One Frame At A Time: Indiana Past Comment Count

Ace

Six seconds left in a tie game, no timeouts remaining, and Anthony Carter runs an in-cutting route 20 yards short of the end zone for the game-winning catch-and-run. This is something that only Anthony Carter could do, and even then only in 1979 against a team coached by Lee Corso, because how do you let that happen?

[Hit THE JUMP for another play from that game that could only happen a long time ago, plus a few more GIFs from Indiana games past.]

Click the still frames to open each GIF in a lightbox. Some of these are from WolverineHistorian's "10 Memorable Plays Against Indiana" video, which you should watch.

1979: Pitch It To Corso

Anthony Carter made the play that everyone remembers, of course, but he couldn't have done it without a heads-up play by senior fullback Lawrence Reid (NTLR). Reid caught a short pass from John Wangler and couldn't get to the sideline, so he pitched the ball out of bounds—directely to a hopping-mad Lee Corso—to stop the clock with six seconds left. This play is now illegal, obviously, but at the time was totally legitimate.

1989: Terminator Tony Boles

This 89-yard touchdown by Tony Boles still stands as the second-longest run in school history. I can't get over how much Boles runs like a robot programmed to simulate a very fast human.

1992: #1 Strikes Again

A different #1 this time, as Derrick Alexander somehow eluded the first wave of defenders on this 70-yard punt return touchdown in a 31-3 pasting of the Hoosiers.

1996: Woodson Does Woodson Things

Michigan faced a serious upset bid from Indiana, trailing 17-10 at halftime. Then Charles Woodson entered the game on offense, got the reverse everybody could see coming, and scored anyway to tie the game.

"We all knew it was coming," [Indiana coach Bill] Mallory said. "I'm probably lucky I didn't get called on that. I was almost out there to help the play. I could've sworn we had him, but that sucker was in and out of there."

David Bowens (remember him?) stuffed a sneak fourth-and-inches at the Michigan 29 to preserve a 27-20 win.

2004: No Breaston, No Problem

Steve Breaston sat out the 2004 game. Fortunately for Michigan, they had another future NFL player ready to return punts in Leon Hall, who took this one to the house with some help from Braylon Edwards—he's the guy turning the punter into a crimson turfstain.

2010: Denard Needs One Cut

Miss you, dude.

Comments

Mister X

October 18th, 2013 at 6:03 PM ^

My ~7th grade self was there, thanks to neighbors who didn't want to see M play a bad team in a bad year during bad weather. Didn't make it to the field as my best friend landed on his knees in the row in front of us after jumping up for the touchdown. Heard the replay of Ufer's call on the way home. At that age it just does not get any better than that.

TennBlue

October 18th, 2013 at 5:11 PM ^

for about 10 minutes while they tried to figure out what to do about it.  The head of the NCAA refs was at the game and joined the party, as well.  They finally determined that it wasn't actually against the rules as they stood at the time.  Hence the change slipped in during the off season.

 

(and I'm another who was there, one of the dots in the North end zone seats.)

Yo_Blue

October 18th, 2013 at 3:05 PM ^

What was that gap-like thing through which Boles ran?  It looks oddly familiar but I can't recall seeing one lately.  

Dang this new-fangled football getting rid of traditional things like gaps and holes.

The FannMan

October 18th, 2013 at 3:17 PM ^

Was litterally hoping mad.  He was also wearing a track suit that is soooo 70's.  Too bad there is no high def so we can't see the gold medallions he is surely wearing,  

BlueMan80

October 18th, 2013 at 6:29 PM ^

And we were all laughing our asses off with his reaction. I think he ran out of words at one point and was just pointing and gesturing. As mentioned above, it was a long break. Michigan lined up to run play. Indiana jumped offside giving us 5 less yards to cover and then the magic happened. Loudest cheering I ever heard in the stadium during my time as a student. It was bedlam. We were all bummed out that we were going to tie Indiana and then pure joy.

tybert

October 18th, 2013 at 9:33 PM ^

Blue,

I was an 11th grader in my parent's seats in South EZ Section 9. They were sitting with my uncle in better seats. I actually had a spare ticket next to me, trying to scalp it outside the stadium, but couldn't even get a $5 for it. So kept it and still have that full ticket in my UM collection.

The end of the game was so improbable. Bo actually went for it on 4th and 1 inside our own 35. Then the L. Reid flip to Corso, then the 5 yd offsides. 

Funny thing was that a bunch of folks were waiting to exit the stadium, with their backs turned, in line at the exit. Man did some of them miss something!

I remember watching the last play and somehow, just after Carter caught it, for some crazy reason quickly glanced at the game clock in the North EZ, it had 1 or 2 seconds left. For a split second I was thinking...hey if he's tackled we can call our final TO and kick a FG to win --> but wait Bryan Virgil is our kicker!

loucreekmur

October 18th, 2013 at 3:34 PM ^

I believe the deliberate fumble was made by Lawrence Reid, not Lawrence Ricks.  The latter wore # 46.  We are the blog police; our motto is To Correct and Serve.

zggolfer

October 18th, 2013 at 3:45 PM ^

raking leaves in the backyard with my mom listening to Ufer on the radio when AC caught the pass and scored, oh what a radio call, I'll never forget it.

markusr2007

October 18th, 2013 at 4:45 PM ^

that Tony Boles was the fastest and most talented running back to ever play at Michigan.

That's pretty amazing. I remember that Indiana run and a big run vs. Illinois. He seemed lanky, ran with back upright (like Charles White), and was pretty goddamned fast.

MGoBlue24

October 18th, 2013 at 6:09 PM ^

After Anthony Carter swept into the end zone it was as loud in the stands as I had heard to that point in any Michigan game I'd been too (two years at that point). 

On the play prior, though, after Lawrence Reid - not Ricks - tossed the ball out of bounds, the stadium went completely silent for a second with "whaaaaaat was that"? 

The extra point was never kicked because the home fans immediately rushed the field after Carter scored.  

My recollection is that in the week after the game the Big Ten Conference outlawed intentionally throwing balls out of bounds to retain possession.

 

 

markusr2007

October 18th, 2013 at 6:22 PM ^

It was a front page photo in the sport section. Iowa was going to finish 5-6. Iowa State 3-8. So not much going on.

Meanwhile all Michigan had to do after that Indiana game was beat Purdue and Ohio State to get to their 4th straight Rose Bowl. They missed both by a total of 6 pts.

Michigan lost 4 games by a total of 10 pts.

2pt loss to Notre Dame

3pt loss at Purdue

3pt loss to Ohio

2pt loss to North Carolina

One of Bo's most underrated, experienced and talented defenses too. But that kicking game really sucked.

tybert

October 18th, 2013 at 9:16 PM ^

Blue,

I believe it was Don Bracken who got the punting job in '80-'83, from a Wyoming HS of all places. This started a run of good punters (Monte Robbins, Stapleton, etc.). 

But VIRGIL was AWFUL! I was also at the ND game where he kicked the low FG attempt that the ND guy blocked climbing on our player'a back.

Question for historians on Virgil: wasn't he one of the players who got busted for pot dealing in the dorms/student housing after the season. I know BJ Dickey was suspended (and redeemed himself on the 1981 team).

Bando Calrissian

October 18th, 2013 at 7:20 PM ^

Tony Boles is a total Friday Night Lights (the book/movie, not necessarily the show) story. Bad injury luck turns lights-out, one-in-a-million talent into a has-been/screwup/bad decisions.

http://blog.mlive.com/jim_carty/2008/10/boles_battles_beast_on_his_bac…

It's sad stuff. Guy was one of the purest talents ever to wear the winged helmet. I'm pretty sure nothing overly positive has happened with him since this article was published, either. 

buddhafrog

October 19th, 2013 at 3:17 AM ^

Ace, your .gifs have become my favorite thing on MGoBlog - and the idea to add Top 10 .gifs of years past for upcoming opponents if a brilliant idea.  Please keep.

Don

October 19th, 2013 at 8:41 AM ^

She even got bored at OSU games, but regardless she was jumping up and down and screaming for joy (just like Bo did) as this one ended.

DougoBlue

October 19th, 2013 at 10:45 AM ^

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z269/DougoBlue/AC_mob_zpsef7d36d3.jpg

I was at that game as well and went on the field after the game. My first year with season tickets. That still remains the most thrilling sporting event moment I have ever witnessed.

Also I remeber going to Wisconsin to watch Michigan play them back when Tony Boles played running back. Can't remember the exact details, but I think the badgers may have fumbled the opening kickoff then Tony Boles ran the first play from scrimage for a touchdown. Seemed like it was 21-0 before most of the Badger faithful found their seats.

My recollections may have become fogged over time though.

 

DougoBlue

October 19th, 2013 at 10:51 AM ^

I used to sneak down to field level and jump on the field, posing as some sort of official photographer... I got a lot of great shots over the years doing that. Here's one of Johnny Wangler running the option.

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z269/DougoBlue/Wangler_option_zps419e0fe9.jpg

This one is Butch Don't Call Me Harold Woolfolk taking the handoff from Johnny Wangler.

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z269/DougoBlue/ButchWoolfolk_zps97fdd574.jpg

To quote Jason Isbell, those were better days.