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Posted on October 23, 2020 by Barry Gallagher Hello again, and welcome to my thoughts on Michigan at Minnesota. Yes, it’s been a long time coming, but I am excited to see a Michigan at Minnesota football today. It’s the first time that the Wolverines have ever kicked off a season in Minnesota. It promises to be a great game. The Wolverines begin their 141st football season with a night game. They will continue their March to 1,000 wins with a chance to notch victory #963 with a defeat of the Gophers. (Note-Bo told Jim Harbaugh to lead the Wolverines to victory at Minnesota in 1985. Harbaugh said, “yes coach.” Then he led Michigan to a 48-7 win over the Gophers.) Photo courtesy of the Bentley Historical Library at The University of Michigan. Michigan Kicks Off Season #141 at Minnesota: Yes, the long-awaited 141st season in Michigan Football History begins today with Michigan at Minnesota. Is it just me? Or, has it taken waaaaay tooooooooooooo loooooooong for October 24th to arrive? Of course, we were all disappointed when the Big Ten cancelled the original schedule, then put together another one and cancelled that one too! Now, we have a great chance to play nine games. If things go well, maybe a few more. We will see! Coach Jim Harbaugh enters his sixth season at Michigan. This off season has been the most tumultuous of his tenure.  Players left at an alarming rate because of Covid-19, transfer and pro contracts. The good news is that Chris Evans is back and he could really help the running game. Unfortunately, the Wolverines took a hit on defense and in the wide receiver ranks. So, many unproven Michigan Men will have to step up sooner than later to navigate Michigan’s challenging schedule in 2020. The good news is that coach Josh Gattis, is back and the offense could be exciting with Joe Milton running the offensive show. Don Brown lost a ton of talent from the 2019 team, but he doesn’t rebuild his defense, he just reloads. I am confident that his defense will be very strong this year. Hopefully, they can play some zone defense when needed to shut down the crossing patterns that opponents took advantage of in 2018 and 2019. If you want all the pre-game hype information there are many fine websites that you can go to for that information. At Go Blue Football History, we will stick to the history of what has already happened on this day in Michigan Football and predict how they may do against PJ Fleck’s Minnesota Gophers. Calendar History – October 24th: The University of Michigan has played a total of twenty games on the twenty-fourth day October. So far, the results have been very good. The Wolverines have a record of 14 wins and 6 losses on this day. The Maize and Blue footballers own a conference record of 9 wins and 4 losses on 10/24. The Wolverines have played Minnesota six times on this day. So far the record is 4 wins and 2 losses. They are perfect at home at 3-0-0. Road games on this day against Minnesota have not gone as well since the record is only 1 win and 2 losses. Here is the very short history about Michigan Football on October 24th: Today’s game provides the Wolverines with an opportunity to improve their record to 2-2-0 in road games on this day. Michigan’s 140 Season Openers:  The Wolverines own a very impressive record in their previous 140 season openers. So far, Michigan’s record is 114 wins, 23 losses and 3 ties. That works out to an impressive winning rate of almost eighty-three percent (.825). Home game openers have produced a record of 97-15-2 which works out to a winning percent of eighty-six percent. Road games are also good, just not that good: 16-7-1 = .688. Michigan’s first season opener on the road was Game #1 in Wolverine Foot ball history. Yes, it was an overwhelming 1-0 win over Racine at a neutral field in Chicago. The Wolverines opened their first three seasons on the road and five of the first seven were also away from Ann Arbor. Michigan won six of those first season opening games. Then the Wolverines played fifty-three straight home openers in Ann Arbor. Here are a few more opening games to remember: Series History – Michigan at Minnesota: Of course, Michigan and Minnesota have been playing against each other for a very long time. The first game between these two future Western Conference foes took place in Minneapolis in 1892. The Gophers won game #1 by a score of 14-6. They also won the second game in 1893 in Ann Arbor by a score of 34-20. Here are a few more series highlights about this special rivalry: Here are the series “numbers” so far: John Navarre led Michigan to victory at Minnesota in 2003. After trailing 28-7, he brought the Wolverines back for a 38-35 win. Today’s Game: Michigan at Minnesota  Yes, all the numbers favor Michigan including the ones in the newspaper. As of today, the Wolverines is favored by about three points in this game, but it could be closer than that! Minnesota won eleven games last year. Although they lost most of their best defensive players, they have a strong offensive line and some powerful running backs. This will not be an easy game. On paper, Michigan has the better roster and a slight advantage in coaching talent. However, the Wolverines will have to step up and play well right from the start. Both teams will have the first game “jitters.”   I think Michigan comes out strong and wins a close one. My Prediction For Middle Tennessee at Michigan:  I predict a solid win for the Wolverines on Saturday night. Michigan will pass, run, punt and placekick better than the Gophers. There will be many Wolverine stars in this game. Yes, Michigan will become the first team in college football

Posted on October 22, 2020 by Barry Gallagher Today’s post celebrates the birthday of Michigan Man named Tommy Hendricks.  Thomas Emmett Tommy Hendricks III came to Ann Arbor from Houston, Texas. Hendricks actually followed the footsteps of his father, Tom Hendricks, who lettered for Bennie Oosterbaan in the mid-1950s. However, once Tommy arrived on campus in 1996 he decided to forge his own Maize and Blue path. (Note – Senior Tommy Hendricks (#41) is pictured with the 1999 Michigan Wolverine Football Team. He is third player from the right (#41) in the first row. Photo courtesy of the Bentley Historical Library at the University of Michigan.) Part I. Wolverine of the Day: Tommy Hendricks Senior Tom Hendricks #42 pictured with the 1955 Michigan Football Team. Photo courtesy of the Bentley Historical Library., He Followed in His Father’s Footsteps – Sort Of Tom Hendricks wore uniform #42 when he played halfback at Michigan. Tommy wore jersey #41 and he played in the defensive backfield. So, both father and son were “backs” at Michigan, but they played on opposite sides of the ball. Starter and National Champion in 1997 Unfortunately, Tommy Hendricks did not earn any starts on Lloyd Carr’s 1996 team, but he played enough to earn a letter. He also caught the attention of his coaches who thought he could play a bigger role in 1997. Tommy played a big role on a great team in 1997. The young Sophomore was good enough to start twelve games at Free Safety in that historic season. Teams didn’t go after Charles Woodson very often. So, they tried to “pick” on Hendricks, but it usually didn’t work. Hendricks Ended His Career as an All-Big Ten Performer Tommy Hendricks continued to play at a very high level in 1998. He started thirteen games at Free Safety and became one of Michigan’s most capable defenders. The coaches needed him to assume a different role in 1999. Hendricks moved to Strong Safety and earned twelve more starts. His stellar play earned him first team All-Big Ten recognition at the end of the 1999 season. I am certain that Tommy admired what his father, Tom, did at Michigan. After three years as a starter, I am sure that Tom was very proud of what Tommy and his teammates were able to accomplish from 1997 to 1999. Tommy was on three teams that won thirty-two of thirty-seven games.  They were even better in conference play − posting a record of 21-3-0! The Wolverines won the National Championship in 1997 as well as two Big Ten Championships (1997 and 1998). Tommy Hendricks was a very good player on the great 1997 Michigan Football team. Photo courtesy of the Bentley Historical Library at The University of Michigan. Tommy Hendricks left Michigan with a very impressive resume. He was also good enough to play in the National Football League for five years. Congratulations to Tommy on his outstanding Michigan football career. He was a strong contributor to the Wolverine football program from 1996 to 1999. He is another excellent player who helped make Michigan football the winningest program in college football. Happy Birthday Tommy Hendricks and Go Blue! You can learn more about Tommy Hendricks by checking out the links below. http://bentley.umich.edu/athdept/football/fbteam/1999fbt.htm http://www.nfl.com/player/tommyhendricks/2504023/profile http://recording.rrfedu.com/houston/tommy-hendricks/ Part II. October 23, 2020 National Day Calendar Update:

Posted on October 21, 2020 by Barry Gallagher Today’s post recalls the day that Fielding Yost destroyed West Virginia. Yes, Fielding Harris Yost was a graduate of West Virginia University. Somehow, Michigan lured the Mountaineers to Ann Arbor for a football game. West Virginia officials should have been wary of their former football player who was famous for his “Point-A-Minute” teams. Part I. Wolverine Football History: Yost Destroyed West Virginia Background: The Mountaineers arrived in in Ann Arbor on October 22, 1904 to play Yost’s famous “Point-a-Minute” team that had not lost a game since Yost started coaching the Wolverines in 1901. Michigan’s record under Yost was almost perfect at 39 wins, 0 losses and 1 tie. Even more impressive was the fact that his teams had outscored their opponents by a margin of 2,110 to 24! No, this is not a misprint. The numbers that Fielding H. Yost put on the board from 1901 to 1904 were astounding! West Virginia may have been thinking that Coach Yost would take it easy on his former team, but that did not turn out to be the case. Michigan recorded their most dominating win in Wolverine football history against Yost’s alma mater. Final Score – Michigan 130 and West Virginia 0. Yes, Yost destroyed West Virginia, but it could have been worse. Fortunately, Coach Yost cut his former team a break and ended the second half early.  A Record Setting Day: John “Big Joe” Curtis set a Michigan record with 49 points in a single game in Michigan’s 130-0 victory over West Virginia in 1904. Photo courtesy of the Bentley Historical Library at The University of Michigan. Yes, the day that Yost destroyed West Virginia was a record-setting day with lots of  Michigan Football “firsts.” Check them out: ·         This game was the first, and only, game ever played against West Virginia. ·         Of course, it was Michigan’s first, and only, win over the Mountaineers. ·         Michigan scored a record-setting twenty-two touchdowns in the game. (They were only worth five points at that time so it could have been 152-0.) ·         Michigan placekickers John “Big Joe” Curtis (19) and Paul Magoffin (1) kicked a record setting 20 points-after-touchdown. ·         Curtis also set a single game scoring record with 49 points (six touchdowns and 19 extra points). ·         Michigan’s lopsided win extended their undefeated streak to 40 games. Another first for Fielding Yost and his players. Another Perfect Season: Yost’s Wolverines won their final three games and finished the 1904 season with a record of 10 wins, 0 losses and 0 ties. Michigan won their third consecutive national championship and Western Conference title. They outscored their opponents by a margin of 567 to 22. According to the Wikipedia article linked below, the “point-a-minute” men actually had a scoring average of one point every 50.3 seconds. So they were even better than advertised in 1904. So, Fielding Yost said that he loved “Meeshegan” and he backed up those words with the 130-0 win over his alma mater. After Yost destroyed West Virginia, he was probably kicked out of the West Virginia University Alumni Association for his dominant win over WVU. However, this impressive victory is still the biggest winning margin in Wolverine Football History. It also proved to everyone who knew Fielding Yost that he was a “Meeshegan Man” for life! Go Blue! http://bentley.umich.edu/athdept/football/fbteam/1904fbt.htm Part II. October 22, 2020 National Day Calendar Update:

Posted on October 21, 2020 by Barry Gallagher Today is a very good day to wish Happy Birthday to Bob and Rick Stites. The Stites brothers are not the first set of twins to play football at Michigan, but they may have the “Bluest” blood of any Michigan Men to ever play for the Wolverines. Bob and Rick Stites were born on this date in Ann Arbor, Michigan. They played football right across the street from the Big House at Ann Arbor Pioneer High School. They probably started dreaming of playing football for the Wolverines before they came out of their dear mother’s womb! Part I. Wolverines of the Day: Bob and Rick Stites: According to the 1987 Michigan Roster, Bob and Rick Stites, both linebackers, did not earn any starts in their final year at Michigan. In fact, they didn’t earn much playing time, if any, on game days. The Stites brothers earned their Michigan letters for the work they did on the practice fields. So, today’s post is really a celebration of their careers and what they symbolize for the Michigan football program. A few years ago, I purchased a copy of a book titled, “Enthusiasm Unknown to Mankind” by Coach Jim Harbaugh and photographer David Turnley. I loved the book and really enjoyed the photographs that were presented in the book. A number of Harbaugh’s thoughts caught my attention, especially when he talks about his love of football. For the Love of Football One of the things that struck me the most was a quote he shared from the legendary Fielding H. Yost. This is what Yost had to say in 1905 about the importance of players having a “love” for the game of football. “No man can be a football player who does not love the game. Half-heartedness or lack of earnestness will eliminate any man from a football team. The love of the game must be genuine. It is not a devotion to a fad that makes men play football; it is because they enjoy their struggle.” (Principle # 13). I am certain that Bob and Rick Stites passed the Fielding Yost “test” for how much they loved the game and how much they loved Michigan. I am also sure that they had their struggles from 1984 to 1987. Remember, Bo Schembechler never promised any player a certain amount of playing time. He promised that they would be given the opportunity to compete for positions and playing time − that was it! And yes, he did promise that “Those who stay will be champions.” Bob and Rick Stites Loved Michigan Football Another thing that Bo did was make his players feel like they were part of the team and part of something much bigger than themselves. Upon his arrival in 1969, Bo changed the team photograph protocol. Prior to Schembechler, every “official” team photo of a Michigan football team was taken at the end of the season. This timeless picture was reserved for letter winners only! Bo’s first team photo in 1969 had every player who made it through fall practice. I love it because “The Team, The Team, The Team” was not just a slogan for Bo Schembechler. It was the way he did his business. He knew that he had to have every player on board, not just the letter winners! It seems like such a little thing, but it made a really BIG difference in Bo’s football program. Bob and Rick Stites 1985 Bob and Rick Stites Became Champions – For Life! So, even though they didn’t play a lot on Saturdays, the Stites brothers did what Bo and the coaching staff needed them to do. They probably spent a lot of time getting banged around on the scout team, ouch! Bob and Rick Stites came to practice, did their jobs and stayed with Bo for the long haul. Michigan will always need great players like Jim Harbaugh and John “Jumbo” Elliott. However, for every Harbaugh they will need ten men like Bob Stites. And, for every Elliott they will need ten more men like Rick Stites. The All-Americans and All-Conference players will always be needed at Michigan, but men like the Stites brothers are the core. You can’t do anything without a strong core, got it? In the end, Bob and Rick Stites, loved football and they loved Michigan. They both lettered (1987) on a Bo Schembechler football team. They were part of a Big Ten Championship football team (1986) and contributed to the 1985 team that finished second in the nation. When they graduated, they also had a friend for life named Glenn Edward Schembechler! I know that Bo Schembechler would love what these two outstanding M” Men” have done with their lives! Bob and Rick Stites – Michigan Men and Bo Men! Congratulations to Bob and Rick Stites on their Michigan football careers. They are a part of a very long Maize and Blue line that goes all the way back to 1879. I know the Stites “twins” are doing well. Happy birthday Bob and Rick Stites. Go Blue! Check out the links below to read about their post-football lives and Bob’s role with the University of Michigan Letter Winners Club. Good stuff! http://www.mgoblue.com/genrel/061414aaa.html Part II. October 21, 2020 National Day Calendar Update:

Posted on October 20, 2020 by Barry Gallagher Okay, today we jump way, way back in time to remember George C. Schemm who died on this day in 1904. George Schemm was another Michigan “Pigskin Pioneer” from Saginaw, Michigan. He played on Team #5 back in the early, early days of Michigan rugby/football. (Note – George Schemm is shown in this 1884 photo of the Michigan football team. He is the first player on the left in the third row. He is leaning against the man in the black suit. Photo courtesy of the Bentley Historical Library at The University of Michigan.) Part I. Wolverine of the Day: George C. Schemm A Michigan “Mystery Man” I could only find Schemm’s name on one Michigan roster and that was in 1884. He was listed as a “forward” which was like a lineman in the early days. There is a good chance that he was a pretty tough guy to play that position on the team. George Schemm started both games of the short two game season in 1884. Both games were played in the month of November for the first time in Michigan football history. It was also the first time that an entire season was played at “Home” at the Fairgrounds. Under first year captain, Horace G. Prettyman, the Wolverines finished the season with a perfect record of 2 wins, 0 losses and 0 ties. The first win was against Albion. Final score: Michigan 18 Albion 0. The second win was against a club team from the University of Chicago. Final score: Michigan 18 and Chicago Club 10. Captain Horace G. Prettyman led George C. Schemm and the rest of the Wolverine Football team to a successful season in 1884. Photo courtesy of the Bentley Historical Library at The University of Michigan. So, Michigan, which had not had a winning season since 1880, was back on a winning track. The program record after the 1884 season stood at 6 wins, 6 losses and 1 tie. Michigan was not yet the “Champions of the West,” but they were improving and the best was yet to come! A Michigan Man to the End! There isn’t a lot of information about George Schemm. Apparently, he graduated from Michigan in 1885 and went on to earn a medical degree. He returned to Saginaw to practice medicine. Sadly, he died at the age of forty-two. Today is a good day for Wolverine fans to remember George C. Schemm on the anniversary of his death one hundred-fifteen years ago. May he rest in peace! Go Blue! If you want to learn a little bit more about George C. Schemm and the 1884 Michigan football team go to the Wikipedia and Bentley Library links below. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1884_Michigan_Wolverines_football_team http://bentley.umich.edu/athdept/football/fbteam/1884fbt.htm  Part II. October 20, 2020 National Day Calendar Update:

Posted on October 17, 2020 by Barry Gallagher Today is a great day to celebrate the happy birthday anniversary of a Wolverine record setter named Ron Johnson. According to the Wikipedia article linked below, Ronald Adolphis “Ron” Johnson was born on this day in 1947 at Detroit, Michigan. He grew up in Detroit and attended Northwestern High School where he became a star athlete on the football and baseball teams. In 1965, Bump Elliott offered Johnson a chance to play for the Michigan Wolverines and Ron accepted. The rest, as they say, is history! (Note – Ron Johnson (#40), shown above, had his greatest day against Wisconsin in 1968. Wow! Photo courtesy of the Bentley Historical Library at The University of Michigan.) Part I. Wolverine of the Day: Ron Johnson Ron Johnson arrived in Ann Arbor in the fall of 1965. Like every other freshman on the team, he practiced and did his best to learn how to play “Michigan Football.” Coach Elliott had some experienced seniors at running back in 1966, so, Ron Johnson did not play much in 1966. He only had 12 carries for 44 yards. However, he did earn a letter on a team that finished with a final record of 6 wins and 4 losses. A Starter and MVP in 1967 The talented Johnson earned a starting job in Bump Elliott’s backfield in 1967. In his third start, he broke the Michigan and Big Ten Conference single game rushing record with 270 yards on 26 carries in a 21-26 loss to Navy. Johnson finished the season with 982 yards on 210 carries. He averaged 4.7 yards per carry and scored 6 touchdowns. He earned All-Conference honors with his stellar play and was named the Most Valuable Player of the 1967 Michigan Football team. Unfortunately, the Wolverines ended the season with a final record of 4 wins and 5 losses.Ron Johnson was a Captain, team MVP, All-Big Ten and All-American in 1868 – Wow! A Captain, MVP and All-American in 1968 Captain Ron Johnson was back for his senior season in 1968. He was the first African-American captain in the history of the Michigan Football program. He was also a marked man because he was the best running back in the Big Ten. Defensive coordinators stayed up late during “Michigan Week” because they had to have a good plan to stop Ron Johnson. As it turned out, only two teams really stopped Ron Johnson in 1968. He only rushed for 48- yards against California and totaled 51 against Illinois. He gained 84-yards against Minnesota and 91 at Ohio State. Ron also had four 100-yard games along with one 200-yard game and his best – a 347-yard effort against Wisconsin. Yes, he had a great season. Johnson’s outstanding season helped Michigan finish with a record of 8 wins and 2 losses. Ron Johnson’s Michigan Football “Firsts” The best way to summarize Ron Johnson’s illustrious Michigan career is to document some of the important “firsts” that connect him to Michigan Football. Finally, Ron Johnson was also the first African-American player to be a Captain, Most Valuable Player, All-Conference and All-American in a single season. Oh yes, he was also the first African-American player to be a two-time team MVP (1967 and 1968). Yes, Ron Johnson was a great player and a better man. He quietly waited his turn, then, went on to enjoy a record-setting Michigan Football career. Today is a wonderful day to appreciate Mr. Johnson’s contributions to the great history of Michigan Football. To read more about Ron Johnson’s life in the NFL check out the link below. Sadly, if you read the article below, Ron Johnson’s 70th birthday celebration will probably not be as happy as he, and his family, would like. If you are the “praying type” a nice prayer for Ron, and his family, would be a good thing for this great Michigan Man today. Go Blue! Part II. October 17, 2020 National Day Calendar Update:

Posted on October 15, 2020 by Barry Gallagher Part I. Michigan vs Albion 1886 Today’s post takes a look at Michigan vs Albion in 1886. Albion? You mean that little school in west Michigan? Yes, that Albion. The early years of Michigan football were random to say the least. Schedules were made weeks and months, not years, ahead of the game date. Rules had to be agreed on before every game because they varied greatly from team to team. Michigan never played more than five games in the first six years and they did that only once (1883). The Wolverines played three games twice (1881 and 1885). They played two game seasons in 1879 and 1884. They had a one game season in 1880. In 1885 the Wolverines played a club team from Windsor, Ontario in a home and home series. They won both games by scores of 10-0 in Windsor and 30-0 in Ann Arbor. The Wolverines finished the season with a win (42-0) over a team from Detroit called the Peninsulars. So, a precedent had been set and team Captain Horace G. Prettyman looked to play another team twice in 1886. This time the games would be played against Albion College. Both teams agreed to a home and home format. It is unknown if Prettyman tried to arrange any more games for the 1886 season. The Last of the “Two Game” Seasons – Michigan vs Albion 1886: The entire 1886 football season was played against the same team (Albion) for the first and only time in Michigan football history. This was also the only Wolverine football season where the entire “season” was played in the month of October. It would also be the second and last two-game season in Michigan Football history. The first game of the season was played in Albion on Saturday, October 16, 1886. Michigan won the first game in Albion by a score of 50-0. Game two was played two weeks later in Ann Arbor on October 30, 1886. The Wolverines treated their guests from Albion a little nicer or maybe Albion just played better. Michigan still won by a score of 24-0. If you think about it, the Wolverines probably practiced for a couple weeks and then played two games in three weeks. That is a very, very short season by today’s standards. One final point about the 1886 season was that it was the last season of the Captain Horace G. Prettyman Era. Horace Prettyman (pictured to the right) is the only man in Michigan football history to captain Wolverine football teams for three consecutive years (1884 to 1886). Prettyman’s teams finished with a three-year record of 7 wins, 0 losses and 0 ties. He was/is the first and only Michigan captain/coach to have three straight winning seasons.  As interest in college football continued to grow, so did the schedule. In 1890 the Wolverines played five games for the second time in two years. When professional coaches were hired in 1891 the schedule was expanded to nine games. It hit twelve games in 1892 and ten games in 1893. So, 1886 was the last of the two game seasons. Things are much different now, aren’t they?                    http://bentley.umich.edu/athdept/football/fbteam/1885fbt.htm Part II. October 16, 2020 National Day Calendar Update: 

Posted on October 14, 2020 by Barry Gallagher Today’s post celebrates the birth of a Michigan Man named Greg McMurtry. According to the Wikipedia article linked below, Ryan Wendell “Greg” McMurtry was born on this day in Jackson, Mississippi. He came to Ann Arbor from Brockton, Massachusetts. McMurtry was an outstanding athlete at Brockton High School and turned down a professional baseball contract to play football for Michigan and Bo Schembechler. (Note – Greg McMurtry (#1) is shown above scoring a touchdown against Long Beach State in 1987. Photo courtesy of the Bentley Historical Library at The University of Michigan.) Part I. Wolverine of the Day: Greg McMurtry He Wore #1 As a Highly Touted Freshman! Greg McMurtry’s arrival at Michigan in 1986 drew some immediate attention when he was given jersey #1 to wear as a freshman. The #1 jersey had not been worn by a Michigan receiver since the departure of Anthony Carter in 1982. Schembechler must have thought McMurtry was good enough to wear it and that is all that counted. A couple of interesting notes about jersey #1 at Michigan. The first Wolverine to ever wear #1 at Michigan was an end turned offensive tackle named Angus Goetz. Mr. Goetz wore the jersey during the 1919 and 1920 season and helped make it famous by being a two-time Michigan captain as well as an All-American in 1920. Paul Goebel was actually the first true “receiver” to wear jersey #1 in 1922. Goebel was an excellent player who was an All-American in 1921 and a Michigan Captain in 1922. Another famous Michigan player named Harry Kipke also wore jersey #1 for his final season as a Michigan Captain in 1923. Kipke played halfback at Michigan, but seemed to wear the jersey well. Other players wore the #1 jersey over the years, but it really didn’t become “famous” until Anthony Carter did his magic in that jersey from 1978 to 1981. Greg McMurtry makes another leaping catch against Iowa in 1987. Photo courtesy of the Bentley Historical Library at The University of Michigan. No Pressure, Right? So, Greg McMurtry probably felt that he had some “big shoes” to fill with #1 on his back. No pressure, right? As it turned out, Greg McMurtry was not a three-time All-American, like Anthony Carter, but he was an excellent player on some very good Michigan Football teams. He worked his way into five starts as a freshman and just kept getting better every year. He played within Bo’s offense, blocked when he was supposed to block and caught just about everything that the Michigan quarterbacks threw at him. McMurtry wasn’t so good that he saw the ball eight to ten times a game. However, he was good enough to start thirty-nine games in four years and put up some solid numbers along the way.  Check out his numbers at Michigan: Season Starts Catches Yards Touchdowns 1986 5 22 508 0 1987 12 21 474 5 1988 10 27 470 3 1989 12 41 711 7 Totals 39 111 2,163 15 McMurtry Left as a Champion, Just Like Bo Promised The best thing about Greg McMurtry was that he fit perfectly into what Bo needed him to do. As you can see from the numbers above, he was consistent. However, he led the team in receiving stats in 1989 because that’s what Bo and the team needed him to do. Greg McMurtry’s best game as a Wolverine receiver was against Minnesota in 1989. He caught seven balls that totaled one hundred sixty-five yards. Three of his catches went for touchdowns in a 49-15 Michigan win. He also had a pretty good game against Maryland in 1989. He made five catches for one-hundred twenty-six yards against the Terrapins and helped Michigan secure a 41-21 victory! Greg McMurtry came in when Bo was the head coach at Michigan and he went out with the legendary Schembechler after the 1989 season. McMurtry was fortunate to play on some very good teams from 1986 to 1989. The Wolverines posted a record of 38 wins, 10 losses and 1 ties during that period. They won three Big Ten titles for Bo, including two in a row at the end (1988 and 1989). Greg McMurtry also played in two winning bowl games (1988 & 1989) where he had three catches, but no touchdowns. I enjoyed watching Greg McMurtry play at Michigan − that’s for sure! I hope that he has a great time on his special day today! Thank you, Greg, for your contributions to the great history of Michigan Football. You stayed, you played and you left as a champion! Congratulations and Go Blue! https://youtube.com/watch?v=7c5Pd923GOw%3Ffeature%3Doembed Thanks to the Wolverine Historian for the nine-minute Greg McMurtry highlight tribute. To read more about Greg and his NFL career go to the Wikipedia article linked below: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greg_McMurtry Part II. October 15, 2020 National Day Calendar Update:

Today is a great day to wish “Happy Birthday to a Wolverine named Jerry Quaerna. Jerold Oscar “Jerry” Quaerna was born on this day near Janesville, Wisconsin. He was a very good football player in high school. In fact, he was good enough to earn a scholarship to play offensive line for the University of Michigan Wolverines. (Note – Jerry Quaerna (#75)  is seated in the second row. He is the fourth person from the right side of the picture. His former roommate, Jim Harbaugh (#4) is almost dead center in the first row. 1986 Team photo courtesy of the Bentley Historical Library at The University of Michigan.) Part I. Wolverine of the Day: Jerry Quaerna A Slow Start in Ann Arbor Quaerna came to Ann Arbor in 1982 to play for Bo Schembechler. Like most freshman offensive lineman who played for Bo, he was redshirted in his first year to get “big” enough to play against the “big boys” in the Big Ten. At 6’ 5” and 250 pounds, Jerry was not quite ready to line up against the “men” who played defensive line for Wisconsin, Michigan State, Ohio State, and the rest of the Big Ten Conference. Unfortunately, getting bigger and stronger wasn’t Quaerna’s only challenge. Bo’s football teams always had plenty of talented offensive lineman on the roster. Competition on the offensive line was always tough. It is especially difficult when you are competing against All-Big Ten and All-American caliber talent (Clay Miller and John Elliott) like Jerry had to do. So, like so many players who came before him, he figured out his role and lived up to it as best he could. He did everything the coaches asked him to do and became a solid back-up player for the Wolverines. He went to the weight room and let Mike Gittleson “grow” him to 282 pounds of people moving power. According to the 1986 Michigan Team Roster, Quaerna also grew two inches (6’ 7”) during his time at Michigan. Jerry Quaerna played football for Bo Schembechler and Michigan from 1982 to 1986. He left as a Big Ten Champion, just like Bo promised. Photo courtesy of the Bentley Historical Library at The University of Michigan. A Bigger, Stronger “Q” Earned Playing Time in 1985 and 1986 Jerry Quaerna’s hard work earned him some valuable of playing time in 1985 and 1986. He started two games in each season at offensive tackle while playing behind Miller and Elliott. Another thing that Jerry Quaerna earned at Michigan was a great nickname. His teammates simply called him “Q” which may have had something to do with the James Bond movies of the day.  He also roomed with a guy named Jim Harbaugh twice. Harbaugh and “Q” were roommates as Freshman and again as fifth year seniors. So, here are some interesting questions about “Q.” Some Great Trivia Questions About “Q” Question #1. How many football players in Michigan football history have a one-letter nickname. Answer: Not too many, but Jerry Quaerna is one of them! Question #2. How many Michigan football players know Jim Harbaugh better than Jerry Quaerna? Answer: Not too many! Jerry Quarena played on some very good football teams in Ann Arbor (1983, 1985 and 1986). He also  played on the 1984 team, which may have been the most injury-prone team in Bo Schembechler’s entire coaching career. Jerry and his teammates showed a lot of grit and were good enough to win thirty-six games, a Big Ten Championship (1986) and finish second in the nation in 1985. As the singing duo, Montgomery Gentry, would say “that’s something to be proud of!”  Hopefully, Jerry “Q” Quaerna is home in Wisconsin celebrating his birthday with family and friends. Have a Go Blue Day Jerry and thanks for your contributions to the history of the winningest program in college football history! Click on the links below to learn more about the life and times of Michigan Man Jerry Quaerna. Read his “Roomie with a View” stories about Jim Harbaugh in the second link below. Good stuff! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerry_Quaerna http://mgoblog.com/content/roomie-view–-excerpt-take-job-and-love-it Part II. October 9, 2020 National Day Calendar Update:

Today is a good day to take a look at Game #2 in the Michigan vs Michigan Agricultural football series. Yes, I know that the Michigan vs Michigan Sate is still a few weeks away, but I love talking about the 1902 game because it is the biggest Michigan win in the long history of this bitter football rivalry. The Michigan vs Michigan Agricultural game in 1902 was a complete mismatch. Let’s go back, way back to October 8, 1902 to discuss the “biggest win” or the “worst loss” in Michigan vs Michigan State series history. (Note-The 1902 Michigan Wolverines, shown above, won the conference and national championship. They also destroyed Michigan Agricultural College (MAC) by a score of 119-0. Photo courtesy of the Bentley Historical Library at The University of Michigan.) Background Information: The second game between The University of Michigan and Michigan Agricultural College (MAC) was scheduled for Regent’s Field in Ann Arbor on Wednesday, October 8th. Yes, you read it right, a Wednesday! This contest was the third game of Michigan’s eleven game season. Michigan had already defeated Albion and Case by a combined score of 136 to 6. So, they headed into this game riding a thirteen-game winning streak. MAC lost their opening game against Notre Dame (33-0), but won against Detroit by a score of 11-0. The big question was, “Were the Aggies ready to compete with the mighty Wolverines?” I could not identify any particular issues that  added any intensity to the level of “in-state hate” in 1902. The Aggies were still looking for respect on the football field and Michigan was looking to keep rolling over every team that dared to step on the same field with Yost’s Wolverines. Second year coach, Fielding Yost had already earned a reputation for running up the score on his opponents with the worst being a 128-0 thrashing of Buffalo in 1901. The Aggies probably arrived in Ann Arbor with high hopes, but also some trepidation.  Would they be able to stop, or at least slow down, Yost’s “Point-a-Minute” juggernaut? Michigan vs Michigan Agricultural 1902 – Game Summary: The second game definitely turned out worse than expected for the Aggies, much worse! Yes, the Aggie players may have thought that their chances for an upset were slim, but a final score of 119-0 was probably quite a shock! The Aggies were probably relieved when they learned that two of Michigan’s stars (Willie Heston and Everett Sweely) would not play on October 8th.) However, it didn’t matter. The substitutes stepped up nicely and contributed to a display of “fast break” football that stands as one of the greatest games in Michigan Football history. Yes, on this day, Michigan destroyed Michigan Agricultural! There is no way to sugarcoat this loss. Eight different Michigan players scored at least one touchdown and kicker James Lawrence probably had a sore toe from kicking 19 points after touchdown. Albert Herrnstein (7) Herb Graver (3) and Paul Dickey (3) each had more touchdowns than the Aggies had first downs (3). It was just ugly. Here is the box score for the game: As bad as the game turned out, it actually could have been worse! The rules of the day called for the game to be played in a pair of twenty-minute halves. Yost and Denman agreed to halt the game with two minutes remaining. Michigan’s “point-a-minute” team actually scored 119 points in 38 minutes so they averaged 3.1 points per minute in this game  ̶  ouch! Also, a touchdown was only worth five points at this time, but increased to six points in 1912. If the scoring rule had changed sooner the final score would have been 139-0! Team 1st Half 2nd Half Total MAC 0 0 0 UM 71 48 119 It Could Have Been Worse As bad as the game turned out, it actually could have been worse! The rules of the day called for the game to be played in a pair of twenty-minute halves. Yost and Denman agreed to halt the game with two minutes remaining. Michigan’s “point-a-minute” team actually scored 119 points in 38 minutes so they averaged 3.1 points per minute in this game  ̶  ouch! Also, a touchdown was only worth five points at this time, but increased to six points in 1912. If the scoring rule had changed sooner the final score would have been 139-0!  This was the last time that Yost would see Denman since he was replaced at the end of the season. So, after two games Michigan had outscored the Aggies by one hundred and fifty-eight points and the Aggies had nothing but goose eggs in the scorebook. Definitely, a rough start for the boys from East Lansing. The Aggies had to be wondering if they would ever be able to match the mighty Wolverines on the football field. (Of course, they no longer think that way!) Michigan vs Michigan Agricultural (Michigan State) Series Milestones and Firsts: As it turned out the second game between Michigan and MAC had some interesting “firsts” and a couple milestones as well. Here they are: This was also the last time that both teams played on Regents/Old Ferry Field. It was also the last time they played on a Wednesday. Again, this was the most lopsided game in the history of the two-game series, but it would never again be this bad for the Aggies. Some tough games were still to come, but Michigan Agricultural College would make some changes and come back for more. Defeated yes, discouraged no! Season Summaries 1902: The Wolverines romped through their remaining games and finished the season with another perfect record of 11 wins, 0 losses and 0 ties. Although the Aggie game was the season scoring high, ost’s team did score 107 points against Iowa and hammered Ohio State by a score of 86-0. Michigan finished the season with 644 points and only allowed 12 points. Yes, Michigan destroyed Michigan Agricultural, but they also blasted everybody else! Yost’s footballers