Michigan Football: From Elation to Heartbreak in Two Plays! The Sports Bar Ann Arbor Welcomes You To Share Your Disappointment!

The pinnacle of elation, transformed into the definition of heart break, in the span of two plays!

    Did anyone else feel this way when Michigan scored the game tying touchdown in the last minute of Saturday's game? There wasn't one person in the country that thought this Michigan team, which has done nothing but regress since week 2, would hang with the juggernaut that is THE Ohio State University. OSU, coming into the game with a 23 game winning streak and a number 3 ranking in the BCS, had every intention of rolling over said Michigan team on it's way to their first Big Ten Championship game. Out of nowhere the home team stunned everyone with a performance that simply stated, "no matter what the world thinks, we're going to show them what this team is made of".  In an instant classic, The Buckeyes escaped 42-41 when a 2 point conversion pass by Devin Gardner was intercepted in the end zone. Which if converted, would have been an upset matching 1995, 1996, even the epic 1969 24-12 game. 

    The question of the day throughout The Sports Bar after the game was, do you agree with the call to go for 2, or see what happens in overtime? The overwhelming consensus was, Wolverine Nation agreed with the decision to go for the win in regulation ( but hated the actual play call), for a myriad of reasons. 

• 1. At 7-4 (3-4 in the B1G), what is there left to play for?
• 2. The defense was getting shredded in the second half.  It would probably have been more of the same had the game gone to overtime. 
• 3. Devin Gardner could barely walk by the end of the game after spraining his ankle in the third quarter.  That being said, he displayed extreme toughness and heart on Saturday. 

    In conclusion, it's been an extremely painful and frustrating season from a fan's perspective. Every year, every team has a goal to improve every week, this team did the exact opposite from game 2 through game 11. This team somehow found a way to play their best game of the season at the time they needed it most, they just came up one play short. But this game has fans wondering, when it comes to play calling and performance, where was this all season? Fans have been begging for staff changes, most notably a change at Offensive Coordinator. Head Coach Brady Hoke announced Monday that there would be no staff changes, so we will have to see if this epic performance can carry over and inspire a young team and coaching staff to avoid another 5 loss season next year. With games at Notre Dame, Michigan State, and Ohio State, that will be tough to avoid. The development of the players and the identity of this team is squarely on this coaching staff, and if there are no improvements next year, change will be on the horizon come next off season.

We hope you will share some of your thoughts below or stop by The Sports Bar Ann Arbor to Eat Sports, Drink Sports, Watch Sports and Talk Sports!  

http://the-sportsbar.com/

Thanksgiving and Football! Michigan Traditions Highlighted By The Best Sports Bar in Ann Arbor!

Thanksgiving and Michigan Football go together like Turkey and Stuffing!

Do you and your family participate in one of America’s oldest post-Thanksgiving Day traditions?  
 

We don’t mean eating leftovers, although we’re sure you do enough of that, too.

  
We’re talking about watching football!

According to Wikipedia [the authority on everything] the first Thanksgiving Day football game was played in 1869 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  This game between several cricket clubs, occurred roughly two weeks after what is recognized as the first game of American football –played between Rutgers and Princeton on November 17, 1869.  Princeton and Yale began the tradition of collegiate games back in 1876.  Then, in 1882, the Intercollegiate Football Association (IFC) called for the championship game to be played on Thanksgiving Day between the two leading teams. 

The University of Michigan began the tradition of playing on or around Thanksgiving in 1885.  Back then, they typically played the Chicago Maroons.  Of course you all know that the Wolverines now play their arch rivals, the Ohio State Buckeyes, around turkey day. 

Many of you have grown up watching another Michigan team as you feast on turkey and all the trimmings.  The Detroit Lions have been playing home games on Thanksgiving day since 1934.  The only team to come close to that record is the Dallas Cowboys, who have played a home game every year since 1966.  In 2008, some media big-wigs suggested removing Detroit from their Thanksgiving Day game slot.  It seemed that the Lions losing streak didn’t make for high ratings.  However, since the prime time football slot was added, it has taken some of the focus off of Detroit’s lack of performance.  The contract states that until 2022, Detroit and Dallas could take part in “flex scheduling” and play during prime time or their traditional afternoon slot.  Until then, Detroit fans can breathe a sigh of relief. 

This year’s schedule:

Thanksgiving, Thursday, November 28

[We will be closed so our staff can celebrate the holiday.]

 

12:30   Lions and Packers                  Fox

4:30     Cowboys and Raiders            CBS

8:30     Steelers and Ravens              NBC

Saturday, November 30 

 Join us to watch what happens!!!

12:00  Michigan Wolverines and Ohio State Buckeyes  ABC

Join us for a meal and a game soon!  

Sign up for a lunch coupon good through November. 

http://the-sportsbar.com/

Check back in December for a new coupon!  

From all of us at The Sports Bar Ann Arbor Westside, we hope you and your family have a wonderful Thanksgiving.  Celebrate and give thanks to family, friends and football! 

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The Sports Bar Ann Arbor- Westside's Got 22 TVs to Help Keep the Peace in a Divided House!

Is it possible to keep harmony in a relationship divided by sports loyalties?

There are flags, license plates, door wreaths, t-shirts, and even baby onesies available displaying two sports teams.  Some couples go as far as having both beloved teams decorated on their wedding cake!   

Even the White House is divided.  President Barack Obama is a diehard White Sox fan, while First Lady Michelle grew up watching the Cubs with her dad.  She admits to still following the team. 

We recently enjoyed reading a blog post by SportsCenter anchor Chris McKendry about her divided house.  She describes the way they decided whether their child would root for her beloved Eagles or her husband’s chosen team, The Jet’s. http://espn.go.com/page2/s/mckendry/021122.html

Below are a few tips we’ve come across that may help keep the peace in your relationship:

Remain Respectful

A little teasing is okay but try to refrain from intense trash talking or gloating.  Making fun of a team’s big mistake is different than calling your partner stupid for loving that team.  If your teams are big rivals it may even be best to watch the games separately to prevent heated confrontations.

Compromise

There will be times that your team’s games will conflict.  Both partners need to compromise and plan which game to watch.  Some couples will watch games by the quarter and flip back and forth.  You’ll also need to compromise on your household décor.  Perhaps, your flag could be flown on the house and your partner’s on the garage. 

Remember That It’s Just a Game

The season will have ups and downs like most relationships.  Years from now, the time you spend with your loved one will matter more than winning the game. To ease the tension you may want to have an alternative wager where the winner has to give something to the loser.  For example, the winner may have to wash the loser's car or do the dishes for a month.  It may ease the pain of a loss.  Plus, it’s hard to gloat when you have dish pan hands! 

We’re curious to hear what you do when you and 

a loved one like different teams? 

At The Sports Bar Ann Arbor- Westside we have 22 TVs so we’re a great place to come to watch several games at once.  Stop by and enjoy one of our delicious entrees or a mouthwatering burger.   

We also have a great selection of beer and drinks! 

Did we mention the 22 TV screens showing sports all the time?   

See you soon!

http://the-sportsbar.com/