The Michigan football team's top 5 games of the 2000s
The Michigan football team started the decade with a bang, beating Alabama on New Year’s Day in 2000 in a memorable Orange Bowl and closed it with a whimper with its first back-to-back losing seasons in more than 40 years.
As the calendar turns to 2010, Michigan football beat writer Dave Birkett reflects on the top players, games and stories of the decade. Share your thoughts below.
Ohio State running back Chris Wells (28) heads toward the end zone ahead of several Wolverine defenders for a 52-yard score during the 42-39 loss. Ann Arbor News file photo
1. Michigan-Ohio State, 2006: The most anticipated game in college football’s best rivalry, Ohio State won the Nos. 1-2 showdown between undefeateds, 42-39, to earn a spot in the BCS Championship game. Troy Smith shredded the previously indestructible Michigan defense, and Mike Hart ran for 142 yards for the Wolverines a day after legendary Michigan coach Bo Schembechler died.
Appalachian State's Corey Lynch, left, blocks Michigan kicker Jason Gingell's 37-yard game-winning field-goal try as time expires on Sept. 1 in college football's greatest upset. Ann Arbor News file photo
2. Michigan-Appalachian State, 2007: This is the game Michigan’s most synonymous with this decade. The Wolverines became the first top-25 team to lose to a Division I-AA opponent, falling, 34-32, on a 24-yard field goal with 26 seconds to play. Appalachian State blocked Michigan's potential game-winning kick on the final play to ruin Lloyd Carr’s last season (and Chad Henne, Mike Hart and Jake Long’s) on opening weekend.
Michigan wide receiver Braylon Edwards (1) makes one of his three touchdown receptions during the Wolverines' 45-37 triple-overtime victory in 2004. Ann Arbor News file photo
3. Michigan-Michigan State, 2004: It wasn’t as significant as the other games on this list, but in terms of on-field dramatics, Michigan’s triple-overtime 45-37 win goes down as one of the best games this rivalry’s ever seen. Braylon Edwards abused Jaren Hayes and MSU’s defense for 11 catches, 189 yards and 3 touchdowns - 2 in overtime - and the Wolverines erased a 17-point fourth-quarter deficit in less than 6 minutes. Mike Hart (224 yards) and DeAndre Cobb (205) both topped 200 yards rushing, and Drew Stanton left with a shoulder injury for Michigan State.
Vince Young bowls over the Wolverines defense in a Rose Bowl thriller. Ann Arbor News file photo
4. Michigan-Texas, 2005 Rose Bowl: The 2000 Orange Bowl left a better taste in the mouths of Michigan fans, but for the buildup and finish this game gets the nod. In the first meeting between elite programs, Texas won, 38-37, on a last-second field goal. Freshman Chad Henne was great, tying a Rose Bowl record with 4 touchdown passes, and Steve Breaston broke O.J. Simpson’s record for total yards. But Vince Young was unstoppable for Texas. Young threw for 180 yards and ran for 192 more and 4 scores, including a 60-yard sprint through the Michigan defense.
Lloyd Carr gets carried into retirement after Michigan's Capital One Bowl win over Florida. Ann Arbor News file photo
5. Michigan-Florida, 2008 Capital One Bowl: A month and a half after Lloyd Carr announced his retirement, Michigan’s senior class of Chad Henne, Mike Hart and Jake Long sent him out a winner, 41-35. Henne threw for 373 yards and Hart ran for 2 touchdowns as the Wolverines outdueled Tim Tebow and Co. for their first bowl victory since an Outback Bowl win over Florida 5 years earlier.
Dave Birkett covers University of Michigan football for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached by phone at 734-623-2552 or by e-mail at davidbirkett@annarbor.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.
Comments
rightmind250
Sat, Jan 2, 2010 : 11 a.m.
Casey Ford, You are right on one hand he is a loser, but that is because he is a Michigan fan.
stan
Thu, Dec 31, 2009 : 7:22 a.m.
Oh, I forgot to add: best wishes on a speedy recovery Tru2Blu76!
stan
Thu, Dec 31, 2009 : 7:21 a.m.
I agree with InRichRodWeTrust and with his point about the Minnesota game. You can't have losses in the top 5 games. That Minnesota game needs to go there as well as the '03 game against Ohio State. Off the top of my head, the '08 Wisconsin game that gave us some false hope that the year might not be that bad.
oneandseven
Thu, Dec 31, 2009 : 12:08 a.m.
Figures. Michigan ends up 2-3 for their top 5 games for the decade................while Defense gave up 42,34,37,38 and 35 points.............and we can't even blame Rich Rod this time. On the bright side, UM will be undefeated in the next decade until at least September.
Casey Ford
Wed, Dec 30, 2009 : 9:04 p.m.
You're kidding right? Why the heck would you pick any loss as one of the 5 most important games of the decade? We all want to know what your agenda is. Any devoted Michigan fan would never ever do that. You loser!!!
InRichRodWeTrust
Wed, Dec 30, 2009 : 5:33 p.m.
Why didn't do the great wins of the decade, like the 21 point comeback against Minnesota. "The Michigan Wolverines" video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7mSdcMTulM
A2D2
Wed, Dec 30, 2009 : 4:15 p.m.
A true LowLight (as opposed to a highlight) had to be the 13-10 whuppin' that those ever-nasty 3-9 Rockets from Toledo put on our Wolverines in 2008. As I left the stadium, I ran into a friend of mine who gave me a great pearl of wisdom.. She said, "I'm just glad that my eternal salvation does not depend on Steven Threet being able to avoid a pick-6".