It Could Happen!!

Yeah, lots of similarities. The 1968 team finished 8-2. It graduated an All American RB (Ron Johnson), an All Big 10 QB, Dennis Brown, All Big 10 DT Tom Goss (yes, THAT Tom Goss), and All Big 10 LB Tom Stincic. In this respect there is a similarity, as last year's M team went 9-3, including a win on Jan 1 against a Florida team which was the defending BCS champ and which may be again after this season, and graduated the QB, top RB, 2 best OL, and 2 veteran LBs. The '68 Wolverines returned All Big 10 DB Tom Curtis and TE Jim Mandich, who were All America in 1969, made the College Football Hall of Fame, and had fine pro careers, as well as such as best run blocking tackle of his era Dan Dierdorf and Phil Seymour, who was All Big 10 in '68 and would be again in '70, but was out in '69. The Seymours were some family; brother Paul was M All America OT in 72 and was part of the Buffalo Bills Electric Company. In '69, M was on a 4 game win streak, outscoring the 4 opponents 178-22. Yes. 35-9 (MN), 35-7 (WI), 57-0(IL), 51-6 (IA). Bump Elliott had recruited and had on the '68 roster such frosh and sophs as Thom Darden, Billy Taylor, Glenn Doughty, Reggie McKenzie, and Don Moorehead. The new coach was one of the great teachers of football ever. In years to come, he declined mucho dinero to leave and coach a well known football program whose prior coaches had included Bear Bryant, choosing to remain with the young men he promised he would coach, even though he wasn't contractually bound. And still, a lot of people thought Ohio State would kill them. Except the men of that team, who EXPECTED to beat the snot out of the Buckeyes. And they did. It was no fluke with lucky bounces or turnovers. It was an ass-kicking of a kind not to be again seen until the 1976 team beat the Bucks 22-0 with an O-line which trampled the OSU Defense and a Defense which punished the offensive Buckeyes (pun intended). Time will tell whether the current roster will feature All-Americans in future. There won't be any this year, except, perhaps, Zoltan the Great. Yes, lots of similarities between then and now. But they play the game on the field on November 22. Maybe we'll get a reprise of the 1950 Snow Bowl, and punting will be king, as it was in Columbus that year. Go Blue.