Greatest game by a Michigan running back?
My vote goes to Tshimanga "Tim" Biakabutuka.
1995 Ohio State vs Michigan
37 carries
313 yards
1 touchdown
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3wSUL3kk1w
April 13th, 2010 at 11:31 AM ^
Yes that is the first game I thought of when I saw your title, it was the total game and came against our rival.
April 13th, 2010 at 11:54 AM ^
Hi everybody I have been following mgoblog for a while now enjoy it lots as a huge diehard Michigan supporter. I created today and had to say my vote without a doubt is 95 Mich vs osu biakabutka what a performance I will never forget that day with my Dad and Uncle in his basement what a memory and a feeling of joy. my dad just had surgery for pancreatic cancer and is in hospital trying to recover. Go Blue and god bless
April 13th, 2010 at 11:32 AM ^
51 carries, 219 yards and a touchdown.
April 13th, 2010 at 11:36 AM ^
Beat me to it, you bastard. Although Biakabatuka is the obvious choice, I'm gonna go with CP in '03 @ MSU as well, simply because I was a student at the time.
April 13th, 2010 at 11:39 AM ^
I was not quite yet a student, but went to that game and it remains my greatest Michigan football memory. Especially because I was in the State student section and the silence was deafening.
April 13th, 2010 at 12:17 PM ^
I just remember Perry looking almost dead after every play and then getting back on his feet and going for another 6 yards. One of the greatest individual efforts I have ever seen.
April 13th, 2010 at 11:32 AM ^
That was a rhetorical question. No other game comes close.
You should ask what are the 2nd and 3rd best games ever by a running back.
2nd: Chris Perry verse Sparty. 51 carries.
April 13th, 2010 at 11:34 AM ^
but didnt' Wheatley have a monster game in the Rose Bowl against Washington?
April 13th, 2010 at 11:37 AM ^
235 yards on 15 carries, 3 touchdowns.
And I think his day was shortened by cramps or a sprain of some kind.
April 13th, 2010 at 11:50 AM ^
Hence the low carry total.
April 13th, 2010 at 12:12 PM ^
And he still earned MVP honors for the game.
April 13th, 2010 at 11:35 AM ^
where (insert name) did a(n) (insert adjective) job running between the blockers and shredded (insert hated rival). oh man, do you remember when he (insert adverb) (verb past-tense) in the (insert number 1-4) quarter? and the way he destroyed (insert name of rival player). i about (verb past-tense) my (item of clothing). my (insert family member) still talks about it but my (insert degrading adjective) (insert co-worker, neighbor, former classmate, in-law) still thinks it was (insert demeaning adjective) compared to (insert sub-part performance of other rival team) in the (insert bowl game). but i said (expletive) to (insert gender identifier) and gave a wicked high five to everyone else at the (insert common even where people discuss such events) and had another (insert brand of alcoholic beverage).
April 13th, 2010 at 12:06 PM ^
trying way too hard my friend.
April 13th, 2010 at 12:03 PM ^
Too young to have seen this, but in 1968 he ran for 347 yards and 5TDs against Wisconsin ...
He averaged over 10 YPC on 31 carries.
Link to his wikipedia with some relevant stats...
Link to his wikipedia with some relevant stats...
April 13th, 2010 at 11:35 AM ^
Ron Johnson, 31 carries, 347 yards vs. Wisconsin, 1968
The weather was horrible. It rained, and then turned to freezing rain, and it snowed a bit. The snow was the best part, because then it turned into even worse freezing rain.
I saw Johnson versus Wisconsin and I saw Biakabatuka versus OSU and I rate Johnson's game higher, because he was doing more work on his own, and all that Wisconsin was doing was looking for him. On a truly awful day; one of the worst I can ever remember. As I recall, Johnson sat down for the last part of the game. Otherwise, it could have been more yards.
Biakabatuka was brilliant, but was running through some great holes, with a wonderfully balanced offense. No shame in second place in this particular question.
I don't know all of the details on Harmon's best individual rushing games, but I think there were a couple of games where Harmon not only ran for a couple hundred yards from scrimmage, but ran back some kicks, kicked some extra points, and got an interception or two! Take that, Charles Woodson.
+1 for being alive in 1968
and if i could, I'd give you another +1 for actually being at the game. That's serious fan-dome.
You my friend, are a true Michigan Man...
April 13th, 2010 at 11:35 AM ^
Tyrone Wheatley 1993 Rose Bowl
235 yards on 15 carries with 3 TDs
April 13th, 2010 at 11:36 AM ^
Not that I was around for this one...
Ron Johnson
31 carries, 347 yards, 5 TDs! 1968 versus the badgers
(courtesy of some random iphone app I found called "Michigan Sports Reader")
Or how about...
Tyrone Wheatley
15 carries, 235 yards, 3 TDs 1993 versus Washington
April 13th, 2010 at 11:36 AM ^
1968. Carried 31 times for 347 yards against Wisconsin.
April 13th, 2010 at 11:38 AM ^
Maybe not the greatest, but I distinctly remember Perry punishing everyone in green he saw ahead of him. It was exhausting to watch. Stats:
Rushing No Gain Loss Net TD Lg Avg
--------------------------------------------
Perry, Chris 51 221 2 219 1 15 4.3
Lest I forget what Perry did against OSU that same year (M 35 - O 21)
Rushing No Gain Loss Net TD Lg Avg
--------------------------------------------
Perry, Chris 31 157 3 154 2 30 5.0
April 13th, 2010 at 12:19 PM ^
Man do I miss his running game. Him, Breaston and Edwards drove that Buckeye defense crazy in the 2003 game. I really hope to see that style of play against OSU soon!
April 13th, 2010 at 11:42 AM ^
Biakabutuka by a landslide. His performance that day was unreal, and he singlehandedly won that game against a more talented Buckeyes team.
Edit: After watching the YouTube link, I had no idea Biakabutuka was Canadian. Interesting.
How could you not know? His name is clearly Canadian...
He was born in Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo) and moved to Quebec when he was like 6 or 7, IIRC.
April 13th, 2010 at 11:42 AM ^
Fitzgerald Toussaint 2010 vs. OSU
and by vote I mean hope.
April 13th, 2010 at 11:43 AM ^
I shake my fist at you
April 13th, 2010 at 11:44 AM ^
*evil laughter*
April 13th, 2010 at 11:46 AM ^
Maybe not against Ohio State, but I definitely get the feeling that Toussaint will have a huge breakout game next season.
Guess? That ain't no guess! That's what it's gonna be!
April 13th, 2010 at 11:43 AM ^
2010 OSU
297 all purpose yards and three touchdowns
Book it
April 13th, 2010 at 11:47 AM ^
Maybe he had a few less yards than Johnson, but the opponents couldn't have been much further apart in talent. Wisconsin finished 0-10 in '68, they were a joke. OSU finished 11-2 in 1995, and was undefeated coming into the Michigan game. Biakabutuka by a country mile.
April 13th, 2010 at 12:54 PM ^
Screaming at the tv. She cursing at Cooper and the entire team and she could never pronounce his name right and even years later she still refuses to recognize his game against OSU. She's a Buckeye fan, went to OSU where as my father is Michigan fan, went to OSU and still rooted against OSU because he hated them. You should of seen her face in 2003. Priceless.......
April 13th, 2010 at 11:50 AM ^
Maybe not *just* a running back, but an outstanding game..
In his final football game, against Ohio State Harmon led the Wolverines to a 40-0 victory, scoring three rushing touchdowns, two passing touchdowns, four extra points, intercepting three passes, and punting three times for an average of 50 yards. In an unprecedented display of sportsmanship and appreciation, the Ohio State fans in Columbus gave Harmon a standing ovation at game's end.
April 13th, 2010 at 11:59 AM ^
I second Ol 98. He is the only Michigan player to ever recieve a standing ovation from Buckeye fans in Columbus. Although he did play almost every position he was considered a running back.
April 13th, 2010 at 11:58 AM ^
In his junior year in the Outback Bowl I believe he had 5 touchdowns plus a ton of total yards, mostly receiving. The screen passes were just unstoppable that day against the Fightin' [Name Redacted]'s.
April 13th, 2010 at 12:01 PM ^
when Jamie ran for 210 yards, 150 of which came in the second half. He also scored two TDs.
April 13th, 2010 at 12:14 PM ^
best game i was at... i just remember seeing all of the sad faces of buckeyes because they needed to win that game to go to the rose bowl... plus the 2 buckeyes who sat behind us were so pissed because they had already bought and paid for their rose bowl trip figuring there was no way OSU would lose to michigan...
but my vote goes to jamie morris against alabama in the '88 hall of fame bowl... he had 23 carries for 234 yard and 3 TD's... the other reason why morris gets my vote is because he is my favorite all time michigan football player...
April 13th, 2010 at 12:21 PM ^
is that, dang it if Michigan hasn't had some awesome running backs over the years.
April 13th, 2010 at 12:26 PM ^
Justin Feagin - 7 rushes, 49 yards against Minnesota in 2008.
Everyone in attendance thought, uh, you should have burned his redshirt months ago, that wasn't half bad.
My personal vote would be for Chris Perry against Oregon in '03...11 carries for 26 yards in an otherwise spectacular season (Heisman finalist / Doak Walker award winner). Until recently being replaced by the Dennis Dixon Statue of liberty play, this was the highlight of my Oregonian cousin's heckling of me (and Michigan) for years.
April 13th, 2010 at 12:36 PM ^
...top five all time single game rushing performances according to the record book are:
1. Ron Johnson .................. 347
Wisconsin, Nov. 16, 1968
2. Tshimanga Biakabutuka ........ 313
Ohio State, Nov. 25, 1995
3. Jon Vaughn ................... 288
UCLA, Sept. 22, 1990
4. Ron Johnson .................. 270
Navy, Oct. 7, 1967
5. Butch Woolfolk ............... 253
at Michigan State, Oct. 10, 1981
Thanks for those reference points. I remember that Vaughn game but for me it's Biakabutuka's game and it's not even close. Whereas Vaughn's runs were dazzling, they were mostly about great line play and Vaughn's great speed. Biakabutuka's performance came against a very good defense and his moves were so shifty it was like the Buckeyes were tackling air most of the day. It was like Barry Sanders with good blocking. Unreal game.
I attended C Perry's game at MSU and that was very impressive but more of a workmanlike, grinding performance. Besides, MSU's defense didn't hold a candle to what Biakabutuka faced.
April 13th, 2010 at 12:37 PM ^
...top five all time single game rushing touchdown performances are:
1. Ron Johnson ......................... 5
Wisconsin, Nov. 16, 1968
2. Fritz Seyferth....................... 4
Minnesota, Oct. 24, 1970
Ed Shuttlesworth ....................... 4
Minnesota, Oct. 28, 1972
Rob Lytle .............................. 4
Indiana, Oct. 25, 1975
Chris Howard ........................... 4
UCLA, Sept. 28, 1996
Anthony Thomas ......................... 4
at Hawaii, Nov. 28, 1998
April 13th, 2010 at 12:41 PM ^
I have a hard time voting over Chris Perry against the fuckeyes in 2003. It was my freshman year at Ohio State, and everyone I knew was touting their #1 rushing defense all year. Then watching Chris Perry with his patented side cut, and then explode through for 154 yards was one of my greatest memories at school. When I got back to the dorm I put my stereo in the hall and blasted the Michigan fight song!......shit that was too long ago, I'm so sick of losing.
You went to Ohio State and root for Michigan?
April 13th, 2010 at 12:44 PM ^
Yards Att. Player Opponent Date
347 31 Ron Johnson Wisconsin Nov. 16, 1968
313 37 Tim Biakabutuka Ohio State Nov. 25, 1995
288 32 Jon Vaughn UCLA Sept. 22, 1990
270 26 Ron Johnson Navy Oct. 7, 1967
253 39 Butch Woolfolk at Michigan State Oct. 10, 1981
235 15 Tyrone Wheatley Washington Jan. 1, 1993
234 23 Jamie Morris Alabama Jan. 2, 1988
234 40 Mike Hart at Illinois Oct. 16, 2004
232 22 Chris Perry Central Michigan Aug. 30, 2003
228 35 Anthony Thomas at Illinois Sept. 23, 2000
Wheatley's 15.70 average for the UDub Rose Bowl is just sick.
Probably Mike Hart on a Tuesday night at Skeeps. Man, ladies used to flock to him like the salmon of Capistrano.
it might be interesting for folks to know that he was only on the field for the first play of the fourth quarter -- a touchdown run of course. Clearly his performance was the best ever -- if you don't care about the circumstances or opponent. His performance came against Wisconsin, then known as haplesswisconsin. It was in a tune-up for what would be essentially the B10 Championship game at OSU the following week -- the infamous 50-14 game in which Woody went for two. Given the circumstances, one can thus make the case that Biakabutuka's was the best, but I'd still stick with RJ's performance. BTW, Johnson finished 6th in the Heisman voting that year.
If I remember correctly, Johnson gained all those yards in a driving rainstorm, on a muddy field. I'd put that game and Biakabutuka's performance against OSU as 1 and 1a. Both incredible efforts.