The 1905 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the

University of Michigan , mottoeng = "Arts, Knowledge, Truth" , former_names = Catholepistemiad, or University of Michigania (1817–1821) , budget = $10.3 billion (2021) , endowment = $17 billion (2021)As o ...

in the 1905 Western Conference football season. The team's head football coach was

Fielding H. Yost Fielding Harris Yost (; April 30, 1871 – August 20, 1946) was an American football player, coach and college athletics administrator. He served as the head football coach at: Ohio Wesleyan University, the University of Nebraska, the University ...

. The Wolverines played their home games at

Regents Field Ferry Field (known as Regents Field before 1902) was the home field for the University of Michigan football team from 1893 to 1905. It was located along South State Street in Ann Arbor, Michigan, where Schembechler Hall stands today. The B ...

. After winning the first 12 games of the season by a combined score of 495–0, the team lost the final game of the season by a score of 2–0 against the

University of Chicago The University of Chicago (UChicago, Chicago, U of C, or UChi) is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois. Its main campus is located in Chicago's Hyde Park neighborhood. The University of Chicago is consistently ranked among the b ...

Schedule

Pre-season

The 1905 football team returned 11 varsity letter winners from the 1904 team. The only letter winners not returning from 1904 were

Willie Heston William Martin Heston (September 9, 1878 – September 9, 1963) was an American football player and coach. He played halfback at San Jose State University and the University of Michigan. Heston was the head football coach for Drake University ...

and Babe Carter. Center

Germany Schulz Adolph George "Germany" Schulz (April 19, 1883 – April 14, 1951) was an All-American American football center for the University of Michigan Wolverines from 1904 to 1905 and from 1907 to 1908. While playing at Michigan, Schulz is credited with ...

, who had played as a freshman in 1904, was expected to be the best center in the west during the 1905 season. The line also returned "Octopus" Graham,

Henry Schulte Henry Frank Schulte (February 4, 1879 – October 18, 1944) was an American football player and coach of football, basketball, baseball, and track and field. Schulte played football at Washington University in St. Louis from 1898 to 1900 and at ...

, and

Joe Curtis John Spencer "Big Joe" Curtis (November 14, 1882 – January 29, 1972) was an American football player and coach. While playing for the University of Michigan, he was selected as a first-team All-Western tackle three consecutive years from 1904 t ...

Fred Norcross Fred Stephenson "Norky" Norcross Jr. (July 14, 1884 – April 4, 1965) was an American football player and coach and mining engineer. He was the quarterback for the University of Michigan from 1903 to 1905, leading the team to a 33–1–1 record ...

also returned as the team's starting quarterback. In the backfield, several players were in competition to replace Heston at left halfback.

Tom Hammond Thomas Taylor Hammond (born May 10, 1944) is an American sportscaster. Hammond is primarily known for his work with NBC Sports from 1984 to the present. Hammond is one of the network's staple on-air presenters, along with Bob Costas and Dan Hic ...

returned at right halfback. At fullback,

Frank Longman Frank Chandler "Shorty" Longman (December 7, 1882 – April 4, 1928) was an American college football player and coach. He was born Dec. 7, 1882 in Fulton, a small community in rural Kalamazoo County, Michigan. By 1894, the Longman family had move ...

sustained a knee injury that was expected to keep him on the sidelines for the early part of the season. Track star

John Garrels John Carlyle Garrels (November 18, 1885 – October 21, 1956) was an American athlete who excelled in the 110 metres hurdles, discus throw, shot put, and as a fullback and end in American football. Garrels won the silver medal in t ...

had shown promise in 1904 and was the fastest man on the Michigan team.

Game summaries

Michigan 65, Ohio Wesleyan 0

In the first game of the 1905 season was played on a warm day with the field at Ferry Field in excellent condition. Michigan defeated the team from Ohio Wesleyan University 65-0 and was reported to have "over, through and around" the opposition. Fred Norcross ran for 144 yards in the first half, including a 70-yard touchdown run. Hammond was Michigan's high scorer with 25 points on four touchdowns (five points each) and five point after touchdown kicks. The game was played in halves of 18.5 minutes and 15 minutes. In the first game, Michigan scored 65 points in 33.5 minutes. Michigan's starting lineup was Garrels (left end), Curtis (left tackle), Love (left guard), Clement (center), Graham (right guard), Patrick (right tackle), Stuart (right end), Norcross (quarterback), Dunlap (left halfback), Workman (right halfback), Hammond (fullback).

Michigan 44, Kalamazoo 0

In the second game of the season, played at Ferry Field, Michigan defeated the team from Kalamazoo College 44-0. Despite the one-sided score, ''The Michigan Alumnus'' complained, "The whole offensive work was ragged and spiritless, the warm weather having much to do with this." The game was played in halves of 20 minutes and 15 minutes. Through two games, Michigan had scored 109 points in 68.5 minutes. Michigan's starting lineup was Garrels (left end), Curtis (left tackle), Love (left guard), Clement (center), Graham (right guard), Patrick (right tackle), Stuart (right end), Norcross (quarterback), Dunlap (left halfback), Workman (right halfback), Rumney (fullback).

Michigan 36, Case 0

The third game of the season matched Michigan against Case. With most of the game played by the "scrubs," Michigan defeated Case 36-0. In his first start at left halfback, Paul Magoffin had a 75-yard run against Case. The game was played in halves of 20 minutes each. Through three games, Michigan had scored 145 points in 108.5 minutes.

Michigan 23, Ohio Northern 0

Michigan played its fourth consecutive home game against Ohio Northern on October 11, 1905. The game was played on a wet field, and Michigan's play was described by ''The Michigan Alumnus'' as ragged. A highlight of the game was

' 65-yard run, "using the straight arm with good results." The game was played in halves of 19 minutes and 10 minutes. Through four games, Michigan had scored 168 points in 137.5 minutes. Michigan's starting lineup was Garrels (left end), Curtis (left tackle), Love (left guard), Clement (center), Graham (right guard), Patrick (right tackle), Stuart (right end), Norcross (quarterback), Magoffin (left halfback), Workman (right halfback), Weeks (fullback).

Michigan 18, Vanderbilt 0

In the fifth game of the season, Vanderbilt, coached Yost's former player and assistant coach

Dan McGugin Daniel Earle McGugin (July 29, 1879 – January 23, 1936) was an American football player and coach, as well as a lawyer. He served as the head football coach at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee from 1904 to 1917 and again from ...

, traveled to Ann Arbor. Michigan won the game 18-0. The game was played in halves of 25 minutes each. Through five games, Michigan had scored 186 points in 187.5 minutes. Michigan's starting lineup was Garrels (left end), Curtis (left tackle), Schulte (left guard), Schultz (center), Graham (right guard), Rheinschild (right tackle), Stuart (right end), Norcross (quarterback), Magoffin (left halfback), T. Hammond (right halfback), Weeks (fullback).

Cancelled game with Denison

Michigan had planned a mid-week game against

Denison University Denison University is a private liberal arts college in Granville, Ohio. One of the earliest colleges established in the former Northwest Territory, Denison University was founded in 1831. The college was first called the Granville Literary and ...

for Wednesday, October 18, 1905. That game was cancelled due to rain and the wet condition of

Ferry Field Ferry Field is a multi-purpose stadium in Ann Arbor, Michigan. It opened in 1906 and was home to the Michigan Wolverines football team prior to the opening of Michigan Stadium in 1927. It had a capacity of 46,000. It is currently used as a tai ...

. ''The Michigan Alumnus'' noted: "It is not often that Michigan shirks the dampness, but ieldingYost and

red Red is the color at the long wavelength end of the visible spectrum of light, next to orange and opposite violet. It has a dominant wavelength of approximately 625–740 nanometres. It is a primary color in the RGB color model and a secondar ...

Norcross feared to risk injuring any player so soon before the

Nebraska Nebraska () is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is bordered by South Dakota to the north; Iowa to the east and Missouri to the southeast, both across the Missouri River; Kansas to the south; Colorado to the southwe ...

game."

Michigan 31, Nebraska 0

On October 21, 1905, Michigan faced Nebraska. Although the final score was 31-0, ''The Michigan Alumnus'' noted that Michigan did not score in the first half and observed:

"Seldom has a more exciting contest been witnessed on Ferry Field . . . For the first time in the season the apostles of the 'hurry-up' gospel met foemen worthy of their very best efforts." The publication credited Michigan's second half scoring on
Keene Fitzpatrick Dennis Keene Fitzpatrick (December 25, 1864 – May 22, 1944) was an American track coach, athletic trainer, professor of physical training and gymnasium director for 42 years at Yale University (1890–1891, 1896–1898), the University of Mic ...
's training which lad left the Wolverines in "splendid physical condition." Tom Hammond scored 16 of Michigan's points on a touchdown, three point after touchdown kicks, and two field goals.

The game was played in halves of 35 minutes each. Through six games, Michigan had scored 217 points in 257.5 minutes.

Michigan 70, Albion 0

After the Nebraska game, Michigan faced Albion in a mid-week game in Ann Arbor. Despite the 70-0 score, and being held on downs only once, ''The Michigan Alumnus'' found the performance to be less than ideal: "The playing was rather ragged, the team work being decidedly below standard." The game was played in halves of 25 minutes and 14.5 minutes. Through seven games, Michigan had scored 287 points in 297 minutes. Michigan's starting lineup was Garrels (left end), Curtis (left tackle), Love (left guard), Shultz (center), Graham (right guard), Rheinschild (right tackle), Newton (right end), Barlow (quarterback), Weeks (left halfback), Kanaja (right halfback), and Embs (fullback).

Michigan 48, Drake 0

On October 28, 1905, Yost faced another of his pupils.

, who had accepted the position of head coach at Drake, brought his team to Ann Arbor. The Drake team was reported to have played "pluckily," but was "crippled and badly outclassed." The game was played in halves of 25 minutes and 20 minutes. Through eight games, Michigan had scored 335 points in 342 minutes. At the end of October, ''The Michigan Alumnus'' wrote that the team's "ragged work" had "marred" the early games. With the team's tendency to fumble, the publication wrote that "one would have thought the Wolverines' fingers had been greased." In comparing it to Yost's prior teams, the ''Alumnus'' wrote: "It is not, perhaps, the best team which Yost has ever coached. In all probability the team of 1901 could defeat it by two or three touchdowns."

Michigan 33, Illinois 0

On November 4, 1905, Michigan played its first road game of the season against Illinois. The running and punting of Alfred Barlow, substituting at quarterback, were reported to be features of the game. The game was played in halves of 35 minutes each. Through nine games, Michigan had scored 368 points in 412 minutes. Michigan's starting lineup was Garrels (left end), Curtis (left tackle), Schulte (left guard),Schultz (center), Graham (right guard), Rheinschild (right tackle), H. Hammond (right end), Workman (quarterback), T. Hammond (right halfback), Magoffin (left halfback), Clark (fullback).

Michigan 40, Ohio State 0

The Wolverines returned to Ann Arbor for their November 8 game against Ohio State. Michigan played many of its substitutes in the game, starting Barlow at quarterback and Fred Newton at fullback. The game featured a 105-yard run by Barlow, described as "the longest ever seen on Ferry Field." Barlow returned a missed dropkick from five yards deep in Michigan's endzone. Almost tackled at the 40-yard line, Barlow was aided by his teammates' blocking and returned the ball all the way for a touchdown. A large number of Ohio State fans attended the game, and the supporters of the two schools were reported to be on such friendly terms that the Ohio State band played "Men of Yost," and the Michigan supporters "returned the compliment by giving the Ohio yell." The game was played in halves of 35 minutes each. Through ten games, Michigan had scored 408 points in 482 minutes.

Michigan 12, Wisconsin 0

On November 18, 1905, Wisconsin traveled to Ann Arbor. In front of a crowd estimated at nearly 18,000 people, Michigan won by a score of 12-0. During the second half, a temporary bleacher with 2,000 persons on it collapsed. Three or four spectators sustained "more or less severe injuries," but none were killed. A warning was given before the collapse that the timber was weakening, the statement was reported to have not been taken seriously. Frank Longman scored both of Michigan's touchdowns, and Tom Hammond converted on both point after touchdown kicks. The game was played in halves of 35 minutes each. Through 11 games, Michigan had scored 420 points in 552 minutes. Michigan's starting lineup was Garrels (left end), Curtis (left tackle), Schulte (left guard), Schultz (center), Graham (right guard), Rheinschild (right tackle), H. Hammond (right end), Norcross (quarterback), Weeks (left halfback), T. Hammond (right halfback), Longman (fullback).

Michigan 75, Oberlin 0

On November 25, 1905, Michigan defeated the Oberlin Congregationalists 75-0. ''The Michigan Alumnus'' noted that Oberlin came close to scoring in the game: "It was a comedy that was almost turned into a tragedy when the plucky Congregationalist end, Featherstone, got away with the ball. Barlow missed him, and had not Schultz succeeded in reaching him Michigan would surely have been scored on." The game was played in halves of 25 minutes and 19 minutes. Through 12 games, Michigan had scored 495 points in 596 minutes. Michigan's starting lineup was Garrels (left end), Curtis (left tackle), Clement (left guard), Schultz (center), Graham (right guard), Love (right tackle), H. Hammond (right end), Barlow (quarterback), Patrick (left halfback), Clark (right halfback), Embs (fullback).

Chicago 2, Michigan 0

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. The 1905 Michigan team had outscored opponents 495-0 in its first 12 games. The game was lost in the final ten minutes of play when Denny Clark was tackled for a safety as he attempted to return a punt from behind the goal line. Newspapers described Clark's play as "the wretched blunder" and a "lapse of brain work." Clark transferred to

M.I.T. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is a private land-grant research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Established in 1861, MIT has played a key role in the development of modern technology and science, and is one of the m ...

the following year and was haunted by the play for the rest of his life. In 1932, he shot himself, leaving a suicide note that reportedly expressed hope that his "final play" would atone for his error at

Marshall Field Marshall Field (August 18, 1834January 16, 1906) was an American entrepreneur and the founder of Marshall Field and Company, the Chicago-based department stores. His business was renowned for its then-exceptional level of quality and customer ...

in 1905. The game was played in halves of 35 minutes each. Through 13 games, Michigan scored 495 points in 666 minutes.

Scoring summary

The following chart accounts for the 495 points scored by the 1905 football team and is based on the box scores published in 1905 by the ''Detroit Free Press" and ''The Michigan Alumnus''.

Players

Varsity letter winners

The following 15 players received varsity "M" letters for their participation on the 1905 football team:

Reserves

The following 25 players received "R" letters for their participation on the 1905 football team: *Eugene G. Ackerman, Martinsville, New York *Alexander M. Barnes,

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*Edward Munroe Benson, Detroit, MI *Carl Bergin,

Lowell, Michigan Lowell is a city in Kent County of the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 3,783 at the 2010 census. Lowell is part of the Grand Rapids metropolitan area and is about east of the city of Grand Rapids. The city is mostly surrounded by ...

*William Casey,

Cedar Falls, Iowa Cedar Falls is a city in Black Hawk County, Iowa, United States. As of the 2020 census, the city population was 40,713. It is home to the University of Northern Iowa, a public university. History Cedar Falls was first settled in March 1845 by ...

*Albert R. Chandler,

Salem, Massachusetts Salem ( ) is a historic coastal city in Essex County, Massachusetts, located on the North Shore of Greater Boston. Continuous settlement by Europeans began in 1626 with English colonists. Salem would become one of the most significant seaports tr ...

*Carl Howard Clement,

Brooklyn, New York Brooklyn () is a borough of New York City, coextensive with Kings County, in the U.S. state of New York. Kings County is the most populous county in the State of New York, and the second-most densely populated county in the United States, be ...

- started 4 games at center, 1 game at left guard *Frank Doty,

Pontiac, Michigan Pontiac ( ') is a city in and the county seat of Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 census, the city had a total population of 61,606. A northern suburb of Metro Detroit, Pontiac is about northwest of Detroit. Founde ...

* Lewis Dunlap - started 3 games at left halfback, 1 game at right halfback *William John Embs,

Escanaba, Michigan Escanaba ( ), commonly shortened to Esky, is a port city in Delta County in the U.S. state of Michigan, located on Little Bay de Noc in the state's Upper Peninsula. The population was 12,616 at the 2010 census, making it the third-largest city i ...

- started 3 games at fullback *Albert de Valois Evans,

Cheboygan, Michigan Cheboygan ( ) is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 4,876. It is the county seat of Cheboygan County. The name of the city shares the name of the county and probably has its origin from the ...

*Mason Gray, Pontiac, Michigan *Ben Harris,

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* Guy T. Helvering, Beattie, Kansas (later served in U.S. Congress) *Eber Dunbar Kanaga,

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- started 1 game at right halfback * Jesse R. Langley,

Alva, Oklahoma Alva is a city in and the county seat of Woods County, Oklahoma, United States, along the Salt Fork Arkansas River. The population was 4,945 at the 2010 census. Northwestern Oklahoma State University is located in Alva. History Alva was estab ...

Jay Mack Love Jay Mack Love Jr. (May 15, 1883 – September 16, 1935) was a college football player and coach who later became a practicing attorney in Arkansas City, Kansas. Playing career Love played for the University of Michigan , mottoeng ...

Arkansas City, Kansas Arkansas City () is a city in Cowley County, Kansas, United States, situated at the confluence of the Arkansas River and Walnut River in the southwestern part of the county. As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 11,974. The n ...

- started 5 games at left guard, 1 game at right guard, 1 game at right tackle *William Joseph Miller,

*Fred B. Newton,

Portland, Oregon Portland (, ) is a port city in the Pacific Northwest and the largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon. Situated at the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers, Portland is the county seat of Multnomah County, the most populous co ...

- started 1 game at right end *Duncan H. Pierce,

Buffalo, New York Buffalo is the second-largest city in the U.S. state of New York (behind only New York City) and the seat of Erie County. It is at the eastern end of Lake Erie, at the head of the Niagara River, and is across the Canadian border from South ...

*Mason P. Rumney, Detroit, MI - started 1 game at right halfback *Newton Gard Van Ness,

Cassopolis, Michigan Cassopolis is a village in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Cass County. It is located mostly in LaGrange Township with a small portion extending east into Penn Township. The village and county are named after statesman Lewi ...

*Howard Withey,

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*Paul Work,

Elkhart, Indiana Elkhart ( ) is a city in Elkhart County, Indiana, United States. The city is located east of South Bend, Indiana, east of Chicago, Illinois, and north of Indianapolis, Indiana. Elkhart has the larger population of the two principal cities of th ...

*Harry A. Workman, Chicago, IL - started 1 game at left halfback, 1 game at right halfback

Others

*Harry S. Bartlett,

Detroit Detroit ( , ; , ) is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is also the largest U.S. city on the United States–Canada border, and the seat of government of Wayne County. The City of Detroit had a population of 639,111 at th ...

Michigan Michigan () is a state in the Great Lakes region of the upper Midwestern United States. With a population of nearly 10.12 million and an area of nearly , Michigan is the 10th-largest state by population, the 11th-largest by area, and the ...

* David L. Dunlap,

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- halfback *Walter L. Eyke,

Muskegon, Michigan Muskegon ( ') is a city in Michigan. It is the county seat of Muskegon County. Muskegon is known for fishing, sailing regattas, pleasure boating, and as a commercial and cruise ship port. It is a popular vacation destination because of the expa ...

*Harold Weeks,

Allegan, Michigan Allegan ( ) is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. Its population was 5,222 at the 2020 census. It is the county seat of Allegan County. It lies within Allegan Township but is administratively autonomous. History The men after whom Allegan's ...

- started 3 games at fullback, 2 games at left halfback

Awards and honors

*Captain:

All-Americans The All-America designation is an annual honor bestowed upon an amateur sports person from the United States who is considered to be one of the best amateurs in their sport. Individuals receiving this distinction are typically added to an All-Am ...

: Thomas S. Hammond (WC-3),

(WC-2) *All-Conference: Thomas S. Hammond (Chicago Tribune),

(Chicago Tribune),

The ''Chicago Daily Tribune'' wrote that it had rejected Schulte because of questions as to his eligibility: "The natural selection for left guard would be the Michigan giant, Schulte, because of the imperviousness of Yost's middle trio, but Schulte is so manifestly ineligible according to all the records obtainable that to give him a place would be like reviving Heston for left half or Heffelfinger for an All-American guard."

Coaching staff

* Head coach:

* Assistant coach: Leigh C. Turner * Trainer:

Keene Fitzpatrick Dennis Keene Fitzpatrick (December 25, 1864 – May 22, 1944) was an American track coach, athletic trainer, professor of physical training and gymnasium director for 42 years at Yale University (1890–1891, 1896–1898), the University of Mic ...

* Manager: Walter Cooley Becker

References

External links

1905 Football Team -- Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan Athletics History

Michigan Alumnus, 1905-1906
- includes accounts of each game
1906 Michiganensian
- University of Michigan yearbook for the 1905-1906 academic year
Michigan-Chicago 1905: The First Greatest Game of the Century
from Journal of Sport History, Vol. 18, No. 2 (Summer, 1991) {{Michigan Wolverines football navbox

Michigan Wolverines football seasons

Michigan Wolverines football The Michigan Wolverines football team represents the University of Michigan in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level. Michigan has the most all-time wins in college football history. The team is known for its ...