1934 Michigan Wolverines football team

}} }} }} }} }} }} }} }} ==Season summary==

Pre-season Prior to the 1934 season, the Wolverines had won Big Ten championships in 1932 and 1933 while compiling a 22-game unbeaten streak. However, the team lost its leading players, including Whitey Wistert, Chuck Bernard, Ted Petoskey, Herman Everhardus, and Stanley Fay, to graduation in the spring of 1934. Week 1: Michigan State On October 6, 1934, Michigan lost, 16–0, at Michigan Stadium in its annual rivalry game with Michigan State. The Detroit Free Press reported that the opening day crowd was 30,000 persons. After a scoreless first half, Kurt Warmbein ran for two touchdowns in the fourth quarter for Michigan State. Michigan State dominated the game statistically with 182 yards from scrimmage to 72 for Michigan, and with 15 first downs to three for Michigan. The loss broke Michigan's 22-game unbeaten streak dating back to October 1931. It was also the Spartans' first victory over the Wolverines since 1915 and only the third in 29 games. After the game, a group of Michigan State supporters rushed the field and attempted to tear down the goal posts at the north end of the field. Michigan fans then charged the field to protect the goal posts. Fist fights ensued, and the "rioting" continued for 20 minutes. Week 3: Georgia Tech On October 20, 1934, Michigan defeated Georgia Tech by a 9–2 score before a crowd of 20,000 at Michigan Stadium. After a scoreless first half, Michigan quarterback Ferris Jennings returned a punt 70 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter. Vincent Aug kicked the extra point. On the final play of the quarter, Michigan blocked an attempted Georgia Tech pass from the end zone, and William F. Borgmann fell on the ball for a safety. The Georgia Tech game is best known for a racial incident involving Michigan's African-American end Willis Ward. Georgia Tech football coach and athletic director W. A. "Bill" Alexander refused to allow his team to take the field if Ward played. As early as the fall of 1933, Alexander wrote to athletic director Fielding Yost asking what was going to be done about Ward, asserting that his team would not take the field if Ward played. As the game approached, word spread that Georgia Tech was insisting that Ward not play, and that the administration might capitulate to the demand. Ward's right to play became a major controversy on the campus. Mass meetings and demonstrations were held. According to Time, 200 "campus radicals" threatened to prevent the game from being played by standing in the middle of the field. In an attempt to thwart any attempt to disrupt the game, Yost hired a Pinkerton agent to infiltrate "The United Front Committee on Ward", a conglomerate of student organizations that supported Ward's right to play. In the end, Ward was not allowed to play. As his teammates faced Georgia Tech, there are conflicting reports as to Ward's whereabouts. According to Time, Ward "sat calmly in a radio booth, watched his teammates defeat the Southerners, 9-to-2." Week 5: at Minnesota On November 3, 1934, Michigan lost to Minnesota by a 34–0 score before a crowd of 59,362 in Minneapolis. Minnesota's victory returned the Little Brown Jug to Golden Gophers for the first time since 1927. After a scoreless first half, Minnesota scored 20 points in the third quarter and 14 in the fourth. Pug Lund starred for Minneapolis. The Golden Gophers out-gained the Wolverines by 307 yards from scrimmage to 76. Minnesota went on to an undefeated season and was recognized as the 1934 national championship. Week 6: Wisconsin On November 10, 1934, Michigan lost to Wisconsin by a 10–0 score before a crowd of estimated at 25,000 at Michigan Stadium. Michigan out-gained Wisconsin by 120 rushing yards to 48 and 36 passing yards to 19. Despite mustering only 67 yards from scrimmage, Wisconsin managed to score twice. Halfback Lynn Jordan returned the opening kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown. The second Wisconsin score was set up by what the Detroit Free Press called "the most ridiculous play" of the season. John Regeczi took the snap in Michigan's end zone for a punt, then decided to run, ran three yards, changed his mind again, and finally kicked with three Badgers in front of him. The kick was blocked, Wisconsin recovered, and a field goal extended the Badgers' lead to 10 points. Week 7: at Ohio State On November 17, 1934, Michigan lost its annual rivalry game with Ohio State by a 34–0 score at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. The crowd of 68,000 was the largest in the Western Conference during the 1934 season. The game was Francis Schmidt's first against Michigan as Ohio State's head coach; he went on to win his first four games against Michigan. The Buckeyes scored five touchdowns, including three in the fourth quarter, and totaled 310 rushing yards and 141 passing yards. The Wolverines were held to only six net rushing yards and 34 passing yards. Ohio State touchdowns were scored by Dick Heekin (one-yard run in first quarter), Damon Wetzel, Frank Antenucci (recovered a Michigan fumble in the end zone), Merle Wendt (long pass from Frank Fisch), and Frank Comiskey (long pass from Tippy Dye). Week 8: Northwestern On November 24, 1934, the Wolverines lost, 13–6, to Northwestern at Michigan Stadium. Willis Ward, playing his last game for Michigan, kicked two field goals for Michigan. Michigan led, 3–0, at halftime. The score was tied at 6–6 at the end of the third quarter. Northwestern took the lead in the fourth quarter on a one-yard touchdown run by Hugh Duvall. The defeat brought an end to the worst season in Michigan football history up to that time. ==Personnel==

Varsity letter winners The following 25 players received varsity letters for their participation on the 1934 Michigan football team. For players who were starters, the list also includes the number of games started by position. Players who started at least half of Michigan's games are displayed in bold. • Robert Amrine, halfback, sophomore, London, Ohio - started 1 game at right guard • Vincent J. Aug, halfback, junior - started 5 games at left halfback • Thomas D. Austin, tackle, senior, Columbus, Ohio - started 7 games at right tackle • Chester C. Beard, guard, senior, Youngstown, Ohio • Frank S. Bissell, guard, sophomore, Hyannisport, Massachusetts • George A. Bolas, quarterback, junior, Chicago, Illinois • William F. Borgmann, guard, senior, Fort Wayne, Indiana - started 8 games at right tackle • Joseph O. Ellis, quarterback/halfback, sophomore, Eagle River, Wisconsin - started 1 game at right halfback • Chris Everhardus, halfback, sophomore, Kalamazoo, Michigan - started 1 game at right halfback • Gerald Ford, center, senior, Grand Rapids, Michigan - started 8 games at center • Russell J. Fuog, center, senior, Chicago, Illinois • Cloyce E. Hanshue, guard, sophomore, Kalamazoo, Michigan • Willard H. Hildebrand, guard/tackle, senior, Saginaw, Michigan - started 8 games at left guard • Tage Jacobson, tackle, senior, Detroit, Michigan - started 1 game at right tackle • Ferris Jennings, quarterback, sophomore, Ann Arbor, Michigan - started 7 games at quarterback • Russ Oliver, fullback, senior, Pontiac, Michigan - started 1 game at quarterback • Matt Patanelli, end, sophomore, Elkhart, Indiana - started 6 games at left end, 1 game at right end, 1 game at right halfback • John Regeczi, fullback, senior, Muskegon Heights, Michigan - started 4 games at right halfback, 2 games at fullback, 1 game at left halfback • Steve Remias, fullback, junior, Chicago, Illinois - started 1 game at fullback • Michael Savage, end, junior, Dearborn, Michigan - started 2 games at left end, 2 games at right end • Harold W. Sears, Jr., guard, sophomore, Grand Rapids, Michigan • Cedric C. Sweet, fullback, sophomore, Fremont, Michigan - started 5 games at fullback • Howard Triplehorn, halfback, junior, Bluffton, Ohio - started 1 game at left halfback • John Viergever, tackle, junior, Algonac, Michigan - started 8 games at left tackle • Willis Ward, end, senior, Detroit, Michigan - started 5 games at right end, 1 game at left halfback, 1 game at right halfback Varsity reserves The following six players were identified as varsity reserves on the roster of the 1934 Michigan football team. • David G. Barnett, halfback, sophomore, Detroit, Michigan • Ernest C. Johnson, end, junior, Grand Rapids, Michigan • Winfred Nelson, halfback, Greenville, Michigan • Harry J. Pillinger, quarterback, Whitehall, Michigan • John A. Rieck, end, sophomore, Detroit, Michigan • Harry T. Wright, tackle, sophomore, Mount Clemens, Michigan Others The following players were also included on the roster of the 1934 Michigan football team. • Charles Brandman, quarterback, sophomore, Findlay, Ohio • Carl W. Carr, Jr., tackle, sophomore, Saline, Michigan • John M. Connolly, fullback, New Rochelle, New York • Joe Fisher, tackle, junior, Ann Arbor, Michigan • Jesse G. Garber, guard, sophomore, New York, New York • Robert Graper, end, sophomore, Maumee, Ohio • Phillip H. Jacobs, halfback, sophomore, Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan • Richard H. James, quarterback, junior, Detroit, Michigan • James A. Kidston, fullback, LaGrange, Illinois • Franklin Lett, end, sophomore, Battle Creek, Michigan • Jack K. Liffiton, fullback, sophomore, Lakewood, Ohio • Earl J. Meyers, end, sophomore, Detroit, Michigan • John Mumford, fullback, sophomore, Highland Park, Michigan • Thomas T. Oyler, end, sophomore, Cincinnati, Ohio • Ernest A. Pederson, guard, sophomore, Grand Blanc, Michigan • Vincent Pope, fullback, Dearborn, Michigan • William Renner, quarterback, senior, Youngstown, Ohio • George Rudness, halfback, junior, Negaunee, Michigan • Stanton J. Schuman, center, sophomore, Winnetka, Illinois • Eli Soodik, guard, senior, New Brighton, Pennsylvania • Edward Adam Stone, tackle, junior, Chicago, Illinois Awards and honors • Captain: Thomas Austin • Most Valuable Player: Gerald Ford • Meyer Morton Award: Matt Patanelli Coaching staff • Head coach: Harry Kipke • Assistant coaches: Franklin Cappon, Ray Courtright, Ray Fisher, Jack Heston, Cliff Keen, Bennie Oosterbaan, Walter Weber • Trainer: Ray Roberts • Manager: George Y. Duffy, Robert Olsen (assistant), Daniel F. Hulgrave (assistant), Robert Hilty (assistant) Scoring leaders ==References==