My Wish & Did U Know? : Conference Championships

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I'd rather drink fecal tea than be inundated with another reprised episode of the "My Wish" series on Sportscenter. Besides, it is really the athletes involved that are getting their wishes granted, specifically Kobe Bryant. I can almost hear former MTV dork Chris Connelly doing the voiceover as we look at the segment from another prospective.

"Born in 1978 in Philadelphia, PA, Kobe Bryant was named after a steak by his parents Joe and Pam. At six years of age, he was taken from his homeland (the United States) and forced to live in Italy, where his father was put into a camp, a basketball training camp. Seven years later, Kobe was allowed to return to the U.S. and attended Lower Marion High School, excelled in basketball, and entered the NBA draft.
In 1998 he met his future wife. She was 16. He was 20. They would be married just three years later, much to the dismay of Kobe's parents who were against the wedding due to their young age. Kobe and his parents did not speak for two full years following the nuptials.
In April of 2003, Kobe's wife gave birth to their first child. Just three months later, Kobe slept with a 19 year old hotel employee, who later would claim he sexually assaulted her. A year later, he would help force the trade of Shaquille O'Neal, sending the Lakers on a downward spiral, and giving the Miami Heat the last piece to their NBA championship puzzle.
We told Kobe that he would be showing up at this TGI Friday's to talk about a sponsorship deal with Tuffy muffler, but in reality we're about to bring in a Mexican kid with leukemia that has a spot on jump shot and film Kobe spending the day with him and put it on Sportscenter. It's this type of exposure that will help Kobe's image, to get him back to making that endorsement dollar, to make him look like he is not a predator...this is Kobe's wish. (cue Rascal Flatts)

Ya, that's about right. I'm just really getting sick of this new Disney laden side of ESPN. That being said, I plan to do a weekly "Did U Know?" segment here on UMTailgate.com. It's a throwback to an old Sportscenter segment that used to appear at the end of every show. For those of us that may have regularaly watched the repeated 7am, 8am, 9am, 10am, and 11am editions, it was our hourly chime. Hopefully the UMTailgate.com version will be something that will spark a memory, raise eyebrows, or just make you look smart at parties. So, without further ado:

DID U KNOW?

Michigan has 42 Big Ten Conference Championships in football to Michigan State's 6. The Spartan's 6 titles are the third worst among active Big Ten teams (which includes a Penn State team that has only been in the conference for 13 years) and is one title less than the University of Chicago, who stopped playing Big Ten football in 1939.

Bonus DUK: Michigan has 12 Big Ten Conference Championships in basketball to Michigan State's 10.

Enjoy the weekend!

Because We Own You

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Allow me to take a moment and welcome back Leon Michael Hart, known to most of nation just as Mike Hart. Returning from a hamstring injury, he ran for 218 yards on 36 carries, and set the pace for a Wolverine offense that is just beginning to hit its stride.

Allow me also to welcome back onto the bandwagon those of you that tossed your team aside in their time of crisis, put the season ahead of the next game, and kept your maize and blue t-shirt in the drawer this week. In my estimation you represent a large portion of our fan base...so I guess we have to have a revolving door. However, I loathe those of you that may have suggested or even embraced the idea of a poor season for purposes of the removal of the coaching staff, both for your stupidity with regards to this program and the way things work within it, and for your lack of respect for Michigan.

Michigan State got a little taste of what it was like to be Big Brother this weekend. Doors were closed to the media all week. Fans were tight, and weren't sure how to react before, during, or after the game. The stadium atmosphere was eerily similar to the Big House....minus about 35,000 people. Gone was the piped in music, the bell tolling on 3rd down, and the "jump around" we have grown to hate when traveling to East Lansing. And when Michigan jumped out to a 14-0 lead, gone was the Sparty Spirit...and I know why. For the first time in a long time, winning wasn't going to be enough for them. They were the #11 Michigan State Spartans playing the unranked Michigan Wolverines. They wanted a rout. One of those Michigan-style routs, like the 49-3 drubbing in 2002, the 40-20 slaughter in 1994, the 35-10 laugh-fest in 1992, or the 119-0 affair of 1902. Once it was 14-0, that chance had all but left the building. It took a 74-yard game-tying return of an incomplete forward pass for a touchdown by a ball of hair to wake them up and make them realize that just winning had to be enough. It's funny, I came to realize that Michigan State usually finds a way to win only when something really stupid happens...like an extra second that forces a future NCAA rule change or a horrible no-call on a pass interference in the end zone on a two-point conversion. And the worst part is, either consciously or unconsciously, they have come to really enjoy it. They would much rather see a bad call get them a touchdown or a turnover than have Stanton or the defense make a play. All of the above is what makes this one just a little sweeter. Last year, we snatched victory from defeat and broke their green and white hearts in triple overtime. This year, miscues kept them in a game that Michigan should have won by two TDs, and we still managed to break their hearts in overtime. That's satisfying.

Nemesis?

Not to harp on the pile of poop that is the Spartan football program, but the headlines of a few articles, including one from the associated press, had the nerve to say things like, "#11 Spartans Fall To Nemesis Michigan". Nemesis? As if Michigan State is Texas and Michigan is Oklahoma, and if the Spartans could just find a way to get past those pesky Wolverines, the BCS would be right there for the taking. Michigan State has had 32 losses since 2000. That's right, they're 33-32 in the new millennium. Never has the Michigan game ruined a season for Michigan State, at least not in recent history. You can't break what is already broken. That is of course unless you charge Michigan with keeping the Spartans from bowl eligibility, which is the case if the 2000 and 2004 games would have gone the other way. Michigan State needed just one more win in those seasons to earn their bid to the Summer's Eve Bowl, or wherever it is the last bowl eligible team in the Big Ten team goes to. That's right, I am being cocky now.

When it is all said and done, this game will just be one of many blemishes on a the record of an slightly above average team in 2005, and a program that has less Big Ten titles than almost the entire slate of Big Ten teams. Among the plethora of teams with more titles is juggernaut Northwestern (with two more titles than Sparty) and the University of Chicago (one more title than Sparty) who stopped playing division 1 football in 1939.

Feel free to copy-paste that last sentence into an email to your favorite Sparty fan. It's great to be a Michigan Wolverine.

Simply Unbelievable

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Rivals?

To say that Michigan State got up for the game on Saturday would be an understatement, if not an insult. Michigan State gave Michigan more than it could handle, dominating the game for the first three quarters, and the first three minutes of the fourth. The Spartan defense held Michigan's offense in check, forcing what seemed to be an endless series of three-and-outs. The Michigan defense remained on the field as the Spartan's managed the clock, dictated everything that happened along the line of scrimmage, and scored on big plays.

Not only was it ugly, but you wondered if it had ever been uglier. Flashbacks of bad losses in the Big House came to mind...Ohio State 2001, Iowa 2002. We were being manhandled, out-muscled, out-played...but this time, it was by our little brother from East Lansing. 'Doom' is the only word that comes to mind to describe the feeling when DeAndra Cobb ran a 64-yard dagger into the heart of the Wolverine defense, and the heart of the Wolverine faithful. It was 27-10, and there was no sign of life from the Michigan players on the field or on the sideline. As the kick return team jogged slowly onto the field, some people headed for the exits. Tough to blame them. The thought crossed the mind of every Michigan fan in attendance I'm sure.

But there's something to be said for taking your medicine.

And that's what we thought we were doing. Enduring a loss. And then IT happened. After a couple of quick first downs, Henne launched a bomb towards Braylon Edwards, who came back to make the catch on the under thrown ball to give the Wolverines a 1st and 10 at the Michigan State 12. But the Spartans would not be denied, holding the Wolverines to a 24-yard field goal, and holding a two-touchdown lead with just over 6 minutes to go.

And the Wolverines again jogged slowly out on to the field, this time to kick it off, as more fans made their way towards the exits. But they didn't get far, because the Wolverines kicked and recovered an onside kick, prompting a mass exodus from the concourse back into the stadium. So much work still to be done...so little time.

Then a two-play touchdown drive that took less than 20 seconds that ended with another spectacular Braylon Edwards catch. Follow that up with a Michigan State drive that included one first down, the loudest crowd in Big House history, and consumed about 2 minutes and 30 seconds, and Michigan took over with 3:18 to play from their own 40. Two-plays and 60 yards later, another Michigan touchdown...Henne-to-Edwards. It's tied. A slight clock management snafu and a pass-interference penalty gave Michigan State an opportunity to win the game with no time left on the clock, not unlike 2001, when the Spartans upset the Wolverines with no time left on the clock (wink wink). But the 52-yard field goal went wide-right, and we were going to overtime.

In front of the Michigan student section, the teams exchanged field goals to complete the first overtime, and in the process the Wolverines lost Mike Hart to injury. In the second OT, the Spartans struck first, forcing the Wolverines into a touchdown-or-lose situation. On 3rd and 6 from the Spartan 6, Henne lofted a pass to the corner of the endzone that was snatched from the sky by Jason Avant for the Wolverine touchdown. Rivas's extra point tied the game sending it into a third overtime.

After an incomplete pass and a Max Martin 1-yard run, Henne hit Edwards once again, this time for a 24-yard touchdown. Then Henne completed a pass to Tim Massaquoi for the two-point conversion, giving the Wolverines an eight point lead.

Michigan State's final drive was quelled by a 15-yard offensive pass interference penalty, and ended with an incomplete pass on 4th and 8 from the Michigan 23.

In the most improbable of scenarios, the Wolverines came out on top. And medicine never tasted so good. Fans that remained in their seats for the entirety of the game, now found themselves unable to leave at its conclusion, remaining in the stadium for several minutes reveling in the masterpiece they had just witnessed, and basking in it's joyous conclusion. Michigan wins 45-37.

The Wolverines take sole possession of first place in the Big Ten moving to 6-0 with Wisconsin (5-0) idle. Michigan, behind the amazing mix of Chad Henne, Mike Hart and Braylon Edwards, find themselves 8-1 overall, and ranked in the top-10. Not bad for a team that was on the brink of being casted-off a month and a half ago.

A Moment On Mike

I think it is important to realize the history-in-the-making we are witnessing with every game. Michigan football has been around for 125 seasons. 125 seasons of establishing the run. Mike Hart has rushed for over 200 yards in three straight games. Not only is that the first time a Michigan back has accomplished that feat, but Mike Hart's three 200+ yard games is one more than Chris Perry, Tom Harmon, Tim Biakabutuka, Jon Vaughn, Tyrone Wheatley, and Jamie Morris each had for their CAREER, and ties Ron Johnson for first all-time for 200+ yard performances in a Michigan career.

Mike Hart is ranked 9th nationally in rushing, despite having only eight carries going into the 3rd game of the season.

New Member of the Tailgating Elite

For the cheesy potatoes, for the chocolate chip filled brownies, for the endless love and affection she gives on a week-to-week basis, for her tireless dedication to UMTailgate.com, and for getting the Godfather to and from the tailgates...we are happy to induct Pammy Moore, Godmother to the tailgate and wife of the Godfather, into the UMTailgate.com Hall of Fame. We thank you for all you have done to make the tailgate special, and for raising and giving us the greatest family in all of Michigan tailgating, the Moore's. We love you all!

State Champions

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Welcome to the Big Ten

They say that the game was played in a grind-it-out fashion, just like Michigan-Michigan State matchups of years ago. A world where linemen tell the story, and time of possession is second only to points. Where speed and reverses give way to braun and halfback dives. But that is simply not the story from Saturday...it is but half the story. Michigan State did not play that game, Michigan did.

Michigan, so rich with tradition, not only went back to their traditional ways, but took it to another level. Chris Perry had 51 carries, breaking the previous record by nine, and amassed 219 yards on the ground. Hello John L., and welcome to the Big Ten. No flash, no glamour, just three (or four) yards and a cloud of dust. We run to set up the pass, Mr. Smith, that's what we do. But you and all of your pre-game trash talk about making this a bitter rivalry only made you look as dumb as your predecessor, and you couldn't stop our run. And just so you know, we only passed for fun, Big Fun if you will, because our receivers look so good, we felt they needed camera time.

Michigan State's one-dimensional offense had nothing to offer. The only significant drive was a broken coverage bomb to one of those Michigan State receivers...sorry, I just don't remember any of their names. And by the way John L., I'm not proud of Jeff Smoker, and neither should anyone else there at your land grant college. Michigan State's window of opportunity was last year, when they had at least ONE receiver, and your re-hab hero called it quits, closing that window. It's all downhill from there John L., as you will see when you attempt to recruit, when you see that you will only get what we don't want. This is the Big Ten John L., it was here while you were at Idaho and Utah State, and it will be here after you are no doubt unceremoniously released by the 2nd rate University that employs you somewhere down the road. So, John L., I suggest that while you are here, you attempt to recruit Big Ten players and play Big Ten football. Otherwise, there will be more of the same year after year as we run it RIGHT UP THE MIDDLE and show you just how weak you really are.

A few costly mistakes made the game look good for the overmatched Spartans, as Michigan outgained them 216 to 36 on the ground with one touchdown and added three touchdowns through the air. Michgan wins 27-20.

Destiny Revisited...Revisited

Now you can officially get yourself worked up, because barring a collossal flub up in Evanston, November 22 will once again be a red-letter date in Michigan history, as the Wolverines will be aiming to end a Rose Bowl drought with a win over the Buckeyes.

A Truly Super Sunday

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I Remember

Dateline: Saturday, December 13, 1997.

Michigan took to the court at Crisler Arena to face off against the number one ranked team in the country, the Duke Blue Devils. The Wolverines came back from a 17-point second half deficit and won the game 81-73. As if we knew exactly what we were supposed to do, the students and fans took to the court in celebration. We weren't without practice, however. Just three Saturdays prior to this date, Michigan football fans rushed the field following a 20-14 drubbing of Ohio State that capped off a Big Ten Championship and undefeated regular season.

Following the game, buzzing with excitement, we returned to 1213. Later that evening, in possibly a more stunning upset, Charles Woodson beat out pre-season favorite Peyton Manning to become the first primarily defensive player to win the Heisman trophy. I still have the Sportscenter from that evening on tape. It was a great day for Michigan, both on and off the court.

Fast forwarding to today, 1/26/03... The Freshman, who I presume will soon be known as 'The Sophomores', came through with an extra ticket in the Maize Rage section. We arrived early and made camp just four rows behind the Spartan bench, basically within throwing distance (sooooo tempting) of Lansing-legendary coach Tom Izzo. The ebb and flow excitment of the game could only be outshined by the strict chanting organization of the Maize Rage, who's candor and ingenuity was impressive to a level only previously seen at Yost Ice Arena. They battered and embarassed Izzo, dressing a blow-up doll in a dress-shirt and MSU tie, as well as gluing a perfectly modeled Izzo-face onto the doll head. They chanted "Angry-Midget" early and often, and jumped all over him at his every outburst.

As the game neared its end, Michigan turned up its defense, holding the Spartans scoreless for over six minutes. Several fans nearby began to discuss an impending 'court-rush'. Two desparation three pointers fell for the Spartan's in the final seconds, but they were not enough to overcome Michigan's impeccable free-throw shooting. Michigan passed the ball in to Bernard Robinson Jr., who tossed the ball down the court as the final 1.7 seconds expired. Michigan wins 60-58. And then....bedlam. They were not strangers to the Crisler hardwood, having rushed the same court only a few weeks earlier following an amazing come-from-behind victory against Wisconsin. Pouring out on to the floor, we celebrated the first victory over the Spartans in almost 5 years. Why storm the court after beating a 10-8 team whose tournament hopes are now on the level with our sanctioned team? Because hopefully we won't have to do it again. Excessive celebration is often the product of a mediocre team that enjoys big wins because they are not expected. The victory on Sunday afternoon was a turning point for Michigan Basketball. Not that winning will be taken for granted every night, as this program has NCAA rulings to endure and a lot of growing to do. However, losing will not be the expectation. Rushing the court will be reserved for championships...and wins over Duke.