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

OpponentRankDateSiteResult 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

Starting Lineups                  
PositionPlayer
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
1948 team photo
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[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

1948 Freshman Team Photo
1948 freshman team photo
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