College Football at its Best - Michigan Wolverines

The last feature in the College Football at its Best series is the Michigan Wolverines.....the editor of the blog M Go Blog was gracious enough to respond to my questions....however, in a little twist today, I too am going to give my responses being that Michigan is my favorite team....I usually try to stay unbiased on this blog, but today I am going to have a little fun too....

M Go Blog

Q1. What is Michigan football most known for - the winged helmets, The Victors, or The Big House and why?
MGoBlog: Uh... wow. I have no idea. I think we can eliminate the Big House. It's a big fricking stadium, yes, but there are many stadiums close enough to it that it's probably not the biggest deal of the three. Now you are forcing me to choose between the helmets and the fight song and I'm not sure if I like this anymore. I... ah. The fight song? Sorry, helmets.
Rstiles: Honestly, they are known for all three which is why the Wolverines are one of the most unique football programs in the country....ultimately, I would have to say The Victors....even John Phillip Souza ranked The Victors as the greatest fight song in the country....

Q2. What is the greatest Michigan football game that you have seen whether it be in-person or on television?
MGoBlog: In terms of how riveting and amazing the game was probably the 2005 Rose Bowl against Texas. Which you will not that we lost. A true freshman slinging four touchdowns, Vince Young blooming, and a 37 yard field goal that ticked off the inside of Ernest Shazor's elbow but still went through the uprights. It was a hell of a game.
Rstiles: I have been attending Michigan games with my father for the last 15 years....I was there for the Kordell Stewart Hail Mary and when Woodson brought the punt back against Ohio State....however, the best game that I saw was in 1997 when Michigan went to play at number 1 Penn State....it was a late afternoon game in November and it was drizzling and cold....I sat in a small pocket of Michigan fans and watched as the Wolverines dismantled Penn State 34-8...at the end of the game, the players came over and acknowledged the fans....it was so great to be singing The Victors and knowing that we had a chance to be #1 when the new polls came out....

Q3. Who do you hate more as a rival - Ohio State or Michigan State?
MGoBlog: Ohio State. Michigan State is a big rival in basketball and hockey, but they've never been good enough to be a serious rival in football. It's just not that exciting to beat them. You hate losing to them, but that's not enough.
Rstiles: I live in Ohio....that says it all.....I hate Ohio State with a passion!!....95% of the Ohio State fans are the most arrogant, pompous, drunken fans in the nation....what is this crap with "The" Ohio State University....it's a freakin state school - but they act like it's Yale or Harvard....OSU fans and their coach think the college football world revolves around Columbus.....that is why I hate Ohio State....I believe the people who live in Michigan don't truly understand the hatred of this rivalry.....if Michigan loses to Ohio State, it's no big deal....the Michigan fans need to start taking this rivalry more serious because the Ohio State people certainly are....I was at the The Game two years ago in Ann Arbor when Michigan choked and lost the game in the last 30 seconds....when I was leaving Michigan Stadium, I literally wanted to puke when I saw Michigan fans tailgating and laughing after the game.....I'm not saying burn the town or verbally abuse your opponent (like they do in Columbus), but there should have been more disappointment and disgust with the Michigan fans....at that time we just lost to our rival for the second straight year and it just seemed like no big deal to many Michigan fans....

Q4. Since 1970, who are the five greatest players to wear a Michigan uniform and why?
MGoBlog: 1. Charles Woodson (photo) - As the only defensive player to ever win the Heisman he beats out...
2. Desmond Howard - Who also has a Heisman.
3. Anthony Carter - Convinced Bo to throw the ball some.
4. Braylon Edwards - Seriously under consideration as Michigan's best wide receiver ever. I still think Carter beats him out.
5. Tyrone Wheatley - I don't know how his professional career collapsed so abruptly, but God he was huge and fast and just ran past and through and over people.

Rstiles: 1. Charles Woodson - he may be the best player to ever wear a Michigan uniform...he did everything - defense, offense, special teams.....
2. Braylon Edwards - he was the best wide receiver ever at Michigan....yes I know Anthony Carter was special, but Edwards could take over a game....just ask Michigan State....
3. Desmond Howard (photo) - he was Mr. Excitement.....but he will always be remembered for striking the Heisman pose in front of the Ohio State fans after bringing a punt back for a touchdown....
4. Rick Leach - he was Michigan’s first true quarterback under Bo.....Bo loved the kid and even trusted him to throw a few times during the game....
5. Jim Harbaugh - he was the toughest son of a bitch ever...plus, he hated Ohio State.....Jim Tressel would not be 5-1 against Michigan if Harbaugh was the quarterback.....

Q5. Make your case why Michigan football, as a whole, is the best football program in the country?
MGoBlog: Michigan has a fairly easy time of this: more wins than any other team, the highest winning percentage in college football, the largest stadium, best and most recognizable fight song, best and most recognizable helmets, and so forth and so on etc etc. It probably isn't the best in terms of on-field results, if we're being honest with ourselves, but Michigan is the old school power that has maintained its winning form the most consistently over the past thirty years.
Rstiles: Michigan is one of probably the top 5-7 programs in the country.....Michigan does not have that arrogance like Ohio State and their plastic fake head coach who thinks everything is the best in Columbus.....Michigan is built on tradition and at times, it hurts the football program because they are too worried about showing class....I don’t want the Wolverines to be arrogant like in C-bus, but they lack that nasty streak that some programs have such as Southern Cal or the hey days at The U.....I’m not saying Michigan should recruit thugs, but they lack that bad ass mentality where they strike fear in an opponent....in the end, Michigan is about doing things the right way....it's about success....it's about toughness....and there wasn't any tougher son of a bitch than Bo....."Those Who Stay Will Be Champions"....