Michigan / Minnesota - Never Forget The Buffalo Stampede

No Michigan fan worth his/her salt/pepper can think of the State of Minnesota in general without thinking of the greatest comeback in Michigan football history, Michigan v. Minnesota 2003. Personally, I can't think of lakes, the number 10,000, or Minnie Mouse (I can't get that hot ass mouse out of my head) without thinking of that game.  Michigan came back from 21 points down that faithful day in the Metrodome, killing the hopes and dreams of so many in the North Star State, just as they were recovering from the North Stars leaving their state.

In the second half, victory looked as likely as a Braylon Edwards passing a field sobreity test (unlikely).  There was one man (and likely ~85 other men) who refused to lose to Marion Barber in anything other than a concussion contest.  That same man, noted for his electrifying athleticism, would use said athleticism to strap the entire Michigan team on his back and carry them to victory.  This is the story and the video of that man.

The play was letter renamed the "Buffalo Stampede," and if you've seen this play before, you know why: (most underrated element of this play: Breaston's beautiful throw)

While non-porn video review is not a speciality of mine, I feel fairly confident in saying that Navarre catches the ball at the 40 with a running start and takes 6 seconds to get into the endzone. Sure he's dodging tacklers and bumbing but it takes him a solid 6 seconds to run 40 yards in a pretty straight line. It's hard to tell how slow he's running until you watch #79 Adam Stenovich, with a 5 yard head start and with the extra responsibility of blocking people that want to tackle John, cross the goal line at about the same time as John. John's run fueled an epic comeback capped by the John Navarre of Michigan kicking, Garrett Rivas drilling a field goal with 51 seconds left that would prove to be the difference.

(open rant) Were there two more successful yet more maligned players in Michigan history? Both Navarre and Rivas were historically good yet dealt with historic distrust from fans their entire careers. If you look on dictionary.com, you'll find the phrase "you'll miss me when I'm gone," was coined in response to the fan's reaction to John and Garrett (please don't look)(close rant).

This is a buffalo stampede if one has ever occurred on a football field, but I'll be goddamn if it doesn't get me amped for this weekend.

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