I was 28 years old in 1973 so very much around at that time.  These two situations aren't real comparable but similar, I suppose, in the appearance of the B1G v. Michigan.   Of course, in 1973, Michigan actually received support from some of the other institutions though the majority voted against.  But it caused the season to end prematurely since the Rose Bowl was the single post-season game.  Unlike this time, there was no way to remedy the result. 

This year, the season continues, no matter the situation, and there is a good chance for a good post-season, playoffs or not.  But the future repercussions of this action are so much greater this time than 1973.  This will likely set some kind of NCAA/B1G precedent that will be applied in other situations.  At that time, the team prepared for 1974 without the extra BS happening now.  No court action.  No talk of bolting the B1G. With all the changes in college football over the past few years, this may just be part of the continuing "progress."

The "rule" they ignored in '73 was unwritten, and there was an argument to be made that they should send the team they thought would be more competitive (sort of the opposite of what they seem to be doing now).

This is worse. Far, far more petty and unjustifiable. So much worse that unlike '73 it's remediable in the courts. Which I suppose made '73 worse, in its effects.

'73 was a decision. This is a mob.

Other than the victory over Ohio State 2 years ago, that was my most memorable game.

This seems worse to me, as it's an unfair rush to judgment towards an individual. In 1973, the vote went against us due to Dennis Franklin's injury. That wasn't right, but the argument could be made that the conference was attempting to send the representative with the best chance to win the Rose Bowl.

This current decision is harder to rationalize. At least wait for a full investigation to be conducted.

Stephen, 1973 was horrible.  Bo never got over it.  That was a snub of horrific proportions indeed.  A slap in the face from many other Big Ten members (including Sparty).
What is happening now is beyond a horrible snub.  It is a direct attack at our school, our team, our head coach, and the integrity of our athletic department.  All while having nothing to do with due process.  

I was 10, and was pissed off at the conference. I thought they gave it to woody because he was the veteran coach. 

Ryan Day’s bruised ego is the new Dennis Franklin’s broken collarbone. 

I was a sophomore at Michigan in 1973. The 10-10 tie was my first M OSU game. Tonight, I am the angriest I’ve been over anything related to M sports since the infamous AD vote in 1973.

They are very different, though. Even though we vociferously disagreed with the vote, it was completely within the rules. The Big 10 had a no repeat rule from 1949-1972 re: The Rose Bowl. So, even if you won the outright Big 10 championship, you couldn’t go to the Rose Bowl if you went the year before. 

The Pac 8 had no such rule. They sent their conference champion every year. After the Big 10 dominated the Rose Bowl throughout the 1950’s & early 1960’s, the Pac 8 began to dominate and the Big 10 didn’t like that. 

Favored Michigan was upset in the 1970 & 1972 Rose Bowls. Likewise, favored Ohio State was upset in the 1971 Rose Bowl. USC totally destroyed OSU in the 1973 Rose Bowl, but that wasn’t a surprise. The #1 12-0 1972 Trojans are considered by many to be the greatest college football team of all time. 

After M & OSU tied in 1973, under the old repeat rule, M would have gone to the Rose Bowl. M also had the overall best record, since, OSU, in an effort to deemphasize football (more about this later), played one less game. They were 9-0-1 & M was 10-0-1. 

But there was no tiebreaker formula. Since they tied in the Big 10 standings, it went to a vote of the athletic directors. They voted 6-4 to send Ohio State to the Rose Bowl, including the infamous OSU vote by MSU AD Burt Smith (yes, we still remember that asshole’s name). 

The alleged rationale was that our star QB Dennis Franklin had allegedly broke his collarbone in the OSU game and would not be able to play in the Rose Bowl and therefore, OSU gave the Big 10 a better chance of winning, which they did in convincing fashion. Turned out the reasoning was faulty, since Franklin recovered and could have played in the Rose Bowl. 

So, there are two big differences in these 1973 & 2023 Big 10 screwings of M. One was clearly within the rules, while this one is not. So, in that sense, what is going on now is worse.

However, the result of 1973 was much worse, because that vote ended Michigan’s season. That group of exemplary players were to finish 30-2-1 from 1972-4 and never go to a bowl game. A grave injustice. 

This year, as unjust as the process has been, with the B1G not following their own rules, Michigan can still move forward and play potentially six more games and win the B1G and national championship.