LITMIR.BIZ

       TALK THE TALK, WALK THE WALK

      Del Duduit

       November 22, 1986: Michigan 26, Ohio State 24

      THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN WOLVERINES were fresh off their first loss of the season to the University of Minnesota and headed to Columbus, Ohio, to face their archrival the Ohio State Buckeyes. Michigan still had high hopes for the season, and a win over Ohio State would mean a great deal to the team and coach Bo Schembechler.

      The tone of the game had been set days ahead of the contest. A few days before the two teams met, Michigan quarterback Jim Harbaugh channeled his inner Joe Namath and went public with a prediction. “I guarantee we’ll beat Ohio State this Saturday. We’ll be in Pasadena on January 1. There’s no doubt in my mind about that,” he said.

      Few athletes have gone on to back up what they say in public. Namath had been right when his New York Jets had upset the Baltimore Colts 16–7 to win Super Bowl III in 1969. In 1985, Larry Bird announced he would win the inaugural NBA 3-point shootout, and he did. And in 1963, Muhammad Ali rhymed, “It ain’t no jive, Henry Cooper will go in five.” The greatest of all time was right, and he won by TKO in the fifth round.

      In 1986, Harbaugh went out on a limb and had to back up his words. During the game, both sides exhibited fantastic performances. Ohio State’s running back Vince Workman rushed for 126 yards on twenty-one carries, while quarterback Jim Karsatos was fifteen of twenty-seven for 188 yards and two touchdowns. Receiver Cris Carter hauled in seven passes for 75 yards and two touchdowns for the Bucks.

      For the Maize and Blue, Jamie Morries slashed through the Buckeye defense for 210 yards on twenty-nine carries and two TDs. Then there was Harbaugh, who finished the game nineteen of twenty-nine in the air for 261 yards and the win. His offense accumulated a whopping 529 yards.

      But the win was not a gimme by any means. In fact, Ohio State held a 7–3 lead in the first quarter. Karsatos connected with Carter on a 4-yard TD. The Buckeyes increased their advantage 14–3 when Workman galloped 43 yards for the score.

      Schembechler made adjustments at the half, and his Wolverines took control of the final two periods. Harbaugh managed scoring drives of 85, 83, and 76 yards. With 1:06 to play in the game, Michigan had a 26–24 lead. Ohio State had the ball on the Michigan 28 and faced a fourth down. Coach Earl Bruce opted to attempt a field goal to try to win the game. But Ohio State kicker Matt Franz missed the kick, and Michigan won the epic battle. Harbaugh had been right on both counts: His Wolverines beat Ohio State and went to Pasadena in the Rose Bowl.

      What guarantees in life have you made? Have you promised to spend more time with your children or that special person in your life? Have you met your commitments?

      DESIGN YOUR PLAY

      Maybe you have fantastic intentions, but life’s events have altered your plans. Maybe you told your son or daughter you would be at their game or recital and stayed late for work instead. Perhaps you promised to take your spouse to dinner and simply forgot. Life happens. That is no excuse, but it can be a reality.

      EXECUTE YOUR GAME PLAN

      You made plans for that special weekend with your partner or talked about a once-in-a-lifetime vacation or pledged to get the honey-do list finished—but time got away from you. The key to success is to follow through on your obligations as soon as possible. Don’t offer lip service to sound good, because that leads only to disappointment. Make a realistic vow, and back it up.

      When you put off doing what you said you would do, it creates stress and anxiety. If a problem comes up, don’t make an excuse but communicate on a regular basis. Be clear about expectations, and always be honest. If you cannot meet your obligation, be up front and take responsibility. Be careful not to make too many promises. Harbaugh guaranteed only one victory, and he came through. Don’t go out on a limb too many times, because that limb will eventually break off. Commit yourself only when you are sure you can honor your word.

      In the end, you must come through. No excuses. Have the mind-set to underpromise and overdeliver because that will score you big points and send you to the family Rose Bowl. Your kids want time with you, too, so come through for the ones who count the most. The after-work emails can wait, and your golfing buddies will understand. Family and commitments take priority. Go Blue!

      What obligations mean the most to you? How do you ensure you fulfill them?

       WEEK 10

       THROW THE BALL TO ME

      Cyle Young

       October 27, 1979: Indiana at Michigan

      HOMECOMING WEEKEND 1979, THE 5–1 University of Michigan Wolverines met Lee Corso’s 5–2 Indiana University Hoosiers on the field in Michigan Stadium. Even in those days, Indiana wasn’t a powerhouse of college football. But in 1979 the Hoosiers pulled together their best season under Corso. They’d go on to finish the season ranked sixteenth in the country, propelled by a huge victory over undefeated Brigham Young University in the Holiday Bowl.

      But midway through the season, the Michigan faithful weren’t too concerned over a serious challenge from Indiana. Even through three-quarters of the football game, Michigan seemed to be firmly in control. The Wolverines carried a 21–7 lead over into the fourth quarter, and the game seemed to be well in hand.

      However, Indiana wasn’t going to just lie down and let the Wolverines have another easy victory. Quarterback Tim Clifford led his team down the field, and the Hoosiers brought the game to within 7 points. The Indiana defense toughened during the fourth, and they held Michigan to a series of stalled drives.

      Despite the fourth-quarter offensive difficulties, the Wolverines still seemed in control of the game and looked like they’d leave Michigan Stadium with a win—until Indiana scored with less than a minute to go in the game, bringing the score to 21–21. Leaving Ann Arbor with a tie would be considered a massive accomplishment for the Indiana team and a significant letdown for Michigan, whose coach, Bo Schembechler, wouldn’t be happy.

      The Wolverine offense, led by quarterback John Wangler and wide receiver Anthony Carter, took control of the ball on their own 22 with fifty-one seconds left on the clock. They needed to at least get the team into field goal range. Fifty yards in fifty seconds would give them an opportunity to kick for the win.

      Wangler drove the team down the field, and the Wolverines crossed midfield. With six seconds left in the game, running back Lawrence Reid pitched the ball out of bounds at the Indiana 45-yard line. The strategy worked, and the clock stopped (it is no longer a legal maneuver today).

      Schembechler

Скачать книгу