“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.
-
-
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.
-
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 | The Season (Part II)
Continuing the interview with 1964 Michigan football captain Jim Conley. Conley breaks down the season - the triumph (and personal tragedy) of the MSU game to the conference-clinching shutout of Woody Hayes in Columbus.
-
1964 Michigan Football Captain Jim Conley on WTKA
This morning 1964 championship team captain Jim Conley joined John U. Bacon on WTKA as part of the Fantastic Friday lineup. Captain Conley covered a lot of ground – from leadership to his unique set of teammates, to coach Bump Elliott – and of course, shared a bunch of stories from that amazing season: Conley also noted that the ‘64 team will be honored during the Minnesota game this year – which is great news. Hopefully Bump (who is 89 and lives in Iowa) will be there.
-
Wire Photo Wednesday | Men Amongst Boys
This week WPW takes a look at three outstanding shots, each featuring a unique perspective of three Michigan greats – Cazzie Russell, Tom Harmon and Bill Yearby: Crisler is known as the house that Cazzie built, but here’s a look at Cazzie’s original digs: Yost Arena. Dang it looks pretty cool in there and I love the angle of that photo. Memo to #41: Nice socks, Milhous. Speaking of that venue, who’d like to see a hoops game at Yost? Get on board #1000SSS. And maybe they’d even bring back the Old Man?: Speaking of cool angles, I’m not sure I can recall a old shot quite like this, here you’ve got Old 98 Tom Harmon in 1938 trotting out of the tunnel handling a pigskin. Uniform snobs will note the block M socks. I also love the cheerleader’s sweater and the shiny pants (that guy has a little Barney Fife in him). Turning to the crowd, clearly if you didn’t wear a hat (children and ladies included) to the game back then you were a square, Daddy-O. A real flat tire. What I can’t make out is what’s on the guy’s sweatshirt behind Harmon? Best guess – it either reads “Maroons” (played in the Big House 10/8/38) or “Spartans” (the season opener 10/1/38). Hmm, who do you…
-
The Sting & the 1965 Rose Bowl Ring
Naturally, the question emerges from fans when they see stuff belonging to former U-M players up on eBay: How could (or how dare?) a Wolverine player do that? As I’ve stated on these pages, again and again, we usually don’t know the circumstances of how or why something ends up for sale so I’d rather not speculate on the reason. And we know, of course, that property of former athletes has value and thus is sought after—sometimes by deviants. Take the case of former footballer Jerry Mader. He earned 3 letters in football and played on Bump Elliott’s 1964 Big Ten & 1965 Rose Bowl championship squad. When his ‘64 Rose Bowl ring showed up on eBay recently he sent this note to his teammates explaining what happened..along with the rosy conclusion. Thanks to Mader for sharing a copy: For those of you who are concerned about my Rose Bowl being put up for sale on EBay, please understand that I’m not destitute and in need of extra cash. Of course, a little extra cash will always help but I wouldn’t mortgage my past efforts and experience as a member of the 1965 Rose Bowl Team! I especially appreciate the close relationships I have with many of you. As background, my ring was stolen from the Med- Sport locker room…
