History of Michigan Wolverines football in the Crisler years
The History of Michigan Wolverines football in the Crisler years covers the history of the University of Michigan Wolverines football program during the period from the hiring of Fritz Crisler as head coach in 1938 through his retirement as head coach after winning the 1948 Rose Bowl. Michigan was a member of the Big Ten Conference during the Crisler years and played its home games at Michigan Stadium.
During the 10 years in which Crisler served as head football coach, Michigan compiled a record of 71–16–3. Tom Harmon played for the Wolverines from 1938 to 1940 and in 1940 became the first Michigan player to win the Heisman Trophy. The 1947 Michigan team, sometimes known as the "Mad Magicians", compiled a perfect 10-0 record, outscored its opponents 394-53, defeated the USC Trojans 49-0 in the 1948 Rose Bowl game, and were selected as the nation's No. 1 team by a 226-119 margin over Notre Dame in an unprecedented AP Poll taken after the bowl games. Bob Chappuis finished second in the Heisman Trophy voting in 1947.
Eleven players from the Crisler years have been inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. They are Chappuis, Bump Elliott, Pete Elliott, Harmon, Bob Westfall, Elroy "Crazy Legs" Hirsch, Forest Evashevski, David M. Nelson, Tubby Raymond, Albert "Ox" Wistert, and Alvin "Moose" Wistert. Two have also been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame — Hirsch and Len Ford. Three members of the coaching staff have also been inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. They are Crisler, Clarence "Biggie" Munn, and Bennie Oosterbaan.
Year-by-year results
| Season | Head coach | Conference | Place | Record | PF | PA |
| 1938 team | Fritz Crisler | Big Ten Conference | 2nd | 6–1–1 | 131 | 40 |
| 1939 team | Fritz Crisler | Big Ten | 3rd | 6–2 | 219 | 94 |
| 1940 team | Fritz Crisler | Big Ten | 2nd | 7–1 | 196 | 34 |
| 1941 team | Fritz Crisler | Big Ten | 2nd | 6–1–1 | 147 | 41 |
| 1942 team | Fritz Crisler | Big Ten | 3rd | 7–3 | 221 | 134 |
| 1943 team | Fritz Crisler | Big Ten | 1st | 8–1 | 302 | 73 |
| 1944 team | Fritz Crisler | Big Ten | 2nd | 8–2 | 204 | 91 |
| 1945 team | Fritz Crisler | Big Ten | 2nd | 7–3 | 187 | 99 |
| 1946 team | Fritz Crisler | Big Ten | 2nd | 6–2–1 | 233 | 73 |
| 1947 team | Fritz Crisler | Big Ten | 1st | 10–0 | 394 | 53 |
Overview of the Crisler years
Harmon years
War years
Mad Magicians
Rivalries
Michigan State
Crisler is the only head coach in Michigan football history who served for more than two years and maintained an undefeated record in the Michigan – Michigan State football rivalry. Crisler compiled a perfect 8–0 record against the Spartans, including four shutouts in 1938, 1942, 1945, and 1946. Biggie Munn, who was an assistant coach under Crisler from 1938 to 1945, served as head coach at Michigan State from 1947 to 1953 and as athletic director from 1954 to 1971.Minnesota
During the Crisler years, Michigan compiled a 5–5 record in its annual Little Brown Jug rivalry game with the Minnesota Golden Gophers. Minnesota defeated Michigan five straight years in the first half of the Crisler years. Under head coach Bernie Bierman, Minnesota compiled a nine-game winning streak over Michigan extending from 1934 to 1942. By the mid-1940s, with Bierman gone as head coach, the Golden Gophers fell from the top tier of teams, and Michigan concluded the Crisler years with five consecutive victories from 1943 to 1947.During the Crisler years, the Little Brown Jug games often took on national significance, as the two teams came into several games ranked among the top teams in the country. Significant games include the following:
- In 1938, Minnesota was responsible for Michigan's only loss in the first season under Crisler. The Golden Gophers won a close game by a score of 7 to 6. Minnesota and Michigan ended the 1938 season ranked #10 and #16 in the final AP poll.
- In 1940, Michigan and Minnesota were undefeated and ranked #2 and #3 in the AP poll before the game. Michigan took the lead on a touchdown pass from Tom Harmon to Forest Evashevski, but Harmon's kick for the extra point went wide. Minnesota responded with its own touchdown and converted its extra point attempt to win the game by a 7–6 score. Minnesota finished the 1940 season undefeated and with a national championship. Michigan was ranked #3 in the final AP Poll of 1940.
- In 1941, the teams were again undefeated heading into the game. Minnesota won the game 7–0. Minnesota went on to claim its second consecutive national championship, and Michigan was ranked #5 in the final AP poll.
- In 1947, the Wolverines were ranked #1 in the country and had averaged 55 points in the first four games of the season. The Golden Gophers gave the Wolverines the toughest game of the season. Michigan's star back Bob Chappuis was held to 26 rushing yards, less than two yards per carry. While the Wolverines won, 13 to 6, the close score resulted in Notre Dame moving ahead of Michigan to claim the #1 spot in the AP Poll.
Notre Dame
- In 1942, Notre Dame came into the game ranked #4 in the AP Poll, and Michigan was ranked #6. Michigan won the game, 32–20, in front of a capacity crowd of 57,500 at Notre Dame Stadium. Michigan's total of 32 points was the most scored against a Notre Dame team since 1905. Michigan's first touchdown came on a quarterback sneak by George Ceithaml from the one-yard line. Don Robinson ran for Michigan's second touchdown on a fake field goal attempt, and Tom Kuzma scored two touchdowns in the second half.
- In 1943, the teams came into the game with undefeated records and ranked #1 and #2 in the AP Poll. The highly anticipated game broke the Michigan Stadium attendance records with a crowd of 85,688. The previous record was a crowd of 85,088 that attended the 1929 Michigan-Ohio State game. Notre Dame won the game, 35–12. According to the United Press game account, the passing by Angelo Bertelli "caught the Wolverine secondary flatfooted and out of position repeatedly to make the rout complete." The third quarter was marked by a malfunction of the electric clock, resulting in a third quarter that lasted 23 minutes. Notre Dame outscored Michigan 14–0 in the long third quarter. After nine plays had been run in the fourth quarter, the timing error was discovered, and an announcement was made over the stadium's public address system that only two-and-a-half minutes remained in the game, as the fourth quarter was shortened to seven minutes. The only points in the short fourth quarter came on the last play of the game as Elroy Hirsch threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to Paul White. Dame went on to win the 1943 national championship.
Ohio State
During the Crisler years, Michigan compiled a 6-2-1 record in the Michigan–Ohio State football rivalry. Significant games during the Crisler years include:- In 1939, Ohio State came into the game ranked #6 in the country with Michigan unranked and having two losses. The Wolverines upset the Buckeyes, 21–14.
- In 1940, the game marked the final college football game to be played by Tom Harmon after three brilliant years for the Wolverines. Michigan defeated Ohio State 40–0. Harmon ran for three touchdowns, threw two touchdown passes, and converted four PATs. He also averaged 50 yards per punt on three punts. When Harmon left the field with 38 seconds remaining, the crowd in Columbus gave a standing ovation to a Michigan football player.
- In 1942, the teams came into the game ranked #4 and #5 in the AP poll. The Buckeyes won the game, 21 to 7, in Ann Arbor. The victory over the Wolverines helped propel Ohio State to the #1 spot in the final AP Poll, as Ohio State won its first national championship.
- In 1944, Ohio State came into the game ranked #3 and undefeated. Michigan was ranked #6 and had one loss. The Buckeyes defeated the Wolverines, 18–14, in Columbus. Ohio State narrowly missed its second national championship, being ranked #2 in the final AP Poll.
- In 1945, both teams were ranked among the top ten in the AP Poll, and Michigan won, 7–3.
Coaching staff and administration
Assistant coaches
- William Barclay – assistant coach, 1943–1945
- Jack Blott – assistant coach, 1924–1933, 1946–1958
- George Ceithaml – assistant coach, 1947–1952
- Campbell Dickson – assistant coach, 1938–1939
- Ray Fisher – assistant coach, 1921–1928, 1934–1936, 1943–1945
- Forrest Jordan – assistant coach, 1946–1947
- Cliff Keen – assistant coach 1926–1930, 1932–1936, 1941, 1946–1958
- Archie Kodros – player, 1937–1939; assistant coach, 1940–1941
- Earl Martineau – assistant coach, 1938–1945
- Ernie McCoy, 1940–1942, 1945–1951
- Clarence "Biggie" Munn – assistant coach, 1938–1945
- Bennie Oosterbaan – assistant coach, 1928–1947
- Hercules Renda – halfback, 1937–1939; assistant coach, 1940–1941
- Arthur Valpey – end, 1935–1937; assistant coach, 1943–1947
- Wally Weber – assistant coach, 1931–1958
Others
- Ralph W. Aigler – chairman of Michigan's Faculty Board in Control of Athletics, 1917–1942, faculty representative to the Big Ten Conference, 1917–1955
- Charles B. Hoyt – trainer, 1941–1942
- Jim Hunt – trainer, 1947–1967
- Ray Roberts – trainer, 1930–1940, 1943–1946
Players
| Name | Start Year | Last Year | Position | Notes |
| John Brennan | 1936 | 1938 | Guard | Voted "queen" of UM's 1939 ice festival; played for the Green Bay Packers. |
| Jim Brieske | 1942 | 1947 | Placekicker, center | Set collegiate, Big Ten, Rose Bowl, and Michigan placekicking records |
| Jerry Burns | 1947 | 1950 | Quarterback | Served as coach at Iowa and for the Minnesota Vikings |
| Bob Callahan | 1945 | 1946 | Center, Tackle | Played for the Buffalo Bills |
| Jack Carpenter | 1946 | 1946 | Tackle | Played for the Buffalo Bills, San Francisco 49ers, Hamilton Tiger-Cats Toronto Argonauts. |
| George Ceithaml | 1940 | 1942 | Quarterback | All-Big Ten quarterback, 1942; Crisler called him "the smartest player he ever taught"; served as an assistant coach at Michigan and USC |
| Bob Chappuis | 1946 | 1947 | Halfback | Shot down over Italy in World War II; All-American and 2nd in Heisman Trophy voting ; played for Brooklyn Dodgers and Chicago Hornets |
| Bill Daley | 1943 | 1943 | Fullback | All-American, 1943; Played for the Brooklyn Dodgers , Miami Seahawks, Chicago Rockets, and New York Yankees |
| Fred Dawley | 1939 | 1941 | Fullback | Played for the Detroit Lions and Los Angeles Bulldogs |
| Robert Derleth | 1942 | 1946 | Tackle | Played for the Detroit Lions |
| Gene Derricotte | 1946 | 1948 | Halfback, Quarterback | Served as a Tuskegee Airman during World War II; holds Michigan's single season record for punt return average |
| Wally Dreyer | 1943 | 1943 | Halfback | Played for Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers ; head football coach for the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee Panthers. |
| Dan Dworsky | 1945 | 1948 | Fullback, Center, Quarterback | Played for the Los Angeles Dons ; later became an architect and designed Crisler Arena and Drake Stadium. |
| Bump Elliott | 1946 | 1947 | Halfback | Michigan's head coach, 1959–1968; inducted into College Football Hall of Fame, 1989 |
| Pete Elliott | 1945 | 1948 | Quarterback, Halfback | Later served as head football coach at Nebraska, California, Illinois, and Miami ; inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame, 1994 |
| Forest Evashevski | 1938 | 1940 | Quarterback | All-Big Ten quarterback three straight years; head football coach at Iowa 1952–1960; inducted into College Football Hall of Fame in 2000 |
| Henry Fonde | 1945 | 1947 | Halfback | Threw a 47-yard touchdown pass in 1948 Rose Bowl; Head coach at Ann Arbor Pioneer HS for 10 years; Asst. coach at Michigan for 10 years |
| Len Ford | 1945 | 1947 | End | Played 11 years in the AAFC and NFL with the Dons, Browns and Packers; inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1976 |
| Julius Franks | 1941 | 1942 | Guard | First-team All-American 1942; Michigan's first African-American All-American |
| Ralph Fritz | 1939 | 1940 | Guard | Played 1 year in the NFL for the Eagles |
| Ed Frutig | 1938 | 1940 | End | First-team All-American 1940; Played 3 years in the NFL with the Packers and Lions |
| Elmer Gedeon | 1936 | 1938 | End | Played baseball for the Washington Senators; one of two MLB players killed in action during World War II after being shot down while piloting a B-26 bomber in 1944 |
| John Ghindia | 1947 | 1949 | Quarterback, Fullback, Halfback | Starting quarterback on the 1949 Michigan Wolverines football team that finished the season ranked No. 7 in the country; later served as a high school football and tennis coach in Wyandotte and Ecorse, Michigan. |
| John Greene | 1940 | 1943 | Tackle, Quarterback | Later played 7 years in the NFL with the Lions |
| Tom Harmon | 1938 | 1940 | Halfback | 1940 Heisman Trophy winner |
| Ralph Heikkinen | 1936 | 1938 | Guard | All-American 1939; MVP of the 1937 and 1938 Michigan football teams; Played 1 year in the NFL for the Brooklyn Dodgers |
| Bruce Hilkene | 1943 | 1947 | Tackle | Captain of the undefeated 1947 Michigan team known as the "Mad Magicians" |
| Elroy "Crazy Legs" Hirsch | 1943 | 1943 | Halfback | Only Michigan athlete to letter in football, baseball, basketball and track in the same year; Played 12 years in AAFC and NFL for Rockets and Rams; Inducted into College and Pro Football Hall of Fame. |
| Bob Hollway | 1947 | 1949 | End | Later served as head coach of the St. Louis Cardinals, 1971–1972 |
| Robert Ingalls | 1939 | 1941 | Center | Later played for the Green Bay Packers, 1942; served as the head football coach at the University of Connecticut, 1952–1963 |
| Fred Janke | 1936 | 1938 | Tackle, Fullback | Later became the president and chairman of the board of Hancock Industries; also served as the mayorJackson, Michigan, in the 1970s. |
| Farnham Johnson | 1943 | 1943 | End | Later played with the Chicago Rockets of the All-America Football Conference in 1948. |
| Jack Karwales | 1941 | 1942 | End, tackle | Later played professional football for theChicago Bears in 1946 and for theChicago Cardinals in 1947. |
| Reuben Kelto | 1939 | 1941 | Tackle | MVP 1941 Michigan team; Upper Peninsula Hall of Fame |
| Dick Kempthorn | 1947 | 1949 | Fullback | MVP 1949 Michigan team; Won Distinguished Flying Cross as a jet fighter pilot in the Korean War |
| Archie Kodros | 1937 | 1939 | Center | Later served as head football coach at Whitman and Hawaii; assistant coach at Iowa for 14 years |
| Ralph Kohl | 1947 | 1948 | Tackle | Later coached at Eastern Illinois and was head scout for the Minnesota Vikings |
| Robert Kolesar | 1940 | 1942 | Guard | Played for Cleveland Browns, 1946 |
| Paul Kromer | 1938 | 1940 | Halfback | Formed the "Touchdown Twins" combination with Tom Harmon in 1938 |
| Tom Kuzma | 1941 | 1942 | Halfback | Followed Tom Harmon as Michigan's main running back; Finished 2nd in the Big Ten in total offense, 1941 |
| Milan Lazetich | 1944 | 1944 | Tackle, Guard, Linebacker | First-team All-Big Ten and second-team All-American, 1944; Played 6 years in the NFL for the Rams; First-team All-NFL, 1948–1949 |
| Don Lund | 1942 | 1944 | Fullback | Played 10 years in Major League Baseball |
| Elmer Madar | 1941 | 1946 | End, Quarterback | Part of the "Seven Oak Posts' line in 1942; played for the Baltimore Colts |
| Bob Mann | 1944 | 1947 | End | All-Big Ten, 1947; Broke the Big Ten record for receiving yards in 1946 and again in 1947; Played 7 years in the NFL with the Lions and Packers; First African-American for both NFL teams; Led the NFL in receiving yards and yards per catch in 1949 |
| Earl Maves | 1943 | 1943 | Fullback | Later played for the Detroit Lions |
| Tony Momsen | 1945 | 1950 | Center | Played for the Pittsburgh Steelers and washington Redskins |
| Vincent Mroz | 1943 | 1943 | End | Served for 26 years in United States Secret Service, shot attempted assassin of Pres. Harry S. Truman in 1950 |
| Fred Negus | 1943 | 1943 | Center | Later played pro football for the Chicago Rockets and Chicago Bears |
| David M. Nelson | 1939 | 1941 | Halfback | Inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as a coach |
| Bob Nussbaumer | 1943 | 1945 | Halfback | Later played for theWashington Redskins, Green Bay Packers, and the Chicago Cardinals |
| Jack Petoskey | 1941 | 1943 | End | Later coached football at Hillsdale College and Western Michigan University |
| Joseph Ponsetto | 1944 | 1945 | Quarterback | All-Big Ten quarterback, 1944 |
| Merv Pregulman | 1941 | 1943 | Center, Tackle | Played 4 years in NFL; inducted into College Football Hall of Fame |
| Bill Pritula | 1942 | 1947 | Tackle | One of Michigan's "Seven Oak Posts" in 1942 |
| Tubby Raymond | 1946 | 1948 | Quarterback, Linebacker | Coach at Delaware, 1966–2001; inducted to College Football Hall of Fame |
| Russ Reader | 1945 | 1945 | Halfback | Later played professional football for the Chicago Bears and Toronto Argonauts |
| Hercules Renda | 1937 | 1939 | Halfback | Later served as assistant coach under Crisler ; also as a high school football and track coach in Pontiac, Michigan; inducted into the Michigan High School Coaches Hall of Fame. |
| Art Renner | 1943 | 1946 | End | Captain of the 1946 team |
| Dick Rifenburg | 1944 | 1948 | End | Played for the Detroit Lions, 1950 |
| Don Robinson | 1941 | 1946 | Halfback, Quarterback | Assistant football coach at Michigan, 1948–1956 |
| Quentin Sickels | 1944 | 1948 | Guard | Played on Michigan's undefeated 1947 and 1948 national championship teams |
| Rudy Smeja | 1941 | 1943 | End | Later played three years in the NFL for the Chicago Bears and Philadelphia Eagles |
| Joe Soboleski | 1945 | 1948 | Guard, Tackle | Played 4 years for Chicago Hornets, Washington Redskins, Detroit Lions, New York Yanks, and Dallas Texans |
| Milo Sukup | 1938 | 1940 | Guard | Running guard and key blocker for Tom Harmon; later football coach in Grand Rapids 1942–1971 |
| Wally Teninga | 1945 | 1949 | Halfback | Played on back-to-back undefeated teams ; later became the vice chairman and chief financial officer of the Kmart Corporation |
| Dominic Tomasi | 1945 | 1948 | Guard | Captain and Most Valuable Player of the National Champion 1948 Michigan Wolverines football team |
| Fred Trosko | 1937 | 1939 | Halfback | Meyer Morton Award in 1937; head football coach at Eastern Michigan, 1952–64 |
| Harold Watts | 1943 | 1946 | Center | MVP 1945 Michigan team; All-Big Ten, 1945 |
| Jack Weisenburger | 1944 | 1947 | Fullback, halfback, quarterback | Starting fullback for the 1947 "Mad Magicians" team |
| Bob Westfall | 1939 | 1941 | Fullback | All-American, 1941; Played 4 years in the NFL with the Lions; All-Pro in 1945; Inducted into College Football Hall of Fame in 1987 |
| J. T. White | 1946 | 1947 | Center | 2nd team All-American 1947; Played for Big Ten championship teams at Michigan and Ohio State ; Later served as an assistant coach and assistant athletic director at Penn State |
| Paul White | 1941 | 1946 | Halfback | Played 1 year in the NFL for the Steelers |
| Bob Wiese | 1942 | 1946 | Fullback, Quarterback | Played 2 years in the NFL with the Lions |
| F. Stuart Wilkins | 1945 | 1948 | Guard | Founding director and chairman of the board of the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio; Served as chairman of the board of the American Automobile Association |
| Jack Wink | 1943 | 1943 | Quarterback | Also played at Wisconsin ; head football coach at Wayne State, Wisconsin–Stout, St. Cloud State |
| Al Wistert | 1940 | 1942 | Tackle | All-American, 1942; MVP 1942 Michigan team; Inducted into College Football Hall of Fame, 1967; His No. 11 is 1 of 5 retired numbers at Michigan; Played 9 years in the NFL for the Steagles and Eagles; 8-time All-Pro |
| Alvin Wistert | 1947 | 1949 | Tackle | All-American, 1948 and 1949; Inducted into College Football Hall of Fame, 1967; Oldest college football player ever selected as an All-American at age 33; His No. 11 is 1 of 5 retired numbers at Michigan |
| Irv Wisniewski | 1946 | 1949 | End | Later coached football and basketball at Hillsdale College and the University of Delaware |
| Howard Yerges | 1944 | 1947 | Quarterback | Played for Ohio State in 1943; Quarterback of the undefeated 1947 team known as the "Mad Magicians"; All-Big Ten 1947 |