This Date in College Football Belt History – September 15

After the upset of top-ranked Miami, the Michigan Wolverines of coach Bo Schembechler were 1-0 & ranked 3^rd nationally as they welcomed the 16^th ranked, 1-0 Washington Huskies of coach Don James.  Washington featured All-Pac 10 players DT Ron Holmes, LB Tim Meamber, & LB Fred Small as well as QB Hugh Millen & RB Jacque Robinson.  Washington used the same formula to defeat Michigan as the Wolverines had used against Miami.  The Huskies intercepted 3 passes of Michigan QB Jim Harbaugh & caused 2 fumbles in the 20-11 victory.  Washington got the only points of the 1^st quarter when PK Jeff Jaeger hit a 25-yard field goal.  Michigan tied the game at 3-3 in the 2^nd quarter when PK Bob Bergeron hit a 52-yard field goal.  The Huskies took the lead for good after LB Joe Kelly intercepted Harbaugh at the Wolverines’ 25-yard line.  Washington’s RB Rick Fenney finished the short drive with a 2-yard touchdown run giving Washington a 10-3 lead that they held through the half.  On the Huskies first possession of the 2^nd half, Millen hit WR Mark Pattison who ran untouched 73 yards into the end zone for a 17-3 advantage.  Jaeger’s 38-yard field goal accounted for the only other points of the 3^rd quarter.  Michigan’s only touchdown came in the 4^th quarter when Harbaugh hit WR Vince Bean for a 7-yard touchdown pass but the Wolverines were not able to successfully attack the Washington defense.  Millen finished with 167 yards passing with a touchdown completing 13 of 16 passes while Harbaugh threw for 183 yards with a touchdown but 3 interceptions.  The Wolverines finished the season 6-6 while the Huskies finished 11-1 & ranked 2^nd nationally.  Michigan would play for The Belt again in 2003.

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