1945 Michigan Wolverines football team
Encyclopedia
The 1945 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan
in the 1945 college football season
. The team's head coach was Fritz Crisler
. The Wolverines played their home games at Michigan Stadium
.
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
in the 1945 college football season
1945 college football season
The 1945 college football season finished with the United States Military Academy, more popularly known as “Army”, being the unanimous choice for the nation’s number one team by the 116 voters in the Associated Press writers’ poll...
. The team's head coach was Fritz Crisler
Fritz Crisler
Herbert Orin "Fritz" Crisler was an American football coach who is best known as "the father of two-platoon football," an innovation in which separate units of players were used for offense and defense. Crisler developed two-platoon football while serving as head coach at the University of...
. The Wolverines played their home games at Michigan Stadium
Michigan Stadium
Michigan Stadium, nicknamed "The Big House," is the football stadium for the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Michigan Stadium was built in 1927 at a cost of $950,000 and had an original capacity of 72,000. Before playing football at the stadium, the Wolverines played on Ferry Field...
.
Schedule
Players
- Warren Bentz - 1 game at right halfback
- Bob CallahanBob Callahan (American football)Robert Francis Callahan is a former American football player. He was born in St. Louis, Missouri and attended Beaumont High School where he was the captain of the football and basketball teams...
- Dan DworskyDan DworskyDaniel Leonard Dworsky has been a leading Southern California architect since the early 1950s. He is a longstanding member of the American Institute of Architects College of Fellows. Among other works, Dworsky designed Crisler Arena, the basketball arena at the University of Michigan named for...
- 5 games at fullback, 2 games at quarterback - Pete ElliottPete Elliott-External links:...
- 2 games at left halfback - Henry FondeHenry FondeHenry Fonde was an American football player and coach. He played for the University of Michigan from 1945 to 1947 under head coach Fritz Crisler. In ten years as the head football coach at Ann Arbor Pioneer High School , he compiled a record of 69–6–4...
- 2 games at right halfback - Donovan P. Hershberger - 7 games at left end, 1 game at right end
- Gene Hinton - 10 games at right tackle
- George Johnson - 10 games at left tackle
- John Lintol - 2 games at right guard
- Tony MomsenTony MomsenAnton Henry "Tony" Momsen, Jr. was an American football center in the National Football League for the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Washington Redskins...
- 2 games at center - Edward D. McNeill - 3 games at left end, 2 games at right end
- Bob NussbaumerBob NussbaumerRobert John Nussbaumer was an American football halfback and end in the National Football League for the Washington Redskins, Green Bay Packers, and the Chicago Cardinals. He played college football at the University of Michigan as a left halfback from 1943 to 1945 and served in the United States...
- 7 games at right halfback - Joseph PonsettoJoseph PonsettoJoseph Ponsetto was an American football player who was the starting quarterback for the University of Michigan Wolverines football teams of 1944 and 1945. Playing under head coach Fritz Crisler, Ponsetto led the 1944 team to an 8–2 record and a #8 ranking in the final AP Poll...
- 6 games at quarterback - Art Renner - 7 games at right end
- John Smith - 1 game at left guard
- Wally TeningaWally TeningaWalter Henry "Wally" Teninga is a former American football halfback and businessman. He played for the University of Michigan's undefeated national championship teams in 1947 and 1948 and later became the vice chairman and chief financial officer of the Kmart Corporation.-Early years:A native of...
- 7 games at left halfback - Dominic TomasiDominic TomasiDominic Tomasi was an American football player who played guard for the University of Michigan Wolverines. He was a four-year starter and was selected as both the captain and Most Valuable Player of the National Champion 1948 Michigan Wolverines football team.-High school:A native of Flint,...
- 9 games at left guard - Harold WattsHarold WattsHarold M. Watts was a former American football player. He played at the center position for the University of Michigan from 1943 to 1946. He was chosen as the Most Valuable Player on the 1945 Michigan Wolverines football team and received the award in absentia after being transferred off the...
- 8 games at center - Stu WilkinsF. Stuart WilkinsF. Stuart "Stu" Wilkins is a former American football player, lawyer, and businessman. He played at the guard position for the University of Michigan football team from 1945 to 1948 and was a starter on the Wolverines undefeated teams in 1947 and 1948. He practiced law for more than 50 years...
- 8 games at right guard - Howard YergesHoward YergesHoward Frederick Yerges, Jr. was an American football player who played quarterback for the Ohio State Buckeyes football team in 1943 and the University of Michigan Wolverines football teams from 1944 to 1947...
- 2 games at quarterback - Jack WeisenburgerJack WeisenburgerJohn Edward "Jack" Weisenburger is a former American football and baseball player. He played college football for the University of Michigan from 1944 to 1947 and was the starting fullback for the undefeated 1947 Michigan Wolverines football team that became known as the "Mad Magicians" and has...
- 5 games at fullback, 1 game at left halfback
Awards and honors
- Captain: Joe Ponsetto
- All-Conference: Harold WattsHarold WattsHarold M. Watts was a former American football player. He played at the center position for the University of Michigan from 1943 to 1946. He was chosen as the Most Valuable Player on the 1945 Michigan Wolverines football team and received the award in absentia after being transferred off the...
- Most Valuable Player: Harold Watts
Coaching staff
- Head coach: Fritz CrislerFritz CrislerHerbert Orin "Fritz" Crisler was an American football coach who is best known as "the father of two-platoon football," an innovation in which separate units of players were used for offense and defense. Crisler developed two-platoon football while serving as head coach at the University of...
- Assistant coaches: William Barclay, Ray FisherRay FisherRay Lyle Fisher was an American professional baseball pitcher. He pitched all or part of ten seasons in Major League Baseball. His debut game took place on July 2, 1910. His final game took place on October 2, 1920...
, Earl MartineauEarl Martineau-External links:...
, Ernest McCoyErnie McCoy (athletic director)Ernest B. "Ernie" McCoy was an All-American basketball player at the University of Michigan from 1927 to 1929. After graduating, he spent his entire professional career in college athletics, serving as the athletic director at Penn State , the athletic director at the University of Miami , and a...
, Clarence "Biggie" MunnBiggie MunnClarence Lester "Biggie" Munn was an American football player, coach, and college athletics administrator in the United States. He was the head football coach at Albright College , Syracuse University , and most notably Michigan State College , where his 1952 squad won a national championship...
, Bennie OosterbaanBennie OosterbaanBenjamin Gaylord "Bennie" Oosterbaan was a three-time first team All-American football end for the Michigan Wolverines football team, two-time All-American basketball player for the basketball team and an All-Big Ten Conference baseball player for the baseball team...
, Arthur ValpeyArthur ValpeyArthur L. Valpey was an American football player and coach.A native of Dayton, Ohio, Valpey was an all-state halfback at Dayton's Steele High School. Valpey enrolled at the University of Michigan in 1934, where freshman football coach Wally Weber moved him to the end position...
, Walter WeberWally WeberWalter J. Weber was an American football player and coach at the University of Michigan. He played halfback and fullback for the Wolverines in 1925 and 1926 on the same teams as Benny Friedman and Bennie Oosterbaan. He later became an assistant football coach at Michigan for 28 years from 1931 to... - Trainer: Ray Roberts
- Manager: Donald MacMullan, John Fishman, Leonard Budzen (assistant), Robert Keselring (assistant)