1978 Michigan vs Ohio State with Bob Ufer

hi I'm Rick leach quarterback for the University of Michigan Wolverines our team is really looking forward to this year's battle with Ohio State since it's coming down to the championship for the Big Ten just as it has for the four years I've been here and for me personally I'm really looking forward to this game since it's my last game and I hope to make it my best my sister freshman quarterback for Ohio State I've grown up in a high all my life and it's going to be a great honor for me to be able to play in the Ohio State Michigan rivalry the two quarterbacks in this diamond anniversary game 21 year old rick leach a police gym iseman Trophy candidate an 18 year old talented freshman archly ster a diamond in the rough George Patton Schembechler and his troops have arrived hello everybody five you four here in the chili snake pit at Columbus Ohio all ready to bring you the 75th annual clash between Michigan 8th and for the 11th straight year the winner of the sassanids ball game will represent the big 10 in the Rose Bowl on January 1st of 1979 and once again the winner of this afternoon's game will be the Big Ten champions for 1978 I don't think the stakes could be any higher than they are right now as two of the oldest and bitterest rivals in Big Ten football history have sounded the alarms they've cleared the decks and are anxiously awaiting kick-off along with you and me you know how the color charisma attention booing you can hear it in the background and anxiety that surrounds big-time college football it's ready to first here in Ohio State right now do you realize that the three largest crowds in the history a regular season college football have watched these two old rivals battle in their last three confrontations up there in little old Ann Arbor during the 73 75 and 77 seasons and today it's another packed house of over 88,000 howling Wolverine Buckeye fans you can hear them in the background as they greet the Michigan fan and it's the 63rd straight sellout and they're here today along with you and me to see whether dr. strange Hazen is garland allegiance of Ohio State can upset oats general beau George Patton Schembechler on his mad dash to Pasadena California for the third straight year it's already into the history book then right after that Black Saturday involving the upset at the hands of Michigan State six weeks ago that the Wolverines had to fill six prays to get the passes either this fall and you all know that the first five were all neatly tucked away with a combined score of Michigan 201 points to Wisconsin's Minnesota's Iowa's northwestern and produced running up only 30 little points in losing classes over the past five Saturday afternoon Michigan today is nine and one and a season the Wolverines are 6 and 1 in the big 10 and they ranked 6th across the country while down below is here on the western side line will be the scarlet and gray legions of Ohio State who right now are also six and one in Big Ten play along with Michigan and Michigan State but on this season the Buckeyes are seven wins two losses in one tie which probably accounts for the fact that Michigan is a six point favorite by the so-called impartial bookies around the country well that gives you football fans across the state of Michigan the statistical background but this big big ball game here in Columbus this afternoon but how many times have you heard us say football is the game of emotions and believe me today's game is a prime example of just that listen to that Michigan band in the background with a big block here and the greatest college fight song ever written you can hear in the background the Michigan Victor's you know when you talk about Michigan beating Ohio State and it looks like they should they're a better team on paper but this Buckeye Wolverine clashes never played on paper and you can bet your sweet patootie that the wily old dr. strange Hayes has a few tricks in store for his old pupil general foe George Patton's Schembechler for example always beaten 24 times woody has beaten beau four times to go along with that infamous tie came back in 73 that resulted in one of the most horrendous votes in a history of Big Ten football but come on you've let's not get carried away with that win again getting back to Bo and woody Bo Schembechler has won 68 Big Ten play in his 10 years at Michigan against only eight losses 20 over this same 10-year period has won 67 big 10 games against only nine defeats not couldn't be much closer could it in fact you know something football fans this big foe little woody football confrontation has captured the imagination the entire sporting world across this country of ours so that right now it has become as much american as apple pie mother loving the Statue of Liberty furthermore if you live up there in God's country in the state of Michigan or in the state here of Ohio and you lose this afternoon you're in the state of shock for 12 long months I don't know about you but I can hardly wait for kickoff hot diggety hitting this great isn't this what college football's all about two great coaches two great teams two great universities all getting together on a Saturday afternoon in the fall to agitate a pigskin up and down a field for 60 minutes now that sounds kind of silly doesn't it but when you realize that football is a religion at Michigan and here at Ohio State and today's Saturday is the holy day of obligation right now as we look around this year the weather and Columbus is perfect for football not too cold about 42 degrees there is a bit of a wind coming in from the southwest about 10 to 12 miles per hour the sky is overcast it's perfect for football the fields dry it's an excellent shape and you know summing it all up it couldn't be much better weather-wise for football in late November at the moment down on the mods sod or the Buckeye turf as it's fall it's a Michigan ban going through their big pregame pageantry you know football fans when you talk about the Battle of the Bands when Michigan and Ohio State get together it's just about as scintillating as the game itself and that about sets the complete stage for this 1978 floodlighting between Michigan and Ohio State for the Big Ten championship and the Rose Bowl bit right now it's time to get down to that Michigan locker room an old general bow and self who is probably chat sky high right now but I'm sure he will accept a PHY the love before this story all this will be coming up after these opening messages over this the Michigan champ she found in every sense of the word football Network interesting interesting to see how evenly matched these two teams are both of them are moving the football at over 400 yards again they also are averaging over 30 points again and when you look at the individual positions of tailback fullback and flanker back it's really interesting how evenly matched they are let's take a look at the fullback production Russell Davis a great football player from Michigan is rushed for 607 yards Paul Campbell from Ohio State 562 yards and then we go to the flanker back position and it's incredible when you see these statistics there you'll see the ralph clayton the wing back for the Michigan Wolverines has cut 21 passes for 400 to 78 yards dug badly 21 passes for over 450 yards as well but there is one in spite of all did you see that appears to be an even matchup offensively I believe that there is one area that Michigan has a distinct advantage and that's at the quarterback spot rick leach for your senior a great football player his stats along with archly stirrers are very identical in regard to the rushing yardage the passing percentages and the passing yardage but when you look at the touchdown passes 14 touchdown passes for rick Leach and only floor for archly spirit then you look at the other intersection ratio and you find the Rick leech in 10 ball games is only thrown for while archly ster has thrown 19 so the advantage is definitely without question Michigan's at that quarterback spot however I might mention that Archie Eastern has only thrown 7 interceptions in the last six games history is the big story in Ohio State football this year the freshman quarterback started the first game against Penn State he's been rather sheltered from the press and the media but after the final practice yesterday we had an opportunity to talk to this exceptional young man art when you approach this Michigan game is there any different feeling than you have and the other games in the season well no really I'm I'm not really nervous now that I've been through 10 and they've been 10 tough games and the Penn State one was the toughest game and I paid for it and I'm looking forward to playing against Michigan and rick Leach because I know he's a great quarterback and it's gonna be an honor and I just going out there and strive to do my best as this first season for you offered any surprises I guess when I first went into season I was looking forward to the plan for Ohio State and I thought I had a good chance to start but then when I started I was hoping for to lead the team and lead him to be undefeated you know when we came into Michigan but it didn't turn out that way but we've had a lot of pluses and yeah we've had a lot of things go wrong but we're just hoping we can put it all together against Michigan and everything hopefully a work out for the best best of luck thank you you told your team this year well you don't have to tell them too much the Ohio State game is such a great traditional and classic and of course it's meant so much the last 10 years the Rose Bowl and the championship hanging the balance like as I look back I think it was only in 1971 that the trip to the Rose Bowl wasn't the one of the incentives how would you appraise this Ohio State team forgetting that they're 7 2 & 1 but very objective how do you look at it I think this is a great football team might I say that because since midseason they've played great ball offensively their defenses improved an awful lot they were thrown on early but basically as I looked at film those are all fantastic catches by teams that were throwing the ball early in the year and they have great special teams they return the punt well they rush the punt they've got a great kicker they've got a great kickoff return man I think it's a tremendous team well coach how would you appraise this Michigan team that you're gonna play tomorrow and why think it's one of the best teams they've ever had they've come a long way on defense during the season and of course they have three very experienced backs in their backfield with their quarterback their fullback in their tailback for all three seniors that have played now for four years so it's an experienced ballclub those were almost the words as a matter of fact that Bo Schembechler talked about the Ohio State team saying it's one of the most improved teams he's seen he thinks it's the best team that he will have faced now he's seven not what he said that this will be the best team that Michigan has faced this year well I hope that's right I think it will be tomorrow afternoon we have not been that good this year we've been hurt badly with injuries and we have not been that good but we have managed to keep going and get a little better all the time and we're hoping that all of our efforts will come to a great fruition of our afternoon let's go out to the flip of the coin at the side of the field local courts is our referee today the co-captains are there let's listen in now my crew Ted - Stefano Eddie Maris it's done Mason Larry numbers in rich Lyle er all right guys standard coin you will call it in the air if I drop it will start again call it he called tails he got it you've won it was alright they're gonna receive what mu depends careful my coin on my court classes one here well-received all right guys let's have a good one fantastic rivalry big bow and little woody have each won four they tied once five years ago that 10 to 10 tie in Ann Arbor now they're breaking back there it goes number 21 Tony Jackson and Rob Clayton as we told you a moment ago and kicking for Ohio State will be number one and that means Ohio State will have kicking off for them here Bob atha the Worthington OHIO freshman that's only a freshman out there kicking off he's six 166 pounds Ohio State has made up 88% of Ohio Board youngsters and the referee is dropping his arm he will in just a second and there it is Ohio State's Bob atha apha approaches the big stuff the 78 Michigan Ohio game is into the record clip with a kickoff going to the one-yard line Tony Jackett to the 10 the 15 he said it to 20 in craft of the 21 yard line Cody Jackson dropped over there by Jim Rocklin number five and so check into Michigan office Ricky the peach leach that got some glue of the maize and blue at quarterback it will be wolf or cattail back which wolf off we'll start at tailback a last-minute switch since we left the locker room both thought that hunt might start Huckabee but he has decided against it and it is wolf our cat tail back Russell Davis to pull back two wideouts that'll be bestir wide out to the right plating at the slot Ricky Lee 200 Center first and ten on the Michigan 21 yard line it's Woolfolk deep and Davis closer Davis says the ball up over the 25 26 a that pile-driving fullback is brought down by the number one linebacker in Ohio State history Kusano number 36 makes his 207 tackle of this season a tremendous record a hundred and sixteen solos 90 assists he's had nine sacks he is the number one defensive man he just made his first tackle of the ball game it'll be second down and about six the ball rest 18 yards in from the far eastern sideline no score from Columbus Ohio Michigan took the kickoff brought it back to the 21 will fall deep and Davis close Clayton and Feaster wide to the right there's one sit at the 27 and dropped in there picking up on the play about three yards from the 525 to the 28 yard line Ohio State's front five dance floor Cato Sullivan at the middle guard Henson along with Paul Ross The Wolverine offensive line averages 238 pounds oh man the Buckeye front five average 236 Michigan has the two-pound advantage up read and listen to the voice of Ohio State football in the background the first third down situation for Rickey leach who has been tremendous in there on third downs over the past three Saturday Larry reads in at fullback Wolfe all read along with Clayton and it is read right behind Ricky leach is third down and about for Ricky leach on the long count hands it off to Larry Reed and Renault Ricky keeps it and he's familes up to the 31-yard line did he make the first time remember the kickoff was right back to the 21 and did Ricky leach pick up a first down we'll have a measurement over there in that Eastern sideline the ball is two yards away from that chain gang and they're going to have a measurement here as they're putting the ball down the referee will walk over to the 25-yard line and they'll move that chain out and if you hear a dead silence that means Michigan has picked up a first down there it is and it is first down Basin float and the Wolverines drop first flight in the statistical picture of the 1978 flat living from Ohio it is michigan's ricky the peach leech taken that ball moving out on the option faking to read keeping it himself faking to wolf off and he moved around the left side getting a block there from Keesler along with gene Johnson so two wide outs Clayton wide to the right at the slot along with bestir it's Russell Davis back in close from the I formation will fall deep wolf fall calves it follows Davis he's over the 35 he's down to the 40 to 41 to 42 to 44 the 45 yard line that young freshman who coming into the ballgame and carried the fake skin for Michigan in that 10 ball games although Michigan has played ten in the last five games 62 times for 330 yards that's a five and a half yards per carry average and he scored two touchdowns he being butch wolf off my name is Bush don't call me Harold wolf are Castillo four that's my name and right now I'm lined up as a tandem of the I first intensive amazing blue on their own 44 yard line will fall deep and Davis close and there is Davis he sit right there at the line of scrimmage in a nearby Mark Sullivan making his second tackle the afternoon the 87 of the 1978 season Ohio State for the defense picture will use just about the same as Michigan the over shifted five-man front then of course the two linebackers are two pointer backs and then the two safeties so it's almost a five for two they will put their Buckeye the strong safety to the wide side of the field you can see them out there now Todd bell number 25 and then of course the free safety and killings and looking that all over is Ricky peach on the perfect eye it's wolf are Pete Davis close clayton wide to the right gene Johnson in motion Michigan pitches the ball eyes and there's wolf are following Johnson over the 45 not got a bouncing Bo Schembechler slap right there at the 47 yard line we pause 15 seconds for station identification over this the Michigan Ohio State football Network hi everybody this is Bob Hines and I hope you'll join me for the great and colorful fall weekend Saturdays and Sundays right here on WJ our Detroit America's great radio station Bob Uecker here at Columbus Ohio we have played exactly three minutes and there's no score Michigan took the opening kickoff back to the Wolverines 21 they have it now third and eight on their own 46 it's wolf off deep and Davis close and Ricky leach under Center probably the first class pass play of the game he's looking for a receiver he gets away from one he gets away from cool and he gets back to the blindest beautiful defense of work in there by dancer number 32 Kelvin dance for coming in and almost making his fifth back of 1978 but Ricky leach eluded to would-be tacklers as the Ohio State defense is high emotionally Ohio State has got the little advantage having the home crowd and they're the underdogs Frank Wilner is standing back on his own 30 yard line he's hunted 39 times an average 41 yards a kick it's a single safety back in the person of guess number 12 for Ohio State there is the kick a long high spiral guesses front back 31 there's an Ohio State foul at the 25 yard line first and ten for the scarlet and gray so for those of you who may have just tuned in Michigan went across to the coin the Wolverines elected to receive Tony Jackson brought it back from the Wolverine one-yard line to the Maslin blue 21 Michigan pick up one first down then picked up a second first down and then they were forced to punt from their own 20 45 yard line the punter Greg will nurse standing on a Wolverine 30 a 28 yard kick with no return as it was downed on the 27 yard line it'll be spring steepened cama close least through the freshman under center fleece DeRose hot and he gets away from one man two men hit at the 29 and dropped at the 30 yard line Art's least er number 10 who had carried the ball coming into the ballgame 118 times for a total of four hundred and eighty-eight yards that's a four yard for Kerry average he's run for 11 touchdowns he's passed for four touchdowns he's but intercepted 19 times out of 146 passes thrown he's completed 67 for a thousand and two yards so it'll be Donnelly right and there's a head up to the full-back and he gets up to the 34 yard line is Paul Campbell number 38 from the I formation it was camel close camel averaging about four and a half yards per carry in their first 10 games he's the leading ball carrier he had carried the ball number 38 for Ohio State 130 times in their first 10 game up over the ball comes Tim Vogler they quarterback archly sir looks at a five-to-four defensive alignment he has one man back is volley and there is the handoff to volley and volley of Tiffany hits the way and he gets the first time for their Ohio State 41 yard line Bendita makes the tackle the growth toward Ohio sophomore making his first tackle the afternoon the 15th of his young career here as a sophomore at the University of Michigan so Michigan's front five now averages 226 pounds of man offensively the Buckeyes right now with two tight ends averaged 238 pounds and going in motion is Dunley their two setbacks leaders back for fast Cox's arm he's getting time to pass now he throws time it's fine at the 44 yard line rot in the ground there by Ryan Springs making his tenth reception of 1978 his first of the afternoon coming into the game Ron Springs had caught 9 for I 93 yards Springs this run well from the tailback spot a year ago in 77 he gained over a thousand yards this year his own he picked up 480 yards he's been injured on and off all year he's at the tailback he has it now and he's up over the 45 to the 48 yard line Ryan spring speaking up for more yards he caught a pass to pick up four yards that he ran with the ball four yards and he's brought down by Cannavino Andy Cannavino number 41 making his second tackle of the afternoon the 49 of his 1978 sophomore career at Michigan Michigan's front five right now averaging to 26 Ohio's offensive front seven to 34 bårdek number 82 is in that tight end there are two running backs in motion comes Donnelly at cross formation there's a handoff to the fullback or straight 50 get to the first town to the Michigan 48 yard line Ricardo Valley carried the ball number 22 and volley is that fine Junior who has just come into his own in the latter part of 1978 he carried the ball about four times in the first five games since then he's carried in 62 time picking up 377 yards and averaged six yards per carry right now it's first and ten for Ohio State they have two first downs Michigan has two first downs the Buckeyes in the i-formation Springs deep volley closer comes Donnelly in motion across formation sleepster goes out hands to the full-back in there and he's dropped at the 46 yard line Ricardo Valley number 22 taking the ball for the second play in a row picking up about two and a half yards on the play it brings up second down and 10 no score from Columbus Ohio eight minutes and 29 seconds remaining in the first period both teams sort of feeling each other out Ohio's thrown one pass it was complete from sleepster to Springs Michigan Ricky leach tried to pass an almost ate the ball for a loss managed to scramble back to the line of scrimmage second and eight at the Wolverine 46 yard line Donnelly in motion there is the full-back pitches off to spring down the right sideline he's driven out of eyes with a Michigan 36 by Mike pardon Martin going in for his second tackle of the ball game is 48 tackle of the season and Ohio State right now the dobbers of the loose skylit and grayer up michigan's defensive front 5 meter career turn evac'd Heights Anita bogging things over along with Ron Simpkins the defensive captain at least he's the captain in that he calls the defensive play up over the ball comes Timmy Vogler it rests 18 yards in from the far eastern sideline one white out here ride to the left Gerald check it's godly there is a handoff this time to Springs and he's through the right side to the 36 yard line picking up about two yards on the play Jerry meter knows again from his outside line backing position making his third tackle of the ball game and his 81st tackle of 1978 as the senior defensive end outside linebacker call him what you will he's in there now number 46 along with the other front five looking that all over is fleeced er arts least three as its second and eight on the Michigan 37 yard line two running backs back they're rolling out for a pass and he's go away from one would-be tackler he writes for the bodies down to 35 the 30 the 20 yard line art sleepster running in great shape from the option alluding to would-be tacklers and finally Ryan Simpkins brings them down at the 28 yard line and Ohio State is just inches away from their for it first down of the ballgame for those of you may have just tuned in Michigan picked up two first downs after the opening kickoff on the ground they punted to Ohio State the Buckeyes have moved from their own 28 yard line down to the Michigan 29 yard line where it is third down and what the old full house key to tight ends and a balanced line and it looks to be Springs camel along with volley and there is the I've been there for a first down by Ohio State and the man who carried the ball that time was camel number 38 picked up Ohio State for it first down and listened to the partisan crowd go wild Michigan trying to shore up the defense a little bit here roaring in from the sideline over there number 62 for Michigan Weber coming in and Bell going out at the strong safety Feaster looks that over puts Donnelly in motion has the i-formation Springs deep cama close fakes to camel keep the drop right there at the 23 yard line sleepster on the option play faked at the camel camel went through and took to over een would-be tacklers with him and then Slee star kept the ball and wiggled and turned for about a 2 yard game it will bring up a second down and 7 the ball resting 19 yards infamous the western sideline no score from Columbus Ohio we have 6 minutes and 7 seconds remaining in the first period Ohio State has moved from their own 28 to the Michigan 23 yard line it's one man back of Easter and that man is Springs there goes Donnelly in motion across formation there is a roll out by Sleater looking for a pass receiver and he's going to eat it no siree and lose one man he goes out of bounds loses two yards on the play and driving him out of bounds over there was 77 turgor back turgor back drove my turbines along with Needham so Ohio on that play with a quarterback rolling out trying to elude a would-be tackler couldn't find a man open kept the ball Sleater was driven out of bounds for a five-yard loss so it'll be third down and 12 third and 12 in the wings for Ohio State is their fine place kicker at the i-formation Springs deep volley closely star under center and quarterbacks leaser drops back fakes another drop play any screw back for a first down to the 20-yard line is Ricardo Valley who Woody Hayes told us last night at John Brett Gabrus tremendous press party boy that was really elaborate out there at Galbraith Farms about 15 miles outside of Columbus woody was a guest speaker and he told us this little lad Ricardo Valley number 22 a junior from down in Virginia has come into his own as a full bar as a football player for Ohio State okay attempting the field goal will be Bob atha he has made four out of six holding his casting NOLA from Trenton Michigan its end over end and it is it is no good and Michigan takes over just about where they started the ball game eleven minutes ago when they took the opening kickoff with Tony Jackson bringing it out to the 21 yard line in between the opening kickoff and the missed field goal by Ohio State Michigan picked up two first time so hyoe state four and first and 10 from the 20 the big I didn't take as much time as you for thought I would we're sorry we missed the play was a handoff to Wolfe walk up to the Michigan 27 yard line that would be second down and three Washington made the tackle will fall deep and Davis close i-formation faked the Davis gives the wolf off he is nothing but silent prey at the line of scrimmage in the person of Luther Henson Sullivan and rots all in there making a prio tackle as Ohio State is tough up front against the run most teams have been able to penetrate Ohio State through the air lanes because the ohio state secondary have a lot of inexperienced sophomores and juniors back there so it'll be another third down for a Ricky leach he has converted one out of two and this will be his third attempt rosey Smith is in a tailback now it'll be Smith deep and Davis close to the i-formation wide to the right is Feaster wide to the left is Clayton and Ricky leach looks over a five-to-four defense and then on the drop play he gives off to the fullback gets to the 30-yard line and he's inches short it was Russell Davis on the draw play with third down Michigan failed to pick up a first down and rifle Davis just stopped about a yard shy and listen to the partisan crowd go wild here as their favorite sons from Ohio State you'd have to say have dominated this first quarter but last year remember Ohio State dominated the whole first quarter Michigan had five plays in game four yards but that's in the history book right now Gregg will nurse standing back on his own 16 yard line his one plant was good for 28 yards he's averaged 41 in the season there it is almost clock end over end taken by guests at the 40s breaks away from one man to man drops at the 50 yard line a beautiful punt return there by guess who is average coming into the ballgame for Ohio State on punt returns 10 yards in that pan meanwhile his counterpart archly sure is under center a quarterback he gets off the ball and he found in to make a good 29 live Ricardo volley freaked through the entire Michigan fred forward walk he breaks fighters from safety and mike pardon these safety man the last man the free safety made the tackle and ohio state is checked right now and psychologically their stoppers are high michigan meanwhile and bettered again defensively as the Wolverines looking at ohio state with two tight ends in a balanced line is the i-formation springs deep and volley closest least or under center puts Donnelly in motion sleeper goes I keep the pitches off to the tailback who makes the tackle for 30 the 25 brings out of bounds at the 19 yard line rhyme spring broke a tackle back at the 29 and Curt freer finally made the tackle down at the 18 yard line Michigan is not shoulder tackling lendo they're not driving true with their bodies on their tackles I don't think God can hear me here the crowd is roaring so much that I'm sure he'll agree that Michigan is not tackling with their body they certainly weren't there Bob and actually Ohio is just running a basic option offense and police there's been a good job going to a tailback Springs and Daley is fullback they've got a good guy back to you Bob Glee star under center first and ten at the Michigan 18 yard line Donnelly in motion sleeper keeps it he's hit at the 15 down to the 14 13 yard line my sleeper picking them up and laying them down in and out of the hands it would be tacklers tur go back and Simpkins making the tackle at the Michigan 13 yard line and right now these scarlet and great divers are sky high and the Wolverines are as gray as the sky here in Columbus at the moment Michigan's Ron Simpkins trying to talk things up defensively up over the ball for the Buckeyes comes Tim Vogler the line follows it's the i-formation Springs deep and poly close it'll be fleeced or under Center at quarterback it's second down in five there goes John Lee in motion to Christ formation Sleater keeps the ball and he slips right there at the 13 yard line that was second down and five it'll be third down in five remember we said at the outset at the top of the broadcast but we thought the field was dry and it is relatively speaking but this is November and any time at ardent surface because any kind of moisture on it it's slippery and I would suggest or I would hazard a guess that outside of the hash lines toward the out of bounds lines it's a bit slippery on both sides pleased or asked the crowd to settle down third and five to tight ends pitches off to spray East slips again at the 12 yard line and again we add that it is top and that can only remind us of 1974 and 1972 remember up at that end Don in the second quarter late in the second quarter Chuck heater went around in from the two yard line and slipped on that same spot just remember that well thought but you know I found out when I call down this week about covering the field they don't cover the field and also they water it to help prevent injury pop okay a thought the same lad to attempted one bob atha and kneeling Casta mega Costin a Lajos atha kicks and it is Ohio State free they move 50 yards and six plays with atha connecting on his fifth field goal of 1978 five out of eight and that is one he will never forget over this the very maize and blue Michigan football Network beautiful Titan surface Ohio State moved 50 yards in six plays and Bob atha connected on a 29 yard field goal the Buckeyes lead three to zip right now Michigan State is entertaining Iowa and of Michigan State wins they will tie for the Big Ten championship with the winner here this afternoon Minnesota is that Wisconsin Indiana Purdue Illinois and northwestern played to start the season so they are not scheduled today atha kicks off it doesn't go deep in fact it looks like it'll probably go out of bounds and it does so they will come back up field and kick all over again from the Buckeye 35 yard line and then the infamous snowball game nine to three in the snow Michigan didn't get a first down didn't complete a pass Chuck Orman punted 26 times still stands is a big 10 record Michigan blocked to Ohio State punts and one net ball game nine to three there's eight the kicking off again it's deep it's taken by Jackson at the five he's up to the 10 Jackson of Michigan's with 15 20 25 30 31 yard line 10 yards further out then he took the opening kickoff here this afternoon the same young man in the white jersey four-man Harbert number 21 the freshman from cleveland ohio 510 175 pounds so Michigan now trailing in the ball game 3 to zip but they trailed a year ago 7 to nothing and then they came back to win now rather 3 to nothing and then they came back to win that one 14 to 6 so roach that Layton wide to the right bestir wide to the left Woolfolk deep and Davis closer come speech turn motion across formation pictures off the wall for wolf Walker's hit right there at the line of scrimmage which gets absolutely no yardage at all as butch wolf on number 24 have urging five and a half yards of carry coming into the ballgame has carried the ball here this afternoon three times and picked up an average of about two yards per carry he gained sizable yardage on one and as timing on the other two carries it'll be second down now and still just about ten yards to go for the first down Michigan has two first downs Ohio State has seven first down up over the ball comes Steve not it wide to the right is Feaster wide on the left is plate it's wolf O'Keefe and Davis close to the Ohio State leading three to nothing and Ricky leash looks over that defense in any back for a pass Ricky leash has plenty of time throws it downfield misconduct of it built right by March 45 knocked out of bounds to the Buckeye 44 yard line Mike guess not stop got Marsh who is just got his 17th pass of 1978 and the first of the afternoon at the top of this program early in the first quarter we said the other teams in the Big Ten and Ohio's other 10 opponents Penn State Baylor and southern Methodists along with Big Ten school have picked up yardage in the air not against that punt at Ohio State defensive front five so Michigan's Ricky leach is just connected on his first pass of the afternoon he's one for one he looks over a four-man front four for three is Woolfolk deep and Davis close and then he rolls on fakes the draw play regulations back he throws downfield is cut by well at the 35 to 30 and not gonna buy was a beautiful catch by that freshman Donald he caught out hard that ball was well thrown by Ricky leach it almost looked like a catcher throwing a man out going from first to second on a steal and will fuch reached up caught it and brought it in a tremendous catch by that freshman it certainly was Bobby shows that he's not only can run the football but he's got great hands with an excellent catch and an excellent run for a first down back to you Robert okay Michigan as the ball right now first and 10 just inside of the Ohio State 30-yard line up over the ball comes Steve not Ohio State lead three to nothing fly to the left is feast are wide to the right is plate full fog deep and Davis close and Ricky in each under center making plenty of time with 15 seconds left in the first quarter two tight ends now and Ricky leash takes plenty of time fakes again he's back for path he looks for a receiver and it's Easter Easter picks up the first touchdown pass of his career and then little lad from Flint the same high school that graduated Ricky Leeds graduated Feaster two years ago and he has just caught his fourth class of 1978 and Michigan is on top six to three and old Ricky leach right now is three for three and once again that was a beautifully caught pass a beautifully caught pass by Feaster he was covered over there covered in there by guests and so kneeling will be BJ Dicky attempting the extra point by Craig Willner Greg will der on extra points is 42 out of 44 BJ Dicky snaps his hands it's spotted his kick it and over and and it's a great big Michigan 7 Ohio State 3 over this great big Michigan Michigan football game with Ohio State I'm telling you this is what it's all about the Buckeyes took six plays to go 50 yards Michigan moves 70 yards and four plays and the key plays a pass to Marsh that put it on the Ohio State 41 yard line and then wolf all caught a pass to put it on the Buckeye 29 and then Feaster caught a beautifully thrown 29 yard touchdown pass B stirs longest reception of the year was the 19 yard or three weeks ago against Iowa a tremendous comeback Donald when the dobbers of the maize and blue are down old Ricky the peach leach that got Stan blue with amazin blue came through very good Bob I'd like to take time out for a minute to congratulate Detroit de Porres who beat Crystal Falls of the Upper Peninsula and the Class D play the silver going 38 to 14 Bob and a half time her first quarter at 0-0 North Farmington and Trenton take it away Robert okay there's the kick and over ended out of bounds Brian Brian Virgil's kickoff following Michigan's first touchdown and the only touchdown of this fall game they'll bring it back up Michigan will kick from the 35 just his eighth I had to do a moment ago after Ohio State moved 50 yards and six plays and the Buckeyes had a 19 yard field goal they came back and kicked off and they kicked it out of bounds so tit-for-tat these two teams evenly matched here this afternoon so far and you know ironically enough Ohio State has not scored a touchdown against Michigan in three out of the last four years in 1974 they beat Michigan here on four field goals 10 to 12 Ohio State had four field goal in 1976 Michigan's shutout the Buckeyes 22 to zip last year Michigan's beat them 14 to 6 on two field goals Ohio State had three touchdowns in 75 that's the last time they scored a touchdown there's the kick and it's going out of bounds again at the 10 yard line and on the second kick I believe they'll come back up field again what they Donald bobbin it's five more yards that's the way the rule reads at the legal procedure penalty in which you're penalized five yards I guess you could just keep doing it all day long although we'll get that ball in place well eventually this lad has kicked a lot of non-returnable kickoffs but he's got his work cut out for him now this young man from Buchanan Michigan stands 510 183 pounds Brian Virgil number two will kick from his own 30 yard line now and Ohio State should have excellent field position they'll have two men back and they will have a man by the name of Murray number 43 along with Hicks number 37 and Hicks is averaged 28 yards on 13 kickoff returns he is Ohio's answer to will fall he is Ohio State's answered a wolf walk in that he runs a 6 1 60 yard dash he is the defending big 10 60 yard - champ he runs 109 six there's the kick kick and it's taken down there by number 43 that's Farid he's up to 25 he slipped at the 31 and Ohio gets good field position but not real good considering the fact that Michigan's Brian Virgil had to kick from his own 30 so give a wild the ball they trail in the ballgame seven to three and they have it about 21 yards in from the far eastern sideline around the country the top six teams Penn State number one came from behind to defeat fit yesterday 17 to 10 in a big ballgame Alabama number two asylums southern cow will be playing Notre Dame later today Oklahoma has finished their season and number five used to the Texas Tech and number six Michigan is looking at least or right now who's back for pass he flip he may eat the ball no he gets away for one man to man he's a great scrambler and Simpkins vistas them and knocks them out of bounds at the 43 yard line for this lad archly ster is something else again believe me and there it is the end of the first quarter Michigan stab on Ohio State three hang on to your kilohertz we're gonna have 45 minutes of great football over this the Michigan football Network the Sun the November Sun comes out for the first time in this ball game you know actually Donald it couldn't be better weather for football five before the ballgame I talked to a player that had played for Michigan the last several years Curt Stephenson he said was ideal and getting ready for this game of something else and just you're right the weather just perfect okay under centers arts least her 1st and 10 and then he hands off to his fullback who hits to the 45 yard line Ricardo Valley camo coming into the game was the regular fullback I don't think he was injured although he had carried the ball in 10 games for Ohio State a-huntin 30 times Ricardo had only carried it 66 but volley Ricardo Ravalli is in there now and he's doing a great job this junior from down in Virginia he's up close now in the I formation at second down and eight and there is flea stir rolling out to the right he pitches off the springs and Springs was trapped there at the 46 yard line and that's about as far as he gets as Gerry meter the defensive co-captain an outside linebacker moved in real well used his hands shuck one would-be blocker and made the tackle on Ron Springs at the Ohio State 47 yard line it brings up third down and sleeps during third down conversions of three out of five Ricky leach right now is one out of three and the scorn again for those of you who may have just tuned in Michigan moves 70 yards to go ahead 7 to 3 after Ohio State had moved 50 yards in right now he's standing back on the Ohio State 32 yard line the point is coming to the Buckeye 47 there's a snap there's the kick the right footed kick not too much height at Ohio State bounced to the 20 now a Michigan bounces hit right around the 20 first and ten from the maize and blue on their own 20-yard line well that was a 33 yard kick with no return about 11 yards short of his average he of course being Tom Morris the number 1 hunter in the big 10 right now Ohio has had some great punters in the past Tom slow Danny who's doing the punting for the Detroit Lions now the leading punter in Ohio State history on his career from 1973 through 1976 for years the average 42 and a half yards of punt and his season record an all-time Buckeye records in 76 he punted an average of 46 and a half yards up on every single punt that he had in 1976 on the 21 yard line Ricky leach hands off to the full-back Russell Davis who gets about two yards Michigan going into the line again against that front 5 of Ohio Washington along with Kusano all in there making the tackle on Russell Davis it'll bring up second down and eight and the key factor in this ballgame so far is sophistic which shows Ricky leaches past three times completed three the first one was to Marsh the second one was to wolf off and a beautifully thrown 29 yard touchdown pass to Feaster and that's been the difference as Ricky leach that's his team second and eight he has Clayton and Feaster at the pro set positions will fall deep and Davis close and Ricky leach is going to drop and roll out to the right and the option he cuts it to 25 and gets to the 28 yard line and so Ricky leach will be faced with his fourth third down situation he's converted one out of three in the first down for those of you made just tuned in Michigan has five first downs Ohio State has a ohio state in the first 15 minutes moves the ball 104 yards Michigan in the first quarter moves the ball 103 yards Michigan has seven points Ohio State has three that's it it's been a great ballgame both teams like two big heavyweight fighters sort of feeling each other out and I would expect that the air will be filled with big spins over the next thirty-eight minutes there's Rosie Smith at the tandem of the I with Davis close its third die Ricky nature's back he throws the shuffle pass the Davis first down to the 35 37 yard line a beautiful shuffle pass on the right flat as Russell Davis is just caught his fourth pass of 1978 coming into the game the co-captain on offense from Woodbridge Virginia had caught three passes good for 15 yards his longest reception 14 yards and that one that time was good for just about nine yards so it gives Michigan their sixth first down and they keep this drive alive as the last time they had the ball they moved 70 yards and four plays to take a first quarter lead of seven to three we now see the clock shows the 11 minutes and 42 seconds remaining in the first half Oh Ricky leach is under center he has Woolfolk deep and Davis close and Clayton wide out to the left they're good we pause for station identification over the fake draw Ricky leach has time and he scrambles he breaks to and he throws a long fast way that and they make calling for grounding the ball now when he chose it that far I don't think they would ever call it time when he froze it that far downfield I wouldn't think so Bob I don't see any flags down and if they're gonna fraud they turn it right away I think the crowd felt that it threw the ball away and possibly he did but at least if that downfield long pass is going down your throat you dump it so I think they call it correctly that gives you some idea of the poise the Rickey leach instead of taking that ball for a seven-yard loss he just knew that no one was down that right sideline he threw it not up for grabs but out of bounds so no interception could possibly take place brings up third down and nine Rickey is two out of five this is the key when he rolls out to the right he pitches off this time to the tailback and he's hit right there at the 38 yard line and Ohio State's Paul Ross stopping Michigan on their running game here all afternoon and so Greg welder now will come in to punt for the third time his first one was for 28 yards his second for 30 yards remember a week ago Purdue's only score came on a blocked punt in Ohio has studied those films and they almost blocked will ders last putt Mulder is standing on the Michigan 23 yard line the point of scrimmage is the Wolverine 38 he's 18 yards in from this the western side like one man fact number 12 that's guest for the Buckeyes this time Ohio is setting up a return though they're dropping men back there it is at the 30 he lose one man and he right there at the 32 yard line guest brings the punt back and he's dropped in there I believe it was Cannavino along with Webber a 33 yard kick with a three yard return so 10 on the run 31 yard line Springs deep and volley close to the I formation Paulie has the ball and he breaks one tackle but gets about three yards from the 32 just shy of the 35 yard line Michigan mr. Kovak Cannavino Simpkins and bell and when Michigan scored that seven points that means that Ohio State's 11 opponents in 1978 have now scored a hundred and ninety-two points that's the most points ever scored against Ohio State in a single season of football since their inception way back in 1883 there's the Buckeyes on the drop play two Springs he's hit right there no gain at the 45 yard line using a pants real well defensively for Michigan was Turki vac Webber and meter along with Cannavino all in there making the tackle for Michigan as there was no running room at all for Ron Springs and it brings up a third and six for archly stir SH leashed er is converted two out of six and he has the ball now third down and six on his own 45 yard line so sleepster sets himself with one man fact that happens to be volley over at the other running spot is spring sleaze throw go out in the play-action pass now he's going to turn around I can't find the receiver now he's being chased again he throws downfield it's incomplete so Ohio State's very fine punter the number one putter in the Big Ten Tom Morris who the last time and the only time he's had to punt here in the first half booted 133 yards with no return as Michigan's Mike harden allowed it to roll dead on the Michigan 33 yard line so the Wolverines now will drop once again a tandem safety back and the persons of Mike harden and Mike Jolly jolly and bringing punch back this year has brought back 19 averaging 7 yards per return well harden has brought back nine averaging six and a half there's or as a beautiful long kick charlie takes it at the 15 and he's tackled though he gets away he's up to the 15 not got about no so they claimed he was knocked out of bounds at the 13 yard line first he shucked that would-be tackler but not before he attacker had taken him out of bounds at the 13 yard line a very fine punt it happened to be a 50-yard kick that's well above his average of 44 and a half yards per punt which leads the big 10 hey Ricky leach said the team first and 10 on his own 13 yard line he has wolf or beef there's wolf walk on the drop play he's up to the 19 yard line a beautiful run by wolf up there but I think he was hit and jacked up on that play and looks as though he was really tackled and possibly hurt a knee or a Fulda muscle and his fire in the cap we aren't sure which but coming in is Rosie Smith the tackle was made by Todd Bell number 25 a real fine tackle there and a good clean hard hit by Ohio State's strong safety Todd Bell Jean Johnson is out and dug marshes back into the ball game right now as the Wolverines have it second down and four yards to go on the 19 yard line Donald a blow Bob is we're a little short if they hit tailback spot hump will be is hurting a little bit and I know Smith is hurting and Smith is in the ball game now Roosevelt Smith but we're hurting a little bit at that tailback spot so that's the top floor no profile can come back all right you are Donald especially with Huckabee out as you said there is Rickey leach under Center second four he has Rosie Smith deep and Russell Davis close Ricky leach on the option play their statement up over the 25 to 32 32 boy Ricky leach fooled us along with the Ohio State defensive front five because Davis went through with the ball Greg part because the man who kicked out that all-state high school player from Cody High School in Detroit he's a senior now playing his last game his last regular season game in the maize and blue uniform although they're wearing white here as a traveling team in the big 10 but bartnik open up the hole for Russell Davis his co senior as Michigan is fielding seven seniors offensively right now Rosie Smith deep Davis post first and ten there is Davis again only this time he's hit he didn't fool anybody especially the front five in there was Sullivan along with Hinson and Ross making the tackle for the Buckeyes Ohio State's front five right now defensively average about 236 pounds of May and Michigan's offensive front seven go at 238 so the Wolverines have a slight advantage on offense in that forward wall of about two pounds per man which is really insignificant in Ohio and they're on offense on the other end have an 8-pound form an advantage looking over that defense of five for two is Ricky leach she has it second and nine here comes Feaster in motion across formation Smitty deep Davis close Ricky leach drops back top cesare chose a pass downfield and it is caught and he goes out about he catches it out of my nose jury couldn't hold the ball there claiming he caught it and went out of bounds with the ball now are they giving it no they're not the Ohio State player thought that they've claimed that he caught the ball he being Doug Marsh it was beautifully thrown down that eastern sideline covering him down there was killings along with Bell and it brings up third down and nine Rickey Leach and passes here is four out of six couldn't be much better with exactly seven minutes and 12 seconds remaining in the second period the second quarter of play is just a little over half completed wide to the right is Feaster wise on the left comes late it's Smitty deep and Davis close and Ricky leach under center he looks at that five to four and then he drops back for a fat he gets away from one man another man he's going to eat the ball at the 23 yard rickielee could not find a man open and Sullivan along with Dantzler both in there as Michigan's front 7 couldn't hold out that Ohio State fearsome fivesome as they moved in there and put the crunch on Ricky leash so Greg welder who was fun of the ball three times with not too much success in distance with 28 30 and 33 yards and coming into the game winter had averaged 41 yards of kick and ranked third in Big Ten Ohio I was going to try and block this as they're gonna storm a 10-man front and Willner he will not be intimidated he thinks in his mind right now he's going to punt the ball a bad snap but he gets it off beautiful long high long spiral at the 31 taken by get he gets to the 34 and is dropped at the 39 yard line Mike guests bringing that punt back that was a beautiful lawn booming punt a 46 yard kick as Willner with a pressure on ten men rushing and he really got it away and the snap from center was over his head slightly but he gathers and a lot of poise this Miami Beach senior who was a walk-on four years ago and said beau give me a chance to kick that ball and what a job he's done okay Ohio trailing seven to three sleepster has one man backs leechers back on the 32 he's going to run with a bone he's hit right there for 37 yard line losing three yards on the play Hart's least Earth really upended in there by kites intergalactic lights colo as his teammates call him he lives here in Columbus Ohio in the summertime he hauls Woody Hayes his trash Hayes's residence is on his route where he picks up trash all doing July and August and he'd like to dump that trash right in Woody Hayes his lap right now I'll tell you there is a half of the full-back pitches off to Frank he's open to the 4045 and he goes out of bounds just shy of the first down he may have made the first down remember the series started at the 39 and he went out of bounds around the 48 yard line gene Bell drove my two bounds Ron spring a beautiful option play there by sleepster as he pulled the Michigan would-be tacklers in and then at the last second pitched it out to run Springs this boys least there is going to be some kind of a quarterback he's only a freshman but as they say in football vernacular even though you're a freshman by the last game of that freshman year you're playing your 11th game in front of a packed house every Saturday you're more or less than experienced sophomore really well he's doing a good job out here this afternoon Ohio State will run the full house d2 back to tight ends the balance line it'll be Johnson camel and volley there is sleepster with a ball and he gets the first down in the Michigan territory to the Wolverine 47 yard line please star kept the ball handing it first to the fullback in there who happened to be camo and then pulled it back outlet camel going in open the way for his quarterbacks leader who moved in behind Campbell and picked up the necessary yardage to give Ohio State their ninth first down to the ball game a real knock him down dragonoid ball game for Columbus Ohio Ohio move 50 yards in six plays to take the lead three to nothing Michigan came back 70 yards and four plays to go ahead seven to three Ohio State Feaster into the open down to the Michigan 40-yard line dropped right there beautiful running and rocking up front by Andrea Robinson and Vogler opening up a hole for Ashley stir as Jean Bell made the tackle on with Mike harden the free safety and strong safety and sleepster got up a bit slowly that time Donald he turned it Bob Easton taking the running that option a gun pop what's the ball got in five he's got a good job around there attacked Oh Robert he's quite a young man he's carried the ball 11 times for 35 yards this time he has it again he's up over the 35 and he said at the 36 yard line i sleepster running with the ball again he hails from bloomin burg Ohio he went to Miami tres high school and he was a high school sensation he was the football player of the year here in the state of Ohio in 1977 in high school he totaled 6041 yards passing and running so hyoe state has it now first and 10 on the Michigan 37 yard line and that same young man sleepers back throws the path and it's almost intercepted by Simpkins OH Simpkins is mad Ron Simpkins who has not intercepted a pass in his career but has picked up one fumble so far this year led the Michigan team in 77 in recovered fumbles with five and that time he almost had his first interception as amazed and blue in the finest line backing tackler in the history of Michigan football just out of his fingertips so it brings up second down intensely stir has the i-formation Springs deep and volley close sleepster rolls hot off the spring brings us into the open at the 30 at the 25 and dropped right there at the 26 yard line beautiful running again a beautiful option play and thereby sleep turn sleep stir in high school never lost the game as high school record was 29 and oh and one time he completed 246 passes he threw 478 for 97 yards and 46 touchdown that young man you're looking at number 11 did all those things as a high school senior at a high school football player at Miami Trace High School in a ballooning burg Ohio a little town about 40 miles southwest of Columbus so sleep there such a steam again person t10 on the Michigan 25-yard line there goes Donnelly in motion across formation to trigger the Michigan secondary Sleater keep city no sir he gets away and he gets five yards from the 26 he more or less worms this way in and out of those would-be tacklers Donald this fleece is quite an option quarterback here's a fella that didn't run the option in high school Bob and Wright who said he's no small veteran after playing going into his 11th football game and certainly has learned something he's a fine athlete he's running the option exceptionally well and creating a problem for our defense well the clock shows we have four minutes and 16 seconds remaining Ohio State 21 yards away from scoring their first touchdown in three years against Michigan they have Springs deep and volley close and there is a snap now who came offsides Michigan first or did Ohio State pull him off side and Lucas off might have been Ferguson who pulled Michigan off sized by moving it'll be a legal procedure against Ferguson of Ohio State and that means the ball will be moved from the 21 back to the 26 yard line where it'll be second down in ten so the five yards picked up on the previous play by the scrambling quarterback arts leader is nullified as Ferguson just too quick anticipating the snap from his offensive tackle position turn evac'd hurt his ankle and his left the ball game Humphries number 58 the chatzi High School lad a junior in there at the middle guard not a big lad Ohio may hit right there and they do with a fullback but he doesn't get much yardage right into 24 yard line on second and 10 he picked up about three yards he being Ricardo Valley and it'll bring up third down here's a key third down in third down conversions archly ster is four out of eight 50% he's converted Ricky leach is converted two out of six that's about a 33% horatio for a Ricky the peach leech a great football game here just what everybody expected 40 million on TV along with you and me we're just enjoying this ball game I'd say a lots gonna happen here in the next 33 minutes and 31 seconds is the i-formation third and eight there goes Donnelly in motion to the wide side of the field fake the springs sleepers back he fumbles the ball is recovered in there by Michigan at the 35 yard line the first turnover of the ball game and it's called IO State popping up the ball three stirs had 19 interceptions this year and Ohio State has coughed up the ball on fumbles 13 times that is their 14th Bumble of 1978 and it couldn't come at a better time as far as Michigan was concerned he puts be Stern motion he gives the drop play off to the halfback 12 at the 40 he gets down to 45 to the 47 to the 48 yard line Rosie Smith whose longest run from scrimmage so far they share was 17 yards and that time he moved it from the 33 down to the 48 that is about 16 yards so he's still shy of his longest run of the season which happened to take place against Iowa three weeks ago Todd Bell write down the ball carrier you know football is a game of emotions ohio state header toppers up they were moving they fumbled the ball now Michigan is up and a move for their first first down here in the second quarter there's Feaster and motion across formation Ricky leach thanks to the fullback leashes back for a pass he's gonna throw a long went down there and it is almost intercepted at the 25 yard line by Mike get Mike guess who has one interception so far in 10 games in 1978 went high into the air at the 25 yard line alright Feaster was trying to gather in his fifth reception of 1978 wide to the right is Feaster and here he goes in motion and Ricky leach is under center and Ricky Leisha and a draw play gives off to Rosie's over into Ohio State Territory at the Buckeye 48 yard line Washington makes the tackle in there his fourth of the afternoon his one hundred and thirty fifth of 1978 the left down below is here is bestir wide to the right side is Layton Rosie Smith deep fake to Davis fake to Smith Ricky Lee throws down not down there at the 34 yard line by Clayton Brown Clayton catches his 22nd pass of the season the first of the afternoon and we're gonna pause 15 seconds with Michigan first and 10 on the Ohio State 33 yard line 15 seconds for station identification over this the Michigan football Network Michigan with those nine first downs Rickey leads such as team there goes Feaster in motion across formation rosie smith deep there is over the Centers of the 30-yard line goes Russell Davis a quick opening almost like a deformation play with Russell Davis in close on the i-formation taking the handoff carrying the ball taking it off from his quarterback but Ricky leash back here under Center drops back for a pass he chose the swing pass tied to spent at the 20 he's down to the 15 down to the 13 yard line and he made no sir he did not go out of bounds to stop the clock it is 56 seconds 55 seconds the all-important clock now Todd Bell brought him down and the clock continues to go and the Wolverines call timeout down in the playing field right now taken in motion across formation Ricky Lee she'll go back and drop a pass over someone he can't find he throws it down there and it's caught in it is a touchdown it is into the end zone and it the automatic cuts back they claimed that gene Johnson was not in the end zone with a ball they claimed he was not in the end zone with a ball it will be an automatic touchback Ohio State will have the ball on the 20-yard line is that the way you saw it done when I saw Bobby you were just short about on the half-yard line wasn't into the end zone we're getting fumbled into the end zone scramble but Ohio favorite coverage for a touchback posting 10 of 20 yard-line that's the way it goes in football that's the brakes to the ballgame gene Johnson is caught how many passes for Ricky Leeds four years of southwestern high school in Flint four years here at Michigan the last game of their regular season play together at Michigan he catches sweat on the Buckeye wide he couldn't hold on to it it didn't go as a touchdown that is a big psychological break for Ohio State here as they will leave the field maybe on the short end of a 7 to 3 score who knows 43 seconds with archly ster who has completed 67 out of 146 for a thousand and two yards and four touchdowns what might this freshmen do but that's not what the scoreboard reads it's 7 to 3 a tremendously played first half fleece is going to run out the clock 1413 Bob Foreman will be here with a big halftime set up for you I'm sure you're going to enjoy this and we I believe that said it's halftime here in the ballgame that you've got to say as similar teams with similar dreams that is visions of rosebud dancing in their eyes right now Michigan's 7 Ohio State 3 right now coach I know you're disappointed not having 14 up there but [Music] it looked like it was a foot short that's it Rocco solving school have you learned on land all set to bring you the final hectic helter-skelter 30 minutes of football michigan ohio state variety of 1978 burned on land all set to bring you the final heck big helter-skelter 30 minutes of football michigan ohio state variety of 1978 you all know the score ohio state midway through that first period move 50 yards and six plays to take a 3 to nothing lead and then before the first quarter was over Michigan came right back and moved 70 yards and four plays to take a halftime lead to 73 Michigan had a touchdown in the bag in the closing minute of the first half but Jean Johnson couldn't hold on to the past Rick leach he caught it ran two yards with it was hit fumbled it into the end zone Ohio recovered automatic touch back Ohio ran out the clock that's it we're gonna pause 15 seconds for station identification before the second half kickoff over this the Michigan football Network buddy JP McCarthy leaps through your autumn almanac in the morning Music Hall right here on wjr Detroit America's great radio station Radio 76 all right we're all set for the second half kickoff down below us here we see Harris two Santa's fell Leone virtual ready to kick jollies at the safety the kickoff here by mr. Brian Virgil he approaches its end over R and and it's deep down taken at the 1 yard line by hit the leading sprint champion and the big 10 is up to the 20 the 25 to 30 and it's dropped at the 31 yard line and had that lad head one more step Enoch on 99 yards for a touchdown mark the santa's making his 31st tackle of 1978 made the tackle on the ohio state 31 yard line chuck in sleepster in company with ron springs the tailback volley at fullback Donnelly at the wing back farthing and more at the tight ends wide to the left this time goes right Gerald the old quarterback of the last three years Donnelly wide to the right one man back that's volley there is a handoff to volley and he gets about three yards from the 31 to the 34 yard line the first play of the second half finds Ohio State lighting up with volley right behind fleece tersely sir to snap from Vogler the center handed off to volley picked up by block from Andrea enabling him to pick up about three yards before Dale kites made the tackle Michigan has completed seven passes so far to seven different ball players how's that for diversification seven for seven for leach to seven different players I formation there's a fullback each hit at the 38 almost the 39 yard line a key third down situation arts leader is four out of eight and third downs in the first 30 minutes of play here this afternoon Ricky leach is in conversions three out of eight so he's one behind his counterpart at quarterback and that art Schlichter now is calling the play as Joe Robinson comes in and Barney comes in two tight ends Cheryl just went out two tight ends to the balance line and Springs deep and Polly closes third down and three on the 38 and a half yard line and there is the handoff to the fullback and I don't think no sleepster kept the ball and he did not pick up the first down he needed to get to the Ohio State 42 yard line he was tackle just over the 40 yard line by Ron simcha so number one tackler in the history of Michigan football with 174 last year right now he has 147 so far in 1977 seven here this afternoon that brings up fourth down and about a yard to go fourth and one an Ohio State will bring in the leading putter in the big 10 Tom or us so far in the ballgame Horace's boomed out to one for 50 yards and his first one was into the wind for 33 yards he's standing about 18 yards in from this the Western sideline the point of scrimmage is a Buckeye 41 yard line remember the last time Michigan had the ball they had it after Ohio State fumbled the ball and it was recovered by the Wolverines so they moved all the way down and had a touchdown pass taken away as Dean Johnson fumbled the ball into the Buckeye end zone so hyoe state just wanted to be letter-perfect you know if you can see real close co-captains run Springs and Kusano both have earrings on along with 13 of their teammates well different strokes for different folks so hyoe States wearing earings Michigan's wearing maize and blue halos as far as this reporters concerned there's a snapback Taurus a long high booming putter fair catch at the 17 yard line by jolly mic jolly fair catches the ball and check in the guts and glue with amazing blue Rickey leach along with his 10 teammates a 42 yard kick with no return and so the Wolverines for the first time here in the second half leading in the ball game seven to three take over and we see up front is Billy do fake a tackle Feaster at the end powers of the guard not at center Bartnik at the other guard Geisler a tackle gene Johnson and left in Rosie Smith and here comes Clayton down to this sideline the western side light wide to the right is Feaster and Smitty deep and Davis floats and Ricky leach under center first and ten at the zone 17 yard line he looks at a five-to-four defensive alignment for Ohio State he gives off to Russell Davis who gets over the 20 the 21 yard line picking up about four yards on the play through the left side picking up blocks in there by part Nick and Easler it was Sullivan and Cato making a tandem two-man tackle Sullivan's third of the ballgame is 88 on the 78 season and Cato making his sixth of the ballgame his 77th on the 78 season so the scarlet and gray clad lads from Columbus Ohio breaking out defensively here comes Michigan offensively second and six on their own 21 yard line Smitty deep Davis close Ricky leach under center Clayton down on this sideline wide to the right is Feaster Ricky leach looks at a 7 diamond and then rolls out to his right he's going to keep the ball ease over the 30 the 29 and his drop right there first down for Michigan Ricky leach on the option beautifully executed by the old Ricky the peach leach from Flint Michigan the lad who has now accounted for 80 touchdowns on his career 46 through his throwing arm and 34 running he said more touchdowns on the ground than any other player in Michigan history going by the immortal Tom Harmon who was a Heisman award winner some 38 years ago and can Ricky leach make it this year only time will tell well he's set now first and ten on his own 29 yard line the draw play to Smitty he's over the 35 cuts at the 40 the 42 right out of bounds and Bo Schembechler slap at the 42 yard line Michigan after Ohio State took the second half kickoff and failed to pick up a first down the Buckeyes punted and jolly took it on a fair catch at the Wolverines 17 yards line now Michigan in four places move the ball to the maize and blue 41 yard line 18 yards in from the part eastern side line up front is Feaster duke bek powers not at center part Kieran Johnson Ricky leach a quarterback Clayton will breakout offensively the one side bestir to the other it'll be Davis close and Smitty deep there they come why did this sideline his Feaster wide to the right is Clayton Ricky leach looks over a five-to-four defense he has Smitty deep and Davis close he gives the Davis Davis picks up crowd he's there but no he meets a whole red jersey band of Buckeyes at the 43 yard line in Sullivan Cato and Dantzler as a Ricky is mixed displays up well or I should say the coaches up here in the press box Gerry Hanlon and Bob thorn blade along with Terrell Burton all up here in the press box along with Barry Pearson and Jerry Zuber and the rest of the staff of course down on the sideline Paul jadelle Bo Schembechler bill McCartney and Don Nehlen looking at Ricky leach now was second and eight on his own 42 yard line Smitty deep there's the fake drop playing leaches back and he's going to throw the pass and it is intercepted by Ohio State he couldn't hold on to it incomplete at the 32 yard line underthrown Skilling's trying to make an interception Ralph Clayton was the intended receiver it was thrown short of the target Ricky leach got fine blocking up front from powers nod and Bartnik along with Davis and Smith who all did their jobs giving Ricky leash funny a time to throw it brings up third and eight Ricky has converted three out of eight so far this is this first third down situation here in the second half to have to remove the Wolverines for one first down and then another one here early in the third period wide to the right coach late and wide of the left comes Feaster it's pretty deep and Davis close and Ricky leach under Center looks to the five for two defensive lineman drinking itch goes back for a pass he has time now he throws downfield Muskaan at the midfield snow sir he couldn't hold on at the 45 yard line clayton couldn't hold on to it and Michigan will be forced to punt Ralph Clayton getting up slowly he may have hurt himself I don't know maybe his pride nothing more than his pride on that one was hurt I think Glen dough that's way it looked Bob and acted looked like was good for mirror but apparently didn't have control over and the officials saw it I don't think some of our coaches agreed but it looked like a jerky drop the ball okay in front of a largest crowd in the history of Ohio State football it's Greg welder standing back ready to punt for the fifth time this afternoon as long as so far a 33 yarder he's standing on his own 27 yard line there it is a nice long beautiful spiral guest takes it at the 12 guesses at the 15 the 18 the 19 rough at the 20 yard line guest number 12 okay the Buckeyes er said art Schlichter under Center Springs deep and poly close to the i-formation Schlichter on the option he's happy stop for a life of the 16 yard line barreling in defensively for Michigan was career old Harvey Martin career the Detroit senior senior in academic stature but he can choose not to graduate next May and take his fifth year of eligibility next year since he has only competed for three years so we call him a senior but actually he has another year in that time he made his eighth sack of 1978 so sweet sir sets his team now second and 13 he has springs deep and volley close this time on the draw play the springs is into the open at the 20 hit at the 25 and dropped at the 27 yard line picking up the three yards lost on the previous play and picking up another 609 yard gain by Springs on the beautifully executed draw play sleepster went back gave it to Springs Vogler and Fritz along with Robinson opened up a nice hole on the left side of Ohio State's offensive front 7 and it was Ken Amino coming in for his fourth tackle of the ball game his 50th of his sophomore season here at Michigan underneath the center now his archly sir he has volley back and there goes in motion that'll be a five-yard penalty by Ohio State they fumble the ball there's a flag on the play and Ohio State fumbled Michigan recovered Michigan may have a chance to take the option here although they probably will claim that illegal procedure proceeded sleech they're taking the snap so it's automatically a five-yard penalty they have no choice in a situation like that right the window that's correct ba but what had happened was I think mich can call it either the right guard or the right tackle for Ohio State moved and the official neither official truest flag which is the duty of the umpire watches interior lineman and then finally they decided it in a way they went and it was a five-yard penalty actually sir I believe fumbled the ball down in there but of course everything is nullified after the flag is thrown prior to the ball being snapped so the down is third down and eight it springs deep and volley close this will be another drop play two Springs and he's hit right there for 25 maybe the 26 yard line and so hyoe state frustrated for the second time here as the Buckeyes have not picked up a first down in the second half at the end of the first 30 minutes Michigan not only had seven points but they had 10 first on so Iowa State had three points and the Buckeyes had 10 first down here in the second half Michigan has two first downs the Buckeyes have yet to pick up a first down in the second half and we have the number one punter in the Big Ten number 19 Tom oar as standing back on his own 10-yard line there's a snap from Vogler a nice snap a right-footed kick a beautiful long booming kick and it will be jolly at the 25 jolly at the 28 the 31 and he's dropped right there at the 31 yard line Mike shali returning that punt back to the Michigan 31 yard line a 49 yard kick by Horace and a 6 yard return very reminiscent of the great Tom's flowed a knee and Don do you have a report from Paul Carey up there in the silver dome on the high school state championship yes I mentioned earlier that Detroit before he's beat Crystal Falls 3814 right now it's 1414 with North Farmington and Trenton and it's in the third quarter Bob good Farmington and Traverse City if any correction that's what I thought okay it's the true eye formation it's Ricky leach under center we have Marsh or no it's murky or rather Johnson and Ricky leach pitches off this time to rosy Smith out of bounds in to Bo Schembechler slap at the 36 yard line on that true eye formation again it's not over the ball at center Ricky leach underneath not of course at the t formation quarterback spot and then behind Ricky it will either be that Marsh or gene Johnson and then two yards back is the fullback either Larry Reed or Russell Davis and then of course Rosie Smith at the tailback and remember both of Michigan's first and second string tailbacks of an injured Huckabee did not even start the ballgame has seen no action and Wolfe off was injured midway through that first half it's rosie deep Smith very reason there at fullback now there's a handoff to Rosie and he's around the right side his second and five and Rosie picks up about three yards on the right side this will be a key third down situation it'll be third down in just about three right now Ross made the tackle along with Cato and the ball rest at the 39 yard line about 19 yards in from the far eastern sideline right in front of the Michigan bench those white jerseys lads from Ann Arbor nobody on that Michigan traveling squad is on the bench right now they're all up along the sideline it's third and two it's rosie deep and smith flows clayton wide to the right be store wide to the left Ricky leach under Center on the long conference center and there is Ricky leech on the option giving to the fullback he does pick it up he being Larry Reed moving about what he did coming into the ballgame on 44 previous carries against ten opponents he picked up four and a half yards on that last play and that was his average coming into the game the very fine junior fullback 6 1 206 pounds from way down there in Philadelphia and so Michigan now has their 13th first down to the ball game why do the right ghosts feast or why do the left this way comes Clayton it'll be Smitty deep and Larry Reed closer in cadiz under center yeah and the long count he looks at a 7 diamond defensive front defensively by Ohio State and then he rolls out in the option and he cuts over the 45 47 almost to the 48 yard line trying to pick up blocks on the left side by Barton a Keisler and so the old Buckeye in the sky and the Wolverine in the sky looking down here upon these Buckeyes and Wolverines in this titanic struggle of 1978 I saw Ohio State the third time they have the ball moved 50 yards of six plays and a good field goal gave them a 6th another three to nothing lead the field goal by atha and it was good for 29 yards and Michigan moved back 70 yards and four plays with Feaster catching a 30-yard touchdown strike from Ricky leech that's it 73 Michigan second and six on their own 48 yard line is the true eye here comes motion with Johnson there's Rosie Smith over him it goes fried for 45 Ohio to 44 38 yard line mee-shee gonna pick him up and landed on old see Smith moving in their typical George Patton on-the-ground offense with blocking up front by part makin Keesler and Larry read the full-back opening up another block enabling the tailback ROC Smith of the Buckeyes are getting up a bit slower now on defense as the Wolverines coming into the ballgame everyone said Michigan has a little bit of edge and talent overall the Wolverines are favored by five and a half points but anything can happen in an emotional sixty minutes of football Ohio struck first Michigan lead seven to three they have it first and 10 on the Buckeye 38 yard line Ricky leash gives to the full-back Larry reading these piggyback written into the ground after picking up four and a half almost five yards to the 34-yard line Sullivan along with Cousineau both in there making the tackle as the Wolverines are slowly wailing the Buckeyes down and now the old gut stand glue with amazing blue who on his passing arm this afternoon is 7 out of 11 and of course the big one was a 30 yard touchdown strike to bestir the first touchdown of Easter's young sophomore career wearing the maize and blue uniform the ball rest 19 yards in from this the western side line up over the ball break Steve not of the line follows wide to the right is Feaster wide to the left this time comes plait it's wolf fought back in the tailback and it's Larry Reed at fullback and it is gene or Marsh in motion to the right side of fake go far and there's the pass thrown out there and it is caught and he goes out of eyes he being cut Marsh at the 21 yard line that Marsh catches his 18th pass of 1978 the second pass of the afternoon remember the first one cited Michigan on their 70 yard touchdown drive a pass to march to the Ohio State 37 and then a pass to wolf walk to the Buckeye 30 and then the touchdown pass from 30 yards out by Ricky leech the rod Feaster giving the Wolverines their only score of the afternoon they lead Ohio State seven to three wide to the right goes clayton wide to the left comes bestir under a sun swept fill members not a guy as ricky leads with a true eye formation underneath center there is gene Johnson in motion there's a hand up the wolf walk and he's figured back written into the ground to support our 21 call it the 19 yard line it's Paul Ross they're making his sixth tackle of the afternoon making his 69th tackle of the season as the Buckeyes are digging in defensively and the Wolverines with shadows on the field right now it's a beautiful November maize and blue afternoon here in this fake pitted Columbus Ohio as Doctor Strange Hayes's nervously pacing up and down this side George Patton Schembechler has a riding crop out on the other side as he's anxiously waiting for nodded to go over the ball Rose Lee Smith is in at tailback Larry Reed at fullback in the I formation Rickey leach goes back for a pass he his arm he looks for a receiver now he throws the donfield it's knocked down at the 2 yard line standing down there was Ralph Leighton and Ricky leach had a perfect strike but Skilling's came in and knocked it down beautifully a beautiful pass defense maneuver by this single safety are calling the free safety the free safety whatever you want to call him he was free and wheeling on that one as he moved in and almost intercepted on the Ohio State or in the yard line it brings up third down and a key situation here for Ricky leech as in third downs Ricky leech has converted four out of ten four out of ten he's going to try and make it five out of 11 right now as Ricky leech has the ball on the Buckeye 19 yard line not as over the ball two wideouts to the left at the slightest plate oh I doubt his Feaster it's wolf off deep and read close and Ricky leach under center he fakes to Walker Ricky nice rolling to his left throws the pass out there to the fullback is over the 20 the 15 down to the 10 and not gonna bounce of the a guy Valeri read the full-back as Ricky the Beast leach fine I was beautifully executed the flow into the left Ohio State's defense went to the right to go with Michigan's flow to the left and then sneaking out in the right flat was little Larry Reed who has just caught his first pass of 1978 he hasn't been thrown a pass all year on Ohio figured was read in there's no way Michigan Oh pass because Ohio had studied all 10 film of Michigan's 10 games so far at the Wolverines of won nine and last one and they were pulled out of position and Reed was open and Ricky Lee Chet Michigan under Buckeye a guard line two tight ends and a balanced line it'll be wolf up deep and read close and Ricky the peach leach under center and he's looking at a tight seven for defense Rick keeps he's down into the five he said at the 4-yard line rickielee just move it in there to that I am Sloane he's the most nervous four yards in football there on the lip of the cup right now they being Michigan and they lead seven to three and the Wolverines have 16 first down Ohio State has ten first downs in the first half Ohio State's been shut out so far here with five minutes to go in the third period as far as scoring as far as first down it's been all Michigan as the Wolverines have picked up six first downs in the third period two tight ends and a balanced line Smitty deep and Reed flows Ricky leach under center Ricky rolls out and he's offended right there at the six yard line beautiful defensive work in there by land mils Glen Mills has just committed his first sack a beautifully executed sack and blitz by the defensive cornerback of Ohio State who had 17 tackles coming into the ballgame and he has not had a sack this year but he'll never forget that one on Michigan's Ricky leach it brings up third down and five can Ricky leash move the Wolverines in now as leach is converted for out of 11 this time if he converts it for a first down it's a touchdown why do the right coach plate to tight ends and a balanced line in seei formation woeful keepin reclosable Ricky leach puts Clayton in motion across formation and then Ricky lease goes back for a passes the flag on the play there's a flag on the play wait a minute everybody stops and did you pick up Donald I say was too much time Bob delay again and I can't remember when the old cuts include amazing blue took too much time between plays but that is a 5-yard penalty so it moves it back to the 11 yard line and now Ricky leach has about 20 to 23 yards from maneuver in to throw this touchdown strike because that's what he has in his mind right now he has thrown 43 touchdown passes in his illustrious career in his search for the Heisman award and all-american honors in 1978 he has 80 touchdowns on his career he has Michigan with third down and 10 yards to go at the Buckeye 11 yard line and so Ricky leads Texas team wide out to the right is Feaster why do the left this plate hang on to your maize and blue fedoras here we go with Smitty deep and refloat Ricky leach goes back he looks for a receiver he throws the swing pass out here to Rosie's live little ol Rosie Smith moves in for a beautiful touchdown he has court for touch thousand 78 this is his fifth this is his second touchdown pass of 1978 as little Smitty has now for Michigan scored nine touchdowns in his career he's a junior he has had seven on the ground and this makes his second pass reception for a touchdown Michigan goes 69 yards in 13 plays and Ricky leach throws his 47th touchdown pass of his career here as the guts and glue of the maize and blue Greg Willner now will attempt to make it 44 out of 45 on this season there it is it's off it's and over is that great big Michigan 14 aren't you just loving it Ohio State three over this the very maize and blue sunshiny November football Network and the competition begins football basketball baseball hockey from the Super Bowl to the Sandlot from Wimbledon to Pebble Beach there's one place to go for total sports coverage and that's the Free Press Michigan's first newspaper for Sports check the standings the scores the schedules and pick up the inside odds find out what's happening in the locker rooms the dugouts and the clubhouse whose trading who's fading who are the new hotshots who's got the longest hang time George puskás Jim Hawkins Jack Saylor Curt Sylvester and Joe Lapointe cover the sports scene in-depth local and national year round where here comes Virgil ante kicks and over and not too deep it's taken on the 4 yard line by Murray Murray's up the 10 to the 15th hit at the 21 and dropped at the 22 yard line a fine kickoff return by Murray cow Murray the New Jersey sophomore number 43 has old dr. strange Hayes with his arms folded down here below us realizing his team is behind 14 to 3 last year Michigan won the ballgame 14 to 6 Ohio State has not scored a touchdown against Michigan since 1975 and they scored three that day but they have that's the only season they've scored a touchdown against Michigan since 1973 yeah got it 1973 and then three and 75 sleepster sets this team the i-formation fates that he's back for a pat he's being rushed he throws that is complete out there at the 30 yard line by Jimmy Moore Jimmy Moore the big tight end moving in there Wow as actually the tight ends have only caught seven passes all year and that was the eighth reception by a tight end his name was Jimmy Moore he's caught five of the eight receptions by tight ends this year and he just caught that one just shy of the first down it will be second down and two 2/10 backs it Springs along with volley there's flea stir and he said and he pitches off to the halfback who's dropped back there for a live at the 26 yard line so on second and three now moving in it was Gene Bell making his third sack of 1978 and here's something about mr. gene Bell the East Liverpool Ohio junior he was hurt in a freak accident yesterday on the practice field here and he could hardly walk in the motel lobbie last night and boy we thought how in the world will this youngster play well I tell you when you're playing against Ohio State and you're wearing amazing blue and you're playing for old general beau George Patton Schembechler there's no tomorrow you play over being heard and that's the sign of a great athlete he made the sack on that once Lee stirs back on 3rd and 5 he eludes tacklers he's back of the 15 now he loses another one and he's being dropped back there at the 27 yard line though at the 29 and he almost picked up enough yardage this is a scrambling freshman quarterback who doesn't say die Donald I give this land a lot of credit Bob he's got a great future there's no question about it they recruit a very fine athlete a good passer he's put the option together he's family well I'm pleasantly surprised they're really surprised and realized he could scramble out well and certainly a great effort but he did come up short about the yard yard a half short and it's fourth down ok Michigan has a twin safety back of course you know it's jolly and harden and you know it's Tom Morris the number one punter in the Big Ten standing on his own 15-yard line the pointed scrimmage is a Buckeye 3001 bounced snap to thee from the center a nice kick by Horace jolly takes it over his shoulder 2:24 ducks at the 25 he's gonna be hit right there and snowed under a blanket of scarlet and gray and his forward momentum is somewhere around the 24 yard line a 45 yard kick with no return you know why this lad is Tom Morris is the number one punter in the Big Ten check this out against the win in the first quarter he punted 133 yards Devlin and postgame show right now Ricky leach that's his team first and 10 rolls off to the right the option keeps it 2530 goes out of bounds to stop the clock at the 30 yard line with two minutes and one second remaining here in the third period Michigan leading in the ball game 14 to 3 and coming back out of that out-of-bounds situation we see who Feaster at the split end do fact powers are not at center Bartnik Keesler and marsh rounding out the front 7 and those Wolverines offensively averaged 238 pounds Ohio State's front 5 of Ross Henson Sullivan Cato and Dantzler averaged about two thirty six so Michigan has about a 2 pounds per man advantage right now they're in the wishbone Clayton Davis and wolf hawk there is a handoff this time to the driving man up in there it is Davis and he picks up about 2 yards at second and 3 it'll be third down in one Michigan now has 152 yards rushing 153 yards passing that's 305 yards total offense here this afternoon with 14 big ones on that little scoreboard up there at the southeast corner it'll be a third down situation for Ricky leach again Ricky is four out of 11 he would like to make it 5 out of 12 right now as he sets his team in the wishbone it'll be third down and 2 unbalanced line to the right it's the wishbone in the back view plate in Davison wolf hawk and Ricky leach under Center on the long count he hands off to the tailback he picks it up and he is driving up over the 35 he being which wolf off picking up a pod three yards on a great second effort after he had picked up the first down on the initial two yard thrust from the line of scrimmage give wolf are 5 yards on the play and Michigan has now picked up 17 first downs as they maintain ball control and that's the name of the game when you're ahead by 11 points 14 to 3 you keep it on the ground you mix it up with a pass here and there just to drop those defensive men of Ohio State back this is where Michigan could go on a long one in other words it'll be a short pass but it could develop because Ohio State is stacking up to stop the run there's the true eye it is not a leech and johnson davis and the wolf hawk and wolf art drives away from one tackler but he's dropped right there at the 38 yard line Paul Ross would not be denied a tackle there as he moved in to make his seventh tackle the afternoon and he brought down butch wolf off the number 24 the tailback doing a great job here you remember he's only a freshman he saw his first action against Wisconsin and that was just about for Michigan some five weeks ago right after Black Saturday he put in an appearance when Rosie Smith and Hawk were both hurt up there at Madison he played six plays against Wisconsin since then he's been used quite regularly Rosie Smith isn't at the tandem of the eye right now second and eight and it's the true eye again there goes Dean Johnson in motion there is the handoff to the fullback and it is Russell Davis hit at the 40 picking up about two and a half yards Sullivan making the tackle at the call at the 41 yard line as the Wolverines are very content here to run out the last four seconds of the third period and 15 minutes separates Michigan from Pasadena for the third year in a row for this the very maize and blue 14 to 3 football network information Ricky leach is back on third and six throws downfield and it's caught at the Buckeye 47 yard line first down caught by Ralph Leighton his second reception of the afternoon the 23rd of his 1978 career and if memory serves me right Ralph Clayton caught 24 passes a year ago in 1977 in his sophomore year this is this junior year and they call him sweet too to old Domino Ralph Clayton just gave Michigan their 8 first down of the second half their 18th on the ball game up over the ball comes Steve nada the line follows it's the ball rest 21 yards in from the eastern sidelines here comes Feaster in motion it's rosie smith deep davis close the balls off to rosy follows Davis upended at the 45 yard line tackled in there by Kate O'Sullivan and Bell all in there making the tackle for Ohio State well the Wolverines are content here with a 14 to 3 lead to just kind of cautiously move that ball downfield and should they get one more into that Buckeye endzone it would almost you can say wrap things up but you for don't concert chickens until they're hatched oh that's an old saying but oh so true why to the right come speedster wide on the Left goes clean it's the i-formation smith deep and davis close and Ricky leach under center he looks at a five-to-four defensive alignment for Ohio State and then he gives off to the full-back Russell Davis who carries Buckeyes over the 40 all the way down to the Buckeye 30 call at the 38 yard line remember the series started at the Buckeye 47 and so the Wolverines are just the yards shy of picking up their 19th first down of this ball game and we have moved into the final 13 minutes of play from Columbus Ohio on this beautiful maize and blue sunshiny November 25th of 1978 it's Turkey weekend and the Wolverines will eat turkey tonight flying home in an airplane if they can maintain this lead to tight ends in the balance line that's power it's the wishbone in the backfield Smith and Davis inflaton Davis right behind Ricky leash Ricky leash has two tight ends on a balance line and he looks at a six-man front and there is a fullback diving in their rush Davis and I don't know whether he picked up a first down or not he needed the yard and the big fullback from down there Virginia the co-captain on offense the man who gambled and ran for a thousand yards in 1977 may or may not have picked up a first down Ohio State naturally can demand a measurement here and so the referee moves over there along that eastern sideline brings in the chain gang and if you hear almost dead silence but from the northern end zone you hear a cheer it looks like it is and from down in the northern end zone and a few fans over there behind the Michigan band at the northeast corner of the field the Wolverines are delighted here that Michigan will maintain possession with 13 minutes and six seconds remaining on the clock and of all rest 19 yards in for the eastern sideline the Wolverines on top 14 to 3 Michigan has had 73 all-americans through the years Bo's had 20 and wittiest had 39 out of $69 Americans for Ohio State the Wolverines have it first and 10 and rickielee champs off to Russell Davis who was on his feet at the 35 yard line and then hurled back to the 37 for Russell Davis from first and ten on the Buckeye 37 yard line took the handoff from Ricky leash and tried to pick up blocks from bartnik not in powers all in there making the tackle or making the blocks on Henderson along with Washington and they were not to be denied because Ohio State stopped a russell davis joshed over the 35 yard line it brings up second down and seven up over the ball comes not of the line follows wide to the left in the short sideline against the Michigan side of the field is Clayton wide to the right here wide out on the wide side is Feaster Ricky leach fakes the draw to Rosie goes down throws downfield and is then complete the intended receiver at the 22 yard line was route plate and he was covered there by Skilling's and so it stops the clock with 12 minutes and eight seconds remaining third down and seven here is another third down and Ricky leach now is 6 out of 13 with his 14th third down one coming up here the last time he was third down he had the ball you remember after Michigan had the illegal procedure it moved him from the Buckeye six back to the Ohio State 11 yard line and then he picked out that little Rosie Smith on a swing pass on the left flat and moved into that northern Buckeye end zone to give Michigan this commanding 14 to three lead there he is he being Ricky leach third and seven at the Buckeye 34 and a half yard line he has Smitty deep and Davis close he's looking over a five to four he's back to the Buckeye 45 and he's going to throw and he throws and it's incomplete because he was rushed he was rushed and harassed in there by a very fine line Minh Joe hornik number 83 moved in there and just hustled Ricky leach the intended receiver was rot Feaster and so it will be a break welder who the last time he was called on really boomed one out 45 yards in fact the last two times here in the second half that he has punted one was for 46 yards one for 45 yield angle for the southeast corner of the field maybe Hill angle for the southwest he doesn't seem to be pointing in either direction he's at the 49 yard line of Ohio State the point is scrimmage is a Buckeye 34 and a half the other 10 men of course not as snaps the ball will nur is just punting down to the end zone it looks like it'll be an automatic touch back no sir it's it's it's still rolling around and it's down at the one-yard line beautiful bounce for Michigan that's the breaks the football if it weren't for bad luck Ohio wouldn't be having any luck at all right now because that ball was founding at the 3 to the 1 instead of 99 times out of 100 and would have gone into the Michigan endzone but it didn't it found it back out to the one-yard line at Alicia's answer was pop I think it's very important that parents are very supportive of the teachers and the coaches they'll be working with their youngsters I also feel the fathers should not try to live their lives through their son's lives and I think it's very important that they encourage their youngsters in their academic field as well as the athletic program and I think in Rick's case we're very important to have outstanding grandparents on both sides ok sound advice from Ricky leach is dead right Gerald upended at the 3 yard line picking up about two and a half yards as the Buckeyes starting out from the shadow of their own goalpost literally and figuratively speaking because there is a shadow right there between a yard inside the end zone and all the way out to the Buckeye 22 yard liner all the way out to the Buckeye 17 yard line or on Gerald the very fine quarterback who quarterback Ohio State the three Big Ten championships in 1975 76 and 77 is in at quarterback he's only thrown one pass so far this year he hands off to his fullback who hits to the Buckeyes six yard line volley Ricardo Valley and Ricky Johnson I believe was folly was blocking and Johnson carried the ball and was brought down by that very alert front 5-meter Greer Humphries kites indeed him along with Ken Aveeno backing up the left side of Michigan's front five so it brings up a third down for Roger old who was in late in the ballgame this is senior year number eight he looks over a five to four he has Donnelly split wide to the left with two tight ends and a balanced line third and five he rolls out he has to his fullback and it is volley who has stopped short of the first down at the Ohio State seven yard line and listened for the disgruntled Ohio State Fair there's nothing more fickle than a football fan when their team's behind at home but that's the fickle finger of football faith and for Ohio State right now the Buckeyes on a beautifully placed punt by Greg Willner in three plays they pick up six yards it'll be fourth down and just about four on the Buckeye eight Tom oar is standing back two yards from the last white line underneath his goal post gets a nice kick out jolly takes it on the Buckeye 45 and slips to the ground at the 43 yard line so check in Ricky leach as the Wolverines lead 14 to 3 10 minutes and 9 seconds remaining in this ball game a 38 yard kick a 38 yard kick by Tom Morris and the Wolverines an excellent field position here to move in and if they can move 43 yards lendo it could be the maize and blue and Pasadena generation Rob and I just like to relay this message here Traverse City beat North Farmington 20 to 14 that must been one whale of a game Traverse City was at 14 and nothing they tied it up and then they wanted 20 to 14 so heck the ball is off to the Class A state champions Traverse City and hats off to Michigan is Ricky leach hands the ball off from the 43 yard line - Rosie Smith he drove over the 40 yard line to the Buckeye 38 yard line where Henson along with Sullivan and Cato Traverse City defeats North Farmington in a will of a football game for the Class A football championship of the state up there in God's country the Wolverine state where the maize and blue will fly home and share Big Ten honors for 1978 with those Jolly Green giant's and East Lansing it'll be Smitty deep and repost the i-formation Ricky teach under center he gives off to the full-back who picks up about two three four yards as Larry Reid moves just shy of the 36 yard line trying to get blocks up front from part Nick nota and power the referee unpiloted they spotting it at the hash mark it's at the Buckeye 36 it'll bring up third down and three Ricky leach now with monotonous regularity converting these third downs he has 6 out of 14 to try and make it 7 out of 15 now he has Smith deep and read close Clayton in motion across formation to the wide side of the field leach looks at a five-man front gives it on the drop play and it is maybe a first down I don't know it was rosey Smith trying to pick up three yards and the referee right now we're right on the 33 yard line I'd say he made it wouldn't you lendo but they're gonna we're gonna wait till the $200 an hour been in there it appears and he's gonna have the chains come in Bob which is good procedure from a referee standpoint to measure to make sure and then there's no question about it so but it looks from here like he's made it [Music] they're bringing in the chain gang now to see whether or not Michigan picked up enough yardage here for the first down there it is just by about three inches in Michigan now has 20 first downs that is one of the object of offensive goals of Michigan's offense there of course number one is to win they are to pick up 20 first downs 275 yards rushing 125 yards on the ground through the air a total of 400 yards but all important is to win and now they lead 14 to 3 they have it first and 10 on the Buckeye 33 yard line its the wishbone in the backfield Smith's read and Clayton there is read with a ball and he ship there at the 28 yard line up ended in there by Ross and Henson check it's Clayton Ralph Clayton on the cross back from the and actually it's not what you'd call a true wishbone in the sense that Houston or Texas used to use it in that the full-back Russell Davis or Larry Reid in this case is standing just where he does in the eye so he's about two yards back further from the quarterback than in your true wishbone which gives Michigan a chance from the I formation or the wishbone to maneuver on crossbucks well that's the same situation you can see it right now second and five there's a hand off the Rosi and he's up over the 25 and he's hit just shy of the 25 and driven back by the whole left side Doolin Dantzler Cato all in there making the tackle for Ohio State somebody was shaken up on the play and while they're working on Rosie Smith the last tailback on Michigan's traveling squad let's pause for a word over this the Michigan football Network the ball comes Steve not a feast or wide to the right it'll be the wishbone in the backfield wolf all Reed and Clayton there comes Feaster in motion and wait a minute there's gonna be a timeout as Ricky leach calls timeout as he walks over to the sidelines and we're gonna talk here with Russell Davis for just a moment to co-captain on offense we asked Russell Davis this week what spent his biggest thrill in Michigan football in four years over the past four years and Russell Davis's answer was well you know they've not had a lot of no big moments in my career here but uh I'd have to say the very first one would have to be just starting my first game here from Michigan was my biggest thrill and then along with that would have to be scoring against Ohio for the first time and you know it'll literally go on and on rush let me ask you one more question what's been the toughest team defensively for Russ Davis to run against all these years uh I'd have to say uh Ohio State in Iowa Russell Davis is over on the sidelines right now very content to watch Ricky leach guide these three Wolverines wolf or Creed inflaton in the backfield Keesler bartnick nada powers to affect bestir and Marsh on the line as Ricky has a third and three now a key third down situation leading 14 to three and there is Ricky leach back for pads he's going to throw for the end zone way with ahead of everyone bestir there was the intended receiver so it'll bring up fourth down in three as Ricky leach couldn't connect on that one in passing this afternoon leach has connected on 11 out of 21 not a bad afternoon for the Heisman award candidate for the maize and blue of Michigan as Ricky leach has thrown for 47 touchdowns and run for 30 for a total of 81 and here is number one his Greg welder in field goals he is three out of 12 BJ Dickie kneeling at the 33 it'll be a 43 yard attempt his spotted has kicked his way off to the left oh good give Ohio State the ball with 7 minutes and 16 seconds remaining on the Buckeye 20-yard line anything could happen in football believe me and listen to the crowd and the so hyoe state crowd is telling their Buckeyes that the last time you had the ball you couldn't do much because Greg Willner punted it to the one-yard line where it would send at his own 26-yard line rolled to the right couldn't find a man open to hand to to cut back in kept the bond was dropped at the 26 yard line by Kirk Greer picking up his eighth tackle the afternoon and so over the ball now comes Tim Vogler it is second and 10 the two running backs or volley and Springs there goes number 89 hunter in motion a drop back pass by Gerald but wait a minute there's a flag on the play and evidently the officials here detected illegal procedure against Ohio State and that will move the ball five yards further back toward the Buckeye endzone illegal procedure and that has precedence over anything and transpires after that yellow flag goes down and so they move it back the $200 an hour man five yards to the 21 yard line Donald's up second down and 15 ROG Gerald who's quarterback buries little this year he's being sacked but no he gets away he's a running bugger let him go out of bounds at the 26 yard line rot Gerald ran last year beautifully is an option quarterback and if you remember that first 15 minutes up there on canons carpet in the hold of Yost at Chrysler paid for in can of carpet and Schembechler fills up every cotton-pickin Saturday afternoon for the last 23 straight a afternoons with over 104,000 faith well in that first 15 minutes a year ago in the Ohio State game Ron Gerald ran the Buckeyes for one touchdown he picked up six first downs he carried the Buckeyes to a hundred and eleven yards and Michigan had four plays and five yards in the whole first 15 minutes there he is again Raj aryl third and 10 back for pass throws it it's caught at the 31 and he's dropped at the 32 yard line remember the series started at the Buckeye 26 so it brings up fourth down at Ohio State a futile study in frustration right now even the fans were frustrated as Cannavino and Simpkins made the tackle and Ohio State's quarterback rod Gerald has just completed the third pass by Ohio and so it's been pretty much Michigan after the first scoring drive by Ohio State midway through that first period when they move 50 yards and six plays and connected on a fine 29 yard field goal and there's Tom Loras there's a fake one and he has hit right there at the line of scrimmage that he picks up absolutely nothing on fourth down be chigan takes over with excellent field position look at those bays and blue happy Wolverines with their Heights and Pasadena right now for January 1st their bodies are right here in Columbus so they didn't shave this morning so they didn't shower they didn't scrub their teeth the water went off and the Columbus Hilton here where the Michigan football family spent the night last night it went off I understand about two o'clock this morning they said a water main broke a half a mile away was probably old dr. strange days wandering around dust in these sewers here in Columbus turning off the water here we have BJ Dickey in at quarterback BJ Dickey and a quarterback on first and 10 but wait a minute there's a timeout BJ Vicki just gets the nod from the PA system and Ricky Leach has left the field and you know the way we sum it up you can say that Frank Merriwell is alive and well and he's playing on the Michigan football team this year Tom Harmon rides again virtue is winning again Lochinvar lives night hoodies and flour Camelot is down to that Michigan bench right now as Ricky leach one of the greatest players in the history of Michigan football a real class young man has just left the field for the last time during a regular season what a career what a guy Ricky leads your Michigan and there's Jay Dickey handing off to the full-back Larry Reid who nights through the right side to the 27 yard line before he is dropped in there as their unfailing Cousineau bail and Washington last five minutes of the ballgame Michigan has its second six on the Buckeye 27 yard line it's a wishbone in the backfield with wolf off breed and Clayton there is the fake to the full-back is handed off to wolf walk through the right side he's upended there at the 25 yard line by Murphy Skilling's and guest Michigan has the ball game more or less wrapped up 14 to 3 the Buckeyes have not picked up a first down in the entire second half a very futile effort by the Buckeyes they were supposed to be the underdogs they have proven to be the underdogs in the second half Michigan rose to the occasion and for the second time in successive years 1976 again in 1978 with a digital scoreboard showing four minutes to go this year there go about 30% of the 88 thousand fans out of the open end of the stadium across the fields meanwhile BJ Dickie shuts his team heroes out to the right he's piggyback written into the ground at the 27 yard line okay their unfailing right around the 26 yard line Cato made the tackle right after 59 seconds remaining it's the i-formation will fall deep and Larry read close BJ Dickey under Center it is fourth down now check it's fourth down fourth and five BJ on the draw play and he right there in Ohio will take over on their own 26-yard line Peters back in the quarterback he has Springs right behind him sleepers back for passing Cox's army throws downfield and his Cadfael out state Cheryl and Gerald breaks away and is dropped at the Michigan 49 yard line this ball game is not over three minutes and 37 seconds remaining Ohio picks up their first first out of the second half sleeps two the very fine passing quarterback has just connected on Ohio's fourth pass out of sixth road and the Buckeyes have it first and 10 on a Michigan 49 yard line we pause after this play we'll pause for station identification because the Buckeyes are rolling three wideouts to the left sleepster is under center Vogler is the center sleep stirs back he has plenty of time it is knocked down beautifully knock down and we're gonna pause with a second 10:00 on the Michigan 49 yards I missed pause 15 seconds for station identification okay the Buckeyes are set all rights leaders set you for a lender sets least er goes back on second 10 Cox's arm and it's intercepted by Michigan's Mike jolly and he's dropped at the 48 yard line Mike Charlie makes his third interception of 1978 and that could be just about all she wrote you can read close to the i-formation he's looking over a 7 diamond defense he's back for a pass BJ Dickey throws it way over the head of everyone in formation BJ Dickie handing off to the fullback Larry Reed al Mitchell's in at the wing back right now number 30 and up front we have Giesler Bart McNaughton Lindsey and parasol in there and Billy do fact playing today free of injury for the first time in 1978 since the opener way back there against Illinois some 11 weeks ago played a great game out here at right tackle as did all of these seniors not a bartnik do fact gene Johnson smirky and of course the big three Huckabee Davis and leach what a fantastic trio they've been over this 1978 77 76 and 1975 Michigan football years BJ deke now with third and eight a minute and 55 second hands the ball off the wolf-like through the left side and the crowd pretty well content now and realizing that Ohio State has fallen to the Wolverines for the 42nd time in 75 ballgames Ohio has come out on top 28 times Michigan has 142 and five times these two teams have battled to it tied and then they had that heartbreaking loss 10 to 3 heartbreaking in every sense of the word to Schembechler personally and to the Michigan fans there it is a long kick by Greg Willner hitting on to five and it's going to be another bounce it's going to be down inside the Buckeye 5-yard line beautiful fighting here by Greg Willner and he also is the senior and defensively for Michigan how about Jerry Meter playing his last game of the regular season for the maize and blue the co-captain on defense the outside linebacker who has done such a great job for Michigan over the last four years and of course big Tom Seaver on the c-dawg as his teammates call him that'll be a boisterous flame going home tonight from Columbus Day and harbor believe me the ovaries should get in to the locker room area around 6:30 or 7:00 and you might come down and treat the 1978 Big Ten champions head quarterback is sleepster back into the Buckeye endzone Cox's Army's going to run out he's out to the five and he's dropped from behind on a nine yard line by Ben Needham a very fine backfield man our defensive end you know the Wolverines cyclones started up in Ann Arbor last Monday with a maize and blue lights still gleamed through the old wolverine evergreens and it kept building momentum as it slept into this Buckeye Stadium this afternoon at 12:50 and reached hurricane proportions at 3:30 this afternoon there's a pass completed sleepster and it's complete down there to Hunter and he's dropped at the 15 yard line and in summing up the great defensive play this afternoon by Michigan to climax with tremendous year outlined against the dark blue November sky the wolverine blockade grew tighter and tighter today in dramatic lore these defensive Wolverines could be known as the octopus - - and the BOA these are only aliases they are really called McCartney's monsters as they formed a crest of Wolverine tar pit right down there now as they just smothered sleepster again on the 12 yard line and they have driven the Ohio State struggling Buckeyes into a bottomless goo as 88,000 332 fans the largest crowd in the history of Ohio State football peered down upon the bewildering panorama spread upon the green flame below I'm pretty sure by now that you've Michigan football fans get the general idea it was a doggone good awesome Wolverine defense again today that proved to be quick there for this Ohio State and the bonded legions of Woody Hayes as the Wolverines defense shut out the Buckeyes another time from picking up a touchdown in a ball game against their hated rivals from up north west of Columbus well with 20 seconds remaining BJ Dickey is quarterback sneaking the ball and the first half ended with Slee ster dropping on the ball Ohio State consent to run out the clock with Michigan on top seven to three and now thirty minutes later and that's all there is there isn't any more and got done it I just got to tell you for the fifth time since Bo Schembechler playing against what he hates this is the day no Michigan man will ever forget the day Ohio came to bury Michigan all wrapped in maize and blue the words were said the prayers to read and everybody cried but when they closed the coffin there was someone else inside oh the Buckeyes came to bury the Wolverines but Michigan wasn't dead and when that game was over it was someone else instead 22 Michigan Wolverines just put on the gloves of gray and his Cavinder plays the victors they're gonna lay Woody Hayes away the final score here again Michigan 14 oh hi oh sweet the Wolverines Pasadena bound for the third year in a row and maybe this year will be big foes big year in the Tournament of Roses ballgame it'll score 14 to 3 before 87,000 fans [Music] Stadium here back thirty-eight years ago cannot tell you nobody ever ended a career more gloriously than you did thank you very much thank you very much it was a great victory for our Michigan team who's won three in a row from Ohio State to here and it's the greatest feeling in the world alright thanks a lot from what it was when Rick was the first one here four years ago Ohio State to you Columbus we say thank you thank you and goodbye we will miss you in the fall in the winter in the spring but someday we shall return [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music]

Channel: Pizza Pizzichetti

Views: 5,516

Rating: 4.6571426 out of 5

Keywords:

Id: A6uFGwb_J8Y

Length: 121min 59sec (7319 seconds)

Published: Wed Jun 13 2018

Reddit Comments

[u/DrManhatt4n]

Die hard Buckeye fan here, and all I can say is Bob Ufer was a God damned national treasure.

ANYONE who can listen to him call a game and not get excited should be declared clinically deceased. I love his unabashed hatred for all things OSU and "Dr. StrangeHayes" his quirky turns of phrase and his overly emotional please for the team, like he could will them to victory on passion alone.

No one outside of Woody and Bo better encapsulated the rivalry or what it meant to these two schools better than Bob. One of the few Wolverines I've always enjoyed and admired.

[u/JeromesNiece]

"Bob Ufer here in the chilly snakepit of Columbus, Ohio". Legend

[u/TallyHoTim]

Are you disrespecting MSU by posting something with your real rival?

[u/dwwieb]

After watching this it's amazing how much the game has changed since then. And not just better athletes or different plays, I mean the entire philosophy on offense and defense is different. Wild.

Also shoutout to Bob for referring to Michigan's 1978 16-9 win as a "bloodletting" lmao. So B1G.