1917 Michigan Wolverines Football Team
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The 1917 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 1917 college football season. In his 17th year as head coach,
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 ...
led the Michigan Wolverines football team to an 8–2 record, as Michigan outscored its opponents by a combined score of 304 to 53. Michigan won its first eight games and outscored those opponents by a combined score of 292 to 16. The team then lost its final two games against Penn and Northwestern. With the United States entry into
World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...
in April 1917, Michigan's male student body dropped by 30%, and Michigan lost many of its starters to military service. The players lost to the military included fullback Cedric "Pat" Smith, who had been elected to serve as captain of the 1917 team. With only one returning backfield player, coach Yost converted tackle
Tad Wieman Elton Ewart "Tad" Wieman (October 4, 1896 – December 26, 1971) was an American football collegiate player, coach and athletic director. He played football for the University of Michigan from 1915 to 1917 and 1920 under head coach Fielding H. Yo ...
into a fullback. Wieman became the team's leading scorer in 1917 with 129 points on 14
touchdown A touchdown (abbreviated as TD) is a scoring play in gridiron football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone. In Amer ...
s, 36 points after touchdown (PAT), and three field goals. After an injury to starting
quarterback The quarterback (commonly abbreviated "QB"), colloquially known as the "signal caller", is a position in gridiron football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive platoon and mostly line up directly behind the offensive line. In modern Ame ...
Cliff Sparks in the second game,
Archie Weston Archie Bruce "Beak" Weston (June 9, 1895 – April 1981) was an American football player who was a quarterback for the University of Michigan in 1917 and a halfback in 1919. He was selected as a first-team All-American in 1917 by ''Chicago ...
took over and became the team's second leading scorer with 78 points on 13 touchdowns.


Schedule


Season summary


Pre-season

On April 6, 1917, the United States declared war on the
German Empire The German Empire (),Herbert Tuttle wrote in September 1881 that the term "Reich" does not literally connote an empire as has been commonly assumed by English-speaking people. The term literally denotes an empire – particularly a hereditary ...
, marking its entry into
World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...
. In early August 1917, the
National Collegiate Athletic Association The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is a nonprofit organization that regulates student athletics among about 1,100 schools in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico. It also organizes the athletic programs of colleges an ...
(NCAA) met with representatives of more than 125 colleges and universities to determine whether or not to proceed with intercollegiate athletics during the war. Secretary of War
Newton D. Baker Newton Diehl Baker Jr. (December 3, 1871 – December 25, 1937) was an American lawyer, Georgist,Noble, Ransom E. "Henry George and the Progressive Movement." The American Journal of Economics and Sociology, vol. 8, no. 3, 1949, pp. 259–269. w ...
addressed the gathering, opined that intercollegiate athletics were an effective means of training for military service, and recommended that efforts be undertaken to expand the number of persons receiving this training. The gathering then passed a resolution providing for the continuation of intercollegiate athletics with an emphasis on carrying out the recommendations of the Secretary of War. As students enlisted in large numbers for military service, the enrollment of male students at the University of Michigan dropped by thirty percent (30%) in the fall of 1917. Several of Michigan veteran players (including Cedric "Pat" Smith, Philip Raymond, Willard Peach, John West, J. Vinton Hammels, and Frank Willard) were unavailable to the team due to military service. The losses left the team with only six players ( Cliff Sparks,
Tad Wieman Elton Ewart "Tad" Wieman (October 4, 1896 – December 26, 1971) was an American football collegiate player, coach and athletic director. He played football for the University of Michigan from 1915 to 1917 and 1920 under head coach Fielding H. Yo ...
, Richard Weske, Alan Boyd, Joseph Hanish, and John Orton Goodsell) who had ever played on the first team. With only one returning backfield player (Sparks), Yost converted tackle Tad Wieman into a fullback.


Week 1: Case

On October 6, 1917, Michigan played its annual game against the team from Case Scientific School in Cleveland. The game was the 21st meeting between the schools in a series dating back to 1894. In the 20 prior meetings, Michigan won 19 games and played to a tie once. Michigan won the 1917 game by a 41–0 score.
Tad Wieman Elton Ewart "Tad" Wieman (October 4, 1896 – December 26, 1971) was an American football collegiate player, coach and athletic director. He played football for the University of Michigan from 1915 to 1917 and 1920 under head coach Fielding H. Yo ...
, in his first game after being converted into a fullback, scored three touchdowns. Wieman also kicked five points after touchdown (PAT) for a total of 23 points in the game. Quarterback Cliff Sparks scored two touchdowns, and substitute right halfback Harold Rye also scored once. Case made only one first down. The game was played in 12-1/2 minute quarters. Michigan's starting lineup against Case was Elmer Cress (left end), Frank Culver (left tackle), Alan Boyd (left guard), Charles Beath (center), John Orton Goodsell (right guard), Richard Weske (right tackle), Oscar Cartwright (right end), Cliff Sparks (quarterback), Joseph Hanish (left halfback),
Abe Cohn Abraham Jerome Cohn (June 27, 1897 – October 23, 1970) was an American football and basketball player, coach and official. He played football and basketball at the University of Michigan from 1917 to 1920. He coached football and basketball at ...
(right halfback), and Tad Wieman (fullback). Substitutes appearing in the game for Michigan were Julius St. Clair (right end), Harold Rye (right halfback), Gerald Froemke (left halfback),
Angus Goetz Angus Gerald "Gus" Goetz (July 6, 1897 – July 24, 1977) was an American football player who played four years with the Michigan Wolverines from 1917 to 1920. He also played professional football for the Buffalo All-Americans (1922) and the ...
(right guard), Fred Hendershott (left end), Lowell Genebach (quarterback), William Fortune (right guard), and C. H. Graff (right tackle).


Week 2: Kalamazoo Normal

On Wednesday, October 10, 1917, Michigan played the football team from the Kalamazoo Normal School (later renamed
Western Michigan University Western Michigan University (Western Michigan, Western or WMU) is a public research university in Kalamazoo, Michigan. It was initially established as Western State Normal School in 1903 by Governor Aaron T. Bliss for the training of teachers ...
). The game was the first game between the two schools, and the two programs met only one other time in the 20th century. Michigan won the game by a score of 17 to 13. Michigan led 10–7 at the start of the fourth quarter, but Kalamazoo Normal scored a touchdown with four minutes remaining to take a 13–10 lead. On the following drive, halfback Harold Rye returned the kickoff 35 yards, and Abe Cohn then had a long run. Fullback
Tad Wieman Elton Ewart "Tad" Wieman (October 4, 1896 – December 26, 1971) was an American football collegiate player, coach and athletic director. He played football for the University of Michigan from 1915 to 1917 and 1920 under head coach Fielding H. Yo ...
accounted for all of Michigan's points, scoring two touchdowns, kicking two points after touchdown, and one field goal from place kick. Michigan quarterback Cliff Sparks was injured in the game and did not start another game. The game was played in quarters lasting 7-1/2, 7-1/2, 10 and 10 minutes. Michigan's starting lineup against Kalamazoo Normal was
Angus Goetz Angus Gerald "Gus" Goetz (July 6, 1897 – July 24, 1977) was an American football player who played four years with the Michigan Wolverines from 1917 to 1920. He also played professional football for the Buffalo All-Americans (1922) and the ...
(left end), Frank Culver (left tackle), Alan Boyd (left guard), John Orton Goodsell (center), William Fortune (right guard), Richard Weske (right tackle), Oscar Cartwright (right end), Cliff Sparks (quarterback),
Abe Cohn Abraham Jerome Cohn (June 27, 1897 – October 23, 1970) was an American football and basketball player, coach and official. He played football and basketball at the University of Michigan from 1917 to 1920. He coached football and basketball at ...
(left halfback), Joseph Hanish (right halfback), and
Tad Wieman Elton Ewart "Tad" Wieman (October 4, 1896 – December 26, 1971) was an American football collegiate player, coach and athletic director. He played football for the University of Michigan from 1915 to 1917 and 1920 under head coach Fielding H. Yo ...
(fullback). Substitutes appearing in the game for Michigan were Elmer Cress (left end), Rye (right halfback), St. Clair (right end), and Lowell Genebach (quarterback).


Week 3: Mount Union

On Saturday, October 13, 1917, Michigan played the football team
Mount Union College The University of Mount Union is a private university in Alliance, Ohio. Founded in 1846, the university was affiliated with the Methodist Church until the spring of 2019. In the fall of 2020, Mount Union had an enrollment of 1,958 undergraduate ...
of Alliance, Ohio. The game was the fifth game between the two schools since 1913, with Michigan winning the prior games by a combined score of 102 to 7. Michigan won the 1917 game by a score of 69 to 0. Left halfback
Abe Cohn Abraham Jerome Cohn (June 27, 1897 – October 23, 1970) was an American football and basketball player, coach and official. He played football and basketball at the University of Michigan from 1917 to 1920. He coached football and basketball at ...
started the scoring with a touchdown run in the first quarter.
Archie Weston Archie Bruce "Beak" Weston (June 9, 1895 – April 1981) was an American football player who was a quarterback for the University of Michigan in 1917 and a halfback in 1919. He was selected as a first-team All-American in 1917 by ''Chicago ...
came into the game as a substitute at quarterback at the start of the second quarter and scored five touchdowns, including a 65-yard touchdown run around the right end. Additional touchdowns were scored by Gerald Froemke,
Tad Wieman Elton Ewart "Tad" Wieman (October 4, 1896 – December 26, 1971) was an American football collegiate player, coach and athletic director. He played football for the University of Michigan from 1915 to 1917 and 1920 under head coach Fielding H. Yo ...
, Thomas Garrett, and William Cruse. Wieman also kicked for eight points after touchdown (PAT), and Frank Culver added one PAT. The game was played in 12-minute quarters. Michigan's starting lineup against Case was
Angus Goetz Angus Gerald "Gus" Goetz (July 6, 1897 – July 24, 1977) was an American football player who played four years with the Michigan Wolverines from 1917 to 1920. He also played professional football for the Buffalo All-Americans (1922) and the ...
(left end), Alan Boyd (left tackle), Julius St. Clair (left guard), Charles Beath (center), John Orton Goodsell (right guard), Richard Weske (right tackle), Oscar Cartwright (right end), Lowell Genebach (quarterback), Cohn (left halfback), Harold Rye (right halfback), and Wieman (fullback). Substitutes appearing in the game for Michigan were Weston (quarterback), Froemke (right halfback), Fred Hendershott (left end), William Fortune (right guard), Frank Culver (right guard), Thomas Garrett (fullback), Chester Morrison (right end), Elmer Cress (left end), William Cruse (left halfback), Arthur Weadock (right halfback), L. O. Lindstrom (left guard), and Harold Barnard (left tackle).


Week 4: Detroit

On Wednesday, October 17, 1917, Michigan played the football team
University of Detroit The University of Detroit Mercy is a private Roman Catholic university in Detroit, Michigan. It is sponsored by both the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) and the Sisters of Mercy. The university was founded in 1877 and is the largest Catholic univers ...
. The game was the first and only football game ever played between the two schools. The Detroit team came into the game with a reputation for its powerful offense, having scored 145 the week before against the
University of Toledo The University of Toledo (UToledo or UT) is a public research university in Toledo, Ohio. It is the northernmost campus of the University System of Ohio. The university also operates a Health Science campus, which includes the University of ...
. Michigan won the game by a score of 14 to 3. An interception led to a Michigan touchdown in the second quarter, and two forward passes led to another touchdown in the third quarter. Michigan's touchdowns were scored by
Angus Goetz Angus Gerald "Gus" Goetz (July 6, 1897 – July 24, 1977) was an American football player who played four years with the Michigan Wolverines from 1917 to 1920. He also played professional football for the Buffalo All-Americans (1922) and the ...
and
Tad Wieman Elton Ewart "Tad" Wieman (October 4, 1896 – December 26, 1971) was an American football collegiate player, coach and athletic director. He played football for the University of Michigan from 1915 to 1917 and 1920 under head coach Fielding H. Yo ...
. Wieman also kicked two points after touchdown. Detroit scored on a dropkick field goal by halfback Allen. The game marked the Michigan debut of center Oscar Lambert who reportedly made fifty percent of Michigan's tackles. The game was played in 10-minute quarters. Michigan's starting lineup against Detroit was
Angus Goetz Angus Gerald "Gus" Goetz (July 6, 1897 – July 24, 1977) was an American football player who played four years with the Michigan Wolverines from 1917 to 1920. He also played professional football for the Buffalo All-Americans (1922) and the ...
(left end), John Orton Goodsell (left tackle), Alan Boyd (left guard), Oscar Lambert (center), Frank Culver (right guard), Richard Weske (right tackle), Hanish (right end),
Archie Weston Archie Bruce "Beak" Weston (June 9, 1895 – April 1981) was an American football player who was a quarterback for the University of Michigan in 1917 and a halfback in 1919. He was selected as a first-team All-American in 1917 by ''Chicago ...
(quarterback),
Abe Cohn Abraham Jerome Cohn (June 27, 1897 – October 23, 1970) was an American football and basketball player, coach and official. He played football and basketball at the University of Michigan from 1917 to 1920. He coached football and basketball at ...
(left halfback), Froemke (right halfback), and
Tad Wieman Elton Ewart "Tad" Wieman (October 4, 1896 – December 26, 1971) was an American football collegiate player, coach and athletic director. He played football for the University of Michigan from 1915 to 1917 and 1920 under head coach Fielding H. Yo ...
(fullback). Substitutes appearing in the game for Michigan were William Fortune (right guard), Oscar Cartwright (right end), L. O. Lindstrom (left tackle), Lowell Geneback (quarterback).


Week 5: Michigan Agricultural

Michigan played its annual game against
Michigan Agricultural College Michigan State University (Michigan State, MSU) is a public land-grant research university in East Lansing, Michigan. It was founded in 1855 as the Agricultural College of the State of Michigan, the first of its kind in the United States. It i ...
at Ferry Field on October 20, 1917. It was the 12th game between the two schools dating back to 1898. Michigan had won eight of the prior 11 games. Michigan won the 1917 game by a score of 27 to 0. Michigan scored in the first quarter on a drive that featured a 30-yard run by
Tad Wieman Elton Ewart "Tad" Wieman (October 4, 1896 – December 26, 1971) was an American football collegiate player, coach and athletic director. He played football for the University of Michigan from 1915 to 1917 and 1920 under head coach Fielding H. Yo ...
and was capped by a 15-yard touchdown run by
Archie Weston Archie Bruce "Beak" Weston (June 9, 1895 – April 1981) was an American football player who was a quarterback for the University of Michigan in 1917 and a halfback in 1919. He was selected as a first-team All-American in 1917 by ''Chicago ...
. Wieman missed the kick for point after touchdown (PAT). At halftime, the schools' combined bands led a detachment of troops onto the field and played the " Star Spangled Banner" and "
The Victors "The Victors" is the fight song of the University of Michigan. Michigan student Louis Elbel wrote the song in 1898 after the football team's victory over the University of Chicago, which clinched an undefeated season and the Western Conferen ...
". In the third quarter, the Wolverines scoring drive began with a 20-yard punt return by Weston with Wieman scoring on a seven-yard run. Wieman then kicked the PAT to give the Wolverines a 13–0 lead. In the fourth quarter, Wieman ran through the middle of the M.A.C. line, "shook off five tacklers," and scored on a 35-yard touchdown run. Wieman added the PAT. Later in the fourth quarter, Weston ran 30 yards around the left end to the M.A.C. 12-yard line, and Wieman scored his third touchdown of the afternoon on a one-yard run. Wieman then kicked his third PAT for 21 points in the game. Michigan's starting lineup against M.A.C. included Goetz (left end), Goodsell (left tackle), Boyd (left guard), Oscar Lambert (center), Frank Culver (right guard), Weske (right tackle), Cartwright (right end),
Archie Weston Archie Bruce "Beak" Weston (June 9, 1895 – April 1981) was an American football player who was a quarterback for the University of Michigan in 1917 and a halfback in 1919. He was selected as a first-team All-American in 1917 by ''Chicago ...
(quarterback),
Abe Cohn Abraham Jerome Cohn (June 27, 1897 – October 23, 1970) was an American football and basketball player, coach and official. He played football and basketball at the University of Michigan from 1917 to 1920. He coached football and basketball at ...
(left halfback), Genebach (right halfback), and
Tad Wieman Elton Ewart "Tad" Wieman (October 4, 1896 – December 26, 1971) was an American football collegiate player, coach and athletic director. He played football for the University of Michigan from 1915 to 1917 and 1920 under head coach Fielding H. Yo ...
(fullback). Substitutes appearing in the game for Michigan were Rye (right halfback), Cruse (left halfback), Hanish (left halfback), Froemke (left halfback), William Fortune (right guard), Barnard (right halfback), Cress, Hendershott, Weadock, Wellford, Garrett, and St. Clair.


Week 6: Nebraska

On October 27, 1917, Michigan played the football team from the
University of Nebraska A university () is an institution of higher (or tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. Universities typically offer both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. In the United States, ...
. The game was the first between the two schools. The 1918 Michiganensian described the field conditions this way: "The heavy field, soaked by a week's rain, hampered the Nebraska boys while the Michiganders seemed to revel in the goo." Michigan won by a score of 20 to 0. Michigan's two touchdowns were scored by left halfback Gerald Froemke and fullback
Tad Wieman Elton Ewart "Tad" Wieman (October 4, 1896 – December 26, 1971) was an American football collegiate player, coach and athletic director. He played football for the University of Michigan from 1915 to 1917 and 1920 under head coach Fielding H. Yo ...
. Wieman scored 14 of Michigan's 20 points, kicking two points after touchdown and two field goals in addition to his touchdown. Froemke's touchdown came in the first quarter when he recovered a fumble at Nebraska's 10-yard line and, behind the blocking of Wieman and
Archie Weston Archie Bruce "Beak" Weston (June 9, 1895 – April 1981) was an American football player who was a quarterback for the University of Michigan in 1917 and a halfback in 1919. He was selected as a first-team All-American in 1917 by ''Chicago ...
, returned the ball 90 yards for a touchdown. The game was played in 15-minute quarters. Michigan's starting lineup against Nebraska was
Angus Goetz Angus Gerald "Gus" Goetz (July 6, 1897 – July 24, 1977) was an American football player who played four years with the Michigan Wolverines from 1917 to 1920. He also played professional football for the Buffalo All-Americans (1922) and the ...
(left end), John Orton Goodsell (left tackle), Frank Culver (left guard), Oscar Lambert (center), William Fortune (right guard), Richard Weske (right tackle), Boyd (right end),
Archie Weston Archie Bruce "Beak" Weston (June 9, 1895 – April 1981) was an American football player who was a quarterback for the University of Michigan in 1917 and a halfback in 1919. He was selected as a first-team All-American in 1917 by ''Chicago ...
(quarterback), Froemke (left halfback), Joseph Hanish (right halfback), and Wieman (fullback). Substitutes appearing in the game for Michigan were William Cruse (left halfback), Harold Rye (left halfback), Lowell Genebach (left halfback), Lee Bonar (left end) and Chester Morrison (right guard).


Week 7: Kalamazoo

On November 3, 1917, Michigan played the football team from
Kalamazoo College Kalamazoo College, also known as Kalamazoo, K College, KC or simply K, is a private liberal arts college in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Founded in 1833 by Baptist ministers as the Michigan and Huron Institute, Kalamazoo is the oldest private college in ...
. The game was the fifth between the two schools dating back to 1899. Michigan had won the four previous games by a combined score of 177 to 0. Michigan won the 1917 game by a score of 62 to 0. Quarterback
Archie Weston Archie Bruce "Beak" Weston (June 9, 1895 – April 1981) was an American football player who was a quarterback for the University of Michigan in 1917 and a halfback in 1919. He was selected as a first-team All-American in 1917 by ''Chicago ...
gained over 300 yards, including runs of 60 yards, 35 yards and two for 25 yards. Weston also scored four touchdowns in the game.
Tad Wieman Elton Ewart "Tad" Wieman (October 4, 1896 – December 26, 1971) was an American football collegiate player, coach and athletic director. He played football for the University of Michigan from 1915 to 1917 and 1920 under head coach Fielding H. Yo ...
and William Cruse scored two touchdowns each, and a ninth touchdown was scored by Gerald Froemke. Wieman also kicked for eight points after touchdown. The game was played in 15-minute quarters. Michigan's starting lineup against Kalamazoo was
Angus Goetz Angus Gerald "Gus" Goetz (July 6, 1897 – July 24, 1977) was an American football player who played four years with the Michigan Wolverines from 1917 to 1920. He also played professional football for the Buffalo All-Americans (1922) and the ...
(left end), John Orton Goodsell (left tackle), Frank Culver (left guard), Oscar Lambert (center), William Fortune (right guard), Richard Weske (right tackle), Oscar Cartwright (right end),
Archie Weston Archie Bruce "Beak" Weston (June 9, 1895 – April 1981) was an American football player who was a quarterback for the University of Michigan in 1917 and a halfback in 1919. He was selected as a first-team All-American in 1917 by ''Chicago ...
(quarterback), Gerald Froemke (left halfback), Joseph Hanish (right halfback), and
Tad Wieman Elton Ewart "Tad" Wieman (October 4, 1896 – December 26, 1971) was an American football collegiate player, coach and athletic director. He played football for the University of Michigan from 1915 to 1917 and 1920 under head coach Fielding H. Yo ...
(fullback). Substitutes appearing in the game for Michigan were Lowell Genebach (right halback), Lee Bonar (left end), William Cruse (left halfback), Alan Boyd (right end), Chester Morrison (right tackle), and Thomas Garrett (center).


Week 8: Cornell

On November 3, 1917, Michigan played the football team from
Cornell University Cornell University is a private statutory land-grant research university based in Ithaca, New York. It is a member of the Ivy League. Founded in 1865 by Ezra Cornell and Andrew Dickson White, Cornell was founded with the intention to teach an ...
. The game was the 15th meeting of the teams dating back to 1889. Michigan had won only three of the prior 14 meetings. Michigan won the 1917 game by a score of 42 to 0. Michigan quarterback
Archie Weston Archie Bruce "Beak" Weston (June 9, 1895 – April 1981) was an American football player who was a quarterback for the University of Michigan in 1917 and a halfback in 1919. He was selected as a first-team All-American in 1917 by ''Chicago ...
scored three touchdowns. Additional touchdowns were scored by Cliff Sparks, Joseph Hanish, and
Abe Cohn Abraham Jerome Cohn (June 27, 1897 – October 23, 1970) was an American football and basketball player, coach and official. He played football and basketball at the University of Michigan from 1917 to 1920. He coached football and basketball at ...
.
Tad Wieman Elton Ewart "Tad" Wieman (October 4, 1896 – December 26, 1971) was an American football collegiate player, coach and athletic director. He played football for the University of Michigan from 1915 to 1917 and 1920 under head coach Fielding H. Yo ...
was successful on all six kicks for point after touchdown. The game was played in 15-minute quarters. Michigan's starting lineup against Cornell was
Angus Goetz Angus Gerald "Gus" Goetz (July 6, 1897 – July 24, 1977) was an American football player who played four years with the Michigan Wolverines from 1917 to 1920. He also played professional football for the Buffalo All-Americans (1922) and the ...
(left end), John Orton Goodsell (left tackle), Frank Culver (left guard), Oscar Lambert (center), William Fortune (right guard), Richard Weske (right tackle), Alan Boyd (right end),
Archie Weston Archie Bruce "Beak" Weston (June 9, 1895 – April 1981) was an American football player who was a quarterback for the University of Michigan in 1917 and a halfback in 1919. He was selected as a first-team All-American in 1917 by ''Chicago ...
(quarterback), Cliff Sparks (left halfback), Joseph Hanish (right halfback), and
TAd Wieman Elton Ewart "Tad" Wieman (October 4, 1896 – December 26, 1971) was an American football collegiate player, coach and athletic director. He played football for the University of Michigan from 1915 to 1917 and 1920 under head coach Fielding H. Yo ...
(fullback).


Week 9: at Penn

On November 17, 1917, Michigan played its annual rivalry game against the
Penn Quakers football The Penn Quakers football program is the college football team at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. The Penn Quakers have competed in the Ivy League since its inaugural season of 1956, and are a Division I Football Championshi ...
team. The game was the 13th meeting between the teams dating back to 1899. After leaving the
Big Ten Conference The Big Ten Conference (stylized B1G, formerly the Western Conference and the Big Nine Conference) is the oldest Division I collegiate athletic conference in the United States. Founded as the Intercollegiate Conference of Faculty Representati ...
, Penn became Michigan's regular season-ending rivalry game. In the 12 prior meetings, Michigan had won only four times, with the two teams playing to a scoreless tie in 1915. Michigan lost the 1917 game by a score of 16 to 0. Michigan and Penn played "almost even" in the first quarter with Penn gaining 53 yards from scrimmage to 45 for Michigan. However, at the start of the second quarter, Michigan's quarterback
Archie Weston Archie Bruce "Beak" Weston (June 9, 1895 – April 1981) was an American football player who was a quarterback for the University of Michigan in 1917 and a halfback in 1919. He was selected as a first-team All-American in 1917 by ''Chicago ...
was ejected from the game after a fight with two Penn players, Miller and Strauss. After Weston was ejected, Penn dominated the game, limiting Michigan to only seven yards from scrimmage in the entire second half. Penn's scoring came on a touchdown by Cleary and three field goals and a point after touchdown by Howard Berry. The game was played in 15-minute quarters. Michigan's starting lineup against Northwestern was
Angus Goetz Angus Gerald "Gus" Goetz (July 6, 1897 – July 24, 1977) was an American football player who played four years with the Michigan Wolverines from 1917 to 1920. He also played professional football for the Buffalo All-Americans (1922) and the ...
(left end), Goodsell (left tackle), Frank Culver (left guard), Oscar Lambert (center), William Fortune (right guard), Richard Weske (right tackle), Boyd (right end),
Archie Weston Archie Bruce "Beak" Weston (June 9, 1895 – April 1981) was an American football player who was a quarterback for the University of Michigan in 1917 and a halfback in 1919. He was selected as a first-team All-American in 1917 by ''Chicago ...
(quarterback),
Abe Cohn Abraham Jerome Cohn (June 27, 1897 – October 23, 1970) was an American football and basketball player, coach and official. He played football and basketball at the University of Michigan from 1917 to 1920. He coached football and basketball at ...
(left halfback), Joseph Hanish (right halfback), and
Tad Wieman Elton Ewart "Tad" Wieman (October 4, 1896 – December 26, 1971) was an American football collegiate player, coach and athletic director. He played football for the University of Michigan from 1915 to 1917 and 1920 under head coach Fielding H. Yo ...
(fullback).


Week 10: at Northwestern

On November 24, 1917, Michigan played the football team from
Northwestern University Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston, Illinois. Founded in 1851, Northwestern is the oldest chartered university in Illinois and is ranked among the most prestigious academic institutions in the world. Charte ...
. The game was the 15th meeting of the teams dating back to 1889. Michigan had won only three of the prior 14 meetings. The game represented Michigan's first game against a conference opponent after rejoining the
Big Ten Conference The Big Ten Conference (stylized B1G, formerly the Western Conference and the Big Nine Conference) is the oldest Division I collegiate athletic conference in the United States. Founded as the Intercollegiate Conference of Faculty Representati ...
. Before the game started, the Northwestern crowd greeted the Wolverines warmly, and
Walter Eckersall Walter Herbert "Eckie" Eckersall (June 17, 1883 – March 24, 1930) was an American college football player, official, and sportswriter for the ''Chicago Tribune''. He played for the Maroons of the University of Chicago, and was elected to the ...
in the ''
Chicago Tribune The ''Chicago Tribune'' is a daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, United States, owned by Tribune Publishing. Founded in 1847, and formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper" (a slogan for which WGN radio and television a ...
'' wrote: "That Michigan is welcomed in its return to the conference goes without saying." Michigan played the game with three of its key starters, quarterback
Archie Weston Archie Bruce "Beak" Weston (June 9, 1895 – April 1981) was an American football player who was a quarterback for the University of Michigan in 1917 and a halfback in 1919. He was selected as a first-team All-American in 1917 by ''Chicago ...
, center Oscar Lambert, and guard Frank Culver) sidelined by injury. Michigan lost the 1917 game by a score of 21 to 12. Northwestern scored first on a forward pass from Ellingwood to Arrles. Michigan responded with a scoring drive capped by a three-year run by Gerald Froemke, but
Tad Wieman Elton Ewart "Tad" Wieman (October 4, 1896 – December 26, 1971) was an American football collegiate player, coach and athletic director. He played football for the University of Michigan from 1915 to 1917 and 1920 under head coach Fielding H. Yo ...
missed the point after touchdown (PAT), and Northwestern remained in the lead, 7–6. Northwestern scored again, on a short run by Koehler, and extended its lead to 14–6 at halftime. Northwestern scored again in the third period and led 21–6. In the fourth quarter, Froemke returned a punt 50 yards. Michigan scored a touchdown to reduce Northwestern's lead to 21–12, though accounts differ as to whether the second Michigan touchdown was scored by Froemke or Wieman. The game was played in 15-minute quarters. Michigan's starting lineup against Northwestern was
Angus Goetz Angus Gerald "Gus" Goetz (July 6, 1897 – July 24, 1977) was an American football player who played four years with the Michigan Wolverines from 1917 to 1920. He also played professional football for the Buffalo All-Americans (1922) and the ...
(left end), Wieman (left tackle), Alan Boyd (left guard), Goodsell (center), Morrison (right guard), Richard Weske (right tackle), Cartwright (right end), Froemke (quarterback), Rye (left halfback), Joseph Hanish (right halfback), and
Abe Cohn Abraham Jerome Cohn (June 27, 1897 – October 23, 1970) was an American football and basketball player, coach and official. He played football and basketball at the University of Michigan from 1917 to 1920. He coached football and basketball at ...
(fullback). Substitutions for Michigan were Cliff Sparks (left halfback), William Fortune (right guard), and Morrison (left tackle).


Players


Varsity letter winners

For their participation on the 1917 football team, 18 players were awarded a varsity letter "M". Those 18 players are: * Alan Boyd,
Indianapolis, Indiana Indianapolis (), colloquially known as Indy, is the state capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Indiana and the seat of Marion County. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the consolidated population of Indianapolis and Mari ...
- started 5 games at left guard, 3 games at right end, 1 game at left tackle * Oscar Cartwright,
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 ...
- started 6 games at right end *
Abe Cohn Abraham Jerome Cohn (June 27, 1897 – October 23, 1970) was an American football and basketball player, coach and official. He played football and basketball at the University of Michigan from 1917 to 1920. He coached football and basketball at ...
,
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 5 games at left halfback, 2 games at fullback, 1 game at right halfback * William R. Cruse, Detroit, Michigan - halfback * Frank Culver, Detroit, Michigan - started 4 games at left guard, 3 games at left tackle, 1 game at right guard * William Fortune, Springfield, Illinois - started 5 games at right guard * Gerald Froemke, Sheldon, North Dakota - started 3 games at left halfback, 1 game at quarterback * Lowell Genebach, Battle Creek, Michigan - started 1 game at quarterback, 1 game at right halfback *
Angus Goetz Angus Gerald "Gus" Goetz (July 6, 1897 – July 24, 1977) was an American football player who played four years with the Michigan Wolverines from 1917 to 1920. He also played professional football for the Buffalo All-Americans (1922) and the ...
,
De Tour Village, Michigan DeTour Village ( ) is a village in Chippewa County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 325 at the 2010 census. The village is at the extreme eastern tip of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, in Detour Township, at the turning poin ...
- started 9 games at left end * John Orton Goodsell,
Saginaw, Michigan Saginaw () is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the seat of Saginaw County. The city of Saginaw and Saginaw County are both in the area known as Mid-Michigan. Saginaw is adjacent to Saginaw Charter Township and considered part of Greater ...
- started 5 games at left tackle, 3 games at right guard, 2 games at center * Joseph Hanish,
Grand Rapids, Michigan Grand Rapids is a city and county seat of Kent County in the U.S. state of Michigan. At the 2020 census, the city had a population of 198,917 which ranks it as the second most-populated city in the state after Detroit. Grand Rapids is the ...
- started 7 games at right halfback, 1 game at right end * Oscar Lambert,
Pennsboro, West Virginia Pennsboro is a city in Ritchie County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 1,050 at the 2020 census. The city is located at the junction of U.S. Route 50 and West Virginia Route 74; the North Bend Rail Trail also passes through th ...
- started 6 games at center * Chester C. Morrison,
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Pittsburgh ( ) is a city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States, and the county seat of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, Allegheny County. It is the most populous city in both Allegheny County and Wester ...
- started 1 game at right guard * Harold Rye,
Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan Sault Ste. Marie ( ') is the only city in, and county seat of, Chippewa County in the U.S. state of Michigan. With a population of 13,337 at the 2020 census, it is the second-most populated city in the Upper Peninsula after Marquette. It i ...
- started 1 game at left halfback, 1 game at right halfback * Cliff Sparks,
Jackson, Michigan Jackson is the only city and county seat of Jackson County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 33,534, down from 36,316 at the 2000 census. Located along Interstate 94 and U.S. Route 127, it is approxi ...
- started 2 games at quarterback, 1 game at left halfback * Richard F. "Dick" Weske,Richard Ferdinand Weske, sometimes listed as Ferdinand Richard Weske, born August 15, 1894, in Petrograd, Russia (now known as
Saint Petersburg Saint Petersburg ( rus, links=no, Санкт-Петербург, a=Ru-Sankt Peterburg Leningrad Petrograd Piter.ogg, r=Sankt-Peterburg, p=ˈsankt pʲɪtʲɪrˈburk), formerly known as Petrograd (1914–1924) and later Leningrad (1924–1991), i ...
. He came to the United States in June 1903 with his parents, Peter and Agnela Weske, and sister, Juliana. He was raised in
New London, Connecticut New London is a seaport city and a port of entry on the northeast coast of the United States, located at the mouth of the Thames River in New London County, Connecticut. It was one of the world's three busiest whaling ports for several decade ...
. At the time of the 1910 Census, he was living in New London with his father, Peter (a 41-year-old machinist), and sister Juliana (age 14). He became a naturalized U.S. citizen and enrolled at the University of Michigan as an engineering student. At the time of the 1930 Census, he was living in Salt Lake City with his wife Wanda, daughters Jacqueline and Juliana, and was working as a civil engineer for a railroad. He died in October 1971 in
Nevada City, Nevada Nevada City is a ghost town in Churchill County, Nevada, United States, located just east of Fallon, Nevada near the current intersection of Nevada State Route 118, State Route 118 and U.S. Route 50 in Nevada, U.S. Highway 50. It was founded in 19 ...
.
New London, Connecticut New London is a seaport city and a port of entry on the northeast coast of the United States, located at the mouth of the Thames River in New London County, Connecticut. It was one of the world's three busiest whaling ports for several decade ...
- started 10 games at right tackle *
Archie Weston Archie Bruce "Beak" Weston (June 9, 1895 – April 1981) was an American football player who was a quarterback for the University of Michigan in 1917 and a halfback in 1919. He was selected as a first-team All-American in 1917 by ''Chicago ...
, Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan - started 6 games at quarterback *
Tad Wieman Elton Ewart "Tad" Wieman (October 4, 1896 – December 26, 1971) was an American football collegiate player, coach and athletic director. He played football for the University of Michigan from 1915 to 1917 and 1920 under head coach Fielding H. Yo ...
,
Los Angeles, California Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world' ...
- started 8 games at fullback, 1 game at left tackle


aMa letter winners

*Charles Beath,
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 ...
- started 2 games at center *Lee Bonar, Belleville, West Virginia - end *Harold M. Cherry,
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 ...
- center *John H. Emery,
Bedford, Indiana Bedford is a city in Shawswick Township and the county seat of Lawrence County, Indiana, United States. In the 2020 census, the population was 13,792. That is up from 13,413 in 2010. Bedford is the principal city of the Bedford, IN Micropo ...
- end *Thomas C. Garrett, Lakewood, Ohio - fullback *Fred Hendershott,
Tecumseh, Michigan Tecumseh is a city in Lenawee County in the U.S. state of Michigan, near the River Raisin. Tecumseh is about southwest of Detroit, south of Ann Arbor, and north of Toledo, Ohio. The main street of downtown is Chicago Boulevard, also designat ...
- end *L.O. Lindstrom,
Marquette, Michigan Marquette ( ) is a city in Marquette County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 20,629 at the 2020 United States Census, which makes it the largest city in the Upper Peninsula. Marquette serves as the seat of government of Marquett ...
- guard


Others

*Elmer Cress,
Grand Rapids, Michigan Grand Rapids is a city and county seat of Kent County in the U.S. state of Michigan. At the 2020 census, the city had a population of 198,917 which ranks it as the second most-populated city in the state after Detroit. Grand Rapids is the ...
- started 1 game at left end (designated as reserve) *C. H. Graff, reserve * John Perrin, reserve *Julius St. Clair,
Duluth, Minnesota , settlement_type = City , nicknames = Twin Ports (with Superior), Zenith City , motto = , image_skyline = , image_caption = Clockwise from top: urban Duluth skyline; Minnesota ...
- started 1 game at left guard *Arthur Weadock, reserve


Scoring leaders


Awards and honors

* Captain: Cedric C. Smith * All-Americans:
Ernest Allmendinger Ernest John "Aqua" Allmendinger (August 25, 1890 – May 7, 1973) was an American football player and coach. He played college football as a guard for the University of Michigan Wolverines from 1911 to 1913. He was also selected to Walter Cam ...
, Cedric C. Smith, Frank Culver * All-Conference:
Ernie Vick Henry Arthur "Ernie" Vick (July 2, 1900 – July 16, 1980) was an American football and baseball player. He was selected as an All-American center in 1921, played on the 1926 World Series champion St. Louis Cardinals, and was elected to the Col ...
,
Angus Goetz Angus Gerald "Gus" Goetz (July 6, 1897 – July 24, 1977) was an American football player who played four years with the Michigan Wolverines from 1917 to 1920. He also played professional football for the Buffalo All-Americans (1922) and the ...


Coaching staff

* Head coach:
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 ...
* Assistant coaches:
Prentiss Douglass Prentiss Porter Douglass (June 23, 1887 – November 9, 1949) was an American football player and coach. He was a native of Martinsville, Illinois who graduated from the Culver Military Academy and the University of Michigan. He played football ...
, Robert Watson * Trainer:
Harry Tuthill Harry Nathan Tuthill (July 30, 1870 – January 31, 1935) was an American athletic trainer. He began his career as a trainer of footracers and boxers and later became a trainer in Major League Baseball and college football. He was the trai ...
* Manager: Charles F. Boos


References


External links


1917 Football Team -- Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan Athletics History

1917-18 Michigan Alumnus - includes accounts of each game

1918 Michiganensian
{{Michigan Wolverines football navbox
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 ...
Michigan Wolverines football seasons Michigan Wolverines football