1977 Michigan Wolverines football team

1977 Michigan Wolverines football

Big Ten co-champion
Rose Bowl, L 27–20 vs. Washington
Conference	Big Ten Conference
Ranking
Coaches	#8
AP	#9
1977 record	10–2 (7–1 Big Ten)
Head coach	Bo Schembechler (9th year)
Defensive coordinator	Bill McCartney (1st year)
Base defense	3–4
MVP	Russell Davis
Captain	Walt Downing
Captain	Dwight Hicks
Home stadium	Michigan Stadium

1977 Big Ten football standings
	Conf					Overall
Team	W		L		T	W		L		T
#9 Michigan +	7	–	1	–	0	10	–	2	–	0
#11 Ohio State +	7	–	1	–	0	9	–	3	–	0
Michigan State	6	–	1	–	1	7	–	3	–	1
Indiana	4	–	3	–	1	5	–	5	–	1
Minnesota	4	–	4	–	0	7	–	5	–	0
Purdue	3	–	5	–	0	5	–	6	–	0
Iowa	3	–	5	–	0	4	–	7	–	0
Wisconsin	3	–	6	–	0	5	–	6	–	0
Illinois	2	–	6	–	0	3	–	8	–	0
Northwestern	1	–	8	–	0	1	–	10	–	0

+ – Conference co-champions Rankings from AP Poll

The 1977 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1977 NCAA Division I football season. The team's head coach was Bo Schembechler. The Wolverines played their home games at Michigan Stadium.

Schedule

Date	Opponent^#	Rank^#	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
September 10, 1977	at Illinois	#2/NA	Memorial Stadium • Champaign, Il		W 37–9	60,477
September 17, 1977	Duke*	#1/1	Michigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, MI		W 21–9	104,072
September 24, 1977	Navy*	#1/1	Michigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, MI		W 14–7	101,800
October 1, 1977	#5/5 Texas A&M*	#3/3	Michigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, MI		W 41–3	104,802
October 8, 1977	at Michigan State	#3/2	Spartan Stadium • East Lansing, MI		W 24–14	78,183
October 15, 1977	#14/15 Wisconsin	#1/1	Michigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, MI		W 56–0	104,892
October 22, 1977	at Minnesota	#1/1	Memorial Stadium • Minneapolis, MN		L 0–16	44,165
October 29, 1977	Iowa	#6/6	Michigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, MI		W 23–6	104,617
November 5, 1977	Northwestern	#6/6	Michigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, MI		W 63–20	103,211
November 12, 1977	at Purdue	#6/6	Ross–Ade Stadium • West Lafayette, IN		W 40–7	68,003
November 19, 1977	#4/4 Ohio State	#5/5	Michigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, MI		W 14–6	106,024
January 1, 1978	vs. #13/14 Washington*	#4/4	Rose Bowl • Pasadena, CA (Rose Bowl)	NBC	L 20–27	105,312
*Non-conference game. Homecoming. ^#Rankings from AP Poll / Coaches' Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time.

Players

Offense

John Arbeznik, offensive guard, junior, University Heights, Ohio - started 1 game at right offensive guard
Greg Bartnick, offensive guard, junior, Detroit, Michigan - started 2 games at right offensive guard
Kurt Becker, offensive tackle, freshman, Aurora, Illinois
Roger Bettis, quarterback, senior, Minerva, Ohio
Jim Breaugh, quarterback, freshman, West Bloomfield, Michigan
Ralph Clayton, wing back, sophomore, Detroit, Michigan - started 8 games at wing back
Russell Davis, fullback, junior, Woodbridge, Virginia - started all 12 games at fullback
Brian J. Dickey, quarterback, freshman, Ottawa, Ohio
Gerald Diggs, tailback, sophomore, Chicago, Illinois
Mark Donahue, offensive guard, senior, Oak Lawn, Illinois - started all 12 games at left offensive guard
Walt Downing, center, senior, Coatesville, Pennsylvania - started all 12 games at center
Bill Dufek, offensive tackle, senior, East Grand Rapids, Michigan
Stanley Edwards,tailback, freshman, Detroit, Michigan
Jon Giesler, offensive tackle, junior, Woodville, Ohio - started 1 game at left offensive tackle, 1 game at right offensive tackle
Harlan Huckleby, tailback, junior, Detroit, Michigan - started all 12 games at tailback
Gene Johnson, tight end, junior, Flint, Michigan - started 9 games at tight end
Stacy Johnson, quarterback, junior, Camden, New Jersey
Dave Kadela, offensive tackle, junior, Dearborn, Michigan
Mike Kenn, offensive tackle, senior, Evanston, Illinois - started 11 games at left offensive tackle
Kevin King, fullback, senior, Oak Lawn, Illinois
Rick Leach, quarterback, junior, Flint, Michigan - started all 12 games at quarterback
George Lilja, center, sophomore, Palos Park, Illinois
Doug Marsh, tight end, junior, Akron, Ohio
Alan Mitchell, wide receiver, freshman, Detroit, Michigan
John J. Powers, offensive tackle, sophomore, Oak Park, Illinois - started 10 games at right offensive tackle
Lawrence P. Reid, fullback, sophomore, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Max Richardson, wing back, senior, Fort Wayne, Indiana - started 4 games at wing back
Mark Schmerge, tight end, junior, Cincinnati, Ohio - started 1 game at tight end
Mike Smith, tailback, senior, Kalamazoo, Michigan
Roosevelt Smith, tailback, sophomore, Detroit, Michigan
Curt Stephenson, wide receiver, senior, La Jolla, California
Gerry Szara, offensive guard, senior, Oak Lawn, Illinois - started 9 games at right offensive guard
John Wangler, quarterback, sophomore, Royal Oak, Michigan
Richard A. White, wide receive, senior, Cincinnati, Ohio - started all 12 games at wide receiver

Defense

John Anderson, defensive end, senior, Waukesha, Wisconsin - started all 12 games at outside linebacker
Gene Bell, wolf, sophomore, East Liverpool, Ohio
Mark Braman, defensive halfback, junior, Midland, Michigan
Woody Brown, safety, senior, East Detroit, Michigan
Andy Cannavino, inside linebacker, freshman, Cleveland, Ohio
Mark DeSantis, outside linebacker, junior, Harper Woods, Michigan
Chris Godfrey, defensive tackle, sophomore, Detroit, Michigan - started 5 games at defensive tackle
Steve Graves, middle guard, senior, Cleveland, Ohio - started all 12 games at middle guard
Curtis Greer, defensive tackle, junior, Detroit, Michigan - started 9 games at defensive tackle
Mike Harden, defensive halfback, sophomore, Detroit, Michigan - started 1 game at weak-side cornerback, 1 game at safety
Dave Harding, ILS, senior, Northville, Michigan
Dwight Hicks, wolf, senior, Pennsauken, New Jersey - started 11 games at wolfman
Robert K. Holloway, outside linebacker, junior, West Bloomfield, Michigan
Derek Howard, wolf, senior, Hamilton, Ohio - started all 12 games (10 at strong-side cornerback, 1 at wolfman, 1 at safety)
William Jackson, defensive tackle, junior, Richmond, Virginia - started 1 game at defensive tackle
Raymond J. Johnson, defensive halfback, senior, Gary, Indiana
Mike Jolly, defensive halfback, sophomore, Melvindale, Michigan - started 11 games at weak-side cornerback
Dave Keitz, defensive tackle, junior, Columbus, Ohio - started 9 games at defensive tackle
Thomas A. Melita, middle guard, junior, Penns Grove, New Jersey
Jerry Meter, inside linebacker, junior, Birmingham, Michigan - started all 12 games at inside linebacker
Mel Owens, inside linebacker, sophomore, DeKalb, Illinois - started 1 game at inside linebacker
Robert M. Patek, wolf, junior, Farmington Hills, Michigan
Jim Pickens, defensive halfback, senior, Sylvania, Ohio - started all 12 games (10 at safety, 2 at strong-side cornerback)
Tom Seabron, outside linebacker, junior, Detroit, Michigan
Ron Simpkins, inside linebacker, sophomore, Detroit, Michigan - started 11 games at inside linebacker
Dominic Tedesco, outside linebacker, senior, Riverside, Illinois - started all 12 games at outside linebacker
Mike Trgovac, middle guard, freshman, Austintown, Ohio

Kickers

Nick Labun, place-kicker, senior, Rockford, Illinois
Bryan Virgil, place-kicker, sophomore, Buchanan, Michigan
Greg Willner, place-kicker, junior, Miami Beach, Florida

Awards

All-Americans: Mark Donahue, John Anderson, Walt Downing
All-Conference: Mark Donahue, Walt Downing, Rick Leach, John Anderson, Mike Kenn, Dwight Hicks, Jim Pickens
Most Valuable Player: Russell Davis
Meyer Morton Award: John Anderson
Frederick Matthei Award: Jerry Meter
Arthur Robinson Scholarship Award: John Anderson
John Maulbetsch Award: Ron Simpkins

Coaching staff

Head coach: Bo Schembechler
Assistant coaches: Dennis Brown - Defensive Ends, Tirrel Burton - Offensive Ends, Jerry Hanlon - Offensive Line, Jack Harbaugh - Defensive Backs, Bill McCartney - Defensive Coordinator, Don Nehlen - Offensive Backs, Tom Reed - Defensive Assistant, Paul Schudel - Offensive Interior Line
Trainer: Lindsy McLean
Manager: Donald G. Di Paolo

Game notes

Texas A&M

Texas A&M at Michigan

	1	2	3	4	Total
Texas A&M	3	0	0	0	3
• Michigan	0	7	13	21	41

Date: October 1
Location: Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, MI
Game attendance: 104,802

Scoring summary

1	A&M	Tony Franklin 24-yard field goal	A&M 3-0

2	MICH	Russell Davis 4-yard run (Gregg Willner kick)	MICH 7-3

3	MICH	Russell Davis 1-yard run (run failed)	MICH 13-3

3	MICH	Curt Stephenson 35-yard pass from Rick Leach (Gregg Willner kick)	MICH 20-3

4	MICH	Harlan Huckleby 8-yard run (Gregg Willner kick)	MICH 27-3

4	MICH	Jim Pickens recovered blocked punt in end zone (Gregg Willner kick)	MICH 34-3

4	MICH	Mike Jolly 50-yard interception return (Gregg Willner kick)	MICH 41-3

This contest marked the 50th anniversary game of Michigan Stadium. ^[1]

Michigan State

	1	2	3	4	Total
• Michigan	0	10	14	0	24
Michigan St	0	7	0	7	14

Date: October 8
Location: Spartan Stadium, East Lansing, MI

Scoring summary

Q2	MSU	Gibson 19 yard pass from Smith (Nielsen kick)	MSU 7–0

Q2	MICH	White 12 yard pass from Leach (Willner kick)	Tie 7–7

Q2	MICH	Willner 50 yard field goal	MICH 10–7

Q3	MICH	R. Davis 3 yard run (Willner kick)	MICH 17–7

Q3	MICH	Leach 3 yard run (Willner kick)	MICH 24–7

Q4	MSU	Earley 11 yard run (Nielsen kick)	MICH 24–14

^[2]

Minnesota

	1	2	3	4	Total
Michigan	0	0	0	0	0
• Minnesota	10	3	0	3	16

Date: October 22
Location: Memorial Stadium, Minneapolis, MN
Game attendance: 44,165

Scoring summary

1	Minn	Paul Rogind 41-yard field goal	Minnesota 3-0

1	Minn	Marion Barber, Jr 3-yard run (Rogind kick)	Minnesota 10-0

2	Minn	Rogind 37-yard field goal	Minnesota 13-0

4	Minn	Rogind 32-yard field goal	Minnesota 16-0

^[3]

A major upset, Michigan came into this game ranked #1 in the country. All Minnesota points scored by Paul Rogind and Marion Barber, Jr. Both athletes were from the state of Michigan.

Iowa

	1	2	3	4	Total
Iowa	0	0	0	6	6
• Michigan	7	7	7	2	23

Date: October 29
Location: Michigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, Michigan
Game attendance: 104,617

Scoring summary

1	MICH	R. Davis 63-yard pass from Leach (Willner kick)	Michigan 7-0

2	MICH	G. Johnson 6-yard pass from Leach (Willner kick)	Michigan 14-0

3	MICH	White 32-yard pass from Leach (Willner kick)	Michigan 21-0

4	IOWA	McLaughlin 1-yard run (run failed)	Michigan 21-6

4	MICH	Safety, McLaughlin tackled in end zone	Michigan 23-6

Rick Leach set the school career record for touchdown passes (25). ^[4]

Northwestern

	1	2	3	4	Total
Northwestern	7	0	0	13	20
• Michigan	0	14	28	21	63

Date: November 5
Location: Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, Michigan
Game attendance: 103,211

Scoring summary

1	NW	Stranski 1 yard run (Poulos kick)	Northwestern 7–0

2	MICH	Huckleby 4 yard run (Willner kick)	Tie 7–7

2	MICH	G. Johnson recovered fumble in end zone (Willner kick)	Michigan 14–7

3	MICH	Leach 21 yard run (Willner kick)	Michigan 21–7

3	MICH	Leach 4 yard run (Willner kick)	Michigan 28–7

3	MICH	Edwards 26 yard pass from Leach (Willner kick)	Michigan 35–7

3	MICH	Clayton 41 yard pass from Leach (Willner kick)	Michigan 42–7

4	MICH	Reid 19 yard run (Willner kick)	Michigan 49–7

4	NW	Sheets 28 yard pass from Stranski (Poulos kick)	Michigan 49–14

4	MICH	M. Smith 15 yard run (Willner kick)	Michigan 56–14

4	MICH	Mitchell 34 yard pass from Wangler (Willner kick)	Michigan 63–14

4	NW	Bailey 7 yard pass from Stranski (pass failed)	Michigan 63–20

^[5]

Purdue

	1	2	3	4	Total
• Michigan	3	14	21	2	40
Purdue	7	0	0	0	7

Date: November 12
Location: Ross-Ade Stadium, West Lafayette, Indiana

Scoring summary

1	Purdue	Dave Young 6-yard pass from Mark Herrmann (Scott Sovereen kick)	Purdue 7-0

1	Michigan	Gregg Willner 28-yard field goal	Purdue 7-3

2	Michigan	Mark Schmerge 8-yard pass from Rick Leach (Gregg Willner kick)	Michigan 10-7

2	Michigan	Roosevelt Smith 2-yard run (Gregg Willner kick)	Michigan 17-7

3	Michigan	Russell Davis 2-yard run (Gregg Willner kick)	Michigan 24-7

3	Michigan	Dominic Tedesco 30-yard interception return (Gregg Willner kick)	Michigan 31-7

3	Michigan	Mark Schmerge 6-yard pass from Rick Leach (Gregg Willner kick)	Michigan 38-7

4	Michigan	Safety, Mark Herrmann tackled in end zone	Michigan 40-7

Bo Schembechler's 100th game at Michigan ^[6]

Ohio State

	1	2	3	4	Total
Ohio St	3	0	3	0	6
• Michigan	0	7	7	0	14

Date: November 19
Location: Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, Michigan
Game attendance: 106,024
Television network: ABC

Scoring summary

1	OHST	Janakievski 29 yard field goal	OHST 3–0

2	MICH	R. Smith 1 yard run (Willner kick)	MICH 7–3

3	MICH	Leach 2 yard run (Willner kick)	MICH 14–3

3	OHST	Janakievski 44 yard field goal	MICH 14–6

^[7]

References

↑ "Michigan Routs 5th-Ranked A&M." Palm Beach Post. 1977 Oct 2.
↑ "Michigan Remains Unbeaten." Palm Beach Post. 1977 Oct 9.
↑ "No. 1 Michigan Shut Out by Gophers." Palm Beach Post. 1977 Oct 23.
↑ "Wolverines turn to pass and Leach gets record." Eugene Register-Guard. 1977 Oct 30.
↑ "Michigan gets revenge started." Eugene Register-Guard. 1977 Nov 6.
↑ "Michigan gets revenge and ready, 40-7." Eugene Register-Guard. 1977 Nov 13.
↑ Palm Beach Post. 1977 Nov 20.

External links

1977 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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