Altar Call

This week’s sermon: “Do You Believe?”

September 13, 1997

Colorado at home in the opener. A test of character. A test of wills. A new experience. A new team. A new season. A new hope. A win. 1-0

Baylor. Game 2. the bears are down. They are awed by 102,000 fans. They bow to an energized Michigan team. 2-0

Notre Dame. The Return. The Irish, coming off Michigan State, are bruised. Powlus’ confidence is shaken again. This is the pivotal game. This marks the true beginning. Victory! 3-0

At Indiana. A lot tougher than many expect. The Hoosiers LED many teams going into halftime last year. But not this time. The CU and ND victories created a monster. It is feeding time. 4-0

Northwestern at home. Revenge. Anger. Exorcism. Mission. Determination. Spirit. Finally! Win. 5-0

Iowa at home. Watch out for the Fry-boys. They have a SUPER QB and a veteran team. But they have to come to US! We’re ready. Win. 6-0

At Moo U. Green and White and a heck of a fight. MSU is coming off an angry Northwestern team that had just lost to Michigan the week before. MSU is probably coming off a loss, too. And in East Lansing. Not a pretty site. Time for the Big Uglies to shine. Another WIN. 7-0

Minnesota at home. Finally a breather. Take a deep breath. I hear footsteps down the hall. Just WIN. 8-0

At Penn State. Snowballs. 0-3 for last 3 games. PSU is also coming off Northwestern. (Those cats can be Michigan’s biggest ally this year, believe it or don’t.)  The Lions are 6-1 or 7-0, depending on the Oct 11 tOSU game. This is HUGE. This is bigger than huge. This is Michigan football. Say goodnight, Joe. 9-0

The last Rose Bowl is in sight. Hold on tight. At Wisconsin. Don’t let it get away. Don’t let it get away. Don’t let it get away. A Badger is just a cousin of the Wolverine. They want blood we want roses. 10-0

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Now number 1 in the country. Oh, Lord! THE GAME. Shivers run down our collective spines. Cold. 106,000 fans. For the Roses. For the MNC. For the nay-sayers. For Bo. For Millie (RIP). For Ufer. Forever. 21-10. 11-0. #1

DO YOU BELIEVE? SAY YES!

DO YOU BELIEVE? SAY YES!!!

Amen

By Father John on 08/07/97 16:59:00 EDT

In the Last True Rose Bowl, the lights come on late in the fourth quarter. The game is tied, 10-10. USC is driving with fewer than 3 minutes left. Their tailback seems unstoppable. USC at the 20. The 16. The 8, first and goal. The call: Student body right.

The tailback sees daylight and dives for the end zone… Fumble! Or is it? The refs huddle, they talk about Charles White and the phantom TD. They review the miserable calls against Michigan in the past. And they rule TD. Michigan is furious. Bo leaves the press box and head for the field. Somewhere in mudville a song is playing. Somewhere children are happy and dancing in the streets.

But not those dressed in maize and blue. Not those in Pasadena. In this moment of moments, there is but one thought on the Michigan sidelines.  And the voice of Bob Ufer echoes through the ages, crying out “Run, boys, run! Run like a penguin with a hot herring in your cumber bun. You are MEEEEE-CHIGAN!”

Like from a dream, as the fog rolls off the bay and settles in Southern California, the boys in Blue rise one last time. They will not be denied. In the final 67 seconds, they march 80 yards to score. 17-16. One last call. The clock has expired. There is only one choice. Silence falls over the crowd. What will the call be? Michigan lines up for two. The crowd goes wild. Poms of gold and red, poms of maize and blue. The snap. The play. STUDENT BODY RIGHT! SCORE! MICHIGAN 18, USC 17.

This is the game they will talk about forever. The day the Rose Bowl ended it’s glory days in the great best game ever played. Michigan’s first National Championship in football since 1948. As the last strains of The Victors echo across the Rose Bowl Stadium, the tears are shed on both sides of the field. It doesn’t get any better than this. There are no losers.

By Postscript Father John on 08/07/97 17:55:EDT

http://www.mikedesimone.com/miwspix97.htm