Last week, I followed in the footsteps of my cousin who has started to do book reviews on her blog and did one of my own. I reviewed The Story Behind the Smile, which covers the history of Eat’n Park going back to its humble beginnings in 1949. I will finish the book next week. Today, I’ll be summarizing what I’ve read so far in the sports book Michigan vs. Everybody. This book chronicles the 2023 National Championship season of the Michigan Wolverines football team.
So far I’ve only read a few chapters of the book on my Kindle. What I’ve learned so far is that Michigan was determined to win it all after coming up short in ‘21 and ‘22. They made it to the College Football Playoff and lost both years.
Jim Harbaugh came to Michigan in 2015. It was the school where he played quarterback in the mid ‘80s before he started a lengthy NFL career. His biggest hurdle was beating Ohio State. He finally got over the hump in 2021. There was a petition for his dismissal as coach following the pandemic-shortened 2020 season but he had his contract restructured and came back.
The team was full of superstars that led Michigan in 2021 and 2022 to the playoff. The losses to Georgia and Texas Christian hurt but Michigan was hungry to win it all in 2023. NCAA violations that happened during the COVID dead recruiting period sidelined Harbaugh and other coaches but the interim guys were ready to fill their shoes. Michigan last won the title in 1997 when they were co-national champions with Nebraska. Cornerback Charles Woodson won the Heisman Trophy that year.
I am just starting into the 2023 season and will write more at certain points. Reading about the Harbaugh era Michigan teams, I’m reminded of how the past year went for me. My 2023 was a lot like ‘21 and ‘22 Michigan. It was a good year and I had success but I came up short. 2023 was like a bridge year for me. 2020 to 2022 for me was a lot like the Steelers seasons of the late 90s and 2000. Mediocrity and regression. For me there was also fleeting interest in my old job before things eventually went downhill.
More on this in my next blog.
This isn’t my first book on Michigan football as I’ve read other books about the program. I’m not a Michigan fan either so Ohio State, Michigan State, and Penn State fans can rejoice. I just like reading about teams that are successful.
Stylish 🍒 