I've been to dozens of football games at Michigan Stadium. Two, more than any, stand out the most. Together, they are 7th- and 6th-best college memories.
The first is the first (and only) night game in Big House history, against Notre Dame my junior year.
The Notre Dame game had been a very up-and-down rivalry for me, personally. My freshman year of high school, I had a ticket to the game but gave it up to march in a marching band competition. The competition wasn't even scored, and - to make it worse - I had just moved to a new school and they didn't even have a drum for me to play yet. So I literally marched around the field without an instrument; my mom still says it's the best she ever saw me play.
My second, first chance at a Notre Dame-Michigan game was my freshman year of college. The date was September 12, 2009. I had decided to skip the game to surprise my mom on her birthday, but as many of you reading this know, my nonno passed away that day (shortly before Tate the Great Forcier found Greg Mathews for a game-winning touchdown pass).
My last shot at a ticket to the game was also the most-hyped football game in Michigan history. The first night game. The top two all-time college football teams. And yes, I made it to this one.
The game was so much more than a game. It was an experience. Before most people normally wake up, the streets were packed, parking lots were filling up, and parties were raging. I had never seen a town so alive, yet alone MY town. It was crazy. Desmond Howard, the Michigan great, was honored before the game, and the place was packed (the largest crowd ever to watch a US football game).
And the game didn't disappoint. Notre Dame took a 14-0 lead after the first quarter, and going into the fourth quarter they led 24-7. I vividly remember turning to my grandpa at that point, when the crowd was starting to lose faith, and saying, "crazier things have happened here."
Right on cue, Michigan came storming back. Denard Robinson ran in from a yard out to make it 24-14. Three minutes later, a touchdown pass cut the lead to 4.
With six minutes to go, inside the Michigan 10-yard-line with a chance to ice the game, Notre Dame went to throw the winning touchdown pass. And fumbled. And Michigan recovered. But failed to score. So Notre Dame got it back.
Then, Michigan's defense came up big. On a 3rd-and-1, Jake Ryan exploded into the backfield to make the stop. So, Michigan football. 2:16 to play. Then, all hell breaks loose.
First, on a third down, Michigan gets a god spot by the referees on a Denard keeper to hold on.
Then, a beautiful screen pass to Vincent Smith results in a touchdown. 28-24 Michigan. 1:12 left.
But WAIT! Notre Dame, with 30 seconds to go, RETAKES THE LEAD. The energy just dropped out of the place. Michigan got the ball back inside their own 20 yard line with under 30 seconds to play. Down 3. They needed a miracle. Like a penalty. An act of God. Christopher Lloyd wearing a baseball cap dressed as an angel flying down and delivering the ball to the endzone. Or Notre Dame somehow forgetting to cover Jeremy Gallon deep down the right sideline...
...which, of course, happened. I remember screaming at the top of my lungs, "I DIDN'T KNOW HE WAS STILL ON THE TEAM!"
115,000 people erupt.
8 seconds left. Down 3. 16-yard line. Any coach in their right mind kicks a field goal for the tie.
But not our coach. Not the fat guy with the hoarse voice who came to Michigan without a contract, and who famously said, "This is Michigan, for God's sake," when a reporter asked if it was still a glamorous job in the coaching industry. No, Brady Hoke goes for the win.
My seats were in the southwest corner of the stadium. My grandpa was on my left, as he was for every game I had been to at that point and all but one since. The southwest corner. Where this happened:
And then this happened:
And then, with no voice, I called my dad and screamed empty screams into the phone. And hugged my grandpa and uncle. And ran to my friend Julie's house to hug her.
It took a week for my voice to come back, but it was so worth it.
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