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1969 Michigan Wolverines football team

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1969 Michigan Wolverines football
Big Ten co-champion
Rose Bowl, L 3–10 vs. USC
ConferenceBig Ten Conference
Ranking
CoachesNo. 8
APNo. 9
Record8–3 (6–1 Big Ten)
Head coach
Defensive coordinatorJim Young (1st season)
MVPJim Mandich
CaptainJim Mandich
Home stadiumMichigan Stadium
Seasons
← 1968
1970 →
1969 Big Ten Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 4 Ohio State + 6 – 1 – 0 8 – 1 – 0
No. 9 Michigan + 6 – 1 – 0 8 – 3 – 0
No. 18 Purdue 5 – 2 – 0 8 – 2 – 0
Minnesota 4 – 3 – 0 4 – 5 – 1
Iowa 3 – 4 – 0 5 – 5 – 0
Indiana 3 – 4 – 0 4 – 6 – 0
Northwestern 3 – 4 – 0 3 – 7 – 0
Wisconsin 3 – 4 – 0 3 – 7 – 0
Michigan State 2 – 5 – 0 4 – 6 – 0
Illinois 0 – 7 – 0 0 – 10 – 0
  • + – Conference co-champions
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1969 Michigan Wolverines football team was an American football team that 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 No. 9 in the final AP poll and No. 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 a 22-game winning streak and the No. 1 ranking in the polls. Michigan intercepted six Ohio State passes and defeated the Buckeyes, 24–12, in front of a crowd of 103,588 at Michigan Stadium to win the Big Ten Conference's berth in the 1970 Rose Bowl. The game was also the first in a series that came to be known as "The Ten Year War".

Bo Schembechler suffered a heart attack the night before the 1970 Rose Bowl game against an undefeated (but once tied) 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 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. Six members of the team received first-team honors on the 1969 All-Big Ten Conference football team: Mandich at tight end; Curtis at defensive back; Dan Dierdorf at tackle; Guy Murdock at center; Billy Taylor at running back; and Marty Huff at linebacker. 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

[edit]
DateOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendance
September 20Vanderbilt*
W 42–1470,183
September 27Washington*No. 20
  • Michigan Stadium
  • Ann Arbor, MI
ABCW 45–749,684
October 4No. 9 Missouri*No. 13
  • Michigan Stadium
  • Ann Arbor, MI
L 17–4064,476
October 11No. 9 Purdue
  • Michigan Stadium
  • Ann Arbor, MI
W 31–2080,411
October 18at Michigan StateNo. 13
L 12–2379,368
October 25at Minnesota
W 35–944,028
November 1WisconsindaggerNo. 20
  • Michigan Stadium
  • Ann Arbor, MI
W 35–760,438
November 8at IllinoisNo. 18
W 57–035,270
November 15at IowaNo. 14
W 51–645,981
November 22No. 1 Ohio StateNo. 12
  • Michigan Stadium
  • Ann Arbor, MI (rivalry)
ABCW 24–12103,588
January 1, 1970vs. No. 5 USC*No. 7
NBCL 3–10103,878
  • *Non-conference game
  • daggerHomecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

Season summary

[edit]

Preseason

[edit]

The 1968 Michigan team compiled an 8–2 record (6–1 Big Ten), finished second in the Big Ten, and was ranked No. 12 in the final AP Poll.[1] The season ended with a humiliating 50–14 loss to Ohio State on November 23, 1968. On December 25, the Detroit Free Press reported that Michigan was searching for a new head coach and that Bump Elliott's resignation was imminent.[2] The following day, Michigan athletic director Don Canham hired Bo Schembechler, the 39-year-old head coach at Miami of Ohio, to take over as the Wolverines' head coach. Schembechler had played football at Miami under Woody Hayes and compiled a 40-16-3 record in six seasons as Miami's head coach.[3]

Schembechler brought the core of his coaching staff with him from Miami, including Jim Young, Gary Moeller, Larry Smith, Jerry Hanlon, Chuck Stobart, and Dick Hunter.[4] Schembechler also retained three assistants from Bump Elliott's coaching staff: George Mans, Frank Maloney, and Bob Shaw.[5]

One of the principal challenges facing the new coaching staff was finding a replacement for 1968 All-American running back Ron Johnson. The leading candidates were Glenn Doughty and Billy Taylor, two sophomores with zero minutes of game experience at the college level.[6]

Another change in 1969 was the removal of Michigan Stadium's natural grass and the installation of 3M's "Tartan Turf" playing surface, purchased at a cost of a quarter of a million dollars.[7][8]

Veterans from the 1968 team who returned in 1969 included end Jim Mandich, defensive back Tom Curtis, offensive tackle Dan Dierdorf, middle guard Henry Hill, and fullback Garvie Craw.[9]

On September 4, 1969, coach Schembechler announced that Jim Mandich had been elected team captain. Mandich called it "the greatest honor of my life."[10]

Vanderbilt

[edit]
Week 1: Vanderbilt at Michigan
1 234Total
Vanderbilt 0 077 14
• Michigan 7 7028 42
  • Date: September 20
  • Location: Ann Arbor, MI
  • Game attendance: 70,183
Scoring summary
1MICHGarvie Craw 1-yard run (Frank Titas kick)MICH 7–0
2MICHGlenn Doughty 80-yard run (Titas kick)MICH 14–0
3VANDMatthews 1-yard run (Wolins kick)MICH 14–7
4MICHDon Moorhead 2-yard run (Titas kick)MICH 21–7
4MICHRalph Huff 31-yard blocked punt return (Titas kick)MICH 28–7
4MICHMoorhead 1-yard run (Titas kick)MICH 35–7
4VANDValput 2-yard run (Wolins kick)MICH 35–14
4MICHEric Federico 5-yard run (Titas kick)MICH 42–14

On September 20, 1969, Michigan played its first game under new head coach Bo Schembechler. The Wolverines defeated Vanderbilt, 42–14, at Michigan Stadium. Garvie Craw capped a 71-yard drive with a one-yard touchdown run in the first quarter, and Glenn Doughty ran 80 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter. Michigan led, 14-0, at halftime. In the fourth quarter, Mike Keller blocked a Vanderbilt punt, and Marty Huff returned the ball 31 yards for a touchdown. On the next Vanderbilt drive, Tom Curtis intercepted a pass and returned it 45 yards to set up quarterback Don Moorhead's second rushing touchdown. Michigan led, 14-7, at the end of the third quarter, then scored 28 points in the fourth. On defense, Michigan held Vanderbilt to 55 rushing yards.[11][12]

Michigan rushed for 367 yards (209 in the first half) and passed for only 42. Doughty led the way with 138 rushing yards on 15 carries, and Moorhead added 103 yards on 11 carries. Jim Mandich caught two passes to move into second place on Michigan's all-time receptions list with 71.[11][12]

In his first post-game press conference, Schembechler noted: "We're not a fancy ball club. Secondly, when you can punch the football down their throats, that's what you should do."[11] Quarterback Don Moorhead added: "That's Bo's offense -- just basic stuff. We stick it to 'em. It's what he calls grinding meat."[11]

After the game, a crowd of 12,000 participated in a post-game, anti-war rally on The Diag. David Dellinger, one of the Chicago Eight, was the main speaker at the rally.[13]

Washington

[edit]
Week 2: Washington at Michigan
1 234Total
Washington 0 070 7
• Michigan 6 61221 45
  • Date: September 27
  • Location: Ann Arbor, MI
  • Game attendance: 49,684
  • Television network: ABC
Scoring summary
Q1MICHJim Mandich 9-yard pass from Don Moorhead (kick failed)MICH 6–0
Q2MICHMoorhead 5-yard run (run failed)MICH 12–0
Q3MICHMoorhead 1-yard run (run failed)MICH 18–0
Q3MICHMoorhead 9-yard run (run failed)MICH 24–0
Q3WASHKennamer 7-yard pass from Hanzlik (Volbrecht kick)MICH 24–7
Q4MICHGlenn Doughty 19-yard run (Frank Titas kick)MICH 31–7
Q4MICHGarvie Craw 1-yard run (Tim Killian kick)MICH 38–7
Q4MICHBill Harris 59-yard pass from Jim Betts (Killian kick)MICH 45–7

On September 27, 1969, Michigan defeated Washington, 45–7, before a Michigan Stadium crowd of 49,684—the lowest attendance for a Michigan home game since 1963. In the first quarter, Jim Mandich scored on a six-yard pass from Don Moorhead, but the kick for extra point failed. Moorhead scored on a five-yard run off a broken play in the second quarter, and Moorhead's run for two-point conversion failed. Michigan led, 12-0, at halftime. Moorhead ran for two additional touchdowns in the third quarter, and runs for two-point conversions failed each time. Michigan added three touchdowns in the fourth quarter, including a 59-yard pass from Jim Betts to Bill Harris.[14]

Michigan totaled 581 yards of total offense (362 rushing, 219 passing), breaking a Michigan single-game record of 531 yards set in 1943. Glenn Doughty and Moorhead led the team on offense. Doughty rushed for 191 yards on 29 carries. Moorhead rushed for 128 yards and completed 14 of 19 passes for 160 yards.[14][15] After the game, Schembechler explained his increased reliance on the passing game: "Washington is a very tough inside team. We felt we had to go wide and throw the football."[14] On defense, Tom Curtis and Barry Pierson intercepted two passes each.[14]

Missouri

[edit]
Week 3: Missouri at Michigan
1 234Total
• Missouri 0 24016 40
Michigan 3 0140 17
  • Date: October 4
  • Location: Ann Arbor, MI
  • Game attendance: 64,476
Scoring summary
1MICHTim Killian, 40-yard field goalMICH 3–0
2MIZZHenry Brown 26-yard field goalTIE 3–3
2MIZZMcBride 2-yard run (Brown kick)MIZZ 10–3
2MIZZJon Staggers 1-yard run (Brown kick)MIZZ 17–3
2MISSMcBride 1-yard run (Brown kick)MIZZ 24–3
3MICHGarvie Craw 1-yard run (Titas kick)MIZZ 24–10
3MICHCraw 1-yard run (Titas kick)MIZZ 31–17
3MIZZBrown 24-yard field goalMIZZ 34–17
3MIZZJoe Moore 42-yard run (Brown kick)MIZZ 41–17
4MIZZSteve Kenemore 8-yard pass from Roper (kick failed)MIZZ 47–17

On October 4, 1969, Michigan, ranked No. 11 in the Coaches Poll, lost to Dan Devine's No. 9 Missouri Tigers by a 40–17 score before a crowd of 64,476 at Michigan Stadium. On offense, Michigan was limited to 82 rushing yards and 99 passing yards. Starting running back Glenn Doughty had 72 rushing yards on 22 carries but suffered an ankle injury. Quarterback Don Moorhead totaled minus 22 rushing yards. The Wolverines were also stymied by mistakes, as they turned the ball over five times on four fumbles and an interception. They also had a punt blocked, gave up seven quarterback sacks, and were penalized 11 times for 78 yards.[16][17] After the game, coach Schembechler said: "You can't turn the ball over time and again, time and again, and win football games. That was the worst performance by one of my teams in years -- and I haven't had a punt blocked in six years. . . . I didn't know what one looked like."[18]

Purdue

[edit]
Week 4: Purdue at Michigan
1 234Total
Purdue 0 1406 20
• Michigan 7 7107 31
  • Date: October 11
  • Location: Ann Arbor, MI
  • Game attendance: 80,411
Scoring summary
Q1MICHGlenn Doughty 6-yard run (Frank Titas kick)MICH 7–0
Q2MICHGarvie Craw 4-yard run (Titas kick)MICH 14–0
Q2PURMike Phipps 1-yard run (Jones kick)MICH 14–7
Q2PURAshley Bell 6-yard pass from Phipps (Jones kick)MICH 14–14
Q3MICHTim Killian 32-yard field goalMICH 17–14
Q3MICHDon Moorhead 1-yard run (Titas kick)MICH 24–14
Q4MICHJim Mandich 4-yard pass (Titas kick)MICH 31–14
Q4PURScott Clayton 2-yard pass from Phipps (run failed)MICH 31–20

On October 11, 1969, Michigan, unranked after its loss to Missouri, upset previously unbeaten No. 9 Purdue, 31–20, before a crowd of 80,411 at Michigan Stadium. Michigan had previously lost five games in a row against the Boilermakers dating back to 1962.[19]

On offense, Michigan struggled on the ground, gaining a season low 123 net rushing yards (50 by Billy Taylor, 41 by Glenn Doughty). Doughty re-injured his right ankle in the third quarter, opening the door for Billy Taylor to take over as Michigan's No 1 running back in the second half of the season. Quarterback Don Moorhead picked up the slack, completing 15 of 25 passes for 247 yards. Tight end Jim Mandich caught 10 of Moorhead's passes for 156 yards and a touchdown.[19]

Purdue outgained Michigan by a total of 416 yards to 370. Purdue quarterback Mike Phipps came into the game as the national leader in total offense and a leading candidate for the Heisman Trophy. He rushed for a touchdown and completed 22 of 44 passes for 250 yards and two touchdowns. Purdue fullback John Bullock also stood out with 84 rushing yards and 81 receiving yards. However, Michigan's defense intercepted four of Phipps' passes (three by Marty Huff, one by Tom Curtis) and recovered three Purdue fumbles (one of the fumbles by Phipps).[19][20]

The game also featured Bo Schembechler's first major run-in with Big Ten Conference officials. When Michigan's middle guard Henry Hill assisted an injured teammate (Cecil Pryor) off the field, an official thought Hill was being illegally substituted into the game and threw a flag. Schembechler rushed onto the field to confront the official and was penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct. The dual penalties gave Purdue the ball at Michigan's one-yard line, setting up the first Purdue touchdown.[19][21]

Michigan State

[edit]
Week 5: Michigan at Michigan State
1 234Total
Michigan 0 372 12
• Michigan 0 1670 23
Scoring summary
2MICHTim Killian 29-yard field goalMICH 3–0
2MSUDon Highsmith 2-yard run (Gary Boyce kick)MSU 7–3
2MSUBill Triplett 10-yard run (Boyce kick)MSU 14–3
2MSUSafety (Glenn Doughty downed ball in end zone)MSU 16–3
3MSUHighsmith 3-yard run (Boyce kick)MSU 23–3
3MICHDoughty 7-yard run (Titas kick)MSU 23–10
4MICHSafety (Pat Miller stepped out of end zone)MSU 23–12

On October 18, 1969, Michigan lost to Duffy Daugherty's Michigan State Spartans by a 23–12 score in front of a crowd of 79,368 in East Lansing. Led by halfback Don Highsmith (134 rushing yards and two touchdowns on a Big Ten record 30 carries) and quarterback Bill Triplett (143 rushing yards and a touchdown on 18 carries), the Spartans outgained the Wolverines on the ground by totals of 348 yards to 176.[22] On being told after the game that his team had allowed 348 rushing yards, coach Schembechler replied: "That's terrible . . you can't win a football game that way, not unless you're scoring 30 or 40 points."[23]

Forced to throw after Michigan State took a 23–3 lead, Michigan quarterback Don Moorhead completed 13 of 35 passes for 164 yards. Tight end Jim Mandich caught nine of Moorhead's passes for 118 yards. Glenn Doughty rushed for 89 yards and a touchdown on 26 carries, but he also fumbled for an 11-yard loss, missed a block leading to a quarterback sack, and was tagged with a safety after he caught a kickoff at the one-yard line, stepped back into the end zone, and downed the ball for what he thought was a touchback. In the fourth quarter, Spartan punter Pat Miller took an intentional safety rather than punting from the end zone.[22][24]

Minnesota

[edit]
Week 6: Michigan at Minnesota
1 234Total
• Michigan 0 71414 35
Minnesota 3 600 9
  • Date: October 25
  • Location: Minneapolis
  • Game attendance: 44,028
Scoring summary
1MINNJeff Nygren 35-yard field goalMINN 3–0
2MICHBilly Taylor 8-yard pass from Don Moorhead (Frank Titas kick)MICH 7–3
2MINNMel Anderson 42-yard field goalMICH 7–6
2MINNAnderson 37-yard field goalMINN 9–7
3MICHTaylor 3-yard run (Titas kick)MICH 14–9
3MICHTaylor 1-yard run (Titas kick)MICH 21–9
4MICHMoorhead 6-yard run (Titas kick)MICH 28–9
4MICHLance Scheffler 10-yard run (Titas kick)MICH 35–9

On October 25, 1969, Michigan defeated Minnesota, 35–9, in the annual Little Brown Jug game, played before a crowd of 44,028 in Minneapolis. Michigan's offense sputtered in the first half, as Ted Killian missed two field goal attempts, and the Wolverines trailed, 9–7, at halftime.

The Wolverines rebounded in the second half, scoring 28 unanswered points. With Glenn Doughty sidelined due to ankle and thigh injuries, Billy Taylor started his first game as Michigan's tailback. Taylor totaled 151 rushing yards on 31 carries and scored Michigan's first three touchdowns. Quarterback Don Moorhead had 61 rushing yards and a touchdown and completed eight of 12 passes for 92 yards. Michigan totaled 285 rushing yards and 103 passing yards. On defense, the Wolverines limited the Gophers to 75 rushing yards, 182 passing yards, and three field goals, and intercepted two Minnesota passes. Middle guard Henry Hill led the defense with eight solo tackles and three assists.[25][26]

After the game, coach Schembechler called the game "our greatest win of the year."[26]

Wisconsin

[edit]
Week 7: Wisconsin at Michigan
1 234Total
Wisconsin 0 070 7
• Michigan 14 2100 35
Scoring summary
1MICHBilly Taylor 37-yard run (Frank Titas kick)MICH 7–0
1MICHTaylor 51-yard run (Titas kick)MICH 14–0
2MICHGarvie Craw 1-yard run (Titas kick)MICH 21–0
2MICHBarry Pierson 51-yard punt return (Titas kick)MICH 28–0
2MICHJim Mandich 12-yard pass from Don Moorhead (Titas kick)MICH 35–0
3WISCCrooks 30-yard run (Jaeger kick)MICH 35–7

On November 1, 1969, Michigan defeated Wisconsin, 35–7, in the rain before a homecoming crowd of 60,438 at Michigan Stadium. Michigan scored all of its 35 points in the first half. Billy Taylor, playing in place of the injured Glenn Doughty, rushed for 142 yards, including touchdown runs of 37 and 51 yards in the first quarter. In the second quarter, Barry Pierson added a 51-yard punt return, Tom Curtis intercepted a pass at Michigan's eight-yard line and returned it 27 yards, and Jim Mandich scored on a 12-yard pass from Don Moorhead.[27][28]

Illinois

[edit]
Week 8: Michigan at Illinois
1 234Total
• Michigan 0 23727 57
Illinois 0 000 0
Scoring summary
2MICHTim Killian 28-yard field goalMICH 3–0
2MICHBilly Taylor 84-yard run (kick failed)MICH 9–0
2MICHGarvie Craw 8-yard run (run failed)MICH 15–0
2MICHCraw 1-yard run (Bill Harris pass from Don Moorhead)MICH 23–0
3MICHCraw 1-yard run (Frank Titas kick)MICH 30–0
4MICHCraw 5-yard pass from Jim Betts (Titas kick)MICH 37–0
4MICHBetts 1-yard run (Titas kick)MICH 44–0
4MICHJohn Gabler 13-yard pass from Betts (kick failed)MICH 50–0
4MICHBruce Elliott 40-yard interception return (Titas kick)MICH 57–0

On November 8, 1969, Michigan defeated Illinois, 57–0, before a crowd of 35,270 at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Illinois. The Michigan Daily reported that the 57-point margin "the worst drubbing either school has received in this long and fabled rivalry that dates to 1898."[29] Michigan totaled 524 yards of total offense (328 rushing and 196 passing).[30]

After a scoreless first quarter, Michigan's Tim Killian kicked a 28-yard field goal in the second quarter. Tailback Billy Taylor then scored on an 84-yard touchdown run. Taylor totaled 155 yards on 13 carries, all in the first half. Fullback Garvie Craw scored four touchdowns, two in the second quarter and one each in the third and fourth quarters. After the game, coach Schembechler said: "Garvie Craw is a strong runner. His average per carry is very low, but he always has the tough yardage to get."[30]

Backup quarterback Jim Betts was responsible for three fourth-quarter touchdowns, on passes to Craw and John Gabler and the other on a quarterback sneak. Betts tallied 157 yards of total offense (106 passing yards and 51 rushing yards).[30] Defensive back Bruce Elliott, the son of former Illinois coach Pete Elliott and a graduate of Champaign Central High School, concluded the scoring on a 40-yard interception return for a touchdown with 39 seconds remaining in the game.[31][32]

Despite the impressive win, coach Schembechler was characteristically guarded in his post-game press conference: "We didn't play well. The defense was not sharp in the first half and neither was the offense."[29]

Iowa

[edit]
Week 9: Michigan at Iowa
1 234Total
• Michigan 7 24146 51
Iowa 0 006 6
Scoring summary
1MICHDon Moorhead 1-yard run (Frank Titas kick)MICH 7–0
2MICHBilly Taylor 33-yard run (Titas kick)MICH 14–0
2MICHTaylor 71-yard run (Titas kick)MICH 21–0
2MICHTim Killian 27-yard field goalMICH 24–0
2MICHJim Mandich 26-yard pass from Moorhead (Titas kick)MICH 31–0
3MICHGarvie Craw 1-yard run (Titas kick)MICH 38–0
3MICHJim Betts 6-yard run (Titas kick)MICH 45–0
4MICHBetts 6-yard run (kick blocked)MICH 51–0
4IOWADenny Green 14-yard pass from Larry Lawrence (run failed)MICH 51–6

On November 15, 1969, Michigan defeated Iowa, 51–6, in Iowa City. Michigan set three Big Ten Conference single-game records with 524 rushing yards, 673 yards of total offense, and 34 first downs. Running back Billy Taylor led the attack with 225 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 21 carries, all in the first three quarters. Adding to the attack were Glenn Doughty (100 rushing yards), Don Moorhead (90 passing yards, 80 rushing yards), Bill Harris (80 receiving yards), Garvie Craw (51 rushing yards), and Jim Betts (50 rushing yards). Iowa's only touchdown was scored with 22 seconds remaining in the game.[33]

Asked after the game whether Michigan could beat Ohio State, Iowa coach Ray Nagel replied: "They can beat anybody in the country."[34]

Ohio State

[edit]
Main article: 1969 Ohio State vs. Michigan football game
Week 10: Ohio State at Michigan
1 234Total
Ohio State 6 600 12
• Michigan 7 1700 24
  • Date: November 22
  • Location: Ann Arbor, MI
  • Game start: 1:30 p.m.
  • Game attendance: 103,588
  • Game weather: Sunny • 45 °F (7 °C)
  • Referee: Jerry Markbreit
Scoring summary
17:38OSUJim Otis 1-yard run (White kick failed)OSU 6–0
13:35MICHGarvie Craw 2-yard run (Titas kick)MICH 7–6
214:52OSUJan White 22-yard pass from Rex Kern (run failed)OSU 12–7
211:54MICHCraw 1-yard run (Titas kick)MICH 14–12
210:10MICHDon Moorhead 2-yard run (Titas kick)MICH 21–12
21:15MICHTed Killian 25-yard field goalMICH 24–12

On November 22, 1969, Michigan, ranked No. 12 in the AP Poll, upset Woody Hayes' Ohio State Buckeyes, 24–12, before a crowd of 103,588 at Michigan Stadium. Ohio State entered the game ranked No. 1, riding a 22-game winning streak, and favored by 17 points. Ohio State running back Jim Otis rushed for 144 yards and a touchdown on 28 carries, but quarterback Rex Kern completed only six passes for 88 yards, and Michigan intercepted six Ohio State passes. Michigan defensive back Tom Curtis intercepted two passes and set an NCAA career record with 431 interception return yards. Barry Pierson also intercepted three passes and returned a punt 60 yards to set up Michigan's third touchdown.[35]

On offense, Michigan running back Billy Taylor gained 84 yards on 23 carries while quarterback Don Moorhead completed 10 of 20 passes for 108 yards and gained 67 yards rushing. Fullback Garvie Craw scored two touchdowns, and tight end Jim Mandich caught six passes for 78 yards. Neither team scored in the second half.[35]

1970 Rose Bowl game

[edit]
Main article: 1970 Rose Bowl
1970 Rose Bowl
1 234Total
Michigan 0 300 3
• USC 3 070 10
  • Date: January 1, 1970
  • Location: Pasadena, CA
  • Game attendance: 103,878
Scoring summary
1USCRon Ayala 25-yard field goalUSC 3–0
2MICHTim Killian 20-yard field goalTIE 3–3
3USCBobby Chandler 33-yard pass from Jimmy Jones (Ayala kick)USC 10–3

On January 1, 1970, Michigan, ranked No. 7 in the AP Poll, lost to John McKay's undefeated No. 5 USC Trojans, 10–3, before a crowd of 103,878 in the 1970 Rose Bowl game in Pasadena, California. Michigan coach Bo Schembechler was hospitalized with a heart attack four hours before the game began. Defensive coordinator Jim Young served as the acting head coach.[36]

The teams traded field goals in the first half, and USC took the lead with three minutes remaining in the third quarter on a 33-yard touchdown pass from Jimmy Jones to Bobby Chandler. USC's "Wild Bunch" defense held Michigan 162 rushing yards and 127 passing yards.[36][37]

In the fourth quarter, Michigan quarterback Don Moorhead led three drives into USC territory. On the first drive, Michigan took the ball to USC's 13-yard line, but Moorhead's pass on fourth down slipped through Garvie Craw's hands. On the next drive, Michigan drove to USC's nine-yard line where Craw was stopped on a fourth-and-one run. On the final drive, Moorhead threw 12 passes and converted twice on fourth down before time expired. The loss was Michigan's first in five Rose Bowl games.[36]

Award season

[edit]

In January 1970, the American Football Coaches Association selected Bo Schembechler as the Major College Coach of the Year. Schembechler was still in the hospital at the time of the award ceremony and quipped: "I may well be the only coach to win this award who failed to show up for his final game."[38] Schembechler returned to Ann Arbor on January 19 following his discharge from the hospital.[39]

Two Michigan players received first-team honors on the 1969 All-America team:

Nine Michigan players received recognition from the AP and/or UPI on the 1969 All-Big Ten Conference football team: Jim Mandich at tight end (AP-1, UPI-1), Tom Curtis at defensive back (AP-1, UPI-1), Dan Dierdorf at offensive tackle (AP-1, UPI-1), Guy Murdock at center (UPI-1), Billy Taylor at running back (AP-2, UPI-1), Marty Huff at linebacker (AP-1, UPI-2), Cecil Taylor at defensive end (AP-2, UPI-2), Henry Hill at middle guard (AP-2, UPI-2), and Barry Pierson at defensive back (UPI-2).[49][50]

Team awards were presented at the end of the season as follows:[51]

  • Most Valuable Player: Jim Mandich
  • Meyer Morton Award: Don Moorhead
  • John Maulbetsch Award: Glenn Doughty
  • Frederick Matthei Award: Jack Harpring
  • Arthur Robinson Scholarship Award: Brian Healy

Personnel

[edit]

Roster

[edit]
1969 Michigan Wolverines football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos. # Name Class
OT 73 Morris Abrahams Sr
G 60 Robert Baumgartner Sr
QB 28 Will Berutti Jr
QB 23 Jim Betts Jr
OT 76 Jim Brandstatter So
G 56 Richard Caldarazzo Sr
FB 48 Garvie Craw Sr
OT 72 Dan Dierdorf Jr
TB 22 Glenn Doughty So
FB 37 Eric Federico Sr
HB 18 John Gabler Sr
T/P 75 Werner Hall Sr
TE 81 Mike Hankwitz Sr
OT 71 Jack Harpring Jr
E 80 William Harris Jr
WB 44 Preston Henry So
SE 86 Jerry Imsland Sr
C, K 57 Timothy Killian Jr
TE 88 Jim Mandich Sr
G 65 Reggie McKenzie So
QB 27 Don Moorhead Jr
C 53 Guy Murdock So
WR 84 Michael Oldham So
OT 69 Robert Ritley Sr
C 59 Peter Sarantos Sr
TB 45 Lance Scheffler Jr
FB 32 Fritz Seyferth So
TE 85 Paul Seymour So
WR 30 Paul Staroba Jr
RB 42 Billy Taylor So
G, K 64 Frank Titas Sr
Defense
Pos. # Name Class
DT 99 Tom Beckman So
MG 34 Richard Brown Sr
DE 94 Al Carpenter So
K, DE 36 Dana Coin So
DB 25 Tom Curtis Sr
DB 35 Thom Darden So
DB 21 Bruce Elliott So
MG 31 Alan Francis Sr
DT 92 Fred Grambau So
CB 14 Frank Gusich So
DB 24 Brian Healy Sr
MG 39 Henry Hill Jr
LB 70 Marty Huff Jr
LB 63 Joseph Jones Sr
DE 90 Mike Keller So
DT 78 Richard McCoy Jr. Jr
LB 97 Ed Moore Jr
DT 82 Pete Newell Jr
DT 74 Daniel Parks Jr
DB 29 Barry Pierson Sr
LB 55 Cecil Pryor Sr
DE 13 Thomas Takach Sr
LB 33 Mike Taylor So
DB 41 Timothy Wadhams Sr
DB, P 49 Mark Werner Sr
DB 43 Robert White Sr
LB 58 George Zuganellis Sr
Special teams
Pos. # Name Class
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Injured Injured
  • Redshirt Redshirt

Roster

Offensive letter winners

[edit]

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.

Defensive letter winners

[edit]

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,[54] 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,[55] 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

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Players in the NFL

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The following players were claimed in the 1970 NFL draft.[57]

Player Position Round Pick NFL Club
Jim Mandich Tight end 2 29 Miami Dolphins
Cecil Pryor Defensive end 5 120 Green Bay Packers
Barry Pierson Defensive back 5 127 St. Louis Cardinals

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);[58][59] 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);[60] Cecil Pryor (Memphis Southmen),[61] 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 would later be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Coaching staff

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Statistics

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Rushing

[edit]
Player Attempts Net yards Yards per attempt Touchdowns
Billy Taylor 141 864 6.1 7
Glenn Doughty 150 732 4.9 4
Don Moorhead 170 625 3.7 9
Garvie Craw 117 344 2.9 12

Passing

[edit]
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

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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

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Player Returns Yards Yds/Return TD Long
Glenn Doughty 10 199 19.9 0 31
Billy Taylor 5 109 21.8 0 44
Preston Henry 6 83 13.8 0 23

Punt returns

[edit]
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

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "1968 Football Team". University of Michigan, Bentley Historical Library. Retrieved December 28, 2019.
  2. ^ "U-M Shopping as Bump Moves Up". Detroit Free Press. December 25, 1968. p. 1D – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ George Cantor (December 27, 1968). "U-M Picks Miami of Ohio Grid Coach". Detroit Free Press. p. 1D – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "Bo to Import His Old Staff From Miami". Detroit Free Press. January 8, 1969. p. 1D – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Bo Aligns Coaching Team". Detroit Free Press. January 11, 1969. p. 12H.
  6. ^ Curt Sylvester (August 27, 1969). "U-M Racing the Clock". Detroit Free Press. p. 1D – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Turf might stay greener, but where's sweet smell?". The Michigan Daily. September 5, 1969. p. 1 – via Bentley Historical Library.
  8. ^ Phil Hertz (September 10, 1969). "Tartan Turf puzzles trainer". The Michigan Daily. p. 9 – via Bentley Historical Library.
  9. ^ "1969 Michigan Football Roster". Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan. Retrieved December 3, 2017.
  10. ^ "Mandich to captain Wolverines". The Michigan Daily. September 5, 1969. p. 11 – via Bentley Historical Library.
  11. ^ a b c d Curt Sylvester (September 21, 1969). "...and Wolverines Bomb Vandy, 42-14". Detroit Free Press. pp. 1D, 5D – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ a b Jim Forrester (September 21, 1969). "Wolverines smash defenseless Vanderbilt, 42-14". The Michigan Daily. pp. 1, 9 – via Bentley Historical Library.
  13. ^ "12,000 join peace march". The Michigan Daily. September 21, 1969. p. 1 – via Bentley Historical Library.
  14. ^ a b c d Curt Sylvester (September 29, 1969). "Wolverines Crush Washington, 45-7". Detroit Free Press. pp. 1C, 7C – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ "Gridders bust Huskies, 45-7". The Michigan Daily. September 28, 1969. pp. 1, 9 – via Bentley Historical Library.
  16. ^ "Yipes! U-M, Spartans Lose: Mizzou Stuns Wolverines, 40-17". Detroit Free Press. October 5, 1969. pp. 1C, 6C – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ^ Joel Block (October 5, 1969). "Michigan fumbles game away". The Michigan Daily. p. 1 – via Bentley Historical Library.
  18. ^ Jack Berry (October 5, 1969). "'Worst My Team Has Looked In Years' -- Bo". Detroit Free Press. p. 6C – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ^ a b c d Curt Sylvester (October 12, 1969). "Ah! U-M 31, Purdue 20". Detroit Free Press. pp. 1C, 5C – via Newspapers.com.
  20. ^ "Wolverines strip Purdue's glitter, 31-20". The Michigan Daily. October 12, 1969. pp. 1, 9 – via Bentley Historical Library.
  21. ^ Joel Block (October 12, 1969). "Refs throw flag, book at Wolverines". The Michigan Daily. p. 9 – via Bentley Historical Library.
  22. ^ a b Jack Saylor (October 19, 1969). "It's MSU, 23-12! Win over U-M Revives Rose Bowl Hopes". Detroit Free Press. pp. 1C, 4C – via Newspapers.com.
  23. ^ "'Just Played Poorly' -- Bo". Detroit Free Press. October 19, 1969. pp. 1C, 4C – via Newspapers.com.
  24. ^ Andy Barbas (October 19, 1969). "State romps to 23-12 victory". The Michigan Daily. pp. 1, 11 – via Bentley Historical Library.
  25. ^ Curt Sylvester (October 26, 1969). "M Wins 'Must' Game: Taylor Rips Gophers, 35-9". Detroit Free Press. pp. 1C, 5C – via Newspapers.com.
  26. ^ a b Joel Block (October 26, 1969). "Michigan rekindles bid for roses, 35-9". The Michigan Daily. pp. 1, 7 – via Bentley Historical Library.
  27. ^ Curt Sylvester (November 2, 1969). "35-Pt. Half Keeps M in Bowl Picture". Detroit Free Press. pp. 1C, 5C – via Newspapers.com.
  28. ^ Joel Block (November 2, 1969). "Wolverines dynamite Badgers, 35-7". The Michigan Daily. pp. 1, 9 – via Bentley Historical Library.
  29. ^ a b Jim Forrester (November 9, 1969). "Wolverines pound Illini, 57-0". The Michigan Daily. pp. 1, 9 – via Bentley Historical Library.
  30. ^ a b c Curt Sylvester (November 9, 1969). "Wow! U-M 57, Illinois 0: Craw Bulls Over for 4 TDs". Detroit Free Press. pp. 1C, 5C – via Newspapers.com.
  31. ^ Curt Sylvester (November 9, 1969). "M's Final TD "Out of Old Elliott Mold"". Detroit Free Press. p. 5C – via Newspapers.com.
  32. ^ "Betts, Elliot bask in starlight". The Michigan Daily. November 9, 1969. p. 9 – via Bentley Historical Library.
  33. ^ Curt Sylvester (November 16, 1969). "Wolverines Clobber Helpless Iowa, 51-6". Detroit Free Press. pp. 1C, 5C – via Newspapers.com.
  34. ^ Curt Sylvester (November 16, 1969). "Finally, Wolverines Can Think About OSU". Detroit Free Press. p. 5C – via Newspapers.com.
  35. ^ a b "U-M 24, OSU 12!". Detroit Free Press. November 23, 1969. pp. 1C, 5C – via Newspapers.com.
  36. ^ a b c Curt Sylvester (January 2, 1969). "Bo Ill; Stunned U-M Falls, 10-3". Detroit Free Press. pp. 1D, 5D – via Newspapers.com.
  37. ^ Bob Oates, Mal Florence (January 2, 1970). "Trojan Formula: DEFENSE and a Jones-Chandler Pass". Los Angeles Times. pp. III-1, III-9 – via Newspapers.com.
  38. ^ "Bo Is Voted No. 1 by Coaches". Detroit Free Press. January 16, 1970. p. 1D – via Newspapers.com.
  39. ^ "U-M Officials Welcome Bo Home". Detroit Free Press. January 20, 1970 – via Newspapers.com.
  40. ^ "Football Award Winners" (PDF). National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). 2016. p. 10. Retrieved October 21, 2017.
  41. ^ "Owens, Phipps Named To Team". Beckley (WV) Post-Herald. November 28, 1969. p. 2.
  42. ^ a b "Mandich, Curtis On AP All-Star Team". Detroit Free Press. December 5, 1969. p. 14 – via Newspapers.com.
  43. ^ a b Walter L. Johns (November 24, 1969). "Ohio State Dominates 1969 Central Press Captains All-American Team". The Gaffney Ledger. p. 5.
  44. ^ Ted Gangi (ed.). "FWAA All-America Since 1944: The All-Time Team" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on March 4, 2019. Retrieved October 5, 2015.
  45. ^ "Steve Owens, Mike Phipps Pace NEA All-Americans". Clovis News-Journal. November 21, 1969. p. 12.
  46. ^ a b "Mandich, Curtis Are All-America". Detroit Free Press. November 26, 1969. p. 1B – via Newspapers.com.
  47. ^ a b Roger Stanton, ed. (November 29, 1969). "FN Picks All-American Team". The Football News. p. 1.
  48. ^ a b "Mandich, Curtis On All-America". Detroit Free Press. December 26, 1969. p. 2D – via Newspapers.com.
  49. ^ "No Hawks Named All-Big Ten" (PDF). The Daily Iowan. November 26, 1969. p. 6.
  50. ^ "Bucks Head All-Big Ten". Oshkosh Daily Northwestern. November 28, 1969. p. 16.
  51. ^ a b c "1969 Football Team". University of Michigan, Bentley Historical Library. Retrieved December 30, 2019.
  52. ^ "Guard Baumgartner plans California trip". The Michigan Daily. November 6, 1968.
  53. ^ Harpring's son, Matt Harpring, played 12 years in the NBA.
  54. ^ 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.
  55. ^ Wadhams later became the CEO of Masco, a Fortune 400 company. See here.
  56. ^ "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.
  57. ^ "1970 NFL Draft". pro-football-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on December 21, 2007. Retrieved March 29, 2018.
  58. ^ "Grambau Signs". The Robesonian. March 12, 1976.
  59. ^ "Awards race at a glance". Edmonton Journal. October 23, 1974.
  60. ^ CFLpedia
  61. ^ "Former U-M Gridder, Board Member Pryor Passes Away". University of Michigan. October 20, 2005. Archived from the original on October 30, 2014. Retrieved December 9, 2012.
  62. ^ a b c d e f "Miami motif marks Michigan coaching corps". The Michigan Daily. September 5, 1969. p. 2 – via Bentley Historical Library.
  63. ^ Pat Atkins (April 4, 1969). "Stobart molds Wolverine offensive backs". The Michigan Daily. p. 9.
  64. ^ Elliot Legow (October 15, 1969). "Freshman football key to varsity Success". The Michigan Daily.
[edit]
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