You probably know the tale: Willis Ward, Michigan’s lone black player on Harry Kipke’s ’34 squad, was benched as U-M succumbed to Georgia Tech’s refusal to play in a game with African American players. So it’s a fair question if the same issue came up in 1957 when another team from Georgia visited town. The Bulldogs fielded an all-white team, while Michigan had at least three black players on the roster including starting back Jim Pace.
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Pick Six! (Michigan-Georgia 1957)
Check out Michigan’s back Mike Shatusky with the pick-six against Georgia in 1957. Watch for the dead-leg juke he puts on the Georgia quarterback #17 during the return! (And after I posted this, check out what happened when Shatusky's grandson saw the clip online):
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Borrowed and Blue
While Alabama’s Bryce Young won the Heisman over Aidan Hutchinson last night, rest assured that Michigan won the battle over historical ownership of the line, “Those Who Stay Will Be Champions.” Today Michigan “owns” the Bo Schembechler-attributed line, but Bo probably borrowed it directly or indirectly from Alabama’s legendary head coach Bear Bryant. It's ok, trust me.
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Michigan in the Comics (1950, 1956)
Thanks to local collector Ken Magee, here are a few more instances where Michigan legends (Tom Harmon, Bump Elliott and Bob Chappuis) were featured in comic books back in the day. They were found in issues of Treasure Chest, a children’s publication that ran from 1946 to 1972.
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Tommy Harmon makes the Funny Papers (1941)
Check out of few frames from a comic book featuring Michigan’s Heisman winner Tom Harmon and a few of the preseason college stars heading into the 1941 season. A true beauty.
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Mr. Keith Jackson, Call me a “Hoss”
A nice little sequence, in two parts, from the Dr. Sap Archives. Sap takes you to the 1991 Ohio State game, as called by ABC’s Keith Jackson. Lineman Matt Elliott apparently wants Mr. Jackson to call him a hoss, and I mean, who wouldn’t? I love Jackson’s initial response!
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Harmon vs. Kinnick for The Heisman (1939) | This Week in Michigan Football History
This edition of This Week in Michigan Football History features the 1939 face off between two of the biggest names in college football history - Michigan's Tom "Old 98" Harmon and Iowa's Nile Kinnick. Harmon dominated this game but Kinnick took home the 1939 Heisman - (98 finished second).
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This One Went to 11 (WTKA radio 12/8/2021)
I joined Ira and Sam on 1050AM WTKA to talk about the Indy Big Ten Championship game experience, Sam's Stone Cold entrance to the Slippery Noodle, The Mood, the Orange Bowl, Aidan Hutchinson's Heisman hopes but that's not why I stopped by Victors Way. Here's the clip:
