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 .
Schedule [ ]
Date
Time
Opponent#
Rank #
Site
TV
Result
Attendance
September 8, 1979
Northwestern
#7/NA
Michigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, MI
W 49–7 100,790
September 15, 1979*
#9/11 Notre Dame
#6/5
Michigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, MI
L 12–10 105,111
September 22, 1979*
Kansas
#11/12
Michigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, MI
W 28–7 103,698
September 29, 1979*
at California
#11/13
California Memorial Stadium • Berkeley, CA
W 14–10 57,000
October 6, 1979
at #16/18 Michigan State
#11/12
Spartan Stadium • East Lansing, MI
ABC
W 21–7 79,311
October 13, 1979
Minnesota
#11/11
Michigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, MI
W 31–21 104,677
October 20, 1979
at Illinois
#11/11
Memorial Stadium • Champaign, Il
W 27–7 43,370
October 27, 1979†
Indiana
#10/10
Michigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, MI
W 27–21 104,832
November 3, 1979
Wisconsin
#10/10
Michigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, MI
W 54–0 104,952
November 10, 1979
at #14/15 Purdue
#10/10
Ross–Ade Stadium • West Lafayette, IN
L 24–21 69,829
November 17, 1979
#2/3 Ohio State
#13/13
Michigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, MI
L 18–15 106,255
December 28, 1979*
vs. North Carolina
#14/14
Gator Bowl Stadium • Jacksonville, FL (Gator Bowl )
ABC
L 17–15 70,407
*Non-Conference Game. † Homecoming. # Rankings from AP Poll / Coaches' Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time .
Game notes [ ] Michigan State [ ]
by Quarter
1
2
3
4
Total
• Michigan
7
0
7
7
21
Michigan St
0
0
7
0
7
Scoring summary 1
Michigan Woofolk 2 yard run (Virgil kick) Michigan 7-0 1
Michigan St Hughes 6 yard run (Andersen kick) Tie 7-7 3
Michigan Clayton 66 yard pass from Dickey (Virgil kick) Michigan 14-7 4
Michigan Carter 6 yard pass from Dickey (Virgil kick) Michigan 21-7
[1]
Indiana [ ]
by Quarter
1
2
3
4
Total
Indiana
0
14
0
7
21
• Michigan
7
0
14
6
27
Scoring summary 1
MICH Lawrence Reid 3 yard run (Virgil kick) MICH 7-0 2
IND Dave Harangody 3 yard pass from Tim Clifford (Kellogg kick) Tied 7-7 2
IND Lonnie Johnson 14 yard run (Kellogg kick) IND 14-7 3
MICH Lawrence Reid 50 yard run (Virgil kick) Tied 14-14 3
MICH Butch Woolfolk 2 yard run (Virgil kick) MICH 21-14 4
0:55
IND Dave Harangody 3 yard pass from Tim Clifford (Kellogg kick) Tied 21-21 4
0:00
MICH Anthony Carter 45 yard pass from John Wangler MICH 27-21
[2]
Players [ ] 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 guardNorm 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 receiverChuck Christian, tight end, junior, Detroit, Michigan
Ralph Clayton , wing back, senior, Detroit, Michigan - started all 12 games at wing backBrian 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 tailbackRodney 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 centerDoug 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 tackleJim Paciorek , tight end, sophomore, Orchard Lake, Michigan Bubba Paris , offensive tackle, sophomore, Louisville, Kentucky - started 8 games at left offensive tackleGary 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 quarterbackButch Woolfolk , tailback, sophomore, Westfield, New Jersey - started 5 games at tailbackDefense [ ] Marion Body , defensive back, sophomore, Detroit, MichiganMark 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 linebackerBrian 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 tackleMike Harden , defensive back, senior, Detroit, Michigan - started all 12 games at safetyStuart 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 cornerbackDale 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 linebackerDavid 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 linebackerRobert Thompson , outside linebacker, sophomore, Blue Island, Illinois - started 1 game at outside linebackerMike Trgovac , middle guard, junior, Austintown, Ohio - started 11 games at middle guardGary Weber, defensive tackle, senior, Matawan, New Jersey Kickers [ ] 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 [ ] 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 [ ] References [ ] External links [ ] 