1979 Michigan Wolverines football team

1979 Michigan Wolverines football

Gator Bowl, L 17–15 vs. North Carolina
Conference	Big Ten Conference
Ranking
Coaches	#19
AP	#18
1979 record	8–4 (6–2 Big Ten)
Head coach	Bo Schembechler (11th year)
MVP	Ron Simpkins
Captain	John Arbeznik
Captain	Ron Simpkins
Home stadium	Michigan Stadium

1979 Big Ten football standings
	Conf					Overall
Team	W		L		T	W		L		T
#4 Ohio State $	8	–	0	–	0	11	–	1	–	0
#10 Purdue	7	–	1	–	0	10	–	2	–	0
#18 Michigan	6	–	2	–	0	8	–	4	–	0
#19 Indiana	5	–	3	–	0	8	–	4	–	0
Iowa	4	–	4	–	0	5	–	6	–	0
Minnesota	3	–	5	–	1	4	–	6	–	1
Michigan State	3	–	5	–	0	5	–	6	–	0
Wisconsin	3	–	5	–	0	4	–	7	–	0
Illinois	1	–	6	–	1	2	–	8	–	1
Northwestern	0	–	9	–	0	1	–	10	–	0

$ – Conference champion Rankings from AP Poll

The 1979 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1979 NCAA Division I-A 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 8, 1979	Northwestern	#7/NA	Michigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, MI		W 49–7	100,790
September 15, 1979	#9/11 Notre Dame*	#6/5	Michigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, MI		L 10–12	105,111
September 22, 1979	Kansas*	#11/12	Michigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, MI		W 28–7	103,698
September 29, 1979	at California*	#11/13	California Memorial Stadium • Berkeley, CA		W 14–10	57,000
October 6, 1979	at #16/18 Michigan State	#11/12	Spartan Stadium • East Lansing, MI	ABC	W 21–7	79,311
October 13, 1979	Minnesota	#11/11	Michigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, MI		W 31–21	104,677
October 20, 1979	at Illinois	#11/11	Memorial Stadium • Champaign, Il		W 27–7	43,370
October 27, 1979	Indiana	#10/10	Michigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, MI		W 27–21	104,832
November 3, 1979	Wisconsin	#10/10	Michigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, MI		W 54–0	104,952
November 10, 1979	at #14/15 Purdue	#10/10	Ross–Ade Stadium • West Lafayette, IN		L 21–24	69,829
November 17, 1979	#2/3 Ohio State	#13/13	Michigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, MI	ABC	L 15–18	106,255
December 28, 1979	vs. North Carolina*	#14/14	Gator Bowl Stadium • Jacksonville, FL (Gator Bowl)	ABC	L 15–17	70,407
*Non-conference game. Homecoming. ^#Rankings from AP Poll / Coaches' Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time.

Game notes

Northwestern

	1	2	3	4	Total
Northwestern	0	0	0	7	7
• Michigan	21	14	14	0	49

Date: September 8
Location: Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, Michigan

Scoring summary

Q1	MICH	Dickey 2 yard run (Virgil kick)	MICH 7–0

Q1	MICH	Betts 9 yard pass from Dickey (Virgil kick)	MICH 14–0

Q1	MICH	Carter 78 yard punt return (Virgil kick)	MICH 21–0

Q2	MICH	Dickey 35 yard run (Virgil kick)	MICH 28–0

Q2	MICH	Woolfolk 1 yard run (Virgil kick)	MICH 35–0

Q3	MICH	Woolfolk 3 yard run (Virgil kick)	MICH 42–0

Q3	MICH	Carter 12 yard pass from Wangler (Virgil kick)	MICH 49–0

Q4	NW	Mishler 1 yard run (Poulos kick)	MICH 49–7

^[1]

Michigan State

	1	2	3	4	Total
• Michigan	7	0	7	7	21
Michigan St	0	0	7	0	7

Date: Saturday, October 6
Location: Spartan Stadium • East Lansing, Michigan
Game attendance: 79,311
Television network: ABC

Scoring summary

1	Michigan	Woofolk 2-yard run (Virgil kick)	Michigan 7-0

1	Michigan St	Hughes 6-yard run (Andersen kick)	Tie 7-7

3	Michigan	Clayton 66-yard pass from Dickey (Virgil kick)	Michigan 14-7

4	Michigan	Carter 6-yard pass from Dickey (Virgil kick)	Michigan 21-7

^[2]

Indiana

	1	2	3	4	Total
Indiana	0	14	0	7	21
• Michigan	7	0	14	6	27

Date: October 27
Location: Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, MI
Game attendance: 104,832

Scoring summary

1		MICH	Lawrence Reid 3-yard run (Virgil kick)	MICH 7-0

2		IND	Dave Harangody 3-yard pass from Tim Clifford (Kellogg kick)	Tied 7-7

2		IND	Lonnie Johnson 14-yard run (Kellogg kick)	IND 14-7

3		MICH	Lawrence Reid 50-yard run (Virgil kick)	Tied 14-14

3		MICH	Butch Woolfolk 2-yard run (Virgil kick)	MICH 21-14

4	0:55	IND	Dave Harangody 3-yard pass from Tim Clifford (Kellogg kick)	Tied 21-21

4	0:00	MICH	Anthony Carter 45-yard pass from John Wangler	MICH 27-21

^[3]

Players

Offense

John Arbeznik, offensive guard, senior, University Heights, Ohio - started all 12 games at left offensive guard
Kurt Becker, offensive guard, junior, Aurora, Illinois - started all 12 games at right offensive guard
Norm Betts, tight end, sophomore, Midland, Michigan
Keith Bostic, running back, freshman, Ann Arbor, Michigan
Mike Cade, running back, freshman, Elroy, Arizona
Anthony Carter, wide receiver, freshman, Riviera Beach, Florida - started 2 games at wide receiver
Chuck Christian, tight end, junior, Detroit, Michigan
Ralph Clayton, wing back, senior, Detroit, Michigan - started all 12 games at wing back
Brian J. Dickey, quarterback, junior, Ottawa, Ohio - started 7 games at quarterback
Craig Dunaway, tight end, freshman, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Stanley Edwards, tailback, junior, Detroit, Michigan - started 7 games at tailback
Rodney Feaster, wide receiver, junior, Flint, Michigan
Jeff Felten, center, sophomore, Centerville, Michigan
Tim Garrity, center, sophomore, Grafton, Wisconsin
Rich Hewlett, quarterback, freshman, Plymouth, Michigan - started 1 game at quarterback
Jerald Ingram, fullback, freshman, Beaver, Pennsylvania
Tony Jackson, wing back, sophomore, Cleveland, Ohio
Mike Leoni, offensive tackle, senior, Flint, Michigan - started 4 games at left offensive tackle
Tony Leoni, tailback, senior, Flint, Michigan
George Lilja, center, senior, Palos Park, Illinois - started all 12 games at center
Doug Marsh, tight end, senior, Akron, Ohio
Alan Mitchell, wide receiver, junior, Detroit, Michigan - started 10 games at wide receiver
Ed Muransky, offensive tackle, sophomore, Youngstown, Ohio - started all 12 games at right offensive tackle
Jim Paciorek, tight end, sophomore, Orchard Lake, Michigan
Bubba Paris, offensive tackle, sophomore, Louisville, Kentucky - started 8 games at left offensive tackle
Gary Quinn, offensive guard, senior, Quincy, Massachusetts
Lawrence P. Reid, fullback, senior, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - started 10 games at fullback
Lawrence Ricks, tailback, freshman, Barberton, Ohio
Roosevelt Smith, tailback, senior, Detroit, Michigan - started 2 games at fullback
Rich Strenger, offensive tackle, sophomore, Grafton, Wisconsin
John Wangler, quarterback, senior, Royal Oak, Michigan - started 4 games at quarterback
Butch Woolfolk, tailback, sophomore, Westfield, New Jersey - started 5 games at tailback

Defense

Marion Body, defensive back, sophomore, Detroit, Michigan
Mark Braman, defensive back, senior, Midland, Michigan - started all 12 games at strong-side cornerback
Andy Cannavino, inside linebacker, junior, Cleveland, Ohio - started all 12 games at inside linebacker
Brian Carpenter, defensive back, sophomore, Flint, Michigan
Winfred Carraway, linebacker, freshman, Detroit, Michigan
Cedric Coles, defensive tackle, sophomore, Detroit, Michigan
Gerald Diggs, defensive back, senior, Chicago, Illinois
Paul Girgash, linebacker, freshman, Lakewood, Ohio
Chris Godfrey, defensive tackle, senior, Lathrup Village, Michigan
Curtis Greer, defensive tackle, senior, Detroit, Michigan - started all 12 games at defensive tackle
Mike Harden, defensive back, senior, Detroit, Michigan - started all 12 games at safety
Stuart Harris, defensive back, junior, Chagrin Falls, Ohio - started 9 games at wolfman
Irvin Johnson, inside linebacker, senior, Warren, Ohio
Mike Jolly, defensive back, senior, Melvindale, Michigan - started all 12 games at weak-side cornerback
Dale Keitz, defensive tackle, senior, Columbus, Ohio - started 1 game at middle guard
Tom Keller, outside linebacker, senior, Grand Rapids, Michigan
Mike Lemirande, outside linebacker, sophomore, Grafton, Wisconsin
Thomas E. Moss, middle guard, senior, Detroit, Michigan
Ben Needham, outside linebacker, junior, Groveport, Ohio - started 11 games at outside linebacker
Dave Nicolau, defensive tackle, junior, Elk Grove Village, Illinois
Mel Owens, outside linebacker, senior, DeKalb, Illinois - started all 12 games at outside linebacker
David Payne, inside linebacker, senior, Detroit, Michigan
Jeff Reeves, defensive back, sophomore, Columbus, Ohio - started 3 games at wolfman
Ron Simpkins, inside linebacker, senior, Detroit, Michigan - started all 12 games at inside linebacker
Robert Thompson, outside linebacker, sophomore, Blue Island, Illinois - started 1 game at outside linebacker
Mike Trgovac, middle guard, junior, Austintown, Ohio - started 11 games at middle guard
Gary Weber, defensive tackle, senior, Matawan, New Jersey

Kickers

Ali Haji-Sheikh, place-kicker, freshman, Arlington, Texas
Bryan Virgil, place-kicker, senior, Buchanan, Michigan

Awards

All-Americans: Curtis Greer, Ron Simpkins
All-Conference: John Arbeznik, Curtis Greer, Ron Simpkins, Mike Jolly, Mike Trgovac, Butch Woolfolk
Most Valuable Player: Ron Simpkins
Meyer Morton Award: Curtis Greer
John Maulbetsch Award: Tony Jackson
Frederick Matthei Award: Mike Trgovac
Arthur Robinson Scholarship Award: Dan Murray

Professional football

Twenty-five (25) members of the 1979 Michigan football team went on to play professional football. They are:

Kurt Becker (Chicago Bears, 1982–88, 1990, Los Angeles Rams, 1989)
Marion Body (Michigan Panthers, 1983)
Keith Bostic (Houston Oilers, 1983–88, Cleveland Browns, 1990)
Andy Cannavino (Michigan Panthers, 1983, Chicago Blitz, 1984)
Brian Carpenter (New York Giants, 1982, Washington Redskins, 1983-84, Buffalo Bills, 1984)
Anthony Carter (Michigan Panthers, 1983–84, Oakland Invaders, 1985, Minnesota Vikings, 1985–93, Detroit Lions, 1994-95)
Ralph Clayton (St. Louis Cardinals, 1981)
Craig Dunaway (Pittsburgh Steelers, 1983)
Stanley Edwards (Houston Oilers, 1982–86, Detroit Lions, 1987)
Paul Girgash (Michigan Panthers, 1984)
Chris Godfrey (New York Jets, 1980, New York Giants, 1984-87, Seattle Seahawks, 1988)
Curtis Greer (St. Louis Cardinals, 1980–87)
Ali Haji-Sheikh (New York Giants, 1983–85, Atlanta Falcons, 1986, Washington Redskins, 1987)
Mike Harden (Denver Broncos, 1980–88, Los Angeles Raiders, 1989–90)
Mike Jolly (Green Bay Packers, 1980–83)
George Lilja (Los Angeles Rams, 1982, New York Jets, 1983–84, Cleveland Browns, 1984–86, Dallas Cowboys, 1987)
Doug Marsh (St. Louis Cardinals, 1980–86)
Ed Muransky (Los Angeles Raiders, 1982–84, Orlando Renegades, 1985)
Mel Owens (Los Angeles Rams, 1981–89)
Bubba Paris (San Francisco 49ers, 1983–90, Indianapolis Colts, 1991, Detroit Lions 1991)
Lawrence Ricks (Kansas City Chiefs, 1983–84)
Ron Simpkins (Cincinnati Bengals, 1980–86, Green Bay Packers, 1988)
Rich Strenger (Detroit Lions, 1983–87)
Robert Thompson (Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 1983–84, Detroit Lions, 1987)
Butch Woolfolk (New York Giants, 1982–84, Houston Oilers, 1985-86, Detroit Lions, 1987–88)

Coaching staff

Head coach: Bo Schembechler
Assistant coaches: Dennis Brown, Tirrel Burton, Jerry Hanlon, Jack Harbaugh, Bill McCartney, Don Nehlen, Paul Schudel, Milan Vooletich
Trainer: Russ Miller
Manager: Thomas J. Anderson

References

↑ Palm Beach Post. 1979 Sept 9.
↑ "Michigan Tops Spartans as Carter Scores TD." Palm Beach Post. 1979 Oct 7.
↑ "Carter's Last-Second Touchdown Catch Lifts Wolverines." Palm Beach Post. 1979 Oct 27.

External links

1979 Football Team -- Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan Athletics History

Michigan Wolverines football

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National championship seasons in bold

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