Tag: Paul Bunyan Trophy

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

Michigan vs Michigan State Football — Looking Back – 1980

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

The fifth and final installment of this year’s series looking back at the football rivalry between Michigan and Michigan State takes us back to 1980, and one of the most memorable games in the rivalry’s history. The Wolverines had stubbed their toes twice early in the season, but after a loss to South Carolina, the team started to click.

In the first quarter, Marion Body intercepted a pass from John Leister, and the Wolverines were in business. John Wangler found Anthony Carter for a 22-yard completion to the Michigan State 1-yard line, and Lawrence Ricks scored to give Michigan a 10-0 lead.

But, this being the rivalry it is, that lead wasn’t safe for long. Leister scored on a 7-yard run to tie the score at 10-10, and after Michigan’s Ali Haji-Sheikh and Michigan State’s Morten Andersen traded field goals, the teams went into their respective locker rooms tied 13-13 at halftime.

In the third quarter, Haji-Sheike nailed a 26-yard field goal, but was roughed on the play. Michigan made the rare decision to take points off the board, and it worked out, as Wangler and Carter connected for a 5-yard touchdown pass to give Michigan a 20-13 lead.

Michigan State responded, intercepting a Wangler pass, which led to another Andersen field goal. The teams then traded touchdowns before Michigan linebacker Andy Cannavino intercepted a Leister pass to thwart a Spartan threat, and the Wolverines held on for a 27-23 win.

Michigan used the victory as a springboard, going undefeeated the rest of the season, and winning both the Big Ten championship and the Rose Bowl, where Bo Schembechler’s men overwhelmed Washington, 23-6.

But much of the momentum for the team’s success came from its win over Michigan State, in a game that was immortalized in the 1983 movie, “The Big Chill.”

Thanks to youtube poster RxWolverine for the attached highlight film. As always, we own nothing and this film and blog post are intended strictly for the enjoyment of readers.

Posted on

Michigan vs Michigan State Football — Looking Back – 1964

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

The fourth installment of this year’s series taking a look back at the football rivalry between Michigan and Michigan State takes us back to 1964. The Vietnam War hadn’t started in earnest yet, and only months before, The Beatles had appeared on the Ed Sullivan show. It was still early in the 1960s, but change was definitely in the air.

But that change wasn’t present at Spartan Stadium when the Michigan Wolverines faced their in-state rivals from Michigan State in 1964. The ’64 Michigan team remains one of the most underrated teams in the school’s illustrious football history. Michigan won the Big Ten championship and the Rose Bowl, where the Wolverines trounced an overmatched Oregon State team. Only a failed two-point conversion against Purdue prevented the Wolverines from earning a perfect season, and possibly winning the national championship.

In fact, one unique aspect of the 1964 season was that Michigan enjoyed a perfect record on the road, while losing to Purdue at home. But even in grand seasons, victory isn’t easy to come by on the road, particularly against Michigan State. When Larry Lukasik kicked a 26-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter, the Spartans extended their lead to 10-3, and it was getting late early for the Wolverines. With the game on the line, Michigan marched 73 yards, capped off by a 5-yard scoring pass from Bob Timberlake to fullback Dick Sygar to cut the deficit to one point. Michigan’s subsequent attempt to take the lead was foiled when Mel Anthony was stopped short of the goal line, leaving the score 10-9, Michigan State.

But the Michigan defense came up with a big stop, forcing a Michigan State punt that UM returned to the Spartans’ 41-yard line. On the fourth play of the drive, Sygar took a pitch and threw a 31-yard touchdown pass to John Henderson for the lead. Timberlake then connected with Steve Smith for the two-point conversion. Michigan then stopped MSU on four plays, and held on for a 17-10 victory.

Unfortunately, there isn’t any video of this game readily available, so we’ll have to settle for the attached box score, with thanks to the Bentley Library.

1964_UM_MSU_StatsDownload
Posted on

Michigan vs Michigan State Football — Looking Back – 2006

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

The third installment of this year’s series looking back at the football rivalry between Michigan and Michigan State takes us to 2006. The previous year had been a disappointment for the Wolverines, and some changes were made. Ron English was introduced as the new defensive coordinator, and he promptly had the Wolverines’ defensive players running sprints on the golf course just south of Michigan Stadium. Another difference was the fact that running back Mike Hart was finally healthy.

But the biggest difference might have been Michigan’s hunger. After two relatively lackluster seasons, the Wolverines were hearing it, from fans, alumni,and the national media. That hunger was on display throughout 2006, as the Wolverines seemed to give just that extra little bit of effort on almost every play, giving Michigan supporters the results they crave.

That fierce determination was evident early against Michigan State, as the Wolverines marched downfield with attitude. Hart shoved would-be tacklers out of his way and quarterback Chad Henne found receivers with ease, connecting with Adrian Arrington and Mario Manningham for a pair of first-half touchdowns that led Michigan to a 17-0 halftime lead. That dominance continued in the second half as the Wolverines roared to a 31-7 lead, effectively ending the game before the start of the fourth quarter.

One thing the 2006 game illustrated is a trait that seems unique to this rivalry. The team that plays old school, fundamentally sound, basic, hard-hitting football usually comes out on top. Spread offenses, whether coached by John L. Williams or Rich Rodriguez, seldom work in this rivalry. More often than not, the team that runs the ball, particularly using some derivative of the pro-set or I-formation offense, usually wins the game.

The victory kept Michigan on the road to a classic, season-ending showdown in Columbus, but that’s a story for another day.

Thanks to youtube poster WolverineHistorian and ESPN for the attached highlight video. As always, we own nothing, and this video and blog post are provided strictly for the enjoyment of our readers.