The 1969 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1969 Big Ten Conference football season. In their first year under head coach Bo Schembechler, the Wolverines compiled an 8–3 record (6–1 Big Ten), played in the 1970 Rose Bowl, and finished the season ranked #9 in the final AP poll and #8 in the final UPI poll.
The 1969 Michigan vs. Ohio State football game was considered one of the biggest upsets in college football history, as Ohio State came into the game with an 8–0 record, a 22-game winning streak and the #1 ranking in the polls. Michigan defeated Ohio State 24–12 in front of a crowd of 103,588 at Michigan Stadium to win the Big Ten Conference's berth in the Rose Bowl. The game was also the first in a series that came to be known as "The Ten-Year War," a 10-year span during which Michigan under Bo Schembechler battled Ohio State under Woody Hayes, under whom Schembechler had served as both a player at Miami University and an assistant coach at Ohio State. Four times between 1970 and 1975, Ohio State and Michigan were both ranked in the top five of the AP Poll before their matchup.
Bo Schembechler suffered a heart attack the night before the 1970 Rose Bowl game against an undefeated USC team. The Wolverines lost the Rose Bowl in a defensive struggle by a score of 10–3.
Team captain and tight end Jim Mandich was selected as the 1969 team's most valuable player and as a first-team All-American. Defensive back Tom Curtis was also selected as a first-team All-American, and seven members of the team, including Dan Dierdorf, received first-team All-Big Ten honors. Sophomore tailback Billy Taylor was the team's leading rusher and an All-Big Ten honoree. Thirteen members of the 1969 team went on to play professional football, and four players (Mandich, Curtis, Dierdorf and offensive guard Reggie McKenzie) were inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.
The following players received varsity letters for their participation on the offensive unit of the 1969 Michigan football team. Players who were starters in the majority of Michigan's games are displayed in bold.
Morris Abrahams, offensive tackle, senior, Ann Arbor, MichiganRobert Baumgartner (No. 60), offensive guard, senior, Chicago – started 9 games at offensive left guardWilliam J. Berutti, quarterback, junior, Franklin, OhioJim Betts (No. 23), quarterback, junior, Cleveland, Ohio – started 1 game at left halfbackJim Brandstatter (No. 76), offensive tackle, sophomore, East Lansing, MichiganRichard Caldarazzo (No. 56), offensive guard, senior, Melrose Park, Illinois – started 8 games at offensive right guardGarvie Craw (No. 48), fullback, senior, Montclair, New Jersey – started 7 games at fullback and 3 games at right halfbackDan Dierdorf (No. 72), offensive tackle, junior, Canton, Ohio – started 7 games at offensive right tackle and 1 at offensive left tackleGlenn Doughty (No. 22), tailback, sophomore, Detroit – started 4 games at left halfbackEric Federico, fullback, senior, Trenton, MichiganJohn H. Gabler (No. 18), wingback, senior, Royal Oak, Michigan – started 3 games at fullback, 3 games at right halfbackWerner W. Hall, offensive tackle, senior, Sandusky, OhioMike Hankwitz (No. 81), tight end, senior, Scottsville, Michigan – started 2 games at right endJack Harpring (No. 71), offensive tackle, junior, Cincinnati, Ohio – started 8 games at offensive left tackle and 1 at offensive right tackleWilliam J. Harris (No. 80), split end, junior, Mt. Clemens, MichiganPreston Henry (No. 44), tailback, sophomore, Flint, Michigan – started 2 games at right halfackJerry Imsland, split end, senior, Northville, MichiganTimothy Killian (No. 57), center, junior, Lincoln Park, Michigan – started 2 games at centerJoseph Lukz, offensive guard, senior, Niles, OhioJim Mandich (No. 88), tight end, senior, Solon, Ohio – started 8 games at left endReggie McKenzie (No. 65), offensive guard, sophomore, Highland Park, IllinoisDon Moorhead (No. 27), quarterback, junior, South Haven, Michigan – started all 11 games at quarterbackGuy Murdock (No. 53), center, sophomore, Barrington, Illinois – started 7 games at centerMichael Oldham (No. 84), split end, sophomore, Cincinnati, OhioRobert Ritley, offensive tackle, senior, Garfield Heights, OhioPeter C. Sarantos, center, senior, Elkhart, IndianaLance G. Scheffler, tailback, junior, Trenton, MichiganFritz Seyferth (No. 32), fullback, sophomore, Darien, Connecticut – started 1 game at fullbackPaul Seymour (No. 85), split end, sophomore, Berkley, MichiganPaul Staroba (No. 30), wingback, junior, Flint, Michigan – started 3 games at right endBilly Taylor (No. 42), tailback, sophomore, Barberton, Ohio – started 3 games at left halfbackFrank Titas (No. 64), offensive guard, senior, Cleveland, OhioThe following players received varsity letters for their participation on the defensive unit of the 1969 Michigan football team. Players who were starters in the majority of Michigan's games are displayed in bold.
Tom Beckman, defensive tackle, sophomore, Chesaning, MichiganRichard W. Brown, middle guard, senior, Auburn, MichiganAl Carpenter, defensive end, sophomore, Flint, Michigan – started 1 game at offensive right guardDana Coin, defensive end and place-kicker, sophomore, Pontiac, MichiganTom Curtis (No. 25), defensive back, senior, Aurora, Ohio – started all 11 games at safetyThom Darden (No. 35), defensive back, sophomore, Sandusky, Ohio – started 10 games at wolfman (also started 1 game at left halfback on offense)Bruce Elliott, defensive back, sophomore, Indianapolis, Indiana – started 1 game at right halfbackAlan Francis, middle guard, senior, Euclid, OhioFred Grambau (No. 92), defensive tackle, sophomore, Ossineke, Michigan – started all 11 games at left defensive tackle (also started 2 games at left tackle on offense)Frank Gusich, defensive back, sophomore, Garfield Heights, Ohio – started 1 game at wolfmanBrian Healy (No. 24), defensive back, senior, Sandusky, Ohio – started all 11 games at defensive halfback (also started 2 games at right halfback on offense)Henry Hill (No. 39), middle guard, junior, Detroit – started all 11 games at middle guard (also started 2 games at left guard and 1 at right guard on offense)Marty Huff (No. 70), linebacker, junior, Toledo, Ohio – started all 11 games at linebacker (also started 2 games at right tackle and 1 at left halfback on offense)Joseph M. Jones, linebacker, senior, Evanston, IllinoisMike Keller (No. 90), defensive end, sophomore, Grand Rapids, Michigan – started all 11 games at left defensive end (also started 2 games at left end on offense)Richard McCoy, Jr., defensive tackle, junior, Alliance, OhioEdward M. Moore (No. 97), linebacker, junior, Youngstown, Ohio – started 10 games at linebacker (also started 2 games at right end on offense)Pete Newell (No. 82), defensive tackle, junior, Park Ridge, Illinois – started all 11 games at right defensive tackle (also started 2 games at center and 1 at right tackle on offense)Daniel Parks, defensive tackle, junior, Birmingham, MichiganBarry Pierson (No. 29), defensive back, senior, St. Ignace, Michigan – started all 11 games at defensive halfback (also started 1 game at left halfback on offense)Cecil Pryor (No. 55), defensive end, senior, Corpus Christi, Texas – started all 11 games at right defensive end (also started 1 game at left end and 1 at right end on offense)Thomas Takach, defensive end, senior, DetroitMike Taylor, linebacker, sophomore, Detroit – started 1 game at linebackerTimothy Wadhams, defensive back, senior, Ann Arbor, MichiganMark Werner, defensive back, senior, Cincinnati, OhioRobert E. White, defensive back, senior, Middleville, MichiganGeorge Zuganellis, linebacker, senior, ChicagoThomas A. Huiskens, tight end, sophomore, Bay City, MichiganAwards and honors
Captain: Jim MandichAll-Americans: Jim Mandich, Tom CurtisAll-Conference: Jim Mandich, Phil Seymour, Tom Curtis, Dan Dierdorf, Guy Murdock, Billy Taylor, Marty HuffMost Valuable Player: Jim MandichMeyer Morton Award: Don MoorheadJohn Maulbetsch Award: Glenn DoughtyFrederick Matthei Award: Jack HarpringArthur Robinson Scholarship Award: Brian HealyThe following players were claimed in the 1970 NFL Draft.
Eighteen members of the 1969 team went on to play professional football. They are: Tom Beckman (St.Louis Cardinals, 1972, Memphis Grizzlies, 1974–1975), Tom Curtis (Baltimore Colts, 1970–1971), Thom Darden (Cleveland Browns, 1972–1981), Dan Dierdorf (St. Louis Cardinals, 1971–1983), Glenn Doughty (Baltimore Colts, 1972–1979), Fred Grambau (Hamilton Tiger-Cats and Montreal Alouettes); Marty Huff (San Francisco 49ers, 1972; Edmonton Eskimos, 1973; Charlotte Hornets, 1974–1975), Mike Keller (Dallas Cowboys, 1972), Jim Mandich (Miami Dolphins, 1970–1977; Pittsburgh Steelers, 1978), Reggie McKenzie (Buffalo Bills, 1972–1982; Seattle Seahawks, 1983–1984), Guy Murdock (Houston Oilers, 1974; Chicago Fire/Winds, 1974–1975), Pete Newell (BC Lions, 1971); Cecil Pryor (Memphis Southmen), Fritz Seyferth (Calgary Stampeders, 1972); Paul Seymour (Buffalo Bills, 1973–1977), Paul Staroba (Cleveland Browns, 1972; Green Bay Packers, 1973), Billy Taylor (Calgary Stampeders, 1972), and Mike Taylor (New York Jets, 1972–73). Mandich was the starting tight end for the unbeaten 1972 Miami Dolphins who won Super Bowl VII. Dierdorf and McKenzie would later be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Head coach: Bo SchembechlerAssistant coaches: Jerry Hanlon, Dick Hunter, Louie Lee, Frank Maloney, George Mans, Gary Moeller, Larry Smith, Chuck Stobart, Jim YoungTrainer: Lindsy McLeanManager: Robert Kohn