1972 Michigan Wolverines football team

The 1972 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1972 college football season. The team's head coach was Bo Schembechler. The Wolverines played their home games at Michigan Stadium.

Preseason
Michigan was ranked 18th by Sports Illustrated heading into the 1972 season but there was little doubt in Ann Arbor that their recent success under Bo Schembechler would continue even with the loss of 13 starters to graduation.

At quarterback, Schembechler was expected to alternate three quarterbacks but favorite to win the job was Dennis Franklin and the position would be secure by the time the Wolverines had to play Purdue and Ohio State at year's end.

Gil Chapman had wowed coaches and alumni by scoring on a 60-yard pass play in the spring game as Schembechler was quoted as saying "He's the fastest player I've ever had at Michigan."

Ed Shuttlesworth, one of the few to return from the 1971 team, was predicted to build off what he had done the previous year with more playing time.

With Chapman, Shuttlesworth and others, Michigan would have more speed but the success would once again fall on two linemen, Fred Grambau on defense and Paul Seymour on offense. Schembechler was shifting Seymour from tight end but his replacement, Paul Seal, would ensure there would be no drop off in physicality at the position.

Offense

 * Harry Banks, tailback, junior, Cleveland, Ohio - started 4 games at tailback
 * Kevin Casey, quarterback, junior, Grand Rapids, Michigan
 * Gil Chapman, wing back, sophomore, Elizabeth, New Jersey - started 5 games at split end
 * Larry Cipa, quarterback, senior, Cincinnati, Ohio
 * Gary R. Coakley, split end, senior, Detroit, Michigan
 * Jim Coode, offensive tackle, junior, Mayfield Heights, Ohio - started all 12 games at left tackle
 * Thomas J. Coyle, offensive guard, senior, Chicago, Illinois - started all 12 games at right guard
 * John W. Daniels, split end, senior, Newark, Ohio - started 1 game at split end
 * Greg DenBoer, tight end, sophomore, Kentwood, Michigan
 * Dennis Franklin, quarterback, sophomore, Massillon, Ohio - started all 12 games at quarterback
 * Dennis Franks, center, sophomore, Bethel Park, Pennsylvania
 * Larry Gustafson, wing back, junior, Mays Landing, New Jersey
 * Gary Hainrihar, center, junior, Cicero, Illinois
 * William J. "Bill" Hart, center, senior, Rockford, Michigan - started all 12 games at center
 * Clint Haslerig, wing back, junior, Cincinnati, Ohio - started all 12 games at wing back
 * Chuck Heater, tailback, sophomore, Tiffin, Ohio - started 8 games at tailback
 * Mike Hoban, offensive guard, junior, Chicago, Illinois - started 11 games at left guard
 * Charles J. Kupec, tight end, sophomore, Oak Lawn, Illinois
 * Mike Lantry, place-kicker, sophomore, Oxford, Michigan
 * David F. Metz, offensive guard, sophomore, Harrison, Ohio
 * Thomas Poplawski, offensive tackle, senior, Warren, Michigan
 * Bo Rather, split end, senior, Sandusky, Ohio - started 6 games at split end
 * Gerald F. "Jerry" Schumacher, offensive guard, senior, Chicago, Illinois - started 1 game at left guard
 * Paul Seal, tight end, junior, Detroit, Michigan - started all 12 games at tight end
 * Paul Seymour, tight end, senior, Berkley, Michigan - started 11 games at right tackle
 * Ed Shuttlesworth, fullback, junior Cincinnati, Ohio - started 8 games at fullback
 * Tom Slade, quarterback, junior, Saginaw, Michigan
 * Bob Thornbladh, fullback, junior, Plymouth, Michigan - started 4 games at fullback
 * Curtis Tucker, offensive tackle, junior, Cleveland, Ohio

Defense

 * Dave Brandon, defensie end (JV), junior, Plymouth, Michigan
 * Dave Brown, safety, sophomore, Akron, Ohio - started all 12 games at safety
 * Roy W. Burks, defensive back, sophomore, Midland, Michigan - started all 12 games at strong-side defensive halfback
 * Donald A. Coleman, defensive end, junior, Daly City, Ohio - started 10 games at right defensive end
 * Barry Dotzauer, defensive back, junior, Cincinnati, Ohio - started 11 games at weak-side defensive halfback
 * Thomas E. Drake, defensive back, junior, Midland, Michigan - started 1 game at weak-side defensive halfback
 * Gregory A. Ellis, middle guard, senior, Connersville, Indiana
 * Dave Gallagher, defensive tackle, junior, Piqua, Ohio - started all 12 games at right defensive tackle
 * Fred Grambau, defensive tackle, senior, Ossineke, Michigan - started 11 games at left defensive tackle
 * Linwood Harden, defensive back, sophomore, Detroit, Michigan
 * Bill Hoban, defensive end, sophomore, Chicago, Illinois
 * Larry L. Johnson, defensive end, junior, Munster, Indiana - started one game at right defensive end
 * James D. Johnston, wolf, junior, Dallas, Texas
 * Thomas G. Kee, linebacker, senior, Wheaton, Illinois - started all 12 games at outside linebacker
 * Gregory Koss, safety, junior, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio
 * Randy Logan, wolf, senior, Detroit, Michigan - started all 12 games at wolfman
 * Craig A. Mutch, linebacker, junior, Detroit, Michigan - started 11 games at middle linebacker
 * John A. Pighee, safety, senior, Cleveland Ohio
 * Carl Russ, linebacker, sophomore, Muskegon Heights, Michigan
 * Walter E. Sexton, middle guard, junior, Massapequa, New York - started 1 games at right offensive tackle
 * Tony L. Smith, defensive tackle, senior, Detroit, Michigan - started 1 game at left defensive tackle
 * Clinton Spearman, defensive end, senior, Hamilton, Ohio - started 11 games at left defensive end
 * Geoffrey Steger, wolf, junior, Winnetka, Illinois
 * Steve Strinko, linebacker, sophomore, Middletown, Ohio - started 1 game at middle linebacker
 * Douglas Troszak, defensive tackle, junior, Warren, Michigan
 * Walter Williamson, defensive end, junior, Detroit, Michigan started 1 game at left defensive end, 1 game at right defensive end
 * David Zuccarelli, wolf, senior, Chicago, Illinois

Awards and honors

 * All-Americans: Randy Logan, Paul Seymour
 * All-Big Ten: Paul Seymour, Tom Coyle, Clint Spearman, Fred Grambau, Randy Logan, Ed Shuttlesworth, Dave Brown
 * Most Valuable Player: Randy Logan
 * Meyer Morton Award: Randy Logan
 * John Maulbetsch Award: Dennis Franklin
 * Frederick Matthei Award: Tom Drake
 * Arthur Robinson Scholarship Award: Dave Zucarelli

Coaching staff

 * Head coach: Bo Schembechler
 * Assistant coaches: Jim Young (defensive coordinator), Dennis Brown, Tirrel Burton, Jerry Hanlon, Frank Maloney, George Mans, Gary Moeller, Larry Smith, Chuck Stobart
 * Trainer: Lindsy McLean
 * Manager: David Fish

Game 4: Navy
CB Roy Burks recovered WR Ike Owens fumble on the second half kickoff. Six plays later, Dennis Franklin found Bo Rather for a nine-yard touchdown pass.