1979 Football Team

Overall Record: 8-4 Conference Record: 6-2
Conference Finish: 3rd place
National Ranking: AP - No. 18, UPI - No. 19
Coach: Glenn E. "Bo" Schembechler
Captains: John Arbeznik, Ron Simpkins
All-Americans: Curtis Greer, Ron Simpkins
All-Conference: John Arbeznik, Curtis Greer, Ron Simpkins, Mike Jolly, Mike Trgovac, Butch Woolfolk
Most Valuable Player: Ron Simpkins
Meyer Morton Award: Curtis Greer
John Maulbetsch Award: Tony Jackson
Frederick a Award: Mike Trgovac
Arthur Robinson Scholarship Award: Dan Murray
Trainer: Russ Miller
Assistant coaches: Dennis Brown, Tirrel Burton, Jerry Hanlon, Jack Harbaugh, Bill McCartney, Don Nehlen, Paul Schudel, Milan Vooletich
Manager: Thomas J. Anderson

OpponentRankDateSiteResult Attend.
Northwestern  7/- 09/08 H W 49-7 100,790
Notre Dame  6/9 09/15 H L 10-12 105,111
Kansas 11/- 09/22 H W 28-7 103,698
California 11/- 09/29 A W 14-10 57,000
Michigan State 11/16 10/06 A W 21-7 79,311
Minnesota 11/- 10/13 H W 31-21 104,677
Illinois 11/- 10/20 A W 27-7 43,370
Indiana (HC) 10/- 10/27 H W 27-21 104,832
Wisconsin 10/- 11/03 H W 54-0 104,952
Purdue 10/14 11/10 A L 21-24 69,829
Ohio State 13/2 11/17 H L 15-18 106,255
North Carolina 14/- 12/28 1 L 15-17 70,407
Totals: 312-151 1,050,232

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1 - Gator Bowl, Jacksonville, Florida

Starting Lineups Offense         
PositionPlayer
wide receiver Alan Mitchell (10)
Anthony Carter (2)
left tackle Bubba Paris (8)
Mike Leoni (4)
left guard John Arbeznik (12)
center George Lilja (12)
right guard Kurt Becker (12)
right tackle Ed Muransky (12)
tight end Doug Marsh (12)
wing back Ralph Clayton (12)
quarterback B.J. Dickey (7)
John Wangler (4)
Rich Hewlett
fullback Lawrence Reid (10)
Roosevelt Smith (2)
tailback Stan Edwards (7)
Butch Woolfolk (5)
Starting Lineups Defense         
PositionPlayer
defensive tackle Curtis Greer (12)
middle guard Mike Trgovac (11)
Dale Keitz
defensive tackle Dale Keitz (11)
Chris Godfrey
outside linebacker Ben Needham (11)
Robert Thompson
outside linebacker Mel Owens (12)
inside linebacker Ron Simpkins (12)
inside linebacker Andy Cannavino (12)
ws cornerback Mike Jolly (12)
ss cornerback Mark Braman (12)
wolfman Stu Harris (9)
Jeff Reeves (3)
safety Mike Harden (12)

View full 1979 roster (from all-time roster database, includes non-lettermen and freshmen)


1979 Team Photo
1973 team photo
view larger image

Back Row
ass't coaches Ron Vanderlinden, Bob Thornbladh, Milan Vooletich, Paul Schudel, Dennis Brown, Jack Harbaugh, Bill McCartney, Jerry Hanlon, Don Nehlen, Tirrel Burton, Les Miles, Mike Gittleson, Fritz Seyferth, Jim Kozlowski
9th Row
student manager Tom Anderson, trainer Russ Miller, eqp. manager Jon Falk, Curtis Antrum, Bill Jacoby, Ethington, Robin Koschalk, Scott Roberts, Mike Korowin, Ali Haji-Sheik, Anthony Carter, Chip Pederson, Roger Gaudette, Bob Patek
8th Row
Jerry Burgei, Jeff Cohen, Duke Hayes, John Brown, Jim Herrman, Joe Mosketti, Todd Triplett, Dan Yarano, Bill Bonnell, Paul Girgash, Ken Gear, John Lott, Ricky Davis, Nate Davis
7th Row
Karl Tech, Doug Agnew, Rich Hewlett, Steve O'Donnell, Craig Dunaway, Jerald Ingram, Winfred Carraway, Mike Cade, Jimbo Davis, Keith Bostic, Larry Ricks, Brad Fischer, Kevin Ssmith
6th Row
Brian Carpenter, Vince Shaw, Tom Neal, Dave Brewster, Sanford Washington, Fred Brockington, Mike Lemirande, Rich Strenger, Norm Betts, Tony Kelsie, Mike Petsch, Mike Czarnote, Kevin Longe, Marion Body
5th Row
Jeff Reeves, Jim Paciorek, Butch Woolfolk, Cedric Coles, Tom Garrity, Mark Warth, Ed Muransky, Bubba Paris, Chuck Rowland, Robert Thompson, Zeke Wallace, Gary Lee, Jeff Felten
4th Row
Brad Bates, Jim Breaugh, Oliver Johnson, Fred Motley, Kelly Keough, John Prepolec, Tony Osbun, Dan Kwiatkowski, Chuck Christian, Greg Wunderli, Tom Wandersleben, Mike Kligis, Bryan Virgil, Frank Raiford
3rd Row
Tom Moss, Stan Edwards, Dave Nicolau, Stu Harris, Ben Needham, Kurt Becker, Chuck Hetts, Mike Trgovac, andy Cannavino, Rodney Feaster, B.J. Dickey, Alan Mitchell, Tony Jackson, Irvin Johnson
2nd Row
James Humphries, Gary Quinn, Dan Murray, Tony Leoni, John Wangler, Gary Weber, Mel Owens, George Lilja, Mike Leoni, Lawrence Reid, Roosevelt Smith, David Payne, Tom Keller, Jay Allen
Front Row
Gerald Diggs, Mark Braman, Mike Jolly, John Powers, co-capt. Ron Smpkins, co-capt. John Arbeznik, Curtis Greer, Dale Keitz, Ralph Clayton, Chris Godfrey, Doug Marsh, Mike Harden, coach "Bo" Schembechler