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Michigan vs Ohio State Football – Looking Back – 1955

The second installment of this year’s series looking back at the Michigan-Ohio State rivalry takes us to 1955. The Brooklyn Dodgers FINALLY won the World Series, Americans were finally able to enjoy some peace after the conclusion of the Korean War a few years earlier, and the nation was experiencing broad, post-war prosperity. Many young people were leaving cities, buying homes in the suburbs and starting families. The American automobile industry continued to thrive and Ford introduced its new personal luxury car, the Ford Thunderbird. On the pop culture front, rock & roll was beginning to make its presence felt among American youth.

On the gridiron, Michigan raced to a 7-1 start before facing Ohio State in The Game in Michigan Stadium on Nov. 19. With that, the Wolverines were routed 17-0. The game itself can be summed up simply. Ohio State ran left halfback Howard “Hopalong” Cassady time and again, and the Wolverines simply couldn’t stop him. Michigan certainly had some outstanding players on the ’55 squad, most notably All-America tight end Ron Kramer. Still, the Wolverines were unable to succeed at much in that game, as Woody Hayes became only the third Ohio State coach in history to win two games in a row against Michigan.

The result left both teams with matching 7-2 records. Ohio State was ranked fifth in the nation by the Associated Press, and Michigan was ranked 12th.

I wasn’t able to find any video of The Game from 1955, so please enjoy the summary of the 1955 football season below, with credit and thanks to the Bentley Historical Library. As always, I own nothing and I do not profit from this in any way.

http://bentley.umich.edu/athdept/football/fbteam/1955fbt.htm

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Michigan vs Ohio State Football – Looking Back – 1966

The first installment of this year’s series looking back at the Michigan-Ohio State football rivalry takes us back to 1966. It’s not often when both teams enter The Game with mediocre seasons, but in ’66, neither rival had accomplished much. It was a testament to the devotion inspired by the rivalry that more than 83,000 showed up at Ohio Stadium to watch two old foes wrap up a non-descript season. Still, the winner was bound to remember 1966 more fondly than the loser, and in this rivalry, that’s more than enough motivation.

Michigan’s fortunes had suddenly changed just four weeks before the game against Ohio State. With a 2-3 record, the Wolverines rose up and mauled Minnesota, 49-0, to seize both the Little Brown Jug and the season’s momentum. Entering the Ohio State game, Michigan had suddenly won three of the last four, and they were determined to send Woody Hayes into the offseason with a scowl on his face. After the teams traded field goals, Michigan began to take control of the game in the second quarter with its ground game. Running back Jim Detwiler scored on a 7-yard run to put the Wolverines up by a touchdown at halftime, and they extended the lead in the third quarter when Quarterback Dick Vidmer connected with Clayton Wilhite on a 28-yard touchdown pass to make the final score 17-3 in favor of Michigan. The scoring doesn’t tell the whole tale, though. Michigan stopped Ohio State on a fourth down at the Michigan 38-yard line, with the Buckeyes needing only inches for a first down. Ohio State’s momentum was stopped, and the play enabled Michigan to stay in the game until the Wolverines could establish their running game. In all, Michigan gained a net total of 272 yards on 44 carries, for an average of more than six yards per rush. Ohio State attempted the exact same number of running plays, 44, but gained only 146 yards on the ground.

Michigan finished the season with a record of six wins and four losses, while Ohio State finished with four wins and five losses, its first losing season since 1959. For all intents and purposes, the national championship was decided that same day in East Lansing, where Michigan State and Notre Dame played to an infamous 10-10 tie in which Notre Dame played it safe with 34 seconds remaining, running two plays into the middle of the offensive line to preserve the tie, with little risk and little sense of daring.

In the end, Michigan and Ohio State played a game with passion, despite the fact that 1966 was the rare year in which neither team made much of a splash in either the Big Ten or the national college football landscape. There was also a UFO sighting 1966 on a farm in Dexter, Michigan. Nobody is certain, but it’s entirely possible that much of Michigan’s offensive production might have disappeared onto that UFO.

Sadly, I wasn’t able to locate any video clips of the 1966 game, but a link to the official box score is below. Thanks to umich.edu. As always, I own nothing and I do not profit from this in any way. This article is strictly for the enjoyment of readers.

1966umosu

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Nothing But ‘Net – Week #04 – 11/21/2016 – The 2K Classic Championship Games

Quick Look

The University of Michigan men’s basketball team played two games last week, and they won both of them. These games were the championship round games for the 2K Classic, played in Madison Square Garden, in New York City. On Thursday (11/17/2016), Michigan beat Marquette 79-61, then on Friday (11/18/2016), they beat SMU 76-54. The two wins raise Michigan’s record to 4-0.

What Happened

Michigan didn’t look particularly good or sharp in either of the “Ann Arbor Regional” games in the first week of the season, against Howard and IUPUI, but they were a different team in NYC. They won both games comfortably, and they looked good and sharp and tough. Coach Beilein has had some good teams in his 10 years in Ann Arbor, including the 2012-2013 team that went to the National Championship game, but none of them were what you would call “tough”. They were more “finesse”. At least for the two games in the Garden, this season’s team played tough. They blocked shots, they took charges, they played tight defense, and they scrapped for loose balls. It was quite a change from previous teams.

The Marquette game started out as a close, see-saw battle, and was tied up 15-15 with 13:21 to go in the half. Three minutes later, Michigan was up by 10 (27-17), and five minutes after that, they were up by 20 (42-22). They led by 24 (50-26) at halftime, and never looked back. They did let Marquette get a little close (12 points: 67-55) with 5:30 left in the game, but they pushed the lead back up to 20 (77-57) in 3 minutes, and coasted to the win. It was very impressive. Here are the stats for the Marquette game.

SMU had beaten Michigan in Ann Arbor two years ago, and crushed them in Dallas last year, so this was a chance for Michigan to get some revenge, and they did. Michigan never trailed in this one, running out to a 9-point lead (13-4) in the first four minutes, and pushing it up to 19 points (44-25) at halftime. Once again, they let an opponent get a little close in the 2nd half (13 points: 44-31 with 19:10 to go), but they got the lead back up to 20 (53-33) in 3 minutes, and kept it there for the rest of the game, growing it to as many as 29 points. It was even more impressive than the Marquette win. Here are the stats for the SMU game.

Michigan shot well overall in both games (50.9% vs. Marquette, 52.9% vs. SMU), they shot 3-pointers well in both games (39.1% and 41.9%), and they shot free throws well in both games (80.0% and 81.8%). They outrebounded Marquette (35-27), but got hammered on the boards against SMU (24-41). They had an uncharacteristic 17 turnovers in the Marquette game, but only 4 vs. SMU. They also had 9 more blocked shots, 5 vs. Marquette and 4 vs. SMU.

Who Looked Good

Even though he only hit double figures in one game, DJ Wilson was the big story in this tournament. He had his first career double-double in the Marquette game, with 10 points and 12 rebounds. He was a little quieter vs. SMU, with 6 points and 4 rebounds, but he still played a team-high 36 minutes, and was a terror on defense. He started both games, and impressed with his play.

Derrick Walton Jr. had a very inconsistent tournament. He scored 0 points vs. Marquette, then led the team in scoring against SMU with 23 points, including 7-for-12 shooting from 3-point range.

Zak Irvin had 16 points in each game, along with 7 and 6 rebounds, and 5 assists in each game. He still misses some easy shots, and takes too many long 2-point shots that could be 3-pointers if he would just move back a foot, but it’s hard to complain about the results. He was selected as the Most Valuable Player for the 2K Classic tournament.

Mark Donnal also only hit double figures in one game (15 points vs. Marquette), but he really provided a spark when he came in. He got close to double figures (9 points) vs. SMU, and played good defense in both games.

Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman had double figures in both games (15 and 12), and had 4 rebounds in each game. He struggled a little with his 3-point shot (0-for-4 and 2-for-5), but he played some good defense.

Who Looked Not-So-Good

Moritz Wagner didn’t have a very good tournament. He scored 9 points vs. Marquette, but he got in early foul trouble vs. SMU, and only scored 3 points in 11 minutes. He started both games, but Mark Donnal played more minutes than he did, and may take his starting position from him.

Duncan Robinson lost his starting job to DJ Wilson, and did OK coming off the bench. He had 10 points vs. Marquette, but only 2 points (on free throws) vs. SMU. It looked like he had finally found his 3-point stroke in the Marquette game, when he went 3-for-4, but then he went 0-for-2 vs. SMU, so we’re back to square one.

Xavier Simpson played in both games, but only scored one point, vs. SMU. He played 18 minutes in the Marquette game, when Walton got in early foul trouble, but only 6 minutes vs. SMU. I’m sure he’ll be fine as the season goes on, but he’s having a slow start.

Ibi Watson played in both games, and scored 4 and 2 points. He isn’t getting much playing time (3 and 7 minutes) because he isn’t doing much when he’s out there. Like Xavier Simpson, I’m sure he’ll be fine as the season goes on, but he’s also having a slow start.

Who Else Played

Brent Hibbitts, Sean Lonergan. Jon Teske, and Fred Wright-Jones all played in both games, but failed to score, except for Teske, who hit 2 free throws vs. SMU.

Who Didn’t Play

Andrew Dakich and Austin Davis are both being redshirted this season.

The Big Picture

Just one week after saying that we may have to adjust our expectations for Michigan downward a little for this season, they go into Madison Square Garden and dominate two pretty good teams. Can they keep it up? Will this translate into success in the Big Ten games? We shall see, but things sure look a lot more encouraging than they did just one week ago.

What’s Next

This week Michigan plays two more games, one on the road and one at home. On Wednesday (11/23/2016, 5:00 p.m., ESPNU), Michigan plays at South Carolina, then on Saturday (11/26/2016, 7:00 p.m., ESPN3), Michigan plays Mount St. Mary’s in Crisler Arena. The South Carolina game is Michigan’s first true “away” game, and it will be tough. The home game vs. Mount St. Mary’s should be much easier.

Come on down to Crisler for the home game, and check back next week to see what happened, and why.

Go Blue!

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M FOOTBALL 2016-M DUMPS INDIANA IN SLOBBERKNOCKER 20 TO 10

2016-indiana-07The Hoosier’s rushed into Michigan Stadium with their expectations of victory soaring due to the formerly undefeated Wolverine’s one point miscue in Iowa City Saturday.

Before their tenth game stumble, the Wolverines had impressively forged nine consecutive wins, and held a Big Ten tally of six wins, no losses.  They retained their national three ranking after that loss.

Saturday’s win over Indiana was a hard fought battle which was styled a “slobberknocker” by Coach Harbaugh afterwards.

This season the amount of attention centered on the team and Coach Harbaugh has been extraordinary. Some of it was sour grapes, but most of it was laudatory, both for the Wolverine’s, their high profile Coach, and for rising QB Wilton Speight.

Before Iowa, Wilton Speight led the Big Ten passers, but was disabled by a shoulder injury in that game.

Back up John O’Korn was not a spectacular passer in his first start as M’s QB Saturday. He produced only 59-yards passing on seven of fifteen passing as the offense relied heavily on the running game.  How much of that was a result of the absolutely miserable weather conditions during this game, Harbaugh’s close to the vest play calling, or John’s abilities is impossible to divine.

The blustery winds even affected the goal posts as they sometimes trembled at their tops.  Sleet and snow, light but persistent at times, became heavier at the end of the game when the field was blanketed in a thin cover of snow.  The worst nature can offer, no.  Was it bad enough to affect the comfort of the fans, and play on the field, hell yes.

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