University of Michigan - Michiganensian Yearbook (Ann Arbor, MI)

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Blue stifles ft pia anl pr ret ID re? ;ro M 1 Above: A back flip for every M point has become a cheerleader tradition. Above right: Middle guard Tim Davis catches the Navy quarterback behind the line. Right: It takes more than two blockers to stop defensive tackle Bill Hoban from rushing in against Stanford. Opp. above: A fumble recovery always provides an extra impetus and defensive end Walt Williamson recovers for the Blue. Opp. below: Defensive tackle Dave GaUager [71] and linebacker Carl Russ [33] loom down upon the opposing quarterback. 98

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I sparkling season What made this a particularly hard pill to -swallow was that Michigan outplayed the Buckeyes and came within inches, on a field goal, of pulling off the biggest upset of the college football year. Michigan for the game had 16 first downs to Ohio State ' s nine. The Blue defense held the vaunted Buckeyes to no first downs in the first quarter, and only four in the entire second half. Denny Franklin, Michigan ' s All- Big Ten quarterback, passed for 99 yards while OSU could not gain a yard via air, missing on four desperation passes in the waning seconds. Ohio had taken a 10-0 lead at half-time. Michigan refused to give up, however, and battled back for a 10-10 tie on a 10 yard touchdown scamper by Franklin, and a 30- yard field goal by Mike Lantry. With 1:01 remaining in the game, Lantry attempted what seemed to be an impossible 58-yard field goal. The ball sailed on an almost straight line and although it had the distance, was inches to the left of the mark. 97

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offenses, crumbles defenses What was to prove disastrous in the post- game melodrama, was that Franklin broke his collar bone when he was tackled three plavs before the kick. Ohio, on their own 20-yard line, began unleashing desperation long bombs. Michi- gan ' s Tom Drake picked off the first one and returned it to the Ohio State 33. Michigan, running out of time-outs, attempted a 44-yard field goal on third down. Lantry ' s wind blown attempt sailed wide and the tie resulted. However, the Michigan players ran off the field in a state of elation. They had come from behind and outplayed the supposedly best team in the nation, and had come inches from defeating them. They felt assured that they would spend Christmas vacation in California. For all indications the jubilation was de- served. Woody Hayes said after the game; We knew we had to beat them to go (to the Rose Bowl). Unfortunately the Athletic Directors disagreed and voted OSU to the Bowl the next day. Most directors cited Franklin ' s injury as the major force in their vote for OSU. But what caused the resulting controversy was the fact that seven of the directors had not seen any of the game, and another, only the last eight minutes. Ml 99