The 1929 Michigan Wolverines football team was an

American football American football (referred to simply as football in the United States and Canada), also known as gridiron, is a team sport played by two teams of eleven players on a rectangular field with goalposts at each end. The offense, the team with ...

team that 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 1929 Big Ten Conference football season. The team compiled a 5–3–1 record (1–3–1 against Big Ten opponents), tied for seventh place in the Big Ten, and outscored its opponents by a total of 109 to 75. In late May 1929,

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. Yos ...

was removed as the team's head coach.

Harry Kipke Harry George Kipke (; March 26, 1899 – September 14, 1972) 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 to 1937 ...

was hired as his replacement in mid-June; Kipke remained as Michigan's head football coach for nine seasons. Highlights of the season included victories over rivals

Michigan State 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 ...

and

Minnesota Minnesota () is a state in the upper midwestern region of the United States. It is the 12th largest U.S. state in area and the 22nd most populous, with over 5.75 million residents. Minnesota is home to western prairies, now given over to ...

and the program's first victory over a

Harvard Crimson football The Harvard Crimson football program represents Harvard University in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (formerly Division I-AA). Harvard's football program is one of the oldest in the world, having begun c ...

team, after losing four prior games to the Crimson dating back to 1881. The Wolverines lost in the fourth quarter to an undefeated Purdue team that won the Big Ten championship and was ranked No. 2 nationally in the final rankings under the

Dickinson System The Dickinson System was a mathematical point formula that awarded national championships in college football. Devised by University of Illinois economics professor Frank G. Dickinson, the system crowned national champions from 1925 to 1940. Dicki ...

. End Joseph Truskowski was the team captain, and quarterback

James Simrall James Orlando Harrison Simrall Jr. (November 16, 1909 – September 8, 1982) was an American football player and medical doctor. A native of Lexington, Kentucky, Simrall enrolled at the University of Michigan where he played quarterback and Halfb ...

was selected as the most valuable player. Center Alan Bovard received first-team honors on the 1929 All-Big Ten Conference football team; Truskowski, fullback

Joe Gembis Joseph George Gembis (September 29, 1907 – July 5, 1969), sometimes known by the nickname "Dynamite Joe", was an American football player and coach. He played college football at the University of Michigan from 1926 to 1929 and professional foot ...

, and guard Howard Poe received second-team honors. For the second consecutive season, Gembis was Michigan's leading scorer; he totaled 31 points on two touchdowns, 10 extra points, and three field goals for the 1929 season.

Schedule

Season summary

Pre-season

The 1928 Michigan team compiled a disappointing 3–4–1 record under head coach

. After months of strained relations between Wieman and athletic director

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 ...

, Wieman was removed as the team's head coach in late May 1929. Two weeks later,

was hired as Michigan's new head coach. Kipke was an All-American halfback at Michigan in 1924 and had served as the head coach at Michigan Agricultural College in 1928. Upon being hired by Michigan, Kipke said, "Coaching Michigan is the greatest football job in America. I would be foolish to turn down such an offer. It has been one of my greatest ambitions in life."

Week 1 doubleheader

Albion

On September 29, 1929, Michigan opened the Kipke era with a doubleheader at Michigan Stadium before a crowd of more than 50,000 persons. In the first game, the Wolverines defeated , 39–0. Coach Kipke played 40 men in the doubleheader, seeking to assess the strength of his players. The Wolverines held Albion to 14 rushing yards and one first down in the game. On offense, the Wolverines scored six touchdowns, two by Jack Wheeler and one each by

Omer LaJeunesse Omer LaJeunesse (May 4, 1908 – May 15, 1994) was an American football player and coach. He played football at the University of Michigan from 1929 to 1931. LaJeunesse served as the head football coach of at Michigan College of Mining and Techno ...

, Kirk Holland, John Widman, and Jennings McBride.

added three extra points.

Mount Union

In the second game of the doubleheader, Michigan defeated , 16–6. Michigan was held to three points in the first half, as Mount Union proved to be a tougher opponent than Albion. Mount Union scored a touchdown in the third quarter when its end, Raber, intercepted a lateral pass from

to Alvin Dahlem and returned it 88 yards. Michigan's scoring came on a 37-yard field goal by

, touchdowns by Dahlem and Gembis, and an extra point from Gembis.

Week 2: Michigan State

On October 5, 1929, Michigan won its

rivalry game Pairs of schools, colleges and universities, especially when they are close to each other either geographically or in their areas of specialization, often establish a college rivalry with each other over the years. This rivalry can extend to both ...

against

by a 17–0 score before a crowd of 38,000 at Michigan Stadium. Harry Kipke had coached the Michigan State team in 1928 but switched to Michigan for the 1929 season. The loss was the 15th in a row for Michigan State against Michigan. Left halfback Roy Hudson gained 190 yards, including an 80-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter. Fullback

tallied 11 points on a touchdown run, a field goal, and two kicks for extra point.

Week 3: at Purdue

On October 12, 1929, Michigan lost to

Purdue Purdue University is a public land-grant research university in West Lafayette, Indiana, and the flagship campus of the Purdue University system. The university was founded in 1869 after Lafayette businessman John Purdue donated land and money ...

, 30–16, before a crowd of 18,484 at

Ross–Ade Stadium Ross–Ade Stadium is a stadium in West Lafayette, Indiana, on the campus of Purdue University. It is the home field of Purdue Boilermakers football. The stadium was dedicated on November 22, 1924, and named in honor of Purdue alumni George Ade ...

West Lafayette, Indiana West Lafayette () is a city in Wabash Township, Tippecanoe County, Indiana, United States, about northwest of the state capital of Indianapolis and southeast of Chicago. West Lafayette is directly across the Wabash River from its sister city, ...

. In a game of shifting momentum, the Boilermakers dominated the first half and took a 6-0 lead in the second quarter on a 35-yard run by "Pest" Welch. In the third quarter, Michigan had the momentum and scored 16 points to take a 16-6 lead. Michigan's scoring began with a field goal by

. Then Michigan tackle Eddie Hayden blocked Welch's punt, caught the ball, and ran for a touchdown. On the next drive, Welch's punt was hurried and went out of bounds at the Purdue 28-yard line. Roy Hudson ran for a touchdown, and Gembis kicked the extra point. Momentum shifted back to Purdue in the final quarter, as the Boilermakers scored 24 points, including two touchdown runs by

Alex Yunevich Alexander Joseph Yunevich (December 8, 1909 – January 28, 1992) was an American college football player and coach. He served as the head football coach at Central State Teachers College—now known as Central Michigan University—from 1934 to 1 ...

. Purdue, coached by James Phelan, went on to an undefeated season, a Big Ten championship, and a No. 2 ranking (behind Notre Dame) in the final rankings under the

Week 4: Ohio State

On October 19, 1929, Michigan lost its

with

Ohio State The Ohio State University, commonly called Ohio State or OSU, is a public land-grant research university in Columbus, Ohio. A member of the University System of Ohio, it has been ranked by major institutional rankings among the best public ...

by a 7–0 score before an estimated crowd of 90,000 persons at Michigan Stadium. The crowd included 22,000 Ohio State students and alumni. Ohio State scored in the second quarter on a pass from quarterback Alan M. Holman to right end

Wes Fesler Wesley Eugene Fesler (June 29, 1908 – July 30, 1989) was an American football, basketball, and baseball player and coach of football and basketball. He was a three-sport athlete at Ohio State University and a consensus first-team selection to ...

. The Buckeyes' touchdown followed a

punt from behind the Michigan goal line that went out of bounds at the Wolverines' 30-yard line. Michigan twice drove within Ohio State's five-yard line but was unable to score.

Week 5: at Illinois

On October 26, 1929, Michigan lost to

Illinois Illinois ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern United States. Its largest metropolitan areas include the Chicago metropolitan area, and the Metro East section, of Greater St. Louis. Other smaller metropolita ...

by a 14–0 score before a homecoming crowd of 53,403 at Memorial Stadium in

Champaign, Illinois Champaign ( ) is a city in Champaign County, Illinois, United States. The population was 88,302 at the 2020 census. It is the tenth-most populous municipality in Illinois and the fourth most populous city in Illinois outside the Chicago metropo ...

. Illinois scored twice in the third quarter. Quarterback Douglas Mills scored the first touchdown on a 75-yard run. Later in the quarter, Frank Walker intercepted a pass from Joseph Truskowski and returned it 60 yards to Michigan's eight-yard line. A few plays later, Walker ran seven yards for a touchdown.

Week 6: Harvard

On November 9, 1929, Michigan defeated

Harvard Harvard University is a private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 1636 as Harvard College and named for its first benefactor, the Puritan clergyman John Harvard, it is the oldest institution of higher le ...

, 14–12, before a homecoming crowd of 85,042 persons at Michigan Stadium. The victory was Michigan's first against a Harvard team, having lost four prior games dating back to 1881. Roy Hudson and Maynard Morrison scored Michigan's touchdowns and

kicked the extra points.

Week 7: at Minnesota

On November 16, 1929, Michigan won the Little Brown Jug game against a Minnesota team featuring

Bronko Nagurski Bronislau "Bronko" Nagurski (November 3, 1908 – January 7, 1990) was a Canadian-born professional American football player in the National Football League (NFL), renowned for his strength and size. Nagurski was also a successful professional w ...

and

Biggie Munn Clarence Lester "Biggie" Munn (September 11, 1908 – March 18, 1975) was an American football player, coach, and college athletics administrator. He was the head football coach at Albright College (1935–1936), Syracuse University (1946), and mo ...

. The Wolverines won by a 7–6 score before a homecoming crowd estimated at 60,000 at Memorial Stadium in

Minneapolis Minneapolis () is the largest city in Minnesota, United States, and the county seat of Hennepin County. The city is abundant in water, with thirteen lakes, wetlands, the Mississippi River, creeks and waterfalls. Minneapolis has its origins ...

. Minnesota halfback Clint Riebeth scored a touchdown in the second quarter, but the Golden Gophers missed the kick for extra point and led, 6–0, at halftime. In the fourth quarter, Michigan blocked a punt to gain good field position. Quarterback

then took the ball, ran to the left side, tossed the ball to halfback

, and Gembis then passed to Donald Wilson for a long gain. Fullback Maynard Morrison ran for the touchdown, Gembis kicked the extra point, and Michigan secured its margin of victory. Michigan out-gained Minnesota by 203 yards from scrimmage to 197.

Week 8: Iowa

On November 23, 1929, Michigan concluded its season with a scoreless tie against

Iowa Iowa () is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States, bordered by the Mississippi River to the east and the Missouri River and Big Sioux River to the west. It is bordered by six states: Wisconsin to the northeast, Illinois to the ...

before a crowd of 50,619 at Michigan Stadium. Iowa twice drove past Michigan's five-yard line, once to the one-yard line, but the Michigan defense stopped both drives on downs. In the fourth quarter,

attempted a field goal from placement on the 25-yard line, but the ball narrowly went right of the post.

Post-season

Personnel

Varsity letter winners

The following players won varsity letters for their work on the 1929 football team: Players who started at least five of Michigan's nine games are displayed in bold. * Howie Auer - started 5 games at right tackle, 2 games at left tackle * Alan Bovard - started 9 games at center *Francis M. Cornwell - started 1 game at right end *Norman J. Daniels - started 2 games at right halfback *Alvin G. Dahlem - started 3 games at right halfback, 2 games at left halfback *

Leo Draveling Leo Frank "Firpo" Draveling (born June 23, 1907 – July 2, 1955) was an American football player. He played for the Michigan Wolverines football teams from 1928–1930 and for the Cincinnati Reds (NFL), Cincinnati Reds of the NFL in 1933. ...

- started 8 games at right end, 1 game at right tackle *

- started 5 games at fullback, 3 games at right halfback *Edward W. Hayden - started 5 games at left tackle, 1 game at right tackle *William M. Heston - halfback * Bill Hewitt - started 2 games at left end, 1 game at right end *Martin R. "Roy" Hudson - started 6 games at left halfback * Maynard Morrison - started 2 games at fullback, 1 game at left tackle *Ray F. Parker - guard *Howard W. Poe - guard; started 8 games at left guard, 1 game at right guard *Edwin B. Poorman - tackle; started 1 game at left tackle, 1 game at right tackle *Thomas G. Roach - started 1 game at right tackle *

- started 8 games at quarterback, 1 game at left halfback *Thorvald C. Sorenson - tackle *Alfred E. Steinke - started 8 games at right guard, 1 games at left guard * Joe Truskowski - end; started 7 games at left end, 1 game at quarterback, 1 game at right halfback * Jack Wheeler - started 2 games at fullback *Donald L. Wilson - halfback

aMa letter winners

The following players won aMa letters for their work on the 1929 football team:1930 Michiganesian, "Varsity Football Team," page 194. *Carl J. Bauer - guard *Milton Bergman - tackle *

Albert Berkowitz Albert Berkowitz (June 25, 1910 – March 5, 2008) was an American lawyer and politician from New York (state), New York. Life He was born on June 25, 1910, in Glens Falls, New York, Glens Falls, Warren County, New York, the son of Hyman Berkowi ...

- back *Max Blaine *Frank P. Brown - quarterback *William A. Brown - center *Arthur W. Decker - guard *Ira L. Grinnell - guard *Nyal R. Hayes - end *Kirk Holland - quarterback *Thomas G. Justice - end *

- fullback *Harold D. Lindsay - back *Harold Miller - back *R. O. Morgan - guard *Murray Mosser - end *S. H. Preoulman *Raymond Priest - back *Karl S. Richardson - guard *Tom C. Samuels - guard *Frederick B. Schantz - back *Jay H. Sikkenga - end *Ivan C. Smith - end *John C. Widman - back *Ralph Wills - back

Awards and honors

*Captain: Joseph Truskowski *All-Conference: Alan Bovard *Most Valuable Player:

* Meyer Morton Award: Roy Hudson

Coaching staff

*Head coach:

* Assistant coaches:

Jack Blott Jack Leonard Blott (August 24, 1902 – June 11, 1964) was an All-American football center and place kicker for the University of Michigan Wolverines from 1922–1923. He was also a baseball catcher for the Wolverines from 1922–1924. After ...

Franklin Cappon Franklin C. "Cappy" Cappon (October 17, 1900 – November 29, 1961) was an American college football and college basketball player and coach. He played football and basketball at Phillips University and the University of Michigan and coached at ...

Ray Courtright Raymond O. Courtright (September 19, 1891 – August 1979) was an American football, basketball, and baseball player, coach of football, basketball, golf, and wrestling, and college athletics administrator. Courtright attended the University of Okl ...

Cliff Keen Clifford Patrick Keen (June 13, 1901 – November 4, 1991) was an American coach who served as the head coach of the University of Michigan collegiate wrestling team from 1925 to 1970. He led the Michigan Wolverines to 13 Big Ten Conference cha ...

Bennie Oosterbaan Benjamin Oosterbaan ( ; February 24, 1906 – October 25, 1990) was a three-time first team All-American football end for the Michigan Wolverines football team, two-time All-American basketball player for the basketball team, and an All-Big Ten C ...

, George F. Veenker *Trainer: Charles B. Hoyt *Manager: Richard B. Fogarty, Arthur Highfield (assistant), Charles Reynolds (assistant), Herbert Grosberg (assistant), Hugh Clarke (assistant)

Scoring leaders

References

External links

1929 Football Team -- Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan Athletics History
{{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 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 ...