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𝑺𝒖𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒐𝒓 𝑮𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅 𝑭𝒐𝒓𝒄𝒆𝒔

The second installment of the series focusing on the Little Brown Jug takes us back to 1975. After four consecutive double-digit victory seasons, Michigan had to break in a new quarterback in the 1975 season. Fortunately for the Wolverines, Ricky Leach possessed multiple skills, particularly carrying the ball. Leach was joined in the running attack by a trio of running backs including Rob Lytle, Gordon Bell and Russell Davis, and the backfield made it almost impossible for the Minnesota defense to concentrate on just one ballcarrier. 

The Minnesota offense responded by handing the reins to quarterback Tony Dungy, ironically a native of Jackson, Michigan. Dungy riddled the Michigan defense for 17 completions, accumulating 198 yards in passing. The Golden Gophers scored 21 points on Michigan, the most points surrendered by Michigan in six seasons. Still, the Michigan offensive line controlled the line of scrimmage, allowing the Wolverines to amass 345 yards on the ground. The Wolverines had almost as much trouble with the officials as they did with the Minnesota defense. Bell appeared to have scored on a 27-yard sweep, only to have the touchdown called back by a penalty on the Minnesota offense that Michigan wasn’t permitted to refuse. Undaunted, the Wolverines scored on a 3-yard run by Leach that rendered the issue moot. 

Minnesota provided feisty opposition, but the Wolverines held on for a 28-21 win, their ninth consecutive victory in the series. Michigan finished with a record of 8 wins, 2 losses and 2 ties, including a 14-6 loss to Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl, the first postseason appearance by a Big Ten team that had not won the conference title. The Wolverines’ postseason bowl appearance was one of several factors that led to bowl expansions in the 1970s and 1980s. Leach also served notice that he would be a factor for several seasons to come.