Chris Zurbrugg
Encyclopedia
Christopher M. Zurbrugg (born August 10, 1964) is a former American football
player. He played at the quarterback
position for the University of Michigan
from 1984 to 1986. He was Michigan's starting quarterback in the last half of the 1984 season and led the Wolverines in the 1984 Holiday Bowl
against the national champion BYU Cougars
. In his second start for Michigan, Zurbrugg set a Michigan record for most passing yards in a game and tied the record with four touchdown passes in a game. Zurbrugg later became a high school teacher and football coach in Alliance, Ohio
.
and graduated from Alliance High School in 1983. He accepted a football scholarship to attend the University of Michigan
.
. Jim Harbaugh
sustained a broken arm, and head coach Bo Schembechler
turned to Zurbrugg to lead the Michigan offense. Schembechler noted that he had been reluctant to start Zurbrugg, because he had two cracked vertebrae in his back during the spring of 1984. In his first start on October 27, 1984, Zurbrugg rushed for 51 yards and scored a rushing touchdown in leading Michigan to a 26-18 win over Illinois
.
In his second start, Zurbrugg broke the Michigan single-game record with 259 passing yards against Purdue
. (Zurbrugg's record was broken the following year by Harbaugh.) He threw four touchdown passes against Purdue, including three (to Triando Markray, Vince Bean, and Sim Nelson) in the final 4:08 of the game. His four touchdown passes against Purdue also tied Michigan's single game record for touchdown passes in a single game.
The following week, Zurbrugg led Michigan to a 31-7 win over Minnesota
. Zurbrugg completed 7 of 10 passes against Minnesota and scored on a passing touchdown to Sim Nelson and also ran for 41 yards and a touchdown. For the 1984 season, Zurbrugg completed 63 of 119 passes and 691 yards. In December 1984, Schembechler summed up Zurbrugg's performance: "He's a competitive kid, a smart kid; he just hasn't had a lot of work. He's played some decent football, but what he is is a freshman. It hasn't been easy for him or us, but I think we can win the game [the Holiday Bowl] with him."
In the 1984 Holiday Bowl
, Zurbrugg completed 7 of 15 passes for 82 yards and threw a touchdown pass to Bob Perryman. Michigan lost the Holiday Bowl by a score of 24-17 to the 1984 national champion BYU Cougars
.
With Harbaugh's return, Zurbrugg became a backup and completed 7 of 21 passes for 168 yards during the 1985 and 1986 seasons. He scored two rushing touchdowns in a 1986 victory over Illinois.
Though eligible to complete during the 1987 season, Zurbrugg announced in early September 1987 that he would forego his final year of eligibility for personal reasons.
.
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 played at the 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...
position for 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...
from 1984 to 1986. He was Michigan's starting quarterback in the last half of the 1984 season and led the Wolverines in the 1984 Holiday Bowl
1984 Holiday Bowl
The 1984 Holiday Bowl was one of the games that determined the national championship in college football for the 1984 season. Played on December 21, 1984 at Jack Murphy Stadium in San Diego, California, it pitted the BYU Cougars against the Michigan Wolverines; BYU won the game, 24-17...
against the national champion BYU Cougars
1984 BYU Cougars football team
The 1984 BYU Cougars football team represented Brigham Young University in the 1984 college football season. The Cougars went undefeated en route to winning the 1984 Holiday Bowl against Michigan and being named national champions by the AP and Coaches Poll...
. In his second start for Michigan, Zurbrugg set a Michigan record for most passing yards in a game and tied the record with four touchdown passes in a game. Zurbrugg later became a high school teacher and football coach in Alliance, Ohio
Alliance, Ohio
Alliance is a city in Stark and Mahoning counties in the U.S. state of Ohio. The population was 22,322 at the 2010 census. Alliance's nickname is "The Carnation City", and the city is home to the University of Mount Union....
.
Early years
Zurbrugg grew up in Alliance, OhioAlliance, Ohio
Alliance is a city in Stark and Mahoning counties in the U.S. state of Ohio. The population was 22,322 at the 2010 census. Alliance's nickname is "The Carnation City", and the city is home to the University of Mount Union....
and graduated from Alliance High School in 1983. He accepted a football scholarship to attend 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...
.
University of Michigan
Zurbrugg became the starting quarterback as a redshirt freshman halfway through the season for the 1984 Michigan Wolverines football team1984 Michigan Wolverines football team
The 1984 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1984 college football season. The team's head coach was Bo Schembechler...
. Jim Harbaugh
Jim Harbaugh
James Joseph "Jim" Harbaugh is an American football coach and former player. He is currently the head coach for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League. Harbaugh agreed to a five-year deal with the San Francisco 49ers on January 7, 2011. Previously, he was the head coach at...
sustained a broken arm, and head coach 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...
turned to Zurbrugg to lead the Michigan offense. Schembechler noted that he had been reluctant to start Zurbrugg, because he had two cracked vertebrae in his back during the spring of 1984. In his first start on October 27, 1984, Zurbrugg rushed for 51 yards and scored a rushing touchdown in leading Michigan to a 26-18 win over Illinois
Illinois Fighting Illini football
The Illinois Fighting Illini are a major college football program, representing the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign. They compete in NCAA Division I-A and the Big Ten Conference.-Current staff:-All-time win/loss/tie record:*563-513-51...
.
In his second start, Zurbrugg broke the Michigan single-game record with 259 passing yards against 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...
. (Zurbrugg's record was broken the following year by Harbaugh.) He threw four touchdown passes against Purdue, including three (to Triando Markray, Vince Bean, and Sim Nelson) in the final 4:08 of the game. His four touchdown passes against Purdue also tied Michigan's single game record for touchdown passes in a single game.
The following week, Zurbrugg led Michigan to a 31-7 win over Minnesota
Minnesota Golden Gophers football
The University of Minnesota Golden Gophers are one of the oldest programs in college football history. They compete in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision and the Big Ten Conference. The Golden Gophers have claimed six national championships and have an all time record of 646–481–44 as...
. Zurbrugg completed 7 of 10 passes against Minnesota and scored on a passing touchdown to Sim Nelson and also ran for 41 yards and a touchdown. For the 1984 season, Zurbrugg completed 63 of 119 passes and 691 yards. In December 1984, Schembechler summed up Zurbrugg's performance: "He's a competitive kid, a smart kid; he just hasn't had a lot of work. He's played some decent football, but what he is is a freshman. It hasn't been easy for him or us, but I think we can win the game [the Holiday Bowl] with him."
In the 1984 Holiday Bowl
1984 Holiday Bowl
The 1984 Holiday Bowl was one of the games that determined the national championship in college football for the 1984 season. Played on December 21, 1984 at Jack Murphy Stadium in San Diego, California, it pitted the BYU Cougars against the Michigan Wolverines; BYU won the game, 24-17...
, Zurbrugg completed 7 of 15 passes for 82 yards and threw a touchdown pass to Bob Perryman. Michigan lost the Holiday Bowl by a score of 24-17 to the 1984 national champion BYU Cougars
1984 BYU Cougars football team
The 1984 BYU Cougars football team represented Brigham Young University in the 1984 college football season. The Cougars went undefeated en route to winning the 1984 Holiday Bowl against Michigan and being named national champions by the AP and Coaches Poll...
.
With Harbaugh's return, Zurbrugg became a backup and completed 7 of 21 passes for 168 yards during the 1985 and 1986 seasons. He scored two rushing touchdowns in a 1986 victory over Illinois.
Though eligible to complete during the 1987 season, Zurbrugg announced in early September 1987 that he would forego his final year of eligibility for personal reasons.
Later years
After graduating from Michigan, Zurbrugg became a high school teacher and football coach in Alliance, Ohio. He was married in May 1990 to Christi L. Weirich in Stark County, OhioStark County, Ohio
Stark County is a county located in the U.S. state of Ohio. As of the 2010 census, the population was 375,586. It is included in the Canton-Massillon, Ohio Metropolitan Statistical Area....
.