The Michigan Men of '39 and 85
My Story:
My first visit to Michigan Stadium was against Michigan State in 1988 with my grandfather. I was ten years old. It was one of the best experiences of my young life. I marveled at the 106,000 fans, the band marching in perfect step across the field as I pumped my fist to “The Victors”, at cheerleaders doing backflips off the wall, at Leroy Hoard, Greg McMurtry, and Mark Messner.
I saw it all, from the 50 yard line, one row above the tunnel.
I ran down to the rail as the team took the field, holding my hand out for whatever high-fives I could get. I was a budding offensive lineman at the time, so getting up close to the massive man-mountain that was Greg Skrepenak was a thrill.
Earlier that day, that ten year old kid - obsessed with all Wolverine sports - got to eat a pre-game lunch on the floor of Crisler Arena. I met Forrest Evashevski. I shook hands with Tom Harmon!
I did all of this at the hip of my grandfather, who was showing off his grandson to his old buddies as much as he was showing me U of M. He only left my side for a short while at halftime of that game, when he walked to the middle of the field with his teammates.
This was the 50th reunion of the 1938-1940 University of Michigan football teams, and my grandfather got a standing ovation from 106,000 people.
His Story:
It’s been so much fun, this week, to see the 1939 University of Chicago game mentioned over and over. Everyone loves an opportunity to share the pride they have in their loved ones, and the man who introduced me to Michigan Football started at guard that day in Chicago. He was part of the 85 points scored the last time a Wolverine team dominated an opponent as thoroughly as this year’s team did Rutgers.
This is from the 1938 team picture. My grandfather, Fred Olds (#56), is on the right, the other starting guard from the Chicago game, Milo Sukup, is in the top left, and Tom Harmon is in the bottom left.
After graduating Michigan, my grandfather went on to serve in the Pacific Theater during WWII. He married a U of M alumna. They had three children, but lost one at a very young age. He worked as an engineer. He traveled the world speaking to scientists and policy makers as an expert on Nuclear Power. He became editor of Power Engineering Magazine. He was part of a group that founded the city of Prospect Heights, IL. He was brilliant. He was quick to smile and make others smile in turn.
Years later, he watched his son enroll at Michigan, get married, and then go off to Vietnam –to fight another war across the Pacific. That son gave him a grandson, one of 4 grandchildren. In 1988 he took that grandson to meet the men who had been so large a part of his story 50 years prior.
I don’t know all of their stories, or even most. We all know about “Harmon of Michigan.” I know that at least 3 other members of that team are also in the College Football Hall of Fame. I know that Evashevski coached Iowa to a National Championship. David Nelson invented the winged-T formation and brought the winged helmets to the University of Delaware.
I also know that most of these men went straight from the gridiron to the war. Most then went on to have families of their own. There were other children at that reunion: likely grandkids who forged their fandom that day, and will someday pass it on.
12 years after my first game, my grandfather’s friends met up again. They expanded the reunion to include teams from 1938-1942, but still there were fewer of them that time around. I came across this picture from that day, which inspired me to write this (now incredibly long) post. My grandfather is kneeling in the front, viewer’s right.
Our Story:
The perfect frame for all of this eludes me, but the team we’re seeing now looks more and more like the teams he introduced me to. My fandom started at his house, watching games in which Jim Harbaugh played quarterback. Now Harbaugh’s back, and so is the winning. It’s a team and a coach in the image of Harbaugh’s hero, Bo Schembechler. Bo passed just before the last epic showdown between Michigan and Ohio State, and now his protégé is poised to lead us into the next.
There’s something here about the passage of time, about emulating our heroes, about loss and reclamation and salvation. Maybe it’s just being reminded more clearly of the things and people that we loved and that brought us so much happiness.
I don’t know if that group met again in 2010, because my grandfather had since passed. 77 years after the game against Chicago, I’m sure most members of that team have joined him. One of the great things about College Football – and Michigan Football specifically – though, is the celebration of history. Each historic event recalls the achievements of the past… tying these events together across generations of fans.
As we celebrate 78-0, I thank everyone who has helped to remember 85-0. I especially remember one of the great men who made it happen. I’d love to hear from anyone else connected to that team.
October 12th, 2016 at 3:03 PM ^
Is it just me?
October 12th, 2016 at 3:07 PM ^
The Zodiak Killer!
October 12th, 2016 at 3:08 PM ^
October 12th, 2016 at 3:08 PM ^
My God, it looks a lot like Cruz. Which means Ted Cruz is immortal. And it may have been Ted, instead of his father, that aided in the JFK assassination...
October 12th, 2016 at 3:24 PM ^
October 12th, 2016 at 3:37 PM ^
You know who #98 is, right?
October 12th, 2016 at 3:42 PM ^
Ted Cruz. duh.
October 12th, 2016 at 3:43 PM ^
Who is it? I know it's not Tom Harmon
October 12th, 2016 at 4:26 PM ^
He thinks it's Tom Harmon, but he's a decade too early. Young whipper snappers...
October 12th, 2016 at 4:44 PM ^
Tom Harmon was at Michigan from 1937-1940...
October 12th, 2016 at 5:17 PM ^
You know, I was not kidding. For some reason I thought he was on the NC team in the late 40s. I was wrong, I am a giant a-hole, and I apologize...
October 12th, 2016 at 10:29 PM ^
October 13th, 2016 at 1:25 PM ^
Everyone gets confused from time to time... I honestly thought I was missing some joke, and that was bad, and I felt bad.
October 12th, 2016 at 8:42 PM ^
I know it's not Tom HarmonWhat do you mean? Did Harmon have an identical twin who posed for this photo?
October 12th, 2016 at 9:05 PM ^
that and it says who it is in the paragraph above the photo.
October 13th, 2016 at 8:24 AM ^
MGoBlog, circa 2050: "Who's that guy wearing #2 in the 1997 team photo?"
October 13th, 2016 at 2:19 PM ^
You know its not Tom Harmon.
October 12th, 2016 at 4:44 PM ^
That's Devin Gardner.
October 12th, 2016 at 3:46 PM ^
Glad I'm not the only one and was wondering if I shouldpost it considering the no politics rule. Butyou are wrong on one thing: Ted Cruz looks like #98.
October 12th, 2016 at 3:55 PM ^
And the worst thing I've ever learned about Tom Harmon. Not necessarily for political reasons. Sure, also for political reasons, but mostly because Ted Cruz is really fucking ugly, and Tom Harmon is otherwise basically Jesus...
October 12th, 2016 at 4:20 PM ^
And I don't want to live in a world where Tom Harmon is the Zodiac Killer.
October 12th, 2016 at 4:43 PM ^
Peyton Manning.
October 12th, 2016 at 3:04 PM ^
Things like this are why, against all rationality, we love it. Great post.
October 12th, 2016 at 3:08 PM ^
Bump this up to a diary--it's worth sticking at the top for a while. Great post!
October 12th, 2016 at 3:14 PM ^
October 12th, 2016 at 3:27 PM ^
Think a mom has to do it.
Mom!
October 12th, 2016 at 3:11 PM ^
Best post I've read in a while. Thanks for writing it.
October 12th, 2016 at 3:14 PM ^
Of Oldsmobile fame?
October 12th, 2016 at 3:49 PM ^
At least not close enough for it to show up in any family history.
October 12th, 2016 at 3:15 PM ^
Well done, this story brought a smile to my face on a day when a genuine smile was hard to muster. Thank you
October 12th, 2016 at 3:16 PM ^
What a beautiful story!
Reminds me of of my own memories and history surrounding Michigan football, though different than yours. My only slight connections to that game were that my father was a 10 year old fan of that team and used to tell me stories of Harmon and Evashevski, and that I knew Forest lived on Ferdon when I was a kid, and I went to school with some relative of his, grandchild probably, and that I've known lots of players and others that would've met the guys from that team.
October 12th, 2016 at 3:22 PM ^
October 12th, 2016 at 3:28 PM ^
Thanks for sharing.
October 12th, 2016 at 3:30 PM ^
October 12th, 2016 at 3:52 PM ^
Who the hell downvoted this? This is a great story, thank you for sharing!
October 12th, 2016 at 4:21 PM ^
MgoSteelers.
I mean I know I live in Cleveland and as such I'm a Browns fan but Jesus sweet tap dancing christ on a cracker does that fit EVERY stereoypical Steelers fan I've ever met.
October 12th, 2016 at 4:44 PM ^
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October 12th, 2016 at 4:48 PM ^
Click on "voting details" and you'll see who voted and how they voted. Individual comments though don't have that feature.
October 12th, 2016 at 8:18 PM ^
I gotta believe that that was just an upvote that missed the mark.
October 12th, 2016 at 3:54 PM ^
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October 12th, 2016 at 4:20 PM ^
I only logged in to upvote this!
Go Blue!
October 12th, 2016 at 4:37 PM ^
This is a fantastic story. Thank you for sharing it.
October 12th, 2016 at 4:43 PM ^
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October 12th, 2016 at 5:27 PM ^
Cool story bro, I've seen in quite some time.
Not to mention your grandfather is the best looking guy in that shot.
October 12th, 2016 at 6:02 PM ^
It appears Harmon - yeah, I thought the same thing as you regarding the nose - that women found Ol 98 to be quite attractive. It could have been the maturity that comes with a few extra years - found I had a lot more cached as a Vietnam Vet - than my friends who were coming directly out of h.s. onto campus.
October 12th, 2016 at 5:59 PM ^
I must admit prior to watching a game at Michigan Stadium, I always viewed the band as entertainment to parent of its members. Wow, was my mind changed upon my first visit. Later, as I took friends to the stadium and they were ready to head to the concession stand when they saw the band enter the field area, I warned them, "I think you should stick around and watch this. They are very impressive. " Their reaction was very similar to mine.
October 12th, 2016 at 6:42 PM ^
Great post. Yet another reason why mgoblog is the best.
October 12th, 2016 at 8:32 PM ^
October 12th, 2016 at 8:34 PM ^
The mods absolutely should bump this up to diary status.
October 13th, 2016 at 1:59 AM ^
Thanks for the sharing this great post. Men from the "Greatest Generation", including my now deceased father, served in WW2, raised their families and LIVED their lives. All without much bragging or drawing attention to themselves. Ultimate service to others and the country at large. They have silently served with dignity and integrity and are role models to us all.
God Bless all the great men and women who serve and have served our country.
They represent the very best of us.
God Bless America! and Go Blue!
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