The 1979 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1979 NCAA Division I-A football season. The team's head coach was Bo Schembechler. The Wolverines played their home games at Michigan Stadium.
Schedule
| Date |
Time |
Opponent# |
Rank# |
Site |
TV |
Result |
Attendance |
| September 8, 1979 |
|
Northwestern |
#7/NA |
Michigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, MI |
|
W 49–7 |
100,790 |
| September 15, 1979 |
|
#9/11 Notre Dame* |
#6/5 |
Michigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, MI |
|
L 10–12 |
105,111 |
| September 22, 1979 |
|
Kansas* |
#11/12 |
Michigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, MI |
|
W 28–7 |
103,698 |
| September 29, 1979 |
|
at California* |
#11/13 |
California Memorial Stadium • Berkeley, CA |
|
W 14–10 |
57,000 |
| October 6, 1979 |
|
at #16/18 Michigan State |
#11/12 |
Spartan Stadium • East Lansing, MI |
ABC |
W 21–7 |
79,311 |
| October 13, 1979 |
|
Minnesota |
#11/11 |
Michigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, MI |
|
W 31–21 |
104,677 |
| October 20, 1979 |
|
at Illinois |
#11/11 |
Memorial Stadium • Champaign, Il |
|
W 27–7 |
43,370 |
| October 27, 1979 |
|
Indiana |
#10/10 |
Michigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, MI |
|
W 27–21 |
104,832 |
| November 3, 1979 |
|
Wisconsin |
#10/10 |
Michigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, MI |
|
W 54–0 |
104,952 |
| November 10, 1979 |
|
at #14/15 Purdue |
#10/10 |
Ross–Ade Stadium • West Lafayette, IN |
|
L 21–24 |
69,829 |
| November 17, 1979 |
|
#2/3 Ohio State |
#13/13 |
Michigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, MI |
ABC |
L 15–18 |
106,255 |
| December 28, 1979 |
|
vs. North Carolina* |
#14/14 |
Gator Bowl Stadium • Jacksonville, FL (Gator Bowl) |
ABC |
L 15–17 |
70,407 |
| *Non-conference game. Homecoming. #Rankings from AP Poll / Coaches' Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time. |
Game notes
Northwestern
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
| Northwestern |
0 |
0 |
0 |
7 |
7 |
| • Michigan |
21 |
14 |
14 |
0 |
49 |
|
|
| Scoring summary |
|
| Q1 |
|
MICH |
Dickey 2 yard run (Virgil kick) |
MICH 7–0 |
|
| Q1 |
|
MICH |
Betts 9 yard pass from Dickey (Virgil kick) |
MICH 14–0 |
|
| Q1 |
|
MICH |
Carter 78 yard punt return (Virgil kick) |
MICH 21–0 |
|
| Q2 |
|
MICH |
Dickey 35 yard run (Virgil kick) |
MICH 28–0 |
|
| Q2 |
|
MICH |
Woolfolk 1 yard run (Virgil kick) |
MICH 35–0 |
|
| Q3 |
|
MICH |
Woolfolk 3 yard run (Virgil kick) |
MICH 42–0 |
|
| Q3 |
|
MICH |
Carter 12 yard pass from Wangler (Virgil kick) |
MICH 49–0 |
|
| Q4 |
|
NW |
Mishler 1 yard run (Poulos kick) |
MICH 49–7 |
|
[1]
Michigan State
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
| • Michigan |
7 |
0 |
7 |
7 |
21 |
| Michigan St |
0 |
0 |
7 |
0 |
7 |
|
|
| Scoring summary |
|
| 1 |
|
Michigan |
Woofolk 2-yard run (Virgil kick) |
Michigan 7-0 |
|
| 1 |
|
Michigan St |
Hughes 6-yard run (Andersen kick) |
Tie 7-7 |
|
| 3 |
|
Michigan |
Clayton 66-yard pass from Dickey (Virgil kick) |
Michigan 14-7 |
|
| 4 |
|
Michigan |
Carter 6-yard pass from Dickey (Virgil kick) |
Michigan 21-7 |
|
[2]
Indiana
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
| Indiana |
0 |
14 |
0 |
7 |
21 |
| • Michigan |
7 |
0 |
14 |
6 |
27 |
|
|
| Scoring summary |
|
| 1 |
|
MICH |
Lawrence Reid 3-yard run (Virgil kick) |
MICH 7-0 |
|
| 2 |
|
IND |
Dave Harangody 3-yard pass from Tim Clifford (Kellogg kick) |
Tied 7-7 |
|
| 2 |
|
IND |
Lonnie Johnson 14-yard run (Kellogg kick) |
IND 14-7 |
|
| 3 |
|
MICH |
Lawrence Reid 50-yard run (Virgil kick) |
Tied 14-14 |
|
| 3 |
|
MICH |
Butch Woolfolk 2-yard run (Virgil kick) |
MICH 21-14 |
|
| 4 |
0:55
|
IND |
Dave Harangody 3-yard pass from Tim Clifford (Kellogg kick) |
Tied 21-21 |
|
| 4 |
0:00
|
MICH |
Anthony Carter 45-yard pass from John Wangler |
MICH 27-21 |
|
[3]
Players
Offense
- John Arbeznik, offensive guard, senior, University Heights, Ohio - started all 12 games at left offensive guard
- Kurt Becker, offensive guard, junior, Aurora, Illinois - started all 12 games at right offensive guard
- Norm Betts, tight end, sophomore, Midland, Michigan
- Keith Bostic, running back, freshman, Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Mike Cade, running back, freshman, Elroy, Arizona
- Anthony Carter, wide receiver, freshman, Riviera Beach, Florida - started 2 games at wide receiver
- Chuck Christian, tight end, junior, Detroit, Michigan
- Ralph Clayton, wing back, senior, Detroit, Michigan - started all 12 games at wing back
- Brian J. Dickey, quarterback, junior, Ottawa, Ohio - started 7 games at quarterback
- Craig Dunaway, tight end, freshman, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Stanley Edwards, tailback, junior, Detroit, Michigan - started 7 games at tailback
- Rodney Feaster, wide receiver, junior, Flint, Michigan
- Jeff Felten, center, sophomore, Centerville, Michigan
- Tim Garrity, center, sophomore, Grafton, Wisconsin
- Rich Hewlett, quarterback, freshman, Plymouth, Michigan - started 1 game at quarterback
- Jerald Ingram, fullback, freshman, Beaver, Pennsylvania
- Tony Jackson, wing back, sophomore, Cleveland, Ohio
- Mike Leoni, offensive tackle, senior, Flint, Michigan - started 4 games at left offensive tackle
- Tony Leoni, tailback, senior, Flint, Michigan
- George Lilja, center, senior, Palos Park, Illinois - started all 12 games at center
- Doug Marsh, tight end, senior, Akron, Ohio
- Alan Mitchell, wide receiver, junior, Detroit, Michigan - started 10 games at wide receiver
- Ed Muransky, offensive tackle, sophomore, Youngstown, Ohio - started all 12 games at right offensive tackle
- Jim Paciorek, tight end, sophomore, Orchard Lake, Michigan
- Bubba Paris, offensive tackle, sophomore, Louisville, Kentucky - started 8 games at left offensive tackle
- Gary Quinn, offensive guard, senior, Quincy, Massachusetts
- Lawrence P. Reid, fullback, senior, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - started 10 games at fullback
- Lawrence Ricks, tailback, freshman, Barberton, Ohio
- Roosevelt Smith, tailback, senior, Detroit, Michigan - started 2 games at fullback
- Rich Strenger, offensive tackle, sophomore, Grafton, Wisconsin
- John Wangler, quarterback, senior, Royal Oak, Michigan - started 4 games at quarterback
- Butch Woolfolk, tailback, sophomore, Westfield, New Jersey - started 5 games at tailback
Defense
- Marion Body, defensive back, sophomore, Detroit, Michigan
- Mark Braman, defensive back, senior, Midland, Michigan - started all 12 games at strong-side cornerback
- Andy Cannavino, inside linebacker, junior, Cleveland, Ohio - started all 12 games at inside linebacker
- Brian Carpenter, defensive back, sophomore, Flint, Michigan
- Winfred Carraway, linebacker, freshman, Detroit, Michigan
- Cedric Coles, defensive tackle, sophomore, Detroit, Michigan
- Gerald Diggs, defensive back, senior, Chicago, Illinois
- Paul Girgash, linebacker, freshman, Lakewood, Ohio
- Chris Godfrey, defensive tackle, senior, Lathrup Village, Michigan
- Curtis Greer, defensive tackle, senior, Detroit, Michigan - started all 12 games at defensive tackle
- Mike Harden, defensive back, senior, Detroit, Michigan - started all 12 games at safety
- Stuart Harris, defensive back, junior, Chagrin Falls, Ohio - started 9 games at wolfman
- Irvin Johnson, inside linebacker, senior, Warren, Ohio
- Mike Jolly, defensive back, senior, Melvindale, Michigan - started all 12 games at weak-side cornerback
- Dale Keitz, defensive tackle, senior, Columbus, Ohio - started 1 game at middle guard
- Tom Keller, outside linebacker, senior, Grand Rapids, Michigan
- Mike Lemirande, outside linebacker, sophomore, Grafton, Wisconsin
- Thomas E. Moss, middle guard, senior, Detroit, Michigan
- Ben Needham, outside linebacker, junior, Groveport, Ohio - started 11 games at outside linebacker
- Dave Nicolau, defensive tackle, junior, Elk Grove Village, Illinois
- Mel Owens, outside linebacker, senior, DeKalb, Illinois - started all 12 games at outside linebacker
- David Payne, inside linebacker, senior, Detroit, Michigan
- Jeff Reeves, defensive back, sophomore, Columbus, Ohio - started 3 games at wolfman
- Ron Simpkins, inside linebacker, senior, Detroit, Michigan - started all 12 games at inside linebacker
- Robert Thompson, outside linebacker, sophomore, Blue Island, Illinois - started 1 game at outside linebacker
- Mike Trgovac, middle guard, junior, Austintown, Ohio - started 11 games at middle guard
- Gary Weber, defensive tackle, senior, Matawan, New Jersey
Kickers
Awards
- All-Americans: Curtis Greer, Ron Simpkins
- All-Conference: John Arbeznik, Curtis Greer, Ron Simpkins, Mike Jolly, Mike Trgovac, Butch Woolfolk
- Most Valuable Player: Ron Simpkins
- Meyer Morton Award: Curtis Greer
- John Maulbetsch Award: Tony Jackson
- Frederick Matthei Award: Mike Trgovac
- Arthur Robinson Scholarship Award: Dan Murray
Twenty-five (25) members of the 1979 Michigan football team went on to play professional football. They are:
- Kurt Becker (Chicago Bears, 1982–88, 1990, Los Angeles Rams, 1989)
- Marion Body (Michigan Panthers, 1983)
- Keith Bostic (Houston Oilers, 1983–88, Cleveland Browns, 1990)
- Andy Cannavino (Michigan Panthers, 1983, Chicago Blitz, 1984)
- Brian Carpenter (New York Giants, 1982, Washington Redskins, 1983-84, Buffalo Bills, 1984)
- Anthony Carter (Michigan Panthers, 1983–84, Oakland Invaders, 1985, Minnesota Vikings, 1985–93, Detroit Lions, 1994-95)
- Ralph Clayton (St. Louis Cardinals, 1981)
- Craig Dunaway (Pittsburgh Steelers, 1983)
- Stanley Edwards (Houston Oilers, 1982–86, Detroit Lions, 1987)
- Paul Girgash (Michigan Panthers, 1984)
- Chris Godfrey (New York Jets, 1980, New York Giants, 1984-87, Seattle Seahawks, 1988)
- Curtis Greer (St. Louis Cardinals, 1980–87)
- Ali Haji-Sheikh (New York Giants, 1983–85, Atlanta Falcons, 1986, Washington Redskins, 1987)
- Mike Harden (Denver Broncos, 1980–88, Los Angeles Raiders, 1989–90)
- Mike Jolly (Green Bay Packers, 1980–83)
- George Lilja (Los Angeles Rams, 1982, New York Jets, 1983–84, Cleveland Browns, 1984–86, Dallas Cowboys, 1987)
- Doug Marsh (St. Louis Cardinals, 1980–86)
- Ed Muransky (Los Angeles Raiders, 1982–84, Orlando Renegades, 1985)
- Mel Owens (Los Angeles Rams, 1981–89)
- Bubba Paris (San Francisco 49ers, 1983–90, Indianapolis Colts, 1991, Detroit Lions 1991)
- Lawrence Ricks (Kansas City Chiefs, 1983–84)
- Ron Simpkins (Cincinnati Bengals, 1980–86, Green Bay Packers, 1988)
- Rich Strenger (Detroit Lions, 1983–87)
- Robert Thompson (Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 1983–84, Detroit Lions, 1987)
- Butch Woolfolk (New York Giants, 1982–84, Houston Oilers, 1985-86, Detroit Lions, 1987–88)
Coaching staff
References
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External links
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| Venues |
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| Bowls & rivalries |
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| Culture & lore |
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| People |
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| Seasons |
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National championship seasons in bold
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- ↑ Palm Beach Post. 1979 Sept 9.
- ↑ "Michigan Tops Spartans as Carter Scores TD." Palm Beach Post. 1979 Oct 7.
- ↑ "Carter's Last-Second Touchdown Catch Lifts Wolverines." Palm Beach Post. 1979 Oct 27.
