1975 Michigan Wolverines football team

Updated on Nov 21, 2023

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Conference Big Ten Conference AP No. 8		Coaches No. 8 1975 record 8–2–2 (7–1 Big Ten)
Head coach Bo Schembechler (7th year) Defensive coordinator Gary Moeller (3rd year)

The 1975 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1975 NCAA Division I football season. The team's head coach was Bo Schembechler. The Wolverines played their home games at Michigan Stadium.

The defense stopped Archie Griffin's NCAA record 31-game 100-yard rushing game streak.

The November 8 game against Purdue was historic in that it was the first game of a streak in which 100,000 or more fans attended a game at Michigan Stadium, one which continues to this day.

Offense

Gordon Bell, tailback, senior, Troy, Ohio – started all 12 games at tailback

Jerry Collins, split end, senior, Ann Arbor, Michigan

Scott Corbin, fullback, sophomore, Cincinnati, Ohio – started 1 game at safety

James C. Czirr, center, senior, St. Joseph, Michigan – started all 12 games at center

Russell Davis, tailback, freshman, Woodbridge, Virginia

Mark Donahue, offensive guard, sophomore, Oak Lawn, Illinois – started 10 games at left offensive guard, 1 at right offensive guard

Walt Downing, offensive guard, sophomore, Coatesville, Pennsylvania – started all 12 games (11 at right offensive guard, 1 at left offensive guard)

Bill Dufek, offensive tackle, sophomore, East Grand Rapids, Michigan – started all 12 games at right offensive tackle

Mark Elzinga, quarterback, senior, Bay City, Michigan – started 1 game at quarterback

James D. Hall, offensive tackle, junior, Ypsilanti, Michigan

Harlan Huckleby, tailback, freshman, Detroit, Michigan

Thomas P. Jensen, center, senior, Springfield, Illinois

Gene Johnson, tight end, freshman, Flint, Michigan

Keith Johnson, split end – defensive back, senior, Munster, Indiana – started 11 games at split end

Mike Kenn, offensive tackle, sophomore, Evanston, Illinois – started 9 games at left offensive tackle

R. Steven King, offensive tackle, senior, Tiffin, Ohio – started 3 games at left offensive tackle

Rick Leach, quarterback, freshman, Flint, Michigan – started 11 games at quarterback

Kirk Lewis, offensive guard, senior, Garden City, Michigan

Rob Lytle, fullback, junior, Fremont, Ohio – started all 12 games at fullback

Les Miles, offensive guard, senior, Elyria, Ohio – started 1 game at left offensive guard

Steve Nauta, center, sophomore, Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania

George Przygodski, tight end, senior, Grand Rapids, Michigan – started 5 games at tight end

Max Richardson, tailback, wing back, Fort Wayne, Indiana

Mark Schmerge, tight end, freshman, Cincinnati, Ohio – started 6 games at tight end

Jim Smith, split end, junior, Blue Island, Illinois – started all 12 games at wing back

Curt Stephenson, split end, junior, La Jolla, California

Jerry Szara, offensive guard, sophomore, Oak Lawn, Illinois

Pete Traber, tight end, sophomore, Columbia, Maryland – started 1 game at tight end

Richard A. White, split end, junior, Cincinnati, Ohio – started 1 game at split end

Defense

John Anderson, defensive end, sophomore, Waukesha, Wisconsin – started 1 game at right defensive end

Jim Bolden, defensive back, junior, Akron, Ohio – started 11 games at weak-side defensive halfback

Philip J. Brumbaugh, defensive back, senior, Greenville, Ohio

Tim Davis, middle guard, senior, Warren, Ohio – started 11 games at middle guard

David Devich, linebacker, senior, Highland, Indiana – started all 12 games at middle linebacker

Don Dufek, wolfman, senior, East Grand Rapids, Michigan – started all 12 games at wolfman

John Hennessy, defensive tackle, junior, Chicago, Illinois – started 3 games at left defensive tackle, 1 at right defensive tackle

Dwight Hicks, safety, sophomore, Pennsauken, New Jersey – started 10 games at safety

Bill Hoban, defensive tackle, senior, Chicago, Illinois

Michael G. Holmes, defensive end, senior, Akron, Ohio – started 10 games at right defensive end, 1 at left defensive end

Derek Howard, defensive back, sophomore, Hamilton, Ohio – started 1 game at weak-side defensive halfback

Dan Jilek, defensive end, senior, Sterling Heights, Michigan – started all 12 games (11 at left defensive end, 1 at right defensive end)

Kurt Kampe III, defensive back, senior, Defiance, Ohio

Richard A. Koschalk, middle guard, senior, Toledo, Ohio – started 1 game at middle guard

Bob Lang, middle guard, junior, Chicago, Illinois

Rex Mackall, linebacker, sophomore, Berea, Ohio

Greg Morton, defensive tackle, junior, Akron, Ohio – started 10 games at right defensive tackle, 1 at left defensive tackle

Calvin O'Neal, linebacker, junior, Saginaw, Michigan – started all 12 games at wide linebacker

Jeff Perlinger, defensive tackle, senior, Crystal, Minnesota – started 8 games at left defensive tackle

Eric Phelps, defensive end, sophomore, Salem, New Hampshire

Jim Pickens, safety, sophomore, Sylvania, Ohio – started all 12 games (11 at strong-side defensive halfback, 1 at safety)

Charles D. Randolph, defensive tackle, senior, Amelia, Ohio

Tom Seabron, defensive end – tight end, freshman, Detroit, Michigan

Michael Strabley, linebacker, junior, Massillon, Ohio

Greg Strinko, defensive end, senior, Middletown, Ohio

Jerry Vogele, linebacker, junior, Cincinnati, Ohio

Dave Whiteford, safety, junior, Traverse City, Michigan

Jerry Zuver, safety, junior, Archbold, Ohio – started 1 game at strong-side defensive halfback

Awards and honors

All-Americans: Don Dufek Jr.

All-Conference: Dan Jilek, Tim Davis, Don Dufek, Jim Davis, Jim Czirr, Gordon Bell, Greg Morton, Calvin O'Neal

Most Valuable Player: Gordon Bell

Meyer Morton Award: Dan Jilek

John Maulbetsch Award: Dwight Hicks

Frederick Matthei Award: Jim Smith

Arthur Robinsion Scholarship Award: Dan Jilek

Professional football

The following players were claimed in the 1976 NFL Draft.

Coaching staff

Head coach: Bo Schembechler

Assistant coaches: Dennis Brown, Tirrel Burton, Jerry Hanlon, Jack Harbaugh, Jed Hughes, Bill McCartney, Gary Moeller, Tom Reed, Paul Schudel, Chuck Stobart

Trainer: Lindsy McLean

Manager: Jeffrey L. Young

References

1975 Michigan Wolverines football team Wikipedia

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