Previously: Krushed By Stauskas (Illinois 2014), Introducing #ChaosTeam (Indiana 2009), Revenge is Terrifying (Colorado 1996), Four Games In September I (Boston College 1991), Four Games In September II (Boston College 1994), Four Games In September III (Boston College 1995), Four Games In September IV (Boston College 1996), Pac Ten After Dark Parts One and Two (UCLA 1989), Harbaugh's Grand Return Parts One and Two (Notre Dame 1985), Deceptive Speed Parts One and Two (Purdue 1999)

This Game: Full broadcast with original commercials(!), condensed every-snap video, WH highlights, box score

Welcome to the 2020 fall football season, as best we can provide it. I've put together a tentative schedule of classic games loosely based on Michigan's original slate for this season (and which videos can be found in full). I'll be writing these posts during the week, then streaming the games on my Twitch channel at noon each Saturday. The tentative schedule:

Sep. 5: Washington (1993 Rose Bowl)
Sep. 12: Notre Dame (2011)
Sep. 19: Miami (FL) (1984)
Sep. 26: Wisconsin (2008)
Oct. 3: Penn State (2005)
Oct. 10: Michigan State (2004)
Oct. 17: Minnesota (2003)
Oct. 24: Purdue (1992)
Oct. 31: Northwestern (M00N) — Halloween Bye Week Special
Nov. 7: Maryland (1990)
Nov. 14: Rutgers (2016)
Nov. 21: Indiana (1996)
Nov. 28: Ohio State (1997)

Yes, it's a little weird to start with a Rose Bowl, but I wasn't able to get a full copy of the Brabbs Game, which is surprisingly impossible to find online, in the midst of a move. (Oh, right, I moved last week, which is why you didn't hear from me.)

It's January 1st, 1993. For the second straight year, Michigan faces Washington in the Rose Bowl; the Huskies won handily the previous season on their way to a shared national championship. The Wolverines enter the Rose Bowl undefeated yet out of the national title picture after going 8-0-3 with ties against Notre Dame, an unranked Illinois squad, and Ohio State—the latter two in the regular season's final two games.

That's narrowed Michigan's focus to achieving one of the few goals they haven't marked off during a special five-year run of consecutive Big Ten titles: winning the Rose Bowl. From the Michigan Daily:

skewed goals? at Michigan? well, I never. 

Washington, meanwhile, ranked first or second in the polls for the first nine weeks of the season before dropping two of their final three games, capped by a 42-23 Apple Cup upset at the hands of Wazzu. Beyond the losses, this hasn't been the victory lap legendary coach Don James anticipated; starting quarterback Billy Joe Hobert was ruled ineligible in November because of a $50,000 loan, while reporters—and the NCAA—are looking into potential major violations by the program. Still, they have a chance at an unprecedented third Rose Bowl victory in as many years.

ABC is carrying the game with Brent Musburger and Dick Vermeil on the call. Before there's any talk about football, however, we get what's in essence a five-minute ABC News segment on the state of the Washington program.

We'll be circling back around to this after the game.

[After THE JUMP: Football!]

You are looking live at my grandmother's spectacles.

The ceremonial coin-tosser is Angela Lansbury, most notable at the time for Murder, She Wrote. The setting, again, is the Rose Bowl, which cannot be mentioned enough, because—just look at it.

Washington receives the opening kickoff. Their offense features a few future NFL standouts: quarterback Mark Brunell, running back Napoleon Kaufman, and massive left tackle Lincoln Kennedy. While the loss of Hobert has been blamed for UW's recent struggles, Brunell actually started over Hobert until a major knee injury in the 1991 spring game forced him into a part-time backup role.

Bo Schembechler—technically retired after his ill-fated stint with the Detroit Tigers, though he still maintains an office in the building bearing his name—is introduced as the third man in the booth. "I’m totally impartial in this game," he says, while Musburger and Vermeil cackle. The Huskies get a quick first down before the defense stiffens up, forcing a punt after stringing out an option pitch to Kaufman.

Michigan's offense has opened up under Gary Moeller, featuring the passing connection of Elvis Grbac and Derrick Alexander, but the running game is still the focus, and sophomore Tyrone Wheatley establishes his dominance early with a 23-yard run on third-and-eight. Washington's defensive front is outsized by Michigan's O-line, so they're looking to shoot gaps. The Wolverines have the perfect play in the gameplan, a draw with trap blocking.

Another strong Wheatley rush and a quick pass to receiver Felman Malveaux net a first down in UW territory, then M is fortunate to retain possession when backup RB Ricky Powers puts the ball on the turf. The offense gains two more first downs before Grbac misses back-to-back deep shots. Kicker Peter Elezovic, who went 6-for-10 on the season and has been hampered by a leg injury that's keeping him off kickoff duties, hits a career-long 41-yard field goal, much to the surprise of everyone in the booth.

While Michigan has the running game clicking and a sputtering passing game, Washington has the opposite going. Kaufman can't find any space to operate against the Wolverine front. Brunell, however, is creating big problems for a beat-up M secondary by buying time with his legs. He scrambles for 18 yards, breaks the pocket on a 19-yard completion, then hits his tight end up the seam for 35 yards to set up first-and-goal. Three plays later, the fullback dives in from less than a yard out. 7-3, Huskies.

“And all is right with the world when you hear the Michigan Band,” Musburger says as we return from a commercial break to the sound of The Victors. This hits a little hard at the moment. Thankfully, the Wolverine passing game begins to come together, albeit in fits and spurts.

Grbac overthrows Wheatley in the flat, then makes a difficult third-down completion to Mercury Hayes while rolling to his left. He leaves yet another deep pass long, intended for Alexander. On third down, however, Powers motioning out of the backfield throws the Washington defense into disarray, and Grbac would be hard-pressed to miss tight end Tony McGee running free up the seam. We're treated to a Shakespeare-themed breakdown from Vermeil:

Musburger notes the revamped Rose Bowl press box when we come back from commercial, done in preparation for the upcoming Super Bowl and 1994 World Cup. Then the shot cuts to Washington linebacker and captain Dave Hoffman.

"That’s how a linebacker oughta look. Band-aids, a little bit of blood, gloves on, ready for the street, and I know he’s not talking to his mother," says Vermeil. That does seem like a safe assumption. While Washington's offense scuffles, the conversation turns to Moeller's temperament compared to his predecessor's.

“I was calm and collected compared to Gary," says Schembechler, causing the booth to break out in another fit of laughter.

Chris Hutchinson, father of Aidan, forces an 18-yard intentional grounding penalty to end the drive. Michigan is already set to get the ball around midfield when a punt gunner clips Alexander, drawing a flag that sets up the offense at the UW 37. Grbac misses Alexander on two more deep shots sandwiched around a Wheatley carry that goes nowhere, wasting the great field position. It gets further wasted when Chris Stapleton, punting from the 42 after an intentional delay of game, hits his three-wood when he needed a lob wedge.

I refuse to admit how many times I've watched this, a top five punt of all time.

The next two drives go quickly, though they end quite differently. Washington punts after runs of three, negative-one, and zero yards. Michigan looks poised for a similar fate on third-and-seven before Moeller calls the trap draw again. 

This is when I mention that Wheatley still holds multiple Michigan Class B high school state track records, including a long jump from his sophomore year.

Washington's response is delayed when M safety Corwin Brown sideswipes the umpire on his way to hit Kaufman, opening up a cut that could stop a boxing match.

He temporarily leaves the game to get that whole situation worked out, leaving one fewer official on the field. I don't know if that impacts the ruling on this Brunell touchdown bomb to Jason Shelley...

...but I'd sure like to see a better replay angle than the one we eventually see. 

"But when we show you the replays after this kickoff, there’s gonna be some doubt in your mind as to whether or not Shelley got across the goal line," says Musburger. "But you know, it’s not unusual for Michigan to come into Pasadena and have to play on a short field. Oh, Bo, I…"

“I don’t think that’s funny at all, Brent,” Bo says. They all laugh, for a moment.

Even without a down-the-line view, I'm almost positive this should be a touchback, not a touchdown.

Of course, this is 1993. There's no replay review. Less than two minutes after Wheatley's scoring burst, Washington is back within a field goal.

While Alexander finally gets his mitts on a downfield pass, converting a first down on a nifty comeback to the sticks, Grbac once again throws him an inaccurate deep shot—this one Alexander catches but with a foot on the sideline. Washington breaks a trend, finally stuffing the trap draw, and Grbac is forced to check down on third down. Now Stapleton can bust out the driver.

His punt dies on the turf after 33 yards. Bo rants about the bloody-mindedness of special teams.

The bloodied official returns to great fanfare (a passing mention by Musburger). Brunell breaks Michigan's contain before hucking a pass so high his receiver can do a full turn to adjust for the catch at the 15-yard line. Linebacker Steve Morrison nearly flips the momentum when he forces a fumble on an option keeper, only for the ball to bound straight out of play.

On the very next snap, Brunell tosses a gorgeous pylon pass to tight end Mark Bruener, who scores his first TD of the season. Brunell is now 11-for-13 for 206 yards.

After 27 minutes of white-knuckle football, the last few minutes of the half pass without much incident. Wheatley breaks another nice run, surpassing the century mark for the seventh time this season, before another underwhelming Stapleton punt. As the teams trade three-and-outs, the restless announcers discuss the difficulties in confirming so much as a starting lineup with the Michigan brass.

“It was easier to get into East Germany in the old days than it is to get into a Michigan practice with Schembechler and Moeller in charge of this operation,” says Musburger.

The more things change, I guess.

At one point, an ABC camera sets up behind Brunell and Kennedy. These two men play the same sport.

Washington has a last-gasp chance to put more points on the board when Brunell spikes it with one second left and the ball on M's 39. Instead of a Hail Mary, however, James sends out Travis Hanson, whose career long field goal is 42 yards. The 56-yarder bounces short of the goal line.

Washington takes a 21-17 lead into the tunnel, and while they still can't get Kaufman going, they hold a 277-235 edge in total yardage. Michigan will get the ball back to start the second half. Tune in on Friday (and Saturday!) to see if they can strike back.