The 1953 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1953 college football season. The team's head coach was Bennie Oosterbaan. The Wolverines played their home games at Michigan Stadium.
Schedule[]
| Date
|
Time
|
Opponent#
|
Rank#
|
Site
|
TV
|
Result
|
Attendance
|
| September 26, 1953*
|
|
Washington
|
|
Michigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, MI
|
|
W 50–0
|
44,086
|
| October 3, 1953*
|
|
Tulane
|
#4/NA
|
Michigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, MI
|
|
W 26–7
|
51,960
|
| October 10, 1953
|
|
Iowa
|
#5/7
|
Michigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, MI
|
|
W 14–13
|
49,551
|
| October 17, 1953
|
|
Northwestern
|
#5/6
|
Michigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, MI
|
|
W 20–12
|
64,420
|
| October 24, 1953
|
|
at Minnesota
|
#5/5
|
Memorial Stadium • Minneapolis, MN
|
|
L 22–0
|
62,795
|
| October 31, 1953*†
|
|
Penn
|
#16/13
|
Michigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, MI
|
|
W 24–14
|
56,795
|
| November 7, 1953
|
|
at #4/4 Illinois
|
#17/NR
|
Memorial Stadium • Champaign, Il
|
|
L 19–3
|
69,507
|
| November 14, 1953
|
|
at #4/4 Michigan State
|
|
Macklin Stadium • East Lansing, MI
|
|
L 14–6
|
51,421
|
| November 21, 1953
|
|
#NR/17 Ohio State
|
|
Michigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, MI
|
|
W 20–0
|
87,048
|
| *Non-Conference Game. †Homecoming. #Rankings from AP Poll / Coaches' Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time.
|
Statistical leaders[]
Rushing[]
| Player |
Attempts |
Net yards |
Yards per attempt |
Touchdowns
|
| Tony Branoff |
100 |
501 |
5.0 |
5
|
| Ted Kress |
101 |
339 |
3.4 |
5
|
| Bob Hurley |
47 |
282 |
6.0 |
1
|
Passing[]
| Player |
Attempts |
Completions |
Interceptions |
Comp % |
Yards |
Yds/Comp |
TD |
Long
|
| Duncan McDonald |
46 |
20 |
3 |
43.5 |
293 |
14.7 |
4 |
49
|
| Lou Baldacci |
51 |
21 |
6 |
41.2 |
285 |
13.6 |
1 |
36
|
| Ted Kress |
43 |
19 |
7 |
44.2 |
238 |
12.5 |
1 |
44
|
Receiving[]
| Player |
Receptions |
Yards |
Yds/Recp |
TD |
Long
|
| Gene Topp |
23 |
331 |
14.4 |
2 |
66
|
| Gene Knutson |
11 |
201 |
18.3 |
1 |
33
|
| Tony Branoff |
11 |
151 |
13.7 |
1 |
44
|
Kickoff returns[]
Punt returns[]
Players[]
File:Dick O'Shaughnessy.png Dick O'Shaughnessy, captain of the 1953 team
- Lou Baldacci - started 9 games at quarterback
- James Balog - started 9 games at left tackle
- Richard Balzhiser[1] - started 9 games at fullback
- Richard Beison - started 9 games at right guard
- Tony Branoff - started 9 games at right halfback
- Donald Dugger - started 9 games at left end
- Gene Knutson - started 8 games at right end
- Ted Kress - started 9 games at left halfback
- John Morrow - started 4 games at center
- Dick O'Shaughnessy - started 5 games at center
- Dick Strozewski - started 9 games at left tackle
- Gene Topp - started 8 games at left end, 1 game at right end
- Jerry Williams - started 1 game at left end
Awards and honors[]
Coaching staff[]
File:1953 OSU celebration.png Oosterbaan lifted to players' shoulders after 20-0 win over Ohio State
References[]
- ↑ Balzhiser was the first University of Michigan athlete to be inducted into the Academic All-America Hall of Fame.
External links[]
