After a bit of a lull on eBay, action has picked up a bit. I typically stick to Michigan memorabilia but as of late there’s been some doozies from our rivals, including the Biggie Munn stuff I covered a bit back.

We’ll now turn south to Columbus as someone with a collection of old letters from the great Woody Hayes has been posting auctions as of late. This one might be the best eBay Watch item of the year.

It’s a missive crafted by Dr. Strangehayes himself with a recipe for success in this tough world:

I LOVE THIS! With all respect for the late Buckeye legend and Bo’s mentor, old Woody was a true beauty. For students at Ohio State Woody’s advice might be spot on: don’t rest on the laurels of a degree from Columbus.

And while there’s certainly something for achieving a balance in life, the occasional bookworm has emerged from the library to go on to better things:

If you love this as much as I do, here’s a pdf copy that’ll print nicely.

Happy 4th to everyone. Enjoy this photo from Onekama, Michigan, looking out over Lake Michigan:

MVictors once again was a distinguished beverage sponsor at this year’s Golf Classic benefiting the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF). The event, held at the incredible Franklin Hills Country Club, raised a bunch of money that will be used to cure this disease.

Channel 7’s sports director Don Shane was the celebrity chair, here he is with JDRF Detroit president Ron Dooley about to kick-off the event:

Quick take on Shane: outstanding guy and he did a great job as MC before and after the event.

You can learn more about JDRF and Type 1 diabetes here. Thanks for all the readers who support this site and its sponsors.

The Quad Blog over at the New York Times is running through its preseason college football capsules in what it calls The Quad Countdown. It’s worth checking out. Monday #60 Northwestern was featured with a few interesting factoids that I’ll pass along - enjoy these as you watch the clock crawl toward Thursday:

Tidbit: Northwestern and Penn State have the same Big Ten record over the last five years (19-21). This is the sixth-best mark in conference play since 2003, ahead of Minnesota and Michigan State (15-25), Indiana (9-31) and Illinois (8-32).

Tidbit (who knew edition): Only four Big Ten programs have had winning records against Northwestern since 1995: Ohio State (1-8), Michigan (3-8), Penn State (3-7) and Purdue (4-8). The Wildcats are at or above .500 against the rest of the conference: Indiana (7-2), Illinois (8-5), Iowa (6-5), Michigan State and Minnesota (5-4) and Wisconsin (5-5)

Tidbit (overtime edition): Northwestern is one of the best in the nation in overtime, tying Missouri for the most O.T. wins (8) in the F.B.S. since the division began playing the extra-session in 1996. The Wildcats are 7-0 at home and 4-0 in conference play when playing in overtime.

Michigan is also undefeated in overtime games since they added the rule, I actually witnessed the first four in person:

1. Alabama in the 2000 Orange Bowl
2. Penn State in 2002
3. MSU in the triple-overtime classic in 2004
4. Spartans again in 2005
5. Iowa in 2005

This really isn’t news - today’s Angelique Chengalis column announces that Michigan Replay is dead. We learned sometime this Spring that coach Rich Rodriguez didn’t like the post-game format, citing that having to do this show after a loss would be brutal. After watching the guy talk to the press after the Pitt loss last year you know where he’s coming from.

Replay has run since 1975 and Michigan radio color man Jimmy Brandstatter has hosted the show for the past 28. He’ll continue to do the show in whatever form it takes, likely some type of pre-game deal. I vote for a SNL ‘Super Fans’ round table with all Ditka references replaced with Bo until Rodriguez gets going.

Take: This may be a surprise to a few of you, but while I respect the tradition of the show [here's Brandy with Bo after the Wanger to Carter IU game....unreal], the format is way past its prime. I realize that many of you made this a Sunday morning tradition, perhaps you and your Pops watched it together, etc., but it is time for a change.

In the 70s and 80s, seeing the highlights from the game was probably pretty special. Today you’ve already seen the highlights fifty times between Saturday night and Sunday morning. And while the player profiles sometimes yielded some nice info, the content of the back and forth between Carr and Brando was soft at best. Sharp or surprising quotes were scarce. It definitely wasn’t appointment television for me (ok, maybe after the Appalachian State game). I’m looking forward to the new format.

A very well done video of the Michigan Marching Band, with more camera angles than you can shake a baton at so dig it:

There’s many changes going on around the athletic campus, with much of the focus for obvious reasons on the Michigan Stadium renovation. MLive.com’s doing a nice job of publishing frequent updates on the project, here a nice photo from last week:

Just down the road another major project is going on that hasn’t got much attention: the new football practice facility. Those in Ann Arbor know of this because you can’t miss it. The frame of the enormous structure, which is built on the site of the old outdoor practice field and the varsity soccer pitch, now dominates the skyline along State Street and it towers over Schembechler Hall. For those out of town I thought you might enjoy of few shots, click to see enlarge:

[Show as slideshow]

Here’s a few details on the $26.1 million project from mgoblue.com:

The new football facility, approximately 104,000 gross square feet to be built on an existing outdoor practice field, is expected to include a full-size football field, lobby, restrooms and storage space. Approximately 3,000 gross square feet of space in Schembechler Hall will be renovated as part of the project.

Whoa! That’s a lot of gross square feet (I think). I don’t think the soccer pitch was a big loss. I used to occasionally walk by that thing after football games and always felt it was terrible. My lawn has fewer contours and holes. Last I heard they’re building the new soccer field near the tennis center just up the road.

Here’s a bit more on the football facility from umich.edu including a depiction of the finished product (and judging by the SUVs, drafted sometime prior to the gas crisis):

The building is expected to be completed in 2009.

As part of their NBA draft coverage, SI.com took a look back at some of the highlights and lowlights of draftee fashion. Unquestionably the freshest, Jalen in 1994 in his candy stripes:

SI also signaled out Maurice Taylor’s icey blue suit in 1997.

When I spotted Detroit Pistons GM Joe Dumars at the Indiana game in Ann Arbor this season I figured he was checking out the ridiculous Eric Gordon..this guy:

He probably was, but it looks like someone else in the Crimson and Cream impressed Joe D as he sat courtside:

Yep, Dumars ended up selecting Hoosier forward D.J. White last night in the NBA draft and it was that night that probably sold him. In just 31 minutes of action, White tallied the first 20-20 night for an IU player in a decade, racking up 21 points and 22 rebounds right in front of Dumars.

UPDATE: As noted in the comment, Dumars didn’t fall too far in love, as he traded him away!

As we approach kick-off against Utah August 30th, the great M blog Maize & Brew is counting down the 100 reasons why Ann Arbor is cool. I don’t know if ‘Political Correctness’ would qualify, but here’s a good example of the beauties in this town.

It started with Zingerman’s Deli hosting what was purportedly referred to as an “Ypsitucky Supper“, although there’s some dispute over at Zingerman’s HQ over whether they authorized the name. The dinner was intended to be a tribute to the folks that migrated to Michigan from the south to work on the auto assembly line, centering around the work of author Harriet Arnow who’s book “The Dollmaker,” (which later became a move) involved this area and Ypsituckians.

All this said, the term “Ypsitucky” is probably most often used these days to poke fun despite the wishes of some of the area elite. Upon getting word on the name of the event, Ypsitucky mayor called it “a pejorative term” and councilwoman Lois Richardson said it is “derogatory.” A string of apologies and denials by Zingerman’s brass followed, and people all over the area took up arms.

Enter Ann Arborite David Collins, who flipped things around a bit, expressing his disdain for those that would jump to the conclusion that the term is derogatory. In his letter to the Ann Arbor News, Collins puts the mayor on blast as he fights political correctness with equal and opposite political correctness back in everyone’s face:

Another reason to love Ann Arbor.

This photo pretty much summarizes the Tour without TW. It’s John Daly at the Buick Open here in Grand Blanc, Michigan. JD is smacking a tee shot off of a full can of beer, placed there by his playing partner: Kid Rock….

They also had a bearded lady in one of the corporate tents.

Elsewhere at the pro-am, Detroit Lions QB Jon Kitna was toting around a Buckeye golf bag. Apparently he’s got a standing bet with his good buddy- if OSU wins the Big Game, Kitna carries the bag. I’m unclear on the consequences if Michigan prevails as I’m not sure it’s happened since they started this thing.

Continuing Spartan football week on MVictors. Enjoy this beauty:

Zeke the Wonder Seal

I’m not sure what I’d do if someone started selling the personal effects of legendary Michigan coaches Fielding Yost or Fritz Crisler. Perhaps my head would explode.

In this installment of eBay Watch I stumbled upon someone selling a few items that were previously owned by arguably the greatest Michigan State football coach of all-time: Biggie Munn. The auctions include photos, a playbook, a gold Sparty replica (not chocolate inside) but these are my favorites: a pocket watch presented to him by the governor of Michigan, and a whistle described as the one Biggie carried during workouts before the 1954 Rose Bowl, dig:

Biggie wondering what time the bakeries close in Pasadena

The watch sold Sunday night for $500; the whistle for $89. As I kid growing up outside East Lansing I always knew the name Munn because of the hockey arena. I wonder how many kids in Ann Arbor only know the name Yost for the same reason?

So why’s a Spartan coach ending up on an MVictors post? Some of you may know that Biggie played for Fritiz Crisler at Minnesota and then coached under Crisler for a stint in Ann Arbor. A brief bio on Munn’s coaching career - check out his record at State:

Munn served as an assistant at Syracuse University in 1937 and at the University of Michigan from 1938 through 1944. He returned to Syracuse as head coach, winning 4 games and losing 5, before taking over at Michigan State in 1946.

Michigan State won all 9 of its games in both 1951 and 1952, and the winning streak stretched to 28 in 1953 before a 6-0 upset by Purdue. Munn was voted coach of the year in 1952, when his team was ranked first in the country.

The school had joined the Big Ten Conference in 1949 but wasn’t allowed to contend for the championship until 1953, when Michigan State and Illinois tied for the title. The conference voted to send Munn’s team to the Rose Bowl, where it beat UCLA 28-20. Munn was named athletic director in 1954 and he resigned his coaching job. His record in 7 seasons was 54-9-2.

Getting a watch that says you are “the greatest” from the governor is pretty cool an all, but it’s kind of like a Wizard presenting you with medal that says you’re courageous. But it begs the question - is Munn the greatest Spartan coach of all-time? To me it comes down to he and Munn’s assistant that took his place as the headman, the great Duffy Daugherty.

I think the proximity of Daugherty’s tenure would put his name at the top of the list for most Spartan fans today. I asked MVictors reader and guest columnist BiggieMunn (who else?) for his Top 5 Michigan State head football coaches. Here you go:

T5. Chester Brewer & John Macklin (1903-1919) 87-28-7
• These two Aggies coaches combined to lead MAC to 62 shutouts.
• Both doubled as baseball coach.
• Help put the football program on the map.

4. Charles Bachman (1933-1946) 70-34-10
• Played with Knute Rockne at Notre Dame & brought ND system to MSC.
• Four straight victories over UM (1934-37).
• Led MSC to first bowl game….1938 Orange Bowl.

3. George Perles (1983-1994) 68-67-4
• Architect of Steel Curtain defense. 4 Super Bowl rings with Steelers.
• Played and coached under Duffy Daugherty.
• Coached two Big Ten Champions (1987 & 1990)
• 1988 Rose Bowl Champions
• In 2007 donated $500,000 to help with Duffy Daugherty Football Building upgrade.

2. Duffy Daugherty (1954-1972) 109-69-5
• Coached 1966 Game of the Century, the infamous 10-10 tie vs. Notre Dame.
• Big Ten Champions 1965, 1966
• National Champions 1955, 1957, 1965, 1966
• Duffy quote, “When you are playing for a national championship, it’s not a matter of life and death. It’s more important than that.”

1. Clarence “Biggie” Munn (1947-1953) 54-9-2
• Only coached seven seasons.
• Big Ten Champions 1953 (inaugural year in conference)
• 1953 Rose Bowl Champions
• National Champions 1951, 1952
• MSU AD for 18 years.

Continue reading »

Like Carlin, the M-Zone:
* Has been around the block, started in 2005. That’s seven decades in blog years.
* Like to use the seven words you can’t use on television.
* Leaned heavily left
* Grew a little angrier in its later years
* Was hated by Buckeye fans that didn’t get the jokes
* Will be missed by legions of fans

Thanks to YouTube user ‘Shawn92101′ who posted this interesting video. Claims to be a turn of the nineteenth century look at Fielding Yost’s point-a-minute teams, in action versus the University of Chicago.

The film title claims this footage was from the game played in 1903 (which would have been the November 26, 1903 in Chicago where the Victors continued their reign of romp, running up 28 to Chicago’s 0). But I think they missed it:

Based on a panoramic game photo, it looks to me as though this game was played at FerryRegents Field, so I’d guess this is actually the 1904 game vs. Chicago that was played in Ann Arbor and the Wolverines won 22-12. Check it out:

Shawn snagged the video from the free database at the Library of Congress, which has a nice collection of photos and videos. Check it out here, search on Michigan football.