Background
Ohio State's 1969 football team was dubbed by the media as the "greatest college football team of all time", with a handful of proven All-Big Ten players and All-Americans, such as quarterback Rex Kern, running backs Larry Zelina, Jim Otis and John Brockington, wide receivers Jan White and Bruce Jankowski, middle guard Jim Stillwagon and defensive star Jack Tatum. Leading up to the Buckeyes' meeting with Michigan, Ohio State had never trailed in a game during the 1969 season, and no team had scored more than 21 points on them all season (Michigan State in a 54-21 loss). In addition, Ohio State had not scored less than 34 points in any game and their closest margin of victory was 27 points in a 34-7 win over Minnesota.
Michigan was in the process of rebuilding after a period of mediocrity that saw them only go to one Rose Bowl between 1951 and 1968; the program, known for the winning traditions under Fielding H. Yost and Fritz Crisler, seemed to had lost its way. Schembechler was hired before the 1969 season, after six successful seasons as head coach of his alma mater, Miami University of Ohio, where he'd won two MAC titles. But the team began the season with an unassuming 3-2 record, including a loss to in-state rival Michigan State. But they did get a key 30-21 win vs. #9 Purdue on Oct. 11 that was crucial; had they lost that game, Purdue would have gone to the Rose Bowl (Ohio State could not go due to the Big Ten's "no repeat" rule) regardless of the outcome of the Ohio State game. They would go on to win their next four straight, with a team including quarterback Don Moorhead, fullback Garvie Craw, wingback John Gabler, tailbacks Glenn Doughty and Billy Taylor, offensive lineman Dan Dierdorf and defensive stars Barry Pierson, Thom Darden, Cecil Pryor and Henry Hill.
When Schembechler was hired, he set the team goal — beat Ohio State. One advantage Schembechler had was that he had played for Woody Hayes at Miami (Ohio), then coached with him at Ohio State, so he patterned his team after Hayes' 1969 behemoth. There was also a revenge factor from the 1968 game when Ohio State trounced Michigan, 50-14, including going for two after their last touchdown in the game's final moments. After the game, when reporters asked Ohio State coach Woody Hayes why he went for two, Hayes replied "because I couldn't go for three!"
Ohio State was favored by 17 points going into Michigan Stadium on November 22. Due to the Big Ten's "no repeat" rule in effect at the time, the Buckeyes knew a victory would give them their second consecutive national championship because they could not go to a Bowl Game. Michigan was playing for a share of the conference championship. To motivate his team, Schembechler had the number 50 displayed everywhere in the Michigan locker room, and taped to every player's practice uniform.
Read more about this topic: 1969 Michigan Vs. Ohio State Football Game
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