1971 Michigan Wolverines football team

1971 Michigan Wolverines football
Big Ten Champions
Rose Bowl, L 13–12 vs. Stanford
Conference	Big Ten Conference
Ranking
Coaches	No. 4
AP	No. 6
1971 record	11–1 (8–0 Big Ten)
Head coach	Bo Schembechler (3rd season)
Defensive coordinator	Jim Young (3rd season)
MVP	Billy Taylor
Captain	Frank Gusich
Captain	Guy Murdock
Home stadium	Michigan Stadium
Seasons

1971 Big Ten football standings
	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
#6/4 Michigan †	8	–	0	–	0			11	–	1	–	0
Northwestern	6	–	3	–	0			7	–	4	–	0
Ohio State	5	–	3	–	0			6	–	4	–	0
Michigan State	5	–	3	–	0			6	–	5	–	0
Illinois	5	–	3	–	0			5	–	6	–	0
Wisconsin	3	–	5	–	0			4	–	6	–	1
Minnesota	3	–	5	–	0			4	–	7	–	0
Purdue	3	–	5	–	0			3	–	7	–	0
Indiana	2	–	6	–	0			3	–	8	–	0
Iowa	1	–	8	–	0			1	–	10	–	0
† – Conference champion Rankings from AP Poll / Coaches' Poll

The 1971 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1971 college football season. The team's head coach was Bo Schembechler. The Wolverines played their home games at Michigan Stadium.

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent#	Rank#	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
September 11, 1971		at #20/NA Northwestern	#4/NA	Dyche Stadium • Evanston, IL		W 21–6	42,472
September 18, 1971*		Virginia	#4/5	Michigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, MI		W 56–0	81,391
September 25, 1971*		UCLA	#4/4	Michigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, MI		W 38–0	88,042
October 2, 1971*		Navy	#2/2	Michigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, MI		W 46–0	68,168
October 9, 1971		at Michigan State	#2/2	Spartan Stadium • East Lansing, MI		W 24–13	80,093
October 16, 1971		Illinois	#3/3	Michigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, MI		W 35–6	73,406
October 23, 1971		at Minnesota	#3/3	Memorial Stadium • Minneapolis, MN		W 35–7	44,176
October 30, 1971†		Indiana	#3/3	Michigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, MI		W 61–7	75,751
November 6, 1971		Iowa	#3/3	Michigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, MI		W 63–7	72,467
November 13, 1971		at Purdue	#3/3	Ross–Ade Stadium • West Lafayette, IN		W 20–17	56,485
November 20, 1971		Ohio State	#3/3	Michigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, MI		W 10–7	104,016
January 1, 1972*		vs. #16/16 Stanford	#4/4	Rose Bowl • Pasadena, CA (Rose Bowl)	NBC	L 13–12	103,154
*Non-Conference Game. †Homecoming. #Rankings from AP Poll / Coaches' Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time.

Game notes

Minnesota

by Quarter 1 2 3 4 Total • Michigan 7 7 7 14 35 Minnesota 0 7 0 0 7 Date: October 23 Location: Memorial Stadium, Minneapolis, MN Game attendance: 44,176 Scoring summary 1 Michigan Taylor 4 yard run (Coin kick) Michigan 7-0 2 Minnesota Honza 73 yard pass from Curry (Anderson kick) Tie 7-7 2 Michigan Seyferth 1 yard run (Coin kick) Michigan 14-7 3 Michigan Taylor 4 yard run (Coin kick) Michigan 21-7 4 Michigan Doughty 11 yard run (Coin kick) Michigan 28-7 4 Michigan Gustafson 5 yard pass from Cipa (Coin kick) Michigan 35-7

Ohio State

by Quarter 1 2 3 4 Total Ohio State 0 0 7 0 7 • Michigan 0 3 0 7 10 Date: November 20 Location: Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, MI Game attendance: 104,000 Game weather: 41 F Scoring summary 2 MICH Coin 32 yard field goal MICH 3-0 3 OSU Campana 85 yard punt return (Schram kick) OSU 7-3 4 2:07 MICH Taylor 21 yard run (Coin kick) MICH 10-7

Players

Offense

• Harry Banks, tailback, freshman, St. Johns, Michigan
• Dave Brandon, quarterback, sophomore, Plymouth, Michigan
• Jim Brandstatter, offensive tackle, senior, East Lansing, Michigan - started 10 games at right tackle
• Kevin Casey, quarterback, sophomore, Grand Rapids, Michigan - started 4 games at quarterback
• Larry Cipa, quarterback, junior, Cincinnati, Ohio - started 1 game at wolf back
• Gary R. Coakley, split end, junior, Detroit, Michigan
• Jim Coode, offensive tackle, junior, Mayfield Heights, Ohio - started 10 games at left tackle
• Donald A. Coleman, fullback, sophomore, Daly City, Ohio
• Thomas J. Coyle, offensive guard, junior, Chicago, Illinois - started all 12 games at right guard
• Glenn Doughty, wingback, senior, Detroit, Michigan - started all 12 games at wing back
• Mark F. Duffy, center, senior, Chicago, Illinois
• Larry Gustafson, wingback, sophomore, Mays Landing, New Jersey
• William J. Hart, center, junior, Rockford, Michigan
• Clint Haslerig, wingback, sophomore, Cincinnati, Ohio
• Mike Hoban, offensive guard, sophomore, Chicago, Illinois
• Scott E. Hulke, senior, Elgin, Illinois
• Reggie McKenzie, offensive guard, senior, Highland Park, Michigan - started all 12 games at left guard
• Guy Murdock, center, senior, Barrington, Illinois - started all 12 games at center
• Michael Oldham, split end, senior, Cincinnati, Ohio
• Thomas Poplawski, offensive tackle, junior, Warren, Michigan - started 2 games at left tackle
• Bo Rather, split end, junior, Sandusky, Ohio - started 11 games at split end
• Gerald F. Schumacher, offensive guard, junior, Chicago, Illinois
• Paul Seal, tight end, sophomore, Detroit, Michigan - started 1 game at split end
• Fritz Seyferth, fullback, senior, Darien, Connecticut - started all 12 games at fullback
• Paul Seymour, tight end, junior, Berkley, Michigan - started all 12 games at tight end
• Ed Shuttlesworth, fullback, Cincinnati, Ohio
• Tom Slade, quarterback, Saginaw, Michigan - started 8 games at quarterback
• Billy Taylor, tailback, senior, Barberton, Ohio - started 11 games at tailback
• Bob Thornbladh, fullback, sophomore, Plymouth, Michigan - started 2 games at safety, 1 game at strong-side defensive halfback
• Chris Tucker, offensive tackle, sophomore, Cleveland, Ohio - started 2 games at right tackle (also started 2 games at left defensive tackle)
• Alan "Cowboy" Walker, tailback, junior, Cincinnati, Ohio - started 1 game at tailback
• David Zuccarelli, wingback, junior, Chicago, Illinois`

Defense

• Tom Beckman, defensive tackle, senior, Chesaning, Michigan - started 5 games at middle linebacker, 3 games at defensive right tackle and 3 games at right defensive end
• Alden J. Carpenter, defensive end, senior, Flint, Michigan - started all 12 games at left defensive end
• Dana Coin, kicker and linebacker, senior, Pontiac, Michigan - started 2 games at outside linebacker
• Thom Darden, defensive back, senior, Sandusky, Ohio - started 10 games at safety
• Barry Dotzauer, defensive back, sophomore, Cincinnati, Ohio
• Thomas E. Drake, defensive back sophomore, Midland, Michigan
• Donald R. Eaton, defensive end, junior, Lancaster, Ohio
• Bruce N. Elliott, defensive back, senior, Indianapolis, Indiana - started all 12 games at weak-side defensive halfback
• David L. Elliott, defensive back, sophomore, Indianapolis, Indiana
• Gregory A. Ellis, middle guard, junior, Connersville, Indiana - started 10 games at middle guard
• Dave Gallagher, defensive tackle, sophomore, Piqua, Ohio - started 1 game at middle guard
• Fred Grambau, defensive tackle, junior, Ossineke, Michigan - started 9 games at left defensive tackle
• Frank Gusich, wolf, senior, Garfield Heights, Ohio - started 8 games at wolf back
• Thomas G. Kee, linebacker, junior, Wheaton, Illinois - started all 12 games (9 at right defensive tackle, 3 at outside linebacker)
• Mike Keller, defensive end, senior, Grand Rapids, Michigan - started 6 games at outside linebacker, 5 games at right defensive end
• Randy Logan, defensive back, junior, Detroit, Michigan - started 11 games at strong-side defensive halfback
• John P. Middlebrook, linebacker, senior, Jackson, Michigan
• Robert J. Rosema, defensive end, senior, Grand Rapids, Michigan
• Walter E. Sexton, middle guard, sophomore, Massapequa, New York - started 1 game at left defensive tackle and 1 game at middle guard
• Tony L. Smith, defensive tackle, junior, Detroit, Michigan
• Clinton Spearman, defensive end, junior, Hamilton, Ohio
• Geoffrey Steger, wolf, sophomore, Winnetka, Illinois - started 3 games at wolf back
• Mike Taylor, linebacker, senior, Detroit, Michigan - started 6 games at middle linebacker, 4 games at right defensive end, 1 game at outside linebacker
• Douglas Troszak, defensive tackle, sophomore, Warren, Michigan

Awards and honors

• All-Americans: Mike Taylor, Reggie McKenzie, Billy Taylor, Thom Darden
• All-Conference: Reggie McKenzie, Thom Darden, Mike Taylor, Mike Keller
• Most Valuable Player: Billy Taylor
• Meyer Morton Award: Guy Murdock
• John Maulbetsch Award: Dave Gallagher
• Frederick Matthei Award: Tom Kee
• Arthur Robinson Scholarship Award: Bruce Elliott

Professional football

Twenty-one members of the 1970 team went on to play professional football. They are: Tom Beckman (St.Louis Cardinals, 1972, Memphis Grizzlies, 1974-1975), Larry Cipa (New Orleans Saints, 1974-75); Jim Coode (Ottawa Rough Riders, 1974-80); Thom Darden (Cleveland Browns, 1972-1981), Glenn Doughty (Baltimore Colts, 1972-1979), Dave Gallagher (Chicago Bears, 1974, New York Giants, 1975-76, Detroit Lions, 1978-79); Fred Grambau (Hamilton Tiger-Cats, 1973-75); Clint Haslerig (Chicago Bears, 1974, Buffalo Bills, 1974-75, Minnesota Vikings, 1975, New York Jets, 1976); Mike Hoban (Chicago Bears, 1974); Mike Keller (Dallas Cowboys, 1972), Randy Logan (Philadelphia Eagles, 1973-83); Reggie McKenzie (Buffalo Bills, 1972-1982; Seattle Seahawks, 1983-1984), Guy Murdock (Houston Oilers, 1974; Chicago Fire/Winds, 1974-1975), Bo Rather (Miami Dolphins, 1973, 1978; Chicago Bears, 1974-78); Paul Seal (New Orleans Saints, 1974-76, San Francisco 49ers, 1977-78); Fritz Seyferth (Calgary Stampeders, 1972); Paul Seymour (Buffalo Bills, 1973-1977), Ed Shuttlesworth (Toronto Argonauts, 1971-1973); Billy Taylor (Calgary Stampeders, 1972), Mike Taylor (New York Jets, 1972-73); and Bob Thornbladh (Kansas City Chiefs, 1974).

Statistical leaders

Rushing

Player	Attempts	Net yards	Yards per attempt	Touchdowns	Long
Billy Taylor	249	1297	5.2	13	66
Ed Shuttlesworth	182	875	4.8	6	28
Glenn Doughty	98	474	4.8	5	3

Passing

Player	Attempts	Completions	Interceptions	Comp %	Yards	Yds/Comp	TD	Long
Tom Slade	63	27	4	42.9	364	13.5	2	28
Kevin Casey	34	14	1	41.2	165	11.8	1	32
Larry Cipa	25	7	2	28.0	146	20.9	2	49

Receiving

Player	Receptions	Yards	Yds/Recp	TD	Long
Glenn Doughty	16	203	12.7	1	22
Bo Rather	11	181	16.4	2	32
Mike Oldham	7	136	19.4	1	49

Kickoff returns

Player	Returns	Yards	Yds/Return	TD	Long
Bo Rather	12	240	20.0	0	30
Harry Banks	5	120	24.0	0	45
Glenn Doughty	3	50	16.7	0	21

Punt returns

Player	Returns	Yards	Yds/Return	TD	Long
Thom Darden	23	237	10.3	0	47
Bruce Elliott	28	225	8.0	0	36

Coaching staff

• Head coach: Bo Schembechler
• Assistant coaches: Tirrel Burton (freshman coach), Jerry Hanlon (offensive line), Dick Hunter (defensive backfield), Frank Maloney (defensive line), George Mans (offensive ends), Gary Moeller (defensive ends), Larry Smith (interior line), Chuck Stobart (offensive backfield), Jim Young (defensive coordinator)
• Trainer: Lindsy McLean
• Manager: Charles Quebbeman

External links

• 1971 Football Team -- Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan Athletics History