1973 Michigan Wolverines football team

The 1973 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1973 college football season. In his fifth year as Michigan's head coach, Bo Schembechler led the team to a 10–0–1 record. It was Michigan's first undefeated season since 1948. The Wolverines outscored their opponents 330 to 68. Michigan was ranked #6 in both post-season polls.

The season ended with a 10-10 tie against Ohio State. Both teams entered undefeated, with the winner guaranteed a trip to the Rose Bowl. When the game ended in a tie, the Big Ten athletic directors votedin a secret ballot to send Ohio State to the Rose Bowl. Michigan athletic officials and fans were outraged, and Schembechler argued that Michigan was robbed of its on-field achievements. For months afterward, Ohio State newspapers were flooded with angry Wolverine letters and threats of lawsuits.

On offense, the team was led by quarterback Dennis Franklin who completed 36 of 67 passes for 534 yards and rushed 101 times for 425 yards. Four Michigan running backs, Ed Shuttlesworth, Chuck Heater, Gil Chapman, and Gordon Bell, combined for 2,417 rushing yards. Shuttlesworth, Franklin, wing back Clint Haserlig, and offensive guard Bill Hoban were all selected as All-Big Ten Conference players.

On defense, the Wolverines held opponents to 68 points, an average of 6.2 points per game. Defensive tackle Dave Gallagher and cornerback Dave Brown were both selected as first-team All-Americans. Middle linebacker Steve Strinko led the team with 77 total tackles and 108 total tackles.

Oregon
Larry Cipa made his first career start in place of the injured Dennis Franklin, who missed the game due to a broken index finger suffered in practice during the week.

Offense

 * James Armour, offensive guard, senior, Detroit, Michigan
 * Harry Banks, tailback, senior, Cleveland, Ohio
 * Gordon Bell, tailback, sophomore, Troy, Ohio
 * Jim Bolden, tailback, freshman, Akron, Ohio
 * Kevin Casey, quarterback, senior, Grand Rapids, Michigan
 * Jon Cederberg, tailback, senior, Plymouth, Michigan
 * Gil Chapman, wing back, junior, Elizabeth, New Jersey - started 3 games at tailback
 * John A. Cherry, offensive tackle, senior, Willard, Ohio
 * Larry Cipa, quarterback, senior, Cincinnati, Ohio - started 1 game at quarterback
 * Jim Coode, offensive tackle, junior, Mayfield Heights, Ohio - started 9 games at right tackle
 * James C. Czirr, center, sophomore, St. Joseph, Michigan - started 2 games at center
 * Greg DenBoer, tight end, junior, Kentwood, Michigan
 * Arthur W. Fediuk, tight end, senior, Livonia, Michigan
 * Dennis Franklin, quarterback, junior, Massillon, Ohio - started 10 games at quarterback
 * Dennis Franks, center, junior, Bethel Park, Pennsylvania - started 5 games at center
 * Larry Gustafson, wing back, senior, Mays Landing, New Jersey
 * Gary Hainrihar, offensive guard, senior, Cicero, Illinois - started 3 games at right guard, 2 games at left guard
 * Clint Haslerig, wing back, senior, Cincinnati, Ohio - started all 11 games at wing back
 * Chuck Heater, tailback, junior, Tiffin, Ohio - started 8 games at tailback
 * Bill Hoban, offensive tackle, senior, Chicago, Illinois - started 7 games at left guard
 * Mike Hoban, offensive guard, junior, Chicago, Illinois
 * Thomas P. Jensen, center, junior, Springfield, Illinois - started 4 games at center
 * Keith Johnson, split end, sophomore, Munster, Indiana
 * Larry L. Johnson, defensive end, senior, Munster, Indiana - started all 11 games at split end
 * R. Steven King, offensive tackle, junior, Tiffin, Ohio
 * Mike Lantry, place-kicker, junior, Oxford, Michigan
 * Kirk Lewis, offensive tackle, sophomore, Garden City, Michigan - started 2 games at right guard, 1 game at left guard
 * Rob Lytle, tailback (JV), freshman, Fremont, Ohio
 * David F. Metz, offensive guard, junior, Harrison, Ohio - started 6 games at right guard, 1 game at left guard
 * Jeff Perlinger, offensive tackle, junior, Crystal, Minnesota - started 1 game at left defensive tackle
 * George Przygodski, tight end, sophomore, Grand Rapids, Michigan
 * Paul Seal, tight end, senior, Detroit, Michigan - started all 11 games at tight end
 * Ed Shuttlesworth, fullback, senior, Cincinnati, Ohio - started all 11 games at fullback
 * Tom Slade, quarterback, senior, Saginaw, Michigan
 * Jim Smith, end, freshman, Blue Island, Illinois
 * Ronald Szydlowski, wing back, senior, Wyandotte, Michigan
 * John E. Thomas, center, senior, Detroit, Michigan
 * Bob Thornbladh, fullback, senior, Plymouth, Michigan
 * Curtis Tucker, offensive tackle, senior, Cleveland, Ohio - started all 11 games at left tackle
 * Pat Tumpane, offensive tackle, junior, Midlothian, Illinois - started 2 games at right tackle

Defense

 * Dave Brandon, defensive end, senior, Plymouth, Michigan
 * Dave Brown, safety, junior, Akron, Ohio - started all 11 games at safety
 * Roy W. Burks, defensive back, junior, Midland, Michigan
 * Donald A. Coleman, defensive end, senior, Daly City, Ohio - started all 11 games at right defensive end
 * Tim Davis, middle guard, sophomore, Warren, Ohio - started 7 games at middle guard
 * Michael J. Day, linebacker, senior, Livonia, Michigan
 * Barry Dotzauer, defensive back, senior, Cincinnati, Ohio - started 10 games at weak-side defensive halfback
 * Thomas E. Drake, defensive back, junior, Midland, Michigan - started 1 game at weak-side defensive halfback
 * Don Dufek, wolfman, sophomore, East Grand Rapids, Michigan - started all 11 games at wolfman
 * Donald R. Eaton, defensive end, senior, Lancaster, Ohio
 * David L. Elliott, defensive back, junior, Coral Gables, Florida - started all 11 games at strong-side defensive halfback
 * Dave Gallagher, defensive tackle, senior, Piqua, Ohio - started all 11 games at right defensive tackle
 * Dan Jilek, defensive end, sophomore, Sterling Heights, Michigan
 * Gregory Koss, safety, senior, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio
 * James M. Lyall, defensive tackle, senior, North Olmstead, Ohio
 * Calvin O'Neal, linebacker, sophomore, Saginaw, Michigan
 * Carl Russ, linebacker, sophomore, Muskegon Heights, Michigan - started all 11 games at w. linebacker
 * Geoffrey Steger, wolf, junior, Winnetka, Illinois
 * Steve Strinko, linebacker, sophomore, Middletown, Ohio - started all 11 games at middle linebacker
 * Douglas Troszak, defensive tackle, senior, Warren, Michigan - started 10 games at defensive left tackle
 * Jovan Vercel, linebacker, senior, Highland, Indiana
 * Donald R. Warner, middle guard, senior, Dearborn, Michigan - started 4 games at middle guard
 * Walter Williamson, defensive end, senior, Detroit, Michigan - started all 11 games at left defensive end
 * David Zuccarelli, wolf, senior, Chicago, Illinois

Awards and honors

 * All-Americans: Dave Gallagher, Dave Brown
 * All-Conference: Ed Shuttlesworth, Dave Brown, Mike Hoban, Clint Haslerig, Dave Gallagher, Dennis Franklin
 * Most Valuable Player: Paul Seal
 * Meyer Morton Award: Paul Seal
 * John Maulbetsch Award: Don Dufek
 * Frederick Matthei Award: Dave Brown
 * Arthur Robinson Scholarship Award: Don Warner

Coaching staff

 * Head coach: Bo Schembechler
 * Assistant coaches: Dennis Brown, Tirrel Burton, Jerry Hanlon, Jack Harbaugh, Frank Maloney, George Mans, Gary Moeller, Chuck Stobart, Elliot Uzelac
 * Trainer: Lindsy McLean
 * Manager: James T. Bueter