to attend the conference football powerhouse." Strinko dismissed the notion that he was a "traitor" for choosing Michigan over Ohio State, noting that he chose Michigan "because I liked Bo [Michigan head football coach Bo Schembechler] a lot. I was probably more impressed with him than with OSU Coach Woody Hayes. They (Michigan recruiters) said I'd definitely play linebacker here. That's what I've always wanted to play. Other schools said I might play somewhere else." Strinko later recalled that Woody Hayes never got over his decision to attend Michigan. 1973 season Strinko started all 11 games at middle linebacker for the undefeated 1973 Michigan Wolverines football team and set a University of Michigan record with 137 tackles during the 1973 season. The 1973 team won the first 10 games of the season but played Ohio State to a 10-10 tie in the final game of the season. The defense allowed only 68 points, an average of 6.2 points per game. The Big Ten Conference voted to send Ohio State to the Rose Bowl, and conference rules prevented a second Big Ten team from accepting a bowl bid. Before the 1974 rematch with Ohio State, Strinko said, "You're never going to see a team as high as Michigan in Columbus. It went to a vote last year and they shafted us. So we're not going to let them shaft us this time. The other day some of us were sitting around watching TV and one of the guys said, 'If you gave me an elbow pad before the Ohio State game I'd be ready to eat it.'" 1974 season As a senior, Strinko started 10 games at middle linebacker for the 1974 team, missing one game due to a knee injury suffered in the fourth game of the season against Stanford. Strinko also called the signals on defense for the 1974 team that allowed only 75 points, an average of 6.8 points per game. In October 1974, Michigan defensive coordinator Gary Moeller called Strinko "the best linebacker we've had at Michigan. He hustles all over the field. I can see why the pro scouts are so high on him." Strinko accumulated 117 tackles in 10 games and was selected by his teammates as the Most Valuable Player on the 1974 team. Years later, Strinko said, "Of all my accomplishments I consider [the 1974 Most Valuable Player award] the most important. I