1973 Michigan Wolverines football team

1973 Michigan Wolverines football
Big Ten co-champion
Conference	Big Ten Conference
Ranking
Coaches	#6
AP	#6
1973 record	10–0–1 (7–0–1 Big Ten)
Head coach	Bo Schembechler (5th year)
Defensive coordinator	Gary Moeller (1st year)
MVP	Paul Seal
Captain	Dave Gallagher
Captain	Paul Seal
Home stadium	Michigan Stadium

1973 Big Ten football standings
	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
#2 Ohio State +	7	–	0	–	1			10	–	0	–	1
#6 Michigan +	7	–	0	–	1			10	–	0	–	1
Minnesota	6	–	2	–	0			7	–	4	–	0
Illinois	4	–	4	–	0			5	–	6	–	0
Michigan State	4	–	4	–	0			5	–	6	–	0
Purdue	4	–	4	–	0			5	–	6	–	0
Northwestern	4	–	4	–	0			4	–	7	–	0
Wisconsin	3	–	5	–	0			4	–	7	–	0
Indiana	0	–	8	–	0			2	–	9	–	0
Iowa	0	–	8	–	0			0	–	11	–	0
+ – Conference co-champions Rankings from AP Poll

The 1973 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1973 NCAA Division I football season. In his fifth year as Michigan's head coach, Bo Schembechler led the team to a 10–0–1 record. It was Michigan's first undefeated season since 1948. The Wolverines outscored their opponents 330 to 68. Michigan was ranked #6 in both post-season polls.

The season ended with a 10-10 tie against Ohio State. Both teams entered undefeated, with the winner guaranteed a trip to the Rose Bowl. When the game ended in a tie, the Big Ten athletic directors voted in a secret ballot to send Ohio State to the Rose Bowl. Michigan athletic officials and fans were outraged, and Schembechler argued that Michigan was robbed of its on-field achievements. For months afterward, Ohio State newspapers were flooded with angry Wolverine letters and threats of lawsuits.

On offense, the team was led by quarterback Dennis Franklin who completed 36 of 67 passes for 534 yards and rushed 101 times for 425 yards. Four Michigan running backs, Ed Shuttlesworth, Chuck Heater, Gil Chapman, and Gordon Bell, combined for 2,417 rushing yards. Shuttlesworth, Franklin, wing back Clint Haslerig, and offensive guard Mike Hoban were all selected as All-Big Ten Conference players.

On defense, the Wolverines held opponents to 68 points, an average of 6.2 points per game. Defensive tackle Dave Gallagher and cornerback Dave Brown were both selected as first-team All-Americans. Middle linebacker Steve Strinko led the team with 77 total tackles and 108 total tackles.

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent#	Rank#	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
September 15, 1973		at Iowa	#5/NA	Kinnick Stadium • Iowa City, IA		W 31–7	52,105
September 22, 1973		Stanford*	#5/6	Michigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, MI		W 47–10	80,177
September 29, 1973		Navy*	#4/4	Michigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, MI		W 14–0	88,042
October 6, 1973		Oregon*	#5/5	Michigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, MI		W 24–0	81,113
October 13, 1973		at Michigan State	#5/4	Spartan Stadium • East Lansing, MI		W 31–0	78,263
October 20, 1973		Wisconsin	#4/4	Michigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, MI		W 35–6	87,723
October 27, 1973		at Minnesota	#4/4	Memorial Stadium • Minneapolis, MN		W 34–7	44,435
November 3, 1973		Indiana	#4/4	Michigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, MI		W 49–13	76,432
November 10, 1973		Illinois	#4/4	Michigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, MI		W 21–6	76,461
November 17, 1973		at Purdue	#4/4	Ross–Ade Stadium • West Lafayette, IN		W 34–9	56,485
November 24, 1973		#1/1 Ohio State	#4/4	Michigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, MI	ABC	T 10–10	105,223
*Non-conference game. Homecoming. #Rankings from AP Poll / Coaches' Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time.

Game notes

Iowa

1 2 3 4 Total • Michigan 10 7 7 7 31 Iowa 0 7 0 0 7 Date: September 15 Location: Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City, Iowa Game attendance: 52,105

Scoring summary 1 Michigan Lantry 39-yard field goal Michigan 3-0 1 Michigan Heater 1-yard run (Lantry kick) Michigan 10-0 2 Iowa Douthitt 47-yard interception return (Kokolus kick) Michigan 10-7 2 Michigan Thornbladh 3-yard run (Lantry kick) Michigan 17-7 3 Michigan Chapman 12-yard run (Lantry kick) Michigan 24-7 4 Michigan Franklin 11-yard run (Lantry kick) Michigan 31-7

Stanford

1 2 3 4 Total Stanford 0 0 3 7 10 • Michigan 21 13 7 6 47 Date: September 22 Location: Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, Michigan

Scoring summary 1 MICH Heater 8 yard run (Lantry kick) MICH 7–0 1 MICH Shuttlesworth 1 yard run (Lantry kick) MICH 14–0 1 MICH Chapman 1 yard run (Lantry kick) MICH 21–0 2 MICH Lantry 50 yard field goal MICH 24–0 2 MICH Gustafson 4 yard pass from Franklin (Lantry kick) MICH 31–0 2 MICH Lantry 51 yard field goal MICH 34–0 3 STAN Garcia 37 yard field goal MICH 34–3 3 MICH Shuttlesworth 1 yard run (Lantry kick) MICH 41–3 4 STAN Ishman 19 yard pass from Boryla (Garcia kick) MICH 41–10 4 MICH Chapman 5 yard run (kick failed) MICH 47–10

Oregon

1 2 3 4 Total Oregon 0 0 0 0 0 • Michigan 0 14 0 10 24 Date: October 6 Location: Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, Michigan

Scoring summary 2 Michigan Bob Thornbladh 2-yard run (Mike Lantry kick) Michigan 7-0 2 Michigan Paul Seal 4-yard pass from Larry Cipa (Mike Lantry kick) Michigan 14-0 4 Michigan Gil Chapman 83-yard punt return (Mike Lantry kick) Michigan 21-0 4 Michigan Mike Lantry 39-yard field goal Michigan 24-0

Larry Cipa made his first career start in place of the injured Dennis Franklin, who missed the game due to a broken index finger suffered in practice during the week.

Michigan State

1 2 3 4 Total • Michigan 10 7 0 14 31 Michigan St 0 0 0 0 0 Date: October 13 Location: Spartan Stadium

Scoring summary Q1 MICH Brown 52 yard punt return (Lantry kick) MICH 7–0 Q1 MICH Lantry 35 yard field goal MICH 10–0 Q2 MICH Chapman 53 yard run (Lantry kick) MICH 17–0 Q4 MICH Seal 6 yard pass from Franklin (Lantry kick) MICH 24–0 Q4 MICH Shuttlesworth 2 yard run (Lantry kick) MICH 31–0

Wisconsin

1 2 3 4 Total Wisconsin 0 0 0 6 6 • Michigan 7 14 7 7 35 Date: October 20 Location: Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, Michigan

Scoring summary 1 MICH Seal 46-yard pass from Franklin (Lantry kick) Michigan 7–0 2 MICH Chapman 3-yard run (Lantry kick) Michigan 14–0 2 MICH Franklin 1-yard run (Lantry kick) Michigan 21–0 3 MICH Heater 4-yard run (Lantry kick) Michigan 28–0 4 WIS Marek 65-yard pass from Bohlig (kick failed) Michigan 28–6 4 MICH Bell 7-yard run (Lantry kick) Michigan 35–6

Players

Offense

• James Armour, offensive guard, senior, Detroit, Michigan
• Harry Banks, tailback, senior, Cleveland, Ohio
• Gordon Bell, tailback, sophomore, Troy, Ohio
• Jim Bolden, tailback, freshman, Akron, Ohio
• Kevin Casey, quarterback, senior, Grand Rapids, Michigan
• Jon Cederberg, tailback, senior, Plymouth, Michigan
• Gil Chapman, wing back, junior, Elizabeth, New Jersey - started 3 games at tailback
• John A. Cherry, offensive tackle, senior, Willard, Ohio
• Larry Cipa, quarterback, senior, Cincinnati, Ohio - started 1 game at quarterback
• Jim Coode, offensive tackle, junior, Mayfield Heights, Ohio - started 9 games at right tackle
• James C. Czirr, center, sophomore, St. Joseph, Michigan - started 2 games at center
• Greg DenBoer, tight end, junior, Kentwood, Michigan
• Arthur W. Fediuk, tight end, senior, Livonia, Michigan
• Dennis Franklin, quarterback, junior, Massillon, Ohio - started 10 games at quarterback
• Dennis Franks, center, junior, Bethel Park, Pennsylvania - started 5 games at center
• Larry Gustafson, wing back, senior, Mays Landing, New Jersey
• Gary Hainrihar, offensive guard, senior, Cicero, Illinois - started 3 games at right guard, 2 games at left guard
• Clint Haslerig, wing back, senior, Cincinnati, Ohio - started all 11 games at wing back
• Chuck Heater, tailback, junior, Tiffin, Ohio - started 8 games at tailback
• Bill Hoban, offensive tackle, senior, Chicago, Illinois - started 7 games at left guard
• Mike Hoban, offensive guard, junior, Chicago, Illinois
• Thomas P. Jensen, center, junior, Springfield, Illinois - started 4 games at center
• Keith Johnson, split end, sophomore, Munster, Indiana
• Larry L. Johnson, defensive end, senior, Munster, Indiana - started all 11 games at split end
• R. Steven King, offensive tackle, junior, Tiffin, Ohio
• Mike Lantry, place-kicker, junior, Oxford, Michigan
• Kirk Lewis, offensive tackle, sophomore, Garden City, Michigan - started 2 games at right guard, 1 game at left guard
• Rob Lytle, tailback (JV), freshman, Fremont, Ohio
• David F. Metz, offensive guard, junior, Harrison, Ohio - started 6 games at right guard, 1 game at left guard
• Jeff Perlinger, offensive tackle, junior, Crystal, Minnesota - started 1 game at left defensive tackle
• George Przygodski, tight end, sophomore, Grand Rapids, Michigan
• Paul Seal, tight end, senior, Detroit, Michigan - started all 11 games at tight end
• Ed Shuttlesworth, fullback, senior, Cincinnati, Ohio - started all 11 games at fullback
• Tom Slade, quarterback, senior, Saginaw, Michigan
• Jim Smith, end, freshman, Blue Island, Illinois
• Ronald Szydlowski, wing back, senior, Wyandotte, Michigan
• John E. Thomas, center, senior, Detroit, Michigan
• Bob Thornbladh, fullback, senior, Plymouth, Michigan
• Curtis Tucker, offensive tackle, senior, Cleveland, Ohio - started all 11 games at left tackle
• Pat Tumpane, offensive tackle, junior, Midlothian, Illinois - started 2 games at right tackle

Defense

• Dave Brandon, defensive end, senior, Plymouth, Michigan
• Dave Brown, safety, junior, Akron, Ohio - started all 11 games at safety
• Roy W. Burks, defensive back, junior, Midland, Michigan
• Don Coleman, defensive end, senior, Daly City, Ohio - started all 11 games at right defensive end
• Tim Davis, middle guard, sophomore, Warren, Ohio - started 7 games at middle guard
• Michael J. Day, linebacker, senior, Livonia, Michigan
• Barry Dotzauer, defensive back, senior, Cincinnati, Ohio - started 10 games at weak-side defensive halfback
• Thomas E. Drake, defensive back, junior, Midland, Michigan - started 1 game at weak-side defensive halfback
• Don Dufek, wolfman, sophomore, East Grand Rapids, Michigan - started all 11 games at wolfman
• Donald R. Eaton, defensive end, senior, Lancaster, Ohio
• Dave Elliott, defensive back, junior, Coral Gables, Florida - started all 11 games at strong-side defensive halfback
• Dave Gallagher, defensive tackle, senior, Piqua, Ohio - started all 11 games at right defensive tackle
• Dan Jilek, defensive end, sophomore, Sterling Heights, Michigan
• Gregory Koss, safety, senior, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio
• James M. Lyall, defensive tackle, senior, North Olmstead, Ohio
• Calvin O'Neal, linebacker, sophomore, Saginaw, Michigan
• Carl Russ, linebacker, sophomore, Muskegon Heights, Michigan - started all 11 games at w. linebacker
• Geoffrey Steger, wolf, junior, Winnetka, Illinois
• Steve Strinko, linebacker, sophomore, Middletown, Ohio - started all 11 games at middle linebacker
• Douglas Troszak, defensive tackle, senior, Warren, Michigan - started 10 games at defensive left tackle
• Jovan Vercel, linebacker, senior, Highland, Indiana
• Donald R. Warner, middle guard, senior, Dearborn, Michigan - started 4 games at middle guard
• Walter Williamson, defensive end, senior, Detroit, Michigan - started all 11 games at left defensive end
• David Zuccarelli, wolf, senior, Chicago, Illinois

Awards and honors

• All-Americans: Dave Gallagher, Dave Brown
• All-Conference: Ed Shuttlesworth, Dave Brown, Mike Hoban, Clint Haslerig, Dave Gallagher, Dennis Franklin
• Most Valuable Player: Paul Seal
• Meyer Morton Award: Paul Seal
• John Maulbetsch Award: Don Dufek
• Frederick Matthei Award: Dave Brown
• Arthur Robinson Scholarship Award: Don Warner

Statistical leaders

Rushing

Player	Attempts	Net yards	Yards per attempt	Touchdowns	Long
Ed Shuttlesworth	193	745	3.9	9	15
Chuck Heater	114	666	5.8	6	71
Gil Chapman	111	542	4.9	6	53
Gordon Bell	88	475	5.3	4	24
Dennis Franklin	101	425	4.2	6	49

Passing

Player	Attempts	Completions	Interceptions	Comp %	Yards	Yds/Comp	TD	Long
Dennis Franklin	67	36	5	53.7	534	14.8	4	46
Larry Cipa	35	13	2	37.1	163	12.5	1	36

Receiving

Player	Receptions	Yards	Yds/Recp	TD	Long
Paul Seal	14	254	18.1	3	46
Clint Haslerig	13	210	16.1	1	41

Kickoff returns

Player	Returns	Yards	Yds/Return	TD	Long
Gil Chapman	6	133	22.2	0	28
Clint Haslerig	6	127	21.2	0	31
Chuck Heater	4	84	21.0	0	28

Punt returns

Player	Returns	Yards	Yds/Return	TD	Long
Gil Chapman	13	179	13.8	1	83
Tom Drake	9	139	15.4	0	54
David Brown	14	125	8.9	1	53

Tackles

Player	Tac	Ast	Tot	PBU	FR
Steve Strinko	77	31	108	1	2
Carl Russ	40	26	66	3	1
Dave Gallagher	37	22	59	9	1
David Brown	39	16	55	3	1
Don Dufek	38	17	55	5	1

Coaching staff

• Head coach: Bo Schembechler
• Assistant coaches: Dennis Brown, Tirrel Burton, Jerry Hanlon, Jack Harbaugh, Frank Maloney, George Mans, Gary Moeller, Chuck Stobart, Elliot Uzelac
• Trainer: Lindsy McLean
• Manager: James T. Bueter

External links

• 1973 Football Team -- Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan Athletics History