1948 Football Team
| Overall Record: 9-0 | Conference Record: 6-0 |
| Conference Finish: 1st place | |
| National Ranking: AP - No. 1 | |
| Coach: Bennie G. Oosterbaan | |
| Captain: Dominic Tomasi | |
| All-Americans: Richard Rifenburg, Pete Elliott, Alvin Wistert | |
| All-Conference: Dick Rifenburg, Alvin Wistert, Dominic Tomasi, Pete Elliott | |
| Most Valuable Player: Dominic Tomasi | |
| Meyer Morton Award: Leo Koceski | |
| Trainer: Jim Hunt | |
| Assistant coaches: Jack Blott, George Ceithaml, Clifford Keen, Ernest McCoy, Bill Orwig, Don Robinson, Walter Weber, J.T. White | |
| Manager: Bill Hickey | |
| Opponent | Rank | Date | Site | Result | Attend. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan State | 09/25 | A | W | 13-7 | 51,526 | |
| Oregon | 10/02 | H | W | 14-0 | 66,642 | |
| Purdue | 7/15 | 10/09 | A | W | 40-0 | 47,152 |
| Northwestern | 4/3 | 10/16 | H | W | 28-0 | 87,782 |
| Minnesota | 1/13 | 10/23 | A | W | 27-14 | 64,076 |
| Illinois (HC) | 1/- | 10/30 | H | W | 28-20 | 85,782 |
| Navy | 2/- | 11/06 | H | W | 35-0 | 85,808 |
| Indiana | 1/- | 11/13 | H | W | 54-0 | 84,043 |
| Ohio State | 1/18 | 11/20 | A | W | 13-3 | 78,603 |
| Totals | 252-44 | 649,414 | ||||
| Position | Player | |
|---|---|---|
| left end |
Oswald Clark (4) Dick Rifenburg (3) Harry Allis (2) | |
| left tackle |
Joe Soboleski (6) Alvin Wistert (2) James Atchinson | |
| left guard |
Dominic Tomasi (6) Lloyd Heneveld (2) Quentin Sickels | |
| center |
Robert Erben (5) Dan Dworsky (4) | |
| right guard |
Stu Wilkins (6) Quentin Sickels Lloyd Heneveld Don McClelland | |
| right tackle |
Ralph Kohl (6) Robert Wahl (3) | |
| right end |
Ed McNeill (7) Irv Wisniewski (2) | |
| quarterback |
Pete Elliott (9)
| |
| fullback |
Tom Peterson (6) Dick Kempthorn (2) John Ghindia | |
| left halfback |
Chuck Ortmann (7) Harry Allis Gene Derricotte | |
| right halfback |
Leo Koceski (6) Walt Teninga (3) |
View full 1948 roster (from all-time roster database, includes non-lettermen and freshmen)
1948 Team Photo
view larger image
[Note: photo includes only varsity letter winners]
- Back Row
- Don Dufek, Charley Lentz, Don McClelland, Chuck Ortmann, Harry Allis, Dick Farrer
- 4th Row
- Manager Bill Hicky, John Ghindia, Bill Bartlett, Leo Koceski, Bob Van Summern, Dick Kempthorn, Bill Ohlenroth, Al Jackson, Jim Hunt (Trainer)
- 3rd Row
- Bob Erben, Wally Teninga, Jim Atchison, Bob Hollway, Al Wahl, Ozzie Clark, Irv Wisniewski, Don Peterson
- 2nd Row
- Lloyd Heneveld, Dan Dworsky, Ralph Kohl, Dick Rifenburg, Quentin Sickels, Don Hershberger, Ed McNeill
- Front Row
- Pete Elliott, Gene Derricotte, Athletic Director Fritz Crisler, Dom Tomasi, Coach Bennie Oosterbaan, Alvin Wistert, Stu Wilkins, Joe Sobeleski