1964 Michigan Wolverines football team
Encyclopedia
The 1964 Michigan Wolverines football team, coached by Bump Elliott
, won the Big Ten Conference
championship with a final record of 9–1 after defeating Oregon State
in the Rose Bowl
, 34–7. The team had two first-team All-Americans in quarterback
Bob Timberlake and defensive tackle Bill Yearby
and four All-Big Ten players in Timberlake, Yearby, Jim Conley, and Tom Cecchini. The Wolverines narrowly missed an undefeated season, with their only loss coming against a Purdue
team led by Bob Griese
by a score of 21–20. Michigan had a chance to tie the game but Timberlake carried the ball for an attempted two-point conversion and was stopped short of the goal line.
Bump Elliott
Chalmers W. "Bump" Elliott is a former American football player, coach, and college athletics administrator. He played halfback at Purdue University and the University of Michigan...
, won 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 with a final record of 9–1 after defeating Oregon State
1964 Oregon State Beavers football team
The 1964 Oregon State Beavers football team represented Oregon State University in the 1964 NCAA college football season. The Beavers ended this season with eight wins and three losses in their first season in the Athletic Association of Western Universites after competing as an independent for...
in the Rose Bowl
1965 Rose Bowl
The 1965 Rose Bowl, played on January 1, 1965 was the 51st Rose Bowl Game. The Michigan Wolverines defeated the Oregon State Beavers by a score of 34–7...
, 34–7. The team had two first-team All-Americans in 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...
Bob Timberlake and defensive tackle Bill Yearby
Bill Yearby
William M. Yearby was an American football defensive lineman who played for the New York Jets of the American Football League in 1966...
and four All-Big Ten players in Timberlake, Yearby, Jim Conley, and Tom Cecchini. The Wolverines narrowly missed an undefeated season, with their only loss coming against a Purdue
Purdue Boilermakers football
The Purdue Boilermakers football team is the intercollegiate football program of the Purdue University Boilermakers. The program is classified in the NCAA's Division I Bowl Subdivision, and the team competes in the Big Ten Conference. The Boilermakers have an all-time record of...
team led by Bob Griese
Bob Griese
Robert Allen "Bob" Griese is a former American collegiate and Professional Football quarterback who earned All-American honors with the Purdue Boilermakers before being drafted in 1967 by the American Football League's Miami Dolphins...
by a score of 21–20. Michigan had a chance to tie the game but Timberlake carried the ball for an attempted two-point conversion and was stopped short of the goal line.
Schedule
Rushing
| Player | Attempts | Net yards | Yards per attempt | Touchdowns |
| Mel Anthony Mel Anthony Mel Anthony is a former American football running back. He played football for the University of Michigan from 1962 to 1964 and was named the Most Valuable Player of the 1965 Rose Bowl after setting a Rose Bowl record with an 84-yard touchdown run... |
145 | 702 | 4.8 | 9 |
| Bob Timberlake | 156 | 631 | 4.0 | 9 |
| Carl Ward Carl Ward Carl Davis Ward is a former American football player. He played college football as a halfback for the University of Michigan from 1964 to 1966 and professional football in the National Football League for the Cleveland Browns and New Orleans Saints from 1967 to 1969.-Early years:Ward was born in... |
101 | 515 | 5.1 | 4 |
Passing
| Player | Attempts | Completions | Interceptions | Comp % | Yards | Yds/Comp | TD | Long |
| Bob Timberlake | 137 | 70 | 5 | 51.1 | 884 | 12.6 | 5 | |
Receiving
| Player | Receptions | Yards | Yds/Recp | TD | Long |
| John Henderson | 31 | 377 | 12.2 | 3 | 15 |
| Jim Detwiler Jim Detwiler Jim Detwiler is a former American football halfback who was the 20th pick in the first round of the 1967 NFL Draft. Before this he had been an All= Big Ten Conference player for the Michigan Wolverines from 1964 to 1966... |
11 | 214 | 19.4 | 2 | 30 |
| Steve C. Smith | 8 | 131 | 16.4 | 1 | 25 |
Kickoff returns
| Player | Returns | Yards | Yds/Return | TD | Long |
| Jim Detwiler Jim Detwiler Jim Detwiler is a former American football halfback who was the 20th pick in the first round of the 1967 NFL Draft. Before this he had been an All= Big Ten Conference player for the Michigan Wolverines from 1964 to 1966... |
10 | 225 | 22.5 | 0 | 35 |
| Carl Ward Carl Ward Carl Davis Ward is a former American football player. He played college football as a halfback for the University of Michigan from 1964 to 1966 and professional football in the National Football League for the Cleveland Browns and New Orleans Saints from 1967 to 1969.-Early years:Ward was born in... |
4 | 94 | 23.5 | 0 | 32 |
Punt returns
| Player | Returns | Yards | Yds/Return | TD | Long |
| Dick Sygar | 18 | 118 | 6.6 | 0 | 10 |
| Dick Rindfuss | 8 | 51 | 6.4 | 0 | 16 |
Starting lineup
- Mel AnthonyMel AnthonyMel Anthony is a former American football running back. He played football for the University of Michigan from 1962 to 1964 and was named the Most Valuable Player of the 1965 Rose Bowl after setting a Rose Bowl record with an 84-yard touchdown run...
, Cincinnati, OhioCincinnati, OhioCincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's...
, Roger Bacon H.S.Roger Bacon High SchoolRoger Bacon High School is a high school in St. Bernard, Ohio, USA based in the Franciscan Tradition.This high school was dedicated in 1928, and was under the administration of and staffed by the Brothers and Priests of the Order of Friars Minor, and lay men and women...
- 6 games at fullback - David Butler, Detroit, MichiganDetroit, MichiganDetroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
, Henry Ford H.S. - 8 games at left guard - Thomas Cecchini, Detroit, Michigan, Pershing H.S. - 2 games at center
- Jim Conley, Springdale, PennsylvaniaSpringdale, PennsylvaniaSpringdale is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, northeast of Pittsburgh along the Allegheny River. The population was 3,405 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Springdale is located at ....
- 4 games at left end - Jim DetwilerJim DetwilerJim Detwiler is a former American football halfback who was the 20th pick in the first round of the 1967 NFL Draft. Before this he had been an All= Big Ten Conference player for the Michigan Wolverines from 1964 to 1966...
, Toledo, OhioToledo, OhioToledo is the fourth most populous city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Lucas County. Toledo is in northwest Ohio, on the western end of Lake Erie, and borders the State of Michigan...
, DeVilbiss H.S. - 6 games at left halfback - Ben Farabee, Holland, MichiganHolland, MichiganHolland is a city in the western region of the Lower Peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is situated near the eastern shore of Lake Michigan on Lake Macatawa, which is fed by the Macatawa River ....
- 3 games at left end - John Henderson, Dayton, OhioDayton, OhioDayton is the 6th largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Montgomery County, the fifth most populous county in the state. The population was 141,527 at the 2010 census. The Dayton Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 841,502 in the 2010 census...
, Roosevelt H.S. - 7 games at right end - Bill Keating, Chicago, Illinois, St. Patrick's H.S. - 1 game at right guard
- Charles Kines, Niles, OhioNiles, OhioNiles is a city in Trumbull County, Ohio, United States. The city's population was 20,932 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Youngstown-Warren-Boardman, OH-PA Metropolitan Statistical Area....
, McKinley H.S. - 8 games at left tackle - Bill Laskey, Milan, MichiganMilan, MichiganMilan is a city in Monroe and Washtenaw counties in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 4,775 at the 2000 census. About 60% of the city's area and 75% of its residents are located on the Washtenaw County side adjacent to York Township in Washtenaw County; while 40% percent of the...
- 3 games at right end - Tom MackTom MackThomas Lee Mack is a former left guard for the Los Angeles Rams of the NFL, spending all 13-years with them from 1966 to 1978...
, Bucyrus, OhioBucyrus, OhioAs of the census of 2000, there were 13,224 people, 5,559 households, and 3,552 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,812.0 people per square mile . There were 5,955 housing units at an average density of 816.0 per square mile...
, Cleveland Heights H.S. - 7 games at right tackle - John Marcum, Monroe, MichiganMonroe, MichiganMonroe is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 20,733 at the 2010 census. It is the largest city and county seat of Monroe County. The city is bordered on the south by Monroe Charter Township, but both are politically independent. The city is located approximately 14 miles ...
- 8 games at right guard - Bob Mielke, Chicago, Illinois, Carl Schurz H.S. - 1 game at right guard
- Frank NunleyFrank NunleyFrank Hembre Nunley is a former American football player. He played college football for the University of Michigan and spent ten seasons in the National Football League , all with the San Francisco 49ers...
, Belleville, MichiganBelleville, MichiganBelleville is a city in Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 3,991 at the 2010 census. It is the sister city of Machynlleth, Wales. Belleville is southeast of Ann Arbor and southwest of Detroit.-Geography:...
- 1 game at center - Brian Patchen, Steubenville, OhioSteubenville, OhioSteubenville is a city located along the Ohio River in Jefferson County, Ohio on the Ohio-West Virginia border in the United States. It is the political county seat of Jefferson County. It is also a principal city of the Weirton–Steubenville, WV-OH Metropolitan Statistical Area...
, Catholic Central H.S. - 7 games at center - Dick Rindfuss, Niles, Ohio, McKinley H.S. - 3 games at right halfback
- Arnie SimkusArnie SimkusArnold J. "Arnie" Simkus is a former American football player. Simkus was born in Schlava, Germany and immigrated to the United States as a boy. He graduated from Cass Tech High School in Detroit, Michigan before enrolling at the University of Michigan...
, Detroit, Michigan, Cass Tech H.S. - 2 games at left guard - Stephen C. Smith, Park Ridge, IllinoisPark Ridge, Illinois-Climate:-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 37,775 people, 14,219 households, and 10,465 families residing in the city. The population density was 5,374.6 people per square mile . There were 14,646 housing units at an average density of 2,083.8 per square mile...
, Maine East - 3 games at left end - Dick Sygar, Niles, Ohio, McKinley H.S. - 4 games at fullback
- Bob Timberlake, Franklin, OhioFranklin, OhioNot to be confused with Franklin County, Ohio.Franklin is a city in Warren County, Ohio, United States. The population was 11,771 at the 2010 census.-History:...
- 10 games at quarterback - Rick VolkRick VolkRichard Robert Volk is a former American football player.Volk played college football for the University of Michigan from 1964 to 1966 and was a member of the 1964 team that won the Big Ten Conference championship and defeated Oregon State in the 1965 Rose Bowl...
, Wauseon, OhioWauseon, OhioAs of the census of 2000, there were 7,091 people, 2,706 households, and 1,875 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,437.6 people per square mile . There were 2,851 housing units at an average density of 578.0 per square mile...
- 4 games at left halfback - Carl WardCarl WardCarl Davis Ward is a former American football player. He played college football as a halfback for the University of Michigan from 1964 to 1966 and professional football in the National Football League for the Cleveland Browns and New Orleans Saints from 1967 to 1969.-Early years:Ward was born in...
, Cincinnati, OhioCincinnati, OhioCincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's...
, Taft H.S. - 6 games at right halfback - Dick Wells, Grand Rapids, MichiganGrand Rapids, MichiganGrand Rapids is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. The city is located on the Grand River about 40 miles east of Lake Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 188,040. In 2010, the Grand Rapids metropolitan area had a population of 774,160 and a combined statistical area, Grand...
, Ottawa Hills H.S. - 1 game at right halfback - John Yanz, Chicago, Illinois, DeLaSalle H.S. - 2 games at left tackle
- Bill YearbyBill YearbyWilliam M. Yearby was an American football defensive lineman who played for the New York Jets of the American Football League in 1966...
, Detroit, Michigan, Eastern H.S. - 3 games at right tackle
Awards and honors
- Captain: Jim Conley
- All-American1964 College Football All-America TeamThe 1964 College Football All-America team is composed of college football players selected as All-Americans by various organizations and writers...
s: Bob Timberlake (AP, FWAA, FN) and Bill YearbyBill YearbyWilliam M. Yearby was an American football defensive lineman who played for the New York Jets of the American Football League in 1966...
(NEA CP, FN) - Academic All-American: Timberlake (first team)
- All-Conference: Bob Timberlake, Bill YearbyBill YearbyWilliam M. Yearby was an American football defensive lineman who played for the New York Jets of the American Football League in 1966...
, Jim Conley, and Tom Cecchini - Most Valuable Player: Bob Timberlake
- Meyer Morton Award: Tom MackTom MackThomas Lee Mack is a former left guard for the Los Angeles Rams of the NFL, spending all 13-years with them from 1966 to 1978...
- John MaulbetschJohn MaulbetschJohn F. "Johnny" Maulbetsch was an All-American football halfback at Adrian College in 1911 and for the University of Michigan Wolverines from 1914 to 1916...
Award: Clayton Wilhite
Coaching staff
- Head coach: Bump ElliottBump ElliottChalmers W. "Bump" Elliott is a former American football player, coach, and college athletics administrator. He played halfback at Purdue University and the University of Michigan...
- Assistant coaches: Don DufekDon Dufek, Sr.Don Dufek, Sr. is a former American football player and athletic director at Grand Valley State University and Kent State University. He is the father of All-American football players Don, and Bill as well as Joe who all played in the National Football League....
, Dennis FitzgeraldDennis FitzgeraldJoseph Dennis Fitzgerald was an American Freestyle wrestler and football player and coach. Fitzgerald played college football as a halfback at the University of Michigan and was selected as named the most valuable player on the 1960 Michigan Wolverines football team...
, 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...
, Robert Holloway, Tony Mason, Jack Nelson - Trainer: Jim Hunt
- Manager: Bob Evans