Nineteen seventy-nine was a special year in Michigan football history, as that season marked the 100th season that your beloved Wolverines played this great game. To do it up right, the athletic department (#1000SSS) enlisted Bo’s better half, Millie Schembechler, to collect artifacts from over the first century to display for fans at Crisler Arena during the season.
The Homecoming game of 1979 added to the collection of great Meechigan artifacts – in the win column, in video, and thanks to the great Bob Ufer – forever in sound.
Indiana coached Lee Corso, came to town and was on the brink of walking out of the Big House with a 21-21 tie – a huge result for the Hoosiers of course.
Things looked grim but Johnny Wangler, Anthony Carter, and Bob Ufer wouldn’t have it. On the final play — oh, you know what happened — but we couldn’t help but to feature old ‘Ufe on this week’s edition of #TWIMFbH:
Listen:
Go Blue! Beat the Badgers.
You can listen to this on-air as part of the WTKA 1050AM ‘Keybank Countdown To Kickoff’ aired live from the Go Labatt Blue Victors lounge at the corner of Stadium and Main Saturday starting at 3:30pm.
Script:
On this day in MEEECHIGAN football history in 1979 people were feeling nostalgic about Michigan football. The Ten Year War was over – we won – after Bo’s mentor Wayne Woodrow Dr Strangehayes was FIRED from Ohio State after punching a Clemson player in the 1978 Gator Bowl.
And while Bo was entering his second decade, 1979 marked the 100 year anniversary of the football program. The cornerstone of the centennial celebration was a memorabilia exhibit covering every decade of football. To ensure it was done right Bo’s “much” better half Millie Schembechler was asked to run the show.
As chairman of the Display Committee, she scoured the university and wrote to fans, alumni, and former players to collect unique Michigan football artifacts from over the years.
Over 500 players who lettered prior to 1950 were contacted for help, and Millie visited the Pro Football Hall of Fame for guidance. In the end, the exhibition included 18 display cases and 160 slides covering the first century.
The collection was open to the public before and after each home game of the 1979 season. Today much of what you see in the Towsley Museum in Schembechler Hall was a result of Mille’s Schembechler’s efforts leading up to the centennial celebration..
Bo was still trying to make history ON this field, and on this day his #11 wolverines faced Minnesota in the Big House. Thanks to nearly FIVE HUNDRED yards on the ground paced by 198 by Butch Woolfolk, 179 by Lawrence Reid and another 49 by Braylon’s dad – the Little Brown Jug was retained in a 31-21 victory.
Two weeks later set up a Homecoming battle against Indiana coach Lee Corso and his Hoosiers. With the ball in Michigan’s hands with the game tied, U-M set up near midfield for one final play and from coast to coast it sounded like this…
It’s 39 years after that moment Ufe, and yes, we’re still talking about it.
