That is, Lloyd Carr’s first game as Michigan’s head coach on Aug. 26, 1995.
No. 14 Michigan played No. 17 Virginia at Michigan Stadium in the Pigskin Classic that day, a tricky game that didn’t go well early. The Cavaliers, led by Tiki and Ronde Barber, took a 17-0 lead in the fourth quarter.
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The Wolverines, however, rallied behind quarterback Scott Dreisbach, who threw the game-winning touchdown pass on a corner route to Mercury Hayes as time expired. Michigan won 18-17.
Brent Musburger’s game-ending call says it all:
Carr went on to compile a 122-40 record at Michigan from 1995-2007 and guided the Wolverines to the 1997 AP national championship.
Michigan’s last two head coaches have split their openers. The Wolverines lost, 25-23, to Utah in Rich Rodriguez’s debut on Aug. 30, 2008. Michigan beat Western Michigan, 34-10, in Brady Hoke’s debut on Sept, 3, 2011.
Harbaugh makes his debut as Michigan’s coach Sept. 3 at Utah.