Michigan Wolverine Football: 1950 Snow Bowl UM-OSU Game

Posted at 12:00pm — 11/28/2014

Michigan Wolverine Football: 1950 Snow Bowl UM-OSU Game

From the archives — 1950 Snow Bowl UM-OSU Game

Another History Feature From the Archives- 1950 Snow Bowl … Where is the snow when your team needs it? Read om — 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.

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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 plus 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.

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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.

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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.

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Written by GBMWolverine Staff — Doc4Blu

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