Don Moorhead
Encyclopedia
Don Moorhead is a retired American football
player. He was the starting quarterback for the Michigan Wolverines football
team in 1969 and 1970 and for the BC Lions
from 1971 to 1975. He set 24 football records at the University of Michigan
, including most yards of total offense and most yards passing.
where he was an All-State high school football player.
. He was the starting quarterback for Bo Schembechler
's Michigan Wolverines
in all 21 games of the 1969 and 1970 seasons; he led the Wolverines to an overall record of 17–4 in his two seasons as quarterback. During his playing career at Michigan, Moorhead also broke Bob Chappuis
's school record for total offense in a career with 3,641 yards of total offense. Moorhead set a total of 24 University of Michigan football records, including total offensive plays (706), most yards gained passing (2,550), most passes completed (200) and most passes attempted (423).
to an 8–2 regular season record, including a 24–12 win in the 1969 Ohio State game
. He also led the 1969 Wolverines in total offense with 1,699 yards, 565 yards rushing and 1,134 yards passing. He completed 50 percent of his 178 passing attempts in 1969, threw five touchdown passes and had six passes intercepted. After the 1969 season, Schembechler called Moorhead "a very cool customer."
The Wolverines tied for the Big Ten Conference
championship in 1969 and advanced to the 1970 Rose Bowl
. Shortly before the game, Schembechler suffered a heart attack and was hospitalized. Moorhead said at the time, "I was shocked. It was like learning that your father was very ill." Moorhead led the Wolverines in the Rose Bowl against a USC Trojans team that included a defensive front five known as the "Wild Bunch." Charlie Weaver
made a key play in the second quarter batting down a Moorhead pass to Jim Mandich
who was open in the end zone. In all, the Wild Bunch knocked down four of Moorhead's passes. Moorhead was 14-for-32 in passing with one interception and 127 passing yards. USC won the game, 10–3. After the game, Moorhead expressed disappointment at not winning the game for the ailing Schembechler: "A couple of times in the huddle, guys would say 'get this one for Bo. He worked so hard to get us here.' But we weren't able to get it."
ran a feature story on Moorhead, writing that, "Anyone wishing to undermine the very capable 1970 Michigan team must simply figure a way to 'eliminate' quarterback Don Moorhead early in the season." Coach Schembechler lavished praise on Moorhead, calling him "a great football player" who knows the game and "can think out there." Schembechler added, "As long as Moorhead is whole, in my opinion, we have as good a quarterback as there is the country."
The 1970 Michigan team
started the season with nine consecutive wins, outscoring opponents 279 to 70. Ranked #4 in the country, the Wolverines faced Ohio State
in the final game of the season at Columbus
. Ohio State defeated Michigan, 20–9, in Moorhead's final game in a Wolverines uniform. Moorhead was selected as an All-Big Ten Conference quarterback at the end of the 1970 season.
in the sixth round of the 1971 NFL Draft
, but the Saints also drafted Mississippi
's Archie Manning
the same year. The Saints intended to use Moorhead as a running back
, but Moorhead wanted to play quarterback. In February 1971, Moorhead told a group in his home town, "The big deal is that I want to play quarterback. New Orleans drafted me as a running back, so you know that's what they're thinking." Determined to play quarterback, Moorhead elected instead to sign with the BC Lions
in the Canadian Football League
. Moorehead was the Lions' starting quarterback from 1971 to 1975 and led the team to the Grey Cup
playoffs in 1973 and 1974. He announced his retirement from football in July 1976 after undergoing three knee operations in two years and tearing the biceps on his left arm. At the time of his retirement, Moorhead said, "Football was good to me. It gave me lots of things, but I may pay for it in later years with my injuries. I didn't set the world on fire, but I did have good years at British Columbia."
, retiring in 2010.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
player. He was the starting quarterback for the Michigan Wolverines football
Michigan 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...
team in 1969 and 1970 and for the BC Lions
BC Lions
The BC Lions are a professional Canadian football team competing in the West Division of Canadian Football League . Based in Vancouver, British Columbia, the Lions play their home games at BC Place Stadium in Downtown Vancouver, having previously played at Empire Stadium in East Vancouver from 1954...
from 1971 to 1975. He set 24 football records at the University of Michigan
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...
, including most yards of total offense and most yards passing.
Early years
Moorhead grew up in South Haven, MichiganSouth Haven, Michigan
South Haven is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. Most of the city is in Van Buren County, although a small portion extends into Allegan County. The population was 5,021 at the 2000 census....
where he was an All-State high school football player.
Accomplishments and records
After graduating from high school, Moorhead enrolled at the University of MichiganUniversity 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...
. He was the starting quarterback for 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...
's Michigan Wolverines
Michigan Wolverines
The Michigan Wolverines comprise 27 varsity sports teams at the University of Michigan. These teams compete in the NCAA's Division I and in the Big Ten Conference in all sports except men's ice hockey which competes in the NCAA D1 Central Collegiate Hockey Association, and women's water polo, which...
in all 21 games of the 1969 and 1970 seasons; he led the Wolverines to an overall record of 17–4 in his two seasons as quarterback. During his playing career at Michigan, Moorhead also broke Bob Chappuis
Bob Chappuis
Robert Richard "Bob" Chappuis is a former American football player who played halfback and quarterback for the University of Michigan Wolverines in 1942, 1946, and 1947. His college years were interrupted by service in the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II...
's school record for total offense in a career with 3,641 yards of total offense. Moorhead set a total of 24 University of Michigan football records, including total offensive plays (706), most yards gained passing (2,550), most passes completed (200) and most passes attempted (423).
1969 season
As a junior, Moorhead led the 1969 Wolverines team1969 Michigan Wolverines football team
The 1969 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1969 college football season. The team was head coached by Bo Schembechler in his first year at Michigan. The Wolverines played their home games at Michigan Stadium....
to an 8–2 regular season record, including a 24–12 win in the 1969 Ohio State game
1969 Michigan vs. Ohio State football game
The 1969 edition of the Michigan-Ohio State rivalry is considered one of the best-known games of the series, as well as one of the biggest upsets in college football history. The Buckeyes of Ohio State University went into the game as the top-ranked team in the country, with a 22-game winning...
. He also led the 1969 Wolverines in total offense with 1,699 yards, 565 yards rushing and 1,134 yards passing. He completed 50 percent of his 178 passing attempts in 1969, threw five touchdown passes and had six passes intercepted. After the 1969 season, Schembechler called Moorhead "a very cool customer."
The Wolverines tied for the Big Ten Conference
Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
championship in 1969 and advanced to the 1970 Rose Bowl
1970 Rose Bowl
The 1970 Rose Bowl was a college football bowl game played on January 1, 1970. It was the 56th Rose Bowl Game. The USC Trojans, champions of the Pacific-8 Conference, defeated the Michigan Wolverines, champions of the Big Ten Conference, 10–3...
. Shortly before the game, Schembechler suffered a heart attack and was hospitalized. Moorhead said at the time, "I was shocked. It was like learning that your father was very ill." Moorhead led the Wolverines in the Rose Bowl against a USC Trojans team that included a defensive front five known as the "Wild Bunch." Charlie Weaver
Charlie Weaver
Charles Earl Weaver is a retired American football linebacker in the National Football League.-College career:Weaver was an 1970 All-American defensive end at the University of Southern California...
made a key play in the second quarter batting down a Moorhead pass to Jim Mandich
Jim Mandich
James Michael "Mad Dog" Mandich was a professional American football tight end with the Miami Dolphins. Mandich was an All-American at the University of Michigan. In 2004 he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. As color commentator for the Miami Dolphins , he was teamed with Jimmy...
who was open in the end zone. In all, the Wild Bunch knocked down four of Moorhead's passes. Moorhead was 14-for-32 in passing with one interception and 127 passing yards. USC won the game, 10–3. After the game, Moorhead expressed disappointment at not winning the game for the ailing Schembechler: "A couple of times in the huddle, guys would say 'get this one for Bo. He worked so hard to get us here.' But we weren't able to get it."
1970 season
Before the start of the 1970 football season, the Associated PressAssociated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
ran a feature story on Moorhead, writing that, "Anyone wishing to undermine the very capable 1970 Michigan team must simply figure a way to 'eliminate' quarterback Don Moorhead early in the season." Coach Schembechler lavished praise on Moorhead, calling him "a great football player" who knows the game and "can think out there." Schembechler added, "As long as Moorhead is whole, in my opinion, we have as good a quarterback as there is the country."
The 1970 Michigan team
1970 Michigan Wolverines football team
The 1970 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1970 college football season. The team's head coach was Bo Schembechler...
started the season with nine consecutive wins, outscoring opponents 279 to 70. Ranked #4 in the country, the Wolverines faced Ohio State
1970 Ohio State Buckeyes football team
The 1970 Ohio State Buckeyes football team represented the Ohio State University in the 1970 college football season. The Buckeyes compiled a 9–0 regular season record to attain a #2 ranking...
in the final game of the season at Columbus
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
. Ohio State defeated Michigan, 20–9, in Moorhead's final game in a Wolverines uniform. Moorhead was selected as an All-Big Ten Conference quarterback at the end of the 1970 season.
Career passing statistics
| Season | Att | Comp | Int | Comp % | Yds | Yds/Comp | TD |
| 1968 | 25 | 10 | 2 | 40.0 | 122 | 12.2 | 1 |
| 1969 | 210 | 99 | 7 | 47.1 | 1261 | 12.7 | 6 |
| 1970 | 190 | 87 | 6 | 45.8 | 1167 | 13.4 | 8 |
| Career total | 425 | 196 | 15 | 46.1 | 2550 | 13.0 | 15 |
Career rushing statistics
| Season | Att | Yd+ | Yd- | Net Yd | Yd/Att | TD |
| 1968 | 16 | 106 | 8 | 98 | 6.1 | 0 |
| 1969 | 170 | 808 | 183 | 625 | 3.7 | 9 |
| 1970 | 97 | 431 | 63 | 368 | 3.8 | 2 |
| Career total | 283 | 1345 | 254 | 1091 | 3.9 | 11 |
BC Lions
Moorhead was drafted by the New Orleans SaintsNew Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League ....
in the sixth round of the 1971 NFL Draft
1971 NFL Draft
The 1971 National Football League Draft was held on January 28–29, 1971.-Player selections:-Round one:-Round two:-Round three:-Round four:-Round five:-Round six:-Round seven:-Round eight:-Round nine:-Round ten:...
, but the Saints also drafted Mississippi
Ole Miss Rebels football
The football history of the University of Mississippi , includes the formation of the first football team in the state and is 26th on the list of college football's all-time winning programs...
's Archie Manning
Archie Manning
Elisha Archibald "Archie" Manning III is a former American football quarterback in the National Football League, playing for the New Orleans Saints from 1971 to 1982, then for the Houston Oilers and Minnesota Vikings...
the same year. The Saints intended to use Moorhead as a running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
, but Moorhead wanted to play quarterback. In February 1971, Moorhead told a group in his home town, "The big deal is that I want to play quarterback. New Orleans drafted me as a running back, so you know that's what they're thinking." Determined to play quarterback, Moorhead elected instead to sign with the BC Lions
BC Lions
The BC Lions are a professional Canadian football team competing in the West Division of Canadian Football League . Based in Vancouver, British Columbia, the Lions play their home games at BC Place Stadium in Downtown Vancouver, having previously played at Empire Stadium in East Vancouver from 1954...
in the Canadian Football League
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
. Moorehead was the Lions' starting quarterback from 1971 to 1975 and led the team to the Grey Cup
Grey Cup
The Grey Cup is both the name of the championship of the Canadian Football League and the name of the trophy awarded to the victorious team. It is Canada's largest annual sports and television event, regularly drawing a Canadian viewing audience of about 3 to 4 million individuals...
playoffs in 1973 and 1974. He announced his retirement from football in July 1976 after undergoing three knee operations in two years and tearing the biceps on his left arm. At the time of his retirement, Moorhead said, "Football was good to me. It gave me lots of things, but I may pay for it in later years with my injuries. I didn't set the world on fire, but I did have good years at British Columbia."
After football
When he retired from football, Moorhead became a physical education teacher at Paw Paw High School in Paw Paw, MichiganPaw Paw, Michigan
Paw Paw is a village in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the village population was 3,363. It is the county seat of Van Buren County.-Overview:...
, retiring in 2010.