The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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AUGUST 2024 ❱ THE WOLVERINE 57 T he theme of this issue of The Wol- verine is "Year in Review." Its pur- pose is to look back on the 2023- 24 season and recognize and celebrate what Michigan athletics accomplished in that time. U-M had no greater achieve- ment in the last year than its football team going a perfect 15-0 despite off- the-field controversies en route to an outright national championship. However, it would be limiting to focus only on what Michigan football accom- plished last season. Last season should not be viewed in a vacuum by itself. Last sea- son was the culmination of an astounding three-year turnaround for the Wolverines built on toughness and togetherness. Their quest for the national title truly began in 2021, and each year after was built upon its predecessor — 12-2, 13-1 and then 15-0. Getting one step closer each season until finally earning the crown. As a result, last year was not just one of the greatest seasons in Michigan football history. It was part of one of the greatest eras of one of the premier and most-storied college football programs. Ten years ago, in the summer of 2014, this author penned a column listing the five greatest eras in Michigan football history. These were the periods that built U-M into a juggernaut of a pro- gram after Irving Kane Pond scored Michigan's first touchdown against Ra- cine College in 1879. The first was 1901-05, also known as the "Point-a-Minute" era. Under head coach Fielding Yost, Michigan went 55-1-1, aver- aged nearly one point for every minute of play and won national titles in 1901, 1902, 1903 and 1904. It may be the most domi- nant dynasty in the sport's history. The second was 1922-26. U-M went 34-4-1, earned the national title in 1923 and revolutionized passing with the "The Benny-to-Bennie Show" featuring Benny Friedman and Bennie Oosterbaan. The third was 1930-33. Head coach Harry Kipke was king and led the Maize and Blue to a 31-1-3 record, four straight Big Ten titles, and back-to-back na- tional banners in 1932 and 1933. The fourth was 1947-50. Fritz Crisler's Michigan became the first team to deploy "two-platoon football" with "offensive" and "defensive" specialists and then uti- lized formations, substitutions and trick plays no one had seen before, leading to "The Mad Magicians" nickname. With their deception, they went 31-5-2, won four Big Ten titles and earned national titles in 1947 and 1948. The fifth was 1969-78, also dubbed as "The Ten-Year War" for how heated the Michigan-Ohio State rivalry became un- der Bo Schembechler and Woody Hayes. The Wolverines won The Ten-Year War with a 5-4-1 record against the Buckeyes during that decade. Michigan also went 91-11-2 against non-OSU teams those seasons. Consequently, U-M clinched at least a share of eight Big Ten titles and appeared in five Rose Bowls — though a national title eluded them. These last three seasons for Michigan, for what U-M did and what they repre- sent, is now the newest, greatest era in school history. Prior to 2021, the Maize and Blue were as down in the dumps as they had been in some time. They had lost 15 of their last 16 contests to archnemesis Ohio State and suffered a tumultuous 2-4 record during the ab- breviated COVID-19 season in 2020. Former head coach Jim Harbaugh, who had been praised as the savior of Michigan football upon his return to Ann Arbor when he was hired in De- cember 2014, was on the hot seat. The Buckeyes seemed unstoppable, and it was uncertain if Harbaugh, or anyone, could guide Michigan back to the top. Yet by revamping his coaching staff, returning to his offensive roots of bul- lying defenses at the line of scrimmage and unleashing a new pro-style defense meant to stifle pass-happy offenses, Harbaugh found the key to ultimate success with a special group of players. The Wolverines suddenly shot to the pinnacle of the sport. During these three seasons, they posted a 40-3 record, beat the Buckeyes all three times, won three outright Big Ten titles, appeared in three College Football Playoffs and, of course, edged Alabama and whacked Washing- ton to win it all in 2023. To put this into context, Michigan's 40-3 record (93.0 win percentage) is its best in a 43-game span since the Wolverines went 40-2-1 from 1971-74 and second-best since Yost's "Point- a-Minute" teams more than a century ago. It is also the first time that U-M has won three straight outright conference championships in its history. Lastly, given the nature, complexi- ties and modernities of college football today, it is much more difficult to win a national championship now than it was in 1947, or even in 1997. It is unknown if this glorious era has ended with Harbaugh going back to the NFL or if his successor Sherrone Moore will extend this era even further. Regard- less, fans should truly cherish what they witnessed the last three years — the lat- est, best era of Michigan football. ❑ INSIDE THE NUMBERS ❱ DREW HALLETT Michigan's Newest, Greatest Era Over the last three seasons, the Wolverines posted a 40-3 record, beat Ohio State three consecutive times, won three outright Big Ten titles, reached the College Football Playoff three straight years and won a national cham- pionship with standouts such as Donovan Edwards (7) and Colston Loveland (18). PHOTO BY GABRIELLA CERITANO Staff writer Drew Hallett has covered Michigan athletics since 2013. Contact him at drew.c.hallett@gmail.com and follow him on X (Twitter) @DrewCHallett.