1949 Michigan Wolverines football team
Encyclopedia
The 1949 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan
in the 1949 college football season
. The team's head coach was Bennie Oosterbaan
. The Wolverines played their home games at Michigan Stadium
.
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
in the 1949 college football season
1949 college football season
The 1949 college football season finished with four teams that were unbeaten and untied-- Notre Dame, Oklahoma, #3 California and Army had won all their games at season’s end. Notre Dame, however, was the overwhelming choice for national champion, with 172 of 208 first place votes...
. The team's head coach was Bennie Oosterbaan
Bennie Oosterbaan
Benjamin Gaylord "Bennie" Oosterbaan was a three-time first team All-American football end for the Michigan Wolverines football team, two-time All-American basketball player for the basketball team and an All-Big Ten Conference baseball player for the baseball team...
. The Wolverines played their home games at Michigan Stadium
Michigan Stadium
Michigan Stadium, nicknamed "The Big House," is the football stadium for the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Michigan Stadium was built in 1927 at a cost of $950,000 and had an original capacity of 72,000. Before playing football at the stadium, the Wolverines played on Ferry Field...
.
Schedule
Rushing
| Player | Attempts | Net yards | Yards per attempt | Touchdowns |
| Don Dufek Don Dufek, Sr. Don Dufek, Sr. is a former American football player and athletic director at Grand Valley State University and Kent State University. He is the father of All-American football players Don, and Bill as well as Joe who all played in the National Football League.... |
122 | 392 | 3.2 | 2 |
| Chuck Ortmann Chuck Ortmann Charles H. Ortmann is a former American football player who played for the University of Michigan Wolverines from 1948 to 1950 and in the National Football League for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1951 and the Dallas Texans in 1952.... |
105 | 329 | 3.1 | 0 |
| Leo Koceski Leo Koceski Leo Robert "Bugsy" Koceski, Jr. , also known as the "Canonsburg Comet," is a former American football halfback. He played for Michigan's undefeated national championship team in 1948 and the 1950 Big Ten championship team that defeated the California in the 1951 Rose Bowl.-Early years:Koceski was... |
55 | 247 | 4.5 | 2 |
Passing
| Player | Attempts | Completions | Interceptions | Comp % | Yards | Yds/Comp | TD | Long |
| Chuck Ortmann Chuck Ortmann Charles H. Ortmann is a former American football player who played for the University of Michigan Wolverines from 1948 to 1950 and in the National Football League for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1951 and the Dallas Texans in 1952.... |
126 | 45 | 3 | 35.7 | 627 | 13.9 | 2 | 51 |
| Wally Teninga Wally Teninga Walter Henry "Wally" Teninga is a former American football halfback and businessman. He played for the University of Michigan's undefeated national championship teams in 1947 and 1948 and later became the vice chairman and chief financial officer of the Kmart Corporation.-Early years:A native of... |
32 | 8 | 4 | 25.0 | 62 | 7.8 | 1 | 16 |
| Bill Putich Bill Putich Bill Putich was an American football player who played quarterback and halfback for the University of Michigan Wolverines football teams from 1949 to 1951.-Playing career:... |
8 | 5 | 0 | 62.5 | 45 | 9.0 | 2 | 12 |
Receiving
| Player | Receptions | Yards | Yds/Recp | TD | Long |
| Harry Allis Harry Allis Harry Dean Allis was an American football placekicker. He played college football for the University of Michigan from 1948 to 1950. He was the leading scorer in the Big Ten Conference during the 1948 season and helped lead the 1948 Michigan Wolverines football team to an undefeated 10-0 record... |
23 | 338 | 14.7 | 2 | 51 |
| Irv Wisniewski Irv Wisniewski Irvin C. Wisniewski is a former American football and basketball player and coach in the United States. He served as the head football coach at Hillsdale College in 1951, tallying a mark of 2–6... |
11 | 126 | 11.4 | 1 | 14 |
| John Ghindia John Ghindia John V. Ghindia, Jr. is a former American football player. He played for the University of Michigan's undefeated football teams in 1947 and 1948 and was the starting quarterback on the 1949 Michigan Wolverines football team that finished the season ranked No. 7 in the country.-Early years:Ghindia... |
8 | 77 | 9.6 | 0 | 16 |
Kickoff returns
| Player | Returns | Yards | Yds/Return | TD | Long |
| Leo Koceski Leo Koceski Leo Robert "Bugsy" Koceski, Jr. , also known as the "Canonsburg Comet," is a former American football halfback. He played for Michigan's undefeated national championship team in 1948 and the 1950 Big Ten championship team that defeated the California in the 1951 Rose Bowl.-Early years:Koceski was... |
8 | 158 | 19.8 | 0 | 24 |
| Chuck Ortmann Chuck Ortmann Charles H. Ortmann is a former American football player who played for the University of Michigan Wolverines from 1948 to 1950 and in the National Football League for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1951 and the Dallas Texans in 1952.... |
4 | 149 | 37.3 | 0 | 82 |
Punt returns
| Player | Returns | Yards | Yds/Return | TD | Long |
| Charlie Lentz | 17 | 169 | 9.9 | 0 | 17 |
| Wally Teninga Wally Teninga Walter Henry "Wally" Teninga is a former American football halfback and businessman. He played for the University of Michigan's undefeated national championship teams in 1947 and 1948 and later became the vice chairman and chief financial officer of the Kmart Corporation.-Early years:A native of... |
16 | 160 | 10.0 | 0 | 13 |
Players
- Harry AllisHarry AllisHarry Dean Allis was an American football placekicker. He played college football for the University of Michigan from 1948 to 1950. He was the leading scorer in the Big Ten Conference during the 1948 season and helped lead the 1948 Michigan Wolverines football team to an undefeated 10-0 record...
, Flint, Michigan - started 9 games at left end; also placekicker and punter - James L. Atchinson, Cleveland, Ohio - started 3 games at right tackle
- Oswald V. Clark, Montclair, New Jersey - started 2 games at right end
- Don DufekDon Dufek, Sr.Don Dufek, Sr. is a former American football player and athletic director at Grand Valley State University and Kent State University. He is the father of All-American football players Don, and Bill as well as Joe who all played in the National Football League....
, Evanston, Illinois - started 2 games at fullback, 1 game at right halfback - Robert F. Erben, Akron, Ohio - started 6 games at center
- John GhindiaJohn GhindiaJohn V. Ghindia, Jr. is a former American football player. He played for the University of Michigan's undefeated football teams in 1947 and 1948 and was the starting quarterback on the 1949 Michigan Wolverines football team that finished the season ranked No. 7 in the country.-Early years:Ghindia...
, Ecorse, Michigan - started 7 games at quarterback - Lloyd A. Heneveld, Holland, Michigan - started 3 games at left guard, 1 game at right guard
- Allen M. Jackson, Dearborn, Michigan - started 4 games at left guard
- Thomas Johnson, Muskegon Heights, Michigan - started 3 games at left tackle
- Dick KempthornDick KempthornRichard James "Dick" Kempthorn is a former collegiate athlete, Air Force pilot, and businessman from Canton, Ohio, USA. He played college football on the undefeated National Champion 1947 and 1948 Michigan Wolverines football teams and was the Most Valuable Player on the 1949 team...
, Canton, Ohio - started 7 games at fullback - Leo KoceskiLeo KoceskiLeo Robert "Bugsy" Koceski, Jr. , also known as the "Canonsburg Comet," is a former American football halfback. He played for Michigan's undefeated national championship team in 1948 and the 1950 Big Ten championship team that defeated the California in the 1951 Rose Bowl.-Early years:Koceski was...
, Canonsburg, Pennsylvania - started 5 games at right halfback - Donald B. McClelland, Calumet, Michigan - started 8 games at right guard, 1 game at left guard
- Tony MomsenTony MomsenAnton Henry "Tony" Momsen, Jr. was an American football center in the National Football League for the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Washington Redskins...
- started 3 games at center - Chuck OrtmannChuck OrtmannCharles H. Ortmann is a former American football player who played for the University of Michigan Wolverines from 1948 to 1950 and in the National Football League for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1951 and the Dallas Texans in 1952....
, Milwaukee, Wisconsin - started 7 games at left halfback - Walt Teninga, Chicago, Illinois - started 3 games at right halfback
- Robert WahlRobert WahlRobert Allen "Al" Wahl , nicknamed "Brick" Wahl, is a former football player who was a two-time All-American for the University of Michigan Wolverines in 1949 and 1950. Wahl is also a former U.S...
, Oak Park, Illinois - started 4 games at right tackle - Irv WisniewskiIrv WisniewskiIrvin C. Wisniewski is a former American football and basketball player and coach in the United States. He served as the head football coach at Hillsdale College in 1951, tallying a mark of 2–6...
, Lambertville, Michigan - started 7 games at right end, 2 games at right tackle - Alvin WistertAlvin WistertAlvin Lawrence "Moose" Wistert was an American football player. A native of Chicago, Illinois, he played college football at the tackle position for Boston University in 1946 and at the University of Michigan from 1947 to 1949...
, Chicago, Illinois - started 6 games at left tackle
Awards and honors
- Captain: Alvin WistertAlvin WistertAlvin Lawrence "Moose" Wistert was an American football player. A native of Chicago, Illinois, he played college football at the tackle position for Boston University in 1946 and at the University of Michigan from 1947 to 1949...
- All-American1949 College Football All-America TeamThe 1949 College Football All-America team is composed of college football players who were selected as All-Americans by various organizations and writers that chose College Football All-America Teams for the 1949 college football season...
s: Alvin Wistert, Robert WahlRobert WahlRobert Allen "Al" Wahl , nicknamed "Brick" Wahl, is a former football player who was a two-time All-American for the University of Michigan Wolverines in 1949 and 1950. Wahl is also a former U.S... - All-Conference: Alvin Wistert, Lloyd Heneveld, Chuck OrtmannChuck OrtmannCharles H. Ortmann is a former American football player who played for the University of Michigan Wolverines from 1948 to 1950 and in the National Football League for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1951 and the Dallas Texans in 1952....
- Most Valuable Player: Dick KempthornDick KempthornRichard James "Dick" Kempthorn is a former collegiate athlete, Air Force pilot, and businessman from Canton, Ohio, USA. He played college football on the undefeated National Champion 1947 and 1948 Michigan Wolverines football teams and was the Most Valuable Player on the 1949 team...
- Meyer Morton Award: Don DufekDon Dufek, Sr.Don Dufek, Sr. is a former American football player and athletic director at Grand Valley State University and Kent State University. He is the father of All-American football players Don, and Bill as well as Joe who all played in the National Football League....
Coaching staff
- Head coach: Bennie OosterbaanBennie OosterbaanBenjamin Gaylord "Bennie" Oosterbaan was a three-time first team All-American football end for the Michigan Wolverines football team, two-time All-American basketball player for the basketball team and an All-Big Ten Conference baseball player for the baseball team...
- Assistant coaches: Jack BlottJack BlottJack Leonard Blott was an All-American football center and place kicker for the University of Michigan Wolverines from 1922–1923. He was also a baseball catcher for the Wolverines from 1922–1924. After a two-game Major League Baseball career with the Cincinnati Reds in 1924, he worked as...
, George CeithamlGeorge CeithamlGeorge F. Ceithaml is a former American football quarterback and coach. He was the starting quarterback for Fritz Crisler's University of Michigan football teams in 1941 and 1942...
, Cliff KeenCliff KeenClifford Patrick Keen was an American coach who served as the head coach of the University of Michigan collegiate wrestling team from 1925 to 1970. He led the Michigan Wolverines to 13 Big Ten Conference championships, and coached 68 All-American wrestlers...
, Ernest McCoy, Bill OrwigBill OrwigJames Wilfred "Bill" Orwig was a basketball and American football player at the University of Michigan. He later served as the athletic director at the University of Toledo, University of Nebraska, and Indiana University....
, Don Robinson, Walter WeberWally WeberWalter J. Weber was an American football player and coach at the University of Michigan. He played halfback and fullback for the Wolverines in 1925 and 1926 on the same teams as Benny Friedman and Bennie Oosterbaan. He later became an assistant football coach at Michigan for 28 years from 1931 to...
, J. T. WhiteJ. T. WhiteJohn T. "J.T." White was a college football assistant coach, and a second-team 1947 College Football All-American center who played for national championship teams at both the University of Michigan and Ohio State University. White also played basketball for the Ohio State Buckeyes men's... - Trainer: Jim Hunt
- Manager: Howard Cooper