Jack Wheeler (American football)
Encyclopedia
Clare Jack Wheeler was an American football
player. He played in the backfield
for the University of Michigan
from 1928 to 1930 and was the Most Valuable Player
on the 1930 Michigan Wolverines football team
.
, Wheeler began to attain athletic prominence playing halfback
and quarterback
for the football team at Bay City Central High School
from 1924 to 1926.
and played on the freshman football team in 1927. As a sophomore in 1928, Wheeler started three games at the halfback position for Michigan's varsity football team. As a junior in 1920, he started two games at the fullback position.
Wheeler had his best season as a senior in 1930. He demonstrated his versatility by playing all three backfield positions (quarterback, halfback and fullback
) for the undefeated 1930 Michigan Wolverines football team
that compiled a record of 8-0-1.
In the 1930 season opener, Wheeler was the Wolverines' starting quarterback and scored two touchdowns in a 33–0 victory over Denison College
.
His performance in the fourth game of the 1930 season helped secure his reputation. Michigan trailed Purdue
13–0 at the end of the first quarter. Wheeler and sophomore quarterback Harry Newman
were sent into the game in the second quarter and led Michigan to a come-from-behind victory and a final score of 14–13. Wheeler did most of the ball carrying on the drive that resulted in Michigan's winning touchdown. Wheeler scored the winning touchdown with an eight-yard run on "the old 83 play." The following week, Wheeler was Michigan's leading rusher in a 13–0 win over Ohio State
. He also caught a 20-yard touchdown pass from Harry Newman in a 15–7 win over Illinois. In the seventh week of the 1930 season, Wheeler scored the only touchdown in Michigan's 7–0 win over Minnesota
in the annual competition for the Little Brown Jug
. Wheeler scored the touchdown in the first quarter on a 45-yard punt return which a newspaper account of the game described as follows:
Michigan head coach Harry G. Kipke
praised Wheeler's performance during the 1930 season as follows:
Despite his slight build at 155 pounds, Wheeler scored 30 of the 111 points scored by Michigan in 1930 and was selected as a first-team All-Big Ten player by Claire Burcky of the Newspaper Editors Association. Burckey explained his selection of Wheeler as follows: "The reason Jack Wheeler, the Bay City boy, made my team is because he kept Michigan going when Harry Newman failed. Wheeler's punt handling, run-backs and interception of passes provided the brightest bits of ball lugging Michigan showed to the conference this season."
Wheeler was voted by his teammates on the 1930 Michigan team as the recipient of the Most Valuable Player
award. He also finished second behind Wes Fesler
in the voting for the Chicago Tribune Silver Football
trophy awarded to the Most Valuable Player in the Big Ten Conference
.
at the time of his death.
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 in the backfield
Backfield
The backfield is the area of an American football field behind the line of scrimmage. The backfield or offensive backfield can also refer to members of offense who begin plays behind the line, typically including any backs on the field, such as the quarterback, running back, and/or fullback.-Play...
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 1928 to 1930 and was the Most Valuable Player
Most Valuable Player
In sports, a Most Valuable Player award is an honor typically bestowed upon the best performing player or players on a specific team, in an entire league, or for a particular contest or series of contests...
on the 1930 Michigan Wolverines football team
1930 Michigan Wolverines football team
The 1930 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1930 college football season. The head coach was former Michigan star, 31-year-old Harry Kipke, in his second year in the position....
.
Early life
A native of Bay City, MichiganBay City, Michigan
Bay City is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan located near the base of the Saginaw Bay on Lake Huron. As of the 2010 census, the city's population was 34,932, and is the principal city of the Bay City Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is included in the Saginaw-Bay City-Saginaw Township North...
, Wheeler began to attain athletic prominence playing halfback
Halfback (American football)
A halfback, sometimes referred to as a tailback, is an offensive position in American football, which lines up in the backfield and generally is responsible for carrying the ball on run plays. Historically, from the 1870s through the 1950s, the halfback position was both an offensive and defensive...
and 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...
for the football team at Bay City Central High School
Bay City Central High School
Bay City Central High School is a high school located at 1624 Columbus Ave., Bay City, Michigan. Its mascot is the wolf, and its colors are purple and gold.-Building history:...
from 1924 to 1926.
College career
After graduating from high school, he 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...
and played on the freshman football team in 1927. As a sophomore in 1928, Wheeler started three games at the halfback position for Michigan's varsity football team. As a junior in 1920, he started two games at the fullback position.
Wheeler had his best season as a senior in 1930. He demonstrated his versatility by playing all three backfield positions (quarterback, halfback and fullback
Fullback (American football)
A fullback is a position in the offensive backfield in American and Canadian football, and is one of the two running back positions along with the halfback...
) for the undefeated 1930 Michigan Wolverines football team
1930 Michigan Wolverines football team
The 1930 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1930 college football season. The head coach was former Michigan star, 31-year-old Harry Kipke, in his second year in the position....
that compiled a record of 8-0-1.
In the 1930 season opener, Wheeler was the Wolverines' starting quarterback and scored two touchdowns in a 33–0 victory over Denison College
Denison College
Denison College of Secondary Education is a college of secondary education in Bathurst founded in 2007.Located in Bathurst the college is the largest provider of secondary education in the area with student numbers for 2007 of 1580, a college teaching staff of 130 and support staff of 30.- History...
.
His performance in the fourth game of the 1930 season helped secure his reputation. Michigan trailed 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...
13–0 at the end of the first quarter. Wheeler and sophomore quarterback Harry Newman
Harry Newman
Harry Lawrence Newman was an American football quarterback who played for the University of Michigan Wolverines , the New York Giants , and the Brooklyn/Rochester Tigers .-College career:...
were sent into the game in the second quarter and led Michigan to a come-from-behind victory and a final score of 14–13. Wheeler did most of the ball carrying on the drive that resulted in Michigan's winning touchdown. Wheeler scored the winning touchdown with an eight-yard run on "the old 83 play." The following week, Wheeler was Michigan's leading rusher in a 13–0 win over Ohio State
1930 Ohio State Buckeyes football team
The 1930 Ohio State Buckeyes football team represented the Ohio State University in the college football season of 1930–1931. The Buckeyes compiled a 5–2–1 record while outscoring their opponents 139–48.-Schedule:-References:...
. He also caught a 20-yard touchdown pass from Harry Newman in a 15–7 win over Illinois. In the seventh week of the 1930 season, Wheeler scored the only touchdown in Michigan's 7–0 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...
in the annual competition for the Little Brown Jug
Little Brown Jug (football)
The Little Brown Jug is an earthenware jug that serves as a trophy awarded to the winner of the American college football rivalry game played annually by the Minnesota Golden Gophers football team of the university of Minnesota and the Michigan Wolverines football team of the University of Michigan...
. Wheeler scored the touchdown in the first quarter on a 45-yard punt return which a newspaper account of the game described as follows:
"Wheeler's run will go down as one of Michigan's, classics. He got the ball after a low, twisting kick by [Clarence] Munn had traveled to the Minnesota 45-yard line. Wheeler gathered it in and charged. He hit two Minnesota tacklers and knifed his way between them. He staggered a yard or two from the impact and side stepped another Gopher tackler. Morrison came across like a charging bull to take another from Wheeler's path. He waved away, and slid yards across the goal line on his dive for a touchdown."
Michigan head coach Harry G. Kipke
Harry G. Kipke
Harry George Kipke was an American football, basketball, and baseball player and coach. He was the head football coach at Michigan State College in 1928 and at the University of Michigan from 1929–1937, compiling a career record of 49–30–5...
praised Wheeler's performance during the 1930 season as follows:
"He was our offensive spark, as well as our best ground gainer. He lacked confidence up to this year, it seems, but he had it when this season opened and he got better as the season progressed. He worked effectively with Simrall, Hudson and Newman in carrying out the running attack. He blocked well for them, and they for him."
Despite his slight build at 155 pounds, Wheeler scored 30 of the 111 points scored by Michigan in 1930 and was selected as a first-team All-Big Ten player by Claire Burcky of the Newspaper Editors Association. Burckey explained his selection of Wheeler as follows: "The reason Jack Wheeler, the Bay City boy, made my team is because he kept Michigan going when Harry Newman failed. Wheeler's punt handling, run-backs and interception of passes provided the brightest bits of ball lugging Michigan showed to the conference this season."
Wheeler was voted by his teammates on the 1930 Michigan team as the recipient of the Most Valuable Player
Most Valuable Player
In sports, a Most Valuable Player award is an honor typically bestowed upon the best performing player or players on a specific team, in an entire league, or for a particular contest or series of contests...
award. He also finished second behind Wes Fesler
Wes Fesler
Wesley Eugene "Wes" Fesler was an American football, basketball, and baseball player and coach of football and basketball. He was three-sport athlete at Ohio State University and a consensus first-team selection to the College Football All-America Team three straight years...
in the voting for the Chicago Tribune Silver Football
Chicago Tribune Silver Football
The Chicago Tribune Silver Football is awarded by the Chicago Tribune to the college football player determined to be the best player from the Big Ten Conference. The award has been presented annually since 1924, when Red Grange of Illinois was the award's first recipient.The winner of the Silver...
trophy awarded to the Most Valuable Player in 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...
.
Late life
In February 1990, Wheeler died at age 81. He was a resident of Midland, MichiganMidland, Michigan
Midland is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan in the Tri-Cities region of the state. It is the county seat of Midland County. The city's population was 41,863 as of the 2010 census. It is the principal city of the Midland Micropolitan Statistical Area....
at the time of his death.