1977 Michigan Wolverines football team

v t e	Conf					Overall
1977 Big Ten football standings
Team	W		L		T	W		L		T
#9/8 Michigan §	7	–	1	–	0	10	–	2	–	0
#11/12 Ohio State §	7	–	1	–	0	9	–	3	–	0
Michigan State	6	–	1	–	1	7	–	3	–	1
Indiana	4	–	3	–	1	5	–	5	–	1
Minnesota	4	–	4	–	0	7	–	5	–	0
Purdue	3	–	5	–	0	5	–	6	–	0
Iowa	3	–	5	–	0	4	–	7	–	0
Wisconsin	3	–	6	–	0	5	–	6	–	0
Illinois	2	–	6	–	0	3	–	8	–	0
Northwestern	1	–	8	–	0	1	–	10	–	0

§ – Conference co-champions Rankings from AP Poll / Coaches' Poll

The 1977 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1977 college football season. The team's head coach was Bo Schembechler. The Wolverines played their home games at Michigan Stadium.

Schedule

Date	Opponent^#	Rank^#	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
September 10, 1977	at Illinois	#2/NA	Memorial Stadium • Champaign, Il		W 37–9	60,477
September 17, 1977	Duke*	#1/1	Michigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, MI		W 21–9	104,072
September 24, 1977	Navy*	#1/1	Michigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, MI		W 14–7	101,800
October 1, 1977	#5/5 Texas A&M*	#3/3	Michigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, MI		W 41–3	104,802
October 8, 1977	at Michigan State	#3/2	Spartan Stadium • East Lansing, MI		W 24–14	78,183
October 15, 1977	#14/15 Wisconsin	#1/1	Michigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, MI		W 56–0	104,892
October 22, 1977	at Minnesota	#1/1	Memorial Stadium • Minneapolis, MN		L 16–0	44,165
October 29, 1977	Iowa	#6/6	Michigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, MI		W 23–6	104,617
November 5, 1977	Northwestern	#6/6	Michigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, MI		W 63–20	103,211
November 12, 1977	at Purdue	#6/6	Ross–Ade Stadium • West Lafayette, IN		W 40–7	68,003
November 19, 1977	#4/4 Ohio State	#5/5	Michigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, MI		W 14–6	106,024
January 1, 1978	vs. #13/14 Washington*	#4/4	Rose Bowl • Pasadena, CA (Rose Bowl)	NBC	L 27–20	105,312
*Non-conference game. Homecoming. ^#Rankings from AP Poll / Coaches' Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time.

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Players

Offense

John Arbeznik, offensive guard, junior, University Heights, Ohio - started 1 game at right offensive guard
Greg Bartnick, offensive guard, junior, Detroit, Michigan - started 2 games at right offensive guard
Kurt Becker, offensive tackle, freshman, Aurora, Illinois
Roger Bettis, quarterback, senior, Minerva, Ohio
Jim Breaugh, quarterback, freshman, West Bloomfield, Michigan
Ralph Clayton, wing back, sophomore, Detroit, Michigan - started 8 games at wing back
Russell Davis, fullback, junior, Woodbridge, Virginia - started all 12 games at fullback
Brian J. Dickey, quarterback, freshman, Ottawa, Ohio
Gerald Diggs, tailback, sophomore, Chicago, Illinois
Mark Donahue, offensive guard, senior, Oak Lawn, Illinois - started all 12 games at left offensive guard
Walt Downing, center, senior, Coatesville, Pennsylvania - started all 12 games at center
Bill Dufek, offensive tackle, senior, East Grand Rapids, Michigan
Stanley Edwards,tailback, freshman, Detroit, Michigan
Jon Giesler, offensive tackle, junior, Woodville, Ohio - started 1 game at left offensive tackle, 1 game at right offensive tackle
Harlan Huckleby, tailback, junior, Detroit, Michigan - started all 12 games at tailback
Gene Johnson, tight end, junior, Flint, Michigan - started 9 games at tight end
Stacy Johnson, quarterback, junior, Camden, New Jersey
Dave Kadela, offensive tackle, junior, Dearborn, Michigan
Mike Kenn, offensive tackle, senior, Evanston, Illinois - started 11 games at left offensive tackle
Kevin King, fullback, senior, Oak Lawn, Illinois
Rick Leach, quarterback, junior, Flint, Michigan - started all 12 games at quarterback
George Lilja, center, sophomore, Palos Park, Illinois
Doug Marsh, tight end, junior, Akron, Ohio
Alan Mitchell, wide receiver, freshman, Detroit, Michigan
John J. Powers, offensive tackle, sophomore, Oak Park, Illinois - started 10 games at right offensive tackle
Lawrence P. Reid, fullback, sophomore, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Max Richardson, wing back, senior, Fort Wayne, Indiana - started 4 games at wing back
Mark Schmerge, tight end, junior, Cincinnati, Ohio - started 1 game at tight end
Mike Smith, tailback, senior, Kalamazoo, Michigan
Roosevelt Smith, tailback, sophomore, Detroit, Michigan
Curt Stephenson, wide receiver, senior, La Jolla, California
Gerry Szara, offensive guard, senior, Oak Lawn, Illinois - started 9 games at right offensive guard
John Wangler, quarterback, sophomore, Royal Oak, Michigan
Richard A. White, wide receive, senior, Cincinnati, Ohio - started all 12 games at wide receiver

Defense

John Anderson, defensive end, senior, Waukesha, Wisconsin - started all 12 games at outside linebacker
Gene Bell, wolf, sophomore, East Liverpool, Ohio
Mark Braman, defensive halfback, junior, Midland, Michigan
Woody Brown, safety, senior, East Detroit, Michigan
Andy Cannavino, inside linebacker, freshman, Cleveland, Ohio
Mark DeSantis, outside linebacker, junior, Harper Woods, Michigan
Chris Godfrey, defensive tackle, sophomore, Detroit, Michigan - started 5 games at defensive tackle
Steve Graves, middle guard, senior, Cleveland, Ohio - started all 12 games at middle guard
Curtis Greer, defensive tackle, junior, Detroit, Michigan - started 9 games at defensive tackle
Mike Harden, defensive halfback, sophomore, Detroit, Michigan - started 1 game at weak-side cornerback, 1 game at safety
Dave Harding, ILS, senior, Northville, Michigan
Dwight Hicks, wolf, senior, Pennsauken, New Jersey - started 11 games at wolfman
Robert K. Holloway, outside linebacker, junior, West Bloomfield, Michigan
Derek Howard, wolf, senior, Hamilton, Ohio - started all 12 games (10 at strong-side cornerback, 1 at wolfman, 1 at safety)
William Jackson, defensive tackle, junior, Richmond, Virginia - started 1 game at defensive tackle
Raymond J. Johnson, defensive halfback, senior, Gary, Indiana
Mike Jolly, defensive halfback, sophomore, Melvindale, Michigan - started 11 games at weak-side cornerback
Dave Keitz, defensive tackle, junior, Columbus, Ohio - started 9 games at defensive tackle
Thomas A. Melita, middle guard, junior, Penns Grove, New Jersey
Jerry Meter, inside linebacker, junior, Birmingham, Michigan - started all 12 games at inside linebacker
Mel Owens, inside linebacker, sophomore, DeKalb, Illinois - started 1 game at inside linebacker
Robert M. Patek, wolf, junior, Farmington Hills, Michigan
Jim Pickens, defensive halfback, senior, Sylvania, Ohio - started all 12 games (10 at safety, 2 at strong-side cornerback)
Tom Seabron, outside linebacker, junior, Detroit, Michigan
Ron Simpkins, inside linebacker, sophomore, Detroit, Michigan - started 11 games at inside linebacker
Dominic Tedesco, outside linebacker, senior, Riverside, Illinois - started all 12 games at outside linebacker
Mike Trgovac, middle guard, freshman, Austintown, Ohio

Kickers

Nick Labun, place-kicker, senior, Rockford, Illinois
Bryan Virgil, place-kicker, sophomore, Buchanan, Michigan
Greg Willner, place-kicker, junior, Miami Beach, Florida

Awards

All-Americans: Mark Donahue, John Anderson, Walt Downing
All-Conference: Mark Donahue, Walt Downing, Rick Leach, John Anderson, Mike Kenn, Dwight Hicks, Jim Pickens
Most Valuable Player: Russell Davis
Meyer Morton Award: John Anderson
Frederick Matthei Award: Jerry Meter
Arthur Robinson Scholarship Award: John Anderson
John Maulbetsch Award: Ron Simpkins

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Coaching staff

Head coach: Bo Schembechler
Assistant coaches: Dennis Brown - Defensive Ends, Tirrel Burton - Offensive Ends, Jerry Hanlon - Offensive Line, Jack Harbaugh - Defensive Backs, Bill McCartney - Defensive Coordinator, Don Nehlen - Offensive Backs, Tom Reed - Defensive Assistant, Paul Schudel - Offensive Interior Line
Trainer: Lindsy McLean
Manager: Donald G. Di Paolo

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Game notes

Texas A&M

Texas A&M at Michigan

	1	2	3	4	Total
Texas A&M	3	0	0	0	3
• Michigan	0	7	13	21	41

Date: October 1
Location: Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, MI
Game attendance: 104,802

Scoring summary

1	A&M	Tony Franklin 24 yard field goal	A&M 3-0

2	MICH	Russell Davis 4 yard run (Gregg Willner kick)	MICH 7-3

3	MICH	Russell Davis 1 yard run (run failed)	MICH 13-3

3	MICH	Curt Stephenson 35 yard pass from Rick Leach (Gregg Willner kick)	MICH 20-3

4	MICH	Harlan Huckleby 8 yard run (Gregg Willner kick)	MICH 27-3

4	MICH	Jim Pickens recovered blocked punt in end zone (Gregg Willner kick)	MICH 34-3

4	MICH	Mike Jolly 50 yard interception return (Gregg Willner kick)	MICH 41-3

This contest marked the 50th anniversary game of Michigan Stadium. ^[1]

Iowa

	1	2	3	4	Total
Iowa	0	0	0	6	6
• Michigan	7	7	7	2	23

Date: October 29
Location: Michigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, Michigan
Game attendance: 104,617

Scoring summary

1	MICH	R. Davis 63 yard pass from Leach (Willner kick)	Michigan 7-0

2	MICH	G. Johnson 6 yard pass from Leach (Willner kick)	Michigan 14-0

3	MICH	White 32 yard pass from Leach (Willner kick)	Michigan 21-0

4	IOWA	McLaughlin 1 yard run (run failed)	Michigan 21-6

4	MICH	Safety, McLaughlin tackled in end zone	Michigan 23-6

Rick Leach set the school career record for touchdown passes (25). ^[2]

Purdue

	1	2	3	4	Total
• Michigan	3	14	21	2	40
Purdue	7	0	0	0	7

Date: November 12
Location: Ross-Ade Stadium, West Lafayette, Indiana

Scoring summary

1	Purdue	Dave Young 6 yard pass from Mark Herrmann (Scott Sovereen kick)	Purdue 7-0

1	Michigan	Gregg Willner 28 yard field goal	Purdue 7-3

2	Michigan	Mark Schmerge 8 yard pass from Rick Leach (Gregg Willner kick)	Michigan 10-7

2	Michigan	Roosevelt Smith 2 yard run (Gregg Willner kick)	Michigan 17-7

3	Michigan	Russell Davis 2 yard run (Gregg Willner kick)	Michigan 24-7

3	Michigan	Dominic Tedesco 30 yard interception return (Gregg Willner kick)	Michigan 31-7

3	Michigan	Mark Schmerge 6 yard pass from Rick Leach (Gregg Willner kick)	Michigan 38-7

4	Michigan	Safety, Mark Herrmann tackled in end zone	Michigan 40-7

Bo Schembechler's 100th game at Michigan ^[3]

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References

^ "Michigan Routs 5th-Ranked A&M." Palm Beach Post. 1977 Oct 2.
^ "Wolverines turn to pass and Leach gets record." Eugene Register-Guard. 1977 Oct 30.
^ "Michigan gets revenge and ready, 40-7." Eugene Register-Guard. 1977 Nov 13.

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External links

1977 Football Team -- Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan Athletics History

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Last modified on 24 April 2013, at 03:32