Conference Big Ten Conference Head coach Langdon Lea (1st year) Home stadium Regents Field | 1900 record 7–2–1 (3–2 Big Ten) Captain Neil Snow | |
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The 1900 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1900 Western Conference football season. The team's head coach was the four-time All-American from Princeton and future College Football Hall of Fame inductee, Langdon Lea. The team opened the season with six wins, but went 1–2–1 in the final four games for an overall record of 7–2–1. Outscored its opponents by a season total of 117 to 55, Michigan won its first three games against Western Conference opponents, Purdue (11–6), Illinois (12–0), and Indiana (12–0), but then lost its final two conference games to Iowa (28–5) and Chicago (15–6). After the 1900 season, Michigan replaced Lea with a new coach from the Stanford University, Fielding H. Yost. Yost took over in 1901 and led the Wolverines to four consecutive undefeated seasons.
Contents
- Michigan 29 Hillsdale 0
- Michigan 11 Kalamazoo 0
- Michigan 24 Case 6
- Michigan 11 Purdue 6
- Michigan 12 Illinois 0
- Michigan 12 Indiana 0
- Iowa 28 Michigan 5
- Michigan 7 Notre Dame 0
- Michigan 0 Ohio State 0
- Chicago 15 Michigan 6
- Varsity letter winners
- Reserves
- Others
- Awards and honors
- Coaching and training staff
- References
Michigan 29, Hillsdale 0
Michigan opened the 1900 season with three non-conference games, all played at Regents Field in Ann Arbor. The team won the three games by a combined score of 64 to 6. The first game was a 29–0 win over Hillsdale College. After the game, The New York Times reported that "Hillsdale was on the defensive throughout the game," and Coach Lea "was pleased with the showing made by the team."
Michigan 11, Kalamazoo 0
The second game of the season was an 11–0 win over Kalamazoo College. On the opening kickoff, Everett Sweeley ran back the kickoff 105 yards for a touchdown behind the blocking of Neil Snow. Michigan's second touchdown was scored by Hugh White.
Michigan 24, Case 6
Michigan's third game was a 24-6 win over Case Scientific School from Cleveland. Case scored its only touchdown on a blocked kick that was recovered by a Case player in Michigan's endzone.
Michigan 11, Purdue 6
Michigan opened its Western Conference schedule on October 20, 1900, with an 11 to 6 win over Purdue in Ann Arbor.
Michigan 12, Illinois 0
Michigan won its second Western Conference game against Illinois on October 27, 1900, on Marshall Field in Chicago. Michigan won 12 to 0 on touchdowns by Hugh White and Woodard. The New York Times wrote of the game: "In a game replete with kicking and hard line bucking the University of Michigan football eleven defeated Illinois University on Marshall Field this afternoon by a score of 12 to 0. Both touch-downs were scored in the first half. The first resulted from constant hammering at the Illinois line, which carried the ball from the forty-five-yard line across the goal. The other came soon after, but in this the line bucking was relieved by a brilliant run of twenty-five yards byWoodard, who took Herrnstein's place and tore through Illinois left tackle for that distance."
Michigan 12, Indiana 0
Michigan won its third consecutive Western Conference game against Indiana at Regents Field on November 3. The Wolverines won the game by a score of 12 to 0. The New York Times reported that "Indiana kept the score down by repeated punting when she had the ball."
Iowa 28, Michigan 5
Michigan faced Iowa on November 11 at Bennett Park in Detroit. Iowa beat the Wolverines 28 to 5, and The New York Times reported that the "men in the old gold sweaters from Iowa completely outplayed and outclassed the Michigan men." Michigan's only points came on a place kick (field goals were worth five points under 1900 rules) by Everett Sweeley from the thirty-five yard line just before the end of the second half. Eby and Edson each scored two touchdowns for Iowa.
Michigan 7, Notre Dame 0
Michigan defeated Notre Dame on November 17 at Regents Field in Ann Arbor by a score of 7 to 0. The Wolverines scored two points on a safety when Notre Dame's kicker missed the ball on an attempted punt from behind the goal line. Michigan scored its only touchdown on a series of "hard line bucks" after two minutes of play.
Michigan 0, Ohio State 0
Michigan faced Ohio State on November 24 at Regents Field, and the teams played to a scoreless tie. According to a newspaper account of the game, the two teams "struggled for two twenty-five minute halves on a slippery field this afternoon and neither side could score." In the second half, with the wind in Michigan's favor, "Sweeley's kicking gave Michigan an advantage, and the play was entirely in Ohio's territory." Michigan twice drove to Ohio State's 15-yard line by tandem plays and line-bucking, but the Ohio State defense rallied each time to stop the Wolverines. Sweeley and Neil Snow were the stars of the game for Michigan.
Chicago 15, Michigan 6
Michigan concluded the 1900 season with its traditional Thanksgiving Day game in Chicago against the Chicago Maroons. The Wolverines lost by a score of 15 to 6. The great football player, Pudge Heffelfinger, served as referee at the game. Michigan scored first, recovering a fumble well into Chicago's territory and then using the "old Princeton tandem formation" to carry the ball straight down field. Michigan's touchdown was scored by tackle Hugh White. However, Perkins of Chicago responded with three touchdowns, and the Maroons won the game.
Varsity letter winners
The following 12 players received varsity "M" letters for their participation on the 1900 football team: