Michigan-Maryland: A look back
Just a little look back at the series history of Michigan-Maryland before they play their first....sigh.....B1G game tomorrow.
September 21, 1985---#12 Michigan 20, #17 Maryland 0
You can see highlights of this game via WolverineHistorian
In the first meeting of the two teams, Michigan was fresh off of two upset victories in a row over ranked teams which included the likes of #13 Notre Dame (20-12) and #15 South Carolina (34-3) down in Columbia. Maryland, the preseason #1 according to Sports Illustrated, rolled into Ann Arbor with a 2-1 record. Maryland was ranked #7 in the AP poll to start the season, but lost to Penn State at home, 20-18, in their season opener at Byrd Stadium.
This game was the battle of the 'Baughs: Jim Harbaugh vs Stan Gelbaugh.
The Baughs combined for 407 passing yards, with Gelbaugh outgaining Harbaugh in passing yards. But Jim Harbaugh's two TD performance along with two Mike Gillette FGs led Michigan to a 20-0 victory over the Terps. Perhaps Michigan would have won by more had they not fumbled 3 times, losing all of them.
Michigan, who started the season unranked, wound up finishing #2 in the nation with a Fiesta Bowl victory over Nebraska and a 10-1-1 record.
This would not be Maryland's only trip to Michigan that year. The Terps went 7-2 the rest of the way, winning the ACC Championship and making the trek back to Michigan to play against Syracuse in the short-lived Cherry Bowl at the Pontiac Silverdome, which they won.
September 30, 1989---#6 Michigan 41, Maryland 21
In the second meeting, Michigan faced a Maryland team with no preseason fanfare like the one they faced in 1985 had.
Strangely, Michigan was 1-1 when they played Maryland, who was already 1-3. Michigan opened their season two weeks after Maryland had opened theirs.
This game was not an ugly showing by the Michigan offense.
A solid day for the RS Freshman Elvis Grbac, who threw for 187 yards and 2 TDs, with 18.7 yards per completion(!). Greg McMurtry caught a 49-yard bomb for a TD, as well as 126 yards on the day.
Michigan had a 38-7 lead in the 4th quarter before Maryland scored a couple TDs while Michigan had their backups in, including a pick-six thrown by third stringer Wilbur Odom.
This turned out to be Bo's final season as he announced his retirement after the Ohio State game. Michigan won their second consecutive outright Big Ten Championship, and maybe just maybe, could have won the national championship had they won the Rose Bowl that year.
Maryland continued the suck, going 2-5-1 the rest of the way with their only "upset" being a tie against #13 Penn State in Baltimore.
September 29, 1990---#6 Michigan 45 Maryland 17
For some reason, Maryland agreed to two consecutive road trips to Michigan Stadium.
In 1990, Michigan came in sporting a 1-1 record similar to the previous year, while Maryland had a much better start than the previous year with a 3-1 record.
Michigan was outgained in this game, lost 3 fumbles and threw 1 interception.....yet still won this game by 28. BIG TEHN!
Maryland did pull within 4 during the 3rd quarter when it was 21-17 Michigan, but that was about it for them. Maryland wound up with 6 turnovers, 3 INTs and 3 fumbles.
Grbac thew for 172 and 2 TDs, and backup Ken Sollom threw one pass for 37 yards--which was a touchdown. Michigan rushed for 143 with John Vaughn, Ricky Powers and Allen Jefferson getting the bulk of the yardage.
Michigan went on to win their 3rd straight Big Ten Championship and finished the with a 9-3 record after demolishing #15 Mississippi in the Mazda Gator Bowl.
Maryland turned things around that year and wound up making a bowl game at 6-5. I doubt they did much celebrating, though, since they tied Louisiana Tech in the Independence Bowl with a 34-34 final.
November 21st, 2014 at 5:09 PM ^
in the Big House.
November 21st, 2014 at 6:52 PM ^
It was the first game that my parents let me attend as well. They would normally go to a few each year, but up until that time, I think they must have assumed that I would be spent sometime during tailgating and they'd end up leaving early. Anyway, I got the chance to see Bo coach against Bobby Ross that day and it is still a day I remember very clearly.
November 21st, 2014 at 5:13 PM ^
What is Michigan's worst home basketball loss and is there a worse home loss under Beilein than by 23 in 2010/11?
It's not actually a trivia question because I don't know the answer, but I promise I'll upvote someone who answers.
November 21st, 2014 at 5:22 PM ^
I do know right off the top of my head the largest margin of defeat at home came in the 1952-53 season against Ohio State.
Michigan lost by 33.
November 21st, 2014 at 5:16 PM ^
The 1990 Maryland game was my first trip to the Big House. Can't wait to revisit tomorrow! Well...with slightly lower temperatures and a slightly higher blood alcohol content...
November 21st, 2014 at 5:29 PM ^
November 21st, 2014 at 6:12 PM ^
They beat us without scoring a TD!
I recall Bo being very irritated about this.
November 21st, 2014 at 6:14 PM ^
November 21st, 2014 at 6:20 PM ^
A two point loss on the road to #1 where Iowa won on FGs would've still gave Michigan the national championship that year.
It's that ridiculous 3-3 tie against Illinois that cost them it. I still don't understand how in the world that happened.
November 21st, 2014 at 7:58 PM ^
Auburn had a backfield with Bo Jackson, Brent Fullwood and Tommie Agee. Holding them scoreless was pretty amazing.
November 21st, 2014 at 5:53 PM ^
I remember watching the Cherry Bowl on TV.
November 21st, 2014 at 6:36 PM ^
I was at the '89 and '90 games - hurray for me!
November 21st, 2014 at 6:49 PM ^
How could anyone downvote this?
November 21st, 2014 at 6:52 PM ^
1974, Ohio State. Michigan enters the game 10-0 and ranked #3. Tom Klaban kicks 4 FGs for the Buckeyes, the refs blow the call on Mike Lantry's good FG attempt at the end, and Michigan loses 12-10.
Because of the Big Ten's criminally stupid "It's-the-Rose Bowl-or-nothing" bowl policy at the time, Dennis Franklin and the Wolverines get to spend the holidays at home for the third year in a row, despite going 30-2-1 over that span.
November 21st, 2014 at 7:08 PM ^
November 21st, 2014 at 10:56 PM ^
there are so many Michigan moments like that. It's what makes OSU such a big game. I will never forget that Iowa game. CFB is great in it's infamy as well as it's ecstasy.
November 21st, 2014 at 9:14 PM ^
That's such a Michigan thing to happen.
November 21st, 2014 at 10:21 PM ^
is why you are worth those 35,000 points many times over.
November 22nd, 2014 at 10:37 AM ^
I'd give up those stupid worthless points in a heartbeat in exchange for a victory in '74.
November 21st, 2014 at 7:10 PM ^
I think I was at the 1990 game.
Really, it just still boggles my mind this is a B1G game.
November 22nd, 2014 at 12:29 AM ^
November 21st, 2014 at 10:02 PM ^
November 21st, 2014 at 10:03 PM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
November 21st, 2014 at 11:32 PM ^
My first memories of a Michigan game aren't at all sharp, but I vaguely remember beating Maryland by a bunch of points. That '90 game is either my first there, or the first that I have the slightest memories of.
November 22nd, 2014 at 4:39 AM ^
It was my sophmore year and I brought my dad to the game. I seem to recall a young Mark Messner being a beast.
November 22nd, 2014 at 10:06 AM ^
I am just at a total loss - Why would someone (much less three someones) downvote somebody going out of their way to present cool info like this in such a good way?
Really strange...
Rob
PS - The first rule of mgopoints is we do not discuss mgopoints. Yeah, I know. But dang, that's still weird.
November 22nd, 2014 at 10:48 AM ^
There's a portion of MGoBloggers who reflexively disdain anything having to do with history, there are others who disdain anything having to do with our opponents, and there are others who have a personal beef with a poster for some reason. The fact that they rarely have the stones to state why they're negging is what makes it so childish. It's basically the online equivalent of a twelve-year-old soaping somebody's car windows and then running away. The points are irrelevant; it's the motivations for the behavior that are so weird.
November 22nd, 2014 at 10:28 AM ^
1985 is the one that sticks out in my mind. That was the year I became a Michigan fan. We had an awesome defense led by All Americans Mike Hammerstien at DT and Brad Cochran at CB. Both were great seniors who did nothing of note in the pros. Michigan lost two starting Offensive linemen on consecutive plays late in this game that hurt them all year. This was the second best team I have ever seen MIchigan field. This was back in a time when Michigan played a competitive non=conference schedule every year. No MAC teams. Always teams for quality conferences.