Well well. We've been absent for a couple of weeks struggling through 3 straight Big Ten losses. The hardest was definitely against Penn State, where the M offense scored 31 points but still could not pull out the victory.
I predict that the Illinois game will go down in history as the turn around game for RichRod. The determination and poise that the defense had to go through 3 OTs should tell you that this team wants to WIN! Yes, the defense allowed 65 points, but the offense scored 67! All sorts of records were broken including most total points scored in any previous Michigan game. The point total just fell shy of several previous records include most points scored by both teams in regulation, 133, San Jose St.(70) vs Rice (63), in 2004. The most points scored by both teams, in an overtime game was 136, Navy (74) vs North Texas (62) on November 10, 2007.
But I think particularly enlightening and plain awesome was the halftime show by the Michigan Marching Band. The Wizard of Oz show will definitely go down in the highlight reels of half time shows. When I was back at the Alumni Weekend after the loss to Iowa I told others "I think the band is better than the football team!" I got a reply "We are ALWAYS better than the football team!" Maybe the land of Oz is magical enough to turn around this team and set it for the glory it really deserves. This is the turn around game of the season and of RichRod's tenure at Michigan. Believe it! Here's the show video. And below the "jump" are the narration to the full halftime, not found anywhere else on the Internet (yet!).
Here's the narration of the full halftime show... Corrections welcome in the comments below!
(Narrator) Ladies and gentlemen presenting the Michigan Marching Band
Today the Michigan Marching Band retells a new version of the Wizard of Oz.
Sit back and enjoy the harrowing tale of Dorothy Hail, a Uiversity of Michigan student who was overwhelmed in a tornado of exams, papers and <unintelligible>.
Join Dorothy on her journey as she tries to find her way home, to Michigan.
"OZ" forms at 1:35-1:39
1:58 (Narrator) Oh no, Dorothy's house has landed in Oz, on top of the Wicked Witch of the South's
sister, who stole Denard Robinson's shoes!
(Dorothy) "Oh I have got to the these back to Denard Robinson before the start
of the second half!"
2:19 "Somewhere over the rainbow..."
2:42 (Dorothy) "Oh my, you must be munchkins! You remind me of my little brother, back in East Lansing."
2:55 "Dorothy, I'm Something Something-behood, You must find your way to the Sapphire City. There the Wonderful Wizard of Oz will help you get back to Michigan. Just follow the maize-brick road." <Editor: Emerald city no?>
3:10 - "Follow the Yellow Brick Road..."
3:41 - (Dorothy) Oh my goodness, it's a scarecrow.
(Scarecrow) I'm a failure at scaring crows, because I haven't got a brain. That's why I've been lost in a corn field, in Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska or some other dreadful place.
(Dorothy) Why it's a man, made out of tin!
(Tinman) Yes, I'm a tin-man. I have serious heart trouble though, because I have eaten too many brats and cheese curds.
(Dorothy) I bet the wizard would tell you to "Stay in the Blue!" And maybe he could get a 10c deposit for you when we get back to
Michigan.
(Dorothy) Why it's a cowardly Nittany lion!
(Lion) You're right. I am a coward. I haven't got any courage at all. Now that Michigan's "Big House" is again larger and louder than Penn State's!
(Dorothy) - Brutus, what are you doing here.
(Narrator) Don't look now Brutus, but there's the Ohio University Bobcat! (bobcat tackles Brutus)
5:08 - "If I only had a brain..."
(Dorothy) - Why don't you all come along with me! I'm on my way to see the wizard. Maybe he can get us all back to the University
of Michgigan, where you can get a brain, and you can get yourh heart fixed, and you can find some courage. <Editor: nice inside joke there, Michigan is AWESOME!>
6:12 - "We're off to see the wizard..."
6:28 - (All together) Hawkeyes, and Hoosiers and Badgers, oh my! Hawkeyes, and Hoosiers and Badgers, oh my!
6:37 - "OSU Fight song, done Oz-style"
6:54 - (Witch) I've got you my pretty! I'll make sure you never see Ann Arbor again. This spell will take you to Columbus instead!
7:14 - Script OHIO forms.
(Narrator) The wicked witch of the south has cast a spell on the MMB, causing it to form a script Ohio. (BOO!)
7:27 - (Witch) Now, Dorothy, give me Denard's shoes! Terrel Pryor needs them! Especially after that <unintelligible> game against
Wisconsin!
(Dorothy) You terrible wicked witch of the south, you forgot it was actually the Michigan Marching Band that first performed the script Ohio in 1977 (Ed: is that right?)
7:55 - Script Ohio turns into "Oh no!"
(witch) "Oh no!"
8:00 - "The witch is dead..."
8:30 - "Merry old land of Oz..." - Block M marches down the field with crew
9:10 (Oz) - I am Oz, the big and powerful Oz. Tell us why you have come!
Do not arouse the <unintelligble> of the great and powerful Oz.
(Drum major) Pay not attention to that man on the above video board.
9:28 "Somewhere over the rainbow.."
(Drum major) Dorothy, you really don't need the wizard's help. You've got the power to go back to Michigan all along.
(Dorothy) I have?
(Drum major) Denard's magic untied shoes will take you home whenever you wish!
(Dorothy) - My friends too?
(Drum major) As drum major of the Michigan Marching Band, my connections will ensure they all receive acceptance letters
from the University of Michigan!
Now it's time to get those shoes back to Denard. Just close your eyes, tap those heels together 3 times and think to yourself
"There's no place like the Big House!"
(Dorothy) There's no place like the big house, there's no place like the big house!
10:37 "Victors and best" refrain (!!!) And finally Victors off the field!
F'in awesome half time show, MMB! For you to enjoy for ever and ever. This shall mark the next phase in Michigan athletics.
As Drum Major of the MMB.
