1985: Michigan 20 Notre Dame 12

Game played on September 14, 1985 in Ann Arbor.

1985 Michigan Wolverines Starting Lineups...

OFFENSE:

Split End - Paul Jokisch
Left Tackle - John Elliot
Left Tackle - Jerry Quaerna
Left Guard - John Vitale
Left Guard - Mark Hammerstein
Center - Bob Tabachino
Right Guard - Mike Husar
Right Guard - Mike Krauss
Right Guard - Clay Miller
Right Tackle - Clay Miller
Right Tackle - Jerry Quaerna
Tight End - Eric Kattus
Flanker - John Kolesar
Flanker - Gilvanni Johnson
Flanker - Eric Campbell
Quarterback - Jim Harbaugh
Tailback - Jamie Morris
Tailback - Thomas Wilcher
Fullback - Gerald White

DEFENSE:

Defensive Tackle - Mark Messner
Middle Guard - Billy Harris
Defensive Tackle - Mike Hammerstein
Outside Linebacker - Jeff Akers
Outside Linebacker - Dieter Heren
Outside Linebacker - Jim Scarcelli
Outside Linebacker - Steve Thibert
Inside Linebacker - Mike Mallory
Inside Linebacker - Todd Schulte
Inside Linebacker - Andy Moeller
SS Cornerback - Garland Rivers
WS Cornerback - Bradley Cochran
Strong Safety - Ivan Hicks
Free Safety - Tony Gant

• Category

  Sports

[Jackwraith]

@antihero6212

This was the first game of the season. No one knew Michigan's defense was "highly rated" because there were no stats on it yet. Furthermore, it was an upset because ND was ranked (around #20, IIRC.) Michigan started out of the polls for the first time since 1969 because we finished 6-6 in 1984 after Harbaugh broke his arm.

[WolverineHistorian]

That's basically it. Much like the 97 defense, nobody knew how dominant they would end up being until they started playing. Simple as that.

From what I've read, because of Harbaugh's broken arm the season before leading to a 6-6 season, the media said was Bo was washed up, his best coaching days were behind him. He gets his QB back and in one season, is a field goal away from playing for the national title.

[Jackwraith]

That's right. Everyone assumed that this was the start of Michigan's "down period" under Bo, since they'd been near the top for 15 years. Had to wait for 2008... They also didn't take into account the fact that the team was quite young in 1984 and, with Harbaugh, had defeated the defending champion Miami Hurricanes at the start of the season. It's an open question as to whether it's one or two FGs away, since we had that screwy tie with Illinois, as well.

[WolverineHistorian]

Despite the tie with Illinois, we finished the season #2 in the final rankings. Oklahoma won the national title despite a 14 point loss to Miami. So that final FG by Iowa is pretty damn haunting.

[beedub93]

This crew really hit its stride two weeks later when they shut out Maryland at home. Maryland was considered a national title contender heading into '85. One of my all-time favorite teams.

[ItsTimeToRain]

Mike krauss is my math teacher fricken awesome and i know this because he said he played for Michigan i live in Michigan and his whole room is full of U of M pictures yeah go blue!

[Randall Dubin]

I'm only said that B/C ND didn't do jackshit under Faust. Just Saying.

(Then again, it's not all that different from today; High Exceptions, Disappointing Results.)

[daypray1]

I went to this game just before my freshman season of college. Drove up from Atlanta with my Dad, my brother and best friend. Friday, stopped at the stadium and went in. Was standing there just looking around. We see this guy in the stands at about the 50, then another guy comes up to us and says, "you see that guy over there? That's Bo, he wants you out of the stadium we're about to practice." Love it, kicked out of Michigan Stadium by Bo. Go Blue!

[papereater32]

Do my eyes deceive me? Or was there an attempted punch by #52 at around 19:20 or so?

[Randall Dubin]

Did I just hear Brent Musburger right at 10:31-10:35? "The Wolverines of Michigan are upsetting Notre Dame by a point."

WTF, Brent? Seriously? Was ND really favored in this game? B/C I would find that extremely hard to believe.