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Michigan v. Michigan State Football: The Greatest Games

By Colton Wesley

Oct 17, 2015; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans running back Delton Williams (22) attempts to run the ball as Michigan Wolverines linebacker Desmond Morgan (3) moves in to tackle in the first quarter at Michigan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 17, 2015; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans running back Delton Williams (22) attempts to run the ball as Michigan Wolverines linebacker Desmond Morgan (3) moves in to tackle in the first quarter at Michigan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports /
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1990 – “Howard! He got it- dropped it! He dropped it!”

In Gary Moeller’s first season after Bo Schembechler’s retirement, Michigan climbed to the top of the AP Poll, winning three straight after losing their opener to then-#1 Notre Dame before hosting the Spartans at the Big House. Michigan State was unranked after a season-opening tie against Syracuse and losses to Notre Dame and Iowa. Michigan students labeled the game “No. One vs. No One.”Michigan scored first on a 16-yard pass from Elvis Grbac to Derrick Alexander, but the Spartans tied the game on an 8-yard run by quarterback Dan Enos and it was 7-7 at halftime. The teams traded touchdowns again in the third and fourth quarters until a nine-yard run by Michigan State running back T.J. Duckett gave the Spartans a 28-21 lead with 1:59 left.

Michigan scored first on a 16-yard pass from Elvis Grbac to Derrick Alexander, but the Spartans tied the game on an 8-yard run by quarterback Dan Enos and it was 7-7 at halftime. The teams traded touchdowns again in the third and fourth quarters until a nine-yard run by Michigan State running back T.J. Duckett gave the Spartans a 28-21 lead with 1:59 left in the game.

Grbac led the Wolverines down the field, converting a fourth down at the Michigan State 29-yard line with 22 seconds left. Two plays later, Grbac found Alexander again for a seven-yard touchdown to bring Michigan within one with six seconds left.

Six years before overtime was introduced into the league, Moeller decided to roll the dice on a two-point conversion attempt instead of settling for a tying extra point. Grbac quickly threw to Desmond Howard, who was in single coverage against Eddie Brown. Howard ran a slant and got position on Brown in the endzone, but his foot got caught on Brown’s hand and he started to fall. As he fell, Grbac’s pass ball hit him in the chest. Howard held on to the ball for a moment, but it popped out of his grasp as he hit the ground and the pass was ruled incomplete.

Howard and the Wolverines begged for a pass interference call, but they did not get one and the Spartans led, 28-27. Michigan lined up for the onside kick and recovered it in Michigan State territory. Forgoing the long field goal attempt, the Wolverines tried a Hail Mary, but it was intercepted near the goal line and Michigan State won.

The next week, Dave Parry, the Big Ten supervisor of officials, called Moeller to tell him, according to Moeller, “they blew it. He said they missed it on the pass interference.”

The Spartans lost the following week at Illinois before winning five in a row and finishing #22 in the AP Poll. They would defeat #21 USC 17-16 in something called the John Hancock Bowl on New Year’s Eve. Michigan would follow the same pattern, losing their next game against #23 Iowa before rattling off five straight wins. They finished #12 in the AP Poll and rolled over #15 Ole Miss, 35-3, in the Gator Bowl.

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