either. Who’s toting the rock? Extra bragging rights for correct spelling.
Prior to yesterday (Event No. 34 of my Around the World in 80 Sporting Events project), I’d attended one previous Michigan-Ohio State game.
It was November 25, 1995, and University of Michigan running back with the hard-to-pronounce name – Tshimanga Biakabutuka (tish-ah-MINGA bee-ock-a-ba-TWO-kah) – went off on the unbeaten and second-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes. He carried the ball 37 times and rushed for 313 yards and a touchdown. The Wolverines, ranked No. 18 at the time, sprang the upset, 31-23, thanks in large part to Biakabutuka.
It was an epic performance – the second-most rushing yards by a UM running back in its history (Ron Johnson‘s 345 yards against Wisconsin in 1968 remains tops) – on the biggest stage (“The Game” for player who became known as “Touchdown Timmy” in Ann Arbor.
In large part, it was the apex of Biakabutuka’s football career. He was eighth overall draft pick by the Carolina Panthers in 1996 and spent all six of his professional seasons with them. For what it’s worth, he only rushed for more than 313 yards in three of those six seasons.
Just to review, The Fan Teaser was the creation of former Ann Arbor News Sports Editor Geoff Larcom. Longtime friend and fellow Ann Arbor News alum, Pat Schutte, took it to heights previously unknown. We aim to keep it alive here at The Sports Fan Project. The cropped photo and the accompanying clue give you an idea as to who or what the image is of. We invite you to use the Comment option to take a crack at solving the Teaser and, if you’re so inclined, participate in some good-spirited banter with your fellow sports fans. The Fan Teaser will appear each Friday morning with the reveal coming to you Sunday.