The 1986 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 ...
as a member of 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 ...
during the
1986 NCAA Division I-A football season
The 1986 NCAA Division I-A football season ended with Penn State winning the national championship. Coached by Joe Paterno, they defeated Miami (Fl) 14–10 in the Fiesta Bowl. This Fiesta Bowl was the first in the game's history to decide the na ...
. In its 18th season under head coach
Bo Schembechler
Glenn Edward "Bo" Schembechler Jr. ( ; April 1, 1929 – November 17, 2006) was an American football player, coach, and athletics administrator. He served as the head football coach at Miami University from 1963 to 1968 and at the University of ...
, the team compiled an 11–2 record (7–1 against conference opponents), tied for the Big Ten championship, outscored opponents by a total of 379 to 203, and was ranked No. 8 and No. 7, respectively, in the final
AP and
UPI polls.
Late in the season, Schembechler passed
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 ...
as the winningest coach in Michigan football history.
Michigan was ranked No. 2 after winning its first nine games, including victories over
Notre Dame and
Florida State
Florida State University (FSU) is a public university, public research university in Tallahassee, Florida. It is a senior member of the State University System of Florida. Founded in 1851, it is located on the oldest continuous site of higher e ...
. The Wolverines were then upset by an unranked
Minnesota team led by
Rickey Foggie
Rickey Foggie (born July 15, 1966) is a former gridiron football quarterback. Foggie was the starting quarterback for the Minnesota Golden Gophers for four seasons, before going on to play professionally in the Canadian Football League and Arena ...
. After quarterback
Jim Harbaugh
James Joseph Harbaugh (; born December 23, 1963) is an American football coach and former quarterback, who is the current and 20th head football coach of the Michigan Wolverines. He played college football at Michigan from 1983 to 1986. He play ...
guaranteed a victory over
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 ...
, the Wolverines defeated the Buckeyes but lost to
Arizona State
Arizona State University (Arizona State or ASU) is a public research university in the Phoenix metropolitan area. Founded in 1885 by the 13th Arizona Territorial Legislature, ASU is one of the largest public universities by enrollment in the ...
in the
1987 Rose Bowl.
During the 1986 season, quarterback
Jim Harbaugh
James Joseph Harbaugh (; born December 23, 1963) is an American football coach and former quarterback, who is the current and 20th head football coach of the Michigan Wolverines. He played college football at Michigan from 1983 to 1986. He play ...
set Michigan school records for most passing yardage in a game (310 yards vs.
Wisconsin
Wisconsin () is a state in the upper Midwestern United States. Wisconsin is the 25th-largest state by total area and the 20th-most populous. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake M ...
), season (2,729 yards), and career (5,449 yards). He finished third in voting for the 1986
Heisman Trophy
The Heisman Memorial Trophy (usually known colloquially as the Heisman Trophy or The Heisman) is awarded annually to the most outstanding player in college football. Winners epitomize great ability combined with diligence, perseverance, and hard ...
and was selected as both Michigan's most valuable player and the winner of the
''Chicago Tribune'' Silver Football award as the most valuable player in the Big Ten Conference.
The team's other statistical leaders included tailback
Jamie Morris
James Walter Morris (born June 6, 1965) is a former professional American football running back in the National Football League (NFL) for the Washington Redskins and a record-setting running back in college for the University of Michigan Wolverine ...
with 1,086 rushing yards, split end Ken Higgins with 621 receiving yards, and placekicker
Mike Gillette with 59 points scored.
Three Michigan players received first-team honors on the
1986 All-America college football team:
Garland Rivers at defensive back (consensus), Harbaugh at quarterback (''Football News''), and offensive tackle
Jumbo Elliott (
AFCA). Seven Michigan players received first-team honors on the
1986 All-Big Ten Conference football team.
Schedule
Season summary
Preseason
The
1985 Michigan Wolverines football team compiled a 10–1–1 record and was ranked No. 2 in the final AP and UPI polls. Sixteen starters returned from the 1985 team, including quarterback
Jim Harbaugh
James Joseph Harbaugh (; born December 23, 1963) is an American football coach and former quarterback, who is the current and 20th head football coach of the Michigan Wolverines. He played college football at Michigan from 1983 to 1986. He play ...
, running backs
Jamie Morris
James Walter Morris (born June 6, 1965) is a former professional American football running back in the National Football League (NFL) for the Washington Redskins and a record-setting running back in college for the University of Michigan Wolverine ...
and
Gerald White
Gerald Eugene White (born December 9, 1964) is a former American football running back in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys. He played college football at the University of Michigan.
Early years
White began his football caree ...
, offensive guard Mark Hammerstein, left tackle
Jumbo Elliott, defensive tackle
Mark Messner
Mark W. Messner (born December 29, 1965) is a former American football player who played in the National Football League (NFL) as a linebacker for the Los Angeles Rams during the 1989 NFL season. He sustained a serious knee injury in the 1989-9 ...
, linebacker
Andy Moeller, and cornerback
Garland Rivers.
[ Starters who did not return to the team in 1986 included most valuable player Mike Hammerstein, defensive back ]Brad Cochran
Bradley Cochran (born June 17, 1963) is a former American football player. He played college football as a defensive back for the University of Michigan from 1981 to 1985. As a senior, Cochran was recognized as a consensus first-team defensive b ...
, and linebacker Mike Mallory
Mike Mallory (born November 16, 1962) is an American football coach and a former player who is thSpecial Teams Coordinator for the Denver Broncos NFL football team in 2022. Before that, he most recently worked as assistant special teams coordin ...
.
Prior to the 1986, there was also turnover in Michigan's coaching staff. Linebacker coach Milan Vooletich took an assistant coaching position at Rice
Rice is the seed of the grass species ''Oryza sativa'' (Asian rice) or less commonly ''Oryza glaberrima
''Oryza glaberrima'', commonly known as African rice, is one of the two domesticated rice species. It was first domesticated and grown i ...
, and receiver coach Bob Thornbladh
Robert N. M. "Blade" Thornbladh (born September 19, 1952 in Cleveland, Ohio) is a former American football player, coach and radio color commentator. He played for the Michigan Wolverines football team from 1971 to 1973 and was an assistant coa ...
left for a private business job in Florida. Former NC State
North Carolina State University (NC State) is a public land-grant research university in Raleigh, North Carolina. Founded in 1887 and part of the University of North Carolina system, it is the largest university in the Carolinas. The university ...
head coach Tom Reed Thomas or Tom Reed may refer to:
Politicians and military
* Thomas Buck Reed (1787–1829), senator from Mississippi
* Thomas Reed (British Army officer) (1796–1883), British general
* Thomas Brackett Reed (1839–1902), Speaker of the House of ...
replaced Vooletich as linebacker coach. Cam Cameron
Malcolm "Cam" Cameron (born February 6, 1961) is an American football coach. He is the former offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach of the LSU Tigers football program. Cameron attended Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana and playe ...
and Bill Harris were hired to coach tight ends and wide receivers.[
Michigan's 1986 recruiting class included running backs ]Tony Boles
Tony Boles (born December 11, 1967) is an American former professional football player who was a running back and kick returner who was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL). After starring in college football fo ...
, Jarrod Bunch
Jarrod Ray Bunch (born August 9, 1968) is a former American football player and actor, as well as the head coach of the Beverly Hills High School football team. He played college football for the University of Michigan from 1986 to 1990. He wa ...
, Leroy Hoard
Leroy J. Hoard (born May 15, 1968) is a former American football player.
Hoard played professional football as a running back in the National Football League (NFL) for 10 seasons for the Cleveland Browns from 1990 to 1995 and the Minnesota Viking ...
, and David Key (later converted to defensive back), wide receivers Greg McMurtry and Chris Calloway, tight end Tom Dohring (later converted to offensive tackle), fullback Mike Teeter (later converted to linebacker), defensive tackle Warde Manuel
Warde Joseph Manuel (born May 22, 1968) is an American college athletics administrator and former American football player. He has served as the 12th director of athletics at his alma mater, the University of Michigan, since January 2016.
He wa ...
, and free safety Vada Murray.
Notre Dame
On September 13, 1986, Michigan, ranked No. 3 in the preseason AP and UPI polls, defeated unranked Notre Dame, 24–23, before a crowd of 59,075 at Notre Dame Stadium
Notre Dame Stadium is an outdoor football stadium in Notre Dame, Indiana, the home field of the University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team.
It was built in 1930 under the guidance of Knute Rockne, regarded as one of the greatest co ...
in South Bend, Indiana
South Bend is a city in and the county seat of St. Joseph County, Indiana, St. Joseph County, Indiana, on the St. Joseph River (Lake Michigan), St. Joseph River near its southernmost bend, from which it derives its name. As of the 2020 United S ...
. The game was the first for Lou Holtz
Louis Leo Holtz (born January 6, 1937) is an American former football player, coach, and analyst. He served as the head football coach at The College of William & Mary (1969–1971), North Carolina State University (1972–1975), the New York ...
as Notre Dame's head coach.
On the game's opening possession, Michigan mounted a six-and-a-half-minute drive to the Notre Dame 25-yard line, but Pat Moons missed a 42-yard field goal. After Michigan's touchdown, Notre Dame drove 75 yards on 13 plays, capped by a three-yard touchdown run by flanker Tim Brown Timothy, Timmy, or Tim Brown may refer to:
Music
* Timothy Brown (bassist) (born 1969), bassist for the band The Boo Radleys
* Timothy Brown (conductor) (born 1946), English choral conductor
* Timothy Brown (hornist), English hornist
Sports Gridir ...
. On its second possession, Michigan followed with an 80-yard, eight-play drive, fueled by a 34-yard catch by John Kolesar, and capped by an eight-yard touchdown run by Jamie Morris
James Walter Morris (born June 6, 1965) is a former professional American football running back in the National Football League (NFL) for the Washington Redskins and a record-setting running back in college for the University of Michigan Wolverine ...
.[
On Notre Dame's second possession, the Irish again drove downfield, but Reggie Ward fumbled at Michigan's six-yard line, and Michigan recovered the loose ball. Notre Dame's defense held, and Michigan was forced to punt from its own end zone. ]Monte Robbins
Dammond R. "Monte" Robbins (born September 19, 1964) is a former American football punter. He played for the University of Michigan from 1984 to 1987. He holds Michigan's all-time records for the longest punt (82 yards) and for average yards p ...
' punt was good for only 23 yards, and Notre Dame took over at Michigan's 26-yard line. Eight plays later, Mark Green scored on a one-yard run. After Green's touchdown, Jim Harbaugh
James Joseph Harbaugh (; born December 23, 1963) is an American football coach and former quarterback, who is the current and 20th head football coach of the Michigan Wolverines. He played college football at Michigan from 1983 to 1986. He play ...
led the Wolverines on a seven-minute, 75-yard, 13-play drive, and Pat Moons kicked a 23-yard field goal. Notre Dame led, 14-10, at halftime.[
Michigan moved ahead in the third quarter. On the opening drive of the second half, Harbaugh led the Wolverines on a 78-yard, 12-play drive ending with a one-yard touchdown run by Morris. On the kickoff following the touchdown, the kick hit a Notre Dame player and bounced loose with free safety Doug Mallory recovering the ball at the Notre Dame 27-yard line. On the next play from scrimmage, Harbaugh threw a touchdown pass to Morris, and Michigan led 24-14.][
On its next possession, Steve Beuerlein led the Irish on a 66-yard, 12-play touchdown drive ending with a two-yard pass from Beuerlein to Joel Williams. John Carney's extra point kick failed, and Michigan led, 24-20, at the end of the third quarter.][
In the fourth quarter, Notre Dame drove 62 yards in 10 plays, and a 25-yard field goal by John Carney brought the Irish within one point with 4:26 remaining in the game. Then, with 1:33 remaining in the game, Michigan fullback ]Bob Perryman
Robert Lewis Perryman Jr. (October 16, 1964 – February 23, 2023) was an American football player. He played college football as a fullback for the University of Michigan from 1983 to 1986. He played professional football, principally as a fu ...
fumbled at the Notre Dame 26-yard line, and Notre Dame linebacker Wesley Pritchett recovered the loose ball. Beuerlein quickly led the Irish to Michigan's 28-yard line. With 13 seconds remaining, Carney's 45-yard field goal attempt went wide to the left.[
Notre Dame out-gained Michigan, 455 yards to 393 yards. For the Irish, Steve Beuerlein completed 21 of 33 passes for 263 yards, at touchdown, and an interception, and Tim Brown rushed for 65 yards on 12 carries. For the Wolverines, Harbaugh completed 15 of 23 passes for 239 yards and a touchdown, Kolesar caught four passes for 93 yards, and Morris rushed for 77 yards and two touchdowns on 23 carries. Michigan forced four turnovers, including two fumble recoveries by Doug Mallory and a fourth-quarter interception by ]David Arnold
David Arnold (born 23 January 1962) is a British film composer whose credits include scoring five James Bond films, as well as ''Stargate'' (1994), '' Independence Day'' (1996), ''Godzilla'' (1998) and the television series '' Little Britain'' ...
in the end zone. Andy Moeller led the Michigan defense with seven solo tackles and six assists.
Oregon State
On September 20, 1986, Michigan defeated Oregon State
Oregon State University (OSU) is a public land-grant, research university in Corvallis, Oregon. OSU offers more than 200 undergraduate-degree programs along with a variety of graduate and doctoral degrees. It has the 10th largest engineering col ...
, 31–12, before a crowd of 104,748 at Michigan Stadium
Michigan Stadium, nicknamed "The Big House," is the football stadium for the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan. It is the largest stadium in the United States and the Western Hemisphere, the third largest stadium in the world, and the ...
.
On the opening drive of the game, Oregon State mounted a 66-yard, 11-play drive, mostly on passing, and took the lead on a 34-yard field goal. On Michigan's first possession, Michigan started at the 41-yard line after a 29-yard kick return by Jamie Morris
James Walter Morris (born June 6, 1965) is a former professional American football running back in the National Football League (NFL) for the Washington Redskins and a record-setting running back in college for the University of Michigan Wolverine ...
. Jim Harbaugh
James Joseph Harbaugh (; born December 23, 1963) is an American football coach and former quarterback, who is the current and 20th head football coach of the Michigan Wolverines. He played college football at Michigan from 1983 to 1986. He play ...
led a 59-yard, six-play touchdown drive capped by a 10-yard pass from Harbaugh to Gerald White
Gerald Eugene White (born December 9, 1964) is a former American football running back in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys. He played college football at the University of Michigan.
Early years
White began his football caree ...
. Breen kicked a 47-yard field goal at the end of the first quarter to narrow Michigan's lead to 7-6.
In the second quarter, Michigan extended the lead to 14-6 on a 72-yard, 13-play drive capped by Gerald White
Gerald Eugene White (born December 9, 1964) is a former American football running back in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys. He played college football at the University of Michigan.
Early years
White began his football caree ...
's one-yard touchdown run. Oregon State then narrowed the lead to 14-12 with eight second left in the half on an eight-yard touchdown pass from Erik Wilhelm
Erik Bradley Wilhelm (born November 19, 1965), is an American former professional football player who was a quarterback in the National Football League (NFL) from 1989 to 1997. He played college football for four years with the Oregon State Bea ...
to Damon Medlock.[
Michigan scored twice in the fourth quarter, first on a 22-yard touchdown run by Harbaugh and then on a 25-yard touchdown pass from Harbaugh to John Kolesar.][
Michigan out-gained Oregon State by 360 yards to 320 yards. For the Wolverines, Harbaugh completed 14 of 18 passes for 171 yards, two touchdowns and one interception, Morris rushed for 140 yards on 20 carries, and Ken Higgins caught four passes for 72 yards. For Oregon State, Wilhelm completed 39 of 64 passes for 339 yards, a touchdown, and an interception, and Dave Montagne caught 10 passes for 117 yards. Oregon State's offense was all in the air, as Michigan's defense held the Beavers to minus 19 rushing yards on 16 attempts.]
Florida State
On September 27, 1986, Michigan defeated Florida State
Florida State University (FSU) is a public university, public research university in Tallahassee, Florida. It is a senior member of the State University System of Florida. Founded in 1851, it is located on the oldest continuous site of higher e ...
, 20–18, before a homecoming crowd of 105,507 at Michigan Stadium
Michigan Stadium, nicknamed "The Big House," is the football stadium for the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan. It is the largest stadium in the United States and the Western Hemisphere, the third largest stadium in the world, and the ...
. It was the first game ever played between Michigan and Florida State football programs.
Michigan out-gained Florida State by 332 yards to 285 yards. For the Wolverines, Jim Harbaugh
James Joseph Harbaugh (; born December 23, 1963) is an American football coach and former quarterback, who is the current and 20th head football coach of the Michigan Wolverines. He played college football at Michigan from 1983 to 1986. He play ...
completed nine of 16 passes for 122 yards, and Jamie Morris
James Walter Morris (born June 6, 1965) is a former professional American football running back in the National Football League (NFL) for the Washington Redskins and a record-setting running back in college for the University of Michigan Wolverine ...
rushed for 99 yards on 19 carries. For the Seminoles, Chip Ferguson
Chip Ferguson (born March 16, 1967) is a former American football quarterback who played one season with the Tampa Bay Storm of the Arena Football League
The Arena Football League (AFL) was a professional arena football league in the United S ...
completed six of 19 passes for 73 yards, and Sammie Smith rushed for 75 yards on 13 carries. Michigan's defense recovered a fumble and intercepted three passes, including three by Ivan Hicks.
Wisconsin
On October 4, 1986, Michigan defeated Wisconsin
Wisconsin () is a state in the upper Midwestern United States. Wisconsin is the 25th-largest state by total area and the 20th-most populous. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake M ...
, 34–17, before a crowd of 75,898 spectators at Camp Randall Stadium
Camp Randall Stadium is an outdoor stadium in Madison, Wisconsin, located on the campus of the University of Wisconsin–Madison, University of Wisconsin. It has been the home of the Wisconsin Badgers football team in rudimentary form since 1895 ...
in Madison, Wisconsin
Madison is the county seat of Dane County and the capital city of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of the 2020 census the population was 269,840, making it the second-largest city in Wisconsin by population, after Milwaukee, and the 80th-lar ...
. It was the first night game ever played at Camp Randall. The victory was the 200th victory for Bo Schembechler
Glenn Edward "Bo" Schembechler Jr. ( ; April 1, 1929 – November 17, 2006) was an American football player, coach, and athletics administrator. He served as the head football coach at Miami University from 1963 to 1968 and at the University of ...
as a head coach.
Michigan quarterback Jim Harbaugh
James Joseph Harbaugh (; born December 23, 1963) is an American football coach and former quarterback, who is the current and 20th head football coach of the Michigan Wolverines. He played college football at Michigan from 1983 to 1986. He play ...
broke Michigan's single-game passing yardage record with 310 passing yards, exceeding the record of 283 yards that he set against Indiana
Indiana () is a U.S. state in the Midwestern United States. It is the 38th-largest by area and the 17th-most populous of the 50 States. Its capital and largest city is Indianapolis. Indiana was admitted to the United States as the 19th s ...
in 1985. Split end Ken Higgins caught eight passes for 165 yards. Michigan's defense held the Badgers to 49 rushing yards and came up with four turnovers, including three interceptions by Andy Moeller and a fumble recovery by J.J. Grant.
Michigan State
On October 11, 1986, Michigan defeated 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 ...
, 27–6, at Michigan Stadium
Michigan Stadium, nicknamed "The Big House," is the football stadium for the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan. It is the largest stadium in the United States and the Western Hemisphere, the third largest stadium in the world, and the ...
. The crowd of 106,141 was the second largest up to that date in college football history – only 14 spectators shy of the all-time record set at the 1979 Michigan–Ohio State game.[
Michigan out-gained Michigan State by 380 yards to 193 yards. For the Wolverines, ]Jim Harbaugh
James Joseph Harbaugh (; born December 23, 1963) is an American football coach and former quarterback, who is the current and 20th head football coach of the Michigan Wolverines. He played college football at Michigan from 1983 to 1986. He play ...
completed 14 of 22 passes for 219 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception, and Thomas Wilcher
Thomas Wilcher is a high school athletic coach and teacher who was previously a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I (NCAA), Division I track and field national champion in the indoor 55 m hurdles and a three-time NCAA All ...
rushed for 74 yards on 16 carries. For the Spartans, Dave Yarema completed 13 of 22 passes for 139 yards, and Craig Johnson rushed for 81 yards on 20 carries. The defense sacked Yarema six times and held the Spartans to 54 rushing yards. Andy Moeller led Michigan with nine solo tackles and four assists.
Iowa
On October 18, 1986, Michigan defeated 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 ...
, 20–17, before a crowd of 105,879 at Michigan Stadium
Michigan Stadium, nicknamed "The Big House," is the football stadium for the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan. It is the largest stadium in the United States and the Western Hemisphere, the third largest stadium in the world, and the ...
. One year earlier, Iowa placekicker Rob Houghtlin
Rob Houghtlin (January 4, 1965) is a former kicker for the University of Iowa's football team from 1985 to 1987. He made four game-winning field goals in his career, the most memorable of which led Iowa to a victory over Michigan in 1985.
Early ...
kicked a field goal as time expired to beat the Wolverines. In the 1986 match, the tables were turned as Michigan placekicker Mike Gillette kicked a game-winning 34-yard field goal as time expired. Jim Harbaugh
James Joseph Harbaugh (; born December 23, 1963) is an American football coach and former quarterback, who is the current and 20th head football coach of the Michigan Wolverines. He played college football at Michigan from 1983 to 1986. He play ...
completed 17 of 28 passes for 225 yards, a touchdown, and two interceptions. Jamie Morris
James Walter Morris (born June 6, 1965) is a former professional American football running back in the National Football League (NFL) for the Washington Redskins and a record-setting running back in college for the University of Michigan Wolverine ...
rushed for 68 yards on 16 carries and also caught six passes for 57 yards.
Indiana
On October 25, 1986, Michigan, ranked No. 4 by both the AP and UPI, defeated Indiana
Indiana () is a U.S. state in the Midwestern United States. It is the 38th-largest by area and the 17th-most populous of the 50 States. Its capital and largest city is Indianapolis. Indiana was admitted to the United States as the 19th s ...
, 38–14, before a crowd of 36,964 at Memorial Stadium in Bloomington, Indiana
Bloomington is a city in and the county seat of Monroe County, Indiana, Monroe County in the central region of the U.S. state of Indiana. It is the List of municipalities in Indiana, seventh-largest city in Indiana and the fourth-largest outside ...
. It was Michigan's 15th consecutive victory over Indiana.
Michigan took a 35-0 lead at halftime. The Wolverines out-gained the Hoosiers by 588 yards to 238 yards and dominated time of possession by 19:26 to 10:34. Jim Harbaugh
James Joseph Harbaugh (; born December 23, 1963) is an American football coach and former quarterback, who is the current and 20th head football coach of the Michigan Wolverines. He played college football at Michigan from 1983 to 1986. He play ...
completed 16 of 24 passes for 300 yards, including a 51-yard touchdown pass to Ken Higgins. Bob Perryman
Robert Lewis Perryman Jr. (October 16, 1964 – February 23, 2023) was an American football player. He played college football as a fullback for the University of Michigan from 1983 to 1986. He played professional football, principally as a fu ...
rushed for 101 yards on 11 carries, and Jamie Morris
James Walter Morris (born June 6, 1965) is a former professional American football running back in the National Football League (NFL) for the Washington Redskins and a record-setting running back in college for the University of Michigan Wolverine ...
added 71 yards on 12 carries. For Indiana, Anthony Thompson was held to 46 rushing yards on 12 carries, and Dave Schnell completed eight of 11 passes for 85 yards. The defense also came up with two fumble recoveries and an interception by Garland Rivers.
Illinois
On November 1, 1986, Michigan defeated 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 ...
, 69–13, before a crowd of 104,122 at Michigan Stadium
Michigan Stadium, nicknamed "The Big House," is the football stadium for the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan. It is the largest stadium in the United States and the Western Hemisphere, the third largest stadium in the world, and the ...
. After the victory, Michigan presented the game ball to special-teams coach Alex Agase
Alexander Arrasi Agase (March 27, 1922 – May 3, 2007) was an American football guard and linebacker who was named an All-American three times in college and played on three Cleveland Browns championship teams before becoming head football coac ...
who underwent heart surgery the day before the game.[
Michigan scored nine touchdowns (eight by rushing) and out-gained Illinois by 501 yards to 226 yards. For the Illini, Brian Menkhuasen completed 15 of 31 passes for 109 yards, and Keith Jones rushed for 74 yards on 13 carries. For the Wolverines, ]Jim Harbaugh
James Joseph Harbaugh (; born December 23, 1963) is an American football coach and former quarterback, who is the current and 20th head football coach of the Michigan Wolverines. He played college football at Michigan from 1983 to 1986. He play ...
completed 11 of 13 passes for 224 yards, including a 41-yard touchdown pass to Paul Jokisch. Three Michigan players had more than 70 receiving yards: Jokisch (79), Greg McMurtry (76), and Gerald White
Gerald Eugene White (born December 9, 1964) is a former American football running back in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys. He played college football at the University of Michigan.
Early years
White began his football caree ...
(74). Michigan also came up with three turnovers (two interceptions and a fumble recovery) and blocked a punt.
Purdue
On November 8, 1986, Michigan, ranked No. 3 by the AP and UPI, defeated 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 ...
, 31–7, before a crowd of 61,323 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 ...
in 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, ...
. The victory was Schembechler's 165 at Michigan, tying him with 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 ...
for the most career wins at the school[
Michigan out-gained Purdue, 416 yards to 184 yards and also controlled time of possession by a margin of 36:00 to 24:00. For the Boilermakers, Doug Downing completed 12 of 24 passes for 108 yards, and James Medlock rushed for 64 yards on 16 carries. For the Wolverines, ]Jim Harbaugh
James Joseph Harbaugh (; born December 23, 1963) is an American football coach and former quarterback, who is the current and 20th head football coach of the Michigan Wolverines. He played college football at Michigan from 1983 to 1986. He play ...
completed 14 of 20 passes for 154 yards, a touchdown, and an interception, and Jamie Morris
James Walter Morris (born June 6, 1965) is a former professional American football running back in the National Football League (NFL) for the Washington Redskins and a record-setting running back in college for the University of Michigan Wolverine ...
rushed for 91 yards on 16 carries. With his 14 completions, Harbaugh passed Steve Smith Stephen, Steve, Stevie, or Steven Smith may refer to:
Academics
* Steve Smith (political scientist) (born 1952), British international relations theorist and senior university manager
* Stephen Smith (journalist) (born 1956), American journalist, ...
to become Michigan's career record holder with 332 pass completions
Minnesota
On November 15, 1986, Michigan, ranked No. 2 by the AP and UPI, was upset by unranked 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 ...
, 20–17, before a crowd of 104,864 at Michigan Stadium
Michigan Stadium, nicknamed "The Big House," is the football stadium for the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan. It is the largest stadium in the United States and the Western Hemisphere, the third largest stadium in the world, and the ...
. It was Minnesota's first victory in the annual Little Brown Jug game since 1977
Events January
* January 8 – Three bombs explode in Moscow within 37 minutes, killing seven. The bombings are attributed to an Armenian separatist group.
* January 10 – Mount Nyiragongo erupts in eastern Zaire (now the Democratic R ...
.
Michigan turned the ball over three times in its own territory, leading to 17 points for the Golden Gophers. As a result, Michigan trailed, 17-10, at the end of the third quarter. Late in the fourth quarter, the Wolverines drove down the field and tied the game with 2:26 remaining on a touchdown run by Gerald White
Gerald Eugene White (born December 9, 1964) is a former American football running back in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys. He played college football at the University of Michigan.
Early years
White began his football caree ...
. Minnesota then drove 58 yards in the final two minutes and retook the lead on the final play of the game – a 30-yard field goal by Chip Lohmiller
John McLeod "Chip" Lohmiller (born July 16, 1966) is a former professional American football placekicker in the National Football League for the Washington Redskins, New Orleans Saints, and St. Louis Rams. He played college football at the Univ ...
.[
Michigan out-gained Minnesota by 341 yards to 321 yards. ]Rickey Foggie
Rickey Foggie (born July 15, 1966) is a former gridiron football quarterback. Foggie was the starting quarterback for the Minnesota Golden Gophers for four seasons, before going on to play professionally in the Canadian Football League and Arena ...
led Minnesota with 94 passing yards and 78 rushing yards and had both passing and rushing touchdowns. For the Wolverines, Jim Harbaugh
James Joseph Harbaugh (; born December 23, 1963) is an American football coach and former quarterback, who is the current and 20th head football coach of the Michigan Wolverines. He played college football at Michigan from 1983 to 1986. He play ...
completed 14 of 22 passes for 207 yards, a touchdown, and an interception, and Jamie Morris
James Walter Morris (born June 6, 1965) is a former professional American football running back in the National Football League (NFL) for the Washington Redskins and a record-setting running back in college for the University of Michigan Wolverine ...
rushed for 78 yards on 13 carries.
Ohio State
On November 22, 1986, Michigan defeated 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 ...
, 26–24, in Columbus, Ohio
Columbus () is the state capital and the most populous city in the U.S. state of Ohio. With a 2020 census population of 905,748, it is the 14th-most populous city in the U.S., the second-most populous city in the Midwest, after Chicago, and t ...
. The crowd of 90,674 was the largest to that date at Ohio Stadium
Ohio Stadium is an American football stadium in Columbus, Ohio, on the campus of Ohio State University. It primarily serves as the home venue of the Ohio State Buckeyes football team and is also the site for the university's Spring Commencement c ...
. The victory was Bo Schembechler
Glenn Edward "Bo" Schembechler Jr. ( ; April 1, 1929 – November 17, 2006) was an American football player, coach, and athletics administrator. He served as the head football coach at Miami University from 1963 to 1968 and at the University of ...
's 166th at Michigan, passing 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 ...
's school record of 165 coaching victories.[
On the Monday before the game, Michigan quarterback ]Jim Harbaugh
James Joseph Harbaugh (; born December 23, 1963) is an American football coach and former quarterback, who is the current and 20th head football coach of the Michigan Wolverines. He played college football at Michigan from 1983 to 1986. He play ...
issued a public guarantee that the Wolverines would beat Ohio State: "I guarantee we will beat Ohio State and go to Pasadena. . . . It's a great feeling to beat Ohio State, and we're going to have that feeling Saturday." Harbaugh's guarantee was made on the same day that his father, Jack Harbaugh
Jack Avon Harbaughhttp://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/%7Ebattle/celeb/harbaugh.htm (born June 28, 1939) is a former American football player and coach. He is known for being the longtime head coach at Western Kentucky Hilltoppers fo ...
, was fired as the head football coach at Western Michigan
West Michigan and Western Michigan are terms for an arbitrary region in the U.S. state of Michigan's Lower Peninsula. Most narrowly it refers to the Grand Rapids- Muskegon-Holland area, and more broadly to most of the region along the Lower Pen ...
.
Ohio State returned the opening kickoff to Michigan's 45-yard line. Quarterback Jim Karsatos
Jim Karsatos (born May 26, 1963) is an American football player, Starting lineup, starting at quarterback for two years with the Ohio State University, Ohio State Ohio State Buckeyes football, Buckeyes. He is of Greek-American origin from the isl ...
led the Buckeyes on a touchdown drive culminating with a four-yard pass to Cris Carter
Graduel Christopher Darin Carter (born November 25, 1965) is an American former American football, football wide receiver who played in the National Football League (NFL) for the Philadelphia Eagles (1987–1989), the Minnesota Vikings (1990†...
. After the touchdown, Jamie Morris
James Walter Morris (born June 6, 1965) is a former professional American football running back in the National Football League (NFL) for the Washington Redskins and a record-setting running back in college for the University of Michigan Wolverine ...
returned the kickoff to the 40-yard line. Harbaugh led the Wolverines to the Ohio State 15-yard line, and Mike Gillette kicked a 32-yard field goal.[
On Ohio State's second possession, Vince Workman ran 46 yards for a touchdown. On Michigan's second possession, Harbaugh hit Greg McMurtry in the hands with a 43-yard pass at the goal line, but the ball bounced from McMurtry's hands for an incomplete pass. Harbaugh then thew an interception. On Ohio State's third possession, Matt Frantz missed a 43-yard field goal attempt.][
Midway through the second quarter, Harbaugh led the Wolverines on a 62-yard drive to the 18-yard line, Gillette kicked a line-drive field goal. On Michigan's next possession, Harbaugh led a long drive deep into Ohio State territory, but he was intercepted at the goal line, and Ohio State led, 14-6, at halftime.][
On the opening possession of the second half, Michigan mounted an 83-yard, 14-play touchdown drive that consumed six minutes and seven seconds. ]Jamie Morris
James Walter Morris (born June 6, 1965) is a former professional American football running back in the National Football League (NFL) for the Washington Redskins and a record-setting running back in college for the University of Michigan Wolverine ...
scored on a five-yard pitchout from Harbaugh. On its next possession, Ohio State drove 65 yards on nine plays, and Frantz kicked a 27-yard field goal.[
After the field goal, Michigan drove 76 yards on four plays. On the first play of the drive, Morris ran 51 yards to the Ohio State 24-yard line. Morris then scored on an eight-yard run. Michigan attempted a two-point conversion, but Harbaugh's pass fell incomplete in the end zone. Michigan led, 19-17, at the end of the third quarter.][
Early in the fourth quarter, Michigan scored again on a seven-yard run by ]Thomas Wilcher
Thomas Wilcher is a high school athletic coach and teacher who was previously a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I (NCAA), Division I track and field national champion in the indoor 55 m hurdles and a three-time NCAA All ...
, capping an 85-yard, eight-play drive. Michigan led, 26-17, with 12:46 remaining in the game.[
On Ohio State's next possession after the Wilcher touchdown, Karsatos was intercepted by linebacker Andree McIntyre at Ohio State's 37-yard line. Michigan attempted a field goal, but the kick was blocked.][
With 9:42 remaining, Karsatos threw a 17-yard touchdown pass to Cris Carter, capping a 56-yard drive. Michigan's lead was narrowed to 26-24.][
With 3:17 remaining in the game, Wilcher fumbled at the Ohio State 37-yard line, and Sonny Gordon recovered for the Buckeyes. Ohio State advanced to Michigan's 28-yard line, and on fourth-and-two, with 1:01 remaining, placekicker Matt Frantz missed a 45-yard field goal that would have put the Buckeyes in the lead.][
Michigan out-gained Ohio State by 529 yards to 358 yards and led in time of possession by a margin of 35:39 to 24:21. For the Wolverines, Harbaugh completed 19 of 29 passes for 261 yards but threw two interceptions. Morris rushed for 210 yards and two touchdowns on 29 carries. For the Buckeyes, Karsatos] completed 15 of 27 passes for 188 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception. Workman rushed for 126 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries, and Carter had seven receptions for 75 yards and two touchdowns.]
Hawaii
On December 6, 1986, Michigan defeated 1986 Hawaii Rainbow Warriors football team, Hawaii, 27–10, before a crowd of 42,735 at Aloha Stadium
Aloha Stadium is a closed multi-purpose stadium located in Halawa, Hawaii, a western suburb of Honolulu (though with a Honolulu address). It is the largest stadium in the state of Hawaii. , the stadium ceased fan-attended operations indefinitely ...
in Honolulu
Honolulu (; ) is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of Hawaii, which is in the Pacific Ocean. It is an unincorporated county seat of the consolidated City and County of Honolulu, situated along the southeast coast of the island ...
. The game was the first meeting between the Hawaii and Michigan football programs.
Michigan out-gained Hawaii by 397 yards to 292 yards. For the Rainbow Warriors, Tipton completed 21 of 33 passes for 207 yards, and Crowell rushed for 49 yards on 11 carries. For the Wolverines, Jim Harbaugh
James Joseph Harbaugh (; born December 23, 1963) is an American football coach and former quarterback, who is the current and 20th head football coach of the Michigan Wolverines. He played college football at Michigan from 1983 to 1986. He play ...
completed nine of 15 passes for 125 yards. Michigan ran on 49 of 64 plays, and two Wolverine backs rushed for over 100 yards: Jamie Morris
James Walter Morris (born June 6, 1965) is a former professional American football running back in the National Football League (NFL) for the Washington Redskins and a record-setting running back in college for the University of Michigan Wolverine ...
with 118 yards on 21 carries; and Bob Perryman
Robert Lewis Perryman Jr. (October 16, 1964 – February 23, 2023) was an American football player. He played college football as a fullback for the University of Michigan from 1983 to 1986. He played professional football, principally as a fu ...
with 107 yards on 14 carries. Greg McMurtry caught three passes for 74 yards. Andy Moeller led the defense with 10 solo tackles and three assists. Monte Robbins
Dammond R. "Monte" Robbins (born September 19, 1964) is a former American football punter. He played for the University of Michigan from 1984 to 1987. He holds Michigan's all-time records for the longest punt (82 yards) and for average yards p ...
also broke a Michigan record with an 82-yard punt.
Arizona State (Rose Bowl)
On January 1, 1987, Michigan, ranked No. 4 by the AP, lost to No. 7 Arizona State
Arizona State University (Arizona State or ASU) is a public research university in the Phoenix metropolitan area. Founded in 1885 by the 13th Arizona Territorial Legislature, ASU is one of the largest public universities by enrollment in the ...
, 22–15, before a crowd of 103,168 in the 1987 Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California
Pasadena ( ) is a city in Los Angeles County, California, northeast of downtown Los Angeles. It is the most populous city and the primary cultural center of the San Gabriel Valley. Old Pasadena is the city's original commercial district.
I ...
. It was the first meeting between the Michigan and Arizona State football programs.
Arizona State out-gained Michigan by 381 yard to 225 yards. For the Wolverines, Jim Harbaugh
James Joseph Harbaugh (; born December 23, 1963) is an American football coach and former quarterback, who is the current and 20th head football coach of the Michigan Wolverines. He played college football at Michigan from 1983 to 1986. He play ...
completed 13 of 23 passes for 172 yards and threw three interceptions. Arizona State held Michigan to a total of 53 rushing yards with Jamie Morris
James Walter Morris (born June 6, 1965) is a former professional American football running back in the National Football League (NFL) for the Washington Redskins and a record-setting running back in college for the University of Michigan Wolverine ...
totaling 47 yards on 16 carries. Defensive tackle Dave Folkertsma led the Michigan defense with 10 solo tackles and one assist. For the Sun Devils, quarterback Jeff Van Raaphorst
Jeffrey Richard Van Raaphorst (born December 7, 1963) is a former American football quarterback. After going to high school at Grossmont High School in La Mesa, California, Van Raaphorst attended Arizona State University. He led the Sun Devils foo ...
completed 16 of 30 passes for 193 yards and two touchdowns, and Darryl Harris rushed for 109 yards on 23 carries.
Arizona State head coach John Cooper was hired as Ohio State's head coach in 1988.
Award season
During the 1986 season, quarterback Jim Harbaugh
James Joseph Harbaugh (; born December 23, 1963) is an American football coach and former quarterback, who is the current and 20th head football coach of the Michigan Wolverines. He played college football at Michigan from 1983 to 1986. He play ...
set Michigan's single-game, single-season, and career records for passing yardage. He finished third (behind Miami quarterback Vinny Testaverde
Vincent Frank Testaverde Sr. (; born November 13, 1963) is a former American football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 21 seasons. He played college football at Miami, where he was an All-American and won the Hei ...
and Temple running back Paul Palmer) in voting for the 1986 Heisman Trophy
The Heisman Memorial Trophy (usually known colloquially as the Heisman Trophy or The Heisman) is awarded annually to the most outstanding player in college football. Winners epitomize great ability combined with diligence, perseverance, and hard ...
and was selected as both Michigan's most valuable player and the winner of the ''Chicago Tribune'' Silver Football award as the most valuable player in the Big Ten Conference.[
Three Michigan players received first-team honors on the 1986 All-America college football team:
* Defensive back Garland Rivers was a consensus All-American, receiving first-team honors from the ]American Football Coaches Association
The American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) is an association of over 11,000 American football coaches and staff on all levels. According to its constitution, some of the main goals of the American Football Coaches Association are to "mainta ...
(AFCA), Walter Camp Football Foundation
The Walter Camp Football Foundation (WCFF) is one of the organizations whose College Football All-America Team is recognized by the National Collegiate Athletic Association. The organization also presents various awards. It is named in honor of foo ...
, and Newspaper Enterprise Association
The Newspaper Enterprise Association (NEA) is an editorial column and comic strip newspaper syndication service based in the United States and established in 1902. The oldest syndicate still in operation, the NEA was originally a secondary news ...
.
* Harbaugh received first-team honors from ''Football News'' and second-team honors from the Associated Press
The Associated Press (AP) is an American non-profit news agency headquartered in New York City. Founded in 1846, it operates as a cooperative, unincorporated association. It produces news reports that are distributed to its members, U.S. newspa ...
(AP) and United Press International
United Press International (UPI) is an American international news agency whose newswires, photo, news film, and audio services provided news material to thousands of newspapers, magazines, radio and television stations for most of the 20th ...
(UPI).
* Offensive tackle Jumbo Elliott received first-team honors from the AFCA, second-team honors from the UPI, and third-team honors from the AP.
Seven Michigan players received first-team honors on the 1986 All-Big Ten Conference football team: Harbaugh at quarterback (AP-1, UPI-1); Jamie Morris
James Walter Morris (born June 6, 1965) is a former professional American football running back in the National Football League (NFL) for the Washington Redskins and a record-setting running back in college for the University of Michigan Wolverine ...
at running back (AP-2, UPI-1); Mark Hammerstein at offensive guard (AP-1, UPI-1); Elliott at offensive tackle (AP-1, UPI-1); Mark Messner
Mark W. Messner (born December 29, 1965) is a former American football player who played in the National Football League (NFL) as a linebacker for the Los Angeles Rams during the 1989 NFL season. He sustained a serious knee injury in the 1989-9 ...
at defensive line (AP-1, UPI-2); Andy Moeller at linebacker (AP-1, UPI-1); and Rivers at defensive back (AP-2, UPI-1).
Team awards were presented as follows:[
*Most Valuable Player: Jim Harbaugh
*Meyer Morton Award: Doug Mallory
*John Maulbetsch Award: Jeff Brown
*Frederick Matthei Award: Jamie Morris
*Arthur Robinson Scholarship Award: Ken Higgins
*Dick Katcher Award: Dieter Heren
*Hugh Rader Jr. Award: Mike Hammerstein
*Robert P. Ufer Award: Andy Moeller
]
Personnel
Letter winners, offense
* Andrew Borowski, senior, 6'4", 258 pounds, Cincinnati, Ohio - center
*Jeffrey Brown, sophomore, 6'4", 224 pounds, Shaker Heights, Ohio - started 13 games at tight end
*Dave Chester, junior, 6'2", 255 pounds, Titusville, Florida - started 2 games at left guard and 1 game at right guard
*Michael Dames, junior, 6'2", 258 pounds, Miami, Florida - started 11 games at left guard
* Jumbo Elliott, senior, 6'7", 306 pounds, Lake Ronkonkoma, NY - started 12 games at right tackle
*Mark Hammerstein, senior, 6'3", 285 pounds, Wapakoneta, Ohio - started 12 games at right guard and 1 game at right tackle
*Jim Harbaugh
James Joseph Harbaugh (; born December 23, 1963) is an American football coach and former quarterback, who is the current and 20th head football coach of the Michigan Wolverines. He played college football at Michigan from 1983 to 1986. He play ...
, senior, 6'3", 207 pounds, Palo Alto, California - started 13 games at quarterback
*Ken Higgins, senior, 6'2", 190 pounds, Battle Creek, Michigan - started 4 games at split end
*Mike Husar, junior, 6'3", 289 pounds, Chicago - started 11 games at left tackle
*Paul Jokisch, senior, 6'8", 239 pounds, Clarkston, Michigan - started 8 games at split end
*John Kolesar, sophomore, 6'0", 188 pounds, Westlake, Ohio - started 8 games at flanker
*Phil Logas, senior, 5'11", 165 pounds, Altamonte Springs, Florida - split end
*Greg McMurtry, freshman, 6'3", 200 pounds, Brockton, Massachusetts - started 5 games at flanker
*Jamie Morris
James Walter Morris (born June 6, 1965) is a former professional American football running back in the National Football League (NFL) for the Washington Redskins and a record-setting running back in college for the University of Michigan Wolverine ...
, junior, 5'7", 179 pounds, Ayer, Massachusetts - started 11 games at tailback
*Bob Perryman
Robert Lewis Perryman Jr. (October 16, 1964 – February 23, 2023) was an American football player. He played college football as a fullback for the University of Michigan from 1983 to 1986. He played professional football, principally as a fu ...
, senior, 6'1", 226 pounds, Buzzard's Bay, Massachusetts - started 2 games at fullback and 1 game at split end
*Jerry Quaerna, senior, 6'7", 282 pounds, Ft. Atkinson, Wisconsin - started 2 games at left tackle
* John Vitale, junior, 6'1", 289 pounds, Detroit - started 13 games at center
*Phil Webb, junior, 6'1", 202 pounds, Romeo, Michigan - tailback
*Gerald White
Gerald Eugene White (born December 9, 1964) is a former American football running back in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys. He played college football at the University of Michigan.
Early years
White began his football caree ...
, senior, 6'0", 220 pounds, Titusville, Florida - started 11 games at fullback
*John Whitledge, Delton, Michigan - quarterback
*Thomas Wilcher
Thomas Wilcher is a high school athletic coach and teacher who was previously a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I (NCAA), Division I track and field national champion in the indoor 55 m hurdles and a three-time NCAA All ...
, senior, 5'10", 188 pounds, Detroit - started 2 games at tailback
* Chris Zurbrugg, senior, 6'1", 207 pounds, Alliance, Ohio - quarterback
Letter winners, defense
* Bobby Abrams, sophomore, 6'4", 200 pounds, Detroit - defensive back
* David Arnold
David Arnold (born 23 January 1962) is a British film composer whose credits include scoring five James Bond films, as well as ''Stargate'' (1994), '' Independence Day'' (1996), ''Godzilla'' (1998) and the television series '' Little Britain'' ...
, sophomore, 6'3", 196 pounds, Warren, Michigan - started 2 games at cornerback
* John Balourdos, Chicago - linebacker
*Allen Bishop, senior, 5'10", 185 pounds, Miami, Florida - started 1 game at cornerback
*Erik Campbell
John Erik Campbell (born January 21, 1966) is an American gridiron football coach and former player. He is currently the passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach for the Bowling Green State University football team.
Campbell played c ...
, junior, 5'10", 171 pounds, Gary, Indiana - started 11 games at cornerback and 2 games at free safety
*Dave Folkertsma, senior, 6'5", 263 pounds, Grand Rapids, Michigan - started 12 games at defensive tackle
*Tony Gant, senior, 6'0", 180 pounds, Fremont, Ohio - started 11 games at free safety
*J. J. Grant, sophomore, 6'1", 237 pounds, Liverpool, NY - linebacker
*Billy Harris, senior, 6'0", 270 pounds, Xenia, Ohio - started 13 games at middle guard
*Rick Hassel, sophomore, 6'0", 191 pounds, Cincinnati, Ohio - defensive back
*Dieter Heren, senior, 6'3", 219 pounds, Fort Wayne, Indiana - started 11 games at outside linebacker
*John Herrmann, sophomore, 6'4", 255 pounds, Sussex, Wisconsin - defensive tackle
*Ivan Hicks, senior, 6'2", 178 pounds, Pennsauken, New Jersey - started 11 games at strong safety
*Joseph Holland, sophomore, 6'3", 216 pounds, Birmingham, Michigan - linebacker
*Doug Mallory, senior, 6'1", 194 pounds, DeKalb, Illinois - started 2 games at strong safety
*Andree McIntyre, senior, 6'1" 241 pounds, Chicago - started 9 games at inside linebacker
*Mark Messner
Mark W. Messner (born December 29, 1965) is a former American football player who played in the National Football League (NFL) as a linebacker for the Los Angeles Rams during the 1989 NFL season. He sustained a serious knee injury in the 1989-9 ...
, junior, 6'3", 248 pounds, Holland, Michigan - started 13 games at defensive tackle
* Andy Moeller, senior, 6'0", 222 pounds, Ann Arbor, Michigan - started 13 games at inside linebacker
*Ken Mouton, junior, 6'0", 200 pounds, Naples, Florida - defensive back
* Garland Rivers, senior, 6'1", 187 pounds, Canton, Ohio - started 12 games at cornerback
*Tim Schulte, senior, 6'3", 211 pounds, Villa Hills, Kentucky - outside linebacker
*Todd Schulte, senior, 6'2", 223 pounds, Villa Hills, Kentucky - started 2 games at inside linebacker
* Mike Teeter, freshman, 6'4", 240 pounds, Fruitport, Michigan - linebacker
*Steve Thibert, senior, 6'5", 240 pounds, Union Lake, Michigan - started 1 game at outside linebacker
*Derrick Walker, sophomore, 6'1", 289 pounds, Glenwood, Illinois - inside linebacker
*Jack Walker, senior, 6'4", 260 pounds, Westland, Michigan - started 1 game at defensive tackle
*Peter Wentworth, Louisville, Kentucky - linebacker
*Brent White, sophomore, 6'5", 227 pounds, Dayton, Ohio - defensive tackle
*John Willingham, junior, 6'3", 235 pounds, Dayton, Ohio - started 12 games at outside linebacker
Letter winners, special teams
* Mike Gillette, sophomore, 6'1", 185 pounds - placekicker and punter
* Pat Moons, senior, 5'8", 165 pounds, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida - placekicker
* Monte Robbins
Dammond R. "Monte" Robbins (born September 19, 1964) is a former American football punter. He played for the University of Michigan from 1984 to 1987. He holds Michigan's all-time records for the longest punt (82 yards) and for average yards p ...
, senior, 6'4", 202 pounds, Great Bend, Kansas - punter
* Rick Sutkiewicz, junior, 6'3", 209 pounds, Troy, Michigan - placekicker
Coaching staff
*Head coach: Bo Schembechler
Glenn Edward "Bo" Schembechler Jr. ( ; April 1, 1929 – November 17, 2006) was an American football player, coach, and athletics administrator. He served as the head football coach at Miami University from 1963 to 1968 and at the University of ...
*Assistant coaches:
:* Gary Moeller
Gary Oscar Moeller (; January 26, 1941 – July 11, 2022) was an American football coach best known for being head coach at the University of Michigan from 1990 to 1994. During his five seasons at Michigan, he won 44 games, lost 13 and tied 3 f ...
- defensive coordinator and assistant head coach
:* Lloyd Carr
Lloyd Henry Carr Jr. (born July 30, 1945) is a former American football player and coach. He served as the head football coach at the University of Michigan from 1995 through the 2007 season. Under Carr, the Michigan Wolverines compiled a record ...
- defensive backs coach
:* Jerry Meter
Jerry Meter (born c. 1957) is a former American football player and coach.
Meter's father, Bernard Meter, played football for Notre Dame in the 1940s.
Jerry Meter attended Bloomfield Hills Andover High School where, at 6 foot, 4 inches, he wa ...
- defensive line coach
:* Tirrel Burton - running back coach
:* Elliot Uzelac
Elliot Uzelac (born July 24, 1941) is an American football coach. He served as the head football coach at Western Michigan University from 1975 to 1981 and the United States Naval Academy from 1987 to 1989, compiling a career college football c ...
- offensive line coach
:* Jerry Hanlon - quarterback coach
:* Bill Harris - receivers coach[
:* ]Cam Cameron
Malcolm "Cam" Cameron (born February 6, 1961) is an American football coach. He is the former offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach of the LSU Tigers football program. Cameron attended Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana and playe ...
- tight ends coach
:* Tom Reed Thomas or Tom Reed may refer to:
Politicians and military
* Thomas Buck Reed (1787–1829), senator from Mississippi
* Thomas Reed (British Army officer) (1796–1883), British general
* Thomas Brackett Reed (1839–1902), Speaker of the House of ...
- linebacker coach
:* Alex Agase
Alexander Arrasi Agase (March 27, 1922 – May 3, 2007) was an American football guard and linebacker who was named an All-American three times in college and played on three Cleveland Browns championship teams before becoming head football coac ...
- special teams coach
*Trainer: Russ Miller[
*Manager: Keith Webster][
]
Statistical leaders
Rushing
[
]
Passing
[
]
Receiving
[
]
Scoring
[
]
References
External links
1986 Football Team -- Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan Athletics History
{{Big Ten Conference football champions
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
Big Ten Conference football champion 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 ...