A Comprehensive History of Michigan Wolverines Football

The Michigan Wolverines football team boasts a storied past, filled with tradition, championships, and legendary figures. From its humble beginnings in the late 19th century to its modern-day success, Michigan has consistently been a force in college football. This article delves into the program's history, highlighting key moments, influential coaches, and the evolution of the game itself.

Early Days and the Rise of Football at U-M

The story of Michigan football begins long before the roar of the Big House echoed across Ann Arbor. In the early days of the University of Michigan, students engaged in a rudimentary form of "football" as early as the 1860s. This early game bore little resemblance to modern football, resembling a mass game with as many as 80 players per side. It was a kicking game, closer to soccer than rugby, and often involved violent confrontations between classes known as "rushes."

As new versions of football gained popularity in the East, U-M students sought to adapt. Charles Mills Gayley, who learned rugby in Europe, attempted to introduce the game to his classmates. Football Associations were formed, and "University elevens" were chosen, but arranging outside games proved difficult.

The turning point came in October 1878 when Racine College challenged Michigan to a game under rugby rules in Chicago. Despite having limited knowledge of the game, Michigan accepted the challenge. On May 30, 1879, Michigan played its first intercollegiate football game against Racine College at White Stocking Park in Chicago, marking the first such game west of the Allegheny Mountains. Irving Pond scored Michigan’s first touchdown, and David DeTar’s subsequent "kick for goal" secured a 1-0 victory.

The Formative Years and the Western Conference

Following the victory over Racine, football gained momentum at Michigan. The team scored wins over Toronto in 1879 and 1880. In 1881, Michigan traveled east to play against Harvard, Yale, and Princeton, marking the birth of intersectional football. In 1887, Michigan players introduced football to students at the University of Notre Dame.

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In 1896, the University of Michigan joined the Intercollegiate Conference of Faculty Representatives, later known as the Big Ten Conference. In the inaugural Western Conference football season in 1896, Michigan went 9-1, ultimately losing out on the title to the Chicago Maroons.

The Yost Era: Point-a-Minute and National Dominance

The early 20th century marked the beginning of a golden era for Michigan football, largely due to the arrival of Fielding H. Yost. In 1901, Charles A. Baird, Michigan's first athletic director, offered Yost the head coaching position, seeking to revitalize the program after some disappointing seasons.

Yost's impact was immediate and transformative. His "Point-a-Minute" squads dominated college football, embarking on a remarkable 56-game unbeaten streak from his arrival until the 1905 season finale. This included a resounding victory in the 1902 Rose Bowl, the first college football bowl game ever played, where Michigan crushed Stanford. The New York Times reported that Michigan's margin of victory was "one of the most remarkable ever made in the history of football in the important colleges." Neil Snow scored five touchdowns in the game, an all-time Rose Bowl record that still stands.

The Wolverines continued their dominance in 1902, outscoring opponents 644 to 12 and finishing the season 11-0. In 1903, a game against Minnesota marked the beginning of the rivalry for the Little Brown Jug, the oldest rivalry trophy in college football. Michigan finished the season at 11-0-1. From 1901 through 1904, Michigan didn't lose a single game.

The streak was broken at the end of the 1905 season by Amos Alonzo Stagg's Chicago Maroons. The game, dubbed "The First Greatest Game of the Century," broke Michigan's 56-game unbeaten streak and marked the end of the "Point-a-Minute" years.

Michigan tied for another Big 9 title in 1906 before opting to go independent for the 1907 season. Michigan rejoined the Big 9 in 1917, after which it was called the Big Ten. In 1918, Michigan played the first game against Stagg's Chicago Maroons since Chicago ended Michigan's winning streak in 1905, defeating the Maroons, 18-0.

In 1922 Michigan spoiled the "Dedication Day" for Ohio Stadium, defeating the Buckeyes 19-0. Michigan went 5-0-1 in 1922, capturing a Big Ten title. In 1923, Michigan went 8-0, winning another conference championship.

The 1924 Wolverines, coached by George Little, saw their 20-game unbeaten streak end at the hands of Red Grange. After the 1924 season, Little left Michigan to accept the head coach and athletic director positions at Wisconsin, returning athletic director Yost to the head coaching position.

The 1925 and 1926 seasons were memorable due to the presence of the famous "Benny-to-Bennie" combination, a reference to Benny Friedman and Bennie Oosterbaan. The two helped popularize passing the ball in an era when running held dominance.

Yost stepped aside in 1926 to focus on being Michigan's athletic director, thus ending the greatest period of success in the history of Michigan football. Under Yost, Michigan posted a 165-29-10 record, winning ten conference championships and six national championships.

The Wieman and Kipke Eras: Transition and Continued Success

Michigan began playing football games in Michigan Stadium in the fall of 1927. Michigan Stadium was formally dedicated during a game against the Ohio State Buckeyes that season to the tune of a 21-0 victory.

Tad Wieman became Michigan's head coach in 1927. In 1929, Harry Kipke, a former player under Yost, took over as head coach. From 1930 to 1933, Kipke returned Michigan to prominence. During that stretch, Michigan won the Big Ten title every year and the national championship in 1932 and 1933.

In 1932, quarterback Harry Newman was a unanimous first-team All-American, and the recipient of the Douglas Fairbanks Trophy as Outstanding College Player of the Year (predecessor of the Heisman Trophy). After 1933, however, Kipke's teams compiled a 12-22 record from 1934 to 1937.

Fritz Crisler and the Winged Helmet: A New Era

Following a period of decline, Michigan sought a new direction under head coach Fritz Crisler. Upon arriving at Michigan, Crisler introduced the winged football helmet, ostensibly to help his players find the receivers downfield. Michigan debuted the winged helmet in a game against Michigan State in 1938.

In 1940, Tom Harmon led the Wolverines to a 7-1 record on his way to winning the Heisman Trophy. The 1943 season included a No. 1 (Notre Dame) vs. No. 2 (Michigan) matchup. From 1938 to 1944, Michigan posted a 48-11-2 record.

Crisler's biggest mark on the game of football was made in 1945, when Michigan faced a loaded Army squad that featured two Heisman trophy winners, Doc Blanchard and Glenn Davis. Crisler divided his team into "offensive" and "defensive" specialists, an act that earned him the nickname "the father of two-platoon football."

Oosterbaan, Bump Elliott, and the Struggles of the Mid-Century

Crisler continued as athletic director while Bennie Oosterbaan, the same Bennie that had electrified the world while making connections with Benny Friedman 20 years earlier, took over the football program. Michigan finished the season undefeated at 9-0 in 1948, winning another national championship. Initially, Oosterbaan continued Crisler's tradition of on-field success, winning conference titles each year from 1948 to 1950 and the national title in 1948. The 1950 season ended in interesting fashion, with Michigan and Ohio State combining for 45 punts in a game that came to be known as the "Snow Bowl."

Subsequently, Michigan's football team began to decline under Oosterbaan.

The Schembechler Era: The Ten Year War and a Return to Glory

Bo Schembechler's arrival in 1969 ushered in a new era of Michigan football. His tenure was defined by intense rivalry with Ohio State, coached by Woody Hayes, in what became known as "The Ten Year War."

From 1976 to 1978, Michigan asserted its own dominance of the rivalry, beating Ohio State, going to the Rose Bowl, and posting a 10-2 record every year. After the 1978 season, Woody Hayes was fired for punching an opposing player during the 1978 Gator Bowl, thus ending The Ten Year War. Michigan had a slight edge in the war, with Schembechler going 5-4-1 against Hayes.

Michigan needed to reverse its fortunes in 1985, and they began doing so with new quarterback Jim Harbaugh.

The Moeller and Carr Years: Maintaining Success

Gary Moeller took over from Schembechler for the 1990 season, becoming the 16th head coach in Michigan football history. Moeller inherited a talented squad that had just played in the 1990 Rose Bowl, including wide receiver Desmond Howard. Moeller led Michigan to a 9-3 record in his first season, tying for the Big Ten championship but losing out on a Rose Bowl bid to Iowa. The next two years, Moeller's teams won the conference outright, setting marks of 10-2 and 9-0-3. In 1991, Desmond Howard had a memorable season that propelled him to win the Heisman Trophy. The 1992 team, led by quarterback Elvis Grbac, posted a 9-0-3 record, defeating Washington in the 1993 Rose Bowl. Moeller led Michigan to 8-4 records in both 1993 and 1994.

The Harbaugh Era: Return to Glory

Following Hoke's dismissal, Michigan hired Jim Harbaugh. Harbaugh is a former quarterback for the team, having played for Michigan from 1982 to 1986 under Schembechler. Harbaugh led the Wolverines to three consecutive Big Ten titles and College Football Playoff appearances during his final three years as head coach, from 2021 to 2023. His final team, the 2023 Michigan Wolverines won the program's first national championship since 1997, and first undisputed national championship since 1948 after beating Washington in the National Championship Game. Following the championship and nine seasons at Michigan, Harbaugh left to return to coaching in the National Football League (NFL).

The Michigan Wolverines have featured 89 selections that have garnered consensus honors on the College Football All-America Team. Three Wolverines have won the Heisman Trophy: Tom Harmon in 1940, Desmond Howard in 1991, and Charles Woodson in 1997.

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