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 | |
| Opponent | Rank | Date | Site | Result | 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 | ||||
___________________________________ | ||||||
| 1 - Gator Bowl, Jacksonville, Florida | ||||||
| Position | Player | |
|---|---|---|
| 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) |
| Position | Player | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
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