Mountaintop: The Inside Story of Michigan’s 1997 Title Climb

by Mark Snyder, Nick Baumgardner, Gene Myers (Editor)

When the 1997 college football season began, the once-mighty Michigan Wolverines were dismissed nationally as a relic of a bygone era. Michigan had posted four straight four-loss seasons and started out No. 14 in the polls for the third straight year, its worst preseason rankings since 1985. Michigan was led by an accidental third-year coach, Lloyd Carr, who had suffered through back-to-back four-loss seasons after taking the job in the middle of a proverbial tornado. The starting quarterback was a fifth-year, former walk-on who nearly quit the sport. The offensive and defensive coordinators were brand new, the schedule was the toughest in the country, and Michigan’s status as a football powerhouse teetered on a razor’s edge. Right before the opener, Carr’s team heard a survivor from a Mount Everest tragedy describe what it took to do the impossible, when everything around you was falling apart. Climb the mountain became the team’s mantra. Four months later, the Wolverines stood on college football’s summit as the 1997 national champion, a perfect 12-0. A team with several future Pro (and College) Football Hall of Famers, the first-ever defensive Heisman Trophy winner (Charles Woodson), the greatest QB in football history (Tom Brady) and the last QB to ever beat him for an open job (Brian Griese), the 1997 Wolverines reset the standard for greatness at the school with the most victories in the sport’s history. This is the story of climbing the mountain, individually and as a brotherhood, during Michigan’s most fabled season ― one ending with its first national championship in a half-century and lone title in the last 75 years. “Mountaintop” is the journey from the inside, from the players, coaches, and staff members who lived the experience.

402 pages, Hardcover

Published September 5, 2023

Reviews

[Sarah]

I was 3 years old during Michigan’s last National Championship season (and not really a sentient fan until I was 8), so I picked up this book in the M Den to educate myself on essential Wolverines lore! I liked how the authors started well in advance of the ‘97 season, tracking Lloyd Carr’s emergence and the way he established a team culture over several years in the aftermath of Gary Moeller’s inglorious firing. I started watching during the Henne/Hart era, so learning more about Carr’s backstory was a delight. I thought it was very charming how mountain climbing became such a rallying theme for the season (complete with souvenir ice picks), and “Mountaintop” certainly was a fitting title for this book!

I also appreciated all of the effort that went into interviewing players and coaches to tell the hidden stories of the season. There is a lot here that surprised me! Some of the anecdotes starkly revealed how much the advent of the internet has changed the amount of leeway college kids get to learn from their mistakes. Really thought-provoking, and reinforces how much leadership and character development matter on a team. Otherwise, the coverage of the season was lively and thorough, and I definitely feel like I have enough context now to more thoughtfully navigate ‘97 highlight reels! I’m glad I read this book—Go Blue!

[Andy Reeder]

As a lifelong Michigan fan, I loved reliving this season. Although I was only a teenager in 1997, I still have vivid memories of watching this team play, especially in the biggest games. Mountaintop does an excellent job of bringing those memories back to life while also telling the deeper story of the players, coaches, and circumstances that led to one of the greatest seasons in college football history.

What makes this book particularly enjoyable is the behind-the-scenes perspective. Learning about the backgrounds of players like Charles Woodson and the rest of the championship team, along with the challenges and sacrifices they faced on their way to a national title, gave me an even greater appreciation for what they accomplished. The interviews and personal stories make this feel less like a recap of a football season and more like a tribute to the people who made it happen.

For most of my life, the 1997 team was the only Michigan national championship team I had experienced, at least until the 2023 Wolverines captured another title just a few months after this book's release. That made reading this account especially meaningful. Many of my favorite Michigan players of all time were part of this team, and seeing their journeys unfold was well worth the read.

If you're a Michigan football fan, whether you remember the 1997 season firsthand or know it only through highlights and history, this book is absolutely worth your time. It's a fitting tribute to one of the greatest teams Michigan has ever put on the field and one of the great teams in college football history.

[Olivia]

I really enjoyed reading this book. It took on a new and fresh perspective of Michigan football and the 1997 National Championship. It gives even more meaning to the 1997 merchandise that was handed down for my father. The story telling was brilliant and the behind the scenes look was worth the sight difficulty I had reading the book due to some timeline jumping.

Overall - highly recommend this book.

[Alan McCord]

25 years before Michigan won the national championship, the 1997 team did the same thing. This is a nice inside account of how that team evolved and preferred during the season. I remember seeing Lou Kashiscke work about his Mount Everest experiences at about the same time, and the mountain-climbing metaphor is certainly appropriate for this story.

[Mike Augustine]

An obvious must read for Michigan football fans!

[Kevin Kielczewski]

A blast to look back on one of the teams that drew me to being a sports fan and a remarkable time of my childhood. A must read for Michigan Fans.

[Alex Czarnik]

A fantastic read that weaves in so many of the player’s individual stories into the overall season wonderfully.

Kudos to Nick and Mark for the work put into this one!

[Matthew Stetz]

Good stuff. Lloyd Care was the man.

[Michael Stetz]

John u bacon would have told it better.

[Thomas Rusli]

“Someday, Michigan is going to win another national championship.” A presciently written ending for a book published in the spring before Michigan’s next national championship.

[Matt Burns]

Extremely biased so of course I loved it. Nick, please come back to the Michigan beat.