The 1989 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 wi ...

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

1989 NCAA Division I-A football season The 1989 NCAA Division I-A football season ended with Miami winning its third National Championship during the 1980s, cementing its claim as the decade's top team, winning more titles than any other program. Notre Dame signed a six-year, $30 ...

. In its 21st and final season under head coach Bo Schembechler, the team compiled a 10–2 record (8–0 against conference opponents), won the Big Ten championship, lost to USC in the

1990 Rose Bowl The 1990 Rose Bowl was the 76th edition of the college football bowl game, played at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, on Monday, January 1. The game was a rematch of the previous year, won by Michigan, 22–14. Gaining a measure of revenge, ...

, outscored opponents by a total of 335 to 184, and was ranked No. 7 and No. 8, respectively, in the final AP and UPI polls. The team's statistical leaders included quarterback Michael Taylor with 1,081 passing yards, tailback

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 ...

with 839 rushing yards, and split end

Greg McMurtry Gregory Wendell McMurtry (born October 15, 1967) is a former American football player. He played college football as a wide receiver for the University of Michigan from 1986 to 1989. He caught 111 passes for 2,163 yards and 15 touchdowns for ...

with 711 receiving yards, and placekicker J.D. Carlson with 73 points scored. Defensive back

Tripp Welborne Sullivan Anthony "Tripp" Welborne III (born November 20, 1968) is a former American football player. Welborne played college football, principally as a safety and punt returner, from 1987 to 1990. He had five interceptions as a sophomore in 19 ...

was a consensus first-team selection to the 1989 All-America college football team. Six Michigan players received first-team honors on the

1989 All-Big Ten Conference football team The 1989 All-Big Ten Conference football team consists of American football players chosen as All-Big Ten Conference players for the 1989 NCAA Division I-A football season. Offensive selections Quarterbacks * Jeff George, Illinois (AP-1; UPI-1) * ...

Season

The Wolverines lost their season opener to Notre Dame but won ten consecutive games to finish the regular season. Highlights of the winning streak included the defeat of

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 ...

by 34 points for the Little Brown Jug and 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 ...

in their home finale. The team leaders included running back

, who rushed for 839 yards, and Michael Taylor, who threw for 1,081 yards.

was the Wolverine's leading receiver with 41 catches for 711 yards. Schembechler retired after the Rose Bowl, which the Wolverines lost to USC by a touchdown.

Schedule

Personnel

Season summary

Notre Dame

at UCLA

Maryland

Wisconsin

at Michigan State

*Source:''

at Iowa

Indiana

Purdue

at Illinois

at Minnesota

Ohio State

Todd Plate's second interception of the day with 2:48 left in the game sealed the game and the Big Ten title for the Wolverines.

Rose Bowl (vs USC)

The

was a rematch of the previous Rose Bowl in which Michigan won 22 to 14. USC scored the first points in the second quarter with a one-yard run by

Todd Marinovich Todd Marvin Marinovich (born Marvin Scott Marinovich on July 4, 1969) is a former American and Canadian football quarterback. He played in the National Football League ( Los Angeles Raiders), Canadian Football League (Winnipeg Blue Bombers, BC Li ...

. Michigan got a field goal to make it 7 to 3 but the Trojans added another field goal before the half to take a 10 to 3 lead at halftime. Although Michigan tied the score,

Ricky Ervins Richard Ervins (born December 7, 1968) is a former American football running back in the National Football League (NFL) for the Washington Redskins and San Francisco 49ers. He played college football at the University of Southern California. H ...

had a fourteen-yard touchdown run which clinched the Rose Bowl for the Trojans.

Player stats

Awards and honors

*All-Americans:

*All-Conference:

, J.D. Carlson,

Dean Dingman Dean Dingman (born September 27, 1968) is a former American football player. He was an All-American offensive guard who played for the University of Michigan Wolverines football team from 87 to 1990. He was drafted by in the eighth round of the ...

Derrick Walker Derrick Walker (born 8 April 1945 in Leven, Scotland) is a former British auto racing team owner. In May 2013 Walker became President of operations and competition of IndyCar until the finalization of the 2015 Indycar season. Career Formula ...

, Tripp Welborne *Most Valuable Player: Tony Boles *Meyer Morton Award: Chris Calloway *John Maulbetsch Award:

Steve Everitt Steven Michael Everitt (born August 21, 1970) is a former American football player. He played college football as a center for the University of Michigan from 1989 to 1992. He played professional football as a center and offensive guard in the Na ...

*Frederick Matthei Award: Dean Dingman *Arthur Robinson Scholarship Award: Tim Williams *Dick Katcher Award: Mike Teeter *Hugh Rader Jr. Award: Derrick Walker *Robert P. Ufer Award: Chris Calloway

Professional football

The following players were claimed in the

1990 NFL Draft The 1990 NFL draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 22–23, 1990, at the Marriott Mar ...

. A total of 25 players from the 1989 team went on to play professional football. They are Bobby Abrams (New York Giants 1990-91, Cleveland Browns 1992, New York Giants 1992, Dallas Cowboys 1992-93, Minnesota Vikings 1993-94, New England Patriots 1995), Derrick Alexander (Cleveland Browns 1994–95, Baltimore Ravens 1996–97, Kansas City Chiefs 1998–01, Minnesota Vikings 2002),

Erick Anderson Erick Scott Anderson (born October 7, 1968) is a former American football player. Anderson played college football as a linebacker at the University of Michigan from 1988 to 1991. As a senior in 1991, he won the Dick Butkus Award, Butkus Award as ...

(Kansas City Chiefs 1992-93, Washington Redskins 1994-95),

(Dallas Cowboys 1991; San Antonio Riders 1992),

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 ...

(New York Giants 1991–93, Los Angeles Raiders 1994),

Corwin Brown Corwin Brown (born April 25, 1970) is an American football coach who was most recently the defensive backs coach for the New England Patriots of the National Football League (NFL). Following an eight-year career in the NFL as a safety from 1993� ...

(New England Patriots 1993–96, New York Jets 1997–98, Detroit Lions 1999–00), Chris Calloway (Pittsburgh Steelers 1990-91, New York Giants 1992-98, Atlanta Falcons 1999, New England Patriots 2000),

Joe Cocozzo Joe Cocozzo (born August 7, 1970) is a former American football player. He played professional football as an offensive guard in the National Football League (NFL) for the San Diego Chargers from 1993 to 1997. He also played college football as ...

(San Diego Chargers 1993-97), Tom Dohring (Kansas City Chiefs 1992), Matt Elliott (Washington Redskins 1992, Carolina Panthers 1995-97),

(Cleveland Browns 1993-95, Baltimore Ravens 1996, Philadelphia Eagles 1997-99),

Elvis Grbac Elvis M. Grbac (born August 13, 1970) is a former American football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for nine seasons, most notably with the Kansas City Chiefs. He played college football at Michigan, where he won the ...

(San Francisco 49ers 1993-96, Kansas City Chiefs 1997-00, Baltimore Ravens 2001),

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 ...

(Cleveland Browns 1990-95, Baltimore Ravens 1996, Carolina Panthers 1996, Minnesota Vikings 1996-99),

Desmond Howard Desmond Kevin Howard (born May 15, 1970) is an American former football wide receiver who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 11 seasons. He played college football at Michigan, where he won the Heisman Trophy as a senior. Howard w ...

(Washington Redskins 1992-94, Jacksonville Jaguars 1995, Green Bay Packers 1996, Oakland Raiders 1997-98, Green Bay Packers 1999, Detroit Lions 2000-02), Burnie Legette (New England Patriots 1993-94), Tony McGee (Cincinnati Bengals 1993-01, Dallas Cowboys 2002-03, New York Giants 2003),

(New England Patriots 1990-93, Chicago Bears 1994), Doug Skene (New England Patriots 1994),

Greg Skrepenak Gregory Andrew Skrepenak (born January 31, 1970) is an American former county commissioner in Pennsylvania and retired professional football player. He was an offensive lineman in the National Football League (NFL) for the Los Angeles/Oaklan ...

(Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders 1992-95, Carolina Panthers 1996-97), Buster Stanley (New England Patriots 1994, Rhein Fire 1996-97, Grand Rapids Rampage 1999-00), Mike Teeter (Indianapolis Colts 1990, Frankfurt Galaxy 1991, Minnesota Vikings 1991, Houston Oilers 1993–94, Carolina Panthers 1995), Brian Townsend (Cincinnati Bengals 1992),

Jon Vaughn Jonathan Stewart Vaughn (born March 12, 1970) is an American former professional football player who was a running back and kick returner in the National Football League (NFL) for four seasons from 1991 to 1994 for the Seattle Seahawks, New E ...

(New England Patriots 1991-92, Seattle Seahawks 1993-94, Kansas City Chiefs 1994),

(San Diego Chargers 1990-93, Kansas City Chiefs 1994-97, Oakland Raiders 1999), and

(Minnesota Vikings 1992).

References

External links

1989 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 ...