The down markers stood no chance in Michigan Stadium back in 1971.
The Ohio State-Michigan rivalry has always been heated and given fans events that are remembered for years – and even decades – to come.
Fifty-four years ago, in front of a then-record crowd of 104,016, that was certainly the case. On November 21, 1971, the Buckeyes traveled to Ann Arbor for the third edition of the Ten Year War. Following a touchdown by Michigan's Billy Taylor to give the Wolverines the lead and cap an 11-play, 72-yard drive, Ohio State trailed 10-7 with 2:07 remaining in the game.
Looking to secure a comeback win over its rival to close out a disappointing end to the season, OSU was driving and at midfield. Then the madness began.
Ohio State quarterback Don Lamka attempted a downfield pass to Dick Wakefield, but it was intercepted by Michigan's Thom Darden at the Wolverines' 32-yard line as the defensive back jumped over the OSU wide receiver’s back to secure the catch.
"(Michigan quarterback Larry) Cipa did a fine job, and that catch by Darden was one of the greatest I've ever seen. I don't need to look at the films to know that," Bo Schembechler said of the interception.
But Woody Hayes thought that the Wolverines should have been penalized for defensive pass interference, a flag that would have erased the interception and kept OSU's drive going.
Hayes quickly went onto the field to argue the call, getting in the face of every referee that he could. That tantrum resulted in a 15-yard penalty, which made Hayes even more angry and disgruntled. After Ohio State coaches and players were eventually able to bring the head coach back to the sidelines, Hayes still couldn't hold back his frustration with the no-call.
He grabbed one down marker, ripped it apart, and threw it onto the field. He then went over to the other down marker and did the same. Hayes was subsequently ejected from the game and suspended for one game.
The outburst and meltdown by Hayes, as described by The Plain Dealer:
Hayes put on a disgraceful performance in the closing seconds of the game. First, he raced on the field to protest a pass interference call which he thought should have been called on Michigan with 1:25 left at the Wolverine 32.
He argued long and hard with the referee, who marched off two consecutive 15-yard penalties. Hayes was so incensed that his players, with the aid of backfield coach George Chaump, finally encircled Woody and forcibly escorted him to the sidelines as he resisted every step of the way.
But Hayes was still raving mad. He grabbed the down marker which is used on the sidelines by the chain gang and ripped it to shreds. He flung its pieces onto the playing field. Then Hayes went for another pole, grabbing it from the official's hands and throwing it to the ground.
The huge throng, now standing, was showering its vocal disapproval. When order was restored, the game proceeded and Michigan killed the final 42 seconds. As the final seconds ticked off, thousands of fans poured on the field to engulf the victorious Wolverines.
What precipitated Hayes' shocking outburst was a pass from quarterback Don Lamka to end Dick Wakefield, which was intercepted by Thom Darden, senior from Sandusky.
Hayes evidently thought that Darden interfered with the play, but no one will ever know because Hayes refused to talk to the press after the game. Many scribes waited 50 minutes, but to no avail. There was no official or unofficial comment from Hayes.
For the first time in Hayes' 21 years at Ohio State, the head coach didn't talk to the media after the game.
Later, Hayes wrote to Michigan and offered to pay for the down markers that he destroyed at the end of that game, but the damage had already been done and the offer was declined by Michigan athletic director Don Canham.
The incident ended a 6-4 season for Ohio State, the worst of Woody Hayes’ final 12 seasons leading the Buckeyes.
