Not that anybody knew it at the time, but January 1st, 2000 was an important day in Patriots history. While most of Boston was recovering from a the millennium New Year’s Eve, Tom Brady was doing exactly what Patriots fans would come to expect over the next 17 seasons – leading his team to not one but two comebacks in the biggest game of his college career.

But nearly everything you needed to know about Tom Brady, you found out in the 1999 season at Michigan, capped off with the comeback win over Alabama in the Orange Bowl.

Vintage Tom Brady

This 1:42 interview with a Michigan TV station before the game is vintage Brady. This 17-year-old interview sounds much like the ones he gives today. It shows him being quietly confident, without coming off as cocky. He heaps praise on his opponents, takes no credit for himself. “The individual stuff, that’s really secondary, because this is a team sport, and everyone knows that you wouldn’t accomplish anything as an individual if you didn’t have a great team around you.”

So if you were to compare this with a 2017 Tom Brady interview, there aren’t that many qualitative differences. Sure, he’s older now, is married, has kids, and has won five Super Bowls, and talks much more about pliability – but the tone is exactly the same.

The 2000 Orange Bowl

Brady’s Wolverines entered the game ranked #8 in the country, as underdogs to the #5 ranked Alabama Crimson Tide. Much like the 2014 Divisional Playoff game against the Ravens, Brady brought his team back from two touchdown deficits – twice. Having platooned with Drew Henson for most of the year, coach Lloyd Carr also played did so in this game. Henson would struggle, and Brady would go in and bring the Wolverines back.

You can watch the 2000 Orange Bowl game here.

Highlights

If you’re truly starving for football, you can watch the whole thing. Otherwise, here are a few highlights:

• Joe Namath in the booth, doing much better than he would do while watching the another game featuring Brady a few years later. He didn’t want to kiss anyone here.
• Brady’s first touchdown pass, a 27-yarder to David Terrell. right before the half cut the Alabama lead to 14-7.
• His second touchdown pass to Terrell went for 57-yards, and tied the game at 14. After Alabama scored on their next possession, and again on a punt return after a Michigan three-and-out, it was 28-14 Alabama.
• And once again, Brady led the Wolverines back. First he threw a 20-yarder to Terrell to make it 28-21. Then led them on a 60-yard drive that culminated with a three-yard touchdown run for Anthony Thomas.
• Brady led the Wolverines on a potential game-winning drive at the end of the fourth quarter. But kicker Hayden Epstein 36-yard field goal was blocked. Brady, who was the holder, did manage to pick up the ball, and get a pass off, but it fell incomplete.
• On Michigan’s first play of overtime, Brady found tight end Shawn Thompson for a 25-yard score to give the Wolverines the lead.
• Alabama’s Andrew Zow threw a 21-yard touchdown to Antonio Carter to get the Crimson Tide within one; but kicker Ryan Pflugner pushed the extra point to the right, and the Wolverines had the victory.

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