GBMWolverine: Sixty Years Ago — Another Look Back
Posted at 8:00am — 11/25/2010
Sixty Years Ago — Another Look Back at History by GBMWolverine
Dedicated to a Great Athlete and a Better Man – Vic Janowicz
What was once a major part of football lore, and a lynchpin of the Michigan-Ohio State rivalry, the Snow Bowl of 1950 has faded somewhat from the once lofty status the game was assigned by football aficionados (also afficianados). The reasons are time and the time related reality that most of the population of today was not around and can only read about the classic game.
I was not at the Snow Bowl, but I am in a picture standing beside shoveled sidewalks that had plenty of snow on both sides. So what was so special about a healthy amount of snow beside a sidewalk? This snow came from an unexpected blizzard in November that is still remembered well by those who experienced the event. Lore in Buckeyeland growing up was that people died at the game and were later found in a frozen state. Things were not that bad.
I am a close friend with many who were at the game and are exceptional at relaying detail with correct and precise accuracy.
And so on November 25, 1950, sixty years ago, Michigan and Ohio State squared off in the rivalry and the stakes were higher for the Buckeyes, as a Big Ten Championship was in the balance. The temperature dipped, by most accounts about five inches of snow fell, and the wind was between 25-30 miles an hour. This day was officially labeled a blizzard.
As a result visibility was limited and the effect of cold, wind, and snow in this pre tech era was significant upon the participants. The game being played was in doubt and in the hands of Ohio State Athletic Director Larkins. After conferencing with officials of both schools, a decision was made to play the game. Herein, historical perspective changes as two explanations, both plausible, are presented as the final justification for playing the game. Both courses of action are based on the 1950 reality that once cancelled the game would not have been played.
The first advancement was that Ohio State was the automatic champion if the game was cancelled, but chose to play the game in a fashion of honor and chivalry. The second is that Director Larkins did not want to refund the gate money of 50,000 fans; yes a far different outcome than would be expected in contemporary society where the back of a ticket is a complex license that no one reads.
At that time, a little less than 80,000 fans could fit into the Horseshoe and the football crazy town did put 50,000 at the game in a blizzard. Today, with the population and parking difficulties, a five-inch snowstorm with blizzard winds would tie up the entire city of Columbus; the tow trucks would make a fortune, and the entire city services would be diverted to the game traffic dilemma.
The game was brutal to watch and even worse to play. Many later described the game as not real football, a judgment hard to dispute. Ohio State scored first on a field goal into the wind by the legendary all-around player, Vic Janowicz. Those at the game describe this feat as a near miracle and a superhuman effort. That was the last time Ohio State scored.
A clear strategy evolved: punt!!! Give the ball to the other team and hope for an error that would lead to a golden opportunity. Punts occurred on every down, even first down. The most common down to punt was third down, this was in case a bad snap or fumble caused a game ending catastrophe; fourth down was held in reserve. The game yielded two blocked punts by Michigan; one resulted in a safety and one in a touchdown. The total number of punts has been stated at forty-five. Michigan was outplayed and did not achieve one first down, a record that certainly will not be duplicated until an uber storm strikes another game.
Michigan won the game 9-3 in the match up of coaches Wes Fesler and Bennie Oosterbaan. In that era, Miami of Ohio was the “Cradle of Coaches” and Ohio State was the “Graveyard of Coaches.” Fesler was gone and next up for Ohio State in the driver’s seat: the legendary Woody Hayes.
One source I referred to above as a trusted eyewitnesses walked to the game from a nearby neighborhood and just walked in. With him was a large cardboard box, a stove box if memory recalls, with slits inserted. The two stowaways took the box to C deck, where few cared what was done that day, and put the box over the top and watched the game through the slits. My acquaintance stated that some plays could be seen and many could not; it all depended on the wind speed and direction at that particular moment. Midway through the game, a suffering fan with some wealth paid out a hefty sum of five dollars for the box.
The best source I can lay claim to was the centerpiece of the game, future Heisman winner Vic Janowicz. In my years of knowing Mr. Janowicz before his passing I know of not one person who did not marvel at the personal qualities Vic had. Foremost was his incredible sense of humility. Thank you was always the response I received for any professional venture or small talk I experienced with Mr. Janowicz and his family. His love for his family was legendary and of the greatest sincerity. His passing to the Columbus community was sad for reasons tied to Ohio State lore. To those who knew Vic, his passing was sad for others reasons, most easily summarized that a great man had been lost.
Michigan fans that are well informed will always hold Tom Harmon as the penultimate hero and all around All-American. In Columbus, Ohio the same status can be provided to Vic Janowicz, who like Harmon could do it all. Vic was a good enough athlete to play professional baseball and professional football. A serious accident greatly impeded his potential professional success. And so with no complaints Vic Janowicz settled down to be a successful businessman and an All-American family man.
What a contrast Vic Janowicz and Tom Harmon are to the athletes of today, who have been raised in a different culture with clear contrasts.
Perhaps for this reason, I hope that the lore and legend of the 1950 Snow Bowl never fades like the view of my friend who watched the game through a cardboard box.
I sincerely hope all of you enjoyed this year’s history 101 presentation. Similar articles on the famous 1969 upset and the 1960 Ohio State basketball national champions can be found in our archives.
Written by Doc4Blu — GBMWolverine Staff
Go Blue — Wear Maize!