As part of the Tom Brady suspension tour, the two-time NFL MVP is returning to Ann Arbor this Saturday to be the honorary captain when fourth-ranked Michigan takes on Colorado. It will be the first time Brady is back at Michigan Stadium for a football game since his last home game in 1999.
As a student at Michigan from 1995-1999, Brady was a backup quarterback for the Wolverines' 1997 national championship team. He started in 1998 and 1999, going 20-5 with 5,222 yards passing and 35 touchdowns.
Brady’s last 3 games donning maize and blue were his most memorable:
1999 vs. No. 6 Penn State
No. 16 Michigan traveled to Happy Valley to take on No. 6 Penn State in the second-to-last regular-season game. The Nittany Lions held a 27-17 lead before Brady ran for a 5-yd TD to bring the Wolverines within three points with 3:26 remaining.
After a three-and-out on Penn State's ensuing possession, Brady drove Michigan 65 yards down the field and hit Marcus Knight for a go-ahead touchdown to cap off the comeback.
1999 vs. Ohio State
One week after beating Penn State on the road, the Wolverines returned to Michigan Stadium, where Brady made his last appearance at the Big House. He led Michigan with two touchdown passes in a 27-17 win that kept the Buckeyes out of a bowl game.
It was the only season Ohio State missed a bowl game between 1989 and 2011. Michigan has beaten the Buckeyes only three times since then.
2000 Orange Bowl
After beating Ohio State to end the regular season, Michigan received an invite to the Orange Bowl to face running back Shaun Alexander and No. 5 Alabama. In arguably his best performance with the Wolverines, Brady threw for 369 yards, four touchdowns and led the team back from two 14-point deficits (14-0 in the first half, 28-14 in the second half).
Tied at 28 at the end of the fourth quarter, Brady threw the go-ahead touchdown to tight end Shawn Thompson in overtime. Michigan sealed the game when Alabama missed their extra point on the ensuing touchdown drive. That season also marked the last time Michigan finished in the AP top 5 (finished fifth).