The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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Johnson, in a scant few seconds, went from the zenith of football emo- tions into a cloud of doubt. He then cascaded down into fleeting despair. He refused to remain there, and that's why he's back on the field for the Wolverines this season. Not that the beginning of the come- back road proved easy. Can there be greater exhilaration for a Michigan tailback than to slam into the end zone at Ohio Stadium, si- lencing a hate-filled horde of 108,000? That's precisely what Johnson did midway through the third quarter of last year's showdown in Columbus. The Buckeyes — ranked No. 7 at the time, 10-1 overall and 7-0 in Big Ten play — figured to grind the winged helmets into the turf like they've done all too often over the last decade. Michigan found itself reeling toward a 5-7 season with big changes coming from top to bottom, while the home team steamed to- ward a stunning national title in the first-ever College Football Playoff. For two hours in Ohio Stadium, none of that mattered. OSU fans spilled forward to the edge of their seats, a looming discomfort and anxi- ety gripping them on what was sup- posed to be a day of easy celebration. Johnson's slashing runs fashioned the leading edge of the maelstrom from That Team Up North. His two- yard plunge for a touchdown gave the Wolverines a 14-7 lead midway through the second quarter, caus- ing Buckeyes boosters to nervously paw their tobacco tins and glance nervously at one another. The Buckeyes roared back to tie the game at the half, then grab a 21- 14 lead on quarterback J.T. Barrett's touchdown early in the second half. A sigh of relief swirled through the venue iconic U-M broadcaster Bob Ufer dubbed "The Snakepit," but it didn't last for long. The Wolverines went right back at them, fighting for pride, for bowl eli- gibility and for their coach's job. They battled downfield for a dozen plays, Johnson crashing home on a four- yard touchdown dive to once again knot the game and OSU stomachs. Just a play earlier, Johnson took a pitch from quarterback Devin Gard- ner, then lofted a 23-yard strike to the Michigan quarterback, setting up the score. Johnson concluded the charge, bar- reling over the left side of the U-M offensive line and into the end zone. His teammates rushed over to pum- mel him in exultation, but stopped short. Their teammate balanced on his knees, his facemask buried in the turf, in obvious discomfort. He knew something was wrong, but had no idea how wrong. OVERCOMING ADVERSITY "I'm sitting here, at Ohio State and I got up, and my knee is … I felt something in there, but I was like, 'I don't know what happened,'" John- son recalled. "I was running on the sideline, and my knee's kind of sore. "I'm like, 'I'm going to go in the game.'" Prevented from doing so, Johnson could only look on while the Buck- eyes outscored the Wolverines the