This is Homecoming....This is Home

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​Let me start by saying that Michigan showed up on Saturday. As previously posted, minus our limited skirmish with one member of the Axis of Evil, we have failed to look like anything remotely resembling a quality football team in our games, and particularly in the first half of those games. No matter how inferior the opponent, we have played down to their level. Not so against Purdue. It was the performance we were waiting for from Chad and Mario. Having that tandem clicking along with Mike Hart is exactly what we need to have through November.

If there was ever a statline that conveyed the idea of "nuff said," it's this one: Michigan did not have a single three-and-out offensive drive. So there it is...'nuff said. Michigan 48, Purdue 21. And considering I have an Elliot-E.T. type relationship with Mike Hart, I can tell you that we're a little sore, it's a light sprain, and we plan to carry the load and keep Juice off the field next Saturday.

It is with a warm heart that I move the focus of this post from the events on the field of play to our tailgate home on the golf course. Saturday marked my 100th consecutive Michigan Football game. It's something that some may call an "accomplishment." Others may find completely crazy. It is a feat that is not completely foreign to UMTailgate.com, as our own Bubba and Stephen hit the mark together two years ago, and have continued the streak (along with having six kids between them) up through today. Regardless, it is something I am happy to have done and am certainly proud of. Moreover, the UMTailgate.com flag, created in 2001 to honor the best of our tailgaters, now flies proudly over our tailgate with my name on it, the 8th name to be added in our 8 seasons of existence as UMTailgate.com. And as funny or pointless many may find this privately run UMTailgate.com "Hall of Fame," it is an honor for me to be included with this amazing group of people.

 I relived the ceremony through the pictures just moments ago (nice photog work Tuba), and wish to extend my sincere thanks to Stephen, Captain Michigan, and the Godfather for their kind words and great gifts...and a shoutout to their wives too. Thanks to my family...The Old Man, who deep down hates all of this but shows up anyway, and to Sister Kristen and Bubba for getting me into this whole Michigan tailgate mess. To our other regulars, from the Dogan's and Sheppard's to the Hatzl's and Bush's...as always it was a great turnout and great participation. I personally had a few newcomers there that were very impressed with our spread of food and our organization. Little do they know that we operate perfectly with only a theme to guide us! I would also like to thank each and every person that made their way out to the tailgate. The attendance was amazing.

And now that I've talked all about me, I just want to reiterate that this amazing tailgate is not all about me. Being only able to quote Michigan men...I remind all of you that it is, always has been, and always will be about "the team, the team, the team." Saying that I could not do this without all of you would be incorrect. Because I don't do it. We do it. And I hope we continue to do it until Aiden gets his name on the flag too.

Thanks.

Milestone

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by Tuba​

To continue with the theme of Homecoming and the bond that is Michigan football, I would like to offer my congratulations to Frank DiMaggio on his impending 100th consecutive game. And yes, for those of you who aren't familiar with the word consecutively and will undoubtedly ask, home and away? Yes, the man has awoken every Friday or Saturday morning (praise be to god, allah and peanut butter shakes) and made his journey to some far off (or very close) town, city, farm house, agricultural college or septic pool and gone to see the maize and blue embark on a seemingly endless tour of duty. From Pasadena to Bloomington and back, to the shores of Union Bay and picturesque Eugene, the man has endured.

But what is most remarkable is his resilience. Even after defeat, whether at the hands of an opponent (See Rose Bowl 2007) or a tailgate (See Rose Bowl 2007) he continues to thrive. He continues to post and he continues to lead us to what has become our tailgate salvation. But as we take a moment Saturday to honor the man let us not forget the people who have helped champion his quest; those who have endured Frank just as Frank has endured them. Just as any good husband would honor his wife for her never-ending love and devotion let me take a minute to congratulate Frank's many tailgating significant others who have no-doubt played a role in his tailgating life:

The Originators : Godfather and Captain. Maybe you see something in the webmaster that reminds you of yester year, or maybe you're too damn drunk to remember yester year and just enjoy the fact that you now have someone else to laugh at instead of each other.

The Trail Blazers : Dan and Stephen. It blows my mind that these guys go to every game with you. Maybe they get their sanity from the fact that you do what they're doing but at an accelerated life-style.

The Ladies : The Godmother, Lisa and all the other lovely girls in your life. So, yeah, thanks Godmother and Lisa.

Family : Your Sister, Nieces and Parents equally as lovely as the ladies. Certainly they're just as proud of your tailgating accomplishments as they are being a part of your life.

The Old Ladies : Misses A and Misses B, the two poor ladies sitting in the wrong row at the 2007 Rose Bowl. Everyone's a winner as the pictures were priceless and the stories will last forever, or in their case probably another five years or so.

The Rest of Us : Whether its rides to and from the airport, missed curfews, punches to the head, red wine on the couch, mud on the carpet, emptying septic tanks, re-designed tattoos or just your run of the mill tom foolery, your tailgating experience would be almost non-existent without the people you put up with....I mean your friends. Congrats Frank!

The Weekend Roundup: The Gambler Edtion 10/9/07

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​On a warm summer's evenin', on a train bound for nowhere. I met up with Les Miles, we were both too tired to sleep.

There were basically three main stories on the Saturday: Mike Hart becomes Michigan's all-time leading rusher. 

Stanford upsets USC. LSU beats Florida. All three were smothered in maize and blue.

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Mike Hart:

  • Obviously a Michigan story...not much to add here.

Stanford over USC:

LSU beats Florida:

The world revolves around the Wolverines, folks. No other unranked team has ever had their mid-season non-conference game against directional Michigan lead mid-day college football highlight reels.

What happened elsewhere around the internets while you totalled up your amount due to the RIAA....

There's a rumor that Harbaugh just called Pete Carroll "my bitch" in the post-game press conference.
There is nothing better in CFB than seeing your team "upset" an opponent on their home turf. For those of you who have yet to see the Cats play in Spartan Stadium, I highly recommend it.
I am sold. I will sign on the line that is dotted. Get some coffee, Les.
"I don't know what the boosters are paying their players," he said. "They've done a better job recruiting. They have plenty of athletes. I've been around them for four years, and they are leaps and bounds from where I saw them."
The Boston Globe reports that no one noticed the in-flight movie, the 2003 Al Pacino film "The Recruit" also starred Tom Brady's ex-girlfriend Bridget Moynahan. As soon as her name appeared in the opening credits, someone reportedly had the movie replaced.

Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhh....We're Halfway There

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​If you don't love Bon Jovi...you don't love yourself. And if you don't love Mike Hart, tell me where to meet you for your well-deserved ass kicking.

On a day that felt often felt Appstateish (a word soon to be added to Webster's) 

Mike Hart became the all-time leading rusher in Michigan history, solidifying his place among the all-time greats to wear the winged helmet. And despite a body, speed, and skill set that is likely not made for the next level, you should know that Mike Hart will be a beacon for the University of Michigan regardless of what kind of career he has in the NFL. He is the face of this team. He is the voice of this team. And I'm not just talking about this year, I'm speaking (typing) in much broader terms. Mike says all the right things, but more importantly, he means everything he says. He believes in this program more than you do. It's unfortunate that this team and this coaching staff can't get him what he so aptly deserves: a National Championship, a Heisman trophy, and the proverbial ride off into the sunset. But the funny thing is, he could care less at this point. He is content in single handedly keeping this team together, keeping this team winning. As far as Michigan Men go...Mike Hart is Maize and Blue perfection. Undersized and underestimated, a will and a determination that cannot be measured, a true believer in "the team, the team, the team." He is in a nutshell the athletic embodiment of Bo himself.

Congratulations Mike.

So, we're 4-2 after six games, the halfway point of the 2007 regular season campaign. Unfortunately, out of those 6 games, we have only managed to play well once, and that was against the worst team ever. Despite the smoke and mirrors of winning four straight, we have not recovered from the two early season losses. We still come out stagnant week after week, needing a second-half, and sometimes 4th quarter wake-up call to win games against inferior teams. We still play down to the opponent.

What looked like mid-October garbage games coming into the season are now huge. A ranked Purdue team on homecoming and a road trip to Champaign to play an upstart Illinois team that runs a spread. Follow that up with what will be (one way or another) a November to remember. What I'm getting at is that the season hasn't even started yet. And that's good, because we haven't really started playing yet.

The Urban-themed tailgate went off without a hitch. There wasn't a whole lot of Urban flair to it, but we weren't short on food. Country style breakfast, sweet potato pie, cinnamon rolls, black-eyed pea stew, and pulled pork were just some of the delicious delights that adorned the tailgate tables. Noticeably absent: cheesy potatoes...and the Godfather. Captain Michigan was forced into the leadership role once again, and with his poignant and speedy announcements, his ignoring of the newcomers to the tailgate, and his amazing move to gather us together for a group picture, he showed once again why he is not just an alcoholic crazy man...but a leader of alcoholic crazy men (and women).

Battle for 17 while we drink 40s

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by Johnny Cleveland​

In a season with a set of continually descending goals, we have an opportunity to capture our first title. Kings of the County. The Wolverines enter Saturday tied for first place in the Big Ten standings with Illinois, Wisconsin and OSU. The Hurons Eagles travel a short 7 miles down Washtenaw Ave. with a .500 mark in the MAC West and an overall record of 2-3. Continue Reading for the tail of the tape and lots of fun linkages!



Last Meeting: 55-0 Us, Sept. 17, 2005. Series: UM 7-0

Enrollment: EMU (23,000) UM (38,006)

Coaches: EMU (Genyk, 4th year) UM (Carr, last year) *1


  1. Apparently LC coached at EMU as an assistant in the 70's!!


Discipline Issues:


Players:


OTHER NOTES and Distractions till the Urban starts @ 8 AM.


  1. Say hello to an old friend named Bob

  2. At least we are all still alive to play football Saturday

  3. Tickets less than face?

  4. Time to Laugh!