of the game, with Steve Breaston’s touchdown pass to quarterback John Navarre serving as the only bright spot. After three quarters, Minnesota led, 28-7, and even the most optimistic Michigan fan had reason for concern.

The Wolverines mustered all their concentration and determination as the fourth quarter began. Slowly, Michigan started to make some plays. Less than a minute into the fourth quarter, Navarre connected with Perry on a perfectly designed screen pass that went 10 yards for a touchdown. The guys in the winged helmets were showing signs of life, while Minnesota coach Glen Mason was showing signs of agita.

On the very next play, Michigan cornerback Leon Hall blitzed off the edge, forcing an ill-advised pass from Minnesota quarterback Asad Abdul-Khaliq. The pass was intercepted by Michigan safety Jacob Stewart, who had an easy path to a touchdown. Michigan was within one touchdown, and momentum was wearing a Wolverines jersey.

The Abdul-Khaliq threw a counter punch, running 52 yards for a score to extend Minnesota’s lead to 14 points. This was a different group of Golden Gophers, for sure.

Undaunted, Navarre led the Wolverine offense back, finding Braylon Edwards, who stretched into the end zone for the score. Again, Michigan had cut the deficit to one touchdown. With just under five minutes remaining, Navarre handed the ball to Perry, who made one cut, and found the end zone for the tying touchdown.

Now, Michigan was in absolute control. The defense stuffed Minnesota. Navarre then led Michigan on a methodical drive that resulted in a 33-yard field goal from Garrett Rivas to give the Wolverines their first lead of the game with 47 seconds remaining. With nine seconds left, Markus Curry intercepted a long pass to put the final exclamation point on Michigan’s win. The Wolverines defeated the Golden Gophers, 38-35, after trailing almost the entire game.

Many thanks to ESPN, YouTube, and YouTube poster RXwolverine2 for the video of this game. As always, we own nothing, and this blog post is provided strictly for the enjoyment of readers.