1924 Michigan Wolverines football team

1924 Michigan Wolverines football
Conference Big Ten Conference
1924 record 6–2 (4–2 Big Ten)
Head coach George Little (1st year)
Captain Herb Steger
Home stadium Ferry Field
Seasons
« 1923 1925 »
1924 Big Ten football standings
Conf     Overall
Team W   L   T     W   L   T
Chicago 3 0 3     4 1 3
Illinois 3 1 1     6 1 1
Iowa 3 1 1     6 1 1
Michigan 4 2 0     6 2 0
Purdue 2 2 0     5 2 0
Minnesota 1 2 1     3 3 2
Ohio State 1 3 2     2 3 3
Indiana 1 3 0     4 4 0
Northwestern 1 3 0     4 4 0
Wisconsin 0 2 2     2 3 3
† – Conference champion

The 1924 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1924 college football season. The team's head coach was George Little. The Wolverines played their home games at Ferry Field. In eight games during the 1924 season, the Wolverines before 340,000 spectators, reported to be "possibly a 1924 attendance record equaled by only Yale."[1]

Schedule

Date Time Opponent Site Result Attendance
October 4, 1924 Miami (OH)* Ferry FieldAnn Arbor, MI W 55–0   14,000
October 11, 1924 at Michigan Agricultural* College FieldEast Lansing, MI W 7–0   22,000
October 18, 1924 at Illinois Memorial StadiumChampaign, IL L 39–14   66,609
October 25, 1924 Wisconsin Ferry Field • Ann Arbor, MI W 21–0   44,000
November 1, 1924 at Minnesota Memorial StadiumMinneapolis, MN W 13–0   50,000
November 8, 1924 Northwestern Ferry Field • Ann Arbor, MI W 27–0   30,000
November 15, 1924 at Ohio State Ohio StadiumColumbus, OH W 16–6   70,000
November 22, 1924 Iowadagger Ferry Field • Ann Arbor, MI L 9–2   47,000
*Non-conference game. daggerHomecoming. All times are in Eastern Time.
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Season summary

Miami (Ohio)

at Michigan Agricultural

Michigan at Michigan Agricultural
1 2 3 4 Total
Michigan 0 0 0 7 7
Michigan Agricultural 0 0 0 0 0

In the second game of the 1924 season, Michigan travelled to East Lansing to face the "Farmers" of Michigan Agricultural College. The game remained scoreless through the first three quarters. Michigan scored on a pass from halfback Frederick Parker to end Herb Steger to win the game by a 7-0 score. The 1925 Michiganensian described the play as follows: "In the last few minutes of play, Parker threw one of the long sensational passes that characterized the Wolverine's attack throughout the entire season, to Captain Steger who caught it and ran for a touchdown."[2] According to The New York Times, Michigan center Robert J. Brown "was credited with an outstanding performance in the line."[3]

at Illinois

Michigan at Illinois
1 2 3 4 Total
Michigan 0 7 0 7 14
Illinois 27 0 6 6 39

Michigan sustained its first loss of the season on October 18, 1924, losing to Illinois by a score of 39-14. Red Grange gained national notoriety for his performance in the game. Grange returned the opening kick-off 95 yards for a touchdown and scored four touchdowns in the first quarter to give Illinois a 27-0 lead. Grange scored five touchdowns in the game and gained 402 yards. The New York Times reported: "Unbiased experts agree that his performance was among the greatest ever seen on an American gridiron."[4]Herb Steger ran for a Michigan touchdown in the second quarter. Tod Rockwell scored Michigan's final touchdown in the fourth quarter. Rockwell also kicked both of Michigan's extra points.[4]

Michigan's lineup against Illinois was Dutch Marion (left end), George Babcock (left tackle), Edliff Slaughter (left guard), Robert J. Brown (center), Harold Steele (right guard), Harry Hawkins (right tackle), Charles Grube (right end), Tod Rockwell (quarterback), Herb Steger (left halfback), Frederick Parker (right halfback), and James Miller (fullback).

Wisconsin

Wisconsin at Michigan
1 2 3 4 Total
Wisconsin 0 0 0 0 0
Michigan 0 7 7 7 21

Following a defeat against Illinois, the Wolverines returned to Ann Arbor to play Wisconsin at Ferry Field. Michigan won the game by a score of 21-0. According to the 1925 Michiganensian, the team was "completely reorganized" after the loss to the Illini, with Herb Steger moving to quarterback, Ferdinand Rockwell to left halfback, James Miller to end, and "Dutch" Marion to fullback.[5] The Michiganensian made particular note of newcomer Benny Friedman, starting at right halfback: "Michigan's running and passing game was at its best with Friedman, a new man doing the hurling and Captain Steger the receiving. A long pass from Friedman to Steger put the ball on the two-yard line."[5]The New York Times also took note of Friedman's debut, noting that Michigan had found "a new and dazzling gridiron meteor" in his first game as a regular.[6] Friedman was responsible for all three Michigan touchdowns. In the second quarter, Friedman completed a "perfect pass spiraling" to Herb Steger for a 35-yard gain and Michigan's first points. In the third quarter, Friedman broke through Wisconsin's left tackle and ran 26 yards for at touchdown. In the fourth quarter Friedman threw a 29-yard pass to Charles Grube who was tackled at the seven-yard-line. Fullback Dutch Marion then ran for the touchdown. Tod Rockwell converted all three extra point kicks for Michigan.[6]

Michigan's starting lineup against Wisconsin was Miller (left end), Tom Edwards (left tackle), Edliff Slaughter (left guard), Robert J. Brown (center), Harry Hawkins (right guard), George Babcock (right tackle), William Flora (right end), Herb Steger (quarteback), Tod Rockwell (left halfback), Benny Friedman (right halfback), and Dutch Marion (fullback).[6]

at Minnesota

Michigan at Minnesota
1 2 3 4 Total
Michigan 6 7 0 0 13
Minnesota 0 0 0 0 0
  • Date: November 1, 1924
  • Location: Memorial Stadium • Minneapolis, MN
  • Game attendance: 45,000
  • Referee: Masker (Northwestern)

For its fifth game, Michigan travelled to Minneapolis to face the Minnesota Golden Gophers in the first Big Ten Conference game played in the new horseshoe-shaped Memorial Stadium. Michigan recovered a fumble in Minnesota territory, and William Herrnstein caught a 30-yard touchdown pass to give Michigan a 6-0 lead. In the second quarter, Michigan scored again, as Ferdinand Rockwell ran around the end for a touchdown on a faked field goal attempt. Rockwell also kicked the extra point, and Michigan won the game, 13-0.[7][8]

Michigan's starting lineup against Minnesota was James Miller (left end), Tom Edwards (left tackle), Edliff Slaughter (left guard), Robert J. Brown (center), Harold Steele (right guard), George Babcock (right tackle), William Flora (right end), Tod Rockwell (quarterback), William Herrnstein (left halfback), Benny Friedman (right halfback), and Dutch Marion (fullback).[8]

Northwestern

Northwestern at Michigan
1 2 3 4 Total
Northwestern 0 0 0 0 0
Michigan 6 14 7 0 27

Michigan defeated Northwestern, 27-0, at Ferry Field on November 8, 1924. Benny Friedman threw three touchdown passes, and Ferdinand Rockwell scored three touchdowns and kicked three extra points. Michigan's first touchdown was scored by Rockwell on a 25-yard run off right tackle. Another touchdown was set up when Friedman intercepted a Northwestern pass and returned it 13 yards. On the next play, Friedman threw a touchdown pass to Dutch Marion. Also in the second quarter, Friedman threw a touchdown pass to Rockwell.[9]

Michigan's starting lineup against Northwestern was James Miller (left end), Tom Edwards (left tackle), Edliff Slaughter (left guard), Robert J. Brown (center), Harold Steele (right guard), Walter Kunow (right tackle), William Flora (right end), Tod Rockwell (quarterback), William Herrnstein (left halfback), Benny Friedman (right halfback), and Dutch Marion (fullback).[10]

at Ohio State

Iowa

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Players

Varsity letter winners

aMa letter winners

  • Merle C. Baker,[11] Kalamazoo, MI - back
  • William D. Coventry,[11] Duluth, Minnesota - center
  • Russell W. Davis, Flint,[11] MI - back
  • Harlan Froemke,[11] Sheldon, North Dakota - back
  • William H. Heath,[11] Corning, New York - back
  • Elmer E. Langguth,[11] Cleveland, Ohio - line
  • John H. Lovette,[11] Saginaw, MI - back
  • Kent C. McIntyre,[11] Detroit, MI - center
  • Paul C. Samson,[11] Ypsilanti, MI - tackle
  • William E. Ullman,[11] Elmhurst, Illinois - end
  • John H. Witherspoon,[11] Detroit, MI - ?

Others

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Awards and honors

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Coaching staff

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References

  1. ^ "Attendance Big at Michigan". The Christian Science Monitor. November 28, 1924. p. 12. 
  2. ^ 1925 Michiganensian, Michigan 7 - Michigan Agricultural College 0, page 201.
  3. ^ "Conference Teams Displayed Power: A Real Big Ten, With Each Eleven Showing Strength, Featured Saturday's Games". The New York Times. October 13, 1924. 
  4. ^ a b "67,000 See Illinois Beat Michigan, 39 to 14: Red Grange Makes Five of Six Touchdowns Registered by Victors at Urbana". The New York Times.  Unknown parameter |Date= ignored (|date= suggested) (help)
  5. ^ a b 1925 Michiganensian, Michigan 21 - Wisconsin 0, page 204.
  6. ^ a b c "Michigan Defeats Wisconsin, 21 to 0: Friedman's Passing and Running Lead to Three Touchdowns by Wolverines; 45,000 Witness Contest". The New York Times. October 26, 1924. 
  7. ^ "Michigan Victor Over Minnesota: 45,000 See Wolverines Triumph at Homecoming Game in Minneapolis Stadium, 13-0". The New York Times. November 2, 1924. 
  8. ^ a b "Minnesota Falls Before Michigan: Wolverines Lend Discordant Note to Gopher Homecoming by 13 to 0 Defeat". Ludington Daily News (AP story). November 2, 1924. 
  9. ^ "Michigan Crew Has Easy Time in Home Battle: Northwestern Falls to 27-0 Score - Rockwell Scores Three Touchdowns". Youngstown Vindicator (AP story). November 9, 1924. p. 4C. 
  10. ^ "Northwestern Is Easy for Michigan". Ludington Daily News. November 9, 1924. 
  11. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag 1925 Michiganensian, 1924 Varsity Football Team, page 198.
  12. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u "1924 Football Team". University of Michigan, Bentley Historical Library. 
  13. ^ Victor Ernsthausen Domhoff, born c. 1905, died December 21, 1947.
  14. ^ 1925 Michiganensian, In Memoriam Edgar Madsen, page 197.
  15. ^ "Walter Camp Slights Big Three In Naming All-America Eleven: Football Expert Neglects To Name Princeton, Harvard or Yale Man on His First Team". Appleton Post-Crescent. 1924-12-30. 
  16. ^ Norman E. Brown (1924-12-08). "Brown Picks All-American Team for the Journal". Hamilton Evening Journal. 
  17. ^ Lawrence Perry (1923-12-14). "Lawrence Perry's All-American Teams Announced". Oakland Tribune. 
  18. ^ "Evans Names Hancock On Second All-American". Iowa City Press-Citizen. 1924-12-11. 
  19. ^ 1925 Michiganensian, Edliff R. Slaughter, Michigan's Thirteenth All-American, page 196.
  20. ^ a b c d e f 1925 Michiganensian, coaching staff biographies, pages 192-193.
  21. ^ 1925 Michiganensian, Freshman Football, page 210.
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Last modified on 20 May 2013, at 05:18