Who here was at the 94 Colorado v UM game?

[detroitjohn]

North endzone, remember it like it was yesterday. UM got an illegal motion penalty on a short third down that they probably would have converted (Colorado hadn't stopped them all day) and the clock runs out. Kordell Stewart's pass, from the opposite endzone looked like it was shot out of a cannon, I thought there was no way he'd even come close to the endzone, but once he launched that ball, it looked like it had it's own propulsion system on it. Next to MSU last year, the most insane ending of a UM game that began the spiral that cost Moeller his job and gave us Carr.

 

[Reality Man]

Two thoughts.

1. Collins should have stayed in bounds. Ugghh.

2. The three man rush was dumb especially since Stewart was widely recognized to have a huge arm. I would have never let him get set. I would have had a 5 man rush.

Why you ask?

1. Gives Stewart less time and would have to expend energy to avoid a rusher (lb'er).
2. No need to have lb'ers/defenders back 40 yards. Make Stewart throw underneath.

Look...if Stewart could have evaded the rush and still thrown it that far then congrats but UM and it's misguided strategy allowed the wr's to get down field and gave Stewart a chance to get set and launch it with enough space. You rush 5 guys and I guarantee you that Stewart would have had less space to go forward OR would have had to scramble and throw near the hash.

In fact...I probably would have had 4 rushers and two guys for outside containment...box him in and then the rest down by the goal line. Remember...the ball would have been in the air for the defenders to move in the direction it what thrown.

This isn't 20/20. I cringed when they did the 3 man rush. I was in a sports bar and made the comment before the ball was snapped. Don't see teams doing the 3 man rush anymore.



RM

 

[detroitjohn]

Two thoughts.

1. Collins should have stayed in bounds. Ugghh.

2. The three man rush was dumb especially since Stewart was widely recognized to have a huge arm. I would have never let him get set. I would have had a 5 man rush.

Why you ask?

1. Gives Stewart less time and would have to expend energy to avoid a rusher (lb'er).
2. No need to have lb'ers/defenders back 40 yards. Make Stewart throw underneath.

Look...if Stewart could have evaded the rush and still thrown it that far then congrats but UM and it's misguided strategy allowed the wr's to get down field and gave Stewart a chance to get set and launch it with enough space. You rush 5 guys and I guarantee you that Stewart would have had less space to go forward OR would have had to scramble and throw near the hash.

In fact...I probably would have had 4 rushers and two guys for outside containment...box him in and then the rest down by the goal line. Remember...the ball would have been in the air for the defenders to move in the direction it what thrown.

This isn't 20/20. I cringed when they did the 3 man rush. I was in a sports bar and made the comment before the ball was snapped. Don't see teams doing the 3 man rush anymore.



RM

94 was a strange year, UM lost to Colorado (without an injured Wheatley!) and then lost to Penn State in the last 2 minutes in a rebound loss after Colorado and then played really lackluster games in losses vs Wisconsin and Ohio State. The team was loaded with talent (Biakabatuka backed up Wheatley) plus they had Amani Toomer, Mercury Hayes, Collins, Ty Law, etc. I still think Moeller was a better, more creative coach overall than Carr, though Carr brought a more disciplined, albeit conservative approach to coaching.

 

[tarun262]

I was at the game - you could hear a pin drop at the stadium - I used to live next to the stadium as well - I remember going out that night and nobody was out either. My favorite saying of all time. "Only thing a prevent defense does, it prevents you from winning" Gotta keep the gas on the pedal unless the other team has 0 timeouts and you are up by 3 TDs with 2 minutes left

 

[alfadriver]

What they should have done was let the ref call all of the kicks instead of downing the ball. They did that near the end, which they should have just let the ref's whistle the ball dead instead.

I was there, gutted after the game. North end, but in the student section (not sure how, I wasn't a student at the time.)

I'd rather remember the Desmond Howard game against Notre Dame- which I did not actually see the catch, thanks to it being in the corner below us... And his run back against OSU.

 

[scfanblue]

I was there and it deflated me like nothing else. BUT is was same old Michigan stuff. NO PRESSURE on the QB and Stewart unleashed a freaking 70 yard missile. BUT here we were in our predictable deep zone coverage. Incredible catch by a Detroit native (Michael Westbrook) future murderer Rae Carruthers was down there as well.

 

[michnittlion]

North endzone, remember it like it was yesterday. UM got an illegal motion penalty on a short third down that they probably would have converted (Colorado hadn't stopped them all day) and the clock runs out. Kordell Stewart's pass, from the opposite endzone looked like it was shot out of a cannon, I thought there was no way he'd even come close to the endzone, but once he launched that ball, it looked like it had it's own propulsion system on it. Next to MSU last year, the most insane ending of a UM game that began the spiral that cost Moeller his job and gave us Carr.

I just watched a tape of the last few minutes to refresh my memories of the game.

Michigan may have made that short third down (although it wasn't too short --- it was 3rd and 3). But it is noteworthy that on Michigan's 5 plays previous to that, they gained (all rushes) 1, -1, 3, 2 and 0 yards.

I remember Kordell fumbling the ball at the Michigan 1 yard line when CU had a 1st-and-goal, down 26-14. Fumbling when stretching for the goal line when it wasn't really necessary, it was only 1st down after all. That play sort of gets lost to history.

That fumble happened w/ 5:20 left, and that's when Michigan had the rushes that gained 1, -1, and 3. Punt to Colorado, CU scores, CU misses the on-side kick, rushes for 2 and 0, then the CU penalty to set up 3rd-and-3, and then the U-M false start.

If Kordell doesn't fumble, it's a completely different game. Likewise, if U-M could have ground out 1 first down instead of going three-and-out on each of their last 2 possessions. Colorado did make some stops when they absolutely had to.

 

[michnittlion]

What they should have done was let the ref call all of the kicks instead of downing the ball. They did that near the end, which they should have just let the ref's whistle the ball dead instead.

FWIW: Colorado's punt returner fielded and returned Michigan's 2nd-to-last punt ....... and he fair caught Michigan's last punt. U-M didn't have a chance to run a few more seconds by waiting for the refs to call it dead.

 

[michnittlion]

Two thoughts.

1. Collins should have stayed in bounds. Ugghh.

What play is this in reference to? I don't recall anything like this - and watching the tape I can't find a play like this late in the 4th quarter (at least the last 5:20) either?

 

[michigangoblue999]

Yep, I was there. I remember how stunned people were on the walk home. I was talking about the play and one of my buddies just looked at me and yelled "shut up!!!" Good idea.

 

[Scavenger]

94 was a strange year, UM lost to Colorado (without an injured Wheatley!) and then lost to Penn State in the last 2 minutes in a rebound loss after Colorado and then played really lackluster games in losses vs Wisconsin and Ohio State. The team was loaded with talent (Biakabatuka backed up Wheatley) plus they had Amani Toomer, Mercury Hayes, Collins, Ty Law, etc. I still think Moeller was a better, more creative coach overall than Carr, though Carr brought a more disciplined, albeit conservative approach to coaching.

Good ol' Mercury Hayes. Quite the recruiting battle between CU and Michigan for that fellow. That was a fun year for CU except for laying an absolute turd at Nebraska. Should have easily won the national title that year. Ended up 3rd at 11-1. Should have been CU vs. Penn State for the national title with the two most explosive offenses in the country with the 2 best RBs, 2 best QBs, and 2 best WRs going at it. Our coaches were terrible though. Not sure why anyone would hire Elliot Uzelak after his failed years at Ohio State. Would love to have that Nebraska game back.

As for the Miracle in Michigan... never should have come to that. Kordell lost the ball stretching for the endzone on a play that is overturned by replay in today's game. He scores there and it's probably a tight but not as dramatic victory for CU.

 

[Scavenger]

I was there and it deflated me like nothing else. BUT is was same old Michigan stuff. NO PRESSURE on the QB and Stewart unleashed a freaking 70 yard missile. BUT here we were in our predictable deep zone coverage. Incredible catch by a Detroit native (Michael Westbrook) future murderer Rae Carruthers was down there as well.

Rae Carruth... and it was attempted murder, just for the record. The catch was over stud Ty Law which is what made it special. Quite a battle those 2 had.

 

[alfadriver]

FWIW: Colorado's punt returner fielded and returned Michigan's 2nd-to-last punt ....... and he fair caught Michigan's last punt. U-M didn't have a chance to run a few more seconds by waiting for the refs to call it dead.

For some reason, I still recall a punt where I thought- "don't touch the ball!!!" And thought it was very late in the game.

I would not be the first to intentionally forget stuff from that game.

 

[DrCorona]

I was there....but the irony was I saw everything but the final 2 plays.
Was seated in the Northeast corner. On the punt changeover I decided to make my way towards the exit. Had went solo so decided to try & beat crowd. Headed towards the Western sideline exit. Stopped at a tunnel entrance right about where the ball was as the first pass was being completed. Then thought no way dude could chuck the ball all that distance, no way they score so headed out. As I was going across the crosswalk at Stadium & Main the cops were saying "they scored". Couldn't wrap my head around it. Even though I knew it must have happened still kept thinking it was a cruel joke.

 

[wolverines74]

North endzone, remember it like it was yesterday. UM got an illegal motion penalty on a short third down that they probably would have converted (Colorado hadn't stopped them all day) and the clock runs out. Kordell Stewart's pass, from the opposite endzone looked like it was shot out of a cannon, I thought there was no way he'd even come close to the endzone, but once he launched that ball, it looked like it had it's own propulsion system on it. Next to MSU last year, the most insane ending of a UM game that began the spiral that cost Moeller his job and gave us Carr.

Saw the whole stinking game on TV. "74

 

[JP2Blue]

I was there - it was my last game before moving to L.A. - I had a pretty good view from section 3. I was definitely ready to leave the state after that. It was the 2nd worst loss that I have witnessed.

 

[detroitjohn]

I was there - it was my last game before moving to L.A. - I had a pretty good view from section 3. I was definitely ready to leave the state after that. It was the 2nd worst loss that I have witnessed.

MSU last year #1? The Col 94 game immediately came to mind as one of those, "this won't happen again" games.