ESPN Classic - Classic Michigan Live

ALSO SEE
Chat wrap with Jud Heathcote

Wednesday, November 19, 2003
Classic Michigan Live

ESPN Classic brings its road show to Ann Arbor and East Lansing on Saturday, September 16. ESPN Classic will host live events in both locations from noon to 3:30 p.m. ET. In Ann Arbor, Rich Eisen will host former Michigan hoops star Robert "Tractor" Traylor and former Michigan defensive lineman Mark Messner at Harper's. In East Lansing, Gary Miller will host legendary Michigan State and NFL player Bubba Smith, former Spartans basketball coach Jud Heathcote and former Spartans hoops star and current 76er Eric Snow at Dominick's. In addition to meeting these legends, fans can participate in merchandise giveaways. If you can't come down to the event, we hope you will watch our special presentation of ESPN Classic Michigan.

ESPN Classic televises the greatest sporting events, most memorable stories and heroes of all time. On Saturday, September 16, ESPN Classic will present Classic Michigan Live featuring some of the greatest games between the bitter intrastate rivals. On Sunday, September 17, ESPN Classic will shift to classic Michigan games and teams in the professional ranks. Here is our lineup followed by a brief reminder of what made these teams and games classic.

Live chats on Friday

Former Michigan hoops star Robert "Tractor" Traylor will chat live on ESPN.com on Friday, September 15 at 4 p.m. ET

Former Michigan State basketball coach Jud Heathcote will follow at 5 p.m. ET

Classic Michigan on ESPN Classic
Saturday, August 16

Time Event

noon ET Classic Michigan Live

3:30 p.m. ET 1990 Michigan St. @ Michigan

6:30 p.m. ET 1985 Michigan @ Michigan St.

Classic Michigan on ESPN Classic
Sunday, August 17

Time Event

9 a.m. ET 1991 Dertroit Lions

9:30 a.m. ET '57 NFL title: Cleveland vs. Detroit

10 a.m. ET '84 World Series: Game 5
San Diego @ Detroit

noon ET '90 NBA Finals: Game 5
Detroit @ Portland

ESPN Classic Michigan begins the special presentation with Rich Eisen from Ann Arbor and Gary Miller from East Lansing hosting ESPN Classic Michigan - Live from noon to 3:30 p.m. ET. Eisen and Miller will look back at some of the greatest college football and basketball match-ups between Michigan and Michigan State. Included in this portion of the show will be Michigan State's thrilling 28-25 win in 1995. Tony Banks hits Nigea Carter with a 25-yard pass with 1:24 left to upset Brian Griese and the No. 7 ranked Wolverines. We also have a classic hoops game from 1992. Fab Five freshmen Chris Webber and Jalen Rose lead Michigan past Michigan St. 89-79 in OT.

3:30 p.m. ET - 1990 Michigan St. @ Michigan
An 8-yard touchdown run by Tico Duckett and John Langeloh's PAT lifted Michigan State to a 28-27 upset of No. 1 Michigan, which lost a late bid for victory when a two-point conversion failed with six seconds remaining on Saturday. Trailing 28-21, the Wolverines, behind the passing of Elvis Grbac, drove 70 yards in 13 plays. Grbac hit Derrick Alexander with a 7-yard touchdown pass to pull Michigan within one point with six seconds left. On the PAT attempt, Grbac lofted a soft pass to Desmond Howard in the back the end zone. TV replays showed Howard was hit by Michigan State defender Eddie Brown before the pass arrived, but no interference call was made. Despite the contact, Howard was open and appeared to have the ball in his grasp as he landed in the end zone. The ball rolled away and the pass was ruled incomplete. Howard had brought Michigan back from a 21-14 deficit by returning a kickoff 95 yards for a TD inside the last six minutes. Michigan got the ball back after recovering an onside kick but Grbac's last-ditch pass from the Spartans' 47 was intercepted at the 2-yard-line. It was the first time Michigan (3-2 overall, 1-1 Big Ten) had been ranked No. 1 since the 1989 preseason poll - when the Wolverines lost to Notre Dame 24-19 in the first game.

6:30 p.m. - 1985 Michigan @ Michigan State
Third-ranked Michigan got a touchdown after a recovered fumble and turned a blocked punt into a touchdown within a 1:51 span of the first quarter Saturday to grab a 14-0 lead en route to a 31-0 victory over Michigan State. Michigan State had four turnovers, all of which resulted in scores by the Wolverines. "It was like starting the game 14-0," Michigan Coach Bo Schembechler said. "We might have won, but it wouldn't have been 31-0. I don't feel sorry for Michigan State, but that's a bad way to start a traditional battle like this." Michigan State quarterback Bobby McAllister fumbled the snap on the second play of the game, and Michigan recovered. Three plays later, Michigan quarterback Jim Harbaugh flipped a nine-yard touchdown pass to tight end Eric Kattus. The Spartans were forced to punt on their next possession, and Michigan's Dieter Heren blocked it. Heren scooped up the ball and ran to the one, where he fumbled into the end zone, and Ed Hood fell on the ball for another Michigan touchdown. The Wolverines had a 14-0 lead, and there was still 10:59 left in the first quarter.

Sunday, September 17

9 a.m. - 1991 Lions Yearbook
Take a look back at the 1991 Lions team when Barry Sanders and Eric Kramer led them to the brink of the Super Bowl. Detroit won the NFC Central with a 12-4 record and crushed the Cowboys 38-6 in the divisional playoff game. Washington ended the Lions Super Bowl dreams beating them 41-10 in the NFC title game.

9:30 a.m. - 1957 NFL Championship Game
Cleveland Browns @ Detroit Lions
The film highlights the Lions 59-14 thrashing of the Browns. Tobin Rote, filling in for the injured Bobby Layne, completed 12 of 19 passes for 280 yards and 4 touchdowns.

10 a.m. - 1984 World Series: Game 5
San Diego Padres @ Detroit Tigers
The Tigers clinch the World Series title with an 8-4 win. Kirk Gibson's two home runs framed Detroit's scoring. It was Detroit's first World Series title since 1968.

10 a.m. - 1990 NBA Finals: Game 5
Detroit Pistons @ Portland Trail Blazers
Piston guard Isiah Thomas scored 39 points and center Bill Laimbeer grabbed 17 rebounds as Pistons clinched the title with a win 92-90 win. Portland led by seven points with two minutes to go, but never scored again. The Detroit Pistons, showing the poise acquired in three consecutive appearances in the finals, scored nine straight points to win 92-90 on Vinnie Johnson's 15-footer with seven-tenths of a second to play.

ESPN Classic is the only network that features past Super Bowls, World Series, NBA Finals, Stanley Cup Championships, heavyweight championship fights, NCAA Final Fours, Olympics, NASCAR, Grand Slam tennis events, The Masters and much more. The greatest moments in sports, larger-than-life personalities, history-making games and epic events are available to relive for the first time or the 100th time.

Send this story to a friend | Most sent stories