Conference Big Ten Conference 1942 record 7–3 (3–2 Big Ten) MVP Al Wistert | AP No. 9 Offensive scheme Single-wing formation | |
Head coach Fritz Crisler (5th year) | ||
The 1942 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1942 Big Ten Conference football season. The 1942 team compiled a record of 7–3 and was ranked No. 9 in the final Associated Press poll. The team's line that included Albert Wistert, Merv Pregulman, Julius Franks (U-M's first African-American All-American), Elmer Madar, Robert Kolesar, Bill Pritula and Philip Sharpe and was known as the "Seven Oak Posts."
Contents
Week 1: Great Lakes Navy
On September 26, 1942, Michigan opened the season against the Great Lakes Navy Bluejackets football team. The Great Lakes team was an all-star team of players serving in the Navy. It included 13 players who had been named All-Americans (Urban Odson and Pete Kmetovic) and some who had been playing in the NFL (Carl Mulleneaux, Rudy Mucha, and Gust Zarnas) before the war. The Ann Arbor News reported that Great Lakes was favored by 35 points. Only 17,087 fans attended the game, making it the smallest crowd at Michigan Stadium since 1931. The game marked the debut of Bob Chappuis, who led the team on a 92-yard touchdown drive in the second quarter. The touchdown came on a pass from Chappuis to Paul White. Michigan added a field goal by Jim Brieske in the third quarter. Michigan shut out the heavily favored Great Lakes team, 9-0.
Michigan's starting lineup against Great Lakes was Madar (left end), Wistert (left tackle), Kolesar (right guard), Pregulman (center), Franks (right guard), Pritula (right tackle), Sharpe (right end), Ceithaml (quarterback), Wise (left halfback), White (right halfback), and Wiese (fullback).
Week 2: Michigan State
In the second week of the season, Michigan played Michigan State College. Playing in Ann Arbor in front of 39,163 spectators (the smallest crowd to see a Michigan-Michigan State game since 1935), the Wolverines defeated the Spartans, 20–0. With Don Kuzma injured, Don Robinson got the start at left halfback. Robinson scored the first touchdown for Michigan in the third quarter. Frank Wardley and Warren Yaap also scored touchdowns for Michigan. Jim Briske converted two PATs.
Michigan's starting lineup against Michigan State was Sharpe (left end), Wistert (left tackle), Kolesar (right guard), Pregulman (center), Franks (right guard), Pritula (right tackle), Madar (right end), Ceithaml (quarterback), Robinson (left halfback), White (right halfback), and Wiese (fullback).
Week 3: Iowa Pre-Flight
In the third week of the season, Michigan played the football team from the U.S. Navy pre-flight school at the University of Iowa. The Iowa Pre-Flight team was coached by Bernie Bierman, who came into the game with a 20-game winning streak, and led by quarterback Forest Evashevski, who had played for Michigan from 1938 to 1940. Playing in Ann Arbor in front of 34,124 spectators, Michigan took a 14-0 lead on touchdown pass from Don Robinson to Bob Wiese and from Elmer Madar to Bob Chappuis. The Iowa pre-flight cadets responded with 26 unanswered points and won the game, 26-14. The game was Bierman's ninth straight victory (including games at Minnesota) over Michigan. Bierman had been responsible for five of Fritz Crisler's losses to that date since he joined Michigan in 1938.
Michigan's starting lineup against the Iowa pre-fight cadets was Sharpe (left end), Wistert (left tackle), Kolesar (right guard), Pregulman (center), Franks (right guard), Pritula (right tackle), Madar (right end), Ceithaml (quarterback), Robinson (left halfback), Warbley (right halfback), and Wiese (fullback).
Week 4: Northwestern
In the fourth week of the season, Michigan opened its Big Ten Conference schedule with a 34-16 win over Northwestern in Ann Arbor. After missing the first three games, Tom Kuzma returned to the lineup in the game. Kuzma scored a touchdown in the third quarter. Paul White scored twice, and Bob Wiese scored once. Merv Pregulman also scored in the fourth quarter after intercepting an Otto Graham pass and returning it 34 yards for a touchdown. Jim Brieske converted four of five PATs. Northwestern's All-American Otto Graham completed 20 of 29 passes for 295 yards, but Michigan's defense held the Wildcats to only 26 rushing yards.
Michigan's starting lineup against Northwestern was Sharpe (left end), Wistert (left tackle), Kolesar (right guard), Pregulman (center), Franks (right guard), Pritula (right tackle), Madar (right end), Ceithaml (quarterback), Robinson (left halfback), White (right halfback), and Wiese (fullback).
Week 5: at Minnesota
In the fifth week of the season, Michigan traveled to Minneapolis and lost to Minnesota, 16-14. Tom Kuzma ran for touchdowns in the first and fourth quarters, and Jim Brieske converted both PATs. Bill Daley, who would go on to play for Michigan in 1943, ran 44 yards for a tying touchdown in the second quarter.
Michigan's starting lineup against Minnesota was Sharpe (left end), Wistert (left tackle), Kolesar (right guard), Pregulman (center), Franks (right guard), Pritula (right tackle), Madar (right end), Ceithaml (quarterback), Kuzma (left halfback), White (right halfback), and Lund (fullback).
Week 6: Illinois
In the sixth week of the season, Michigan defeated Illinois, 28-14, in front of 33,826 fans at Michigan Stadium. Michigan touchdowns were scored by Paul White, Bob Chappuis, Bob Wiese, and Bob Stenberg. Wiese's touchdown came on a 19-yard pass from Tom Kuzma. Jim Brieske converted all four PATs for Michigan.
Michigan's starting lineup against Illinois was Madar (left end), Wistert (left tackle), Kolesar (right guard), Pregulman (center), Franks (right guard), Pritula (right tackle), Sharpe (right end), Ceithaml (quarterback), Kuzma (left halfback), White (right halfback), and Boor (fullback).
Week 7: Harvard
In the seventh week of the season, Michigan defeated Harvard, 35-7, in front of 25,534 fans at Michigan Stadium. Right halfback Paul White ran for two touchdowns, and Tom Kuzma ran for another. Elmer Madar also scored on a 53-yard interception return. Michigan's final touchdown came on a 32-yard pass play from Bob Chappuis to White. Stenberg also scored on a touchdown pass from Wiese. Jim Brieske converted all five PATs for Michigan.
Michigan's starting lineup against Harvard was Sharpe (left end), Wistert (left tackle), _____ (right guard), Pregulman (center), Franks (right guard), Pritula (right tackle), Madar (right end), Ceithaml (quarterback), Kuzma (left halfback), White (right halfback), and Wiese (fullback).
Week 8: at Notre Dame
In the eighth week of the season, Michigan traveled to Notre Dame and defeated the Fighting Irish, 32-20 in front of a capacity crowd of 57,500. Michigan's total of 32 points was the most scored against Notre Dame since 1905. Michigan's first touchdown came on a quarterback sneak by George Ceithaml from the one-yard line. Robinson ran for Michigan's second touchdown on a fake field goal attempt from the four-yard line. Tom Kuzma scored two touchdowns in the second half.
Michigan's starting lineup against Harvard was Sharpe (left end), Wistert (left tackle), Kolesar (right guard), Pregulman (center), Franks (right guard), Pritula (right tackle), Madar (right end), Ceithaml (quarterback), Kuzma (left halfback), White (right halfback), and Wiese (fullback).
Week 9: at Ohio State
In the ninth week of the season, Michigan traveled to Columbus and lost to Ohio State, 21-7. With the win, Ohio State won the Big Ten championship. Michigan's only touchdown was scored by Bob Wiese in the third quarter.
Michigan's starting lineup against Ohio State was Sharpe (left end), Wistert (left tackle), Kolesar (right guard), Pregulman (center), Franks (right guard), Pritula (right tackle), Madar (right end), Ceithaml (quarterback), Kuzma (left halfback), White (right halfback), and Wiese (fullback).
Week 10: Iowa
Michigan concluded the 1942 season with a 28-14 win over Iowa in Ann Arbor. Michigan touchdowns were scored by Tom Kuzma, Bob Wiese, Paul White, and Charles Kennedy. Jim Brieske converted all four PATs.
Michigan's starting lineup against Harvard was Sharpe (left end), Wistert (left tackle), Kolesar (right guard), Pregulman (center), Franks (right guard), Pritula (right tackle), Madar (right end), Ceithaml (quarterback), Kuzma (left halfback), White (right halfback), and Wiese (fullback).