1979 Michigan Wolverines football team

Updated on Dec 17, 2024

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Conference Big Ten Conference AP No. 18 MVP Ron Simpkins		Coaches No. 19 1979 record 8–4 (6–2 Big Ten)

Head coach Bo Schembechler (11th year)

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.

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

B. 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, Centreville, 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

1979 Michigan Wolverines football team Wikipedia

(Text) CC BY-SA

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