PART I is here and covers the players and the nonconference games. Also people liked my album artwork so yeah, we made the T-shirt. I can't break it in for you like that but we put it on the softest shirt available. If you people want the sweatshirt above you're out of luck because I made it off something I found on e-Bay and then Ace bought. But you can still get in on the Brown Jug Shirt through the end of today.
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MGoBlog’s channel featuring the very professional, very visual, podcast with Brian Cook, Seth Fisher, David Nasternak, and Alex Drain, plus The Teams history podcast with Seth and Dr. Sap, The Michigan Hockeycast, the MGoBlog Roundtable on WTKA.
Episodes
Thursday Sep 17, 2020
Thursday Sep 17, 2020
---------------------------------
The Sponsor: If you're buying or reselling, talk to Matt Demorest at HomeSure Lending now and see if you can't lock in a low rate while it lasts. In addition to being more ethical, knowledgeable, hands-on, intelligent, and fun to work with, Matt's exactly as excited for Michigan hockey as you are.
Previously: 1879, 1901, 1918, 1925, 1932, 1947, 1950, 1964, 1973, 1976, 1980, 1985 p.1, 1988, 1991, 1999
Special Guests: These are turning into Hardcore Histories with these interviews but what are you going to do when you've got Jim Scarcelli and Johnny Kolesar joining you to talk about the team that might have been Bo's best national championship claim.
1.NOT YOUR DADDY'S BIG TWO LITTLE EIGHT
Wisconsin 33-6 (starts at 0:47): Before there was Barry Alvarez the guy who built Wisconsin was Dave McClain, who beat Michigan in 1981 and went way back with Bo, who has nicknames for every guy they play. Kick six They're coming in with Nate "Blue Moon" Odomes, a 2nd round pick of the Bills in '87. Kick six ices the game after the scrubs give up Michigan's first TD of the year. The Badgers bus almost doesn't make it:
@Michigan State 31-0 (starts at 8:01): Red-letter and Green-letter games. Revenge for Harbaugh. MSU's got their 1984 situation: quarterbacks are all hurt. That doesn't explain how Michigan also blocked their first punt and took a 14-0 lead in the opening two minutes. Some big names on that MSU team though, including the guy who set the Big Ten rushing record, RB Lorenzo White, plus WRs Andre Rison and Bobby Ingram, and Nick Saban who recruited everybody but the OL, which got eaten alive by Messner.
@Iowa 10-12 (starts at 22:50): #1 vs. #2. Fry was a psychologist. Iowa QB Chuck Long could have gone pro, runner-up to Bo Jackson for the Heisman. Other guys drafted: RB Ronnie Harmon, Soph WR Quinn Early, Ts Mike Haight and Chris Gambol, G Dave Croston, DTs Jeff Drost and Joe Schuster, DB Devon Mitchell, LB Larry Station. Fry’s Coaching tree was ludicrous:
| Position | Guy | Became |
|---|---|---|
| Head Coach | Hayden Fry | Hall of Famer |
| Offensive Coordinator/QB Coach | Bill Snyder | Kansas State god |
| Offensive Line | Kirk Ferentz | Still Iowa's coach |
| Defensive Coordinator | Bill Brashier | HoF DC for Iowa |
| Defensive Line | Dan McCarney | ISU HC 1995-'06 |
| Linebackers | Barry Alvarez | Wisconsin's savior |
| Secondary | Bob Stoops | HoF HC with Oklahoma |
2. THREE STATISTICS TO WATCH
Indiana 42-15 (starts at 37:10): One of those classic Bo games where it's close at halftime and a blowout after because the other team just played their whole season in the first half. Bo was fired up to coach against Bill Mallory: no Sally plays in this one!
@Illinois 3-3 (starts at 40:18): Illinois realizes Michigan's not using the Flanker, according to the Flanker. They ran the '83 front in '85 and Michigan had a hard time moving the ball; they also fumbled on the goal line.
Purdue 47-0 (starts at 55:07): Shutting out Jim Everett. Coaches talk to Harbaugh and convince him to throw to his guy. Nobody's dogging; Ohio State is still on the docket. Rod Woodson who? Kolesar smacks him in the mouth. Moeller's defensive philosophy was like Don Brown's: consistently inconsistent, but a lot more zone. Fired up from the beatdown in West Lafayette last year. He didn't know if we were rushing, dropping, shitting, pissing, he didn't know what we were going to do. Kevin Sumlin was an outside linebacker on that team too. Bo loved the name Brock Spack.
@Minnesota 48-7 (starts at 1:02): First game at the Metrodome. Half empty but LOUD. Lou Holtz option team. Quarterbacks back then could object to the noise and the ref could quiet them; there was like a 12- or 15-minute delay as Harbaugh played with the crowd. Turf sucked.
3. THE GAME, THE FIESTA, AND THE KICKER
Ohio State 27-17 (starts at 1:12:16): All the metrics came together. Johnny Kolesar's gotta be better than Chris Carter. Ask Jamie Morris why Harbaugh nearly gets killed on The Pass.
Nebraska 27-23 (starts at 1:32:31): Tom Osborne's option doesn't work when they turn it over, and the Huskers did a LOT of that. Best team they faced perhaps.
The Future: Was Bo washed up? This is is still his program because of the '85 team.
--------------------------------------------
MUSIC:
- "Bastards of Young"—The Replacements
- "The Heat is On"—Glenn Frey
- “Across 110th Street”
He didn't know if we were rushing, dropping, shitting, pissing, he didn't know what we were going to do.
Monday Sep 14, 2020
Monday Sep 14, 2020
It looks like there will be football this fall, which means there will be hockey this fall, which is all I really care about.
We can do this because people support us. You should support them! The show is presented by UGP & The Bo Store, and if it wasn’t for Rishi and Ryan we’d be furloughed SBNation writers right now. Proceeds from the "Those Who Stay Home" collection are going to support our front line workers at Michigan Medicine. Our associate sponsors are also key to all of this: HomeSure Lending, Ann Arbor Elder Law, the Residence Inn Ann Arbor Downtown, Michigan Law Grad, Human Element, The Phil Klein Insurance Group, and FuegoBox
[Hit THE JUMP for the writeup and the player]
1. Is football back? How?
starts at 1:00
The rumor is the Big Ten could resume play as soon as October 17th because there's a rapid saliva test that they think they'll have available on campus. Idea would be eight games + conference championship game a day before the playoff selection. How would this season look? Who made it happen? Call the Pac 12?
2. Game of the Week: Under the Lights
starts at 28:24
Apologies to Don Criqui? The first three quarters until the Lewis Kapron-Moore hanging on Denard play never happened. Denard-Borges in history, reassessing early Mattison, omigod the depth chart. Kovacs will be #32 forever. Notre Dame was stacked.
3. Observed Behaviors in Squirrels and Other Small Creatures During COVID
starts at 46:38
Gimmicky top five of things we've watched dogs and kids and kids that act like dogs do.
4. Hot Takes and Gimmicky Top Five Worst Ideas to Have a Football Season
starts at 1:16:05
Seth saves his real hot take for the analysis. Recruiting cycle blown up by the roster issue with last year's class being this year's class now. Cost us Drew Kendall most likely, might cost us a linebacker, and a Markus Allen. Frankie Collins and potential for a 5-star who sticks around four years?
MUSIC:
- “Back for a Taste of Your Love”—Syl Johnson
- “Building Steam with a Grain of Salt”—DJ Shadow
- “With Arms Outstretched”—Rilo Kiley
- “Across 110th Street”
THE USUAL LINKS:
Thursday Sep 10, 2020
Thursday Sep 10, 2020
The Sponsor: School's started and you don't know where to put it. If you're moving, talk to Matt Demorest at HomeSure Lending now and see if you can't lock in a low rate while it lasts. In addition to being more ethical, knowledgeable, hands-on, intelligent, and fun to work with, Matt didn't steal John Beilein then run him out of town.
Previously: 1879, 1901, 1918, 1925, 1932, 1947, 1950, 1964, 1973, 1976, 1980, 1988, 1991, 1999
Special Guests: These are turning into Hardcore Histories with these interviews but what are you going to do when you've got Jim Scarcelli and Johnny Kolesar joining you to talk about the team that might have been Bo's best national championship claim.
1. SETUP AND PAYOFF
(starts at 0:50)
Sap and Seth set up the season because 1984 was rough. Has Bo lost it?
2. THE TEAM
(starts at 26:10)
The defense has a highlight video. The offense had Harbaugh.
3. THE NON-CONFERENCE
(starts at 1:04:30)
- Notre Dame 20-12: Harbaugh is 2-10 in the first half. 'Soup' Campbell's reverse is called "Sally" which Michigan only ran in the big games.
- @South Carolina 34-3: All we hear about are the Fire Ants defense. It's all over after Wilcher's helmet comes off.
- Maryland 20-0: Seth's first Michigan game, Kolesar's first pass, the defense's first stand.
--------------------------------------------
THERE WILL BE A PART II
MUSIC:
- "Glory Days"—Bruce Springsteen
- "And We Danced"—The Hooters
- “Across 110th Street”
THE USUAL LINKS
Jamie was a tough little, chiseled chunk of steel. You don't see the little bastard!
Monday Aug 24, 2020
Monday Aug 24, 2020
This episode was recorded on a Zoom call with the UM Alumni Association Club of Greater San Francisco. Thank you to Jacqueline Miller and Tyler Tokarsky for having us.
We can do this because people support us. You should support them! The show is presented by UGP & The Bo Store, and if it wasn’t for Rishi and Ryan we’d be furloughed SBNation writers right now. Proceeds from the "Those Who Stay Home" collection are going to support our front line workers at Michigan Medicine.
Our associate sponsors are also key to all of this: HomeSure Lending, Ann Arbor Elder Law, the Residence Inn Ann Arbor Downtown, Michigan Law Grad, Human Element, The Phil Klein Insurance Group, and FuegoBox
1. It's Over Postponed/What Now?
starts at 1:00
Reaction to the Big Ten canceling fall sports, understanding the decision process (glad it wasn't us). It can be the right decision and they could still have gotten it wrong, if that makes sense.
[The rest of the writeup and the player after The Jump]
2. Basketball
starts at 18:40
Picked up a few top 50 commits. This is a Beilein class, isn't it?
3. Q&A with the UM Club of Greater San Francisco
starts at 38:53
This podcast was actually very visual: we did it on a Zoom call with the San Fran UM Club, who had some excellent questions and pirate question.
4. Hot Takes and Gimmicky Top Five Worst Ideas to Have a Football Season
starts at 1:27:35
Hotter takes than an Iowa parent's letter to the Big Ten office.
MUSIC:
- “It Was Over Before It Even Began”—Stephane Huguenin
- “Sympathy for the Devil”—Rolling Stones
- “It's Not Happening”—The Be Good Tanyas
- “Across 110th Street”
Monday Aug 10, 2020
Monday Aug 10, 2020
Things discussed:
- Brian and I come on to talk about the team,
- Yes even though there won't be a season,
- Which we acknowledge,
- But this stuff is all relevant anyways,
- Even if they don't play in spring,
- Sorry.
Monday Jun 01, 2020
Monday Jun 01, 2020
How many times have you been mistaken for Eddie Azcona, Tyrone?
The Sponsor: Odds are you're going to be spending a lot of time at home in your underwear—what if you could be paying less for that home? Use this time there to refinance: talk to Matt Demorest at HomeSure Lending now and see if you can't lock in a low rate while it lasts. In addition to being more ethical, knowledgeable, hands-on, intelligent, and fun to work with, Matt's crystal ball is 100% solid blue.
Previously: 1879, 1901, 1918, 1925, 1932, 1947, 1950, 1964, 1973, 1976, 1980, 1988, 1999
Special Guests: We've got both defensive captain/Butkus winner Erick Anderson, and 1991 scout team running back of the year Tyrone Wheatley!
1. SETUP AND PAYOFF
(starts at 0:50)
Year 2 of Gary Moeller, coming off a year Iowa went to the Rose Bowl after Michigan lost to them and MSU by a point in consecutive weeks. Stadium renovated, back to grass! This one's personal.
2. THE TEAM
(starts at 9:50)
Offense: Elvis Grbac is Dr. Touch. Stacked backfield; Ricky was the cutter, Jesse had the feet, Wheatley had the speed, Legette had no neck. Desmond went into the season #2 to Derrick Alexander, who got hurt and walk-on Yale Van Dyne stepped up. Big, mean, versatile OL. Ty Wheatley's recruiting story.
Defense: Mike Evans is a walk-on from Massachusetts, Lance Dottin's another big time athlete from there. Hutchinson makes everyone look good, Buster Stanley and Tony Henderson were young for NG but great. Athletes in Brian Townsend and Neil Simpson rotate with big Martin Davis. Young corners Dwayne Ware and Alfie Burch and new safeties Otis Williams and Corwin Brown replacing longtime starters. J.D. Carlson's XP streak.
3. THE NONCONFERENCE
(starts at 55:04)
Slow BC start and constant big plays getting called back: no panic, just a setup for the Massachusetts guys to shine. Two big-time games: not gonna lose a 5th in a row to Notre Dame, total confidence even on the 4th and 1 call, but ND was full of talent. FSU threw out all the trick plays, including the Transcontinental, had some All-Americans, but Michigan was just as good.
4. THE BIG TEN AND ROSE BOWL
(starts at 1:41:54)
Team finds itself, offense redesigned not just for Desmond but for scoring quickly so they don't have another FSU. Dangerous MSU and more dangerous Indiana, which needs a goal line stand (suck it Erick's brother!). Sleepy midseason—freshmen hit a wall, coaches keep them motivated for blowouts of Minnesota, Purdue, Northwestern, and Illinois. Ready for everything Ohio State had. Washington was another story—most talented team they played. Cornerbacks playing linebacker, linebacker playing end, and one of the best players of the era at DT.
--------------------------------------------
MUSIC:
- "Scenario"—A Tribe Called Quest
- "Lithium"—Nirvana
- "Breakdown"—Guns 'n Roses
- “Across 110th Street”
THE USUAL LINKS
Monday May 25, 2020
Monday May 25, 2020
"I pooped."
We can do this because people support us. You should support them! The show is presented by UGP & The Bo Store, and if it wasn’t for Rishi and Ryan we’d be furloughed SBNation writers right now. Proceeds from the "Those Who Stay Home" collection are going to support our front line workers at Michigan Medicine.
Our associate sponsors are also key to all of this: HomeSure Lending, Ann Arbor Elder Law, the Residence Inn Ann Arbor Downtown, the University of Michigan Alumni Association, Michigan Law Grad, Human Element, The Phil Klein Insurance Group, and FuegoBox
[Hit THE JUMP for the writeup and the player]
1. Basketball Picks up Two or One Grad Transfers
starts at 1:00
Something is weird with the recruitment of Nojel Eastern. Definitely the weirdest player in the Big Ten but not a bad one. Also got the kid from Wake Forest, who's 100% coming provided he gets a waiver. Chaundee Brown can shoot if you set him up but he's not a creator of his own shot. How do they all fit together? How much of a load can we put on Wagner?
[The rest of the writeup and the player after The Jump]
2. Do They Play Football?
starts at 21:439
If they're determined to have students on campus and play, what does that look like? Things at the start of fall don't actually look much different from where things were the moment they canceled the Big Ten Tournament. But they're going to do it anyway, at least until public pressure from something going horribly wrong ends it.
3. Hot Takes and Football Recruiting
starts at 44:14
We don't even get to all the commits, just the 4-star defensive players because it looks like there are about to be a whole bunch of them. Are they all going to play anchor? Of course!
4. Gimmicky Top Five Weirdest Game Environments
starts at 1:08:46
A lot of sad games and 2014 games and then Seth brings out the Comerica Park flying ants game.
MUSIC:
- “Unbroken, Unshaven”—The Budos Band
- “Drunk Drivers/Killer Whales (Single Version)”—Car Seat Headrest
- “Daydream in Blue”—I Monster
- “Across 110th Street”
THE USUAL LINKS:
Wednesday Apr 22, 2020
Wednesday Apr 22, 2020
"I'm trying very hard not to impulsively adopt a cat."
The Sponsors
We can do this because people support us. You should support them! The show is presented by UGP & The Bo Store, and if it wasn’t for Rishi and Ryan we’d be furloughed SBNation writers right now.
AND THEY ARE DOING THIS FOR CHARITY: Proceeds from UGP and the Bo Store right now are going to support our front line workers at Michigan Medicine.
Our associate sponsors are also key to all of this: HomeSure Lending, Peak Wealth Management, Ann Arbor Elder Law, the Residence Inn Ann Arbor Downtown, the University of Michigan Alumni Association, Michigan Law Grad, Human Element, The Phil Klein Insurance Group, and FuegoBox
1. Construction/Deconstruction of Michigan's Basketball Roster
starts at 1:00
Program was blindsided by DDJ and Castleton leaving, Isaiah Todd getting hundreds of thousands of dollars from a suddenly cash-throwing G-league, and Josh Christopher going full Dave Brandon. Would we be this disappointed if both five-stars had bailed earlier? Good class for building for the future but it grates that we have the bad luck for the G League to start paying people half a million out of nowhere. It's going to be kind of a NTDP for the NBA: will force Michigan to go more into Top-30 guys instead of Top-10 guys. Talk Mike Smith: what's he good at? Vulnerabilities? Michigan might look for a late-riser recruit or if immediate transfers are allowed that'll be a big market.
[The rest of the writeup and the player after The Jump]
2. Football Massachusetts Recruiting
starts at 25:29
Boston College blogger confused how Michigan expects to win championships with Boston College's guys. Exception: tight end. If you're going to get a 3-star out of Massachusetts it should be a Kwity Paye or Mo Hurst (who was nearly a 4-star and had an Ohio State offer). Can't compete with the big teams unless you get those talented defensive tackles—Michigan used to get them and now they're trying to Moneyball them.
3. Hot Takes and Gimmicky Top Five
starts at 50:19
Hot takes will make you angry but we've forgotten how to do this (also bring up the Fuegobox Choco Challenge: if 25 people play and tag Seth on twitter Seth will eat a death chocolate bar as well. Things go off the rails pretty quickly, and we are HUGE nerds. CFBRisk has two levels: participation and Texas A&M memes. If you invite Seth to your D&D group he will probably accept.
4. Rapid Fire Questions from the Internet
starts at 1:22:21
The A-Team of Michigan. Non-con home-and-home in football & hoops you'd like to see? Best & worst things about quarantine. Most important pantry stable. Favorite "social distancing" play. Strangest draft anomaly? Best way to ensure people stay 6 feet away from you? Favorite board game. Best game to watch during stay-at-home. Can you just make fun of MSU? Favorite Ann Arbor streets? Impact of shortened season? Writers who had the greatest influence on us (I skipped to save you all from 30 minutes of me naming people, and from having to defend Mitch Albom being on the list. Also Chris B. Brown and James Light as X's and O's writers, the guy who used to draw MS Paints on plays in the diaries was the inspiration for Neck Sharpies, Tres Crow, John Kryk and Steve Sap and Greg Dooley for drawing me into Michigan history, all the guys Brian & Ace mentioned especially DFW, Joe Falls, Adam Jacobi, the Banner Society folks, Natalie Wiener…I can't.
MUSIC:
- "Ain't Gonna Give It Up"—Charles Bradley
- "I Dream of Spring"—K.D. Lang
- "Heroin"—The Velvet Underground
- “Across 110th Street”
Saturday Apr 18, 2020
Saturday Apr 18, 2020
The Sponsor: Odds are you're going to be spending a lot of time at home in your underwear—what if you could be paying less for that home? Use this time there to refinance: talk to Matt Demorest at HomeSure Lending now and see if you can't lock in a low rate while it lasts. In addition to being more ethical, knowledgeable, hands-on, intelligent, and fun to work with, Matt's crystal ball is 100% solid blue.
Previously: 1879, 1901, 1918, 1925, 1932, 1947, 1950, 1964, 1976, 1980, 1988, 1999
Special Guest this Week: Bob Thornbladh, former fullback, former Michigan assistant coach, and former Michigan broadcaster. As you might have guessed, he's got a lot to say.
1. WATERGATE AND PUNK ROCK
(starts at 0:50)
It's Year Five in the Ten Year War. The height of Big Two, Little Eight. 1972: Michigan wins every game, the officials blow Harry Banks’s TD dead inside the 1, and Bo goes for the win (FG would have gone to the Rose Bowl?). 1972 was the first year freshmen were eligible so the sophs had mostly played and there were redshirt freshmen. 1972 is when Title IX was enacted. Goes into effect in 1973.
New staff: Jim Young leaves for Arizona, taking Mike Hankwitz with him. Replaced with Jack Harbaugh and Elliot Uzelac. What did they do with Tirrel Burton?
National powers: Ohio State, Nebraska, Alabama, USC, Oklahoma, Notre Dame, Penn State, Texas.
2. THE TEAM
(starts at 18:32)
[Hit THE JUMP for the player and rest of the writeup]
3. THE GAMES
1:06:33: @IOWA 31-7. Rainy and fumbly. Don't worry, Jack Harbaugh.
1:13:30: "STANFORD" 47-10. MMB goes co-ed. Vengeance is mine, sayeth The Leg.
1:19:13: NAVY 14-0. Eugene Robinson's column about firing Bo. One team runs a West Coast passing spread and is worried about stopping the no-run triple-option. The other team is Michigan.
1:26:29: OREGON 24-0. Franklin sits, Cipa passes, Chapman's short.
1:30:07: @MICHIGAN STATE 31-0. Gerald Ford's nomination, splish splish State fumbles.
1:38:17 WISCONSIN 35-6. Shutout streak ends on freak play late. “Thornbladh at LG broke loose for 31.”
1:49:16 @MINNESOTA 34-7. The Gordie Bell game.
1:45:21 INDIANA 49-13. The Dog Game.
1:54:20 ILLINOIS 21-6. Bob Blackman comes from Dartmouth. Pass-first with Jeff Hollenbach.
1:57:00 @PURDUE 34-9. 6-3 lead before an animated halftime talk by Bo.
Thornbladh takes us through the offense and how it worked back then.
4. THE GAME
(starts at 2:06:58)
Ten Year War hits its peak. Cornelius Green vs Dennis Franklin: two African-American quarterbacks starting against each other in the biggest game in football. Ohio State is #1 since end of September. OSU led by John Hicks, tears down the banner, gets an early lead. Archie Griffin dominates the first half, OSU builds a 10-0 lead. Michigan fights back and ties it 10-10, clearly the better team, but Franklin goes out. Bo tries a 56 yarder but it misses by an inch.
The Vote: Michigan gets screwed by Woody convincing other ADs, including two Michigan alums, to send the Buckeyes to face a terrible USC team because Franklin hurt his shoulder.
--------------------------------------------
MUSIC:
- "Kodachrome"—Paul Simon
- "Here I Am (Come and Take Me)"—Al Green
- "Paper Roses"—Marie Osmond
- “Across 110th Street”
Monday Mar 30, 2020
Monday Mar 30, 2020
“That moment and that feeling, the hush of that crowd, that sticks with me most vividly, for sure.”
I’m very excited to welcome Stu Douglass onto the show. The two-time Michigan basketball captain needs little introduction; he graduated in 2012 as the program’s all-time leader in games played and fifth in three-pointers made. Since his U-M career, he’s spent most of his professional basketball career in Israel, where he currently resides—a tricky situation at the moment that we discuss at length.
This episode, as always, is brought to you by the law offices of E. Jason Blankenship, who may be socially distanced from the courthouse but is still taking on clients. You can find his new website here.
SEGMENT ONE: RUNNING THE ISO IN ISRAEL
We discuss Stu’s current contract situation in Israel, why he stayed when other Americans left for home, and what it’s like being isolated away from his home country. Stu discusses the challenges of staying in playing shape and how that could impact the restart of basketball in any league—there are major risks for players in moving too quickly but money will influence leagues to push it.
Stu has some business plans and I probably should charge a commission if he takes my advice but we’re calling this one a freebie. We move into talking about his playing career in Israel, getting used to the country and style of basketball, sage advice he received early in his career, and the differences between Israeli ball (“half-assed sets and getting into a ball screen”), the NCAA/NBA, and other European leagues.
SEGMENT TWO:
We take it back to Stu’s playing career at Michigan, starting with a discussion of the 2011 MSU game and where it stands among his most memorable moments. There’s one in here that most of you will not guess. Stu reveals who Zack Novak was yelling at during the Aneurysm of Leadership—that answer also may surprise you, as it certainly surprised him.
He also discusses the behind-the-scenes, business-like approach even the most clean-cut college coaches take in the NCAA. John Beilein called him soft in his first drill at Michigan. We talk Beilein’s departure from Michigan and whether it came as a surprise to him, how much he keeps up with the current team, and his thoughts on how fans perceive the early entry process versus the realities for the players.