Regions Greatest Moments: 1969 - Michigan Wolverines vs. The Ohio State Buckeyes
November, 24 2023
“I’d be mad too if they beat me 50-14,” Michigan head coach Bo Schembechler told the media. The rookie head coach spoke about the Wolverine’s 1968 encounter with Ohio State. The Buckeyes steam rolling of Michigan was capped off with a distasteful message as the Buckeyes tried a two-point conversion after their final touchdown. Ohio State head coach Woody Hayes, when asked about his decision to go for two had a cocksure response, “Because they wouldn’t let me go for three.”
Wolverine head coach Bump Elliot resigned after being at the position for nine seasons. Schembechler was hired and took the helm just one week after.
When Schembechler was hired and addressed the team he had one objective: BEAT OHIO STATE. The Akron, Ohio product played under Woody Hayes at Miami of Ohio from 1949-1950. Schembechler became an assistant for Hayes at Ohio State from 1958 to 1962. Hayes was not happy with Schembechler’s new position. Sure enough, the two have not spoken since Schembechler took the job at Michigan.
For the 39-year-old rookie head coach, the offseason was more of a military boot camp than a football camp. Dozens of players left the team as the fiery Schembechler implemented his regime. Schembechler was looking for players that were willing to push their limits to achieve great feats and win. The team ran the same option offense as Ohio State and ran the same defense as Ohio State. The only difference was that the uniforms were maize and blue. A sign posted on the locker room door simplified Bo’s philosophy: “Those who stay will be champions.”
For the ones that stayed, the 1969 season started off promising with wins over Vanderbilt and Washington. The first of two hiccups was a turnover filled loss against ninth-ranked Missouri in week three. The next hiccup was against Michigan State in East Lansing, a 23-12 loss where the defense gave up 348 rushing yards to Sparty. After the loss, the Wolverines won their next four games by a combined score of 178-22. After the team’s win against Iowa, Michigan had one team in sight. That team from the south.
The Ohio State Buckeyes were riding high coming off a national championship season in 1968. Coming into their season finale against Michigan, the Buckeyes were on a 22-game win streak and had been ranked No. 1 since New Year’s Day. Coach Woody Hayes proclaimed the 1969 team as “The Greatest in Ohio State History.” Sports Illustrated speculated that the Buckeyes could beat the Minnesota Vikings.
The Big Ten conference’s “no repeat” rule, meant that another trip to Pasadena was out of the picture for Ohio State. With no exhibition invitation against the “Purple People Eaters” in sight, just this game against “the team up north” stood in the way of another potential national championship. The Buckeyes were huge 17-point favorites heading the game.
Gameday weather in Ann Arbor was a chilly 45 degrees, but the sun was out along with 103,588 spectators at Michigan Stadium. The game kicked off and the two teams traded scoreless opening possessions. The Buckeyes drew first blood when FB Jim Otis ran for the goal line score but they missed the extra point. Michigan responded with a 3-yard touchdown run by RB Garvie Craw. Michigan led Ohio State 7-6 – the first time Ohio State had trailed since New Year’s Day.
Ohio State did not look fazed as Buckeye QB Rex Kern threw for 50 yards, including a 22-yard score to Jan White. The extra point attempt was good, but the Wolverines were offsides. Coach Hayes opted out of another kick attempt and accepted the penalty and the Buckeyes lined up for a two-point conversion. As last year’s game lingered inside the minds of Michigan defenders, the Wolverines snuffed out Kerns before he found an open man.
Although the play itself did not define the game, it was retribution for Michigan. The Wolverines scored on another Craw run from the Buckeye five-yard line making the score 14-12. The Buckeyes stalled once again and punted from the Wolverine 33-yard line.
Michigan’s Barry Pierson fielded the punt and proceeded to dazzle the record-setting crowd. The senior DB from St. Ignace weaved around would-be tacklers, bolting up field before finally being tackled at the three-yard line. The noise inside Michigan Stadium was deafening! Wolverine QB Don Moorehead scored on the quarterback keeper as Michigan now led 21-12 after the PAT. The score at halftime was 24-12 and remained the same for the rest of the game.
Saying that the vaunted Ohio State offense was overwhelmed by the Michigan defense in the second half was a massive understatement. The Wolverines secondary clamped down on the Buckeye receivers, forcing six interceptions on the day. Rex Kern threw four interceptions (two towards Barry Pierson) and was pulled out of the game in the fourth quarter. Backup QB Ron Maciejowski did not fare well, throwing two picks and losing a fumble. It was a day of redemption for the Michigan defense.
When the final whistle blew, pure jubilation was felt not just in Ann Arbor but throughout the country. At the White House, President Nixon had the game on TV so he could watch and listen during his dentist appointment.
Back on campus, Michigan students poured onto the field and proceeded to tore down the goal post. Michigan captain Jim Mandich was hoisted on the shoulders of his celebrating peers. Horns and sirens of celebration carried late into the night. The Michigan Wolverines spoiled Buckeye’s perfect season and national title bid.
It was Michigan’s confidence and perseverance that aided them in this win. Michigan safety Tom Curtis said postgame, “It may sound funny, but we knew before we went out there that we were going to win.” Curtis had two interceptions and set the NCAA record for career interception return yards on the day.
Leading up to the game against Ohio State, Bo Schembechler said that had the Wolverines lost, they would’ve turned down the Rose Bowl invitation because they were there because of the “no repeat” rule. Fast forward postgame when Schembechler was asked about the team’s trip to Pasadena, “We’re going as conference champions and don’t you forget it.”
The 1969 upset of Ohio State by the claws of the Michigan Wolverines started the fabled Ten-Year War between Michigan and Ohio State. Between 1969-1978, Bo Schembechler bested his mentor five times, tying once. Michigan and Ohio State shared six conference titles in that span. At the conclusion of the 2022 season, Michigan leads the all-time series 60-51-6.