Those are some impressive feats of mankind that will surely go down in history as... some of the most impressive feats of mankind.
Can't really say that its worth verifying but they are noteworthy nonetheless.
Back in in 1969 Ohio State came into the Game as the No.1 favorites in all of the land. Having run roughshod over every opponent culminating in the coveted National Championship the year before, the dreaded Buckeyes returned their top fighters and carried a string of 22 straight victories that fatefull late November day. They had soldiers named Kern, Tatum, Stillwagon, and Sensibaugh. They had previously beaten the tar out of Bump's seniormost members the year before for they had aura of invicibility clad in armour of Scarlet and Grey. Most intimidating of all, these illustrious Buckeyes were led by one of histories greatest leaders, Wayne Woodrow Hayes. All one had to know was his nic, Woody, because that alone was enough to instill dread and make grown men cry.
On the other side of the battlefield were the perennial pushovers. The Michigan Wolverines had been regularly clobbered by Woody's men during the decade. It got so bad that, rumor has it, there was a secret call to go for two at the end of regulation just to rub it in. Thus ended the 1968 debacle in a massacre, Ohio State - 50 Michigan -14. Micihgan was a far cry from the men in blue led by famous strategists of a by-gone era, ghosts of Yost, Crisler and Oosterbann. However, as if all howevers warrant a merit of significance, this was not the same Michigan team Bump Elliot had deployed. No. This was a team hardened from the sinews of man made molten lava. Toughened up by a coach that new only one thing and that was to beat Ohio State. His name? General "BO" Schembechler!
The battle of 1969 was expected to be a heavy mismatch. A slaughter if you will. The Game, as it is now called, annually pitted the Michigan Wolverines against the Ohio State Buckeyes at the end of each season. The winners would go on to the Rose bowl. The losers scraped their wounds and dreamt of another showndown in the distant future.
Well let me tell you. The hype was in the air. Winning eight games by an average score of 46-9 despite, the fact that Michigan came into the game ranked twelfth and had outscored its four most recent opponents 178-22, Ohio State were the preivous Champs with the lofty record. They were the only team that matter. The only team that could have given those Buckeyes a run for their money was... their own second string players! That is how good they were.
Ohio State was pegged as a 17 point favorite. Woody was expected to win his 6'th National Championship that day. The Game started out a bit gloomy for the home team as Ohio State marched down the field for the first touchdown of the day. However, you know what I mean, they missed the extra point and Michigan showed meddle by driving for a touchdown of their own. Fate can be a strange thing. For the first time all season Ohio State had trailed in a game. The proud Buckeyes marched back up and down the field to make it 12-7. A couple runs later by Garvie Craw and Quarterback Moorhead, the Wolverines took a commanding 21-12 lead. Aided by a field goal the half ended at 24-12. The second half was all defense. As in all great battles a well oiled offense can only be stifled by a stingy defense. The blue defense had caught 6 interceptions. The Ohio State air raid was blown into smithereens. The Game ended 24-12 and jubilant crowds stormed onto the field.
That fatefull day in 1969, a general was born and an old one would remember lick his wounds. The two memorable coaches would eventually lead their teams to all Big Ten Championships the ensueing decade. Theirs would be called the Ten Year War. Was nothing like it and never will be.
In memory of Bo's motto - Those Who Stay Will Be Champions!
Edited by Seko - 02-Oct-2008 at 22:12