Michigan and Ohio
State University
I’d like to thank Shelly Komer for inviting me to attend and
present on November 12, 2014 to the Orange County Chapter of the University of
Michigan Alumni Association. I invited
my wife Linda and my good friend Jonathan Jordan (my 100 mile Ride and Tie
partner) to the breakfast presentation and book signing.
I gave some explanations to the group as to why and how the
young Michigan Wolverines were victorious over the Ohio State Buckeyes on
November 22, 1969. Some of my reasons included: 1. Frank Gusich mentioned about
the extreme conditioning tactics of coach Schembechler and he thought he would
be in suburb physical condition in the fourth quarter of every game. And
because of this superior conditioning, his team would be victorious. 2. Reggie
McKenzie claimed that the Mellow Men watched the 1968, Michigan and Ohio State
game when Michigan got slaughtered and lost 50 to 14. He said his teammates
vowed never to let that happen again. 3. The players stated that they marveled
when their coaches shoveled off the snow on the practice field prior to
Monday’s practice of that Ohio State game. They knew the coaches were totally
behind them. 4. Coach Schembechler, coach Moeller, and other coaches and
players i.e. 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 his fists clenched, tears running down his face, spitting out
unintelligible words-he will never forget Capt. 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 the defense would know what likely was 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 be fore’s
humiliation. 9 On the blackboard, the Michigan state and Ohio State games were
circled. Everyone knew, without a word being spoken, the importance of those
rivalry games. And 10.
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 so immense that nothing would diminish it.
Ohio State scored first, but missed the extra point;
Michigan scored, and kicked the extra point; Ohio State scored again and missed
the extra point; Michigan scored, and kicked the extra point. Michigan went on
to score 10 more points. Final score Michigan 24 Ohio State 12.
Not only did the 10 year war start between Bo and Woody, but
the transformation of Michigan football began.
Go Blue !
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