Muirhead was a native of
Calumet in Michigan's
Upper Peninsula but attended Northern High School in
Detroit. He played
tackle and
guard for the
Michigan Wolverines football team from 1921 to 1923. After the 1921 season, Detroit News sports editor
H.G. Salsinger wrote: "Muirhead, of Michigan, playing his first college season, was one of the outstanding tackles in a year when the position produced a number of spectacular stars. Muirhead improved with each game, and his rapid development means that next season it will require a great tackle to keep him from being a first choice." As a junior and senior, Muirhead helped lead Michigan to consecutive undefeated seasons and a national championship in 1923. Muirhead played his final game in a Michigan uniform against the
University of Minnesota in November 1923, and a newspaper account described his performance in that game as follows: In his last game against Minnesota, November 24, Muirhead was everywhere, he made three-fourths of the tackles under punts, and was always on the ball. A check was made during the game of Muirheads's tackles. No less than twenty-two times did this stalwart tackle bring down his man. He was a veritable demon on the field, who could not be stopped. If there is a greater tackle in the country than Stan Muirhead of Michigan he has not yet been seen. Muirhead also developed a reputation for his durability. He played in every conference game for Michigan from 1921 to 1923, leading one sports columnist to write: Stanley Muirhead, former University of Michigan tackle, saw three seasons' work on the Yost elevens, taking part in every conference game played during that stretch and was out of the lineup for only two minutes all told. Feats like these are rare. College football is too tough a game for a player to escape the injury bugaboo entirely. In 1922, Muirhead was selected as a second-team All-American by sports writer Lawrence Perry. After the 1923 season, Muirhead was selected as a first-team All-Big Ten Conference player and a second-team All-American by
Athletic World magazine, based on votes cast by 500 coaches, Lawrence Perry, and
Central Press Association sports editor Norman E. Brown. After graduating from Michigan in 1924, Muirhead played professional football for the
Dayton Triangles and
Cleveland Bulldogs in the fall of 1924. He was also selected as a first-team All-NFL player in 1924 by
Collyers Eye magazine. ==See also==