Michigan vs Michigan State Football – Looking Back – 1973

As Michigan rides into Michigan State week with three consecutive shutouts, there are some similarities to 1973. Most people remember 1973 for an unfortunate and controversial tie against Ohio State, but few remember how truly dominant that ’73 Michigan team really was. Similar to this year, Michigan shut out three consecutive opponents in 1973, the last one being Michigan State in East Lansing. And that’s just the first similarity.

The 1973 team also featured an opportunistic special teams unit, which was active that day against Michigan State. While safety/corner/nickel Jabrill Peppers provides some occasional lightning as a kickoff and punt returner on the current team, safety Dave Brown did the same for the ’73 Wolverines, and he got things started in the first quarter that year when he took a punt return back 52 yards for a touchdown. Michigan also featured a tight end who was a matchup nightmare for opposing defenses. Paul Seal was too fast, quick and shifty for linebackers to cover, and too tall and rangy for defensive backs to deal with. Seal caught a six-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Dennis Franklin in the fourth quarter that effectively ended any hope the Spartans might have had of making a dramatic comeback. By the time fullback Ed Shuttlesworth punched the ball across the goal line, the pounding was complete as Michigan routed the Spartans, 31-0, their third shutout in as many weeks, with the others coming against Navy (14-0) and Oregon (24-0). Yes, you read that correctly. In 1973, the Oregon Ducks actually made an October road trip to Ann Arbor, something that PAC-12 and SEC teams seldom do these days.

The defense on that ’73 was another thing that was similar to the current Michigan team. In addition to the three shutouts, Michigan allowed opponents to score in double digits on only three occasions that season, in the legendary 10-10 season-ending tie against Ohio State, against Stanford in a 47-10 Michigan win, and against Indiana in a 49-13 Michigan win. Looking back, it doesn’t seem possible that a Bo Schembechler defense would ever give a Lee Corso team 13 points, even as a Christmas present!

The special teams unit was also similar to the current team. Gil Chapman was a speedy return man who would slice through opponents on kickoffs and punt returns, and placekicker Mike Lantry had started out as a walk-on who had played another sport (track & field), just as current kicker Kenny Allen started out as a walk-on with a background in soccer. And just like Allen, Lantry had a rocket launcher for a leg.
Michigan never lost a game in that 1973 season. Could Michigan complete the rest of its current season in similar fashion? It’s certainly worth thinking about.

M FOOTBALL 2015- THE SURGING MICHIGAN WOLVERINES OVERWHELMED NORTHWESTERN’S WILDCAT’S WITH A TWENTY-ONE POINT 1ST QUARTER AVALANCHE, AND THEN ADDED TO THE SCORE TO WIN 38-0 FOR THEIR THIRD STRAIGHT SHUTOUT

The 13th ranked Northwestern Wildcats roared out of Evanston to pounce on the 18th ranked Michigan Wolverines in Michigan Stadium Saturday afternoon at 3:30 PM.

It was a crucial Big Ten battle. Gone are the “Mildcats” of yore, as this edition is large, athletic, more defensive minded, and came into the game undefeated. They seemed to mirror the Wolverines in many respects, but the Wolverines seriously out played them Saturday.

Their style this year, together with the style of the Wolverines, foretold a game that would be close, hard hitting, and low scoring. The Wildcats favor the run. The Wolverines wanted to put a cork in that bottle as a first priority, and did they ever. The Wolverine’s defense was nothing less than superb.  They have compiled three shut outs in a row.

For the game, the Wolverines had 201 net yards rushing and the Wildcats 38. The Wolverines had 179 net passing yards to the ‘Cat’s 130. M had 21 first downs to the Wildcat’s 13. You name the category, and the Wolverines dominated. They dominated on Offense, Defense and Special Teams. Even the usually careful Coach Harbaugh admitted that they were good in all the categories and he ran it down position group by position group.

Many foretold a close game in which errors, such as fumbles, missed tackles, interceptions, penalties, and other lapses would spell doom to hopes of victory.

And in a way an error helped spell Northwestern’s doom, as Jourdan Lewis laid hands on an otherwise completed pass, whisked the ball away from the receiver, grabbed the falling ball off his thigh, and zipped thirty-seven yards into the end zone for six to increase an already insurmountable lead. The Wolverines did not fumble, nor did Jake Rudock throw an interception.

The Wolverines did make a serious error. James Ross, a replacement for Mario Ojemudia, drew a penalty for targeting a Wildcat receiver with the crown of his helmet. A review sustained the call on the field. For this move, he is banned from playing in the first half in next week’s game with the Spartans. Replay showed the call justified, but the crowd understandably was incensed by a prior non-call involving a hit on sliding QB Jake Rudock, which was, on review, called a non-penalty. It was not surprising Coach Harbaugh did not care to comment on either circumstance at his post-game press conference.

The Wildcats wanted to slug it out on the ground. The Wildcats long time weapon of choice is no longer an aerial circus. They still want to outscore, but they want to control the ball with a ground game. Welcome to the club.

The Wolverines won this battle, and forced the Wildcats to pass more that they wanted to. Northwestern RB Justin Jackson had been piling up 100 plus yardage in a number of games. He had 32 net yards Saturday.

Their running game was 14th in the nation prior to Saturday. They were 1st against scoring and 5th in total defense.

This would be, many pundits thought, a low scoring slug fest as some thought M’s offense would have a problem solving their defense. Wrong as the whole offense, including the offensive line,  played well.

The Michigan defense, which plays better each time I see it in action, pitched another shutout, its second shutout in two weeks. To me, this was the most impressive victory of the season so far, but sterner tests loom as the competition gets tougher, as the current possessors of the Paul Bunyan trophy come to town.

Football wins depreciate as fast as a good meal. When a team trounces another it is often thought that the trounced team just wasn’t as good as they were thought to be before the win. We’ll see how the Wildcats fare after being demolished, but I think the Wolverines trounced a quality team Saturday.

At the coin toss to start the game, things started to go bad for the Wildcats as they won the toss and deferred. That turned out to be an unlucky move as Jabril Peppers and Jehu Chesson were patiently waiting for the KO , each capable of doing damage.

Jehu caught the high kick at his own four yard line, chose a clear path, half circling from the east sideline to the west, and then headed south with ball.  The Wildcat’s fortunes in the game headed south with him.  He crossed the plane in the south end zone after ninety-six yards, and the Wolverines had all the points they needed for the win. M-7, NW-0.

Chesson also had a great 27-yard run. The crowd and players were jacked up. The atmosphere was electric.

The first quarter deluge continued as the Wolverines continued to rain on the Wildcat’s parade. A defensive three and out, and the Wolverines offense got its first chance and made the most of it.

D. Smith rushed for 7, 18, and then 1 yard. Rudock hit Jake Butt for 32-yards. Drake Johnson pushed it in from the one, and at 10:20 it was M-14, NW-0.

NW than produced a 10 play drive that finished in a missed 42-yard field goal.

From their own 25, the Wolverines moved to the NW 2, and then into the end zone on a strong Jake Rudock run as he bulled to the goal line, and reached over for six. The big play of the drive was a 34-burst by Joe Kerridge. A great run by Kerridge even if he was caught from behind.

After the Rudock score, it was 21-0 as the Wolverines played their best quarter this year in all three phases of the game.

The defense held NW to 21-yards rushing, and 35-yards through the air, and to zero first downs during the first quarter. 

While it was a team effort on defense, Jerrod Wilson had 7 tackles, with 4 solo  Willie Henry had 4 solo and 2 sacks in this game.

Blake O’Neill hit a 59-yard punt as Michigan’s first drive of the second quarter stalled. The two sides traded punts. Finally Jourdan Lewis made his outstanding interception, turning what I thought was a completion into a spectacular interception and 37-yard TD. M-28, NU-0 and the suspense was mostly gone. M Freshman tail back Karan Higdon got his first carries in the first half as a Wolverine, and showed some talent on subsequent runs.

NW was held to 3-yards rushing, and 36 passing in the second quarter, and lost their poise a little, suffering 5 penalties for 39-yards.

Up 28 to zip, the Wolverines had completed a fine half or football, arguably their finest of the year, with 213-yards of offense to Northwestern’s 95.

In the third quarter the combatants traded punts until M, starting at their own 33, got Kenny Allen into position to hit a 47-yard field goal. M-31, NW-0. Smith had run for 19 and 3. Jehu Chesson had run for 12 to the MW 33, but Rudock was sacked to the NW 29 to stall the drive.

By the start of the 4th quarter Derrick Green was the running back, and doing well. De’Veon Smith, now healed, was the leading rusher at 58-yards gained. Drake Johnson was dinged with an undisclosed injury, which is probably why Karan Higdon burned his red shirt.

At just under 10:00 left, Green ran for six and Ty Isaac for 7. A.J. Williams collared a 16-yard pass and the Wolverines were on the move again. Houma hit for 5, and it was Green into the end zone from 4 out for the final score of 38 to zip.

It’s been a while since the old stadium has rocked with so much enthusiasm. The fans were energized as the resurgent Wolverines showed the many aspects of their improvement. It was a near perfect Homecoming performance against a team that brought a good coach, Pat Fitzgerald, and his previously unbeaten and ranked team, to Ann Arbor.

It appears the Wolverines are primed and ready to battle the Spartans next Saturday. It will be a battle as usually the Spartans play their best against the Wolverines. Throw out the records, this free for all is unpredictable.

ESPN Game Day will be there.

To say that the old Stadium will be rocking is probably an understatement. It ought to be quite a game as it looks as if the Wolverines can be competitive.

Go Blue!

M FOOTBALL 2015-M DEFENSE OUTSHINES M OFFENSE BUT THEY COMBINE FOR A MUCH NEEDED WIN IN BIG TEN OPENER AT COLLEGE PARK, BLANKING MARYLAND’S TERRAPINS 28 ZIP.

The Wolverines trekked into Maryland and to College Park for a battle with the University of Maryland’s Football Terrapins in spite of a predicted rough weather spillover from Hurricane Joaquin.

Fortunately much of the worst of that storm missed College Park, and the worst weather enemies of good football on the field were just gusty winds, drizzle, and a wet football.

It turned out that Hurricane Joaquin had veered away from the East Coast, preventing much anticipated severe destruction, and some probable loss of life, but it still bestowed a legacy of significant winds, and harmful rainfall to the region as a whole.

This was the Wolverine’s first visit to Byrd Stadium (51,802). It recently had artificial turf installed. The field was playable Saturday with intermittent drizzle.

Last year’s Wolverine loss to the Terps was inexplicable, even unimaginable, a further sign of a crumbling season, and Brady Hoke’s coming end of tenure. The Wolverines, while out gaining the Terps fell victim to their own errors, and let the Big Ten newcomer Terps walk away from M Stadium with a win that everyone on the Michigan side felt should have been theirs, but wasn’t.

For a short time last Saturday I wondered if it wasn’t going to happen again, but the Wolverine’s returned the favor today with domination.

After today’s win, M now leads the series 4-1. The Terps nabbed an interception and a fumble in the first half, and Michigan countered with their own interceptions as Maryland made its own mistakes. Wolverine’s LB Desmond Morgan, Corner Jeremy Clark, and Corner Jourdan Lewis all collared interceptions.

Maryland hadn’t been playing well this season. In their four prior games, they had collapsed big time against Bowling Green, and also against Number 23 West Virginia, giving up some 600-yards each game.

Their offensive angst was further proved by the musical chairs that their quarterback corps was playing. First, QB Perry Hills, starter for the 1st two games, was replaced by Caleb Rowe in the second game. He did well against South Florida, but imploded against WVA, tossing four interceptions. Last Saturday, fifth year coach Randy Edsall jerked his chain in favor of Daxx Garman later in their game against the Wolverines. As advertised, Rowe had started against the Wolverines, but had a rough outing.

The Terps have some talented players. Good tight ends and running backs, such as rising RB Ty Johnson. DE Yannick Ngaboue has been outstanding. BB Davis had been a terror on one corner, causing fumbles and interceptions, while the other corner back position was filled by the team’s best player, who owns the unlikely name of Will Likely. Against the Wolverines he had four returns for 24-yards, with his longest being 12-yards. M special teams were up to the task. Likely made some impressive defensive plays from his corner back position.

Prior to the game, Coach Harbaugh referred to Likely as perhaps the best return man in college football. He owned returns of 67 and 85-yards prior to Michigan’s visit. Wolverine special teams prevented him from being a factor Saturday.

This had every indication of a trap game. Poor weather conditions away from home, against a desperate team fighting for a respectable B1G season, before a crowd trying to generate winning electricity. I thought this game might find the Wolverines possibly subject to a letdown after their hard fought victory against BYU.

It seemed that way offensively in the first quarter and one half, and defensively for a few series.

Early errors by M’s offense were a concern. Two fumbles and an interception (a fumble and interception by Jake Rudock, and two fumbles by Ty Isaac, one lost, one recovered), all led to early concern regarding M’s offense. A half without a TD is a concern. Sloppy play is another. So is converting only 5 of 17 first downs.

The offense helped themselves out of the first half doldrums by scoring some TDs in the second half through inventive play calling, the return of a healthy Drake Johnson at running back, a speedy Jehu Chesson, and some good blocking.

Drake Johnson was the leading rusher with 23 attempts for 68-yards.By the middle of the third quarter the offense had corrected the earlier TD scoring deficiency. The offense had some stalwart help from its friends on the defense and special teams.

It didn’t take the defense as long to correct things.

Except for a little stint at the start of the game when the Terps got 70-yards on 16 plays, the defense was spectacular. After that, the Terps were shut down to a total 35-yards gained on 46 plays for an average of 0.8 yards gained per play.

The defense pitched its second shut-out of the season back to back with the one last week against BYU. Peppers had a kick return of 21-yards, and a punt return of 29-yards. Blake O’Neill has a terrific game spot punting, dropping one on the one and leaving one another inside the five.

Despite M’s 3 turnovers (two fumbles, and an interception), the Terps managed just a minus one yard after the errors. The Terps punted twice, and threw an interception of their own after M’s errors. The defense effectively erased the effect of these errors. Maryland was 1 of 18 on third down attempts. They gained 105 yards as did BYU last week.

The defense handled sudden turnover situations well, and almost everything else, well. They are a weapon. 

The only bad news for the defense and the team is that reliable reports indicate that the injury to Mario Ojemudia is a serious achilles tendon injury.

After a Jake Rudock run of thirty-yards, M’s Kenny Allen finally hit a 30-yard FG late in the second quarter, and the Wolverines were on the board. After a TE Jake Butt screen pass catch and run of 44-yards, Allen hit another 32-yard FG for a skinny 6 to zip lead at the half. The Wolverines had squandered opportunities, but fortunately the Terps matched that with errors of their own.  This is a blessing that likely will not happen in future games.

Jake Rudock did not have an extraordinary game.  He fumbled once, and threw an interception. He missed Chesson once on a sure long TD. He drew a flag when he threw the ball away into an area with no receiver, compiling too many mistakes. That will bite the Wolverines as the competition toughens up as it does next Saturday and will after. But he did engineer a 28 to nothing win, this time, in spite of them. Rudock was 16 of 32 for 180-yards with one TD, one interception, and was sacked once.

The offense didn’t take significant command of the game until, at 8:11 of the third quarter, Drake Johnson captured a screen pass, and sped outside to his left for 31-yards, making a tremendously athletic move to make the ball violate the plane of the end zone for 6. A 2-yard pass to Kahlid Hill secured the 2 point conversion, and finally the Wolverines had a more comfortable lead. A score of M-14, T-0 relieved some of the tension.

The good field position before the TD was set up by a 59-yard O’Neill punt to the Terp 29. On the ensuing Terp possession, Jourdan Lewis intercepted a Terp pass. Cutting in front of the receiver, he tapped the ball so he could catch it, and M was in great scoring position, and took advantage.

The offense then got the ball to Jehu Chesson, and on one play he scampered 66-yards on a jet sweep down the sideline for six. The call or QB read gave the ball to Chesson on a play that had been run before with the back getting the ball each time. It was a great call, as was its blocking and execution. M-21, T-0.

It was Drake Johnson again as he ran one in from one yard, jumping high over the pile into the end zone for six. The Final was now established at 28-0.

The return of Johnson to form could not have been any more-timely than it was, with Smith’s injury against BYU keeping him in Ann Arbor, and the es of the other backs struggling against the Terps. They needed a slasher among their corps of big backs, and some speed. Johnson is both. Final M-28, Terps-0.

The stakes will be considerably higher next week as the undefeated Northwestern Wildcats charge into Michigan Stadium for a 3:30 PM start. In order to win the Wolverines will need to bring their best game of the season to date, as the schedule toughens up. The Wildcats have a great defense, and they are undefeated. Last Saturday they hammered the Minnesota Gophers 27 to 0. The Wolverines will have their hands full, and will need to play error free football.

It will be a 3:30 start.

Go Blue!