The first installment of this series looking back at the football rivalry between Michigan and Michigan State takes us to 1969. The late 1960s brought change and upheaval, but the battle for the Paul Bunyan Trophy resists change, and offers little in the way of comfort to newcomers.
First-year coach Bo Schembechler brought his Michigan team to East Lansing for the annual meeting with Michigan State on Oct. 18, 1969. Schembechlerโs Wolverines entered the game with a 3-1 record, and it certainly looked as if they were building something promising. Michigan State, on the other hand, had just dropped two games, and the Spartans desperately needed a win over Michigan to salvage their season. Sometimes, that desperation produces a hunger that fuels great performances.
Tim Killian kicked a 29-yard field goal to give the Wolverines a 3-0 lead in the second quarter, but the advantage didn’t last long. Michigan State received the ensuing kickoff and began to run the ball right into the middle of the line. The relentless pounding eventually numbed the Michigan defense with the efficiency of novocain, allowing the Spartans to control the tone of the game. After several minutes, running back Don Highsmith steamrolled Marty Huff into the end zone, and the Spartans took the lead for good. After Michigan State recovered a fumble on Michiganโs next possession, quarterback Bill Triplett rolled out and scored on a 10-yard run, and the Spartans never looked back en route to a 23-12 victory. Michigan went on to accomplish great things during the 1969 season, but for Michigan State, this was the crowning achievement of the Spartansโ season. Michigan coach Bo Schembechler walked away with a defeat after his first encounter with the Spartans, but he gained a better understanding of the intrastate rivalry, which would pay dividends for the Wolverines in years to come.
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