1953 Michigan Wolverines football | |
---|---|
Conference | Big Ten Conference |
Ranking | |
Coaches | No. 19 |
AP | No. 20 |
Record | 6–3 (3–3 Big Ten) |
Head coach |
|
MVP | Tony Branoff |
Captain | Dick O'Shaughnessy |
Home stadium | Michigan Stadium |
Conf | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Team | W | L | T | W | L | T | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No. 3 Michigan State + | 5 | – | 1 | – | 0 | 9 | – | 1 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No. 7 Illinois + | 5 | – | 1 | – | 0 | 7 | – | 1 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No. 15 Wisconsin | 4 | – | 1 | – | 1 | 6 | – | 2 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ohio State | 4 | – | 3 | – | 0 | 6 | – | 3 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Minnesota | 3 | – | 3 | – | 1 | 4 | – | 4 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No. 20 Michigan | 3 | – | 3 | – | 0 | 6 | – | 3 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No. 9 Iowa | 3 | – | 3 | – | 0 | 5 | – | 3 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Purdue | 2 | – | 4 | – | 0 | 2 | – | 7 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Indiana | 1 | – | 5 | – | 0 | 2 | – | 7 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Northwestern | 0 | – | 6 | – | 0 | 3 | – | 6 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
The 1953 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1953 Big Ten Conference football season. In its sixth year under head coach Bennie Oosterbaan, Michigan compiled a 6–3 record (3–3 against conference opponents), tied for fifth place in the Big Ten, outscored opponents by a combined total of 163 to 101, and was ranked No. 20 in the final AP Poll and No. 19 in the Coaches Polls.[1][2]
Center Dick O'Shaughnessy was the team captain, and right halfback Tony Branoff received the team's most valuable player award.[2] Two Michigan players received All-Big Ten honors: left end Bob Topp was selected by the Associated Press as a first-team player, and left halfback Ted Kress.[2][3]
The team's statistical leaders included quarterback Duncan McDonald with 293 passing yards, Tony Branoff with 501 rushing yards, and Bob Topp with 331 receiving yards.[4]
Date | Opponent | Rank | Site | Result | Attendance | Source |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
September 26 | Washington* | W 50–0 | 44,086 | |||
October 3 | Tulane* | No. 4 |
| W 26–7 | 51,960 | |
October 10 | Iowa | No. 5 |
| W 14–13 | 49,551 | |
October 17 | Northwestern | No. 5 |
| W 20–12 | 64,420 | |
October 24 | at Minnesota | No. 5 | L 0–22 | 62,795 | ||
October 31 | Penn* | No. 16 |
| W 24–14 | 56,795 | [5] |
November 7 | at No. 4 Illinois | No. 17 | L 3–19 | 69,507 | ||
November 14 | at No. 4 Michigan State | L 6–14 | 51,421 | |||
November 21 | Ohio State |
| W 20–0 | 87,048 | ||
|
Michigan's individual statistical leaders for the 1953 season include those listed below.[4][6]
Player | Attempts | Net yards | Yards per attempt | Touchdowns |
Tony Branoff | 100 | 501 | 5.0 | 5 |
Ted Kress | 101 | 339 | 3.4 | 5 |
Bob Hurley | 47 | 282 | 6.0 | 1 |
Player | Attempts | Completions | Interceptions | Comp % | Yards | Yds/Comp | TD | Long |
Duncan McDonald | 46 | 20 | 3 | 43.5 | 293 | 14.7 | 4 | 49 |
Lou Baldacci | 51 | 21 | 6 | 41.2 | 285 | 13.6 | 1 | 36 |
Ted Kress | 43 | 19 | 7 | 44.2 | 238 | 12.5 | 1 | 44 |
Player | Receptions | Yards | Yds/Recp | TD | Long |
Bob Topp | 23 | 331 | 14.4 | 2 | 66 |
Gene Knutson | 11 | 201 | 18.3 | 1 | 33 |
Tony Branoff | 11 | 151 | 13.7 | 1 | 44 |
Player | Returns | Yards | Yds/Return | TD | Long |
Ted Kress | 10 | 203 | 20.3 | 0 | 33 |
Tony Branoff | 6 | 130 | 21.7 | 0 | 28 |
Player | Returns | Yards | Yds/Return | TD | Long |
Tony Branoff | 8 | 90 | 11.3 | 0 | 18 |
Ted Kress | 12 | 63 | 5.3 | 0 | 16 |
The following 31 players received varsity letters for their participation on the 1953 team.[7] Players who started at least four games are shown with their names in bold.[2]
Michigan's 1953 coaching, training, and support staff included the following persons.[2]
Honors and awards for the 1953 season went to the following individuals.[2]