The Storied History of NCAA University of Michigan Football

The University of Michigan Wolverines football program boasts a rich and complex history, marked by periods of unparalleled success, iconic figures, and, at times, controversy. From its inception in 1879, Michigan football has been a dominant force in college athletics, amassing a record of achievement that few programs can match. This article delves into the program's evolution, celebrating its triumphs while also acknowledging the scandals and infractions that have occasionally cast a shadow on its legacy.

Early Years and the "Point-a-Minute" Dynasty (1879-1926)

Michigan's intercollegiate football journey began on May 30, 1879, with a game against Racine College in Chicago. The Chicago Tribune hailed it as "the first rugby-football game to be played west of the Alleghenies." Irving Kane Pond etched his name in history by scoring Michigan's first touchdown, prompting enthusiastic cheers of "Pond Forever" from the crowd. This early foray into football marked the beginning of a program that would soon become a national powerhouse.

The late 19th century saw Michigan solidify its place in the burgeoning world of college football. In 1881, a game against Harvard in Boston symbolized the birth of intersectional football. Further expanding the sport's reach, Michigan players introduced football to students at the University of Notre Dame in 1887. The formation of the Intercollegiate Conference of Faculty Representatives, later known as the Big Ten Conference, in 1896, provided a formal structure for competition, with Michigan as a founding member.

The arrival of Fielding H. Yost in 1901 ushered in an era of unprecedented dominance. Yost's "Point-a-Minute" squads, so named for their prolific scoring, embarked on a remarkable 56-game unbeaten streak. This period included a resounding victory in the 1902 Rose Bowl, the first college football bowl game ever played, where Michigan dominated Stanford. The NCAA recognizes Michigan as either outright or co-national champions each year from 1901-04, marking the first national titles for the program. Neil Snow's five touchdowns in that game remain a Rose Bowl record. In 1903, Michigan played a game against Minnesota that started the rivalry for the Little Brown Jug, the oldest rivalry trophy in college football. From 1901 through 1904, Michigan didn't lose a single game.

However, Yost's tenure was not without controversy. He was accused by Stanford president David Starr Jordan of paying players, a practice that ran counter to the prevailing spirit of amateurism.

The "Point-a-Minute" era came to an end in 1905 with a loss to Amos Alonzo Stagg's Chicago Maroons. The game, dubbed "The First Greatest Game of the Century," broke Michigan's 56-game unbeaten streak and marked the end of the "Point-a-Minute" years. Michigan tied for another Big 9 title in 1906 before opting to go independent for the 1907 season. Michigan rejoined the Big 9 in 1917, after which it was called the Big Ten. In 1918, Michigan played the first game against Stagg's Chicago Maroons since Chicago ended Michigan's winning streak in 1905. In 1922 Michigan managed to spoil the "Dedication Day" for Ohio Stadium, defeating the Buckeyes 19-0. Legend has it that the rotunda at Ohio Stadium is painted with maize flowers on a blue background due to the outcome of the 1922 dedication game. In 1923, Michigan went 8-0, winning another conference championship.

The mid-1920s saw the rise of the "Benny-to-Bennie" combination, featuring Benny Friedman and Bennie Oosterbaan, who revolutionized the game with their passing prowess. Yost stepped aside in 1926 to focus on being Michigan's athletic director, thus ending the greatest period of success in the history of Michigan football. Under Yost, Michigan posted a 165-29-10 record, winning ten conference championships and six national championships.

Kipke, Crisler, and Oosterbaan: Maintaining Excellence (1927-1958)

Following Yost's departure, Tad Wieman and Harry Kipke took the reins. From 1930 to 1933, Kipke returned Michigan to prominence. During that stretch, Michigan won the Big Ten title every year and the national championship in 1932 and 1933. In 1932, quarterback and future College Football Hall of Famer Harry Newman was a unanimous first-team All-American, and the recipient of the Douglas Fairbanks Trophy as Outstanding College Player of the Year (predecessor of the Heisman Trophy). After 1933, however, Kipke's teams compiled a 12-22 record from 1934 to 1937. One was an allegation that Kipke was promising summer jobs and guaranteed wages to incoming freshmen. Another was Kipke allowing for summer practices (banned by the Big Ten's rules at the time) and the last was Kipke's association with Harry Bennett, the controversial right-hand man of Henry Ford.

Harry Kipke, who coached the Wolverines from 1929-37, was fired after the 1937 season for five main reasons per an article from the Chicago Tribune, three of them for reasons that were considered unsportsmanlike.

Fritz Crisler arrived in 1938 and introduced the iconic winged football helmet. In 1940, Tom Harmon led the Wolverines to a 7-1 record on his way to winning the Heisman Trophy. From 1938 to 1944, Michigan posted a 48-11-2 record, although the period lacked a national title and only contained one conference title. Yet, Crisler's biggest mark on the game of football was made in 1945, when Michigan faced a loaded Army squad that featured two Heisman trophy winners, Doc Blanchard and Glenn Davis. Crisler divided his team into "offensive" and "defensive" specialists, an act that earned him the nickname "the father of two-platoon football."

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Bennie Oosterbaan took over the football program. Things started off well for Oosterbaan in 1948 with the Wolverines earning a quality mid-season victory over No. 3 Northwestern. Michigan finished the season undefeated at 9-0, thus winning another national championship. Initially, Oosterbaan continued Crisler's tradition of on-field success, winning conference titles each year from 1948 to 1950 and the national title in 1948. The 1950 season ended in interesting fashion, with Michigan and Ohio State combining for 45 punts in a game that came to be known as the "Snow Bowl." Michigan won the game 9-3, winning the Big Ten conference and sending the Wolverines off to the 1951 Rose Bowl. Subsequently, Michigan's football team began to decline under Oosterbaan.

The Schembechler Era and "The Ten Year War" (1969-1989)

Bo Schembechler's arrival in 1969 marked a new chapter in Michigan football history. He won 13 Big Ten titles in his 21 seasons as head coach between 1969 and 1989, the first in 1969 when he beat his friend and mentor Woody Hayes, beginning of "The Ten Year War" era of the Michigan - Ohio State football rivalry. From 1976 to 1978, Michigan asserted its own dominance of the rivalry, beating Ohio State, going to the Rose Bowl, and posting a 10-2 record every year. After the 1978 season, Woody Hayes was fired for punching an opposing player during the 1978 Gator Bowl, thus ending The Ten Year War. Michigan had a slight edge in the war, with Schembechler going 5-4-1 against Hayes. However, while Schembechler successfully placed great emphasis on the rivalry, Michigan's bowl performances were sub-par. Michigan failed to win their last game of the season every year during The Ten Year War. Michigan needed to reverse its fortunes in 1985, and they began doing so with new quarterback Jim Harbaugh. Harbaugh led the Wolverines to a 5-0 record, propelling them to a No. 2 ranking heading into a game with the No.

During this era, Michigan's rivalry with Ohio State reached legendary status, known as "The Ten Year War."

Moeller and Carr: Maintaining Tradition (1990-2007)

Gary Moeller took over from Schembechler for the 1990 season, becoming the 16th head coach in Michigan football history. Moeller inherited a talented squad that had just played in the 1990 Rose Bowl, including wide receiver Desmond Howard. Moeller led Michigan to a 9-3 record in his first season, tying for the Big Ten championship but losing out on a Rose Bowl bid to Iowa. The next two years, Moeller's teams won the conference outright, setting marks of 10-2 and 9-0-3. In 1991, Desmond Howard had a memorable season that propelled him to win the Heisman Trophy, the award given to college football's most outstanding player. The 1992 team, led by quarterback Elvis Grbac, posted a 9-0-3 record, defeating Washington in the 1993 Rose Bowl. Moeller led Michigan to 8-4 records in both 1993 and 1994.

However, Moeller's tenure was cut short by his resignation in 1995 after a drunken outburst at a suburban Detroit restaurant.

Lloyd Carr stepped in and led Michigan to a national championship in 1997. He won five Big Ten titles in his 13 seasons at the helm and posted a winning percentage of .753. His winning percentage of .779 in conference play trails only that of Schembechler in Michigan history.

Struggles and Rebuilding (2008-2014)

The program's fortunes declined under Rich Rodriguez and Brady Hoke, who were both fired after relatively short tenures. Rich Rodriguez succeeded Carr following his retirement in 2007. Rodriguez coached the Wolverines through the 2010 season, compiling a record of 15-22. Rodriguez would be followed by coach Brady Hoke who would go on to coach four seasons. Hoke would end with a record of 31-20.

In 2010, the NCAA ruled that Michigan was not in compliance when it exceeded its practice and workout times allowed during the 2008 and 2009 seasons under Rich Rodriguez.

The Harbaugh Era and a Return to Glory (2015-2023)

Following Hoke's dismissal, Michigan hired Jim Harbaugh on December 30, 2014. Harbaugh is a former quarterback for the team, having played for Michigan from 1982 to 1986 under Schembechler. Harbaugh led the Wolverines to three consecutive Big Ten titles and College Football Playoff appearances during his final three years as head coach, from 2021 to 2023. His final team, the 2023 Michigan Wolverines won the program's first national championship since 1997, and first undisputed national championship since 1948 after beating Washington in the 2024 National Championship Game.

However, the 2023 season was also marred by a sign-stealing scandal, resulting in a four-year probationary period and potential fines for the program. Michigan football received arguably the biggest punishment in the history of the program on Friday, Aug. 15, when the NCAA handed out its penalties for the Conor Stalions sign-stealing scandal. The program will be put on a four-year probationary period and pay fines that could amount to $20 million, though it also avoided a potentially devastating postseason ban. Coach Sherrone Moore will also tack on one more game to his two-game suspension, which was originally self-imposed by the University.

The Moore Era (2024-Present)

Following the championship victory, Harbaugh left Michigan to return to coaching in the National Football League (NFL). Currently, the head coach position is held by Sherrone Moore, who had been on Harbaugh's coaching staff since 2018, and had been an offensive coordinator since 2021. He was the acting head coach for four games during the national championship-winning 2023 season. He won them all, including games against ranked opponents Penn State and Ohio State.

Other Sports at Michigan

The Michigan Wolverines comprise 27 varsity sports teams at the University of Michigan, including 13 men's teams and 14 women's teams. These teams compete in the NCAA's Division I and in the Big Ten Conference in all sports except women's water polo, which competes in the NCAA inter-divisional Collegiate Water Polo Association. The men's baseball team won national championships in 1953 and 1962 and has sent 138 players to the major leagues. The current coach of the Michigan Wolverines is Erik Bakich, who came to the University of Michigan after the 2012 season when Rich Maloney stepped down. Michigan has won 35 conference championships, made 25 NCAA Tournament appearances and won those 2 national titles. The men's basketball team plays its games at Crisler Center. The Wolverines have won 14 Big Ten regular season titles, as well as the inaugural Big Ten tournament in 1998, which it later forfeited due to NCAA violations. The team has appeared in the NCAA Final Four on eight occasions (1964, 1965, 1976, 1989, 1992, 1993, 2013, 2018) and won the National Championship in 1989 under Steve Fisher. The program later vacated its 1992 and 1993 Final Four appearances due to NCAA violations. The women's basketball team is coached by Kim Barnes Arico, who became the head coach in 2012. The men's and women's cross country teams have been nationally renowned since 1974 when Ron Warhurst started coaching the men, and more recently as alum Mike McGuire took on the women's team in 1991. The women's team has qualified for the NCAA championships every year but two since 1988, finishing 2nd in 1994, and winning five consecutive Big Ten titles from 2002 to 2006. The men's golf has been a varsity sport at Michigan since 1919. The team's first coach was elocution and oratory professor Thomas Trueblood who served as coach from 1920 to 1935. Trueblood led the Michigan golf team to consecutive national championships in 1934 and 1935. Women's golf has been a varsity sport at Michigan since 1976. The Michigan men's gymnastics team has won 6 NCAA championships, 18 Big Ten championships and have been invited to 33 NCAA tournaments. Women's gymnastics has been a varsity sport at Michigan since 1976. Bev Plocki has been the head coach of the women's gymnastics team since 1990. The Wolverines ice hockey team, which was a member of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association until 2013 and is now a member of the Big Ten Conference, plays its home contests at Yost Ice Arena. Altogether, the program has won nine NCAA national championships (1948, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1955, 1956, 1964, 1996, 1998), which is also an NCAA record. The Michigan men's lacrosse team is one of the oldest collegiate lacrosse programs in the midwest, having been founded in 1940, the program is also the most successful athletic program at Michigan, with an .830 all-time win percentage. Women's rowing has been a varsity at sport at Michigan since 1996. The men's soccer team plays Michigan State annually for the rights to the Big Bear Trophy, a wooden sculpture purchased by Michigan head coach Steve Burns in 2000. The men's soccer advanced to the College Cup in 2010, their first in program history. Carol Hutchins has been the head coach of the Michigan Wolverines softball team since 1985. With a career record of 1,274-435-4 (.745 winning percentage), Hutchins has more wins than any other coach in the history of the university-in both men's and women's athletics. Men's swimming and diving has been a varsity sport at Michigan since 1921. With 12 NCAA national championships (as well as 7 unofficial) including the 2013 NCAA championship, the Michigan men's swimming and diving team has won more national championships than any other varsity sport in the history of the university. Women's swimming and diving has been a varsity sport at Michigan since 1974. Michigan's men's tennis team was formed in 1893. Women's tennis was established as a varsity sport in 1973.

Notable Scandals and Infractions

Throughout its history, the Michigan football program has faced its share of controversies:

1906: Withdrawal from the Western Conference: Yost was accused by Stanford president David Starr Jordan of paying players, going against the spirit of amateurism of the day.
1937: Harry Kipke fired: Harry Kipke, who coached the Wolverines from 1929-37, was fired after the 1937 season for five main reasons per an article from the Chicago Tribune, three of them for reasons that were considered unsportsmanlike.
1969: Bo Schembechler and Dr. Robert Anderson: Dr. Robert Anderson, who served as a doctor at the University from 1968-2003, was accused of sexually assaulting hundreds of U-M athletes and students during his time with the University. One of those students (not enrolled at the University) was Matt Schembechler, son of legendary coach Bo Schembechler. In 2022, the University settled with the sexual assault survivors for $490 million.
1995: Gary Moeller's resignation: Gary Moeller resigned a week after tapes of a drunken outburst at a suburban Detroit restaurant were released in May of 1995.
2010: Rich Rodriguez's practice infractions: The NCAA ruled ahead of the 2010 season that Michigan was not in compliance when it exceeded its practice and workout times allowed during the 2008 and 2009 seasons under Rich Rodriguez.
2023: Sign-Stealing Scandal: Michigan football received four years probation and fines for a sign-stealing scandal from 2023.

Rivalries

Michigan has a major rivalry with Ohio State, considered one of the fiercest rivalries in American sports. In a pair of ESPN fan polls, in 2000 and 2003, the Michigan-Ohio State series was voted the greatest rivalry in sports in America. Michigan's meeting with Ohio State is almost always the last game of the two schools' regular seasons and has provided many memorable contests, such as the "Snow Bowl" of 1950. The game has frequently decided the Big Ten Champion. As of 2024, Michigan leads the series 62-51-6. The contest on November 18, 2006 marked the first time ever these teams had been ranked No. 1 and No. 2 going into the game, and the first time they were both undefeated since 1973. Michigan has a spirited rivalry with the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Michigan leads the series 25-17-1. Michigan also has an intrastate rival in Michigan State; the schools' football teams compete for the Paul Bunyan Trophy. The Wolverines also have a tradition-rich history with the Minnesota Golden Gophers. The two football teams compete for the Little Brown Jug, a five-gallon jug with the respective schools' "M"s on either side and the scores of previous games down the middle. The Little Brown Jug was the first trophy played for between college football teams.

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