• Party Time In Front, Business in Back (1965 Rose Bowl Trip)

    On the brink of one of the biggest games in a generation, here's a look back at the trip out to California for the 1965 Rose Bowl. The trip to the was conducted in two distinct phases – party time and business time.   The first portion started off with the usual tours, some time to hang out, and a bit of partying. OK, maybe a lot of partying. Here's the story - you'll enjoy it.

  • Stuffing Stagg on Thanksgiving (1903) | This Week in Michigan Football History

    This Week In Michigan Football History, as played during the WTKA 1050AM 'Countdown to Kickoff' held November 21, 2020 before the Michigan-Rutgers game. We start with the conclusion of the glorious 1964 Michigan Wolverines season and their 10-0 triumph over Ohio State, as well as their dominant conclusion over Oregon State in the Rose Bowl. We then roll back to 1903 with a brief review of the beating of Oberlin College that set up the Thanksgiving Day battering of Amos Alonzo Stagg and the Chicago Maroons, 28-0 at Marshall Field.

  • Captain Conley and the 1964 Wolverines | Starting From Nothing (Part I)

    “You’ve got to remember, we were a bunch of losers.” That’s how 1964 Michigan team captain Jim Conley labeled his team before summer training camp.  But somehow this group of losers, who won just 5 games in 1962 and 1963 combined, captured Michigan’s first Big Ten title since 1950 then pummeled Oregon State 34-7 in the Rose Bowl.   Bump Elliott’s team transformed into a powerhouse that put away four top-10 squads, including powerful rivals Michigan State and Ohio State on the road.  They crushed teams led by a returning Heisman-winning quarterback in Roger Staubach (Navy), and a squad (Illinois) that featured Dick Butkus, arguably the greatest linebacker in football history.

  • Bennie O. to Bump, and the Unforgettable 1964 | This Week in Michigan Football History

    This week we start with 1958, Bennie Oosterbaan’s final season at the helm in Ann Arbor and roll up to the coach and the team being honored Saturday in Michigan Stadium: Bump Elliott and the 1964 Big Ten & Rose Bowl Champions: [display_podcast] You can catch all of the This Week in Michigan Football History clips here…And don’t forget to catch it live Saturday on the KeyBank Countdown to kick-off on WTKA 1050AM or inside the Bud Light Victors Lounge starting at 11:30am.   Follow MVictors on Twitter  Related: Captain Conley & the 1964 Wolverines | Starting From Nothing (Part I) Captain Conley & the 1964 Wolverines | The Season (Part II) Captain Conley & the 1964 Wolverines | Business Time (Part III) Bump Elliott Interview

  • Captain Conley and the 1964 Wolverines | Business Time (Part III)

    Part I: Starting from NothingPart II:  The Season Business TimeThe trip to the 1965 Rose Bowl was conducted in two distinct phases – party time and business time.   The first portion started off with the usual tours, some time to hang out, and a bit of partying. OK, maybe a lot of partying. “Chrysler gave us a car for every 4 guys,” junior fullback Barry Dehlin recalled.  “For the first week, you had a bunch of 20-year-old guys out there and we were partying.” As young men tend to do, they took advantage of their celebrity status with the California coeds.  “We went to Disneyland. The next thing you know we’re in our hotel room and there are eight or ten of the Disneyland tour guides,” Conley recalled.  “We also went to the Whisky a Go Go.  The girls are dancing and all that, and let’s just say we had some guys that were good at what they do, do you know what I mean?” “I’ll never forget, we’re walking back into the hotel at night.  [Senior end] Bill Laskey is with me along with a couple of other guys.  We’ve got these girls with us with those frilly skirts shaking around.  As we’re walking down the hall [assistant coach] Jocko Nelson walks by, looks at me, and just says,…