1951 Michigan Wolverines football | |
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Conference | Big Ten Conference |
Record | 4–5 (4–2 Big Ten) |
Head coach |
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MVP | Don Peterson |
Captain | Bill Putich |
Home stadium | Michigan Stadium |
Conf | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Team | W | L | T | W | L | T | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No. 4 Illinois $ | 5 | – | 0 | – | 1 | 9 | – | 0 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Purdue | 4 | – | 1 | – | 0 | 5 | – | 4 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No. 8 Wisconsin | 5 | – | 1 | – | 1 | 7 | – | 1 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Michigan | 4 | – | 2 | – | 0 | 4 | – | 5 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ohio State | 2 | – | 2 | – | 2 | 4 | – | 3 | – | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Northwestern | 2 | – | 4 | – | 0 | 5 | – | 4 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Minnesota | 1 | – | 4 | – | 1 | 2 | – | 6 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Indiana | 1 | – | 5 | – | 0 | 2 | – | 7 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Iowa | 0 | – | 5 | – | 1 | 2 | – | 5 | – | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The 1951 Michigan Wolverines football team was an American football team that represented the University of Michigan in the 1951 Big Ten Conference football season. In its fourth year under head coach Bennie Oosterbaan, Michigan compiled a 4–5 record (4–2 against conference opponents), finished in fourth place in the Big Ten, and outscored opponents by a combined total of 135 to 122. [1] [2] For the first time since 1937, Michigan was not ranked in the final AP Poll. It was ranked at No. 29 in the final Litkenhous Ratings. [3]
Left halfback/quarterback Bill Putich was the team captain, and fullback Don Peterson received the team's most valuable player award. [2]
Halfback/safety Lowell Perry was selected by the Central Press Association as a second-team player on the 1951 College Football All-America Team. [4] Three Michigan players received All-Big Ten honors: Lowell Perry (AP-1, UP-1); offensive tackle Tom Johnson (AP-1, UP-1); and linebacker Roger Zatkoff (AP-1). [5] [6]
The team's statistical leaders included Bill Putich with 390 passing yards, Don Peterson with 549 rushing yards, and Lowell Perry with 395 receiving yards. [7]
Date | Opponent | Rank | Site | Result | Attendance | Source |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
September 29 | No. 2 Michigan State* | No. 17 | L 0–25 | 97,239 | [8] | |
October 6 | Stanford* |
| L 13–23 | 57,200 | [9] | |
October 13 | Indiana |
| W 33–14 | 61,100 | [10] | |
October 20 | at Iowa | W 21–0 | 53,050 | [11] | ||
October 27 |
Minnesota![]() |
| W 54–27 | 86,200 | [12] | |
November 3 | at No. 3 Illinois | No. 15 | L 0–7 | 71,119 | [13] | |
November 10 | at Cornell* | L 7–20 | 35,300 | [14] | ||
November 17 | Northwestern |
| L 0–6 | 58,300 | [15] | |
November 24 | Ohio State |
| W 7–0 | 95,000 | [16] | |
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On September 29, Michigan, ranked No. 17, lost to Michigan State, ranked No. 2, by a 25-0 score before a sellout crowd of 97,239 at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor. To that date, it was the most decisive victory for Michigan State in the history of the Michigan–Michigan State football rivalry.
The Spartans limited the Wolverines to 26 passing yards, a net loss of 23 rushing yards, and four first downs. The Detroit Free Press called it "as feeble an attack as any teaam in Michigan's proud football history ever displayed." [8] The Spartans tallied 21 first downs, 249 rushing yards, 58 passing yards, and four touchdowns. [8]
Michigan's individual statistical leaders for the 1951 season include those listed below. [7] [17]
Player | Attempts | Net yards | Yards per attempt | Touchdowns |
Don Peterson | 152 | 549 | 3.6 | 4 |
Wes Bradford | 64 | 348 | 5.4 | 2 |
Bill Putich | 115 | 268 | 2.3 | 3 |
Player | Attempts | Completions | Interceptions | Comp % | Yards | Yds/Comp | TD | Long |
Bill Putich | 77 | 32 | 7 | 41.6 | 390 | 12.2 | 2 | 55 |
Don Peterson | 13 | 6 | 3 | 46.1 | 184 | 30.7 | 1 | 43 |
Ted Topor | 26 | 9 | 2 | 34.6 | 171 | 19.0 | 2 | 71 |
Player | Receptions | Yards | Yds/Recp | TD | Long |
Lowell Perry | 16 | 395 | 24.7 | 3 | 71 |
Frederick Pickard | 10 | 204 | 20.4 | 2 | 55 |
Ted Topor | 9 | 81 | 9.0 | 0 |
Player | Returns | Yards | Yds/Return | TD | Long |
Bill Putich | 3 | 88 | 29.3 | 0 | 36 |
Ted Topor | 3 | 72 | 24.0 | 0 | 27 |
Don Oldham | 3 | 52 | 17.3 | 0 |
Player | Returns | Yards | Yds/Return | TD | Long |
Lowell Perry | 17 | 197 | 11.6 | 1 | 75 |
Bill Putich | 11 | 71 | 6.5 | 0 | 0 |
Merritt Green | 1 | 10 | 10.0 | 0 | 10 |
The following 36 players received varsity letters for their participation on the 1951 team. [18] Players who started at least four games are shown with their names in bold. [2]
Michigan's 1951 coaching, training, and support staff included the following persons. [2]
Honors and awards for the 1951 season went to the following individuals. [2]
1951 Michigan Wolverines football | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Conference | Big Ten Conference |
Record | 4–5 (4–2 Big Ten) |
Head coach |
|
MVP | Don Peterson |
Captain | Bill Putich |
Home stadium | Michigan Stadium |
Conf | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Team | W | L | T | W | L | T | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No. 4 Illinois $ | 5 | – | 0 | – | 1 | 9 | – | 0 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Purdue | 4 | – | 1 | – | 0 | 5 | – | 4 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No. 8 Wisconsin | 5 | – | 1 | – | 1 | 7 | – | 1 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Michigan | 4 | – | 2 | – | 0 | 4 | – | 5 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ohio State | 2 | – | 2 | – | 2 | 4 | – | 3 | – | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Northwestern | 2 | – | 4 | – | 0 | 5 | – | 4 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Minnesota | 1 | – | 4 | – | 1 | 2 | – | 6 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Indiana | 1 | – | 5 | – | 0 | 2 | – | 7 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Iowa | 0 | – | 5 | – | 1 | 2 | – | 5 | – | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The 1951 Michigan Wolverines football team was an American football team that represented the University of Michigan in the 1951 Big Ten Conference football season. In its fourth year under head coach Bennie Oosterbaan, Michigan compiled a 4–5 record (4–2 against conference opponents), finished in fourth place in the Big Ten, and outscored opponents by a combined total of 135 to 122. [1] [2] For the first time since 1937, Michigan was not ranked in the final AP Poll. It was ranked at No. 29 in the final Litkenhous Ratings. [3]
Left halfback/quarterback Bill Putich was the team captain, and fullback Don Peterson received the team's most valuable player award. [2]
Halfback/safety Lowell Perry was selected by the Central Press Association as a second-team player on the 1951 College Football All-America Team. [4] Three Michigan players received All-Big Ten honors: Lowell Perry (AP-1, UP-1); offensive tackle Tom Johnson (AP-1, UP-1); and linebacker Roger Zatkoff (AP-1). [5] [6]
The team's statistical leaders included Bill Putich with 390 passing yards, Don Peterson with 549 rushing yards, and Lowell Perry with 395 receiving yards. [7]
Date | Opponent | Rank | Site | Result | Attendance | Source |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
September 29 | No. 2 Michigan State* | No. 17 | L 0–25 | 97,239 | [8] | |
October 6 | Stanford* |
| L 13–23 | 57,200 | [9] | |
October 13 | Indiana |
| W 33–14 | 61,100 | [10] | |
October 20 | at Iowa | W 21–0 | 53,050 | [11] | ||
October 27 |
Minnesota![]() |
| W 54–27 | 86,200 | [12] | |
November 3 | at No. 3 Illinois | No. 15 | L 0–7 | 71,119 | [13] | |
November 10 | at Cornell* | L 7–20 | 35,300 | [14] | ||
November 17 | Northwestern |
| L 0–6 | 58,300 | [15] | |
November 24 | Ohio State |
| W 7–0 | 95,000 | [16] | |
|
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On September 29, Michigan, ranked No. 17, lost to Michigan State, ranked No. 2, by a 25-0 score before a sellout crowd of 97,239 at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor. To that date, it was the most decisive victory for Michigan State in the history of the Michigan–Michigan State football rivalry.
The Spartans limited the Wolverines to 26 passing yards, a net loss of 23 rushing yards, and four first downs. The Detroit Free Press called it "as feeble an attack as any teaam in Michigan's proud football history ever displayed." [8] The Spartans tallied 21 first downs, 249 rushing yards, 58 passing yards, and four touchdowns. [8]
Michigan's individual statistical leaders for the 1951 season include those listed below. [7] [17]
Player | Attempts | Net yards | Yards per attempt | Touchdowns |
Don Peterson | 152 | 549 | 3.6 | 4 |
Wes Bradford | 64 | 348 | 5.4 | 2 |
Bill Putich | 115 | 268 | 2.3 | 3 |
Player | Attempts | Completions | Interceptions | Comp % | Yards | Yds/Comp | TD | Long |
Bill Putich | 77 | 32 | 7 | 41.6 | 390 | 12.2 | 2 | 55 |
Don Peterson | 13 | 6 | 3 | 46.1 | 184 | 30.7 | 1 | 43 |
Ted Topor | 26 | 9 | 2 | 34.6 | 171 | 19.0 | 2 | 71 |
Player | Receptions | Yards | Yds/Recp | TD | Long |
Lowell Perry | 16 | 395 | 24.7 | 3 | 71 |
Frederick Pickard | 10 | 204 | 20.4 | 2 | 55 |
Ted Topor | 9 | 81 | 9.0 | 0 |
Player | Returns | Yards | Yds/Return | TD | Long |
Bill Putich | 3 | 88 | 29.3 | 0 | 36 |
Ted Topor | 3 | 72 | 24.0 | 0 | 27 |
Don Oldham | 3 | 52 | 17.3 | 0 |
Player | Returns | Yards | Yds/Return | TD | Long |
Lowell Perry | 17 | 197 | 11.6 | 1 | 75 |
Bill Putich | 11 | 71 | 6.5 | 0 | 0 |
Merritt Green | 1 | 10 | 10.0 | 0 | 10 |
The following 36 players received varsity letters for their participation on the 1951 team. [18] Players who started at least four games are shown with their names in bold. [2]
Michigan's 1951 coaching, training, and support staff included the following persons. [2]
Honors and awards for the 1951 season went to the following individuals. [2]