This is almost the 45th anniversary of the
University of Michigan’s terrific victory over the undefeated Ohio State
Buckeyes In 1969. Back then, I remember some of the game as I was with a number
of grad students studying psychology for the upcoming preliminary exams.
There are number of explanations and reasons of how and why
the young Wolverines were victors on that cold November day. These are some of
things that players told me in the writing of Bo’s Warriors: 1. Frank Gusich mentioned
about the extreme conditioning tactics of coach Schembechler and that he
thought he would be in superb physical condition in the fourth quarter. And
because of this conditioning, his team would be victorious. 2. Reggie McKenzie claimed
about being with the Mellow Men watching the 1968, Michigan and Ohio State game.
In that game, Michigan got slaughtered and lost 50-14. He said his teammates
vowed never to let that happen again. 3. A number of the players stated about
the coaches shoveling off the snow prior to Monday’s practice and that
impressed these players. 4. Coach Schembechler, Coach Moeller, and other
coaches and players Frank Gusich, Tom Curtis, Jim Betts, and Thom Darden were
all from Ohio. In the communities in which they grew up, it was simply Buckeye
territory. Not only did these men not go to the most prestigious school in
Ohio, they left and went to its archrival. So for bragging rights it was
important for a win. 5. Reggie McKenzie remembered Mad Dog Jim Mandich in the
tunnel with fists clenched, tears running down his face spitting out unintelligible
words-he will never forget Captain Mandich’s passion. 6. Thom Darden remembered
Bo slamming the blackboard and the seniors throwing and breaking chairs as they
left before going to the tunnel. Darden will never forget that either. 7. During the season’s practices, Coach Schembechler
ran Ohio State’s basic plays so that the defense would know what would be
coming on that Saturday. They were prepared.
8. Also, prior to that Ohio State game, the practice squad had a number
50 on their helmets signifying the year before humiliation. 9. On the black
board, the Michigan State and Ohio State games were circled. Everyone knew,
without a word being spoken, the importance of those rivalry games. 10. The
importance of number 10 cannot be overstated:
The week before the Ohio State game, the Wolverines were in
Iowa City and they demolished Iowa convincingly. After the game on the way back
to Ann Arbor, the players wanted to play Ohio State, right then and there. In
other words, they were ready in their own minds. The group ego expected to win
that game, and it didn’t matter when or where that game was played. The power
of positive thinking /expectation was immense and nothing would diminish it.
In that classic game, Ohio State went down the field and
scored, but not the extra point. Michigan received the ball and scored kicking
the extra point. Ohio State got the ball and went down the field and scored.
They didn’t get the extra point, nor did they shake, Michigan’s confidence. The
Wolverines scored three more times to win the game 24 to 12. A large part of
that victory was related to the players thinking they were invincible. And,
Coach Bo had a lot to do with that tremendous upset.
The moral of the story is about expectations. For more about
the power of expectations, visit my other blog. http://ithasnothingtodowithage.blogspot.com/
Go Blue!
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