1947 Football Team
| Overall Record: 10-0 | Conference Record: 6-0 |
| Conference Finish: 1st place tie | |
| National Ranking: AP - No. 1* | |
| Coach: Herbert O. "Fritz" Crisler | |
| Captain: Bruce Hilkene | |
| All-Americans: Robert Chappuis, Chalmers (Bump) Elliott | |
| All-Conference: Bob Mann, Howard Yerges, Bob Chappuis, Chalmers Elliott | |
| Most Valuable Player: Chalmers (Bump) Elliott | |
| Meyer Morton Award: Alvin Wistert | |
| Trainer: James E. Hunt | |
| Assistant coaches: Jack Blott, George Ceithaml, Forrest Jordan, Clifford Keen, Ernest McCoy, Bennie Oosterbaan, Arthur Valpey, Walter Weber | |
| Manager: E. Kirk McKinney Jr. | |
| Opponent | Rank | Date | Site | Result | Attend. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan State | 09/27 | H | W | 55-0 | 72,015 | |
| Stanford | 10/04 | H | W | 49-13 | 66,779 | |
| Pittsburgh | 2/- | 10/11 | H | W | 69-0 | 60,085 |
| Northwestern | 1/- | 10/18 | A | W | 49-21 | 47,260 |
| Minnesota (HC) | 1/- | 10/25 | H | W | 13-6 | 85,938 |
| Illinois | 2/11 | 11/01 | A | W | 14-7 | 68,487 |
| Indiana | 2/- | 11/08 | H | W | 35-0 | 85,938 |
| Wisconsin | 2/- | 11/15 | A | W | 40-6 | 42,335 |
| Ohio State | 1/- | 11/22 | H | W | 21-0 | 85,938 |
| U.S.C. | 2/8 | 01/01 | 1 | W | 49-0 | 87,516 |
| Totals | 394-53 | 702,291 | ||||
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| 1 - Rose Bowl, Pasadena, California | ||||||
| * Michigan and Notre Dame had traded the top spot in the polls through much of the season. Notre Dame was No. 1 and Michigan No. 2 in the final regular season poll. In an unprecedented post-bowl games poll, the Associated Press named Michigan No. 1 on the strength of the Wolverines' decisive win over Southern California in the Rose Bowl. Notre Dame had been less dominant in its season ending win over the Trojans. | ||||||
| Position | Player | |
|---|---|---|
| left end |
Bob Mann (8) Ed McNeill Len Ford | |
| left tackle |
Bruce Hilkene (8) Alvin Wistert (2) | |
| left guard |
Dominic Tomasi (7) Joe Soboleski (3) | |
| center |
J.T. White (8) Jim Brieske Dan Dworsky | |
| right guard |
Stu Wilkins (9) Quentin Sickels | |
| right tackle |
Bill Pritula (9) Ralph Kohl | |
| right end |
Dick Rifenburg (9) Ed McNeill | |
| quarterback |
Howard Yerges (9) Gene Derricotte | |
| fullback |
Jack Weisenburger (7) Dick Kempthorn Dan Dworsky Tom Peterson | |
| left halfback |
Bob Chappuis (9) Jack Wiesenburger | |
| right halfback | Bump Elliott (10) |
View full 1947 roster (from all-time roster database, includes non-lettermen and freshmen)
1947 Team Photo
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[Note: photo includes only varsity letter winners]
- Back Row
- ass't coach George Ceithaml, Gene Derricotte, Quentin Sickels, Alvin Wistert, Len Ford, Irvin Wisniewski, Ralph Kohl, Jim Brieske, equipment manager Henry Hatch
- 3rd row Row
- Tom Peterson, Donald McClelland, Lloyd Heneveld, George Johnson, Robert Hollway, Pete Dendrinos, Donovan Hershberger, Richard Kempthorn, John Ghindia, manager C. Kirk McKinney
- 2nd Row
- George Kiesel, Joe Sobeleski, Wally Teninga, Bob Chappuis, Ed McNeil, Dan Dworsky, Pete Elliott, Chalmers Elliott, Hank Fonde
- Front Row
- Howard Yerges, Jack Weisenberger, Dominic Tomasi, Coach Fritz Crisler, captain Bruce Hilkene, Bill Pritula, Jon T. White, Stuart Wilkins
1947 Team at Rose Bowl Practice Field
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- Back Row
- Howard Yerges, Bump Elliott, Stu Wilkins, Dick Rifenburg, J.T. White, John Anderson, Alvin Wistert, Dick Kempthorn, Bill Pritula, Bob Chappuis, Bob Mann
- 3rd Row
- Irv Small, Henry Fonde, Tom Peterson, John Ghindia, Dan Hershberger, Irv Wisniewski, Jim Atchison, Lenny Ford, Bob Hollway, Don McClelland, Norm Jackson, Kurt Kampe
- 2nd Row
- Ed McNeil, Pete Elliott, Walt Teninga, George Johnson, Ralph Kohl, H.O. Crisler, Bruce Hilkene, Dan Dworsky, Joe Soboleski, Quentin Sickels, Dick Strauss, Bob Erben
- Front Row
- Chuck Lentz, Jim Brieske, Pete Dendrinos, Don Kuick, George Kiesel, Bob Ballou, Lloyd Heneveld, Gene Derricotte, Dominic Tomasi, Jack Weisenburger
Crisler Speaking to 1947 Team at Rose Bowl Practice Field
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