Tag: John Cooper

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THE GAME – Michigan vs Ohio State Football – Looking Back – 1989

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

The third installment in the series looking back at the football rivalry between Michigan and Ohio State takes us to 1989. Bo Schembechler was in his 21st and final season as Michigan’s head coach, and it seemed like the right time for him to move on. Schembechler had accomplished a lot in two decades, and the program was on solid ground. Changes were coming to college football, but for the moment, Bo’s brand of football was still effective.

On the other side of the field, Ohio State coach John Cooper was starting to assemble a roster filled with cream-of-the-crop talent. On paper, the teams matched up pretty well. Ohio State had Alonzo Spellman on the defensive line, Greg Frey playing quarterback, Jeff Graham playing receiver, and Scottie Graham playing running back. Michigan countered with Chris Calloway and Derrick Alexander playing wide receiver positions, Tony Boles, Jarrod Bunch, and Leroy Hoard running the ball, Tripp Welborne playing safety, and a young phenom named Desmond Howard, who would make an impact over the next few years.

The difference in the game was Michigan’s ability to run the ball, which allowed the Wolverines to control the game at critical junctures. Michigan jumped out to a 14-0 lead, featuring a 13-play, 81-yard scoring drive in the second quarter. Nonetheless, Ohio State fought back, and Scottie Graham closed the Buckeyes’ deficit to three points on a 4-yard run in the fourth quarter. With the game on the line, Schembechler went back to his roots and put his faith in the Michigan offensive line, which paved the way for a 23-yard touchdown run by Jarrod Bunch to give the Wolverines a 28-18 win. Michigan finished the season with an 8-0 record in the Big Ten, giving Schembechler a conference championship in his final season.

Thanks to YouTube, ABC, and YouTube poster Rxwolverine for the video of this game. We own nothing and this content is provided strictly for the enjoyment of readers.

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Michigan vs Ohio State Football – Looking Back – 1989

The third installment of the series looking back at the football rivalry between Michigan and Ohio State takes us back to 1989. The Wolverines had a fair number of talented players in the secondary that season, including safeties Vada Murray, Tripp Welborne, and Corwin Brown. But on this day, the defensive star was cornerback Todd Plate.

Don’t go scouring old game programs for information on Plate; you won’t find much. The ’89 iteration of The Game was his signature performance. Plate intercepted two passes that day as the Wolverine defense welcomed Ohio State coach John Cooper to Ann Arbor for the first time.

Of course, Michigan’s 28-18 win wasn’t strictly defense. Michigan used an old-fashioned ball control running game to take control of the game for good, highlighted by a 13-play, 81-yard drive that consisted entirely of running plays, which was only appropriate, since this was the last time that Bo Schembechler would coach in The Game. Allen Jefferson capped the drive with a short touchdown run into the south end zone, giving the Wolverines a 14-0 lead, and Schembechler was an expert when it came to preserving a lead.

With the victory, the team gave Bo the sendoff present that mattered most to him: The Big Ten championship of 1989.

Thanks to ABC Sports and YouTube poster expressfan. As always, I own nothing, and this blog and video are posted strictly for the enjoyment of readers.