Tag: Bo Schembechler

Posted on

Looking Back — Michigan Football Season Openers – 1969 Vanderbilt

Looking Back is a Special Feature by Jeff Cummins

It’s the first week of a new football season, and this is the first series of Looking Back features I’ll write during the season. This time, I wanted to try something new. Each story will focus on the first game for a new coach at Michigan.

The first installment in this week’s series will focus on Bo Schembechler’s first game. After 10 seasons as Michigan’s head coach, Bump Elliott stepped down and athletic director Don Canham offered the job to Joe Paterno, who wanted to think it over. Canham hired Schembechler instead.

Schembechler was well regarded by other coaches, but few fans or alumni had heard of him. Schembechler had done well at Miami of Ohio, but there would be more challenges with the Michigan job. In addition to winning games in the Big Ten conference, he also had to win over the Michigan community, including alumni and fans, a difficult challenge for any coach.

On a mild day in late September, Michigan and Vanderbilt took the field at Michigan Stadium with plenty of empty seats in the stands, a problem that would not last long under Schembechler. Michigan grabbed the early lead when Garvie Craw scored on a 1-yard run over right tackle. Glen Doughty showed off the Wolverines’ big play ability when he ran 80 yards for a touchdown to give Michigan a 14-0 lead just before halftime.

In the second half, Michigan struggled in the third quarter, but used stingy defense and a reliable running game to put the game away in the fourth quarter. The result was a 42-14 Michigan victory that established a tone for Schembechler’s tenure as Michigan coach. The Wolverines played fundamentally sound football, and while it wasn’t always the flashiest approach, it did prove to be very successful.

As time when on, Schembechler’s no-nonsense approach helped the Wolverines build a solid foundation for their program. Schembechler’s insistence on discipline, fundamentals, blocking, tackling, and outstanding physical fitness established Michigan as one of the best teams in the Big Ten for the next two decades, a level of consistency rarely seen in college football. Indeed, 11 of Schembechler’s 21 Michigan teams finished the season with 10 victories or more, a testament to the consistency he established.

The first game of the 1969 season got the Wolverines off to a good start under Schembechler, and there were still plenty of thrills left in that season.

Thanks to YouTube poster Ed G. Berry for the video from this game. As always, neither I nor anyone associated with umgoblue.com profit in any way from this blog post, which is intended strictly for the enjoyment of readers.

Posted on

Michigan vs Michigan State Football — Looking Back – 1973

Looking Back is a Special Feature by Jeff Cummins Highlighting Key Rivalry Games

The second installment of this year’s series looking back at the football rivalry between Michigan and Michigan State takes us back to 1973. The ’73 Wolverines might just be one of the most underappreciated teams in the school’s illustrious football history. They did not win the National Championship. They did not play in the Rose Bowl, but that’s a story for another day. For that matter,, they did not play in a bowl game of any kind. You can’t even find any video of the 1973 Michigan vs. Michigan State game online, though I certainly tried.

Yet the 1973 Wolverines didn’t lose a game all season.

Bo Schembechler usually learned his lessons as a head coach. After losing to Michigan State in his first season in 1969, Michigan reeled off eight consecutive wins against the team from East Lansing. The 1973 win might have been the most emphatic victory in that entire stretch. In the first quarter, Dave Brown fielded a punt at his own 47-yard line and dashed 53 yards for the touchdown to give Michigan the early lead. Later in the first quarter, Mike Lantry tacked on a 35-yard field goal, and the rout was on. Not even a driving rain could slow the Wolverine offense, as Michigan cruised to a 31-0 victory.

Since there is no film of that game to be found, I’m improvising by attaching the documentary “Michigan Football Memories.” Thanks to Michigan Football Television, HKO Media, YouTube poster WolverineDevotee and YouTube for this video. As always, neither I nor anyone involved with umgoblue.com profit in any way from this blog post, which is intended purely for the entertainment of readers. Enjoy!

Posted on

Michigan vs Michigan State Football — Looking Back – 1989

Looking Back is a Special Feature by Jeff Cummins Highlighting Key Rivalry Games

Lance Dottin might just have been the most unlikely player to make the clinching play in any Michigan rivalry game coached by Bo Schembechler, but when Dottin cradled a desperation pass from Dan Enos, the Wolverines secured a hard-fought win over their in-state rivals, the Michigan State Spartans.

The first installment of this year’s series looking back at rivalry games between the Wolverines and the Spartans takes us back to 1989, Schembechler’s last season as Michigan head coach. Fittingly, the two rivals engaged in a classic, low-scoring slugfest. Michigan controlled most of the game, jumping out to a 10-0 lead. But few leads are safe in this series.

In the late 1980s, the coaches of both teams had very similar philosophies, both centered around toughness and precision. In Ann Arbor, Michigan had the luxury of having two very capable quarterbacks: Michael Taylor, who could run the option, and Elvis Grbac, a traditional pocket passer. In ’89, Grbac established himself as the starter. Grbac started this game for the maize and blue, and once he led Michigan to the lead, Schembecher wasn’t about to make any changes.

Oh, Michigan State had chances alright. The Spartans attempted a field goal in the first quarter, but Vada Murray blocked it, preventing Michigan State from taking the first lead of the game. The Wolverines then settled into a classic Bo Schembechler drive. On 4th down & goal to go from the 1-yard line, Michigan lined up in the wishbone formation, and Grbac handed off to Leroy Hoard, playing left halfback. Hoard barreled in for the go-ahead score, setting the tone for most of the game. J.D. Carlson tacked on a 35-yard field goal in the second quarter to give the Wolverines a 10-0 lead at halftime.

That lead stood for most of the game, until Enos (later a Michigan assistant coach for about 15 minutes) found Courtney Hawkins in the end zone to cut Michigan’s lead to 10-7. But the UM defense made sure the Spartans got no closer, and Dottin sealed the win with his interception.

Thanks to ABC Sports, YouTube, and to YouTube poster Pizza Pizzichetti for the full broadcast of this game. Settle in, grab a hot dog, and listen to a couple of old friends, Bob Griese and the late Keith Jackson, as they call this classic game. As always, neither I nor anyone involved with umgoblue.com profit in any way from this blog post, which is strictly intended for the enjoyment of readers.

Posted on

Looking Back — Michigan Football Season Openers – 1986 Notre Dame

Looking Back is a Special Feature by Jeff Cummins

Starting a season on the road represents an interesting challenge for many teams. Most prefer to start the season at home, in the comfort of their own stadium, in front of their own fans. But for the teams that go on the road and win, an opening day victory on the road can pay tremendous dividends.

Michigan started the 1986 season on the road, in a place as familiar as it is hostile, South Bend, Indiana, home of the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame. The Wolverines were coming off a monster season; their 1985 team fielded a defense for the ages. Still, Notre Dame isn’t an easy place to win, under any circumstances.

Michigan entered the ’86 opener with Jim Harbaugh at quarterback, and the tenacious Jamie Morris at running back, running behind an offensive line anchored by tackle Jumbo Elliott. On defense, the Wolverines were led by All-America defensive back Garland Rivers, and defensive tackle Mark Messner was a tackling machine.

On this day, Michigan needed contributions from all three disciplines, offense, defense, and special teams. Twice, the Wolverines overcame a one-touchdown deficit, and in the final minutes, Bob Perryman fumbled the ball, forcing one more defensive stand from the Michigan defense.

Things didn’t start so well on that drive, as Notre Dame quarterback Steve Beuerlein connected with receiver Alvin Miller immediately, and the Irish were at the Michigan 40-yard line. The drive stalled at the Michigan 28, when John Carney attempted a 45-yard field goal for Notre Dame. Carney hooked the ball far to the left, and Michigan held on for a 24-23 win, proof that a tough road game on opening day can build mental toughness in a team. Michigan went 11-2 in the 1986 campaign, capturing a share of the Big Ten championship and a berth in the Rose Bowl, all sparked by that gutty performance on opening day in a win at Notre Dame.

Thanks to YouTube, ABC Sports, and YouTube poster RxWolverine for the video of this game. As always, neither I nor anyone involved with umgoblue.com profit off this blog post, which is presented strictly for the enjoyment of our readers.

Posted on

Looking Back — Michigan Football Season Openers – 1984 Miami

Looking Back is a Special Feature by Jeff Cummins

In 1984 the national economy was roaring as hiring and production were both rising quickly. The United States of America was experiencing a new, flashy style, as boutique TV networks MTV and ESPN served specific segments of the marketplace.

The Miami Hurricanes represented that flashy new style as well as any team in college football. The Hurricanes had won the the national championship the year before, and they possessed speed and a high-powered offense, along with the attitude to go with it.

Sometimes, though, attitude can get you in trouble. The defending national champion Hurricanes brought an undefeated record into Michigan Stadium, along with a lot of swagger. Some players had Walkmans with them during warmups, and there were reports of players lying down on the brick wall surrouding the field, making sure they got some sun.

The Miami Hurricanes soon learned that teams should never enter Michigan Stadium expecting a day at the beach.

While Miami’s players warmed up at a leisurely pace, Michigan head coach Bo Schembechler approached the warmups with his traditional rigor, putting the first-string players against each other, and hitting at full speed. Once the game began, the swagger that Miami carried as defending national champions was eliminated pretty quickly. The great irony is that Miami quarterback Bernie Kosar, a native son of the midwest, hailing from Boardman, Ohio, was interceptepted three times by Michigan defensive back Rodney Lyles, a native of Miami, Fla. By the end of the game, the Wolverines had intercepted Kosar six times, sacked him five times, and forced two fumbles en route to a 22-14 Michigan victory. Despite all of Miami’s star power, the game had come down to fundamentals and intensity, and Schembechler outcoached Jimmy Johnson all day long.

As alway, neither I nor umgoblue.com profit in any way from this blog post, and we thank YouTube, Katz Sports, and YouTube poster Football Fury for the video below.