With all the worry over FSU somebody recently reminded me that in '73 it was Michigan's turn to go to the Rose Bowl but their starter at QB was injured and the Big 10 sent Ohio State instead because of that injury.
I remember that happening but didn't know the reason. I thought it was because OSU had been there more recently (the prior year?).
The Big 10 used to bar teams from going to the Rose Bowl in consecutive years and the runner up would go to the RB. That ban was lifted prior to the 1973 season. Like Stu wrote, Franklin’s injury caused a majority of the AD’s to vote for OSU. By the early 70’s the PAC 8 was dominating the B10 at the Rose Bowl and the AD’s were desperate to reverse that trend and in a 6-4 vote decided that Franklin’s injury made OSU the stronger candidate. Since the RB was the only bowl game the B10 participated in at that time, an undefeated M team stayed home for the holidays. 50 years later, M fans are still pissed off about that vote.
Bobda I remember that well and if the shoe fit the other foot, I would be dissed also. Some things just never change.
Thanks, Stu and Bobda. I chuckle at myself because 1973 would have been a hectic year for my young family. We had a 3 yr.old and a 1 yr. old (would have a 3rd a few years later). Although I read the newspaper daily, I must not have been keeping up with sports, including the B10, like I normally would have. I just blanked on the situation you've described.
Most ND fans are still pissed over '93 when we beat FSU, then the #1 team and many thought one of the greatest teams ever. We of course lost to BC the next week. But we beat the #1 team, Colorado, in the Orange Bowl and ended up with the same record as FSU, and beat them head to head and thought head to head meant something. But instead they voted FSU #1. Head to Head didn't really count that year.
Of course,Alabama will never forget the 1966 Notre Dame vs Michigan State battle to the closing whistle.
Terry, we beat #7 Texas A&M 24-21 in the Cotton Bowl. I was there, staying in the same hotel as the team. After the game It was a euphoric atmosphere post-game. There was an open atrium so that everyone on upper floors could look over the balcony and hear Coach Holtz speak. Needless to say, the feeling at the time was that we would be the national champs.
Anybody watch the Army-Navy game? I was busy so I missed it, but it was apparently quite a game with an epic goal line stand to seal the deal for the Cadets.
Jayden Daniels wins the Heisman. The guy had an amazing season and IMHO was the most exciting player in college football. Sounds like Marvin Harrison Jr is going to return to Ohio State. I'm surprised as he would have been a 1st round draft pick, likely a pretty high one to boot.
I read an unconfirmed report that the school through the local NIL network ponied up $25 million in incentives for young Mr. Harrison which is more than he would have gotten from an NFL team up front.
Wasn't sure of the right topic for this. Saw it on Twitter this morning. FYI: Portal entries for the Big 10 through Sunday morning: Indiana- 26 Michigan State- 25 Purdue- 25 Ohio State- 16 Minnesota- 11 Illinois- 10 Maryland- 10 Wisconsin- 9 Rutgers- 9 Nebraska- 6 Iowa- 6 Northwestern- 4 Penn State- 3 Michigan- 0
In an unusual move USC has hired a Head Coach to be a defensive assistant. Coach Entz NDSU team is in the FCS Semi-finals vs Montana for the right to go to the FCS Championship. He could win another championship assuming that he will coach through the end of the season for North Dakota State. USC made another significant addition to address its underperforming defense, hiring North Dakota State head coach Matt Entz as the school's linebackers coach and assistant head coach for defense. Entz brings a strong résumé, as he won two national titles as the head coach at North Dakota State and another four titles as the school's defensive coordinator. He has been named both the coach of the year and coordinator of the year in the FCS.