The 1969 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1969 Big Ten Conference football season. In their first year under head coach Bo Schembechler, the Wolverines compiled an 8–3 record (6–1 Big Ten), played in the 1970 Rose Bowl, and finished the season ranked #9 in the final AP poll and #8 in the final UPI poll.
The 1969 Michigan vs. Ohio State football game was considered one of the biggest upsets in college football history, as Ohio State came into the game with an 8–0 record, a 22-game winning streak and the #1 ranking in the polls. Michigan defeated Ohio State 24–12 in front of a crowd of 103,588 at Michigan Stadium to win the Big Ten Conference's berth in the Rose Bowl. The game was also the first in a series that came to be known as "The Ten-Year War," a 10-year span during which Michigan under Bo Schembechler battled Ohio State under Woody Hayes, under whom Schembechler had served as both a player at Miami University and an assistant coach at Ohio State. Four times between 1970 and 1975, Ohio State and Michigan were both ranked in the top five of the AP Poll before their matchup.
Bo Schembechler suffered a heart attack the night before the 1970 Rose Bowl game against an undefeated USC team. The Wolverines lost the Rose Bowl in a defensive struggle by a score of 10–3.
Team captain and tight end Jim Mandich was selected as the 1969 team's most valuable player and as a first-team All-American. Defensive back Tom Curtis was also selected as a first-team All-American, and seven members of the team, including Dan Dierdorf, received first-team All-Big Ten honors. Sophomore tailback Billy Taylor was the team's leading rusher and an All-Big Ten honoree. Thirteen members of the 1969 team went on to play professional football, and four players (Mandich, Curtis, Dierdorf and offensive guard Reggie McKenzie) were inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.
Schedule
| Date |
Time |
Opponent# |
Rank# |
Site |
TV |
Result |
Attendance |
|---|
| September 20 |
|
Vanderbilt* |
|
Michigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, MI |
|
W 42–14 |
70,183 |
| September 27 |
|
Washington* |
No. 20/NR |
Michigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, MI |
|
W 45–7 |
49,684 |
| October 4 |
|
No. 9/9 Missouri* |
No. 13/11 |
Michigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, MI |
|
L 17–40 |
64,476 |
| October 11 |
|
No. 9/9 Purdue |
|
Michigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, MI |
|
W 31–20 |
80,411 |
| October 18 |
|
at Michigan State |
No. 13/14 |
Spartan Stadium • East Lansing, MI (Paul Bunyan Trophy) |
|
L 12–23 |
79,368 |
| October 25 |
|
at Minnesota |
|
Memorial Stadium • Minneapolis, MN (Little Brown Jug) |
|
W 35–9 |
44,028 |
| November 1 |
|
Wisconsin |
No. 20/NR |
Michigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, MI |
|
W 35–7 |
60,438 |
| November 8 |
|
at Illinois |
No. 18/13 |
Memorial Stadium • Champaign, Il (Series) |
|
W 57–0 |
35,270 |
| November 15 |
|
at Iowa |
No. 14/15 |
Iowa Stadium • Iowa City, IA |
|
W 51–6 |
45,981 |
| November 22 |
|
No. 1/1 Ohio State |
No. 12/12 |
Michigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, MI (Rivalry) |
ABC |
W 24–12 |
103,588 |
| January 1, 1970 |
|
vs. No. 5/4 USC* |
No. 7/8 |
Rose Bowl • Pasadena, CA (Rose Bowl) |
NBC |
L 3–10 |
103,878 |
| *Non-conference game. Homecoming. #Rankings from AP Poll / Coaches' Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time. |
Game notes
Vanderbilt
In Bo Schembechler's first game as head coach and Michigan's first game against Vanderbilt since 1923, Don Moorhead scored a pair of touchdowns as a fourth quarter surge helped the Wolverines crush their non-conference foe, 42–14.[1]
Washington
| |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|
| Washington |
0 |
0 | 7 | 0 |
7 |
| • Michigan |
6 |
6 | 12 | 21 |
45 |
|
|
| Scoring summary |
|---|
|
| Q1 |
| MICH | Mandich 9 yard pass from Moorhead (kick failed) | MICH 6–0 |
|
| Q2 |
| MICH | Moorhead 5 yard run (run failed) | MICH 12–0 |
|
| Q3 |
| MICH | Moorhead 1 yard run (run failed) | MICH 18–0 |
|
| Q3 |
| MICH | Moorhead 9 yard run (run failed) | MICH 24–0 |
|
| Q3 |
| WASH | Kennamer 7 yard pass from Hanzlik (Volbrecht kick) | MICH 24–7 |
|
| Q4 |
| MICH | Doughty 19 yard run (Titas kick) | MICH 31–7 |
|
| Q4 |
| MICH | Craw 1 yard run (Killian kick) | MICH 38–7 |
|
| Q4 |
| MICH | Harris 59 yard pass from Betts (Killian kick) | MICH 45–7 |
|
[2]
Missouri
Purdue
Wisconsin
Billy Taylor ran 37 and 51 yards for touchdowns in the first quarter and Barry Pierson added a 51-yard punt return in the second as Michigan overwhelmed Wisconsin in front of a wet, homecoming crowd. Taylor, playing in place of the injured Glenn Doughty, ran for 143 of Michigan's 183 rushing yards in the first half.[4]
Iowa
Ohio State
| |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|
| Ohio State |
6 |
6 | 0 | 0 |
12 |
| • Michigan |
7 |
17 | 0 | 0 |
24 |
|
|
| Scoring summary |
|---|
|
| 1 |
| OSU | Otis 1-yard run (kick failed) | OSU 6–0 |
|
| 1 |
| MICH | Craw 3-yard run (Titas kick) | MICH 7–6 |
|
| 2 |
| OSU | White 22-yard pass from Kern (run failed) | OSU 12–7 |
|
| 2 |
| MICH | Craw 1-yard run (Titas kick) | MICH 14–12 |
|
| 2 |
| MICH | Moorhead 2-yard run (Titas kick) | MICH 21–12 |
|
| 2 |
| MICH | Killian 25-yard field goal | MICH 24–12 |
|
[6]
Rose Bowl
Players
Offensive letter winners
The following players received varsity letters for their participation on the offensive unit of the 1969 Michigan football team. Players who were starters in the majority of Michigan's games are displayed in bold.
- Morris Abrahams, offensive tackle, senior, Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Robert Baumgartner (No. 60),[7] offensive guard, senior, Chicago – started 9 games at offensive left guard
- William J. Berutti, quarterback, junior, Franklin, Ohio
- Jim Betts (No. 23), quarterback, junior, Cleveland, Ohio – started 1 game at left halfback
- Jim Brandstatter (No. 76), offensive tackle, sophomore, East Lansing, Michigan
- Richard Caldarazzo (No. 56), offensive guard, senior, Melrose Park, Illinois – started 8 games at offensive right guard
- Garvie Craw (No. 48), fullback, senior, Montclair, New Jersey – started 7 games at fullback and 3 games at right halfback
- Dan Dierdorf (No. 72), offensive tackle, junior, Canton, Ohio – started 7 games at offensive right tackle and 1 at offensive left tackle
- Glenn Doughty (No. 22), tailback, sophomore, Detroit – started 4 games at left halfback
- Eric Federico, fullback, senior, Trenton, Michigan
- John H. Gabler (No. 18), wingback, senior, Royal Oak, Michigan – started 3 games at fullback, 3 games at right halfback
- Werner W. Hall, offensive tackle, senior, Sandusky, Ohio
- Mike Hankwitz (No. 81), tight end, senior, Scottsville, Michigan – started 2 games at right end
- Jack Harpring (No. 71),[8] offensive tackle, junior, Cincinnati, Ohio – started 8 games at offensive left tackle and 1 at offensive right tackle
- William J. Harris (No. 80), split end, junior, Mt. Clemens, Michigan
- Preston Henry (No. 44), tailback, sophomore, Flint, Michigan – started 2 games at right halfack
- Jerry Imsland, split end, senior, Northville, Michigan
- Timothy Killian (No. 57), center, junior, Lincoln Park, Michigan – started 2 games at center
- Joseph Lukz, offensive guard, senior, Niles, Ohio
- Jim Mandich (No. 88), tight end, senior, Solon, Ohio – started 8 games at left end
- Reggie McKenzie (No. 65), offensive guard, sophomore, Highland Park, Illinois
- Don Moorhead (No. 27), quarterback, junior, South Haven, Michigan – started all 11 games at quarterback
- Guy Murdock (No. 53), center, sophomore, Barrington, Illinois – started 7 games at center
- Michael Oldham (No. 84), split end, sophomore, Cincinnati, Ohio
- Robert Ritley, offensive tackle, senior, Garfield Heights, Ohio
- Peter C. Sarantos, center, senior, Elkhart, Indiana
- Lance G. Scheffler, tailback, junior, Trenton, Michigan
- Fritz Seyferth (No. 32), fullback, sophomore, Darien, Connecticut – started 1 game at fullback
- Paul Seymour (No. 85), split end, sophomore, Berkley, Michigan
- Paul Staroba (No. 30), wingback, junior, Flint, Michigan – started 3 games at right end
- Billy Taylor (No. 42), tailback, sophomore, Barberton, Ohio – started 3 games at left halfback
- Frank Titas (No. 64), offensive guard, senior, Cleveland, Ohio
Defensive letter winners
The following players received varsity letters for their participation on the defensive unit of the 1969 Michigan football team. Players who were starters in the majority of Michigan's games are displayed in bold.
- Tom Beckman, defensive tackle, sophomore, Chesaning, Michigan
- Richard W. Brown, middle guard, senior, Auburn, Michigan
- Al Carpenter, defensive end, sophomore, Flint, Michigan – started 1 game at offensive right guard
- Dana Coin, defensive end and place-kicker,[9] sophomore, Pontiac, Michigan
- Tom Curtis (No. 25), defensive back, senior, Aurora, Ohio – started all 11 games at safety
- Thom Darden (No. 35), defensive back, sophomore, Sandusky, Ohio – started 10 games at wolfman (also started 1 game at left halfback on offense)
- Bruce Elliott, defensive back, sophomore, Indianapolis, Indiana – started 1 game at right halfback
- Alan Francis, middle guard, senior, Euclid, Ohio
- Fred Grambau (No. 92), defensive tackle, sophomore, Ossineke, Michigan – started all 11 games at left defensive tackle (also started 2 games at left tackle on offense)
- Frank Gusich, defensive back, sophomore, Garfield Heights, Ohio – started 1 game at wolfman
- Brian Healy (No. 24), defensive back, senior, Sandusky, Ohio – started all 11 games at defensive halfback (also started 2 games at right halfback on offense)
- Henry Hill (No. 39), middle guard, junior, Detroit – started all 11 games at middle guard (also started 2 games at left guard and 1 at right guard on offense)
- Marty Huff (No. 70), linebacker, junior, Toledo, Ohio – started all 11 games at linebacker (also started 2 games at right tackle and 1 at left halfback on offense)
- Joseph M. Jones, linebacker, senior, Evanston, Illinois
- Mike Keller (No. 90), defensive end, sophomore, Grand Rapids, Michigan – started all 11 games at left defensive end (also started 2 games at left end on offense)
- Richard McCoy, Jr., defensive tackle, junior, Alliance, Ohio
- Edward M. Moore (No. 97), linebacker, junior, Youngstown, Ohio – started 10 games at linebacker (also started 2 games at right end on offense)
- Pete Newell (No. 82), defensive tackle, junior, Park Ridge, Illinois – started all 11 games at right defensive tackle (also started 2 games at center and 1 at right tackle on offense)
- Daniel Parks, defensive tackle, junior, Birmingham, Michigan
- Barry Pierson (No. 29), defensive back, senior, St. Ignace, Michigan – started all 11 games at defensive halfback (also started 1 game at left halfback on offense)
- Cecil Pryor (No. 55), defensive end, senior, Corpus Christi, Texas – started all 11 games at right defensive end (also started 1 game at left end and 1 at right end on offense)
- Thomas Takach, defensive end, senior, Detroit
- Mike Taylor, linebacker, sophomore, Detroit – started 1 game at linebacker
- Timothy Wadhams,[10] defensive back, senior, Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Mark Werner, defensive back, senior, Cincinnati, Ohio
- Robert E. White, defensive back, senior, Middleville, Michigan
- George Zuganellis, linebacker, senior, Chicago
Non-letter winners
Awards and honors
1969 team players in the NFL
The following players were claimed in the 1970 NFL Draft.[12]
Eighteen members of the 1969 team went on to play professional football. They are: Tom Beckman (St.Louis Cardinals, 1972, Memphis Grizzlies, 1974–1975), Tom Curtis (Baltimore Colts, 1970–1971), Thom Darden (Cleveland Browns, 1972–1981), Dan Dierdorf (St. Louis Cardinals, 1971–1983), Glenn Doughty (Baltimore Colts, 1972–1979), Fred Grambau (Hamilton Tiger-Cats and Montreal Alouettes);[13][14] Marty Huff (San Francisco 49ers, 1972; Edmonton Eskimos, 1973; Charlotte Hornets, 1974–1975), Mike Keller (Dallas Cowboys, 1972), Jim Mandich (Miami Dolphins, 1970–1977; Pittsburgh Steelers, 1978), Reggie McKenzie (Buffalo Bills, 1972–1982; Seattle Seahawks, 1983–1984), Guy Murdock (Houston Oilers, 1974; Chicago Fire/Winds, 1974–1975), Pete Newell (BC Lions, 1971);[15] Cecil Pryor (Memphis Southmen),[16] Fritz Seyferth (Calgary Stampeders, 1972); Paul Seymour (Buffalo Bills, 1973–1977), Paul Staroba (Cleveland Browns, 1972; Green Bay Packers, 1973), Billy Taylor (Calgary Stampeders, 1972), and Mike Taylor (New York Jets, 1972–73). Mandich was the starting tight end for the unbeaten 1972 Miami Dolphins who won Super Bowl VII. Dierdorf and McKenzie would later be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Statistics
Rushing
Passing
| Player |
Attempts |
Completions |
Interceptions |
Comp % |
Yards |
Yds/Comp |
TD |
Long |
| Don Moorhead | 210 | 99 | 7 | 47.1 | 1261 | 12.7 | 6 | 22 |
| Jim Betts | 33 | 16 | 0 | 48.5 | 293 | 18.3 | 2 | 59 |
|
Receiving
| Player |
Receptions |
Yards |
Yds/Recp |
TD |
Long |
| Jim Mandich | 51 | 676 | 13.3 | 3 | 32 |
| Bill Harris | 15 | 302 | 20.1 | 0 | 59 |
| Mike Hankwitz | 13 | 165 | 12.7 | 0 | 26 |
| Paul Staroba | 12 | 141 | 11.8 | 0 | 15 |
|
Kickoff returns
Punt returns
| Player |
Returns |
Yards |
Yds/Return |
TD |
Long |
| Barry Pierson | 19 | 300 | 15.8 | 1 | 60 |
| Marty Huff | 1 | 31 | 31.0 | 1 | 31 |
| Tom Curtis | 11 | 21 | 1.9 | 0 | 12 |
|
Coaching staff
References
- ↑ Eugene Register Guard. 21 Sept 1969.
- ↑ "Michigan crushes Huskies." Eugene Register-Guard. 1969 Sept 28.
- ↑ Eugene Register-Guard. 1969 Oct 12.
- ↑ Eugene Register-Guard. 1969 Nov 2.
- ↑ University of Michigan Football Record Book Pt. 1
- ↑ "Rose-Bound Michigan Dethrones Ohio State." Palm Beach Post. 1969 Nov 23.
- ↑ "Guard Baumgartner plans California trip". The Michigan Daily. November 6, 1968.
- ↑ Harpring's son, Matt Harpring, played 12 years in the NBA.
- ↑ Coin set the NCAA record in 1971 with 55 consecutive extra points without a miss. He also broke the Michigan record for longest field goal with a 42-yard field goal against Arizona in 1970.
- ↑ Wadhams later became the CEO of Masco, a Fortune 400 company. See here.
- ↑ "Bay County Sports Hall of Fame: Tom Huiskens brought passion to football field at Bay City Central, University of Michigan". Mlive.com. August 1, 2010.
- ↑ "1970 NFL Draft". pro-football-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC.
- ↑ "Grambau Signs". The Robesonian. March 12, 1976.
- ↑ "Awards race at a glance". Edmonton Journal. October 23, 1974.
- ↑ CFLpedia
- ↑ "Former U-M Gridder, Board Member Pryor Passes Away". University of Michigan. October 20, 2005.
- ↑ Elliot Legow (October 15, 1969). "Freshman football key to varsity Success". The Michigan Daily.
External links
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| People | |
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National championship seasons in bold |
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| Western Conference | |
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| Big Ten | |
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| Big Nine | |
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| Big Ten | |
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National championships in bold |