1973 Michigan vs. Ohio State football game
Encyclopedia
The 1973 edition to the Michigan-Ohio State Rivalry, was one of the most controversial games in NCAA
history. In this game, both teams were undefeated, with Ohio State ranked 1st, and Michigan ranked 4th. A conference championship, Rose Bowl appearance, and possible national championship was on the line in this monumental game, part of the hotly-contested stretch of the rivalry known as the Ten Year War. A then-NCAA record crowd of 105,233 watched the game at Michigan Stadium
in Ann Arbor
.
With heavy rain, the game was mostly fought on ground. The two teams combined for 90 yards passing in a defensive battle. Ohio State failed to make a single first-down in the first quarter, but took an early 3-0 lead in the second quarter, with a 31 yard field goal by Blair Conway. Gil Chapman
, Michigan's punt returner returned OSU's ensuing kick-off all the way to the OSU 27 yard line. A significant clipping penalty was called on Michigan which subsequently gave Michigan bad field position. With the way the game had gone, field position proved to be a huge advantage.
After a series of punts, Ohio State got the ball on their own 45 yard line. Back-to-back Heisman Trophy
winner Archie Griffin
rushed for 41 yards on 5 carries, to get to 100 yards rushing, and OSU to the 5 yard line. Fullback Pete Johnson busted his way through the defense for a touchdown just before the half to extend OSU's lead to 10-0.
Michigan made defensive half-time adjustments in an attempt to crawl back into the game. The Wolverines outgained the Buckeyes 209-91 in total yardage in the 2nd half. Michigan took the 2nd half kick-off and marched all the way to the OSU 30 yard line. However, quarterback Dennis Franklin
's pass was intercepted in the end zone ruining a great drive. Midway through the third quarter, OSU faced a 4th and 2 on the Michigan 34 yard line, and decided to go for it. Their failed fourth down conversion gave Michigan new life, and lots of momentum. It is still looked down on today, as a controversial coaching call.
Michigan engineered an 11 play drive, using the rushing ability of fullback Ed Shuttlesworth
. The Wolverines kicked a field goal to get on the board, and make the score 10-3. Midway through the fourth quarter, Michigan's defense held, and the offense was able to start the tying drive with great field position. Dennis Franklin threw a 35 yard post-out pattern to tight end Paul Seal
to get inside the red zone. Three consecutive Michigan offensive plays failed to get them a first down, and they were now faced with a 4th and inches on the 10 yard line.
Ohio State loaded the box with 9 defensive players, and focused on stopping Shuttlesworth, who had burned them the entire game. Franklin faked the inside hand-off to Shuttlesworth, and then slipped through the tackles running 10 yards for a touchdown, to tie the score at 10-10. Michigan got the ball back with a minute to go in the game, for the game-winning drive, but had to start at their own 10 yard line. After a couple of completions, Michigan made it into OSU territory.
Franklin tried to throw the game-winning touchdown pass to Shuttlesworth, but was injured, breaking his collar bone. Two plays later, Michigan kicker Mike Lantry
attempted a 58 yard field goal, but it missed the left goal-post by two inches. Ohio State took over, but their back-up quarterback threw an interception that was returned to the OSU 33. Michigan moved the ball to the OSU 28, before settling for a field goal. For the second consecutive try, the field goal missed, and the game ended in a 10-10 tie.
Aftermath
Michigan's coaches and players felt that although the game was a tie, that they were the better team and deserved to go to the Rose Bowl. Even Ohio State coach Woody Hayes
admitted that his team wouldn't go to the Rose Bowl. There was lots of debate on who would play in the Rose Bowl. Michigan's strong second half, and Franklin's injury were factors in debating who would represent the conference in the "granddaddy of them all".
Ohio State had gone to the Rose Bowl the year before. The Big Ten at the time had a longstanding policy stating that only the conference champion would go to a bowl, the Rose Bowl. The Big Ten also had a "no-repeat" rule until 1971, and had it still been in effect, Michigan would have gone to the Rose Bowl automatically, even if it had lost to Ohio State. With the latter rule abolished, the decision as to who would represent the conference would be left up to a telephone vote by the Big Ten's athletic directors. According to Michigan coach Bo Schembechler
's 1989 autobiography, the Big Ten was nervous because the conference had lost the previous four Rose Bowls, and Franklin's injury may have been a deciding factor.
On the day after the game, following a conference call
, it was announced that Ohio State would play in the Rose Bowl instead of Michigan. Schembechler was furious at the call, referring to it as "an embarrassment to the Big Ten Conference" and claiming "petty jealousies" were involved. Schembechler went on to demand changes to the Big Ten's policies regarding post-season play. Schembechler was particularly bitter because his 1973 team did not lose a game and was not rewarded with a bowl assignment, and remained angry at the vote until his death in 2006. Schembechler also claimed the Franklin injury was just an excuse, since Ohio State's strength was a running game and not a passing attack.
It was rumored that Michigan State University
voted for Ohio State in retaliation for Michigan's "no" vote in 1949 against admitting Michigan State to the Big Ten. This charge was never substantiated. For months afterward, Ohio State newspapers would be flooded with letters from angry Wolverine fans, and threats of lawsuits.
It is unknown whether then Big Ten commissioner Wayne Duke
had influenced the vote in Ohio State's favor or not. Schembechler said he had spoken with Illinois
coach Bob Blackman
, who said his athletic director, Cecil Coleman, would vote in favor of Michigan. Yet following the vote, it was revealed that Coleman had voted for the Buckeyes. Even if the vote were tied at 5-all, Michigan would have been awarded the berth.
Wayne Duke vehemently denies that he influenced the vote in any way, saying the athletic directors followed the procedure in place and that he was merely the messenger. Ohio State ended up winning the Rose Bowl
over USC.
Among the changes that were made in the Big Ten Conference were the abolishment of the archaic "Rose Bowl or No Bowl" rule. This would allow conference teams other than the champion to accept invitations to other bowls. Michigan would be the first team to receive such an invite, to the Orange Bowl
following the 1975 season. Another change, which also took effect in 1975, was the dropping of the athletic directors' vote in the event of a tie for the championship. The new rule stated the team which had gone the longest without appearing in the Rose Bowl would go to Pasadena. Schembechler had pushed for that reform, claiming that the athletic directors were not qualified to decide which team would better represent the conference in the Rose Bowl.
The tie denied Ohio State the national championship. Alabama vaulted the Buckeyes into the top spot in both polls, and the Crimson Tide finished the regular season 11-0 to earn the number one ranking in the UPI
coaches poll, which did not conduct a post-bowl poll at that time. Notre Dame
ended up as AP
national champions by defeating Alabama
24-23 in the Sugar Bowl
, leaving the Buckeyes second in both wire-service surveys.
To this day, the aftermath of the 1973 Michigan-Ohio State contest remains one of the biggest controversies in college football history.
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
history. In this game, both teams were undefeated, with Ohio State ranked 1st, and Michigan ranked 4th. A conference championship, Rose Bowl appearance, and possible national championship was on the line in this monumental game, part of the hotly-contested stretch of the rivalry known as the Ten Year War. A then-NCAA record crowd of 105,233 watched the game at Michigan Stadium
Michigan Stadium
Michigan Stadium, nicknamed "The Big House," is the football stadium for the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Michigan Stadium was built in 1927 at a cost of $950,000 and had an original capacity of 72,000. Before playing football at the stadium, the Wolverines played on Ferry Field...
in Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Ann Arbor is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Washtenaw County. The 2010 census places the population at 113,934, making it the sixth largest city in Michigan. The Ann Arbor Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 344,791 as of 2010...
.
With heavy rain, the game was mostly fought on ground. The two teams combined for 90 yards passing in a defensive battle. Ohio State failed to make a single first-down in the first quarter, but took an early 3-0 lead in the second quarter, with a 31 yard field goal by Blair Conway. Gil Chapman
Gil Chapman
Gil Chapman is a former American football player, politician and businessman.Chapman became one of the leading scorers in the history of New Jersey high school football while playing for Thomas Jefferson High School from 1968 to 1970...
, Michigan's punt returner returned OSU's ensuing kick-off all the way to the OSU 27 yard line. A significant clipping penalty was called on Michigan which subsequently gave Michigan bad field position. With the way the game had gone, field position proved to be a huge advantage.
After a series of punts, Ohio State got the ball on their own 45 yard line. Back-to-back Heisman Trophy
Heisman Trophy
The Heisman Memorial Trophy Award , is awarded annually to the player deemed the most outstanding player in collegiate football. It was created in 1935 as the Downtown Athletic Club trophy and renamed in 1936 following the death of the Club's athletic director, John Heisman The Heisman Memorial...
winner Archie Griffin
Archie Griffin
Archie Mason Griffin is a former American football running back. Griffin played seven seasons in the NFL with the Cincinnati Bengals. He is college football's only two-time Heisman Trophy winner...
rushed for 41 yards on 5 carries, to get to 100 yards rushing, and OSU to the 5 yard line. Fullback Pete Johnson busted his way through the defense for a touchdown just before the half to extend OSU's lead to 10-0.
Michigan made defensive half-time adjustments in an attempt to crawl back into the game. The Wolverines outgained the Buckeyes 209-91 in total yardage in the 2nd half. Michigan took the 2nd half kick-off and marched all the way to the OSU 30 yard line. However, quarterback Dennis Franklin
Dennis Franklin
Dennis Franklin is a former professional American football player who was drafted by the Detroit Lions of the National Football League in the 1975 NFL Draft. Prior to playing for in the NFL he played quarterback of the University of Michigan Wolverines from 1971-1974. He served as the...
's pass was intercepted in the end zone ruining a great drive. Midway through the third quarter, OSU faced a 4th and 2 on the Michigan 34 yard line, and decided to go for it. Their failed fourth down conversion gave Michigan new life, and lots of momentum. It is still looked down on today, as a controversial coaching call.
Michigan engineered an 11 play drive, using the rushing ability of fullback Ed Shuttlesworth
Ed Shuttlesworth
Ed Shuttlesworth is a former American football fullback.He played for the University of Michigan from 1971 to 1973. He was the leading rusher for Michigan's 1972 and 1973 teams that compiled a combined record of 30–1–1...
. The Wolverines kicked a field goal to get on the board, and make the score 10-3. Midway through the fourth quarter, Michigan's defense held, and the offense was able to start the tying drive with great field position. Dennis Franklin threw a 35 yard post-out pattern to tight end Paul Seal
Paul Seal
Paul Nathan Seal is a former American football tight end in the National Football League. He was drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the second round of the 1974 NFL Draft. He played college football at Michigan....
to get inside the red zone. Three consecutive Michigan offensive plays failed to get them a first down, and they were now faced with a 4th and inches on the 10 yard line.
Ohio State loaded the box with 9 defensive players, and focused on stopping Shuttlesworth, who had burned them the entire game. Franklin faked the inside hand-off to Shuttlesworth, and then slipped through the tackles running 10 yards for a touchdown, to tie the score at 10-10. Michigan got the ball back with a minute to go in the game, for the game-winning drive, but had to start at their own 10 yard line. After a couple of completions, Michigan made it into OSU territory.
Franklin tried to throw the game-winning touchdown pass to Shuttlesworth, but was injured, breaking his collar bone. Two plays later, Michigan kicker Mike Lantry
Mike Lantry
Mike Lantry is a former All-American football player. He was a left-footed place-kicker who played for Bo Schembechler at the University of Michigan from 1972 through 1974. He was selected as a first-team All-American in 1973 and set Michigan records for the longest field goal, most field goals,...
attempted a 58 yard field goal, but it missed the left goal-post by two inches. Ohio State took over, but their back-up quarterback threw an interception that was returned to the OSU 33. Michigan moved the ball to the OSU 28, before settling for a field goal. For the second consecutive try, the field goal missed, and the game ended in a 10-10 tie.
Aftermath
Michigan's coaches and players felt that although the game was a tie, that they were the better team and deserved to go to the Rose Bowl. Even Ohio State coach Woody Hayes
Woody Hayes
Wayne Woodrow "Woody" Hayes was an American football player and coach. He served as the head coach at Denison University , Miami University , and Ohio State University , compiling a career college football record of 238–72–10.During his 28 seasons as the head coach of the Ohio...
admitted that his team wouldn't go to the Rose Bowl. There was lots of debate on who would play in the Rose Bowl. Michigan's strong second half, and Franklin's injury were factors in debating who would represent the conference in the "granddaddy of them all".
Ohio State had gone to the Rose Bowl the year before. The Big Ten at the time had a longstanding policy stating that only the conference champion would go to a bowl, the Rose Bowl. The Big Ten also had a "no-repeat" rule until 1971, and had it still been in effect, Michigan would have gone to the Rose Bowl automatically, even if it had lost to Ohio State. With the latter rule abolished, the decision as to who would represent the conference would be left up to a telephone vote by the Big Ten's athletic directors. According to Michigan coach Bo Schembechler
Bo Schembechler
Glenn Edward "Bo" Schembechler, Jr. was an American football player, coach, and athletics administrator. He served as the head football coach at Miami University from 1963 to 1968 and at the University of Michigan from 1969 to 1989, compiling a career record of 234–65–8...
's 1989 autobiography, the Big Ten was nervous because the conference had lost the previous four Rose Bowls, and Franklin's injury may have been a deciding factor.
On the day after the game, following a conference call
Conference call
A conference call is a telephone call in which the calling party wishes to have more than one called party listen in to the audio portion of the call. The conference calls may be designed to allow the called party to participate during the call, or the call may be set up so that the called party...
, it was announced that Ohio State would play in the Rose Bowl instead of Michigan. Schembechler was furious at the call, referring to it as "an embarrassment to the Big Ten Conference" and claiming "petty jealousies" were involved. Schembechler went on to demand changes to the Big Ten's policies regarding post-season play. Schembechler was particularly bitter because his 1973 team did not lose a game and was not rewarded with a bowl assignment, and remained angry at the vote until his death in 2006. Schembechler also claimed the Franklin injury was just an excuse, since Ohio State's strength was a running game and not a passing attack.
It was rumored that Michigan State University
Michigan State Spartans
The Michigan State Spartans are the athletic team that represent Michigan State University. The school's athletic program includes 25 varsity sports teams. Their mascot is a Spartan warrior named Sparty, and the school colors are green and white...
voted for Ohio State in retaliation for Michigan's "no" vote in 1949 against admitting Michigan State to the Big Ten. This charge was never substantiated. For months afterward, Ohio State newspapers would be flooded with letters from angry Wolverine fans, and threats of lawsuits.
It is unknown whether then Big Ten commissioner Wayne Duke
Wayne Duke
-Early life and education:A native of Burlington, Iowa, Wayne Duke graduated from the University of Iowa in 1950.-Career:Duke began his career in college athletics publicity at the University of Northern Iowa and the University of Colorado. He joined the National Collegiate Athletic Association in...
had influenced the vote in Ohio State's favor or not. Schembechler said he had spoken with Illinois
Illinois Fighting Illini
The Fighting Illini are the intercollegiate athletic teams of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The University offers 10 men's and 11 women's varsity sports....
coach Bob Blackman
Bob Blackman
Bob Blackman was an American football player and coach. He served as the head football coach at the University of Denver , Dartmouth College , the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign , and Cornell University , compiling a career college football record of...
, who said his athletic director, Cecil Coleman, would vote in favor of Michigan. Yet following the vote, it was revealed that Coleman had voted for the Buckeyes. Even if the vote were tied at 5-all, Michigan would have been awarded the berth.
Wayne Duke vehemently denies that he influenced the vote in any way, saying the athletic directors followed the procedure in place and that he was merely the messenger. Ohio State ended up winning the Rose Bowl
1974 Rose Bowl
The 1974 Rose Bowl was a college football bowl game played on January 1, 1974. It was the 60th Rose Bowl Game. The Ohio State Buckeyes defeated the USC Trojans 42–21.-Ohio State Buckeyes:...
over USC.
Among the changes that were made in the Big Ten Conference were the abolishment of the archaic "Rose Bowl or No Bowl" rule. This would allow conference teams other than the champion to accept invitations to other bowls. Michigan would be the first team to receive such an invite, to the Orange Bowl
1976 Orange Bowl
The 1976 Orange Bowl was a college football bowl game played on January 1, 1976. The Oklahoma Sooners, champions of the Big Eight Conference, defeated the Michigan Wolverines, second-place finishers in the Big Ten Conference, 14–6....
following the 1975 season. Another change, which also took effect in 1975, was the dropping of the athletic directors' vote in the event of a tie for the championship. The new rule stated the team which had gone the longest without appearing in the Rose Bowl would go to Pasadena. Schembechler had pushed for that reform, claiming that the athletic directors were not qualified to decide which team would better represent the conference in the Rose Bowl.
The tie denied Ohio State the national championship. Alabama vaulted the Buckeyes into the top spot in both polls, and the Crimson Tide finished the regular season 11-0 to earn the number one ranking in the UPI
United Press International
United Press International is a once-major international news agency, whose newswires, photo, news film and audio services provided news material to thousands of newspapers, magazines and radio and television stations for most of the twentieth century...
coaches poll, which did not conduct a post-bowl poll at that time. Notre Dame
University of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
ended up as AP
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
national champions by defeating Alabama
University of Alabama
The University of Alabama is a public coeducational university located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States....
24-23 in the Sugar Bowl
Sugar Bowl
The Sugar Bowl is an annual American college football bowl game played in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Sugar Bowl has been played annually since January 1, 1935, and celebrated its 75th anniversary on January 2, 2009...
, leaving the Buckeyes second in both wire-service surveys.
To this day, the aftermath of the 1973 Michigan-Ohio State contest remains one of the biggest controversies in college football history.