Way Back When-sday: September 4, 2004

With all of the prognostication, pre-season polls, simulations, and general banter going on in the college football world, I thought it might be fun to take you back to a time where nobody had any idea what was going on in the world of Michigan Football. In August of 2004, the Big Ten Championship defense was on deck for the Wolverines. They finished the previous season with a historic victory over Ohio State in the 100th meeting between the two schools, followed by a devastating defeat at the hands of what would become the USC dynasty in the Rose Bowl. The Wolverines also lost the runner-up for the Heismann Trophy, Chris Perry, and 4-year QB John Navarre, both of whom were selected in the NFL draft. New QB, new RB...a scary proposition for any team. But there was some optimism in camp, with the heir apparent Matt Gutierrez ready to take the signal calling reigns, and Lamar Woodley's high school teammate, Jerome Jackson, prepared to fill Chris Perry's shoes as the offensive workhorse.

I remember with great detail, though the Godfather and I had nearly polished off a jug of Captain Morgan's, when the word began to trickle in from the corner of Stadium and Main. Stunned and skeptical at the news of the demise of Matt Gutierrez, I became even more skeptical upon hearing the news of the replacement, true freshman Chad Henne. All I new at the time of Chad was that we stole him away from Joe Pa's backyard, and now he was going to be leading the Maize and Blue? Rumors had been coming out of practice that Henne had been doing well, but better than everybody else? I don't think so, not Coach Carr, who seemed at the time to have a great prejudice against the younger players. What about Clayton Richard, Matt Wilde, or 6th year senior Spencer Brinton? At least they've been here more than 3 weeks!

But game time came and out trotted the 19-year old, fresh faced Henne, wearing the same jersey number as the last true freshman to start a Michigan game, Rick Leach's #7. Shaky at first, he managed to lead the Wolverines to a 43-10 rout of Miami of Ohio, assisted (actually lead) by a stellar defensive performance that netted 7 turnovers.

Of course, that was just one of the surprises we endured during the 2004 campaign...

During the embarrassing upset of the Wolverines in South Bend, a light chuckle came over the crowd as tiny little man entered the game at running back. A second true freshmen, Mike Hart, entered the game and had 5 carries for 17 yards. Mike was an afterthought in a weekend where we truly began to feel like it was a rebuilding year. Little did we know that #20 would be...

Big Ten Freshman of the Year (coaches and media) ... All-Big Ten first team (coaches and media) ... SI.com All-America honorable mention ... Collegefootballnews.com All-America third team ... Scripps/Football Writers Association of America Freshman All-America ... Rivals.com Freshman All-America first team ... The Sporting News Freshman All-America second team ... The Sporting News Freshman All-Big Ten ... The Sporting News Big Ten Offensive Freshman of the Year ... led the team in rushing with 282 carries for 1,455 yards and nine touchdowns ... caught 26 passes for 237 yards and scored lone touchdown reception on a 25-yard screen pass from Chad Henne at Purdue (Oct. 23) ... led the Big Ten in rushing in all games (121.2 avg.) and conference only games (151.8 avg.) ... finished 10th nationally in rushing yards per contest (121.2 avg.) ... led the Big Ten in attempts (228) and yards (1,214) during conference play ... became the third true freshman in Big Ten history to lead the league in rushing, joining Wisconsin's Ron Dayne (1996) and Minnesota's Darrel Thompson (1986) ... set a U-M freshman rushing record with 1,455 rushing yards and placed seventh on the school's season rushing yardage list ... his rushing total was the second highest all-time in Big Ten history for a freshman ... third in the conference and 26th nationally in all-purpose yards per game (141.0 avg.) ... fumbled the ball just once in 308 touches (282 carries, 26 receptions) ... carried the pigskin 230 times without a miscue following his only career fumble against Iowa (Sept. 25) ... his one lost fumble was the fewest by a Michigan starting tailback during Lloyd Carr's tenure ... had 13 plays of 20 yards or more during the season (nine rushing, four receiving) ... played in all 12 games and started final eight games at tailback ... carried three times for 20 yards and grabbed one reception in career debut vs. Miami (Sept. 4) ... rushed five times for 17 yards and had an eight-yard reception at Notre Dame (Sept. 11) ... became first back to surpass 100-yard barrier on the year, rushing 25 times for 121 yards vs. San Diego State (Sept. 18) ... carried 26 times for 99 yards and scored first career touchdown on a seven-yard run vs. Iowa (Sept. 25) ... had two receptions for 14 yards against the Hawkeyes ... made first career start at Indiana (Oct. 2), gaining 79 yards on 20 carries and scored on a one-yard fourth-down run ... caught two passes for 36 yards against the Hoosiers ... gained 213 offensive yards vs. Minnesota (Oct. 9), rushing 35 times for 160 yards and one rushing touchdown and catching six passes for 53 yards ... carried the ball 40 times for 234 yards and one touchdown and caught three passes for 23 yards at Illinois (Oct. 16) ... won Big Ten co-Offensive Player of the Week honors for performance at Purdue (Oct. 23) ... rushed for 206 yards on 33 carries and caught three passes for 22 yards and a touchdown against the Boilermakers ... scored team's only TD against Purdue on a screen pass that covered 25 yards ... became only the second Wolverine to rush for 200 yards in back to back games (Jon Vaughn 1990) with his performance against the Boilermakers ... named Cingular/ABC Sports All-America Player of the Week and Rivals.com National Freshman of the Week for his play against Purdue ... became first Wolverine in history to record three straight 200-yard rushing games, scampering for 223 yards on 33 carries and scored one rushing TD vs. Michigan State (Oct. 30) ... passed the 1,000-yard mark for the season against the Spartans, becoming the first true freshman in U-M history to accomplish the feat ... ABC Player of the Game vs. Northwestern (Nov. 13), scoring a career-high three rushing touchdowns on 23 carries for 151 yards ... became the first Wolverine running back with at least 150 yards rushing in five straight games following performance against the Wildcats ... carried the ball 18 times for 61 yards and scored one rushing touchdown at Ohio State (Nov. 20) ... added a 39-yard reception against the Buckeyes ... rushed for 82 yards on 21 carries and caught a four-yard pass vs. Texas in the Rose Bowl (Jan. 1) ... had his streak of eight consecutive games with at least one touchdown snapped against the Longhorns.

Michigan would go on to win a second straight Big Ten title with the help of Henne, Hart, and Braylon Edwards, and earned a second consecutive trip to the Rose Bowl, where they would fall to the Texas Longhorns on a last second field goal.

The rollercoaster ride of 2004 is a great example that you just never know. What surprises are in store for the 2006 Wolverines? I can't wait to find out...

24 DAYS 

You're Scared of Lamar Woodley

Look, even Tim Jamison has his eyes closed in the presence of #56. Yesterday was Michigan Media Day. Somehow I missed the memo. Apparently, Lloyd is softening on his stance against the press, allowing them to come in unabated by the casual fan. Previously, they have opened up media day to the general public, causing media members to wrestle with the fans to get interviews. Not so this year, as there was no public notice of the event, allowing the journalists to ask all the hard hitting questions, like asking Kevin Grady "his advice for the incoming freshman."

For much better coverage than I can offer, MGoBlue has the transcribed, and no doubt positively spun, Q&A from the day. Meanwhile, MGoBlog has a great summary made up of a combo of MGoBlue and The Wolverine.

Case of the Mundys: 8/7/2006

Still just one player of note on the injury report, Antonio Bass, who was one of the main topics at the Big Ten Meetings. Carr alluded to some tests that were going to happen that, unfortunately, would be determining if Antonio Bass could continue his football career....meaning EVER. 

Fortunately, Antonio Bass's father reports that those tests have already been completed, and the results were positive. Great. But dad and Lloyd need to get on the same page. Let me tell you pops, and you can ask Braylon, you need to be on the same page as Lloyd.

In continuing website update news, the message board is now up and running, avatars and all. Just to remind everyone new to this format, you can post comments at the end of ANY front page story OR in the message board.

Just added:

• 2002 Football Season Front Pages, pictures already available here


• 2002 Off-Season Front Pages, pictures already available here


• 2001 Football Season Albums


• 2001 Off-Season Albums

SURPRISE! The Polls Are Out

Wolverines Are #15, 'Nuts Are #1. I'm shocked, not at the lowest pre-season ranking (#15) for the Wolverines since the pre-season unranked 1985 Wolverines, but at the fact that the USA Today Coaches' Poll is already out. Does it always come out this early? Before players report to practice? As has been discussed ad-nauseum, there is obviously little rhyme or reason behind these polls before games are played, and "grain of salt" does not adequately describe how much weight you should lend to them when making your bowl travel plans. Simply put, about 25% of the roster of every college football team disappears every year and is replaced with 17-18 year-olds that the voters have only seen in pre-pubescent video clips taken by their dads from the stands.

That being said, I love the polls once the season starts. It is a source for debate, and debate must be the thing that keeps us going back. There are 119 teams, we can't all play each other, so we only have the polls to show us where we stand. Sure, the system sucks. No other sport has a set of voted-upon subjective standings that go unresolved nearly every year. It's amazing. Applying it to baseball, imagine your anger when the coaches voted to send the White Sox from the AL instead of your Detroit Tigers to play the Mets in the World Series, just on reputation...or as a going away present if their manager was retiring.

Polls=More Fun: The numbers create interest for the casual fan that is channel surfing and runs into Mississippi State vs. Fresno St on ESPN2. And the polls createmanufacture upsets. For example, Michigan at Michigan State 2006 featured a Wolverine team favored in Vegas by 3-points. Michigan wins 34-31 in overtime, the bettors push, no upset. But add in the polls and you have the unranked Michigan Wolverines knocking off the #11 Michigan State Spartans dramatically in overtime. And that is way more fun to say.

I even enjoy the illegitimacy of the numbers, and how they always seem to magically move up the week before a previously scheduled nationally televised event. Tell me you don't notice how (fill in your Big Ten middle-of-the-pack-er here) always seems to just creep into that top 25 the week of their game with Michigan... it's like clockwork.

Anyway, if we had playoffs, I'd love the playoffs. In fact, I'd be going ape shit every December-January. But we don't, so I like the polls. Probably because I'm inept at the X's and O's of the game itself and I'm a horrible evaluator of talent. I need someone else's opinion so I can make it my own. And probably because there's not much else to talk about.

The Wolverines come in at #15. Everyone is going to be talking about how well Michigan does when they are ranked low to start the season (see 1997 National Championship), how they come to play when their backs are against a wall, and how this team has the obligatory "something to prove". Great. But it's not what I'm looking for. Vandy and Central are a waste of my time and yours, and it should take more preparation than motivation to knock off the grossly overrated Irish, who despite being Catholic are the biggest media whores since Darva. It's after that game in South Bend, when we've "upset" the #3 team in the country, when the world's eyes turn to Ann Arbor, and everybody starts breaking their arms patting us on the back. It's then that we must show up. Because this season will not be won in South Bend or Columbus. It's in between Notre Dame and Ohio State: the Badgers, the Hawkeyes, the Wilcats, the Spartans...that will determine our BCS destiny.

One For the Coach

Thanks to "The Hammer" for alerting me to an article on ESPN.com by Gene Wojciechowski (AKA the other Wojo in local circles) on Coach Carr. Most of us have taken some shots at Lloyd on one occasion or another, about bad playcalling, not getting the most out of his multi-starred recruits, or crazy special teams play at the hands of a special teams coach that went AWOL following the integration of the "fun punt." The reason we do this is because of our year-round investment... emotionally, mentally, physically, and financially... in a team that takes the field about a dozen times each 365 days. And when there is anything less than perfection, our collective fingers have to be pointed somewhere. With some semblance of heart and mind, we find it difficult to direct those fingers at 18-22 year old college students (usually) and find ourselves looking at the man in charge.

We have an elitist attitude, brought on by the unflappable prestige of the University. You can see it in many of our fans, at home among the quietest 100,000+ crowd "anywhere in America today", and even more so on the road, where most of those that can afford to make the expensive road trips (alumni over 60 years of age) have made their loudest cheer a unison belting out of "down in front". We assume that the best of the nation's recruits make their way to Michigan because it's Michigan, and it becomes "Here you go Lloyd, we gave you the players, now win all the games." Nothing could be further from the truth. Coach Carr has been one the best, if not the best, recruiting head coach in college football throughout his tenure. How else can you classify someone that has pulled in such a plethora of talent from around the country, selling them six months of cold and overcast after they visit Austin, Gainsville, or Los Angeles?

Then there is the record book. Lloyd Carr is the 10th winningest active coach in college football, ahead of Jim Tressell, ahead of Joe Paterno. To put this in perspective, if Carr coached the Wolverines at their current pace for as long as Bowden coached FSU or Paterno coached PSU, he would be the all-time leader in wins in college football history. But Lloyd of course is much too old to coach another 30 years, having gotten his break late in his coaching life at the hands of a little too much Grand Mariner.

Entering his 27th season (11th as a head coach) of pacing the Wolverine's sideline, Lloyd Carr is nothing if not a leader of men. Quoting Lloyd from Wojo's article:

I'm going to do what I want to do. The hell with anybody else, what they think. So that's where it all begins with me. I love the game. I love the competition. I love the relationship with the players and the ability to have some kind of positive impact as they try to pursue a degree and play this game.

Wojo follows with:

They (the players) see this Carr; we don't. We don't see the Carr who treats his former players like family, swapping stories over a cold brew. We don't see the Carr who sends personalized notes to retiring Big Ten officials, thanking them for their years of service. "This I can guarantee you," says Dave Parry, the league's supervisor of officials. "He cares deeply about the game, the integrity of the game and the character of the game. That is a fact."

My (or "our" depending on who you are) investment as a fan, a follower that chooses to live vicariously through the success of this team, is substantial, if not imprudent. However, there is something that the Michigan elite need to remember: Michigan's most passionate fan is the one that will run out of the tunnel in less than a month wearing a maize and blue polo and a sinister smile. Because he cares about people, has true passion about the University, the game, and the people involved in it... and because he knows more about what it will take to win than you've forgotten.

In commitment news, Four-Star O-Lineman David Molk has given a verbal to the Wolverines. According to his scouting page, he "plays the game with bad intentions." Not sure what this means, but I think that it is a good thing. Read all about it in the Sun-Times (about half way down).