Game recap: Michigan vs. Air Force, 9/8/12

As I mentioned yesterday, I was able to score a pair of free tickets so Jeff and I could see Michigan's home opener against Air Force in-person.  We made it in plenty of time, the weather was literally perfect, and in the end we got to enjoy a very enjoyable (if extremely uncertain) Michigan win.  Some photos, highlights and comments:

Pregame:

As we awaited game time, we were reminded once again that this is Team 133.  The previous meeting with Air Force, by the way, was a Michigan win in 1964 (which was also the home--and season--opener). 

The band, of course, doing what they do best. 

Michigan legend Bennie Oosterbaan is the latest player to have his number "un-retired" in the form of a Legends jersey.  LB Jake Ryan graciously accepted the number and then proceeded to pretty much play the game of his life, coming up big in multiple spots in a close game.  By the way, if the name sounds familiar that's because Adam of MCM very awesomely sent his RC to me way back in January.

"We are #1; all others are number two and lower."  --The Sphinx, Mystery Men 

Denard leads the team out to touch the banner! 

Ridiculously awesome flyover during the National Anthem as this was some sort of Military Appreciation Week.  We were also treated to an eagle flying while the music played, but I didn't do a good enough job of snapping a picture of that. 

Unlike Ohio, we can spell.  That's the Michigan Difference©

The Game:

Kickoff.  Most of them ended up being touchbacks, and I'm not sure how much I really care for the new rule that brings them out to the 25. 

Denard scores on Michigan's second offensive play, a 79-yard run.  No surprise as he was the show again today with 20 carries for 218 yards and two scores, plus 14/25 passing for 208 yards and another two TDs.  He'd later tack on a 58-yard TD to start the second half after a brilliant kickoff return by freshman Dennis Norfleet.

Running out of the shotgun, I believe in the second quarter. 

KRs Drew Dileo (at the 11) and Dennis Norfleet await a kickoff. 

After Jeff and I enjoyed being in the shade for a while, it clouded up (but never rained), meaning the lights came on.  I reminded him that we were undefeated Under the Lights. 

Halftime:

The Air Force and Michigan bands put on an excellent halftime show, including "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy."  What I learned today:  apparently I love a girl in uniform!

 At one point the girls started tap dancing on those tiny boxes, which looked great.

AMERICA!  FUCK YEAH!

Second half: 

Denard's aforementioned TD after the outstanding Norfleet kick return to open the half.  "24 seconds" is misleading since it doesn't include the time the return took--what I'm saying here is that Denard is FAST. 

The only time Michigan Stadium ISN'T the home of the largest crowd watching college football on a given day is whenever we're not playing.  As I joked to friends later, that's more people than Buckeyes and Spartans can count!

Quick game recap:
Michigan looked a bit lost early against the Falcons' gimmicky triple-option, but after a long Air Force drive stalled with a missed FG, Denard took the second play to the house, and it looked like the ghosts of last week might have left the building.  The defense, however, continued to have a roller coaster of a game trying to defend everyone that could possible get the ball.  The Wolverines were bailed out when a wide-open Falcon bobbled a wide-open pass with nobody withing 30 yards of him, then fell to the turf.  Still, the defense showed some good flashes against an offensive scheme they won't see again.  And multiple times with the game in doubt, they came up huge when they needed to in the 4th quarter.

The offense was as much of an enigma with the usual display of dropped passes combined with great ones; awesome throws by Denard coupled with multiple "what was he seeing?"-type plays; Denard with all the success running and a surprising failure of the O-line to get anything going for Fitz Toussaint.  Fortunately Robinson ended up with the only turnover of the game, a pick that was the result of a high pass off a WRs hands and grabbed by Air Force.  Unfortunately, he couldn't keep things going consistently enough to give Michigan a comfortable lead.  Poor clock management by the team at the end of the first half didn't help either.

But in the end, we got what we expected:  a video game stats-type day out of Denard and another win for the Maize and Blue.  It was a fun experience as always, and I wanted to leave a few notes as well:

• First and foremost, I'm very proud of our fans for doing so much to make the Air Force team and fans feel welcome.  This includes cheering (NOT booing) when the team was announced, and even giving an amazing standing ovation to all the service men and women at the game--probably the signature moment of the experience for me.
• More credit is due to the Air Force band who, as small as they were, made themselves heard.  I also shouldn't forget their fans who traveled well and made sure to make some noise as well.  Kudos!
• It took me longer than it should have to realize this was the first time I'd ever seen Denard play in-person.  If you think he looks fast on TV, you should see him live!
• Like that new beer commercial points out, superstitions aren't weird if they work:  with Air Force killing us on 3rd downs all game, and with Michigan only up 6 points late in the 4th, I started sitting (when everyone else was standing) on key 3rd and 4th downs, which I think Brady Hoke will note was the difference when it counted the most.  Happy to do whatever it takes to help, coach.
• There's still nowhere else I'd rather be watching a live football game in the entire world.  Ann Arbor > everywhere else!

A very Wolverines Super Bowl trade post featuring My Cardboard Mistress

As you hopefully saw over on Too Many Verlanders, I received a ridiculously great trade package from Adam of My Cardboard Mistress, including some excellent baseball stuff.  But that's not all he sent--not by a LONG shot.  Besides sending me some trade stuff in return for what I had already sent him, he included my winnings from our friendly Sugar Bowl bet.  Since I need to get this post done in time to be ready for the big game, here's a look at Adam's profound sense of generosity and good sportedness:

Holy crap that's a lot of stuff!  The book, which set Adam back a whole dollar, is one I surprisingly didn't have, though I have read it before.  Bacon teaches here and is one of the best Michigan sportswriters ever.  His controversial Three and Out is the benchmark for inside football writing and may never be equaled due to his unprecedented access.  If you want to learn the truth about the Michigan/RichRod saga instead of listening to the irresponsibly "researched" bullshit hit job that the Detroit Free Press, and subsequently the rest of the mainstream media, pinched off, please check that out.  As for this book, I look forward to reading it again since the combination of Bacon and one of my school's greatest legends ever is irresistible.  An auspicious start, to say the least.
Instead of waiting until the end to show my favorites from this package, I'm going to show them off now so I don't risk losing those of you who are relatively uninterested in the rest.  I knew Adam was sending one of these, but the other was a total surprise, and I'm still surprised and thrilled by these:

These are 1955 Topps All American RCs of Wolverine greats Bennie Oosterbaan and Harry Newman.  Oosterbaan should sound familiar to any Michigan fan, especially ones who've strolled by the athletic campus past his eponymous Field House.  He coached the Maize and Blue to the 1948 national title and was a phenomenal three-sport athlete and coach who earned his way to the College Football HOF.  Though he played a slightly different position, his card back's description makes him sound a little like Braylon Edwards in his prime at Michigan.

Newman is a guy I didn't really know as well, but as the back of his card states, he QBed Michigan to three (Big Ten) titles, and Wikipedia reveals that he lost just once, going 24-1-2 in his three years.  The back also makes him sound like he went all Denard in his final three games.  He also went on to play for the Giants and threw the NFL championship game's first TD pass, which is pretty cool, though I hope it's a Patriots Wolverine who comes out on top in today's Super Bowl!

I have to say I absolutely love these cards.  The Oosterbaan was actually Adam's idea, and I quickly agreed to it as the loot from our bet, so it was out of his generosity that I also now have the Newman.  He pointed out that these are the cheapest of the handful of Wolverines in the set, but that doesn't matter since it's spurred me to try to pick them up in the future.  I've also created a Michigan RCs album, to which I'll be adding soon with a future post.  I absolutely love the look (and age) of these classic cards, and literally my only gripe is that atrocious "wolverine" logo on the front.  YEESH!
And now, the rest of my Wolverines haul:

The one Michigan baseball card in the package, a Drew Henson Just Promo from 2001, a very cool add to my baseball PC.

Three of my favorites:  a #d Leon Hall RC, a rare (for my collection) Leroy Hoard card from Collector's Edge, and a similarly rare Ernest Shazor RC.

Some very nice Braylon Edwardses, and not even every single one he sent me.

A winner from last year's title game, Charles Woodson, including a very interesting Playoff Contenders leather card.

A former Giant who's therefore not in tonight's game, Amani "IT'S NOT A" Toomer.  My favorite is the Topps All American, a card in the style of the two above.

Another former Giant, Michigan RB legend Tyrone Wheatley.  The Playoff card is actually very nice, with an almost metallic look to it, but the real winner here is the Fractal Matrix card.

And finally, my hopeful Super Bowl winner for tonight, Tom Brady.  I love the XFractor from 2009.

So there you have it, one of the best trade packages I've ever received.  Thanks again, Adam, for some great stuff, especially the book and the '55s!

Good luck to both teams in tonight's Super Bowl, and may the best team win, but either way, Michigan fans will be rewarded with yet another pair of rings.  GO BLUE!