1989 Michigan Wolverines football team


The 1989 Michigan Wolverines football team was an American football team that represented the University of Michigan as a member of the Big Ten Conference during the 1988 NCAA Division I-A football season. In its 21st and final season under head coach Bo Schembechler, the team compiled a 10–2 record, won the Big Ten championship, lost to USC in the 1990 Rose Bowl, outscored opponents by a total of 335 to 184, and was ranked No. 7 and No. 8, respectively, in the final AP and UPI polls.
The team's statistical leaders included quarterback Michael Taylor with 1,081 passing yards, tailback Tony Boles with 839 rushing yards, and split end Greg McMurtry with 711 receiving yards, and placekicker J.D. Carlson with 73 points scored.
Defensive back Tripp Welborne was a consensus first-team selection to the 1989 All-America college football team. Six Michigan players received first-team honors on the 1989 All-Big Ten Conference football team.

Season

The Wolverines lost their season opener to Notre Dame but won ten consecutive games to finish the regular season. Highlights of the winning streak included the defeat of Minnesota by 34 points for the Little Brown Jug and a victory over Ohio State in their home finale.
The team leaders included running back Tony Boles, who rushed for 839 yards, and Michael Taylor, who threw for 1,081 yards. Greg McMurtry was the Wolverine's leading receiver with 41 catches for 711 yards. Schembechler retired after the Rose Bowl, which the Wolverines lost to USC by a touchdown.

Schedule

Game summaries

Notre Dame








10–71988L 17–19

UCLA

Maryland

Wisconsin

Michigan State

Indiana

Purdue

Illinois

Minnesota

Ohio State

Todd Plate's second interception of the day with 2:48 left in the game sealed the game and the Big Ten title for the Wolverines.

Rose Bowl

The 1990 Rose Bowl was a rematch of the previous Rose Bowl in which Michigan won 22 to 14. USC scored the first points in the second quarter with a one-yard run by Todd Marinovich. Michigan got a field goal to make it 7 to 3 but the Trojans added another field goal before the half to take a 10 to 3 lead at halftime. Although Michigan tied the score, Ricky Ervins had a fourteen-yard touchdown run which clinched the Rose Bowl for the Trojans.

Player stats

Players

Offense

The following players were claimed in the 1990 NFL Draft.
PlayerPositionRoundPickNFL Club
Leroy HoardRunning Back245Cleveland Browns
Greg McMurtryWide Receiver380New England Patriots
Chris CallowayWide Receiver497Pittsburgh Steelers
Derrick WalkerTight End6163San Diego Chargers

A total of 25 players from the 1989 team went on to play professional football. They are Bobby Abrams, Derrick Alexander, Erick Anderson, Tony Boles, Jarrod Bunch, Corwin Brown, Chris Calloway, Joe Cocozzo, Tom Dohring, Matt Elliott, Steve Everitt, Elvis Grbac, Leroy Hoard, Desmond Howard, Burnie Legette, Tony McGee, Greg McMurtry, Doug Skene, Greg Skrepenak, Buster Stanley, Mike Teeter, Brian Townsend, Jon Vaughn, Derrick Walker, and Tripp Welborne.

Coaching staff