Did You Know?

Not only did Ohio Wesleyan play in the first game at Ohio Stadium, but OWU also played Michigan in the first game at Michigan Stadium – The Big House – in 1927. Michigan crushed OWU 33-0 in that inaugural game, but Ohio Wesleyan returned for revenge a year later.

In 1928, Ohio Wesleyan defeated Michigan in Ann Arbor 17-7 under Coach George Gauthier, who reportedly called the win over Michigan the greatest thrill of his career. According to an article in the Portsmouth Daily Times on Aug. 14, 1964, which ran just days after Gauthier’s death, on Aug. 11, his Battling Bishops were just a few minutes into the game with Michigan when one of his players came off the field and said, “They’re not too tough, coach. We can take them.”

That was the last time the University of Michigan played Ohio Wesleyan.

• Read ‘Kicking off the Shoe’
• Read ‘George Gauthier and Sonny Winters Bios’