1979 Michigan Wolverines football team

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.

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

 * Ali Haji-Sheikh, place-kicker, freshman, Arlington, Texas
 * Bryan Virgil, place-kicker, senior, Buchanan, Michigan

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

Professional football
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), and Butch Woolfolk (New York Giants, 1982–84, Houston Oilers, 1985-86, Detroit Lions, 1987–88).

Coaching staff

 * Head coach: Bo Schembechler
 * Assistant coaches: Dennis Brown, Tirrel Burton, Jerry Hanlon, Jack Harbaugh, Bill McCartney, Don Nehlen, Paul Schudel, Milan Vooletich
 * Trainer: Russ Miller
 * Manager: Thomas J. Anderson