Ahead of Michigan’s battle against the Washington Huskies on September 11, 2021, we first honor U-M legend Ron Kramer, who passed away on this day in 2010. We close with a focus on the 1976 season opener against the Wisconsin Badgers, where Bucky kept it close for a while until Bo Schembechler unleashed the hounds. [lead photo of Ron Kramer above courtesy of Peg Canham-Keeley].
This Week in Michigan Football History airs on the WTKA 1050AM ‘Countdown to Kickoff’ each week during the season.
Here’s the segment, audio produced by Ira Weintraub:
Full script:
This week we salute MEEECHIGAN legend and 9-time letterman Ron Kramer, who passed away on this day back in 2010.
Hours after his passing, Kramer’s beloved Wolverines beat Notre Dame in South Bend, thanks much in part to a long TD dash by Denard Robinson.
Shoelace covered exactly EIGHTY-SEVEN yards of that Irish gridiron, no doubt a wink to the fallen Kramer who famously donned the 87 jersey for the maize and blue.
It was also on this day in 1976 when we kicked off the season against Wisconsin. Expectations were high for preseason #2 Michigan with General Bo “George Patton” Schembechler returning to the sidelines after having open-heart surgery that spring.
The men in Blue came out fast, forcing a safety when the game was just 18 seconds old. Just over a minute later Harlan ‘Huckleberry Finn’ Huckleby took a pitch on his own 44 from fellow sophomore Ricky ‘The Peach’ Leach and took it to the house. Later in the first quarter Huckleby struck again on a short run, then Leach connected with receiver Jim Smith to put THE VICTORS up 23-0.
Given that no Schembechler team had yielded more than 21 points in the decade this game seemed to be OVER. But the Badgers, aided by four second-half Michigan fumbles, tallied 27 points to keep it close.
Bo hollered, and Bo snarled and the troops responded. Huckleby added a third score and Leach, who threw a mere 8 times all day, connected on his second TD to Smith. Linebacker Calvin O’Neal led the defense with EIGHTEEN tackles in the 40-27 victory.
Michigan assumed the NUMBER ONE spot in the polls the following week. The season concluded in Rosy fashion with a dominant, 22 to nothing shutout of the Buckeyes in Columbus to earn a trip to Pasadena.
The Wolverines finished #3 in the polls while four Wolverines earned All-American honors including Smith, O’Neal and senior captain Rob Lytle.
