1951 Michigan Wolverines football team explained

Year:1951
Team:Michigan Wolverines
Sport:football
Conference:Big Ten Conference
Short Conf:Big Ten
Record:4–5
Conf Record:4–2
Head Coach:Bennie Oosterbaan
Hc Year:4th
Mvp:Don Peterson
Captain:Bill Putich
Stadium:Michigan Stadium

The 1951 Michigan Wolverines football team was an American football team that represented the University of Michigan in the 1951 Big Ten Conference football season. In its fourth year under head coach Bennie Oosterbaan, Michigan compiled a 4–5 record (4–2 against conference opponents), finished in fourth place in the Big Ten, and outscored opponents by a combined total of 135 to 122.[1] For the first time since 1937, Michigan was not ranked in the final AP Poll. It was ranked at No. 29 in the final Litkenhous Ratings.[2]

Left halfback/quarterback Bill Putich was the team captain, and fullback Don Peterson received the team's most valuable player award.[3]

Halfback/safety Lowell Perry was selected by the Central Press Association as a second-team player on the 1951 College Football All-America Team.[4] Three Michigan players received All-Big Ten honors: Lowell Perry (AP-1, UP-1); offensive tackle Tom Johnson (AP-1, UP-1); and linebacker Roger Zatkoff (AP-1).[5] [6]

The team's statistical leaders included Bill Putich with 390 passing yards, Don Peterson with 549 rushing yards, and Lowell Perry with 395 receiving yards.[7]

Game summaries

Michigan State

On September 29, Michigan, ranked No. 17, lost to Michigan State, ranked No. 2, by a 25-0 score before a sellout crowd of 97,239 at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor. To that date, it was the most decisive victory for Michigan State in the history of the Michigan–Michigan State football rivalry.

The Spartans limited the Wolverines to 26 passing yards, a net loss of 23 rushing yards, and four first downs. The Detroit Free Press called it "as feeble an attack as any teaam in Michigan's proud football history ever displayed." The Spartans tallied 21 first downs, 249 rushing yards, 58 passing yards, and four touchdowns.

Ohio State

Statistical leaders

Michigan's individual statistical leaders for the 1951 season include those listed below.[7] [8]

Rushing

Player AttemptsNet yardsYards per attemptTouchdowns
Don Peterson1525493.64
Wes Bradford643485.42
Bill Putich1152682.33

Passing

Player AttemptsCompletionsInterceptionsComp %YardsYds/CompTDLong
Bill Putich7732741.639012.2255
Don Peterson136346.118430.7143
Ted Topor269234.617119.0271

Receiving

Player ReceptionsYardsYds/RecpTDLong
Lowell Perry1639524.7371
Frederick Pickard1020420.4255
Ted Topor9819.00

Kickoff returns

Player ReturnsYardsYds/ReturnTDLong
Bill Putich38829.3036
Ted Topor37224.0027
Don Oldham35217.30

Punt returns

Player ReturnsYardsYds/ReturnTDLong
Lowell Perry1719711.6175
Bill Putich11716.500
Merritt Green11010.0010

Personnel

Letter winners

The following 36 players received varsity letters for their participation on the 1951 team.[9] Players who started at least four games are shown with their names in bold.[3]

Coaching staff

Michigan's 1951 coaching, training, and support staff included the following persons.[3]

Awards and honors

Honors and awards for the 1951 season went to the following individuals.[3]

Lowell Perry (UP 3rd team, Central Press 2nd team), Tom Johnson (Chicago Tribune 1st-team)[11]

Lowell Perry (AP and UP), Tom Johnson (AP and UP), Roger Zatkoff (UP)

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 1951 Michigan Wolverines Schedule and Results. Sports Reference LLC. SR/College Football. November 6, 2017.
  2. News: Litkenhous Ratings. The Chattanooga Times. December 15, 1951. 14. Newspapers.com.
  3. Web site: 1951 Football Team. University of Michigan, Bentley Historical Library. November 6, 2017.
  4. News: Walter Johns. 2 Coast Players on CP All-American Team. Long Beach Press-Telegram. December 5, 1951.
  5. News: Coaches Select All-Big Ten Team. The Ludington Daily News . November 26, 1951.
  6. Web site: UP Big Ten Team. The Pantagraph. November 21, 1951. 10.
  7. Web site: 1951 Michigan Wolverines Statistics. Sports Reference LLC. SR/College Football. November 6, 2017.
  8. Web site: Michigan Football Statistic Archive Query Page. University of Michigan. November 6, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20150402151629/http://statsarchive.ath.umich.edu/VS-Football/footstart.php. April 2, 2015. dead. (statistics retrieved by entering "1951" in the box for "Games & Totals by Season" and then, at the next screen, choosing "Display Season Totals")
  9. News: 36 Gridders Get Letters. The Michigan Daily. November 27, 1951. 3. Bentley Historical Library.
  10. Ralph C. Stribe, Jr., born on March 12, 1928, died December 24, 2010. Graduated from UM 1953 with a degree in religion and ethics. Served as pastor of the Church of Our Saviour in Birmingham, Michigan, chairman of the general council of the Presbyterian Synod of Michigan, and a member of the Board of Trustees of Alma College.
  11. News: Arch Ward. PLAYERS NAME 1951 ALL-AMERICA TEAMS. Chicago Daily Tribune. December 9, 1951. 2010-09-24. https://web.archive.org/web/20120303122401/https://secure.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/498371282.html?dids=498371282:498371282&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Dec+09,+1951&author=&pub=Chicago+Tribune&desc=PLAYERS+NAME+1951+ALL-AMERICA+TEAMS&pqatl=google. 2012-03-03. dead.

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