Throwback Thursday Remembers the First Theme

The Luau is the theme that started the now 13-year history of our tailgates having a specific food and loosely policed (if not completely ignored) recommended garb.  It (and themed tailgates) made its debut at the 2003 season opener against Central Michigan.

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While themes changed from year to year and game to game, the season opener always seemed to be Luau.  It kicked us off again in 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007.  After the horror that was the 2007 season opener, we threw out the baby with the bathwater.  Most clothing worn on that day was burned.  I left my jersey in the stadium.  Luau was not used again until 2010.  It has made a comeback in recent years, and while it's no Chappaquiddick Seafood Festival, it is certainly a favorite with its festive atmosphere and copious amounts of pig.

And with that, it is my pleasure to announce our first theme of the 2016 season.  For the opener against the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors, the theme will (obviously) be Luau.  Less than 190 days away folks!  Get your coconut bras out!

Go Blue!

Way Back When-sday Pic of the Week: September 8, 2001

The Godfather takes a minute to pose with random Husky co-eds on September 8, 2001 before Michigan fell 23-18 in Seattle.  This is back when he was super creepy but just moderately old.  Now he's just regular creepy but really really old.  Full picture set from that day and recap here.

Wrestling is Real

He might leave tomorrow, or in 5-years, or never.  What I am sure of is that you will never see a man that coaches athletes have a better time doing so than Jim has the last 14 months.  Everything is a competition to Jim, right?  Well right now dude is beating the crap out of everyone else at the game of life.  In the meantime, in 10 seconds of camera time at a  wrestling event he made a bigger impact on the south than any satellite camp or spring practice could ever do.  Your move SEC/ACC.

Weekend Roundup Has A Checkered Past, February 22, 2016

• OK, so on this day in UMTailgate history I asked for you to support Rich Rod and clearly called out Harbaugh.  In my defense I was still pissed about that shot he took at us. 
• The embedded video below is poorly acted, but its message is clear and poignant.  However, due to the fact that I'm getting older and less of the people around me are planning nuptials, I would like to also add in a request for people to not die during football season.  Thanks.

• Maryland loss recaps from UMHoops and MGoBlog
• Coach K's nickname for Grayson Allen is "asshole". 
• They may never rebuild the program, but they can rebuild the statues, minus a pointing finger.  That finger probably pointed at a redheaded former qb turned assistant coach at some point and was accompanied by the words "if you keep your mouth shut about that child rape you saw, I'll promote you."
• Details on how the Hawkeyes can close the gap and overcome Big Ten powerhouse Michigan State.  Can't tell how many levels of sad there are for me in that last sentence. 
• Jim Harbaugh held a 90-minute autograph session on Friday from 3-4:30p.  It was limited to 200 people, so they handed out wrist bands at 9am.  There were 100 people in line already at 5am.

Bubble, Bubble, Toil and Trouble: Maryland 86. Michigan 82

I don't know what I was expecting out of the Wolverines today, but I know what I was expecting out of a Maryland team that had dropped their last two:  their absolute best.  And that might have been what we saw, arguably the best starting five in the country bringing their A-game, in which case we can continue to hope.  Maybe the stark reality of Caris not returning is finally kicking in.  No where to go.  No one to lean on.  Walton and Irvin need to lead.  Donnal needs to be what he was today, crafty and scrappy.  Someone needs to come off that bench every game the rest of the way like Kameron Chatman did today.  Hit threes.  Win.

It's been a season of extreme's, as we find ourselves either pleasantly surprised or greatly disappointed depending on the team that shows up.  Some ugly wins, but (until tonight) not a lot of feel good losses...if there is such a thing.  We're caught in limbo, bitching about Beilein and his foul policies one minute, and wondering how he masterfully makes this youth-filled rag tag bunch competitive the next.  A text message I received when the Wolverines took the lead said "I am convinced Beilein is a witch."  Another said "if he doesn't take Doyle out right now he should be fired."  Extremes.  And that was how the game went today.  Amazingly competitive with everybody playing bigger and better than they are one minute, completely inept and scared the next, falling victims to dribble penetration again and again and again.  They were a little more of the former though, showing a fortitude that has been lacking in the other losses they've had this year.  They hung tough with whatever version of Maryland this was before falling 86-82.  

We've danced with less.

Pretty sure the Wolverines need to win their remaining three games to lock in that tourney bid, a tall order considering how Wisky seems to finally be getting it together, and that our final game is against Iowa.  I think two out of three would require a not-early exit from the B1G tourney.  Seth Davis played carnival barker at halftime, reminding the nation (and the selection committee) how the Big Ten shit the bed in the non-conference and claimed that 5 should be all that make it.  Hard to argue.  Their not going to take OSU, Wisconsin and us to make 8 that's for sure, and we just got our asses handed to us in Columbus, making next Sunday night's affair in Madison all the more important...meanwhile not sleeping on Chris Collins and the Wildcats on Wednesday.