1972 Michigan Wolverines football team
Encyclopedia
The 1972 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan
in the 1972 college football season
. The team's head coach was Bo Schembechler
. The Wolverines played their home games at Michigan Stadium
.
was ranked 18th by Sports Illustrated
heading into the 1972 season but there was little doubt in Ann Arbor that their recent success under Bo Schembechler
would continue even with the loss of 13 starters to graduation.
At quarterback
, Schembechler was expected to alternate three quarterbacks but favorite to win the job was Dennis Franklin
and the position would be secure by the time the Wolverines had to play Purdue and Ohio State
at year's end.
Gil Chapman
had wowed coaches and alumni by scoring on a 60-yard pass play in the spring game as Schembechler was quoted as saying "He's the fastest player I've ever had at Michigan."
Ed Shuttlesworth
, one of the few to return from the 1971 team
, was predicted to build off what he had done the previous year with more playing time.
With Chapman, Shuttlesworth and others, Michigan would have more speed but the success would once again fall on two linemen, Fred Grambau on defense and Paul Seymour
on offense. Schembechler was shifting Seymour from tight end but his replacement, Paul Seal
, would ensure there would be no drop off in physicality at the position.
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 1972 college football season
1972 college football season
The 1972 college football season saw the USC Trojans, coached by John McKay, go undefeated and win the national championship as the unanimous choice of the fifty AP panelists...
. The team's head coach was Bo Schembechler
Bo Schembechler
Glenn Edward "Bo" Schembechler, Jr. was an American football player, coach, and athletics administrator. He served as the head football coach at Miami University from 1963 to 1968 and at the University of Michigan from 1969 to 1989, compiling a career record of 234–65–8...
. 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
Preseason
MichiganMichigan Wolverines football
The Michigan Wolverines football program represents the University of Michigan in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level. Michigan has the most all-time wins and the highest winning percentage in college football history...
was ranked 18th by Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
heading into the 1972 season but there was little doubt in Ann Arbor that their recent success under Bo Schembechler
Bo Schembechler
Glenn Edward "Bo" Schembechler, Jr. was an American football player, coach, and athletics administrator. He served as the head football coach at Miami University from 1963 to 1968 and at the University of Michigan from 1969 to 1989, compiling a career record of 234–65–8...
would continue even with the loss of 13 starters to graduation.
At quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
, Schembechler was expected to alternate three quarterbacks but favorite to win the job was Dennis Franklin
Dennis Franklin
Dennis Franklin is a former professional American football player who was drafted by the Detroit Lions of the National Football League in the 1975 NFL Draft. Prior to playing for in the NFL he played quarterback of the University of Michigan Wolverines from 1971-1974. He served as the...
and the position would be secure by the time the Wolverines had to play Purdue and Ohio State
1972 Ohio State Buckeyes football team
The 1972 Ohio State Buckeyes football team represented the Ohio State University in the 1972 college football season. The Buckeyes compiled a 9–2 record, including the 1973 Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, where they lost 42–17 to the Southern California Trojans.-Schedule:-Depth...
at year's end.
Gil Chapman
Gil Chapman
Gil Chapman is a former American football player, politician and businessman.Chapman became one of the leading scorers in the history of New Jersey high school football while playing for Thomas Jefferson High School from 1968 to 1970...
had wowed coaches and alumni by scoring on a 60-yard pass play in the spring game as Schembechler was quoted as saying "He's the fastest player I've ever had at Michigan."
Ed Shuttlesworth
Ed Shuttlesworth
Ed Shuttlesworth is a former American football fullback.He played for the University of Michigan from 1971 to 1973. He was the leading rusher for Michigan's 1972 and 1973 teams that compiled a combined record of 30–1–1...
, one of the few to return from the 1971 team
1971 Michigan Wolverines football team
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...
, was predicted to build off what he had done the previous year with more playing time.
With Chapman, Shuttlesworth and others, Michigan would have more speed but the success would once again fall on two linemen, Fred Grambau on defense and Paul Seymour
Paul Seymour (American football)
Paul Christopher Seymour is a former professional American football player. He played five seasons for the Buffalo Bills.A 6'5", 250 lbs...
on offense. Schembechler was shifting Seymour from tight end but his replacement, Paul Seal
Paul Seal
Paul Nathan Seal is a former American football tight end in the National Football League. He was drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the second round of the 1974 NFL Draft. He played college football at Michigan....
, would ensure there would be no drop off in physicality at the position.
Rushing
| Player | Attempts | Net yards | Yards per attempt | Touchdowns | Long |
| Ed Shuttlesworth Ed Shuttlesworth Ed Shuttlesworth is a former American football fullback.He played for the University of Michigan from 1971 to 1973. He was the leading rusher for Michigan's 1972 and 1973 teams that compiled a combined record of 30–1–1... |
157 | 713 | 4.5 | 11 | 23 |
| Chuck Heater Chuck Heater Chuck Heater is an American football coach and former player. He was a running back for the University of Michigan from 1972 to 1974 and finished his playing career as the fifth all time leading rusher in Michigan Wolverines football history. Heater has been an assistant football coach at ten... |
140 | 669 | 4.8 | 4 | 22 |
| Dennis Franklin Dennis Franklin Dennis Franklin is a former professional American football player who was drafted by the Detroit Lions of the National Football League in the 1975 NFL Draft. Prior to playing for in the NFL he played quarterback of the University of Michigan Wolverines from 1971-1974. He served as the... |
142 | 497 | 3.5 | 5 | 29 |
Passing
| Player | Attempts | Completions | Interceptions | Comp % | Yards | Yds/Comp | TD | Long |
| Dennis Franklin Dennis Franklin Dennis Franklin is a former professional American football player who was drafted by the Detroit Lions of the National Football League in the 1975 NFL Draft. Prior to playing for in the NFL he played quarterback of the University of Michigan Wolverines from 1971-1974. He served as the... |
123 | 59 | 2 | 48.0 | 818 | 13.9 | 6 | 52 |
| Larry Cipa Larry Cipa Larry Cipa is a former American football player. He played at the quarterback position for the University of Michigan from 1971 to 1973. He played professional football for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League from 1974 to 1975. In July 1976, he was traded to the Tampa Bay... |
11 | 4 | 1 | 36.4 | 51 | 12.8 | 0 | |
Receiving
| Player | Receptions | Yards | Yds/Recp | TD | Long |
| Paul Seal Paul Seal Paul Nathan Seal is a former American football tight end in the National Football League. He was drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the second round of the 1974 NFL Draft. He played college football at Michigan.... |
18 | 243 | 13.5 | 3 | 35 |
| Bo Rather Bo Rather David Elmer "Bo" Rather is a former American football wide receiver. He professional football for the Miami Dolphins and Chicago Bears . He appeared in 64 NFL games and had 92 receptions for 1,467 yards and seven touchdowns. Rather also played college football for the University of Michigan from... |
15 | 197 | 13.1 | 2 | 24 |
| Clint Haslerig Clint Haslerig Clinton Edward "Clint" Haslerig is a former American football player. He played college football for the University of Michigan from 1971 to 1973 and professional football from 1974 to 1976 for the Chicago Bears, Buffalo Bills, Minnesota Vikings, and New York Jets.-Cincinnati:Haslerig was born in... |
9 | 175 | 19.4 | 0 | 52 |
Kickoff returns
| Player | Returns | Yards | Yds/Return | TD | Long |
| Gil Chapman Gil Chapman Gil Chapman is a former American football player, politician and businessman.Chapman became one of the leading scorers in the history of New Jersey high school football while playing for Thomas Jefferson High School from 1968 to 1970... |
8 | 276 | 34.5 | 1 | 73 |
| Chuck Heater Chuck Heater Chuck Heater is an American football coach and former player. He was a running back for the University of Michigan from 1972 to 1974 and finished his playing career as the fifth all time leading rusher in Michigan Wolverines football history. Heater has been an assistant football coach at ten... |
2 | 62 | 31.0 | 0 | 40 |
| Clint Haslerig Clint Haslerig Clinton Edward "Clint" Haslerig is a former American football player. He played college football for the University of Michigan from 1971 to 1973 and professional football from 1974 to 1976 for the Chicago Bears, Buffalo Bills, Minnesota Vikings, and New York Jets.-Cincinnati:Haslerig was born in... |
2 | 40 | 20.0 | 0 | 24 |
Punt returns
| Player | Returns | Yards | Yds/Return | TD | Long |
| David Brown | 11 | 189 | 17.2 | 1 | 83 |
| Gil Chapman Gil Chapman Gil Chapman is a former American football player, politician and businessman.Chapman became one of the leading scorers in the history of New Jersey high school football while playing for Thomas Jefferson High School from 1968 to 1970... |
20 | 180 | 9.0 | 1 | |
Roster
Game 4: Navy
CB Roy Burks recovered WR Ike Owens fumble on the second half kickoff. Six plays later, Dennis Franklin found Bo Rather for a nine-yard touchdown pass.Awards and honors
- Most Valuable Player: Randy LoganRandy LoganRandolph "Randy" Logan is a former American football safety who played for eleven seasons in the National Football League for the Philadelphia Eagles from 1973 to 1983. He was drafted by the Eagles in the third round of the 1973 NFL Draft. He played college football at the University of Michigan...
- Meyer Morton Award: Randy Logan
- John Maulbetsch Award: Dennis FranklinDennis FranklinDennis Franklin is a former professional American football player who was drafted by the Detroit Lions of the National Football League in the 1975 NFL Draft. Prior to playing for in the NFL he played quarterback of the University of Michigan Wolverines from 1971-1974. He served as the...
- Frederick Matthei Award: Tom Drake
- Arthur Robinson Scholarship Award: Dave Zucarelli