1990 Michigan Wolverines football team
Encyclopedia
The 1990 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan
in the 1990 college football season
. The team's head coach was Gary Moeller
. The Wolverines played their home games at Michigan Stadium
. The team won the third of five consecutive Big Ten Championships.
was the Big Ten receiving statistical champion for conference games with 5.5 receptions
per contest, Northwestern's Richard Buchanan won the title for all games. Additionally, he won the first of two Big Ten receiving yardage champion for all games with 85.4 yards per game, but he lost the conference games yardage championship to Ohio State's Jeff Graham
. J.D. Carlson won the Big Ten scoring championship with a 7.9 points per game average for all games, although he lost the conference per game championship to Michigan State's Hyland Hickson. Elvis Grbac
won his first of three consecutive Big Ten passing statistical championships (137.1 passing efficiency in all games), Matt Rodgers of Iowa won the title for conference games.
The team led the Big Ten in rushing offense for all games (264.6 yards per game), although Michigan State won the title for conference games. They also led in passing efficiency for all games (137.7) although Iowa led for conference games. They were the conference leader in total offense
for all games (432.5 yards per game), although Iowa won the title for conference games. The 715 yards of total offense
in the January 1, 1991 Gator Bowl
against Ole Miss
stood as the school record until October 17, 2009.
The team earned the first of four consecutive and six 1990s Big Ten rushing defense statistical championships for all games by holding opponents to 104.7 yards per game. Iowa won the title for conference games. The team led the conference in total defense for conference games (289.4), while Iowa led for all games. The team led the Big Ten Conference in scoring defense for conference games (16.9 points per game) and all games (16.5). They were the conference leaders in quarterback sack
s for conference games (3.6 sacks per game) and all games (3.6 sacks per game). They led the conference in turnover
margin (+0.92) in all games, while Illinois led for conference games. They led the conference in punt return average in conference games (17.4 yards per return) and all games (15.2). The season marked the third consecutive year that the team led the conference in kick return average in conference games (26.5 yards per return) and all games (27.3).
Jon Vaughn
set the current school record for career yards per carry (6.29, min 200 carries), eclipsing Rob Lytle
's 16 year old record. Vaughn opened the 1990 season by posting 201 rushing yards on September 15, 1990 against University of Notre Dame
Fighting Irish
and following it up with 288 rushing yards against the University of California, Los Angeles
Bruins
on September 22, 1990 at the Big House
. This feat made him the first Michigan back to rush for 200 yards in consecutive games, a feat not duplicated until Mike Hart
did so in 2004. Grbac became the fourth Wolverine to post a 4-touchdown pass performance against Mississippi State, he would become the first to post two the following season and later in his career would post a third such performance. Grbac became the first single-season 20-touchdown passer with 21, eclipsing Jim Harbaugh
's 18 in 1985, a record he would extend to 25 the following year.
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 1990 college football season
1990 NCAA Division I-A football season
The 1990 NCAA Division I-A football season ended with a split championship and the ensuing controversy led to the creation of the Bowl Coalition, a precursor to the Bowl Championship Series. The title was split between the Colorado Buffaloes and the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets...
. The team's head coach was Gary Moeller
Gary Moeller
Gary O. Moeller is an American football coach best known for being head coach at the University of Michigan from 1990 to 1994. During his five seasons at Michigan, he won 44 games, lost 13 and tied 3 for a winning percentage of .758...
. 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...
. The team won the third of five consecutive Big Ten Championships.
Schedule
Statistical achievements
Desmond HowardDesmond Howard
Desmond Kevin Howard is a former NFL wide receiver, punt returner, and kickoff returner.He played football for the University of Michigan from 1989–1991 and won the Heisman Trophy in 1991...
was the Big Ten receiving statistical champion for conference games with 5.5 receptions
Reception (American football)
In American football, a reception is part of a play in which a forward pass from behind the line of scrimmage is received by a player in bounds, who, after the catch, proceeds to either score a touchdown or be downed. Yards gained from the receiving play are credited to the player as receiving...
per contest, Northwestern's Richard Buchanan won the title for all games. Additionally, he won the first of two Big Ten receiving yardage champion for all games with 85.4 yards per game, but he lost the conference games yardage championship to Ohio State's Jeff Graham
Jeff Graham
Jeffery Todd Graham is a former professional American football player who was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the second round of the 1991 NFL Draft. A 6'2", 206-lb...
. J.D. Carlson won the Big Ten scoring championship with a 7.9 points per game average for all games, although he lost the conference per game championship to Michigan State's Hyland Hickson. Elvis Grbac
Elvis Grbac
Elvis M. Grbac is a retired American football quarterback who played in the NFL. During his career he was a starting quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers, the Kansas City Chiefs, and Baltimore Ravens...
won his first of three consecutive Big Ten passing statistical championships (137.1 passing efficiency in all games), Matt Rodgers of Iowa won the title for conference games.
The team led the Big Ten in rushing offense for all games (264.6 yards per game), although Michigan State won the title for conference games. They also led in passing efficiency for all games (137.7) although Iowa led for conference games. They were the conference leader in total offense
Total offense
Total offense is an American football and Canadian football statistic representing the total number of yards rushing and yards passing by a team or player...
for all games (432.5 yards per game), although Iowa won the title for conference games. The 715 yards of total offense
Total offense
Total offense is an American football and Canadian football statistic representing the total number of yards rushing and yards passing by a team or player...
in the January 1, 1991 Gator Bowl
1991 Gator Bowl (January)
The January 1991 Gator Bowl was a college football bowl game played on January 1, 1991. The Michigan Wolverines, co-champions of the Big Ten Conference, defeated the Ole Miss Rebels of the Southeastern Conference, 35–3....
against Ole Miss
1990 Ole Miss Rebels football team
-Schedule:...
stood as the school record until October 17, 2009.
The team earned the first of four consecutive and six 1990s Big Ten rushing defense statistical championships for all games by holding opponents to 104.7 yards per game. Iowa won the title for conference games. The team led the conference in total defense for conference games (289.4), while Iowa led for all games. The team led the Big Ten Conference in scoring defense for conference games (16.9 points per game) and all games (16.5). They were the conference leaders in quarterback sack
Quarterback sack
In American football and Canadian football, a sack occurs when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage before he can throw a forward pass, or when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage in the "pocket" and the intent of what he was going to do is unclear...
s for conference games (3.6 sacks per game) and all games (3.6 sacks per game). They led the conference in turnover
Turnover (football)
In American football, a turnover occurs when the team with the ball loses possession of the ball, which is then gained by the other team. The two events that are officially classified as "turnovers" are fumbles or interceptions In American football, a turnover occurs when the team with the ball...
margin (+0.92) in all games, while Illinois led for conference games. They led the conference in punt return average in conference games (17.4 yards per return) and all games (15.2). The season marked the third consecutive year that the team led the conference in kick return average in conference games (26.5 yards per return) and all games (27.3).
Jon Vaughn
Jon Vaughn
Jonathan Stewart Vaughn is a former professional American football player who played running back and served as a kick returner in the National Football League for 4 seasons from 1991 to 1994 for the Seattle Seahawks, New England Patriots, and Kansas City Chiefs...
set the current school record for career yards per carry (6.29, min 200 carries), eclipsing Rob Lytle
Rob Lytle
Rob Lytle was an American football running back who played for the Denver Broncos of NFL. He attended the University of Michigan . Lytle was drafted in the second round of the 1977 NFL Draft by Denver with the 45th overall pick.Lytle was born in Fremont, Ohio...
's 16 year old record. Vaughn opened the 1990 season by posting 201 rushing yards on September 15, 1990 against University of Notre Dame
University of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
Fighting Irish
Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Notre Dame's nickname is inherited from Irish immigrant soldiers who fought in the Civil War with the Union's Irish Brigade, , recollected among other places in the poetry of Joyce Kilmer who served with one of the Irish Brigade regiments during World War I...
and following it up with 288 rushing yards against the University of California, Los Angeles
University of California, Los Angeles
The University of California, Los Angeles is a public research university located in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, USA. It was founded in 1919 as the "Southern Branch" of the University of California and is the second oldest of the ten campuses...
Bruins
UCLA Bruins
The UCLA Bruins are the sports teams for University of California, Los Angeles . The Bruin men's and women's teams participate in NCAA Division I as part of the Pacific-12 Conference and the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation . For football, they are in the Football Bowl Subdivision of Division I...
on September 22, 1990 at the Big House
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...
. This feat made him the first Michigan back to rush for 200 yards in consecutive games, a feat not duplicated until Mike Hart
Mike Hart (football player)
Leon Michael "Mike" Hart is a former American football running back and current offensive quality control coach for Eastern Michigan University. Hart played college football as a running back at the University of Michigan from 2004 to 2007 and holds the Michigan Wolverines career rushing record...
did so in 2004. Grbac became the fourth Wolverine to post a 4-touchdown pass performance against Mississippi State, he would become the first to post two the following season and later in his career would post a third such performance. Grbac became the first single-season 20-touchdown passer with 21, eclipsing Jim Harbaugh
Jim Harbaugh
James Joseph "Jim" Harbaugh is an American football coach and former player. He is currently the head coach for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League. Harbaugh agreed to a five-year deal with the San Francisco 49ers on January 7, 2011. Previously, he was the head coach at...
's 18 in 1985, a record he would extend to 25 the following year.
Awards and honors
The individuals in the sections below earned recognition for meritorious performances.Conference
- All-Conference: J.D. Carlson, Dean Dingman, Tripp Welborne, Jon VaughnJon VaughnJonathan Stewart Vaughn is a former professional American football player who played running back and served as a kick returner in the National Football League for 4 seasons from 1991 to 1994 for the Seattle Seahawks, New England Patriots, and Kansas City Chiefs...
, Greg Skrepenak, Desmond HowardDesmond HowardDesmond Kevin Howard is a former NFL wide receiver, punt returner, and kickoff returner.He played football for the University of Michigan from 1989–1991 and won the Heisman Trophy in 1991...
, Tom Dohring, Erick AndersonErick AndersonErick Scott Anderson is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League. He played college football for the University of Michigan. He won the Butkus Award in 1991.-College career:... - Big Ten Co-Offensive Player of the Year: Vaughn (coaches)
Team
- Most Valuable Player: Tripp Welborne
- Frederick Matthei Award: Erick Anderson
- Arthur Robinsion Scholarship Award: David Ritter
- Dick Katcher Award: T.J. Osman
- Hugh Rader Jr. Award: Dean Dingman
- Robert P. Ufer Award: John Milligan
Coaching staff
- Head coach: Gary MoellerGary MoellerGary O. Moeller is an American football coach best known for being head coach at the University of Michigan from 1990 to 1994. During his five seasons at Michigan, he won 44 games, lost 13 and tied 3 for a winning percentage of .758...
- Assistant coaches: Phil Bromley, Tirrel BurtonTirrel BurtonTirrel Burton is a former American football player, coach, and radio broadcaster. He played halfback for Ara Parseghian's championship teams at Miami University in 1954 and 1955 and led the undefeated, untied 1955 team in rushing, scoring, pass interceptions, kickoff returns and punt returns,...
, Cam CameronCam Cameron-External links:...
, Lloyd CarrLloyd CarrLloyd H. Carr is a former American football player and coach. He served as the head coach at the University of Michigan from 1995 through the 2007 season. Under Carr, the Wolverines compiled a record of 122–40 and won or shared five Big Ten Conference titles...
, Jerry HanlonJerry HanlonJerry Hanlon is a former American football player, coach, and radio broadcaster. He was a halfback on the 1953–1955 Miami University teams that won two Mid-American Conference championships under Ara Parseghian...
, Bill Harris, Jim HerrmannJim HerrmannJim Herrmann is an American football coach. He is currently the linebackers coach for the New York Giants of the National Football League.-College coaching career:...
, Les MilesLes MilesLeslie Edwin "Les" Miles, nicknamed "The Mad Hatter", is an American college football coach and the current head coach of the Louisiana State University football team. Prior to holding that position, he was head coach at Oklahoma State...
, Bobby Morrison, Tom ReedTom Reed-External links:... - Trainer: Russ Miller
- Manager: Chris Smith