1973 Michigan Wolverines football team

1973 Michigan Wolverines football

Big Ten co-champion
Conference	Big Ten Conference
Ranking
Coaches	#6
AP	#6
1973 record	10–0–1 (7–0–1 Big Ten)
Head coach	Bo Schembechler (5th year)
Defensive coordinator	Gary Moeller (1st year)
MVP	Paul Seal
Captain	Dave Gallagher
Captain	Paul Seal
Home stadium	Michigan Stadium

1973 Big Ten football standings
	Conf					Overall
Team	W		L		T	W		L		T
#2 Ohio State +	7	–	0	–	1	10	–	0	–	1
#6 Michigan +	7	–	0	–	1	10	–	0	–	1
Minnesota	6	–	2	–	0	7	–	4	–	0
Illinois	4	–	4	–	0	5	–	6	–	0
Michigan State	4	–	4	–	0	5	–	6	–	0
Purdue	4	–	4	–	0	5	–	6	–	0
Northwestern	4	–	4	–	0	4	–	7	–	0
Wisconsin	3	–	5	–	0	4	–	7	–	0
Indiana	0	–	8	–	0	2	–	9	–	0
Iowa	0	–	8	–	0	0	–	11	–	0

+ – Conference co-champions Rankings from AP Poll

The 1973 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1973 NCAA Division I football season. In his fifth year as Michigan's head coach, Bo Schembechler led the team to a 10–0–1 record. It was Michigan's first undefeated season since 1948. The Wolverines outscored their opponents 330 to 68. Michigan was ranked #6 in both post-season polls.

The season ended with a 10-10 tie against Ohio State. Both teams entered undefeated, with the winner guaranteed a trip to the Rose Bowl. When the game ended in a tie, the Big Ten athletic directors voted in a secret ballot to send Ohio State to the Rose Bowl. Michigan athletic officials and fans were outraged, and Schembechler argued that Michigan was robbed of its on-field achievements. For months afterward, Ohio State newspapers were flooded with angry Wolverine letters and threats of lawsuits.

On offense, the team was led by quarterback Dennis Franklin who completed 36 of 67 passes for 534 yards and rushed 101 times for 425 yards. Four Michigan running backs, Ed Shuttlesworth, Chuck Heater, Gil Chapman, and Gordon Bell, combined for 2,417 rushing yards. Shuttlesworth, Franklin, wing back Clint Haslerig, and offensive guard Mike Hoban were all selected as All-Big Ten Conference players.

On defense, the Wolverines held opponents to 68 points, an average of 6.2 points per game. Defensive tackle Dave Gallagher and cornerback Dave Brown were both selected as first-team All-Americans. Middle linebacker Steve Strinko led the team with 77 total tackles and 108 total tackles.

Schedule

Date	Opponent^#	Rank^#	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
September 15, 1973	at Iowa	#5/NA	Kinnick Stadium • Iowa City, IA		W 31–7	52,105
September 22, 1973	Stanford*	#5/6	Michigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, MI		W 47–10	80,177
September 29, 1973	Navy*	#4/4	Michigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, MI		W 14–0	88,042
October 6, 1973	Oregon*	#5/5	Michigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, MI		W 24–0	81,113
October 13, 1973	at Michigan State	#5/4	Spartan Stadium • East Lansing, MI		W 31–0	78,263
October 20, 1973	Wisconsin	#4/4	Michigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, MI		W 35–6	87,723
October 27, 1973	at Minnesota	#4/4	Memorial Stadium • Minneapolis, MN		W 34–7	44,435
November 3, 1973	Indiana	#4/4	Michigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, MI		W 49–13	76,432
November 10, 1973	Illinois	#4/4	Michigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, MI		W 21–6	76,461
November 17, 1973	at Purdue	#4/4	Ross–Ade Stadium • West Lafayette, IN		W 34–9	56,485
November 24, 1973	#1/1 Ohio State	#4/4	Michigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, MI	ABC	T 10–10	105,223
*Non-conference game. Homecoming. ^#Rankings from AP Poll / Coaches' Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time.

Game notes

Iowa

	1	2	3	4	Total
• Michigan	10	7	7	7	31
Iowa	0	7	0	0	7

Date: September 15
Location: Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City, Iowa
Game attendance: 52,105

Scoring summary

1	Michigan	Lantry 39-yard field goal	Michigan 3-0

1	Michigan	Heater 1-yard run (Lantry kick)	Michigan 10-0

2	Iowa	Douthitt 47-yard interception return (Kokolus kick)	Michigan 10-7

2	Michigan	Thornbladh 3-yard run (Lantry kick)	Michigan 17-7

3	Michigan	Chapman 12-yard run (Lantry kick)	Michigan 24-7

4	Michigan	Franklin 11-yard run (Lantry kick)	Michigan 31-7

^[1]

Stanford

	1	2	3	4	Total
Stanford	0	0	3	7	10
• Michigan	21	13	7	6	47

Date: September 22
Location: Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, Michigan

Scoring summary

1	MICH	Heater 8 yard run (Lantry kick)	MICH 7–0

1	MICH	Shuttlesworth 1 yard run (Lantry kick)	MICH 14–0

1	MICH	Chapman 1 yard run (Lantry kick)	MICH 21–0

2	MICH	Lantry 50 yard field goal	MICH 24–0

2	MICH	Gustafson 4 yard pass from Franklin (Lantry kick)	MICH 31–0

2	MICH	Lantry 51 yard field goal	MICH 34–0

3	STAN	Garcia 37 yard field goal	MICH 34–3

3	MICH	Shuttlesworth 1 yard run (Lantry kick)	MICH 41–3

4	STAN	Ishman 19 yard pass from Boryla (Garcia kick)	MICH 41–10

4	MICH	Chapman 5 yard run (kick failed)	MICH 47–10

^[2]

Oregon

	1	2	3	4	Total
Oregon	0	0	0	0	0
• Michigan	0	14	0	10	24

Date: October 6
Location: Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, Michigan

Scoring summary

2	Michigan	Bob Thornbladh 2-yard run (Mike Lantry kick)	Michigan 7-0

2	Michigan	Paul Seal 4-yard pass from Larry Cipa (Mike Lantry kick)	Michigan 14-0

4	Michigan	Gil Chapman 83-yard punt return (Mike Lantry kick)	Michigan 21-0

4	Michigan	Mike Lantry 39-yard field goal	Michigan 24-0

Larry Cipa made his first career start in place of the injured Dennis Franklin, who missed the game due to a broken index finger suffered in practice during the week.^[3]

Michigan State

	1	2	3	4	Total
• Michigan	10	7	0	14	31
Michigan St	0	0	0	0	0

Date: October 13
Location: Spartan Stadium

Scoring summary

Q1	MICH	Brown 52 yard punt return (Lantry kick)	MICH 7–0

Q1	MICH	Lantry 35 yard field goal	MICH 10–0

Q2	MICH	Chapman 53 yard run (Lantry kick)	MICH 17–0

Q4	MICH	Seal 6 yard pass from Franklin (Lantry kick)	MICH 24–0

Q4	MICH	Shuttlesworth 2 yard run (Lantry kick)	MICH 31–0

^[4]

Wisconsin

	1	2	3	4	Total
Wisconsin	0	0	0	6	6
• Michigan	7	14	7	7	35

Date: October 20
Location: Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, Michigan

Scoring summary

1	MICH	Seal 46-yard pass from Franklin (Lantry kick)	Michigan 7–0

2	MICH	Chapman 3-yard run (Lantry kick)	Michigan 14–0

2	MICH	Franklin 1-yard run (Lantry kick)	Michigan 21–0

3	MICH	Heater 4-yard run (Lantry kick)	Michigan 28–0

4	WIS	Marek 65-yard pass from Bohlig (kick failed)	Michigan 28–6

4	MICH	Bell 7-yard run (Lantry kick)	Michigan 35–6

^[5]

Ohio State

Players

Offense

James Armour, offensive guard, senior, Detroit, Michigan
Harry Banks, tailback, senior, Cleveland, Ohio
Gordon Bell, tailback, sophomore, Troy, Ohio
Jim Bolden, tailback, freshman, Akron, Ohio
Kevin Casey, quarterback, senior, Grand Rapids, Michigan
Jon Cederberg, tailback, senior, Plymouth, Michigan
Gil Chapman, wing back, junior, Elizabeth, New Jersey - started 3 games at tailback
John A. Cherry, offensive tackle, senior, Willard, Ohio
Larry Cipa, quarterback, senior, Cincinnati, Ohio - started 1 game at quarterback
Jim Coode, offensive tackle, junior, Mayfield Heights, Ohio - started 9 games at right tackle
James C. Czirr, center, sophomore, St. Joseph, Michigan - started 2 games at center
Greg DenBoer, tight end, junior, Kentwood, Michigan
Arthur W. Fediuk, tight end, senior, Livonia, Michigan
Dennis Franklin, quarterback, junior, Massillon, Ohio - started 10 games at quarterback
Dennis Franks, center, junior, Bethel Park, Pennsylvania - started 5 games at center
Larry Gustafson, wing back, senior, Mays Landing, New Jersey
Gary Hainrihar, offensive guard, senior, Cicero, Illinois - started 3 games at right guard, 2 games at left guard
Clint Haslerig, wing back, senior, Cincinnati, Ohio - started all 11 games at wing back
Chuck Heater, tailback, junior, Tiffin, Ohio - started 8 games at tailback
Bill Hoban, offensive tackle, senior, Chicago, Illinois - started 7 games at left guard
Mike Hoban, offensive guard, junior, Chicago, Illinois
Thomas P. Jensen, center, junior, Springfield, Illinois - started 4 games at center
Keith Johnson, split end, sophomore, Munster, Indiana
Larry L. Johnson, defensive end, senior, Munster, Indiana - started all 11 games at split end
R. Steven King, offensive tackle, junior, Tiffin, Ohio
Mike Lantry, place-kicker, junior, Oxford, Michigan
Kirk Lewis, offensive tackle, sophomore, Garden City, Michigan - started 2 games at right guard, 1 game at left guard
Rob Lytle, tailback (JV), freshman, Fremont, Ohio
David F. Metz, offensive guard, junior, Harrison, Ohio - started 6 games at right guard, 1 game at left guard
Jeff Perlinger, offensive tackle, junior, Crystal, Minnesota - started 1 game at left defensive tackle
George Przygodski, tight end, sophomore, Grand Rapids, Michigan
Paul Seal, tight end, senior, Detroit, Michigan - started all 11 games at tight end
Ed Shuttlesworth, fullback, senior, Cincinnati, Ohio - started all 11 games at fullback
Tom Slade, quarterback, senior, Saginaw, Michigan
Jim Smith, end, freshman, Blue Island, Illinois
Ronald Szydlowski, wing back, senior, Wyandotte, Michigan
John E. Thomas, center, senior, Detroit, Michigan
Bob Thornbladh, fullback, senior, Plymouth, Michigan
Curtis Tucker, offensive tackle, senior, Cleveland, Ohio - started all 11 games at left tackle
Pat Tumpane, offensive tackle, junior, Midlothian, Illinois - started 2 games at right tackle

Defense

Dave Brandon, defensive end, senior, Plymouth, Michigan
Dave Brown, safety, junior, Akron, Ohio - started all 11 games at safety
Roy W. Burks, defensive back, junior, Midland, Michigan
Don Coleman, defensive end, senior, Daly City, Ohio - started all 11 games at right defensive end
Tim Davis, middle guard, sophomore, Warren, Ohio - started 7 games at middle guard
Michael J. Day, linebacker, senior, Livonia, Michigan
Barry Dotzauer, defensive back, senior, Cincinnati, Ohio - started 10 games at weak-side defensive halfback
Thomas E. Drake, defensive back, junior, Midland, Michigan - started 1 game at weak-side defensive halfback
Don Dufek, wolfman, sophomore, East Grand Rapids, Michigan - started all 11 games at wolfman
Donald R. Eaton, defensive end, senior, Lancaster, Ohio
Dave Elliott, defensive back, junior, Coral Gables, Florida - started all 11 games at strong-side defensive halfback
Dave Gallagher, defensive tackle, senior, Piqua, Ohio - started all 11 games at right defensive tackle
Dan Jilek, defensive end, sophomore, Sterling Heights, Michigan
Gregory Koss, safety, senior, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio
James M. Lyall, defensive tackle, senior, North Olmstead, Ohio
Calvin O'Neal, linebacker, sophomore, Saginaw, Michigan
Carl Russ, linebacker, sophomore, Muskegon Heights, Michigan - started all 11 games at w. linebacker
Geoffrey Steger, wolf, junior, Winnetka, Illinois
Steve Strinko, linebacker, sophomore, Middletown, Ohio - started all 11 games at middle linebacker
Douglas Troszak, defensive tackle, senior, Warren, Michigan - started 10 games at defensive left tackle
Jovan Vercel, linebacker, senior, Highland, Indiana
Donald R. Warner, middle guard, senior, Dearborn, Michigan - started 4 games at middle guard
Walter Williamson, defensive end, senior, Detroit, Michigan - started all 11 games at left defensive end
David Zuccarelli, wolf, senior, Chicago, Illinois

Awards and honors

All-Americans: Dave Gallagher, Dave Brown
All-Conference: Ed Shuttlesworth, Dave Brown, Mike Hoban, Clint Haslerig, Dave Gallagher, Dennis Franklin
Most Valuable Player: Paul Seal
Meyer Morton Award: Paul Seal
John Maulbetsch Award: Don Dufek
Frederick Matthei Award: Dave Brown
Arthur Robinson Scholarship Award: Don Warner

Statistical leaders

Rushing

Player	Attempts	Net yards	Yards per attempt	Touchdowns	Long
Ed Shuttlesworth	193	745	3.9	9	15
Chuck Heater	114	666	5.8	6	71
Gil Chapman	111	542	4.9	6	53
Gordon Bell	88	475	5.3	4	24
Dennis Franklin	101	425	4.2	6	49

Passing

Player	Attempts	Completions	Interceptions	Comp %	Yards	Yds/Comp	TD	Long
Dennis Franklin	67	36	5	53.7	534	14.8	4	46
Larry Cipa	35	13	2	37.1	163	12.5	1	36

Receiving

Player	Receptions	Yards	Yds/Recp	TD	Long
Paul Seal	14	254	18.1	3	46
Clint Haslerig	13	210	16.1	1	41

Kickoff returns

Player	Returns	Yards	Yds/Return	TD	Long
Gil Chapman	6	133	22.2	0	28
Clint Haslerig	6	127	21.2	0	31
Chuck Heater	4	84	21.0	0	28

Punt returns

Player	Returns	Yards	Yds/Return	TD	Long
Gil Chapman	13	179	13.8	1	83
Tom Drake	9	139	15.4	0	54
David Brown	14	125	8.9	1	53

Tackles

Player	Tac	Ast	Tot	PBU	FR
Steve Strinko	77	31	108	1	2
Carl Russ	40	26	66	3	1
Dave Gallagher	37	22	59	9	1
David Brown	39	16	55	3	1
Don Dufek	38	17	55	5	1

Coaching staff

Head coach: Bo Schembechler
Assistant coaches: Dennis Brown, Tirrel Burton, Jerry Hanlon, Jack Harbaugh, Frank Maloney, George Mans, Gary Moeller, Chuck Stobart, Elliot Uzelac
Trainer: Lindsy McLean
Manager: James T. Bueter

References

↑ "Franklin Aids Michigan, 31-7." Palm Beach Post. 1973 Sept 16.
↑ "Michigan Crushes Stanford, 47-10." Palm Beach Post. 1973 Sept 23.
↑ "Reserve Sparks Michigan." Palm Beach Post. 1973 Oct 7.
↑ "Michigan Wins Again." Palm Beach Post. 1973 Oct 14. Retrieved 2015-Sep-05.
↑ Eugene Register-Guard. 1973 Oct 21.

External links

1973 Football Team -- Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan Athletics History

Michigan Wolverines football

Venues	Washtenaw County Fairgrounds (1883–1892) Regents Field (1893–1905) Ferry Field (1906–1926) Michigan Stadium (1927–present)

Bowls & rivalries	Bowl games Chicago (defunct) Michigan State (Paul Bunyan Trophy) Minnesota (Little Brown Jug) Notre Dame Ohio State (The Ten Year War) Illinois

Culture & lore	Early years Yost era Kipke years Crisler years Oosterbaan years Elliott years Short punt The Ten Year War 1922 Vanderbilt game 24–12 The Vote for the Rose Bowl Miracle at Michigan 2006 "Game of the Century" 2007 Appalachian State game Biff "The Victors" Marching band

People	Head coaches Trainers Players All-Americans NFL draftees Statistical leaders

Seasons	1879 1880 1881 1882 1883 1884 1885 1886 1887 1888 1889 1890 1891 1892 1893 1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 1899 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

National championship seasons in bold

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