1969 Michigan Wolverines football team

1969 Michigan Wolverines football
Big Ten co-champion
Rose Bowl, L 3–10 vs. USC
Conference Big Ten Conference
Ranking
Coaches No. 8
AP No. 9
1969 record 8–3 (6–1 Big Ten)
Head coach Bo Schembechler (1st season)
Defensive coordinator Jim Young (1st season)
MVP Jim Mandich
Captain Jim Mandich
Home stadium Michigan Stadium
1969 Big Ten football standings
Conf  Overall
TeamW 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 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 (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 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 Wisconsindagger 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. daggerHomecoming. #Rankings from AP Poll / Coaches Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time.

Season summary

Preseason

Michigan's 1969 recruiting class included Larry Cipa, Jim Coode, Randy Logan, and Bo Rather.[1]

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 Southeastern Conference foe, 42–14.[2]

Washington

1 234Total
Washington 0 070 7
• Michigan 6 61221 45

[3]

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.[5]

Iowa

Ohio State

1 234Total
Ohio State 6 600 12
• Michigan 7 1700 24

[7]

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.

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,[10] 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,[11] 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.[13]

Player Position Round Pick NFL Club
Jim MandichTight end229Miami Dolphins
Cecil PryorDefensive end5120Green Bay Packers
Barry PiersonDefensive back5127St. 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);[14][15] 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);[16] Cecil Pryor (Memphis Southmen),[17] 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.

Statistics

Rushing

Player Attempts Net yards Yards per attempt Touchdowns
Billy Taylor1418646.17
Glenn Doughty1507324.94
Don Moorhead1706253.79
Garvie Craw1173442.912

Passing

Player Attempts Completions Interceptions Comp % Yards Yds/Comp TD Long
Don Moorhead21099747.1126112.7622
Jim Betts3316048.529318.3259

Receiving

Player Receptions Yards Yds/Recp TD Long
Jim Mandich5167613.3332
Bill Harris1530220.1059
Mike Hankwitz1316512.7026
Paul Staroba1214111.8015

Kickoff returns

Player Returns Yards Yds/Return TD Long
Glenn Doughty1019919.9031
Billy Taylor510921.8044
Preston Henry68313.8023

Punt returns

Player Returns Yards Yds/Return TD Long
Barry Pierson1930015.8160
Marty Huff13131.0131
Tom Curtis11211.9012

Coaching staff

References

  1. ↑ "1969 Michigan Football Roster". Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan. Retrieved December 3, 2017.
  2. ↑ Eugene Register Guard. 21 Sept 1969.
  3. ↑ "Michigan crushes Huskies." Eugene Register-Guard. 1969 Sept 28.
  4. ↑ Eugene Register-Guard. 1969 Oct 12.
  5. ↑ Eugene Register-Guard. 1969 Nov 2.
  6. ↑ University of Michigan Football Record Book Pt. 1
  7. ↑ "Rose-Bound Michigan Dethrones Ohio State." Palm Beach Post. 1969 Nov 23.
  8. ↑ "Guard Baumgartner plans California trip". The Michigan Daily. November 6, 1968.
  9. ↑ Harpring's son, Matt Harpring, played 12 years in the NBA.
  10. ↑ 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.
  11. ↑ Wadhams later became the CEO of Masco, a Fortune 400 company. See here.
  12. ↑ "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.
  13. ↑ "1970 NFL Draft". pro-football-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC.
  14. ↑ "Grambau Signs". The Robesonian. March 12, 1976.
  15. ↑ "Awards race at a glance". Edmonton Journal. October 23, 1974.
  16. ↑ CFLpedia
  17. ↑ "Former U-M Gridder, Board Member Pryor Passes Away". University of Michigan. October 20, 2005.
  18. ↑ Elliot Legow (October 15, 1969). "Freshman football key to varsity Success". The Michigan Daily.
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