During the off-season, the WLA will be recapping Michigan seasons past. These pieces will be from both the regular writers and also from readers who submit pieces. If you have interest (particularly in the early ’90’s or earlier), feel free to send any submission to wolverineliberation@gmail.com. We have previously covered 2002, 2005, and 1996. Today, reader/commenter/friendofblog “Blue Durham” brings you the first in a two-part series – the 1986 season.

November 23, 1985, Michigan Stadium

On a cool, overcast afternoon in Ann Arbor, with major bowl bids on the line, Michigan and Ohio State were locked in a furious battle.  Immediately after an Ohio State touchdown, Michigan was holding a tenuous 20-17 lead and the ball at their own 20 yard line with less than 10 minutes left in the game.  On first down, Bo Schembechler called Gerald White’s number for his infamous “three yards in a cloud of dust” – and gained…3 yards. The whole stadium was on pins and needles.  Could we hold Ohio State scoreless for the rest of the game?  It seemed doubtful.  On second down from the 23, Michigan junior QB Jim Harbaugh then handed the ball off to… no, wait, Harbaugh still had the ball?  What in the name of Schembechler is this?  The Michigan QB then proceeded to launch a strike to a streaking John Kolesar at the Ohio State 45-yard line and Kolesar raced into the end zone.  Everyone cheered with jubilation at witnessing Michigan’s longest touchdown pass in the 88-year old rivalry, knowing now that victory is all but assured. 

Well, not quite everyone was cheering.  Quietly standing next to me was my younger brother, Gary, an Ohio State sophomore.  He voiced with certainty that with “ole 9-3 Earle” Bruce as Ohio State’s head coach, they were never going to threaten for a national championship.  A 10-7 Ohio State victory over BYU in the Citrus Bowl gave Ohio State a final 9-3 record for 1985.  That gave ‘ole 9-3 Earle” his sixth straight such season.

After the game, and with his disappointment somewhat subsided, Gary asked if I was interested in coming down to Columbus for next year’s game, and that perhaps our parents could make it as well.  We decided right then to plan on it.

The 1986 Season

Michigan entered the 1986 season with high expectations and exactly where they finished the 1985 season, ranked #2 in the country.  They had a veteran team with one of the best QB’s in Michigan history in senior Jim Harbaugh.  However, their schedule for the coming season was a difficult one with games against Notre Dame, Oregon, up-and-coming power Florida State, and of course the finale at Ohio State.

The game at Notre Dame loomed large, with Irish coach Lou Holtz taking the helm for his first season in South Bend.  Holtz came in from Minnesota to replace fired coach Gerry Faust in an attempt to reinvigorate a now lackluster program.  However, the pre-season polls showed little respect for the unranked Irish. Declaring that he “had Holtz down cold” from his time in Minnesota, Coach Schembechler was confident entering the game.  However, Holtz knew better.  “They knew certain things I liked to do, but they didn’t know what we liked to do with the personnel that was available at Notre Dame.  So we had an advantage.”

Advantage indeed – Notre Dame moved at will, using an array of formations (single back, wishbone, 3 WR wide) to keep the vaunted Wolverine defense off-balance.  Notre Dame amassed 455 total yards and never punted.  The only thing that allowed Michigan to win the close 24-23 game was Notre Dame’s lackadaisical ball security – Michigan had a 4-1 turnover margin in their favor; three of those Notre Dame turnovers occurred inside Michigan’s 20-yard line.

Home victories over Oregon State (31-12) and 20^th-ranked Florida State (20-18) concluded a perfect non-conference season.  Michigan then marched through its first 6 non-conference games with relative ease, the only close contest being a home victory over #8 Iowa 20-17.  Michigan, undefeated and ranked #2, now had only a home contest against unranked Minnesota before heading to Columbus. Perhaps looking ahead to the showdown with Ohio State, Michigan lost the game, the Little Brown Jug, and their #2 national ranking, 20-17 to a team that had lost games earlier in the season by such scores as 63-0, 52-23 and 33-0.

The 1986 Ohio State game – Jim Harbaugh’s Guaranteed Win

The Monday after the loss to Minnesota, Jim Harbaugh’s words ignited a fire.  “I guarantee we will beat Ohio State and be in Pasadena New Year’s Day.  People might not give us a snowball’s chance in hell to beat them in Columbus, but we’re going to.  We don’t care where we play the game.  I hate to say it, but we could play at noon or midnight (ed. – night games!!! Smoke Machines! METALLICA!!!) We’re going to be jacked up, and we’re going to win.”  Bo Schembechler silently seethed, and Jim Harbaugh was a marked man.   Later in the week, the bowl match-ups were set for the two teams.  The winner was in the Rose Bowl, the loser got a very nice consolation trip to the Cotton Bowl. 

Ohio State came into the game ranked #7 with a 9-2 record.  Their two losses came early in the season, to Alabama, 16-10, in the now defunct Kickoff Classic in New Jersey; and at Washington, 40-7.  The loss in Seattle was the worst for OSU in 40 years, and the Columbus natives were very restless.  However, the Buckeyes rebounded nicely by beating Colorado13-10, crushing Utah 64-6 and sweeping through the Big Ten slate by an average score of 29-10, with only close game being a 24-22 win against Indiana.  Earle Bruce had righted the ship, but they were still 2½ point home underdogs against the Wolverines.

I made the trip to Columbus as did my parents from New Jersey.  This was my second trip to Columbus as I had taken Gary to summer orientation prior to his freshman year in 1983.  Traveling through Columbus the evening before the game, I passed a number signs wishing Michigan well in the Cotton Bowl. 

When I arrived at Gary’s apartment, I met his roommate Chris and Chris’ girlfriend, Stephanie.  Gary had known both of them since his first few days at OSU and they were all close friends.  A party was in progress in the apartment, and Stephanie, a Belinda Carlisle look-alike, took it upon herself to make sure everyone present knew I was from the enemy.  Others, but particularly Stephanie, gave me a lot of good-natured ribbing that evening. 

The following morning, people nursing hangovers gathered and Gary and Chris’ apartment to prepare for the walk to The Horseshoe.  While everyone was talking in eager anticipation of the game, Stephanie distributed baggies of confetti.  Not looking up at who she was giving the bags to, she unwittingly provided me with one as well.

We all left the apartment and there I was walking to the ‘Shoe awash in a sea of scarlet (I wore neutral colors as I didn’t think the game warranted the loss of a limb) on a glorious late November day.  Few clouds, temperatures in the mid 50’s, slight breeze – an absolute perfect day for a football game.

It was only when we got to our seats in the upper deck behind the end-zone, that I realized that we were smack in the middle of the student section, “section O.”  Gary, Chris, Stephanie sat about 4 seats from me, my parents on their other side.

Ohio State won the coin toss, elected to receive, and promptly returned the ball to Michigan’s 45.  Ohio State’s QB Jim Karsatos, RB Vince Workman, and WR Chris Carter made quick work of Michigan’s vaunted defense and scored after only 4 minutes after kickoff, it was 7-0, Buckeyes.  The stadium was electrified.

After Michigan returned the kickoff and the offense took the field, the chants of “Harbaugh, Harbaugh” commenced.  They were briefly quieted when the Michigan QB led the team down the field, and after 9 plays Michigan had a 1^st down on the OSU 14-yard line.  Three plays resulted in a net 1 yard loss, and Michigan had to settle for a Mike Gillette field goal; 7-3, Ohio State.

The next Ohio State possession this time started at the OSU 20-yard line.  No matter; same result as the first possession, only quicker.  On their third play from scrimmage, Workman sprinted for a 46-yard TD run.  With 3 minutes left in the 1^st quarter the score was 14-3, Ohio State.  Pandemonium.  Confetti everywhere.  What the hell happened to the defense?  Did Eastern Michigan make the trip instead?  This was getting unbearable, and fast.     

After the score, Stephanie promptly came over and asked me how I was enjoying the game.  I liked Stephanie; she seemed quite concerned about my comfort and entertainment pleasure.

On Michigan’s next possession, Jim Harbaugh threw an interception that was returned to Ohio State’s 42 yard line.  The “Harbaugh, Harbaugh” chants were intense.

On 1^st down, Vince Workman ran 29 yards down to the Michigan 29 yard line.  Where the hell is the defense?  A Karsatos completion to Chris Carter and the Buckeyes and the ball was on the 1 yard line.  Agghhhh!  I was in intense pain, and Michigan was on the verge of being run out of the stadium.  What, a holding call nullified the play?  Relief beyond belief.  The defense holds!  Ohio State’s kicker, Matt Franz then missed a 43 yard attempt.  The score remains 14-3, Ohio State.  We still had life…barely, it seemed.

But the way both teams were playing, and with the crowd, there just didn’t seem to be much hope.  Bo Schembechler’s teams were not known for coming back from double-digit deficits, no matter how much time remained in the game.

After an exchange of punts, Michigan put together a decent drive and got another Mike Gillette 34 field goal, cutting the deficit to 14-6.

The defense, playing much better, forced another punt, and Michigan drove down to Ohio State’s 8-yard line.  On first down, Harbaugh threw his second interception of the game.  The “Harbaugh, Harbaugh” chants were now deafening. 

Halftime, 14-6, Ohio State.  The defense finally came around after the first 3 Ohio State drives, but with 2 interceptions, Harbaugh was off his game.  Was the crowd getting to him?  During halftime, I got to know one of the students sitting next to me.  He seemed to be quite a nice guy, but hey, with an 8-point lead, he was feeling quite satisfied at the moment.  Stephanie also stopped by, making sure that I was still enjoying the game and the OSU band.  That Stephanie, still looking out for me.

As fast as the 1^st half was, the start of the 2^nd half accelerated the pace.  Michigan received the ball and put together a smart, 83-yard drive capped off by a 4-yard TD run by Jamie Morris.  Michigan was now down by only 1 point, 14-13.  With Michigan still behind, I quietly applauded the score, and noticed that the “Harbaugh, Harbaugh” taunting chants seemed to be silenced for good.

Ohio State answered on their ensuing possession, driving 61 yards to Michigan’s 14-yard line and a first down.  However, the Buckeyes had to settle for a 27-yard Matt Franz field goal, and Ohio State extended its slight lead to four, 17-13. 

After the kickoff, on 1^st down from the 22-yard line, Michigan’s mighty mite back, Jamie Morris, took Harbaugh’s hand-off, broke through the line and cut out to the sideline.  It was a race to the goal with Ohio State roverback Sonny Gordon.  Morris, not a true speedster, lost the race, but gained 52 yards, putting the ball on the on Ohio State’s 26-yard line.  Several plays later it was again Michigan’s indispensable back for an 8 yard TD. 

We had the lead, and I was stunned.  Then I remembered that, in my coat pocket was the confetti that I accidentally gotten from Stephanie back at the apartment.  I stood up in the middle of the student section, confetti bag in hand, and started throwing handfuls up into the crowd.  An OSU student behind me grabbed the bag and dumped the rest of its contents on my head.  OK, I deserved that. 

With a little less than 4 minutes left in the 3^rd quarter and a lead of 19-17, Bo Schembechler opted to go for 2 points on the conversion.  What was up with that?  Harbaugh’s pass for 2 failed.

After kicking off, Michigan quickly forced Ohio State to punt.  Michigan’s offense was backed up at their 15-yard line, but that didn’t matter, this offense was hot.  Bang, bang, bang, 7 plays and the offense was down to the Ohio State 8 yard line.  Little-used Thomas Wilcher ran it in from there, and the Horseshoe was completely silent. 

Well almost.  You see, there was this lone asshole in the upper deck in the middle of the student section, who, although too cowardly to wear his Michigan school colors, proceeded to stand up amongst all of the seated, scarlet-clad fans.  He made his way along the row in order to stand in front of this Belinda Carlisle-looking girl, and once there, raised his arms high into the air and yelled “TOUCHDOWN!” at the top of his voice. 

Let me tell you, it felt great, and I didn’t even get a bunch of trash or liquid refreshments thrown at me.  I must have caught them by surprise.

Michigan led, 25-17, and this time, Schembechler decided in favor of the 1-point conversion.  Gillette’s kick made it 26-17, Michigan.

On the very first play after the kickoff, Jim Karsatos threw an interception to linebacker Andree McIntyre, and Michigan had the ball on Ohio State’s 36-yard line.  This all seemed almost too good to be true.  It was.  Three plays netted only 6 yards, and Mike Gillette’s 47-yard field goal attempt was blocked.  Ohio State was still alive, and in business on their own 44-yard line.  It took all of 4 plays for Ohio State to score, with the TD coming on a 17-yard Karsatos to Carter pass. 

With a little over 9 minutes to play, Michigan led 26-24, and I was feeling very nervous. I may have gloated a little too soon.

An exchange of punts and a Michigan fumble ensued, and the entire game came down to a Matt Franz 45-yard field goal attempt.  Having a cordial relationship with the guy sitting next to me, I remarked that make or miss, this was the best game I have ever attended.

Franz’ attempt was wide left by about 3 feet.

Greatly relieved, I did not celebrate, at least outwardly.  I said that, while I wanted Michigan to win, it was a shame that Franz probably dreamed of that kick for much of his life, and when given the opportunity, he failed.  Franz would get another chance next year.   

Ohio State went on to blast Texas A&M in the Cotton Bowl, 28-12, and “ole 9-3 Earle” managed to break his 6-year 9-3 streak.  The Buckeyes finished the season 10-3.  The Columbus natives were still restless.

As for Michigan, they had a date in Hawaii the following week (a lackluster 27-10 win) and then on to Pasadena, where they played a new opponent (Arizona State), but with the typical Rose Bowl result, a 22-15 loss.  It would not be the last time Bo Schembechler would have a run-in with Arizona State University, or its head coach, John Cooper.