1978 Football Team

Overall Record: 10-2 Conference Record: 7-1
Conference Finish: 1st place tie
National Ranking: AP - No. , UP5I - No. 5
Coach: Glenn E. "Bo" Schembechler
Captains: Russell Davis, Jerry Meter
All-Americans: Rick Leach
All-Conference: Rick Leach, Jon Giesler, John Arbeznik, Russell Davis, Curtis Greer, Ron Simpkins, Mike Jolly, Mike Harden
Most Valuable Player: Rick Leach
Meyer Morton Award: Gene Johnson
John Maulbetsch Award: Mike Trgovac
Frederick Matthaei Award: Mike Jolly
Arthur Robinson Scholarship Award: Mark DeSantis
Trainer: Lindsy McLean
Assistant coaches: Dennis Brown, Tirrel Burton, Jerry Hanlon, Jack Harbaugh, Bill McCartney, Don Nehlen, Paul Schudel, Milan Vooletich
Manager: Nicholas J. Uriah

OpponentRankDateSiteResult Attend.
Preseason 6
Illinois 4/- 09/16 H W 31-0 104,102
Notre Dame 5/14 09/23 A W 28-14 59,075
Duke 4/- 09/30 H W 52-0 104,832
Arizona 3/- 10/07 H W 21-17 104,913
Michigan State 5/- 10/14 H L 15-24 105,132
Wisconsin 9/- 10/21 A W 42-0 80,024
Minnesota (HC) 8/- 10/28 H W 42-10 105,308
Iowa 8/- 11/04 A W 34-0 49,120
Northwestern 7/- 11/11 A W 59-14 27,013
Purdue 7/15 11/18 H W 24-6 105,410
Ohio State 6/16 11/25 A W 14-3 88,358
USC 5/3 01/01 1 L 10-17 105,629
Total: 372-105 1,038,916

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1 - Rose Bowl, Pasadena, California

Starting Lineups Offense         
PositionPlayer
wide receiver Rodney Feaster (7)
Alan Mitchell (3)
Gene Johnson
Ed Kasparek
left tackle Jon Giesler (12)
left guard John Arbeznik (9)
John Powers (3)
center Steve Nauta (12)
right guard Greg Bartnick (12)
right tackle Mike Leoni (5)
Bill Dufek (3)
John Powers (3)
Bubba Paris
tight end Gene Johnson (7)
Doug Marsh (5)
wing back Ralph Clayton (10)
Alan Mitchell
Roosevelt Smith
quarterback Rick Leach (12)
fullback Russell Davis (12)
tailback Harlan Huckleby (9)
Butch Woolfolk (2)
Roosevelt Smith
Starting Lineups Defense         
PositionPlayer
defensive tackle Chris Godfrey (6)
Dale Keitz (6)
middle guard Mike Trgovac (6)
Dale Keitz (6)
defensive tackle Curtis Greer (12)
outside linebacker Jerry Meter (12)
outside linebacker Tom Seabron (10)
Ben Needham (2)
inside linebacker Ron Simpkins (11)
Ben Needham
inside linebacker Andy Cannavino (6)
Mark DeSantis (4)
Mel Owens (2)
ws cornerback Mike Jolly (12)
ss cornerback Mark Braman (10)
Gerald Diggs
Dan Murray
wolf Gene Bell (12)
safety Mike Harden (10)
Stu Harris (2)

View full 1978 roster (from all-time roster database, includes non-lettermen and freshmen)


1978 Team Photo
1978 team phto
view larger image

Back Row
Coaches Bob Patek, Jerry Zuver, Mike Gittleson, Milan Vooletich, Dennis Brown, Jack Harbaugh, Bill McCartney, Jerry Hanlon, Don Nehlen, Tirrel Burton, Paul Schudel, Bob Thornbladh, Barry Pierson, Mike Smith, Curt Stephenson, Trainer Lindsy McLean, Eqp. Mgr. Jon Falk
9th Row
Kevin Smith, Doug Agnew, * , Mike Butts, Steve Zarnata, Brad Fischer, Kevin Gilligan, * , Karl Tech, Jerome Jelinek, Bill Welch, * , Vince Shaw, Mgr. Nick Uriah
8th row Row
Marion Body, Dave Brewster, Rich Strenger, Sanford Washington, Steve Reilly, Tom Neal, Norm Betts, Mike Petsch, Mike Lemirande, Gary Snell, Jeff Reeves, Tony Jackson, Jeff Felten, Tony Kelsie
7th Row
Mike Webster, Butch Woolfolk, Cedric Coles, Bubba Paris, Chuck Rowland, Ed Muransky, Mark Warth, Tom Garrity, Robert Thompson, Jim Paciorek, Gary Lee, Zeke Wallace, Brian Carpenter, John Sandberg
6th Row
Tom Moss, Tim Carrier, Jay Allen, Jim Breaugh, Larry Jones, David Angood, Tom Wandersleben, Fred Motley, Dave Payne, Rod Vaughn, Gasper Calindrino, Kevin Long, Bryan Virgil
5th Row
Brad Bates, Irvin Johnson, Kelly Keough, Tom Keller, Rick Novak, Ben Needham, Oliver Johnson, Jeff Jackson, Dan Kwiatkowski, John Prepolec, Greg Wunderli, Kurt Becker, Tony Osbun, Mike Kligis, Chuck Christian
4th Row
Craig Page, B.J. Dickey, Rodney Peaster, Dan Murray, Andy Cannavino, Dave Nicolau, Stanley Edwards, Michael Davis, Mike Trgovac, Stuart Harris, Roger Gaudette, Jim Kozlowski, Alan Mitchell, Rick Jones, Head Coach "Bo" Schembechler
3rd Row
Gerald Diggs, Tony Leoni, Roosevelt Smith, Gary Weber, Lawrence Reid, Mel Owens, George Lilja, John Powers, Chris Godfrey, John Wangler, Gene Bell, Michael Harden, Mike Leoni, Gary Quinn, Jim Humphries
2nd Row
Gregg Willner, William Jackson, Mike Jolly, Ralph Clayton, Chip Pederson, Rock Lindsay, John Arbeznik, Ron Simpkins, Doug Marsh, Dale Keitz, Tom Melita, Mark Torzy, Tim Malinak, Ed Kasparek, Chuck Netts
Front Row
Mark Braman, Mark DeSantis, Mark Schmerge, Curtis Greer, Greg Bartnick, Harlan Huckleby, Co-Captain Russell Davis, Bill Dufek, Rick Leach, Co-Captain Jerry Meter, Gene Johnson, Jon Giesler, Tom Seabron, Steve Nauta, Bob Hollway