Revisiting Harbaugh to Kolesar: OSU 1985

Submitted by WolverineHistorian on

Yesterday marked the 30th anniversary of the Harbaugh to Kolesar TD bomb that clinched the game against OSU.  One of the biggest moments in the history of the big house.

Two sections taken from the Toledo Blade 11/24/85:

The kickoff goes into the end zone and Gerald White runs three yards on the first play.  On the next play, Harbaugh notices safety Sonny Gordon is moving in to blitz.  It means the Buckeyes will be in one-on-one coverage.

"It was a delayed blitz," Harbaugh said.  "It gave me just enough time to throw it.  Either the tight end or the wide out would be open." 

The wide receiver was open.  John Kolesar caught the ball around Ohio's 40 and outran William White into the end zone. 

"We didn't know the guy was that fast," Pepper Johnson, Ohio State linebacker, said.

"I messed up," William White said. 

"I'm sure they watched me on film and thought I would run that post pattern across the face of the defender (William White) on the play," Kolesar said.  "I just dipped in and went over the top (ran around behind White)." 

Getting open was the easy part.  Getting the ball in hand was the hard part.

Kolesar said the contact lense in his right eye rolled up on the top of his eye, blurring his vision, and then he lost the ball in the lights.

Minor distractions.

"I lost track of the ball for about two or three seconds," he said.  "I have to credit my eighth grade coach for the catch.  He used to make us lay on our backs, throw the ball up, and then close our eyes and catch it by sort of feeling it into our hands." 

https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1350&dat=19851124&id=Rg1PAAAAIBA…

 

See video of the play and Bo's thoughts in the first reply:

M-Dog

November 24th, 2015 at 11:33 PM ^

Look at Harbaugh's helmet stickers at 1:05.  If you are going to do helmet stickers, that's the way to do them . . . don't overdo them.  

Keep in mind, this was the starting QB in the last regular season game, yet his helmet was still not completely cluttered in stickers.

Tater

November 25th, 2015 at 12:13 AM ^

When I saw Rudock slinging the ball around against PSU and completing a long pass, it reminded me of the fourth quarter in this game.  It also made me wish Harbaugh the QB could have had an opportunity to play in the offense of Harbaugh the coach.

Milty

November 25th, 2015 at 12:59 AM ^

Thank you for posting this!  This was my first and only OSU game as a student (transferred in as a junior).  Didn't have season tickets, but absolutely busted my budget to buy four tickets ($50/each, bought in October), to be able to take my dad (along with mom and sister) to the game.  He had attended U of M in the 50's (didn't graduate, ran out of money and maybe had  a little too much fun? that part was always hazy...), but had remained a life-long Wolverine fan, passing that love on to me...carrying the 70's version of a boom-box on his shoulder, with Ufer blaring, while coaching our youth soccer games in the falls.

Miss you, Tato!

GO BLUE - BEAT OSU!

readyourguard

November 24th, 2015 at 8:37 PM ^

I literally had the best seat in the house at that game. I can still see that ball sailing into the black sky with the portable lights illuminating the big house. Up until Woodson's punt return 12 years later, that was the loudest roar I ever heard at Michigan Stadium.

WolverineHistorian

November 24th, 2015 at 8:53 PM ^

I love how Musberger says nothing and just lets the cameras show the crowd going crazy.  Keith Jackson would later do the exact same thing on Desmond and Charles' punt returns in 91 and 97. A moment like that speaks for itself.

This game is also particular in that, I believe it was the only time during the Schembechler years where the OSU game was a 3:30 kickoff.  Looks like it was a bit overcast but it's pretty dark throughout the game. 

 

Glennsta

November 24th, 2015 at 9:10 PM ^

You could see Harbaugh getting blown up in the foreground ... as the ball sailed in the air.  Then when Kolesar cauight it, it was nuts.

1997 OSU was right up there.

So was 1977 OSU when John Anderson caused the Rod Gerald fumble.  Shortly followed by Woody punching the TV cameraman.

M-Dog

November 24th, 2015 at 11:41 PM ^

I was in the north end zone, almost at field-level.  I saw the play coming directly toward me and the ball hanging in the air for what seemed like eternity.

When Kolesar caught it, the place exploded.  It was the loudest I ever heard the stadium before or since.  My ears were ringing.

Interesting aside - before they lowered the field and put in the grass, you never heard talk about Michigan stadium being quiet.  Sound rises and reflects, and the sound from the crowd would bounce off the hard field-level artificial surface and reverberate throughout the entire stadium back then. 

Chitown Kev

November 24th, 2015 at 8:38 PM ^

and headed over to the FSU campus when this play happened.

I had a cheap walkman that, for some reason, was able to tune into the Musburcall. I was crossing a bridge and going downhill when this play happened and people in Tallahassee though I was absolutely stark raving crazy.

In terms of "radio calls" (which it was to me) this is second only to the Ufer/Wangler/Carter call.

Asquaredroot

November 25th, 2015 at 12:38 AM ^

We were sitting in Section 8, row 83... waaay up there, but it was the perfect angle to see the throw.  As soon as it left Harbaugh's hands everyone in the section stood in anticipation of the inevitable completion.

Kolesar had his man beat easily and was streaking under the pass to meet the ball.  I raised my arms overhead in excitement because I knew it was going to be a completion at the height of the throw...

Not sure I'd have that same unshakeable faith had I known that Kolesar couldn't see a damn thing!  Wow.

snarling wolverine

November 24th, 2015 at 9:01 PM ^

Phenomenal moment.  I remember a similar play in the '03 game (caught by Edwards) but it was called back for holding.  The crowd was unbelievably loud when it happened.

I notice that Bo must have had stricter criteria for the stickers than Harbaugh does, as Jim doesn't have all that many considering he was an all-Big Ten QB in the last game of the season.

Uferisms

November 24th, 2015 at 8:57 PM ^

This was my first time at a Michigan vs. Ohio State game. I was living in West Virginia and planning to come back to Michigan the next week for Thanksgiving when I get a call about Thursday that my aunt had 2 tickets for me. No way I was not coming back for that game. Great memory and have not missed a home Ohio State game from that time forward.

LSAClassOf2000

November 24th, 2015 at 9:36 PM ^

I was in the midst of elementary school at the time, but my parents took me - primarily because I was already of the opinion that seeing Ohio State defeated was a nice day-capper. I definitely have a clear memory of this for one of the reasons some have stated - the place went absolutely nuts, was incredibly loud, but what a play indeed. We were near the Michigan bench, so that might have been the first good view I had of our now-coach. 

BVB

November 24th, 2015 at 9:40 PM ^

We were in Section 8 back then (moved on up to 7 since). Had just turned 12 years old. One of my favorite memories. A great Michigan victory and went to Metzger's after the game with dad. He was so happy, I can still see it now. (Whoever is cutting onions, please stop.) Go Blue!

Blue60060

November 24th, 2015 at 9:47 PM ^

He flashes to the right to check the Safety and then back to the left to find Kolesar.

 

What is he thinking a that instant?

 

...can I get the pass off?  I know Kolesar's 4.3 is sufficient but can I get the pass off.  I assume I'm going to be laid waste.

Isn't that one stream of thought speeding through his gray matter?

CoverZero

November 24th, 2015 at 10:14 PM ^

I was at this game....sitting in the end zone opposite the student section with my dad.  This is how it looked to us.  The stadium was the loudest ever after this TD.

Uper73

November 24th, 2015 at 10:25 PM ^

Electric. Just electric. One of the prettiest throw and catches in M history.



Put an exclamation point on a terrific M win.



Not the best seats low in the north end zone, but it didn't matter. Low enough I could watch Harbaugh warm up and Bo make his rounds pre game on the field.



That play late in the afternoon under the lights was just unreal.







uminks

November 25th, 2015 at 3:40 AM ^

And had my first good job in July. I had season tickets in '85 through '88 before I moved out of state for good (due to my job). As a student I could only afford a few games per year. I remember this game well and also the great '86 season with Harbaugh, though my biggest heart break loss was in '86 by the gophers!

lmgoblue1

November 25th, 2015 at 5:54 AM ^

At 0300 hours or so. Moored in Subic Bay Phillipines. Listening on Armed Forces Radio. When that pass was completed I jumped up and down yelling and stomping around, forgetting I was right above the executive officers' cabin. Next morning at breakfast in the wardroom he looks at me and goes so, Michigan won huh? Big smile on his face. Made the rest of my deployment a happy time.
Go Blue!

NLT

November 25th, 2015 at 8:08 AM ^

That was the first time I got to go to The Game in person, as a teenager. I remember vividly how excited I was that morning, with all my gear carefully chosen and laid out the night before.

The only home Game I've missed since was 87 (college out of state, cut me a break!), and you'd better believe I'll have my gear laid out this Friday.

Go Blue!

WolverineHistorian

November 25th, 2015 at 10:51 AM ^

It had something to do with him being in a bar...maybe because he was underage? I forget the exact details. A fan posted the story online a couple years ago but I can't find it now.

Gillette was suspended for the Fiesta Bowl game against Nebraska as well. Fortunately, Pat Moons did a solid job of kicking for us in those two games.