Teams' Belt Records

                            Previous Belt Meetings:       None

Bo Schembechler’s 3^rd ranked, 9-0 Michigan Wolverines played host to the 5-4 Purdue Boilermakers of coach Bob DeMoss.  Purdue brought a potent offense that had averaged 21.8 points per game.  Led by the Big Ten MVP, All-American RB Otis Armstrong, QB Gary Danielson, & WR Darryl Stingley, the Purdue offense seemed ready to challenge the Wolverines for The Belt.  The Boilermakers' defense included All-American DT Dave Butz but their play had been inconsistent throughout the year.  Wolverines' QB Dennis Franklin threw for the game’s only touchdown in a 9-6 win; amazingly, the 10 passes he completed was the highest completion total for him in a Belt game to date.  Purdue opened the scoring by driving to the Michigan 8-yard line after the kick-off before PK Frank Conner kicked a 25-yard field goal.  Neither team was able to put together a drive the rest of the half & the Boilermakers took a 3-0 lead to the locker room.  To open the 2^nd half, Michigan drove 80 yards in 9 plays with Franklin connecting with TE Paul Seal on an 11-yard touchdown pass.  This missed extra-point attempt gave the Wolverines a 6-3 lead.  On the last play of the 3^rd quarter, Conner kicked his second field goal, this one from 20 yards, as Purdue tied the game at 6-6.  Michigan put together an 18-play 44-yard drive to the Purdue 32-yard line before PK Mike Lantry missed a 49-yard field goal attempt.  It looked as if Purdue had a chance to drive for a score but Michigan's All-American S Randy Logan intercepted a Danielson pass & returned it to the Michigan 42-yard line.  The Wolverines drove to the Purdue 13-yard line highlighted by a 22-yard run from RB Chuck Heater.  Lantry kicked a 30-yard field goal with 1:04 left in the game.  Four incomplete passes from Danielson ended the Boilermakers’ hopes of an upset.  Franklin finished with 143 yards passing with a touchdown while Danielson threw for 141 yards with an interception.  Michigan finished the season 10-1; Big Ten Co-Champs & ranked 6^th nationally while the Boilermakers finished at 6-5 in DeMoss’ final season.  Purdue would play for The Belt again in 1974.