Way Back When-sday Thinks the First Luau Tailgate Might Have Been 20 Years Ago Today

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September 1, 2001: Captain Michigan becomes the first inductee into the UMTailgate.com Hall of Fame before the Wolverines defeated redshirt freshman quarterback Ben Roethlisberger’s Miami of Ohio 31-13. Of note, I was wearing a Hawaiian-ish shirt so this may have been the first Luau tailgate. The rest of the game pictures from that day are here. Some interesting quotes from the postgame write up of a 25 year old:

Bubba and Stephan W attended their 50th straight Michigan game on Saturday, enduring what may have been the most boring Michigan victory ever. The Godfather presented several of us with commemorative champagne with personalized labels marking the boys place in history.

The streak lives on dammit. Covid doesn’t count.

About half way into the tailgate, our friend Larry dissappeared. Minutes later, Captain Michigan appeared with a duffel bag full of yellow socks and passed them out to the tailgaters. He announced that he was ready to leg wrestle again...right now. He quickly disposed of Goody, Tuba, and Brian. I warned you all...don't ever count out the Captain. He'll be leg wrestling until he’s 6 feet under...and then he'll wrestle God.

I feel sorry for those of you that never had a chance to see Captain Michigan wrestle. And drink.

I want to thank everyone for attending the first real tailgate since the creation of UMTailgate.com. People know us, people know this website, and the support and thanks I received throughout the day (especially that which came from people I have never met) is enough motivation for me to keep this thing running forever.

And wow, forever? I think we’ve crossed forever. Forever is a mighty long time when your last Big Ten title was in 2004.

Looking forward to starting it all over again in 3 days.

GO BLUE!

Pictures From Miami of Ohio and the Luau Tailgate

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We Brought Back the Cold War and Had a Cow

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Ahhh yes, the 80's.  The decade that brought us such verbal gems as "gag me with a spoon," "shitting bricks," and "fuckin' A" made a strong appearance on our little section of the golf course on Saturday.  The age of the synthesizer rang in our ears and the girls showed up straight from "the valley" as we grilled, ate, drank, and celebrated our first victory of the 2008 campaign.

The tailgate crowd was decidedly smaller than the previous week, but still very large and spirited for a MAC matchup and a Michigan team that pooped themselves in week 1.  We are without a doubt hitting our stride as we head into the Big Ten season.

As I noted yesterday, the matchup with Miami of Ohio had some historical significance as RichRod's first win, but our past contests with the Red Hawks carried some tailgate and Michigan history with them as well.

In 2001, two spry and barely over 30 versions of Bubba and Stephen were already attending their 50th straight Michigan game.  Captain Michigan came out of retirement to leg wrestle his son and Tuba.  We all got our first pair of yellow socks. 

In 2004, we all walked to the game expecting to see Matt Gutierrez under center for the first time.  An injury shrouded in Fort Schembechler secrecy left the reins to true frosh Chad Henne.  Chad would lead the Wolverines to a back-to-back Big Ten title and a trip to the Rose Bowl.  

Hey, Wake Up. The Game is Over. Ya, we won.

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With just under nine minutes to go in the first quarter, Michigan had scored on their first two drives.  The first was nearly perfect and resulted in a touchdown.  The second, which commenced as a result of a Red Hawk turnover, ended with a 47 yard field goal from Lopata.  After the way things went just a week ago, there was a brief moment of optimism.  Maybe we were going to put something together here.  Unfortunately, about two-and-a-half hours later in real time, and three full quarters later in game time, we had only mustered a missed field goal and six consecutive punts.  Fortunately for Michigan, and for my sanity, an anemic Miami offense went all day without finding the endzone.  It took until 11 minutes remaining in the game for Michigan to put together another scoring drive and end a game that was akin to chewing razor blades.

It was ugly.  There's no other way to describe it.  Last week, we couldn't run the ball.  This week, we couldn't throw a pass over the line of scrimmage.  But it was a win.  A win that was no doubt the result of a weak opponent rather than a result of improved execution.  However, in the end, it was both imperative and historic.  Imperative because in this season of change, it's the lay-ups that make the difference between 5-wins and the end of the nation's longest bowl streak, and 6-wins and a trip to Ford Field.  Historic because it was win number one for Rich Rodriguez, and hopefully the first of many that will come over a long and successful career.

The Lions would like to ask you..."What about right now?"  That is still an unanswered question.  Can Michigan improve enough to compete in the Big Ten?  Probably not.  But after watching the upstart (just laughed a little) Aztecs of San Diego State give Notre Dame more than all they could handle, I think we can compete next week. The Wolverines will be looking to end the Big Ten preseason in South Bend in what might be the worst matchup talent wise of Michigan and Notre Dame...ever.  After that, a bye week.  Maybe, just maybe, they will improve dramatically before hosting the Badgers.

The grand essentials of happiness are: something to do, something to love, and something to hope for. - A.Chalmers

And if you are a Michigan fan...they fit all three.