Legends Patch Nominees: Rob Lytle

Since Desmond Howard became the first Michigan player to receive a Legends Patch, there has been much debate surrounding which players deserve the award as well.  In an effort to settle some of the debate, we will be breaking down a former Michigan football player that we believe should be analyzed as a nominee for a Legends Patch.  This does not mean our writers believe they should be formally nominated in some way, but only that their credentials should be reviewed. If you have an opinion please comment or contact our writers via Twitter.




Nominee: Rob Lytle
"Consensus All-American and named Chicago Tribune's Big Ten Conference Most Valuable Player in 1976. He gained 1,469 yards as a senior to set a Michigan record and broke the Wolverine career rushing mark with 3,317 yards. His honors include the John F. Maulbetsch Award (top freshman) and the Louis B. Hyde Award (team's MVP). He finished third in Heisman Trophy balloting. He set a conference record by rushing for 180 yards in just 10 carries against Michigan State, an unprecedented 18-yard per carry average. Lytle became an outstanding player with the Denver Broncos of the NFL." - Bentley Historical Library

Remembering The 'Ten Year War'

The date is November 26th, 2006.  Michigan is about to take on Ohio State in what will be the most hyped game of the season.  The marks the first time the two schools have played each other ranked #1 and #2 in history.  Two living legends stand on each sideline, Lloyd Carr and Jim Tressel.  Two Heisman contenders take the field, Mike Hart and Troy Smith.  Each team representing some of the most historic college football programs in the nation.  They compete in Ohio State's legendary Horseshoe.  The winner will have an auto-bid to the National Championship game.  The loser will not be as lucky.


The date is November 23rd, 2011.  Ohio State has just lost to Michigan for the first time in nearly a decade and is reeling after a 6-6 season.  Michigan's first year coach Brady Hoke seemed destined for success after a 10-2 season, in great position for a BCS bowl, and a victory in his first edition of "The Game".  The Buckeyes respond by hiring former Buckeye assistant coach Urban Meyer.  With the hire of Meyer comes a legacy of winning.  Two national championships, four BCS game appearances, and an amazing record of 104-23 as a head coach.  Rumblings arise arguing that a repeat of the classic "Ten Year War" between Bo Schembechler and Woody Hayes will soon occur between Hoke and Meyer.  

Remembering The 'Ten Year War' - 1978 Edition

The final edition of the Ten Year War.  Thinking about what unfolded over the previous 9 games, that statement should mean something.  The great upset of 1969, Woody's revenge in 1970, the epic tie and the drama that followed in 1973, and the return of Michigan in 1976.  The tide had switched multiple times over the series and before the 1978 game, Michigan had almost all the momentum.  The Ten Year War wouldn't finish in quite the same way as the first match-up, but the Victors would be the same.


Background:
Michigan returned much from its 1977 squad.  Not only the momentum from its 2nd consecutive Big Ten championship, but also from its 2nd consecutive Rose Bowl berth and 2nd consecutive win over the Buckeyes.  Things had been going well for Michigan since their loss to Ohio State in 1975.  Not only had Michigan been rolling, but they returned some great players for 1978.  Michigan returned quarterback Rick Leach and had a solid running back group containing Harlan Huckleby, Roosevelt Smith, Butch Woolfolk, and Stanley Edwards.


The defense, as usual, was fantastic.  Not only did the defense shutout 4 opponents before the Ohio State game, but it only allowed 20 points or more in one contest.  Simply astounding considering that Michigan played some challenging road games at Notre Dame, Wisconsin, and Iowa.  Michigan did fall to MSU in their 5th game, but they followed that game with 5 consecutive victories leading into the Ohio State game with a combined score of 201-30.  Another interesting thing to note is that the 1978 loss to Michigan State was only the 2nd time Bo had lost to the Spartans since becoming coach at Michigan.  There's no doubt that the matchup with the Buckeyes was Michigan's #1 rivalry, but this is just another thing displaying Michigan's full dedication to beating OSU.

Remembering The 'Ten Year War' - 1977 Edition

The 1977 game did not carry as much importance as some of its predecessors like the 1969 and 1976 games, but it still had some important qualities that shaped this rivalry long-term.  It still featured two teams ranked in the top 5 (something that had almost become commonplace in this rivalry) and was decided by just one score, but it definitely did little to change the tide of the rivalry and change its legacy long-term.  This is one of those games that just added to what was already a great series.  One interesting thing to note about this game was that it was the last game to be held in Ann Arbor between Bo and Woody.  


Background:
Michigan's 1977 team, much like Ohio State's 1976 squad had the challenge of replacing one of its best offensive players.  Rob Lytle had graduated and Michigan had to find somebody else to run the ball.  They still had Rick Leach and Glenn Davis, but losing Lytle was a major obstacle.  Roosevelt Smith and Harlan Huckleby did a nice job at replacing Lytle.  This is one of the major things that allowed the 1977 Wolverines to be so successful.


The Wolverines started their 1977 run much like their 1976 run.  They dominated early, winning their first 6 games by a combined score of 193-42.  That's pretty impressive considering that those games included two ranked teams, two road games, and a rivalry game against MSU.  Michigan did fall the next week in a road game against Minnesota, but followed it up with three dominant wins against Purdue, Northwestern, and Iowa.  Michigan spent 4 weeks during the season ranked #1 and entered the OSU game ranked #5.  This would be the 8th consecutive time Michigan entered the OSU game ranked #5 or higher.

Remembering The 'Ten Year War' - 1976 Edition

Every game in the Ten Year War set the table for future games, but there are a couple games that truly impacted the Ten Year War and the legacy that followed.  The 1969 and 1973 games were undoubtedly these types of games and the 1976 was as well.  If Woody Hayes had retired after the 1975 season, his legacy would have been unquestioned.  He would have just ended an undefeated season and would have left with a 4-2-1 record against Bo Schembechler.  Of course, he did no such thing and the tide would once against shift in the 1976 edition of "The Game" back towards Michigan.


Background:
Michigan's 1976 team was something to behold.  Not only did they storm through their first 8 games with a score of 352-58, but they also were ranked #1 through 8 games.  The 1976 defense was impeccable, holding 8 opponents to one score or less and really only allowing three teams to score anything significant.  Even in Michigan's only regular season loss on the road against Purdue, the Boilermakers only scored 16 points.  This loss was pretty important, as it truly removed Michigan from the national championship discussion.  Granted, the Wolverines lost the Rose Bowl to USC, but they probably would have entered that game ranked #1 instead of #2.


What also adds to this performance wass the fact that the 1976 version of "The Game" was the 7th straight time that Michigan entered the game against Ohio State ranked in the top 5.  That much consistency is simply astounding.  Compare it to some of the more modern dynasties.  Bob Stoops and Oklahoma were ranked #6 or higher for 5 straight years, Alabama has been ranked #10 or higher for 4 straight years, Florida was #13 or higher for 5 straight years, Jim Tressel had OSU ranked #9 or higher for 6 straight years.  In fact, the only recent dynasty that can really match Michigan's performance from 1970-1976 was USC.  Pete Carroll had the Trojans ranked #4 or higher for 7 straight years.  However, we all know about the sanctions that removed some of those records so in reality, not even USC could match Michigan's performance during the 1970-1976 period.

Remembering The 'Ten Year War' - 1975 Edition

By 1975, not only were both teams battling hard in their regular season finale in "The Game", but they were also competing heavily on a national level year after year. The Wolverines had visited the Rose Bowl twice, and the Buckeyes had won the 1973 Rose Bowl against USC.



Background:
Michigan jumped into the 1975 season with a big, 23-6 victory against the Wisconsin Badgers, but they were unable to carry over the early momentum to the next two weeks, tying with both Stanford and Baylor. Although the Wolverines hadn't lost a game yet, having only one win through the first three weeks was already setting them back enough. It was vitally important to pick it up and not look back, which is exactly what they did.

The Wolverines pounced out through the rest of the season. Under Bo, Michigan was winning with relative ease, including an astonishing 69-0 victory over Northwestern. The next week was followed up with a 55-7 blow-out win over Indiana. That's 126 points in two weeks of football for the Wolverines, and things didn't cool down after that. Michigan marched on to win their final three games of the season, heading into "The Game" with a record of 8-0-2.

Remembering The 'Ten Year War' - 1974 Edition

By 1974, the Ten Year War was in full swing.  Since Bo's victory in 1969, the rivalry had taken a new life with both teams splitting sharing victories over one another.  Despite what some considered a "win" for Michigan in 1973, the Buckeyes had went to the Rose Bowl and gotten all the glory for the previous season.  The controversy that surrounded the two teams hung heavy over both programs throughout the 1974 season and especially in the weeks and days preceding "The Game".


Background:
Michigan may not have went to a bowl game in 1973 despite having an undefeated record, but the Wolverines came out swinging in 1974.  They dominated the first opponents on their schedule, allowing 1 touchdown in their first 3 games and winning by a combined score of 107-7 against some decent opponents, including Iowa and Colorado.  Michigan's defense weakened a bit over the following weeks, but the Wolverines were not seriously threatened until they faced Wisconsin in Camp Randall.

Legends Patch Nominees: Jim Mandich

Since Desmond Howard became the first Michigan player to receive a Legends Patch, there has been much debate surrounding which players deserve the award as well.  In an effort to settle some of the debate, we will be breaking down a former Michigan football player that we believe should be analyzed as a nominee for a Legends Patch.  This does not mean our writers believe they should be formally nominated in some way, but only that their credentials should be reviewed. If you have an opinion please comment or contact our writers via Twitter.


Nominee: Jim Mandich
"Combined great pass catching with sturdy blocking at tight end to make virtually every All-American squad including Academic All-American. Caught 119 passes for 1494 yards and seven touchdowns in three-year career. Once had 10 receptions for 156 yards in single game and had eight catches for 79 yards in 1970 Rose Bowl. Elected captain of team and most valuable player. The 6-3, 220 pounder was an All-American prep player at Solon, Ohio." - Bentley Historical Library

Remembering The 'Ten Year War' - 1973 Edition

The first four games of the Ten Year War had been very exciting, but none would be more controversial than the 1973 contest between the Wolverines and Buckeyes.  Yes, the 1971 game had been controversial because of the game-sealing interception, but it would be nothing like the weeks and offseason following the finale to the 1973 season.  The game would prove to be so important that it would permanently change Big Ten policies and change the face of the rivalry.


Background:
After a disappointing finish to the 1972 season, Michigan had rebounded well, beginning the season ranked #5 in the nation and holding their first seven opponents to 10 points or less.  During this stretch, Michigan would also be great on the offensive side of the ball, only scoring fewer than 20 points once.  By time the 1973 Ohio State game rolled around, Michigan had won 31 of its last 32 regular season games, something that would be impressive during any coaching tenure.

Top Ten (1-5) Players From Ten Year War Part 2

The Ten Year War featured some of the best Wolverine athletes Michigan football has ever had to offer. In Part One of the countdown of the top ten Michigan players through the Ten Year War, there were many impressive names, including Rob Lytle and Randy Logan, but that was  just the first half. Now, we counting down numbers 1-5.

5. Tom Cutis (DB)
Tom Curtis was the greatest pass interceptor to ever play for the University of Michigan. In his three years on the football team, Curtis picked off an amazing 25 passes, including seven his sophomore season, which was a Big Ten record. Eight more INTs in his senior season, along with 45 solo tackles, was more than enough to honor Curtis as an All-American.

At the end of his career at Michigan, Curtis had intercepted 25 passes, returning them for an NCAA record 431 yards. curtis was also named All-Big Ten twice in his college career.

Tom Curtis carried over his career trends into "The Game" with the Buckeyes. Curtis was a constant threat to the OSU offense, picking off a couple passes in three seasons and recording 15 total tackles.

Top Ten (6-10) Players From Ten Year War Part 1

The Ten Year War is viewed as the most iconic time period in Michigan football history by most fans and analysts because of how it changed "The Game" and the path of both Michigan and Ohio State. The face of those ten years is obviously Bo Schembechler and Woody Hayes, but there a large number of impactful players who had their say in "The Game" through this time. So we are counting down the top ten Wolverine players to strap on the winged helmet during the Ten Year War.


10. Marty Huff (LB)
 Marty Huff played at LB for three years for the Michigan Wolverines, two of which during the Ten Year War (1969 and 1970). Huff was honored as an All-American in 1970 after one of the best single-year performances from a Michigan LB in school history. He recorded 124 tackles (one for loss) and five INTs for a total of 85 yards in his All-American season.


Through his two years competing in the Ten Year War, Huff recorded 250 tackles, along with 8 INTs. He was very well capable of defending both the run and the pass, called the signals for the defense, and won the John Maulbetsch Trophy a the top freshman in the country. Huff scored a TD as a sophomore, intercepting a pass and returning it 44-yards.


With no argument, Marty Huff had his best game against the Buckeyes during his All-American season of 1970. He racked up an incredible 13 total tackled, 10 of which were solo. He was a dominant force for the Wolverines in "The Game."

Legends Patch Nominees: Rick Leach

Since Desmond Howard became the first Michigan player to receive a Legends Patch, there has been much debate surrounding which players deserve the award as well.  In an effort to settle some of the debate, we will be breaking down a former Michigan football player that we believe should be analyzed as a nominee for a Legends Patch.  This does not mean our writers believe they should be formally nominated in some way, but only that their credentials should be reviewed. If you have an opinion please comment or contact our writers via Twitter.


Nominee: Rick Leach
One of the finest athletes in Michigan history, Leach three times he was named All-Big Ten quarterback and three times placed in the voting for the Heisman Trophy, finishing third as a senior when he was voted Michigan's and the Big Ten's Most Valuable Player. Named Player of the Year by several athletic clubs and television networks, he was co- most valuable player in the 1979 Rose Bowl and Hula Bowl. All Michigan's career passing, total offense and touchdown records were broken by the lefthander as well as the season record for touchdown passes (17). He set an NCAA record for most touchdowns accounted for (82) and broke Big Ten records for total offense (6,460) total plays (1,034) and touchdown passes (48). He won the Big Ten batting championship as a junior and became one of the few athletes in modern times to become All-American in both football and baseball. He was a first round draft selection by the Detroit Tigers of the American League. - Bentley Historical Library

Remembering The 'Ten Year War' - 1972 Edition

The 1971 game may not have had as much hype as the 1969 and 1970 games in the Ten Year War, but the 1972 game brought the rivalry back to the forefront of the nation.  Tensions were stirred pretty high and although there was some pressure rising on Woody Hayes after a 6-4 season and a 1-2 record against Bo leading into 1972, both coaches had their programs in top shape and vying for the Big Ten title, a Rose Bowl berth, and a shot at the national title in Pasadena during this time.




Background:
This was a monumental year for college football in several ways.  First, the "no repeat" Rose Bowl rule was abolished, meaning that a team could go to the Rose Bowl in consecutive seasons from the Big Ten, which would be applicable to Michigan in the 1972 season since they made the Rose Bowl in 1971.  Along with this, the NCAA allowed freshmen to play on the varsity team.  This would be quite significant because it allowed Ohio State's famed running back Archie Griffin to be able to play during the 1972 season.

Remembering The 'Ten Year War' - 1971 Edition

The 1969 and 1970 games in the Ten Year War were great, but the 1971 game was close fought and was a nail-biter all the way until the end.  This game didn't have as many extra factors as its predecessors, but the actual play was exceptional.  There had never been good feelings between Michigan and Ohio State, but the 1971 game showcased just how much this game meant to both teams, both during and after.  Without the 1969 and 1970 games, the way this game unfolded probably wouldn't have happened, but this game was extremely important in the Ten Year War


Background:
After Bo's undefeated season had been ruined by Woody's team in Columbus in 1970, the preparation had begun quite early for 1971, in fact, right after Michigan got back to Ann Arbor.  Michigan had used this preparation to build on the team's impressive play during the majority of the previous season.  The 1971 Wolverines were simply dominant.  They were 10-0 entering the Ohio State game and had held 8 of their opponents to one score or less.  The only team that even finished within a touchdown was Purdue the week before "The Game".

Remembering The 'Ten Year War' - 1970 Edition

Round 2 of the Ten Year War. The Buckeyes were still coping with a crushing loss to the Wolverines from the year before in a game that tipped off the war itself. This game was also extremely important to the history and legacy of the Ten Year War because, without an OSU victory, it is possible that the series could have been too much of a one-sided affair to be called a "war." Fortunately, at least for the sake of this tremendous piece of history, the Buckeyes picked up their first win in the Ten Year War, though it wasn't so fortunate for Michigan fans.

Background:
The rivalry was really kicked into gear heading into the 1970 season because of the huge upset the Wolverines were able to pull off the previous year against OSU. This was a Wolverine team that went into the 1970 season with a lot of hype under 2nd year coach Bo Schembechler. Michigan simply dominated their opponents all the way up to their November 21st meeting with the Buckeyes, outscoring opponents 279-70.

Hot Topics: Can The 'Ten Year War' Be Repeated With Hoke And Meyer?

On a regular basis, our writers will break down a "Hot Topic" among the Michigan fans and express their personal opinions regarding the issue. Topics cover everything from major athletic department decisions to team apparel. Writers have their own opinions and readers and their views may not necessarily represent Hoke's Mad Magicians as an entity.  Readers are welcome to comment below or contact our writers via Twitter with their own thoughts.

Remembering The 'Ten Year War' - 1969 Edition

The beginning of the Ten Year War.  This is the game that not only changed the rivalry, but also changed Michigan football forever.  This was certainly not the most hyped game in the Ten Year War or the closest, but it was probably the most important because of what it created and changed.  Without this game, there might have never been a Ten Year War, Michigan football's dominance in the decades following, or the great legacy of Bo Schembechler.


Background:
To say Michigan had been struggling before the 1969 season would really be an understatement, especially if one is looking at the team's performance against Ohio State.  Over the last nine games against OSU, Michigan had won just twice.  The Wolverines had also only beaten Buckeye teams coached by Woody Hayes a total of six times in eighteen seasons.  That gave Hayes a 67% winning percentage against Michigan.  Very impressive for such a long tenure.  The rivalry  in the preceding years had been fun for Buckeye fans, but had been horrible for Michigan fans.