The 1957 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 1957 Big Ten Conference football season. In its 10th year under head coach

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 ...

, Michigan compiled a 5–3–1 record (3–3–1 against conference opponents), finished in sixth place in the Big Ten, and outscored opponents by a combined total of 187 to 147. Left tackle Jim Orwig was the team captain. Left halfback

Jim Pace James Edward Pace (January 1, 1936 – March 4, 1983) was an American running back in the National Football League. He was also an All-American halfback who played for the University of Michigan Wolverines teams from 1955 to 1957. Youth Alt ...

received the team's most valuable player award, won the ''Chicago Tribune'' Silver Football as the most valuable player in the Big Ten, and was selected as a first-team All-American and All-Big Ten player. The team's statistical leaders included quarterback

Jim Van Pelt James Sutton Van Pelt (November 11, 1935 – July 2, 2022) was an American professional football player who was a quarterback for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football for the Michigan W ...

with 629 passing yards, Jim Pace with 664 rushing yards, and left end Gary Prahst with 233 receiving yards.

Schedule

Statistical leaders

Michigan's individual statistical leaders for the 1957 season include those listed below.(statistics retrieved by entering "1957" in the box for "Games & Totals by Season" and then, at the next screen, choosing "Display Season Totals")

Rushing

Passing

Receiving

Kickoff returns

Punt returns

Players

The starting lineup of the 1957 football team was made up of the following players. Players who started at least four games are shown with their names in bold. *Robert Boshoven - started 1 game at right end *Dave Bowers - started 1 game at left end *James Byers- started 4 games at fullback *Alex Callahan - started 1 game at left guard *James Davies - started 9 games at right tackle *Larry Faul - started 8 games at left guard *Jerry Goebel - started 5 games at center *

John Herrnstein John Ellett Herrnstein (March 31, 1938 – October 3, 2017) was an American baseball and football player. He played Major League Baseball from 1962 to 1966 for the Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago Cubs, and Atlanta Braves. He also played co ...

- started 4 games at fullback *Dick Heynen - started 1 game at left tackle *Walter Johnson - started 8 games at right end *Jerry Marciniak - started 1 game at right guard *Brad Myers - started 3 games at right halfback *

Stan Noskin Stanton Charles Noskin (born June 12, 1938) is a former American football player. He played at the quarterback position for the University of Michigan from 1957 to 1959. He was the starting quarterback for the 1959 Michigan Wolverines football t ...

- started 2 games at quarterback *Marv Nyren - started 8 games at right guard *Jim Orwig - started 8 games at left tackle *

- started 9 games at left halfback *Gary Prahst - started 8 games at left end *Mike Shatusky - started 6 games at right halfback *Gene Snider - started 4 games at center *

- started 7 games at quarterback (7) Other players on the team included the following: * Willie Smith - tackle

Awards and honors

Honors and awards for the 1957 season went to the following individuals. *Captain: Jim Orwig *

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 ...

* All-Big Ten: Jim Pace *Most Valuable Player: Jim Pace *Meyer Morton Award: Charles Teusher *John Maulbetsch Award: George Genyk

Coaching staff

Michigan's 1957 coaching, training, and support staff included the following persons. *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 ...

Don Dufek Donald Patrick Dufek Jr. (born April 28, 1954) is a former American football player who played safety and special teams for eight seasons with the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League (NFL). He had previously played for the Michigan W ...

Bump Elliott Chalmers William "Bump" Elliott (January 30, 1925 – December 7, 2019) was an American football player, coach, and college athletics administrator. He played halfback at Purdue University (1943–1944) and the University of Michigan (1946–19 ...

, Robert Hollway,

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 ...

Matt Patanelli Matthew Lewis Patanelli (July 13, 1914 – May 27, 1992) was an American football, baseball and basketball player and coach. He played and coached all three sports at the University of Michigan and was selected as the Most Valuable Player on the 1 ...

, Walter Weber *Trainer:

Jim Hunt James Baxter Hunt Jr. (born May 16, 1937) is an American politician and retired attorney who was the List of governors of North Carolina, 69th and 71st Governor of North Carolina (1977–1985, and 1993–2001). He is the longest-serving governo ...

*Manager: Lynn Evans

References

{{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 ...