Michigan Football : All posts

Photo Gallery: Images from Outback Bowl Beach Day in Clearwater, Fla., for Michigan fans

Michigan and South Carolina fans were treated to some sun and sand on the shoreline of Clearwater, Fla. Marching bands from both schools performed along with team cheerleaders, a tug-o-war and a pie eating contest. Photojournalist Melanie Maxwell was on hand to capture the day.

What did you think of the Michigan football segment on '60 Minutes'?

The Michigan football team takes the field before the game against Northwestern on Nov.10.

Daniel Brenner | AnnArbor.com

column

hidden ann arbor: Ann Arbor's most creative wedding proposals: from the planetarium to the Big House

A Michigan Stadium wedding proposal | photo courtesy of Kyle Travis and Emily Robison

Ann Arbor man says planes towing advertisements above Michigan Stadium are getting to be too much

A plane tows a banner advertising Taylor Ford before Saturday's Michigan football game against Michigan State University.

Daniel Brenner | AnnArbor.com

They take to the skies in the mornings before University of Michigan football games and continually run up until an hour before kickoff, carrying advertisements over the crowds.

He considers it a nuisance.

with gallery: Titans of tailgate revel in U-M - MSU game day excitement

It’s the one day every two years that the mix of maize and blue dotting Ann Arbor before University of Michigan football games turns green at times -- and for the tailgating veterans, it’s their time to shine.

Setting up their finest University of Michigan football gear and memorabilia on display for the more than 100,000 fans that flood the streets around Michigan Stadium, the titans of tailgate reigned supreme Saturday in advance of the Michigan-Michigan State game Saturday.

8-year-old helps bring recognition to black U-M athlete from 1934

This story has been removed from our site after 30 days as required by our digital use agreement with the Associated Press.

Guest column - Bob Horning

Column: Beyond football: What Michigan home games mean to Ann Arbor

Author's note: When my wife read the first draft of this article, she said it was good, but that the first part should be at the end and the end at the beginning. That’s why I am, unconventionally, introducing myself before explaining the series of articles I will be writing in the coming weeks.

I first started going to Michigan football games during middle school. My brothers and I got there early to watch the teams warm up. We zeroed in on our favorite players in the winged helmets and maybe a star or two from the other team. Then everyone else would show up and the game would begin right at noon. I had no concept of there being anyone or anything else there than the teams and the fans.

with poll: Top 5: Signs that University of Michigan football season is back in Ann Arbor

Melanie Maxwell I AnnArbor.com

Michigan Wolverines: Read AnnArbor.com's team coverage.

It's nearly fall in Ann Arbor, and that means football Saturdays are upon us.

Residents can look forward to hordes of students traveling down Packard and Main streets in yellow shirts, leaving red Solo cups in their wake, and the transformation of Pioneer High School's lawn into a "game day-palooza. "

Saturday games may tie up traffic as more than 110,000 fans spill into Michigan Stadium, but according to University of Michigan athletic director Dave Brandon they'll bring $14 million in revenue to Ann Arbor in the form of hotel stays, restaurant meals, bar tabs and apparel purchases.

Michigan will face Air Force on Saturday afternoon in its first home game of the 2012 season. The Wolverines are coming off a blistering 41-14 loss against the University of Alabama during a Sept. 1 match at Texas' Cowboys Stadium.

Wolverine football fans hope to ease parking problems around Michigan Stadium

The traffic and attempts to find game-day parking around Michigan Stadium can be more reminiscent of a stampede than an intricate dance. Long-time Ann Arbor resident and Michigan football fan Taylor Bond thinks his company can help choreograph a better system.

peggy lampman's dinnerfeed

recipe: Go Blue Ribs to hold back the Tide

Go Blue Ribs to hold back the Tide

Peggy Lampman | Contributor

Outside my kitchen walls, I hear feedback from friends and new acquaintances who try my recipes. Generally I'm delighted, thrilled with their successes, eager to hear how they may have tweaked the recipe. This summer, a lot of folks have been telling me they tried a cola recipe for ribs I penned last year.

I have mixed emotions about this one, and my face burns when it's mentioned. Head bowed, eyes darting to the floor, "Does it bother you that there's no smoke?" I mutter.

Homeowner invests $80K to rent out backyard for upscale tailgating

Martin Vloet and friends enjoy his patio at night. You can rent the space out for home football games this fall for $1,800 to $4,000.

Courtesy Martin Vloet

Martin Vloet has gone a few steps further. He has invested $80,000 and hours of his own personal labor in MGoPatio, a prime tailgating space that Vloet hopes to rent out for corporate and private functions before, during, and after games.

Michigan football offensive coordinator Al Borges discusses his philosophy on player development

Al Borges answers questions during a February press conference. The Michigan offensive coordinator has two key concepts to player development that he refers to as "body learning" and "functional intelligence."

Melanie Maxwell I AnnArbor.com

Then-sophomore Fitz Toussaint had a strong spring camp last year, standing out among a deep stable of Michigan football tailbacks. He eventually won the job in the fall and rushed for more than 1,000 yards.

Then-redshirt freshman Jake Ryan did the same at linebacker. He was an unknown entering spring camp, but emerged as a leader to start on the strong side. He won that job in the fall and started every game.

See a pattern?

Jobs aren't won in the spring — at least, not at Michigan, and not with this staff. Coach Brady Hoke craves competition and seeks it wherever possible. It keeps his team sharp and combats complacency.

But it's no coincidence that those who go on to win jobs often do so after strong springs. That's especially true of the younger guys, who benefit from the emphasis on player development that marks this time of year.

Offensive coordinator Al Borges peeled back the curtains a bit on his philosophy of player development last week. It includes two key concepts that he refers to as "body learning" and "functional intelligence."

Michigan tinkering with Devin Gardner at receiver, but emphasis remains developing him as quarterback

Michigan junior Devin Gardner appeared in nine games last year at quarterback.

Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com

But the Wolverines' offensive coordinator also conceded that, yes, there's some experimentation going on this spring.

Someone who has observed several spring practices told AnnArbor.com that Gardner has practiced regularly at receiver, running with both the first and second units. The person went as far to say Gardner has been "definitely one of their best options at receiver."

He also is taking his regular snaps at quarterback.

Borges has yet to directly confirm Gardner is practicing at wideout, but continues to maintain he would like to get the junior on the field in whatever way possible.

"He's going to be (the) No. 2 quarterback, and then see how things go," Borges said, when asked about Gardner's role. "Our approach with Devin hasn't changed too much. We got to find a way to get him on the field, because he's got skills that go over and above your average quarterback."

With video: Michigan football coach Brady Hoke recaps first half of spring camp

Michigan coach Brady Hoke was named the Big Ten's Coach of the Year and Maxwell Club's Coach of the Year.

Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com

"Those are team awards, believe me," Hoke said in a video posted by MGoBlue.com. "We had a group of seniors who did a tremendous job. We had a group of underclassmen who came together and wanted to play as Team 132 together.

"We've got a great staff. We got people in the equipment room who work hard for the kids. Our trainers, our managers, everybody. So truly, those are all team awards.

"As great football coach once said, when he got an award, it was like a turtle on a fencepost. It didn't get there by itself."

Michigan football coach Brady Hoke in favor of scrimmaging other schools in the spring

Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com

But what if he could play someone else?

Clemson coach Dabo Swinney proposed to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that the NCAA allow teams the option of scheduling intersquad scrimmages during the spring. Hoke said he would be in favor of that model.

"I think that would be kind of cool," he said Thursday during a news conference at Schembechler Hall. "I've thought of it before. Whether we do, like the NFL, different teams going to different places and interacting for two days, three days, off of that model.

Michigan's Stephen Hopkins 'overweight,' could be pushed at fullback by Thomas Rawls

Stephen Hopkins is listed at 6-foot, 228 pounds, but said he played fullback last season weighing 238 pounds.

Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com

Especially if he shows up for spring camp overweight, and a budding Thomas Rawls is taking snaps behind him.

Michigan football coach Brady Hoke said on Thursday afternoon he likes what Hopkins has done through six spring practices — the seventh workout was slated for later in the day — but emphasized he wants the junior to "continue to grow from a maturity standpoint."

"He's probably a little overweight right now, for what we like him," Hoke said. "When I say that, maybe the weight would be OK, if it was all good body weight."

Ex-Michigan captain Mike Martin shows off business acumen while crashing chamber of commerce meeting

Former Michigan captain Mike Martin puts pressure on Western Michigan quarterback Alex Carder during a game last season. Martin, who is preparing for the NFL Draft, dropped in on the A2Y Chamber meeting Wednesday morning.

Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com

Brady Hoke was a little out of his element speaking to a group of Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti businessmen Wednesday morning, and was under a tight schedule after a Tuesday practice had to be rescheduled for 5:30 a.m. that day.

His speech began around 8:30 a.m.

In the front row, though, he found a familiar face: Mike Martin, the former captain of the Michigan football team who is in the thick of his NFL Draft preparation.

Letters to editor

Opinion: Michigan State should be called out for dirty play against Wolverines

I sincerely hope that AnnArbor.com will be challenging the Michigan State coaches regarding the play of their team on Saturday (Oct. 15). I've been watching Michigan Football for 16 years, and I've never seen Michigan play as dirty a team as they did on Saturday against Michigan State.



Michigan State had six personal foul/roughing the passer penalties. By comparison, Michigan has had five total against State in the five years since Mark Dantonio became head coach. All six penalties State committed were dangerous, and most were clearly intended to injure the Michigan player.

Peggy Lampman's Thursday dinnerFeed

recipe: Smoky Meatball Subs perfect for tailgating at a fall football game

Smoky Meatball Sub

Peggy Lampman | Contributor

Nothing shouts football louder than a meatball sub. The sandwich — brown-flecked porky pigskins in a bun posed for trajectory — even resembles the sport. I’m turning down the volume on this sub recipe, injecting Spanish notes to the traditional favorite.

Officials plan for detours, football traffic before Stadium bridge reconstruction this fall

Traffic moves along Stadium Boulevard in Ann Arbor, looking toward the bridge over South State Street, last week. The road will be closed down beginning next fall as work begins on a long-awaited bridge rebuilding project.

Lon Horwedel | AnnArbor.com

Officials expect to begin reconstruction of the East Stadium Boulevard bridge this fall after an initial planned spring start, and that means some football fans and the approximately 25,000 drivers using the bridge daily will have to seek alternate routes.