1976, 1986, 1996, 2006, 2016....

Submitted by Lumpers on

Just realized this while i was watching the painful BTN '06 game remembered...

1976 M 22  OSU 0 (Bo's first win in Ohio Stadium...still remember as a 12 year old watching this game when Mike Jolley, a starting DB and holder, yanks the hold and runs around the end for a 2 point conversion to make it a 15-0 game that Bo would not be denied in this game after many heartbreaks and crap calls by the refs on FG's over the uprights..)

1986 M 26 OSU 24 (M loses to Minnesota on senior day the week before...goddamned Ricky Foggie running that option and Chip Lohmiller making the last second FG to win 20-17, i was on the sideline with the team for that one....little Jmmy Harbaugh declares afterwards "i guarantee we win at Ohio State next week".....you know the rest, but Bo did address the team that week and said Harbaugh shot his mouth off and the team needed to back him up...)

1996 M 13 OSU 9 (M's losing 9-0 at half and Dreisbach is replaced by Griese...he hits that quick slant to Tai Streets, the momentum changed and the rest is history.  Watched that one from Lake Tahoe because there was actual shit loads of snow in November....the good old days before climate change...)

2006 M 39 OSU 42 (no need to rehash except that I remember making travel arrangements and changing my work schedule the morning of the game to get back to A2 for Bo's service and funeral.  I truly believe Lloyd was simply too distracted to lead the team to a victory that day, but was so inspired by the players' effort in that game...).

Then the decade of our discontent.....we were an underdog in all of these games above and found a way to win, save the Bo game....  I just have a weird gut feeling this morning regardless of who is playing quarterback that we are gonna find a way to win this weekend in 2016.

Go Blue

evenyoubrutus

November 22nd, 2016 at 7:22 AM ^

That 1996 game might be my earliest vivid memory of watching Michigan football. I still remember my 10 year old self jumping up and down in my parents living room with my dad and brothers as Streets scored that TD.

The Claw

November 22nd, 2016 at 9:03 AM ^

My Senior year at OSU. Decked out in Michigan garb up in C Deck surrounded by my Buckeye friends who knew I was a diehard Michigan fan since I step foot on that campus. After seeing a tie in 1992, and a loss in 1994, the thrid time was finally the charm to see my team take down the hated rival.

Could be my favorite memory of my stay in Columbus.

Go Blue! One more time! 

Der Alte

November 22nd, 2016 at 9:37 AM ^

I was at the 1996 game in Columbus, standing (not sitting) about four or five rows up from the running track.  

As I recall, Tai Streets scored the TD because CB Ron Springs (?) slipped and fell while defending against Griese's pass, giving Tai an easy run into the end zone. At no time have I ever heard less noise in the 'shoe --- the place was silent.

The game highlight, however, was the goalline stand that M put up. tOSU had first and goal from, I don't know, the 3 or 4-yard line maybe. Three straight dives into the line failed to get the ball into the EZ. tOSU had to settle for a field goal, one of the three that constituted its entire offensive output for the day. That '96 M defense was a harbinger of things to come for the '97 season.

My other recollection is that tOSU was undefeated going into that game. That M spoiled tOSU's undefeated season gave extra impetus to the game the following year, when tOSU came into AA determined to spoil M's then-perfect season.

Without doubt in all the years I've watched M football in the Big House and elsewhere, that 1997 M-tOSU game is the best M football game I've ever seen.  

funkywolve

November 22nd, 2016 at 12:02 PM ^

OSU was undefeated and ranked #2 entering the game.  The Streets TD was like the first or second play after halftime, and you could just feel the collective energy get sucked out of the stadium.

1VaBlue1

November 22nd, 2016 at 7:47 AM ^

To be so close in 2006 considering what happened the day before is a testament to how good that team was.  They didn't get a chance to prepare for that game mentally, they hit bottom and had to bounce right into a game.  And I'll agree with OP - the coaches, especially Lloyd, could not have been as focused as they needed to be to lead that team to a win.

ijohnb

November 22nd, 2016 at 9:56 AM ^

it unquestionably had an effect on Lloyd, but by that point in time he was doing a lot of delegating and I did not think he coached a particularly bad game.  There were a couple of ill-timed blitzes but English had been aggressive with the safeties all year long.  I don't doubt that Bo's death was a distraction, but they had been prepping for that game for weeks, I would be surprised if it had a direct impact on how he coached the game.

As for the players, with all due respect to Bo, most of those kids were in diapers the last time that Bo coached a game at Michigan.  Sure, it wasn't ideal timing, but I doubt very much that any of the players were up late crying the night before. 

Ohio State was about 3 points better than Michigan, that is all.  If the game was played in AA, Michigan would likely have been about 3 points better than OSU.  The Bennie Wells runs were odd as that had not been an issue all year, but overall, I thought it was two evenly matched teams who both played pretty well for the most part.

ijohnb

November 22nd, 2016 at 10:37 AM ^

that way about it at the time, but looking at it now, it was clearly a penalty.  Things were not called as strict as they are now back then, but he lead with the crown, went helmet to helmet and Smith had bailed nearly a yard out of bounce by the time of impact.  It would have likely been targeting today.

I can't blame Crable.  That game was being played ferociously hard by both teams.  "Sports as war" is not a good metaphor I know, but that game was as close to a war as you can find on the football field.  He saw Smith escape the pocket and thought one thing - "destroy."  There was really no way he could have pulled back, the play had it own organic momentum and it inevitably ended with that hit.  I don't really think the hit was all that preventable.

ijohnb

November 22nd, 2016 at 10:49 AM ^

a corner and a safety on 3rd and 16 on their opening drive and got burned bad by Hall on a post.  He was rightly a little gun shy after that.  And if I remember correctly, at least one of the Wells touchdowns resulted from a safety blitz that left nobody behind the LBs to get a hand on him.

M-Dog

November 22nd, 2016 at 8:26 AM ^

I'm not clear, what was it you realized?  We didn't win in 2006 so it's not that XXX6 is always our lucky year.

Maybe we always play well in XXX6 as underdogs?  Or something like that.

 

freelion

November 22nd, 2016 at 8:55 AM ^

and I remember the line was something like OSU -17. Nobody thought Michigan would beat the powerhouse Buckeyes but I decided to go for it since I couldn't imagine we would get blown out. Michigan not only covered but won outright so it was a great day.

Doclosh

November 22nd, 2016 at 9:24 AM ^

I was at the 1976 game in Columbus and Jerry Zuver, not Mike Jolley, was the holder on PATs. After the second Michigan touchdown, Zuver took the snap and ran around the end to make it 15-0.  Later we added another touchdown to make it 22-0.  Zuver also had an interception in the game, his 6th of the year.

markusr2007

November 22nd, 2016 at 9:30 AM ^

But they still have to line up and play the game, block, tackle, defend and score.

I don't like Michigan's chances @ Columbus, against JT Barrett and Curtis Samuels, with injured QB <100%.

Seems like deck is stacked against UM again.

But with Downtown Brown and Harbaugh, Michigan always has a chance.

I Want To Believe

November 22nd, 2016 at 9:57 AM ^

A rather good handicapper I know who is also a complete buckeye homer is actually all over Michigan money line and the +7. At first I thought we had no chance but I think our seniors can win if we can stop Barrett / Samuels




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BlueinLansing

November 22nd, 2016 at 10:49 AM ^

every year from 1984 to 2004, except for that 1996 game.  Amazing to think how different the crowd of Buckeyes are now vs then.  In the 880's and 90's there was always a hint of anything can happen and pensive, nervousness from both fan bases.  Now it seems like the grade A assholes rule the rivalry, Tressel turned the rivalry for sure be he also emboldened their fans to be complete jerks.

 

I didn't get to attend the 2006 game because I was priced out of the market, but was in Columbus with friends.  I'll never forget that deflating feeling of arriving in my hotel room so full of excitement for the next day only to flip on the TV and learn Bo had passed away.  Feel like we've been walking in a trance ever since.  Since then I haven't been back to The Game in Ohio. 

 

I haven't been back through a combination of things life related, but very near the top of that list is also having a crappy football program for a decade.  I just haven't haven't had the heart.  I miss those trips and so dearly want to be in Columbus this weekend.

wolvemarine

November 22nd, 2016 at 10:55 AM ^

I saw Harbaugh lead the win in '85. My first game. I was a student in '91 as I watched Desmond split the defenders and run it back.

Find a way.
THE TEAM. THE TEAM. THE TEAM.

GO BLUE.

San Diego Mick

November 22nd, 2016 at 10:57 AM ^

That team was phenomenal, that damned Purdue loss still pisses me off and then Bo was conservative as usual in the Rose Bowl although that USC team was a great team.

M and USC were clearly the 2 best teams that year and would have beaten Pitt, I don't care how good Dorsett was, you didn't run on those teams.

I just can't believe we were underdogs to OSU in the game.

CoverZero

November 22nd, 2016 at 2:26 PM ^

Mike Jolly was my DB coach when I was in HS.  He was OK.  He did not say a lot and it didnt seem like coaching was his passion.  This was after he retired from the Packers.

I was at the 86 game at the shoe.  We watched the game on the field.

Chronologically I guess I a getting older, but I still feel and look young.  At least I like to think so  :)

UofMCraZ

November 22nd, 2016 at 3:27 PM ^

We score on offense, defense, and special teams. 

OSU always kicks to our great returners and the best in history show up for this rivalry. Woodson, Desmond, and....

Peppers will take a punt or KO to the house for a TD and hopefully it will be a landslide from that point until the end . 

 

Go Blue!!!!