Sugar Bowl : All posts

With Video: Michigan football team honored during basketball game at the Crisler Center

Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson smiles as he exits the floor with teammates after the football team was honored during a timeout at the Crisler Center on Wedensday.

Melanie Maxwell I AnnArbor.com

One of the loudest ovations inside the Crisler Center on Wednesday was awarded to the Michigan football team.

The Wolverines were honored during the first half of the Michigan basketball team's 66-64 win over Northwestern, taking a collective bow with the 2012 Sugar Bowl trophy in hand.

Michigan freshman Frank Clark 'Tootsee Rolls' his way into Sugar Bowl spotlight

Michigan freshman linebacker Frank Clark celebrates with teammates after intercepting Virginia Tech quarterback Logan Thomas in the third quarter of the Sugar Bowl.

Melanie Maxwell I AnnArbor.com

Frank Clark went to the left, to the left. To the right, to the right.

He slid right into the biggest play of his life, and then let his tootsee roll.

The freshman defensive end, forced into increased duty in the Sugar Bowl due to a litany of injuries, came up with a majestic third-quarter interception of Virginia Tech quarterback Logan Thomas. The play proved to be pivotal in the Michigan football team's 23-20 overtime win against the Hokies.

Bowl Watch: Northern Illinois win gives MAC the nation's best bowl record

This file will be updated regularly with previews of upcoming bowls and results of recently played games.

Which conference had the best bowl season?

It’s tough to argue against the Southeastern Conference, which won five games and has two teams - LSU and Alabama - playing in tonight’s BCS Championship Game (8:30 p.m., ESPN).

Going strictly by records, however, the winners are the Mid-American Conference and Conference USA.

With videos: Michigan receiver Junior 'Big Play' Hemingway concludes winding career as Sugar Bowl MVP

Michigan receiver Junior Hemingway pulls in his second touchdown catch of the Sugar Bowl over the head of Virginia Tech's Antone Exum.

Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com

Those people should take a look at Junior Hemingway as he accepted his MVP trophy after the Sugar Bowl.

Hemingway is a fifth-year senior, party to a Michigan football class that is the first since the 1920s to play for three head coaches at the school. They'll be remembered for the depths to which they sank, and the ability to still triumph.

On a day little went right for the Wolverines' offense, Hemingway, the team's leading receiver, had just two catches. They both went for touchdowns — Michigan's only touchdowns — in a 23-20, overtime win against Virginia Tech.

It all came to a head on that stage near midfield of the Superdome.

Virginia Tech's David Wilson will enter NFL draft

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

How far has Michigan come? Coach Brady Hoke played for OT field goal all along

The kicking situation became so unseemly last year, former Michigan football coach Rich Rodriguez held midseason open student-body tryouts.

A year later, coach Brady Hoke intentionally avoided scoring a touchdown just so he could set up a game-winning field goal try in overtime.

Of a BCS game.

"To be honest with you, I didn’t want to go for the end zone," Hoke said Thursday at his season wrap-up news conference. "We hadn’t really got in there, besides the ... two catches Junior (Hemingway) makes. Didn’t want to lose yardage taking a sack."

Fortunate? Yes, luck helped Michigan football team: 'We just kept fighting'

Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson was limited to 16 yards rushing by the Virginia Tech defense in the Sugar Bowl.

Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com

NEW ORLEANS — The Michigan football team struggled to move the ball for the third time this season.

Twice, it lost. Not this time.

Michigan prevailed 23-20 in overtime against Virginia Tech on Tuesday night in the Sugar Bowl, the program's first BCS win in more than a decade. Kicker Brendan Gibbons became a hero with two clutch field goals, including the game-winning 37-yarder in overtime.

The victory was a lot of things. Pretty was not one of them.

with poll: Two key calls shaped Michigan's Sugar Bowl win against Virginia Tech

Virginia Tech wide receiver Danny Coale hauls in a pass during overtime of the Sugar Bowl. The catch was ruled a touchdown by on-field officials, but overturned in a replay review.

Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com

Around town, Michigan’s maize and blue is being replaced by LSU purple and gold; Virginia Tech’s maroon and orange by Alabama crimson.

While Michigan fans rolled out of town thrilled with a perceived return to national relevance after the Wolverines' 11-win season was capped with a 23-20 overtime victory in the BCS bowl game on Tuesday night, Hokies fans were likely focused on two game-changing calls.

One was made by the Pac-12 officiating crew. The other was made by their head coach and special teams guru, Frank Beamer.

Both involved fifth-year senior Danny Coale.

Video highlights of Michigan's celebration following 23-20 overtime win at Sugar Bowl

A quick look at the Michigan football team's Sugar Bowl celebration following a 23-20 win against Virginia Tech, starting with a the bench's reaction to Brendan Gibbons' game-winning field goal in overtime.

Updated, with gallery: Readers submit photos of University of Michigan fans around New Orleans

Thousands of University of Michigan fans traveled to New Orleans for Tuesday's Sugar Bowl vs. Virginia Tech, and we asked them to show us their photos of fans around the city.

Photos show U-M flags on Bourbon Street and some good-natured rivalry on the road to the Sugar Bowl.

Michigan caps 11-victory season with OT victory against Virginia Tech in Sugar Bowl

FINAL: Michigan 23, Virginia Tech 20, OT: Michigan 23, Virginia Tech 20 (OT): Your comprehensive guide to our Sugar Bowl coverage

Michigan coach Brady Hoke accepted the trophy for the Wolverines' victory in the Sugar Bowl.

Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com

On Tuesday, that seemed like a distant memory.

Sophomore kicker Brendan Gibbons booted a game-winning 37-yard field goal in overtime to give the Wolverines a 23-20 victory against Virginia Tech in the Sugar Bowl.

The victory clinched 11 wins for first-year coach Brady Hoke and the second BCS bowl victory in program history.

Welcome back to relevancy, Wolverines.

Virginia Tech squandered opportunities in Sugar Bowl loss to Michigan

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

Opinion: Michigan football team triumphs again in unlikely, notable season

Michigan's J.T. Floyd and his teammates celebrate after beating Virginia Tech, 23-20 in overtime, in the Sugar Bowl.

Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com

No worries. All that was on the line was his program's most important field-goal attempt in, well, when was the last time the Michigan football team had so much riding on one swing of the leg?

Players said in the past week no matter how good they felt about their 10 wins and victory against Ohio State, their accomplishments would be cheapened with a loss in the Sugar Bowl.

The miracle against Notre Dame and the road comeback against Northwestern and the defense discovering itself against Illinois and, yes, even the win against Ohio State, all would have lost some of their shine.

Notebook: One good leg is enough for Michigan center David Molk and more Sugar Bowl notes

NEW ORLEANS — The Michigan football team’s offense never got untracked during its 23-20 Sugar Bowl win against Virginia Tech Tuesday night.

And it could have been worse if senior captain David Molk wasn’t able to shake off a pre-game injury.

Brendan Gibbons kicks game-winner in overtime

FINAL: Michigan 23, Virginia Tech 20, OT: Michigan football team completes turnaround season, tops Va. Tech in OT

Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson threw two touchdown passes and then celebrated a 23-20 overtime victory against Virginia Tech in the Sugar Bowl.

Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com

NEW ORLEANS — A magical ending to a magical season.

A year in which everything seemed to fall into place for the Michigan football team culminated with a BCS game that was there for the taking.

And they took it, thanks to Brendan Gibbons.

The sophomore kicker, who was 1-of-5 last year and part of a Michigan field-goal kicking unit that finished last in the country, nailed a 39-yarder to help Michigan take this one to overtime.

After Virginia Tech went scoreless in the extra period, Gibbons hit from 37 yards to give Michigan a resilient 23-20 overtime victory against the Hokies.

Brendan Gibbons goes from 'zero to hero' for Michigan football team

Kicker Brendan Gibbons, left, holder Drew Dileo and tight end Kevin Koger celebrate Gibbons' game-winning overtime field goal.

Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com

At one point, he stopped and grabbed an extended Sharpie. Some lucky guy now has an autograph from one of the unlikeliest of heroes on his 2012 Sugar Bowl program.

Gibbons was one of the most maligned players on a well-maligned Michigan football team last year. Suddenly the redshirt sophomore from West Palm Beach, Fla., is the personification of the Wolverines’ turnaround season.

His 37-yard field goal in overtime — coming moments after Virginia Tech’s placekicker, with his own intriguing back story, missed one — gave the Wolverines a 23-20 victory, their first BCS bowl win in more than a decade.

ESPN.com: Video highlights of Michigan football team's Sugar Bowl victory against Virginia Tech

ESPN highlights of the Michigan football team's 23-20 overtime Sugar Bowl victory against Virginia Tech.

Photo gallery: Images from Michigan football team's 23-20 OT Sugar Bowl victory against Virginia Tech

Sugar Bowl: Michigan 23, Virginia Tech 20 (OT): Game balls: Brendan Gibbons, Junior Hemingway and others

Game balls from the Michigan football team's 23-20 overtime victory over Virginia Tech in the 2011 Sugar Bowl.

with polls: Grade the Wolverines: Rate Michigan's performance in the Sugar Bowl

Here's your chance to weigh in on the Michigan football team's 23-20 overtime win over Virginia Tech in the Sugar Bowl.

Grade the Wolverines on offense, defense, special teams, coaching and overall: