SysMark

January 9th, 2015 at 1:02 PM ^

This is a really great one - good to see.

The timing for this couldn't have been better with the transformation taking place now.  Couldn't find a better example of the kind of player we have to get back to.

jmdblue

January 9th, 2015 at 11:44 AM ^

Loved Lytle.  I think he won a B1G 200 M championship on top of his awesome football accomplishments.  Woody hated that he went to M as he took over for Griffin as easily the finest back in the conference.  Also scored a TD in the Superbowl for the Broncos.

Anyone know what happened to his boy?  Was considered a walkon possiblility as a DB, but I think he went Ivy.

TdK71

January 9th, 2015 at 11:47 AM ^

...who loved playing football. I loved watching him block for Gordie Bell and Ricky Leach, and in his senior year, watching him run roughshod over Michigan's opponents.

When I heard he passed a couple of years ago a part of my youth went with him...

Now he will live on forever as a Michigan great. 

cutter

January 9th, 2015 at 1:00 PM ^

The road uniform in the Lytle photographs was introduced by Michigan in 1973 and was used through the 1976 season.  The jersey was changed for the Rose Bowl game against USC on 1 January 1977 with a different striping pattern.  Michigan had that pattern for its road jerseys through the 1996 season.

MVictors has a great link that goes through all the uniform changes--you can find it at http://mvictors.com/uniform-timeline/

It will be interesting to see if Harbaugh reinitates the use of helmet stickers.  Schembechler introduced them in 1969 and the decals went through a number of changes over the years.  Carr stopped the practice in 1995 when he took over as the head coach.  I personally like them and kind of hope JH brings them back.

 

 

 

bluebaughs

January 9th, 2015 at 12:02 PM ^

I was at the Horseshoe in 1976 when Lytle rushed for 165 yards and the Wolverines shutout the Buckeyes 22-0. Near the end of the game you could of heard a pin drop in that stadium. He was a great runner and that was a great team.

True Blue Grit

January 9th, 2015 at 1:47 PM ^

That was one of my favorite all time games in the series.  I was a senior in H.S. getting ready to go to Michigan the next year and watched the game on TV. 

Lytle was awesome that year.  I remember him running for something like 170 yards in 10 carries in the first half against MSU and Bo pulling him out of the game shortly after halftime.  He was definitely a north-south runner who didn't mess around trying to juke guys or run outside most of the time.  He didn't have because the O-line was so good opening holes.   

Glennsta

January 9th, 2015 at 6:03 PM ^

I was a junior at UM, driving back to AA from Detroit on the Saturday of that game. There was some problem on 94 West so I decided to take Michigan Avenue all the way back. The game was coming on so I stopped at the 112 Bar in Wayne and watched it there.  What a terrific game, especially after 3 hours of beer.

Ann Arbor was fun when i got back, as best I recall.

 

DonAZ

January 9th, 2015 at 12:08 PM ^

Rob Lytle was the player I latched on to during my early, formative years becoming a Michigan fan.  He is still my favorite player of all time.  Why?  Just because.

Love the way his helmet is all beat up and scratched -- now that's football. :-)

In college I wore #41 for my intramural basketball jersey.  I still recall the referee holding up four fingers on one hand and one on the other and shouting out my number for a foul.

I did not do Rob Lytle honor playing with his number ... I suck at basketball.

Julius 1977

January 9th, 2015 at 1:11 PM ^

and I immediately knew how tough it was going to be when I saw about eight football players there.  Lytle was one of them.

My Mother said I should get his autograph.  Of course, I nixed that idea since I knew I would look like a moron.

I wish I had.

BlueCube

January 9th, 2015 at 1:20 PM ^

I loved those teams with Lytle, Bell, Huckleby and Leach and Ufer on the radio since few games were televised. Ufer made it like I was there.

It's sad that we lost Lytle so soon. Great player.

Michigantrumpet82

January 9th, 2015 at 1:51 PM ^

Growing up, my seats were in the southwest corner of the stadium.  A large contingent of his family and friends from Ohio drove up for every game and sat in the same section.  Every time the stadium announcer said Rob's name, they would raise a HUGE howl of Yaaaay! Lytle!"  I loved him, Gordie Bell and Harlan Huckleby as players.  

He died at the age of 56, from a heart attack, I think.  Way, way, too soon.  So happy he is being honored.  What a great guy.  

 

Ovr

January 9th, 2015 at 3:25 PM ^

Growing up in the 1970s, I know Rob Lytle is one of the faces of Michigan football that made me a life-long fan.  Great memories of him, Jim Smith, Rick Leach, Huck, et al.  Fast forward to the mid-90s, I recall the long-time coach of Fremont Ross saying he had a RB/DB that was the best he ever coached, even better than Rob Lytle!  That got my attention, and raised the bar very high for that Little Giant, Wolverine-to-be.  Better than Rob Lytle?  Well, Charles Woodson and Rob Lytle both have a special place in the pantheon of Wolverine greats.  Conratulations to the Lytle family!

SalvatoreQuattro

January 9th, 2015 at 4:51 PM ^

Right at the time my Dad went to UM games with my Domer grandfather for the one year he attended Michigan. Great player from what my pops has told me.

 This is a bittersweet day. A great player finally gets his due, but he isn't here to enjoy it. RIP, Rob Lytle. 

Wolfman

January 9th, 2015 at 5:19 PM ^

Gave up his TB position to be main blocker for Gordie Bell, even though both went for over 1K that season, then comes back next season to finish third in the Heisman.  Could do it all, run over you with or without the ball. Consider also, the season he was lead blocker for Flash, Flash was leading rusher in the conference. Heisman winner was second. Some cat name Griffin from tosu.

Zoltanrules

January 9th, 2015 at 5:54 PM ^

No question one of the best to ever play in Ann Arbor. A pleasure to watch him play during some real glory years. His passing was WAY too soon.

A real good football film "Everyone's All American" stars Dennis Quaid, Jessica Lange, Timothy Hutton, and John Goodman and is based onhte life of LSU All American Billy Cannon. Rob Lytle had some career similarities and to make the film more realistic, the protagonist gets drafted by Denver, wearing #41, and has an injury shortened career. There is real NFL footage of Rob in the film. The film (1988) deals with the glory of being a football star to the not so glamorous life when the body gives out and the spotlight fades away. Anyway worth a look if you haven't seen it.

Anyway back to Rob, he was who every young boy who was Michgan fan wanted to be : a tough scoring machine, a great blocking team player, and a good looking guy's guy who seemed like he just loved to play for Bo and U of M.

RIP Rob.