Wolverine Uses His Head to Stymie Bruins : Michigan’s Murray Blocks Extra-Point Attempt, Recovers Onside Kick

Vada Murray literally had a hand--and face--in Michigan’s comeback 24-23 victory over UCLA Saturday night at the Rose Bowl.

The 6-foot-4, 185-pound free safety from Cincinnati blocked the extra-point try after UCLA’s final touchdown in the fourth quarter.

Then, after the Wolverines closed to 23-21 with only 1:35 remaining, he recovered an onside kick that led to Michigan’s winning field goal.

An onside kick was crucial for Michigan for the second consecutive week.

Last week, against Notre Dame, the Irish tried an onside kick with four minutes remaining while trailing, 24-19. However, kicker J.D. Carlson squibbed the ball only about four yards, and Notre Dame got possession, running out the clock.

Fate was kinder to the Wolverines Saturday night. Carlson’s kick took a crazy bounce high into the air, and Murray fielded it, sliding to a stop at the UCLA 46-yard line.

“I never saw the ball go up in the air,” Murray said. “My job was, one, to keep the ball in bounds and, two, to go get it. When it (the ball) went past the second line, I knew I could get it. I just cradled it when I got it.”

The blocked extra point try was equally significant, enabling Michigan to win on Carlson’s field goal rather than tie.

“A UCLA guard wasn’t firing out, and I just followed (strong safety) Tripp Welbourne to the ball,” Murray said of the extra-point try. “The ball hit me right in the face.”

Murray had another hand in the last play of the game.

UCLA quarterback Jim Bonds threw a Hail Mary pass to the Michigan four-yard line, and Murray intercepted as the game ended.

The game was vindication for Carlson, a redshirt sophomore, whose sloppy onside kick against Notre Dame didn’t allow his teammates a chance to retain the ball.

“We were told to get ready, especially since we did so poorly last week,” Carlson said. “I couldn’t have kicked it any better. It was the best I’ve ever done.”

When asked about the onside kick, Michigan Coach Bo Schembechler smiled and said, “It was beautiful. I took over the coaching of the onside kick this week.”

Not only did Carlson kick the winning 24-yard field goal, he also made field goals from 46, 36, and 43 yards. Those were the first field goals he has ever kicked in a college game.

“Some other players were brought in last year, and I lost my scholarship,” he said. “When I kicked that first one, I had a bowl of jelly for my legs. I kicked a 50-yard field goal in high school, but it doesn’t compare to this.”

Schembechler’s luck is getting better at the Rose Bowl, and he acknowledged as much when he said wryly, “I’ve always said this stadium has been very lucky for me.”

This is the first time a Schembechler-coached team has played a regular-season game in the Rose Bowl. As for the Rose Bowl game, he is 2-7.

Now, Bo is on a roll. His Wolverines beat USC, 22-14, last January.

“We put our defense in bad field position with turnovers, but the defense hung in there tonight,” Schembechler said. “We’re not a very good offensive team right now, and the defense had to carry the burden.”

He could have added that his special teams won the game, in the final analysis.

“UCLA is a fine team, and they’re starting to come,” Schembechler said. “They’re going to be tough to handle. Who knows, we might meet again. It happened before.”

He was referring to his matchup with UCLA in the 1983 Rose Bowl game, which the Bruins won, 24-14.

It was a flashback for Schembechler momentarily in the first quarter of Saturday night’s game.

UCLA tailback Kevin Williams took the traditional dive from the Michigan one-yard line into the end zone but lost the ball on the way. However, it was ruled that he broke the plane of the goal line before he fumbled, and the touchdown was allowed.

“I saw the referee make the signal but I didn’t see the wing official make any signal,” Schembechler said.

Television replays were inconclusive as to whether Williams fumbled before or after he broke the plane of the goal line.

Schembechler was reminded of USC tailback Charles White’s dive into the end zone without the ball in the 1979 Rose Bowl game. However, the Trojans were credited with a touchdown on their way to a 17-10 victory.

“White left the ball seven yards back up the field in that game,” Schembechler said. TV replays of the time supported that contention.

Asked to comment on the Southern California invasion by the Big Ten, with Ohio State meeting USC and Michigan taking on UCLA, Schembechler said:

“It was an exciting weekend, but I didn’t anticipate USC beating Ohio State (42-3) like that. These two teams out here, USC and UCLA, are two great football teams with a lot of talent. I’m particularly fond and have a great deal of respect for the two coaches.”

Then, Schembechler said that he has to patch up his offense before Michigan begins Big Ten competition against Wisconsin Oct. 7.

And, who knows, Bo might be back here in a few months. He has an inkling that he will.