The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/901162
DECEMBER 2017 THE WOLVERINE 25 Harbaugh made clear on Mon- day of Wisconsin week that Speight would be able to practice, but that he would take no contact. When pressed, the head coach confirmed that yes, Peters would again be un- der center when the Wolverines took their act on the road again, this time to meet undefeated Wisconsin at Camp Randall Stadium. That obviously leaves plenty of questions open. How effective will Peters be, growing into the starting role? What happens in the regular- season-ender against Ohio State? What about the bowl game, with an additional five-plus weeks of healing available? If he's cleared to play, the ques- tion becomes whether or not Speight would be the most effective option. He performed in three games and part of a fourth, prior to getting in- jured, connecting on 44 of 81 passes (54.3 percent) for 581 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions. O'Korn actually replaced him for a stretch in the opener against Florida, after Speight tossed a pair of pick- sixes before Michigan rallied past the Gators. Of course, the Wolver- ines were breaking in a host of new receivers, a new starting tailback and tight ends, and replacing 60 percent of the starting offensive line. Speight certainly carries the experi- ence advantage. He's also performed in the toughest venues in the Big Ten, like Ohio Stadium, Spartan Stadium, Kinnick Stadium, etc. Some close to the program have been quietly saying for a while that Speight has been pointing to the Wis- consin game for his return. Harbaugh gave the return talk some oxygen prior to Maryland, without putting a date on it, then quieted those who might have been getting ahead of themselves days before the Wiscon- sin showdown. The competition will continue, regardless. Whether the young gun can hold his spot — and help lift the Wolverines to a higher plan in the process — remains to be seen. ❏ Fifth-year senior John O'Korn came off the bench to throw for 270 yards and a touchdown after starter Wilton Speight went down with an injury at Purdue, but was just 45-of-89 passing (50.6 percent) for 435 yards with no scores and four interceptions in his next four outings. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL Michigan doesn't feature three starting quarterbacks in a season very often. When it happens, historically, the results are mixed, and not overwhelming. How long has it been? Well, head coach Jim Harbaugh likely remembers the last time quite well. It was 1984, his first year as Michigan's starting quarterback. Harbaugh went scrambling after a fumble against Michi- gan State and got his arm broken by MSU's Thomas Tyree in the melee. The Wolverines were 3-1 entering the game, ranked No. 13 in the nation, with a young Harbaugh build- ing confidence early in the season. When he went out, the year spiraled down into a 6-6 sea- son, Bo Schembechler's only non-winning campaign in 21 years as head coach in Ann Arbor. Harbaugh was replaced by Russell Rein, who started two games that year, and Chris Zurbrugg, who earned five starts. The Wolverines wound up losing to national champion BYU in the Holiday Bowl in San Diego. Here are the other seasons since 1950 featuring three Michigan quarterbacks getting at least one start: • 1979 — The Wolverines went 8-4, with B.J. Dickey start- ing seven games, John Wangler four and Rich Hewlett one. The Wolverines started strong at 7-1, losing only to Notre Dame, 12-10, but dropped three in a row at the end of the season. Wangler then stepped forward to lead the way for the 1980 Big Ten and Rose Bowl champions. • 1962 — Bob Timberlake started six games for the Wolver- ines in 1962, with Robert Chandler drawing a pair of starts and Dave Glinka one. Michigan suffered through a 2-7 cam- paign, including a 28-0 season-ending loss at Ohio State. • 1954 — Lou Baldacci started five games at quarterback for the 6-3 Wolverines, while Duncan McDonald earned three starts and Jim Maddock one. The team wound up ranked No. 15 in the polls, finishing the season by knocking off Michigan State in Ann Arbor, 33-7, before losing at Ohio State, 21-7. This year's Wolverines have a shot at becoming the Michi- gan squad with the most wins in a season featuring three starting quarterbacks. — John Borton Michigan's Three-QB Seasons Are Scarce