1950: Michigan-9 Ohio State-3 (The Snow Bowl)

The infamous Snow Bowl game against OSU from 1950.

Very few Wolverine fans were on hand to witness the triumph in Columbus because they couldn't get there. And the ones who did had a very difficult time getting home that Thanksgiving weekend. The day before the game, the worst blizzard since 1913 paralyzed the Midwest and Northeast and dipped as far south as Tennessee.

At least 9 inches of snow alone had fallen on Columbus Saturday morning. By game time, the temperature was nero zero and winds swirled around Ohio Stadium at nearly 30 miles an hour. Amazingly, 50,503 fans made it through the turnstiles. OSU officials did not even bother to take tickets so any spectator crazy enough to brave the weather elements could walk right in.

The game itself was an anomaly. The majority of the game consisted of punts on both sides, sometimes even on first down, to play for field position. OSU's field goal and Michigan's TD and safety were all set up because of blocked punts. Michigan's Tony Momsen came up with the block and recovery for the game's only touchdown. The Wolverines ended up punting a total of 24 times.

After the game, most of the UM players chose to remain in Columbus for the rest of the weeked instead of trying to brave the weather elements back to Ann Arbor. The victory became even better when Northwestern later upset Illinois giving Michigan the Rose Bowl bid where they would defeat unbeaten Cal.

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• Michigan
• Wolverines
• Football
• Ohio
• State
• Buckeyes
• Big
• Ten
• Snow
• Bowl

[AnistonAnarchist]

I can't believe somebody has this footage.  How'd you find it, WH?

[WolverineHistorian]

I found it online.

[Cromulus420]

Anyone who attended that game is a fucking hero.

[maizenblueforever]

Awesome find, great video.

[JustinVerlander76]

i attended this game, i am 103 years old (this sentence took me 39 minutes to type) * i have arthritiis

[longhairfan]

Kickers' worst nightmare. None of the kickers could kick the ball straight-legged.

[99theohiostate]

My parents, who were both students at Ohio State at the time, were at this game. They had just been married two months, and they walked from their High Street apartment in the Clintonville area to the game. Mom said she wore multiple layers of clothing to withstand the cold temperature. Dad was one of the guys who came down to the field before the game started to pull off the tarps. I must have asked him about this game 100 times over the years.

[fullmoondrivein]

The prima donnas that run things in this country today would have postponed the game.

[jebxbouck94]

This old style offensive plays are really cool, deffinetly need to bring it back

[Cromulus420]

@indyfan22k it's just a word. Get over it.

[MattBuckeyeGuy]

I am an osu fan but this has to be the best football freaking game of the 20th century

[crazytime666]

hahahah on the kick return a guy jumps like "I dont know where you are but im gonna hit something"

[indyfan22k]

@Cromulus420 way to (NOT)class it up with a f-bomb