Disappointment

Disappointment

Five decades ago, sets the stage for today. Back then, I became an assistant professor at the Orchard Ridge campus of Oakland Community College in the suburbs of Detroit. Also, Bump Elliott

was the head football coach for the University of Michigan Wolverines. He recruited some notables on his squad, with players like Tom Curtis [achieved two Super Bowl rings-main residence in Florida], Dan Dierdorf TV and radio analyst-main residence in  Missouri], and Jim Betts [president of the Michigan alumni football-lives near Ann Arbor].However, his 1968 recruits became the most outstanding class of players in the history of Michigan football. Some of those terrific notables included Frank Gusich [unfortunately passed away recently], Thom Darden [interception leader for the Cleveland Browns-resides in Cedar Rapids, Iowa], Jim Brandstatter [voice of the Detroit Lions and the Wolverines-lives near Ann Arbor], Mike Keller [involved in many professional football startups-resides near Grand Rapids.] and Reggie McKenzie [Reggie McKenzie foundation, Inc.-resides in the Detroit area}. Curtis holds the U of M record for interceptions; Dierdorf is in the NFL Hall of Fame; Darden and McKenzie number one draft choices in the NFL were inducted into the Browns, and Bills Hall of Fame. Further, Fritz Seyferth was a walk on and played an instrumental role in his fullback position. Today, Fritz is a consultant working with executives and lives in Ann Arbor.

I began thinking of obtaining a PhD in psychology; but unfortunately, for Bump, despite having an 8-2 won loss record in 1968, his Wolverines lost to Woody Hayes and his Buckeyes. Back then, there was not the excessive amount of football bowls at the end of the season. It was either the Rose Bowl for the Big Ten champion or nothing. Not only that, the Big Ten Champion would be a different team every year, according to the rules and not their won and loss record. In that November 1968 game, which was played in Columbus, the score was 14 to 14 at halftime. However, in the second half, Ohio State scored five more touchdowns. Woody, when asked why he went for two points on the last touchdown to make the score 50 to 14, he replied to the writers,” Because I couldn’t go for three.” That did it, Bump was terminated and in December of 1968, Bo Schembechler was hired, and he brought with him, Coach Gary Moeller.

To Be Continued