The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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The Wolverines' last-second, come-from-behind, 35-31 victory over Notre Dame, in the first night football game in the history of Michigan Stadium, made for the most memorable moment at U-M in 2011-12. The Top 10 Sports Moments For Michigan In 2011-12 UNFORGETTABLE L BY KEVIN MINOR victory in the first-ever night game at The Big House and a streak-snap- YEAR IN REVIEW Top 10 Moments ping triumph over that school down south), the first conference title on the hardwood since 1986 and a pair of individual national championship performances, U-M's 2011-12 sports season was one that will be remem- bered in Wolverine lore for years to come. With that in mind, we present the Top 10 Moments of the Year, in order. 1. The first night game in Michigan 44 THE WOLVERINE AUGUST 2012 ed by the resurgence of the winningest program in col- lege football history (which included a heart-stopping In front of a country-wide television audience at the newly renovated, and rejuvenated, Crisler Center, the Wolverines officially returned to the Stadium history: It took 84 years, but on Sept. 10, 2011, an NCAA single- game record 114,804 fans packed into Michigan Stadium to see the first night spectacle in the storied structure's history. And the game did not disappoint. The Wolverines' unlikely last-second, come-from- behind 35-31 victory captivated an electrified Maize and Blue crowd, as well as a prime-time national audi- ence. The Big House has certainly seen its fair share of exciting games since it hosted its inaugural contest in 1927, but perhaps none with an atmosphere more amplified than this all-time classic rivalry matchup. 2. ESPN GameDay visits Ann Arbor: national collegiate basketball scene with a thrilling 56-51 victory over No. 6 Ohio State Feb. 18 to improve to 15-0 on their newly refurbished home court. Freshman point guard Trey Burke led the Maize and Blue with 17 points, including a dagger from the lane with 11 seconds left to secure Michigan's first win over its rivals in six contests. To make the victory even sweeter, it paved the way for the program's first Big Ten title since 1986. 3. Kellen Russell captures second PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL consecutive national title: It took an extra session, but the four-time Big Ten individual champion won his second straight national crown in the 141-pound division at the NCAA Championships March 17 with a 6-4 decision following an overtime takedown of Iowa standout Montell