• 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.

  • Beaver Beatdown – Sights & Sounds (Michigan 35, Oregon State 7 – 2015)

    “I GUESS I HIT THAT HOLE YOU NERDS!” (via Michigan Daily) Following another Smith score to put U-M up 26-7, Harbaugh personally called for the 2 point conversion.  He gave some kind of signal to the celebrating players – it looked like a bear claw from the press box.  He sat hunched over outside the team area basically begging for Rudock and a few other guys to get the message and line up—flashing the bear claw gesture as hard as he could. Rudock and crew eventually got the message, lined up, and successfully executed the 2 point conversion to put U-M up 28-7.  On the trot back to the sideline Rudock tried to slide back to the bench with the rest of the unit but Harbaugh put his hand in Rudock’s chest—stopping him in his tracks.  There was a quick chat between QB and coach, I assume something along the lines of maintaining composure even after a TD and paying attention.  After the chat, #4 delivered a pair of hearty butt slaps and Rudock went back to the bench. Here’s the deal – Harbaugh is in absolute control (most of the time) of the sideline and what the players are doing on the field.  The only other way he’d have it is if the rules allowed him to play a…

  • 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,…

  • 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…