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.[1]
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.
Schedule
| Date |
Time |
Opponent# |
Rank# |
Site |
TV |
Result |
Attendance |
| September 13, 1975 |
|
at Wisconsin |
#2/NA |
Camp Randall Stadium • Madison, WI |
|
W 23–6 |
79,022 |
| September 20, 1975 |
|
Stanford* |
#2/3 |
Michigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, MI |
|
T 19–19 |
92,304 |
| September 27, 1975 |
|
Baylor* |
#9/10 |
Michigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, MI |
|
T 14–14 |
104,248 |
| October 4, 1975 |
|
#5/5 Missouri* |
#12/14 |
Michigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, MI |
|
W 31–7 |
104,578 |
| October 11, 1975 |
12:30 p.m. |
at #15/16 Michigan State |
#8/8 |
Spartan Stadium • East Lansing, MI |
|
W 16–6 |
79,776 |
| October 18, 1975 |
|
Northwestern |
#7/7 |
Michigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, MI |
|
W 69–0 |
86,201 |
| October 25, 1975 |
|
Indiana |
#7/7 |
Michigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, MI |
|
W 55–7 |
93,857 |
| November 1, 1975 |
|
at Minnesota |
#7/7 |
Memorial Stadium • Minneapolis, MN |
|
W 28–21 |
33,191 |
| November 8, 1975 |
|
Purdue |
#6/6 |
Michigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, MI |
|
W 28–0 |
102,415 |
| November 15, 1975 |
|
at Illinois |
#4/4 |
Memorial Stadium • Champaign, Il |
|
W 21–15 |
45,077 |
| November 22, 1975 |
|
#1/1 Ohio State |
#4/5 |
Michigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, MI |
|
L 14–21 |
105,543 |
| January 1, 1976 |
|
vs. #3/3 Oklahoma* |
#5/5 |
Orange Bowl • Miami, FL (Orange Bowl) |
NBC |
L 6–14 |
76,799 |
| *Non-conference game. Homecoming. #Rankings from AP Poll / Coaches' Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time. |
Game notes
Wisconsin
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
| • Michigan |
0 |
10 |
3 |
10 |
23 |
| Wisconsin |
3 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
6 |
|
|
| Scoring summary |
|
| 1 |
|
Wisconsin |
Lamia 22-yard field goal |
Wisconsin 3-0 |
|
| 2 |
|
Michigan |
Lytle 15-yard run (Wood kick) |
Michigan 7-3 |
|
| 2 |
|
Wisconsin |
Lamia 31-yard field goal |
Michigan 7-6 |
|
| 2 |
|
Michigan |
Wood 22-yard field goal |
Michigan 10-6 |
|
| 3 |
|
Michigan |
Wood 25-yard field goal |
Michigan 13-6 |
|
| 4 |
|
Michigan |
Wood 22-yard field goal |
Michigan 16-6 |
|
| 4 |
1:08
|
Michigan |
Bell 7-yard pass from Leach (Wood kick) |
Michigan 23-6 |
|
[2]
Stanford
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
| Stanford |
6 |
0 |
0 |
13 |
19 |
| Michigan |
0 |
7 |
6 |
6 |
19 |
- Date: September 20
- Location: Michigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Game attendance: 92,304
|
|
| Scoring summary |
|
| 1 |
|
STAN |
Tony Hill 25-yard pass from Mike Cordova (kick failed) |
Stanford 6-0 |
|
| 2 |
|
MICH |
Jim Smith 48-yard pass from Rick Leach (Bob Wood kick) |
Michigan 7-6 |
|
| 3 |
|
MICH |
Bob Wood 27-yard field goal |
Michigan 10-6 |
|
| 3 |
|
MICH |
Bob Wood 29-yard field goal |
Michigan 13-6 |
|
| 4 |
|
STAN |
Todd Anderson 4-yard pass from Mike Cordova (Mike Langford kick) |
Tie 13-13 |
|
| 4 |
5:51
|
MICH |
Bob Wood 32-yard field goal |
Michigan 16-13 |
|
| 4 |
3:41
|
STAN |
Mike Langford 40-yard field goal |
Tie 16-16 |
|
| 4 |
1:46
|
MICH |
Bob Wood 42-yard field goal |
Michigan 19-16 |
|
| 4 |
:09
|
STAN |
Mike Langford 33-yard field goal |
Tie 19-19 |
|
[4]
Baylor
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Missouri
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Michigan State
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
| • Michigan |
0 |
6 |
0 |
10 |
16 |
| Michigan State |
3 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
6 |
|
|
| Scoring summary |
|
| 1 |
|
MSU |
Nielsen 46-yard field goal |
MSU 3-0 |
|
| 2 |
|
MICH |
Wood 33-yard field goal |
Tied 3-3 |
|
| 2 |
|
MICH |
Wood 46-yard field goal |
MICH 6-3 |
|
| 3 |
|
MSU |
Nielsen 43-yard field goal |
Tied 6-6 |
|
| 4 |
|
MICH |
Bell 18-yard run (Wood kick) |
MICH 13-6 |
|
| 4 |
|
MICH |
Wood 25-yard field goal |
MICH 16-6 |
|
[5]
Northwestern
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In this drubbing of the great ground game led by Freshman quarterback Rick Leach, Junior fullback Rob Lytle, and Senior tailback Gordon Bell, Michigan rushed for over 500 yards in which all three of them went over 100 yards in a game. No team in NCAA history has had three backs gain over 100 yards in a game not even under Denard Robinson did this occur. And to shut out the Wildcats making it probably the most lopsided affair during the seaso
Indiana
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
| Indiana |
0 |
0 |
0 |
7 |
7 |
| • Michigan |
14 |
20 |
14 |
7 |
55 |
|
|
| Scoring summary |
|
| 1 |
|
MICH |
Jim Smith 77-yard run (Wood kick) |
MICH 7-0 |
|
| 1 |
|
MICH |
G. Bell 53-yard run (Wood kick) |
MICH 14-0 |
|
| 2 |
|
MICH |
Rob Lytle 1-yard run (Wood kick) |
MICH 21-0 |
|
| 2 |
|
MICH |
Rob Lytle 7-yard run (kick failed) |
MICH 27-0 |
|
| 2 |
|
MICH |
Rob Lytle 1-yard run (Wood kick) |
MICH 34-0 |
|
| 3 |
|
MICH |
R. Davis 1-yard run (Wood kick) |
MICH 41-0 |
|
| 3 |
|
MICH |
R. Davis 3-yard run (Wood kick) |
MICH 48-0 |
|
| 4 |
|
IND |
T. Jones 1-yard run (Stavroff kick) |
MICH 48-7 |
|
| 4 |
|
MICH |
Rob Lytle 12-yard run (Willner kick) |
MICH 55-7 |
|
[6]
Minnesota
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Purdue
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Illinois
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
| • Michigan |
14 |
0 |
7 |
0 |
21 |
| Illinois |
0 |
0 |
0 |
15 |
15 |
|
|
| Scoring summary |
|
| Q1 |
|
MICH |
Bell 2 yard run (kick failed) |
MICH 6–0 |
|
| Q1 |
|
MICH |
Bell 1 yard run (Lytle run) |
MICH 14–0 |
|
| Q3 |
|
MICH |
Leach 1 yard run (Wood kick) |
MICH 21–0 |
|
| Q4 |
|
ILL |
Johnson 5 yard pass from Steger (Beaver kick) |
MICH 21–7 |
|
| Q4 |
|
ILL |
Phillips 2 yard run (Johnson pass from Steger) |
MICH 21–15 |
|
[7]
Ohio State
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Orange Bowl
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Players
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
The following players were claimed in the 1976 NFL Draft.
[8]
Coaching staff
Statistics
Rushing
| Player |
Attempts |
Net yards |
Yards per attempt |
Touchdowns |
| Gordon Bell |
273 |
1390 |
5.1 |
13 |
| Rob Lytle |
193 |
1030 |
5.3 |
10 |
| Rick Leach |
113 |
552 |
4.9 |
5 |
Passing
| Player |
Attempts |
Completions |
Interceptions |
Comp % |
Yards |
Yds/Comp |
TD |
Long |
| Rick Leach |
100 |
32 |
12 |
32.0 |
680 |
21.3 |
3 |
83 |
| Mark Elzinga |
23 |
8 |
3 |
34.8 |
133 |
16.6 |
1 |
28 |
Receiving
| Player |
Receptions |
Yards |
Yds/Recp |
TD |
Long |
| Jim Smith |
24 |
553 |
23.0 |
4 |
83 |
| Keith Johnson |
6 |
130 |
21.7 |
0 |
29 |
Kickoff returns
| Player |
Returns |
Yards |
Yds/Return |
TD |
Long |
| Gordon Bell |
9 |
227 |
25.2 |
0 |
64 |
Punt returns
| Player |
Returns |
Yards |
Yds/Return |
TD |
Long |
| Jim Smith |
26 |
210 |
8.1 |
0 |
50 |
| Dwight Hicks |
9 |
63 |
7.0 |
0 |
21 |
References
External links
|
|
| Venues |
|
| Bowls & rivalries |
|
| Culture & lore |
|
| People |
|
| Seasons |
|
|
National championship seasons in bold
|
