Final seconds, celebration - Michigan 1987

[mrdestiny2011]

The bottom line is this: Earle had the best winning % in the big ten (57-17) and was 5-4 against Michigan from 1979-1987. The only real reasons he was fired was because he was 0-2 in the Rose Bowl and he never won a National Championship. Still after all these years I feel he should not of been fired!

[Packman1294]

@mrdestiny2011 From what I've read in Earle's book, OSU President Jennings never really supported him (whereas Cooper had tons of support from Gee) and wanted him out, and after losing three in a row in '87 before the Michigan game he got enough votes from the board of trustees to fire him. Athletic Director Rick Bay resigned his post in protest, and I don't think an official reason was EVER given. Oh well, Jennings is long gone now, and Earle has been back in Columbus doing radio for years.

[mrdestiny2011]

@Packman1294 I was born and raised in Columbus and remember that it was know in certain circles that Bruce and Jennings did not get along at all. I think the hardest thing for Earle to do was follow in the footsteps of Woody Hayes. That man is still a God in the state of Ohio and the Buckeye nation as a whole. He is and always will be OHIO STATE football. No coach the Buckeyes will have in the future will ever fill Mr. Hayes's his shoes. Still I always felt Earle was a hell of a coach.

[bigtenbrutus]

@Packman1294 Jennings refused to let Chris Carter back on the team even though the NCAA cleared him after a 3 game suspension. Jennings ultimately led to those close losses to justify firing Earle. I hope the administration doesn't treat TP the way they did CC.



[TheVillain21]

What a great finish for a great man!!!

[sageofsuccess]

I always liked Earle in his suit and hat.

[nickma71]

I would like to see the Spielman highlight reel for this game. He was "the waterboy" before Adam Sandler dreamed up a movie of a linebacker getting 20+ tackles in a game. Spielman had 29 in this game. I think.

[Packman1294]

@nickma71

Know it's been a year since your comment, but Spielman actually had 29 tackles in the '86 game against the team up north. Unfortunately our guys lost that one, as Jamie Morris was unstoppable in the second half and Matt Frantz missed the possible winning field goal with just over a minute to play.

As for this one....what better way for Earle to get the last laugh. The man won 4 Big Ten titles, went to two Rose Bowls, beat Mich 5 times, and he was out after 9 seaons.

[nickma71]

@Packman1294 For the record, Coach Bruce did win against Michigan 5 times in 9 tries, and won several bowl games. He was also the Big 10 champ 4 times in that stretch. Coach Cooper won 3 Big 10 titles in 13 seasons, and only had 2 wins against Michigan during that stretch.

[Packman1294]

@nickma71 Yeah, I am fully aware of all that....maybe you didn't catch the bottom part of my response.

[nickma71]

@Packman1294 I did. The part of Cooper's failures needed to be added.

[Packman1294]

@nickma71 Okay, then let's add Coop's 1-6 start against Illinois, and his 3-8 record in bowl games as well.

Northwestern had more wins against Michigan in his tenure and the same number of Big Ten titles for crying out loud!!

Bottom line to me is that he fielded some excellent teams that were loaded with talent, especially from '95-'98 when his teams went a combined 43-6 (half of that 6 to you know who), but unfortunately the shortcomings are what stick out the most about his time as coach.

[nickma71]

@Packman1294 He won 75% of games, or something really good like that, but seemed almost always lose the last two.

[jeff4bucks]

@Packman1294 i was there for the losses to scUM in '95 and '96 and the ridiculous meltdown to Saban's MSU team in '98.. OSU had great teams those years, and should've won at least one title.

[Packman1294]

@jeff4bucks That '98 MSU game left probably the single most sickening feeling I've ever had after a Buckeyes game in all the years I've followed them....and that is saying something after the way the Bucks fared against mich in the 90s. Number one in the country all season and can't hold a 15 point third quarter lead or even score another point against what was obviously an inferior (although admittedly better coached) opponent. Still hurts today looking back.

[CTOWN72]

We love Earle !! What a mistake it was to have him fired for hilljack Cooper. My favorite games under Earle were '87 scUM, '85 Iowa, and '87 Texas A & M. God Bless Earle !

[chris1969kw]

This is one of my all time favorite buckeye games! God bless Earle!

[dennydog10]

if i'm not mistaken, bo told bruce after the game "i always mind losing to ohio state, but this time i don't mind as much"

that shows the respect bo had for ohio state.

[SFFOOL76]

I think a lot of respect for Earle Bruce who got screwed by the osu administration .

[Packman1294]

@SFFOOL76

I agree 100%. I don't think a reason was EVER given for his firing.

If memory serves, AD Rick Bay resigned rather than doing the administration's dirty work for them.

[rayoio99]

Do you have the 2004 michigan game?