| Year: | 1931 |
| Team: | Michigan Wolverines |
| Sport: | football |
| Conference: | Big Ten Conference |
| Short Conf: | Big Ten |
| Record: | 8–1–1 |
| Conf Record: | 5–1 |
| Head Coach: | Harry Kipke |
| Hc Year: | 3rd |
| Mvp: | Bill Hewitt |
| Captain: | Roy Hudson |
| Stadium: | Michigan Stadium |
| Champion: | Big Ten co-champion |
| Uniform: | 30smichiganuniform.png |
The 1931 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1931 college football season. In their third year under head coach was Harry Kipke, the Wolverines compiled a record of 8-1-1 record (5-1 Big Ten), outscored opponents 181 to 27, and finished the season in a three-way tie with Purdue and Northwestern for first place in the Big Ten Conference. Defensively, the team shut out eight of ten opponents, allowed an average of only 2.7 points per game, and did not allow opponents to score a point in its final six games. After losing to Ohio State on October 17, 1931, the Wolverines went 22 games and nearly three years before losing another game on October 6, 1934.
Individual players of note on the 1931 Michigan team include center Maynard Morrison, who was selected as a first-team All-American by Grantland Rice for Collier's Weekly and by the Newspaper Enterprise Association (NEA). Bill Hewitt was selected as the teams Most Valuable Player and a first-team All-Big Ten halfback by the United Press (UP). Ivy Williamson was selected as a first-team All-Big Ten end by both the UP and Associated Press (AP).
Michigan opened its 1931 season with a football doubleheader on October 3, 1931. The games attracted a crowd of nearly 80,000, most of whom were high school students invited by the university to attend the game without charge.
In the first game, Michigan's backup players defeated the team from (now known as Central Michigan University) by a score of 27 to 0. Michigan's touchdowns were scored by halfback Jack Heston (the son of former Michigan star Willie Heston), fullback Roderick Cox (1933 NCAA champion in the hammer throw), end Ted Petoskey, and substitute halfback Herbert Schmidt. Petoskey also kicked three points after touchdown.[1]
Michigan's starting lineup against the Central State Teachers was Ted Petoskey (left end), DuVal Goldsmith (left tackle), John Kowalik (left guard), Thomas Cooke (center), Leslie Frisk (right guard), Cecil Cantrill (right tackle), Norm Daniels (right end), Louis Westover (quarterback), Heston (left halfback), Estel Tessmer (right halfback), and Roderick Cox (fullback).[1]
In the second game of the doubleheader, Michigan's first-team players defeated by a 34 to 0 score. Michigan's touchdowns were scored by halfback Herman Everhardus (one-yard run in second quarter), backup halfback Jack Heston (16-yard run in second quarter), guard Stanley Hozer (four-yard run in second quarter), end Ted Petoskey (25-yard pass from William Renner), and halfback Stanley Fay (short run in second half). Hozer kicked two points after touchdown, and Petoskey and Omer LaJeunesse kicked one each.[1]
Michigan's starting lineup against Michigan Normal was Bill Hewitt (left end), Howie Auer (left tackle), Hozer (left guard), Maynard Morrison (center), LaJeunesse (right guard), Tom Samuels (right tackle), Ivy Williamson (right end), Harry Newman (quarterback), Everhardus (left halfback), Stanley Fay (right halfback), and Roy Hudson (fullback).[1]
On October 10, 1931, Michigan defeated Amos Alonzo Stagg's Chicago Maroons by a 13 to 7 score. Both of Michigan's touchdowns were scored in the second quarter on passes thrown by Harry Newman. Stanley Fay caught the first one, and Roy Hudson the second one. Newman also kicked a point after touchdown.[2]
Michigan's starting lineup against Chicago was Bill Hewitt (left end), Howie Auer (left tackle), Leslie Douglass (left guard), Maynard Morrison (center), Omer LaJeunesse (right guard), Tom Samuels (right tackle), Ivy Williamson (right end), Louis Westover (quarterback), Stanley Fay (left halfback), Jack Heston (right halfback), and Roy Hudson (fullback).[2]
On October 17, Michigan suffered its only loss of the season, falling to Ohio State by a 20 to 7 score. Jack Heston fumbled the opening kickoff at Michigan's 24-yard line. The defense held, but Heston then fumbled again on the next drive at Michigan's 31-yard line. Bill Carroll then ran for a touchdown in the first quarter. Ohio State's sophomore quarterback Carl Cramer also scored two touchdowns, including a 42-yard punt return in the fourth quarter. Michigan's only touchdown was scored by end Ivy Williamson with DuVal Goldsmith kicking the extra point.[3] After losing to Ohio State, the Wolverines went 22 games and nearly three years before losing another game.
Michigan's starting lineup against Ohio State was Bill Hewitt (left end), Howie Auer (left tackle), Omer LaJeunesse (left guard), Maynard Morrison (center), John Kowalik (right guard), Tom Samuels (right tackle), Ivy Williamson (right end), Harry Newman (quarterback), Jack Heston (left halfback), Stanley Fay (right halfback), and Roy Hudson (fullback).[3]
On October 24, Michigan defeated Illinois by a 35 to 0 score. Michigan's 35 points was the most scored against an Illinois team under head coach Robert Zuppke. Fullback Bill Hewitt averaged over six yards per carry on 24 carries. Michigan's five touchdowns were scored by Stanley Fay (2), Jack Heston John Kowalik, and Harry Newman (45-yard interception return). Ted Petoskey kicked two points after touchdown, and Newman kicked three.[4]
Michigan's starting lineup against Ohio State was Petoskey (left end), Francis Wistert (left tackle), Stanley Hozer (left guard), Maynard Morrison (center), Omer LaJeunesse (right guard), Howie Auer (right tackle), Ivy Williamson (right end), Estel Tessmer (quarterback), Heston (left halfback), Fay (right halfback), and Hewitt (fullback).[4]
On October 31, Michigan defeated Princeton by a 21 to 0 score at Palmer Stadium in Princeton, New Jersey. Left halfback Stanley Fay scored two touchdowns for Michigan, and fullback Roy Hudson scored one. Harry Newman kicked two points after touchdown, and Ted Petoskey scored one.[5]
Michigan's starting lineup against Princeton was Ivy Williamson (left end), Tom Samuels (left tackle), Omer LaJeunesse (left guard), Maynard Morrison (center), Stanley Hozer (right guard), ___ (right tackle), Ted Petoskey (right end), Bill Hewitt (quarterback), Fay (left halfback), Estel Tessmer (right halfback), and Roy Hudson (fullback).[5]
On November 7, Michigan defeated by a 22 to 0 score at Michigan Stadium. Michigan touchdowns were scored by Stanley Fay, Ivy Williamson and Bill Hewitt. Williamson was also credited with a safety. Ted Petoskey and Harry Newman each kicked a point after touchdown.[6]
Michigan's starting lineup against Indiana was Petoskey (left end), Howie Auer (left tackle), Stanley Hozer (left guard), Maynard Morrison (center), John Kowalik (right guard), Tom Samuels (right tackle), Williamson (right end), Estel Tessmer (quarterback), Fay (left halfback), Roy Hudson (right halfback), and Hewitt (fullback).[6]
On November 14, Michigan played Michigan State to a scoreless tie at Michigan Stadium. Michigan's starting lineup against Michigan State was Ted Petoskey (left end), Howie Auer (left tackle), Omer LaJeunesse (left guard), Chuck Bernard (center), Stanley Hozer (right guard), Tom Samuels (right tackle), Ivy Williamson (right end), Roy Hudson (quarterback), Jack Heston (left halfback), Stanley Fay (right halfback), and Bill Hewitt (fullback).[7]
On November 21, Michigan defeated Minnesota by a 6 to 0 score at Michigan Stadium. Michigan's only points came on a 56-yard run by Bill Hewitt in the first quarter. The starting lineup against Minnesota was Ted Petoskey (left end), Howie Auer (left tackle), Omer LaJeunesse (left guard), Maynard Morrison (center), Stanley Hozer (right guard), Tom Samuels (right tackle), Ivy Williamson (right end), Roy Hudson (quarterback), Jack Heston (left halfback), Stanley Fay (right halfback), and Hewitt (fullback).[8]
On November 28, Michigan defeated Wisconsin by a 16 to 0 score at Michigan Stadium. Michigan touchdowns were scored by Bill Hewitt and Roy Hudson. Hudson also kicked a field goal, and Herman Everhardus kicked an extra point. The starting lineup against Wisconsin was Ted Petoskey (left end), Howie Auer (left tackle), Cecil Cantrill (left guard), Chuck Bernard (center), John Kowalik (right guard), Francis Wistert (right tackle), Ivy Williamson (right end), Harry Newman (quarterback), Everhardus (left halfback), Hudson (right halfback), and Hewitt (fullback).[9]
| Player | Touchdowns | Extra points | Field goals | Safeties | Total Points |
| Stanley Fay | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 42 |
| Roy Hudson | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 21 |
| Ted Petoskey | 2 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 20 |
| Jack Heston | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 |
| Bill Hewitt | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 |
| Ivy Williamson | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 14 |
| Harry Newman | 1 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 13 |
| Stanley Hozer | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
| Herman Everhardus | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| Roderick Cox | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| Herbert Schmidt | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| Omer LaJeunesse | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| DuVal Goldsmith | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| unaccounted | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| Totals | 25 | 20 | 1 | 1 | 181 |
Maynard Morrison (COL-1, NEA-1, AP-3, CP-3), Bill Hewitt (NEA-3)[11] [12] [13] [14]
Maynard Morrison (AP-1, CPT-1, UP-2), Ivy Williamson (AP-1, UP-1), Bill Hewitt (UP-1, CPT-1; AP-2), Harry Newman (AP-2), Ted Petoskey (UP-2), Howie Auer (UP-2), Stanley Fay (AP-2, UP-2)[15] [16] [17]