THE GAME- Looking Back 1973

The third installment of Michigan-Ohio State week takes us back to 1973. By this time, the decade of the ’70s had established its own feel, slightly different from that of the ’60s. Motorists waited in odd/even lines for gas (hmm….sounds vaguely familiar), and on Nov. 24, 1973, the Carpenters ruled the airwaves with “Top of the World.”

In the Big Ten, the two old rivals were on top of the world that day, as both teams entered the ’73 game with perfect record. Ohio State grabbed a 10-0 halftime lead as two-time Heisman Trophy winner Archie Griffin twisted and and spun his way on a long run during an Ohio State touchdown drive. In the second half, Michigan had the better of the action, and with the Wolverines facing a critical play, quarterback Dennis Franklin faked a handoff to fullback Ed Shuttlesworth and kept the ball himself on an option, scoring to tie the game, 10-10. Later in the game, Michigan kicker Mike Lantry missed a 58-yard field goal, but Lantry got a second chance when Ohio State quarterback Greg Hare was intercepted by Tom Drake, giving Lantry another shot. This time, Lantry’s kick was wide right instead, giving Ohio State the ball one final time. On the final play, Greg Hare lofted a pass into the air, and before it hit the ground, a record 43 people touched the ball, including a few stragglers who who wandered onto the field from section 3, before the ball fell harmlessly to the ground.The game ended in a 10-10 tie, with Michigan quarterback Dennis Franklin leaving the game due to an injury he suffered on a possession following Michigan’s touchdown.

In the controversial aftermath, Big Ten athletic directors voted 6-4 to send Ohio State to the Rose Bowl, with rumors swirling that Michigan State voted for Ohio State in retaliation for Michigan voting against Michigan State’s admittance to the Big Ten in 1949. Ohio State went on to trounce USC in the Rose Bowl, 42-21, as both Ohio State and Michigan finished the season undefeated.

Here it is is, in two parts, but in all its glory, thanks to our friend Brian Cook at mgovideo. Sit back and enjoy!

 

THE GAME- Looking Back 1964

For the second installment of the Michigan-Ohio State week, we’ll go back to 1964.

With Woody Hayes at the helm, Ohio State dominated the rivalry from 1954 to 1968, but in 1964, Michigan only fell once, in a 1-point loss at home to Purdue. On November 21, the Wolverines traveled to Columbus, and in the second quarter, they pounced on the ball when Ohio State fumbled a punt. Two plays later, Bob Timberlake found Jim Detwiler on a crossing pattern for a touchdown, and the Michigan defense made it stand up with a 10-0 win over the Buckeyes.

Michigan went on to the Rose Bowl, where the Wolverines topped Oregon State, 34-7. The video comes to us courtesy of YouTube subscriber Wolverine Historian, who has posted numerous videos spanning a period of more than 60 years. Filmed in vintage black & white, a real treasure for those of us who grew up in the Baby Boom era. Enjoy!

THE GAME- Looking Back 1972

Anyone who knows me is aware that I post a number of classic games between Michigan and Ohio State during the week leading up to “The Game.” I’ll start this week off with equal time for the Buckeyes, who prevailed in the 1972 classic, 14-11, a mere 40 years ago.

The video comes from the folks at OurHonorDefend.com, and while they root for a different team that I do, I have to give them credit for posting a lot of great videos of classic games. They correctly note that Mike Lantry missed a field goal in this game, and he went on to miss important kicks in the succeeding two games between Michigan and Ohio State, but I’d point out the Football News named him to its All-America team in 1973, and also that he lettered for UM three times in the shot put, all of this after fighting in the Vietnam War. Enjoy!