The 1951 Michigan Wolverines football team was an
American football team that represented the
University of Michigan in the
1951 Big Ten Conference football season. In its fourth year under head coach
Bennie Oosterbaan, Michigan compiled a 4–5 record (4–2 against conference opponents), finished in fourth place in the Big Ten, and outscored opponents by a combined total of 135 to 122.[1][2] For the first time since 1937, Michigan was not ranked in the final
AP Poll. It was ranked at No. 29 in the final
Litkenhous Ratings.[3]
Left halfback/quarterback
Bill Putich was the team captain, and fullback
Don Peterson received the team's most valuable player award.[2]
The team's statistical leaders included Bill Putich with 390 passing yards, Don Peterson with 549 rushing yards, and Lowell Perry with 395 receiving yards.[7]
On September 29, Michigan, ranked No. 17, lost to Michigan State, ranked No. 2, by a 25-0 score before a sellout crowd of 97,239 at
Michigan Stadium in
Ann Arbor. To that date, it was the most decisive victory for Michigan State in the history of the
Michigan–Michigan State football rivalry.
The Spartans limited the Wolverines to 26 passing yards, a net loss of 23 rushing yards, and four first downs. The Detroit Free Press called it "as feeble an attack as any teaam in Michigan's proud football history ever displayed."[8] The Spartans tallied 21 first downs, 249 rushing yards, 58 passing yards, and four touchdowns.[8]
Stanford
Indiana
At Iowa
Minnesota
At Illinois
At Cornell
Northwestern
Ohio State
Statistical leaders
Michigan's individual statistical leaders for the 1951 season include those listed below.[7][17]
The following 36 players received varsity letters for their participation on the 1951 team.[18] Players who started at least four games are shown with their names in bold.[2]
James T. Balog, 6'3", 210 pounds, sophomore, Wheaton, IL - tackle
Bruce A. Bartholomew, 6'3", 200 pounds, junior, Detroit - tackle
Richard A. Beison, 6'0", 200 pounds, sophomore, East Chicago, IN - guard
Donald C. Bennett, 6'2", 195 pounds, sophomore, Chicago - center
William E. Billings, 5'11", 180 pounds, junior, Flint, MI - quarterback
Wes Bradford, 5'6", 155 pounds, junior, Troy, OH – started 6 games at right halfback
Robert W. Dingman, 6'0", 180 pounds, senior, Saginaw, MI - end
Donald R. Dugger, 5'10", 180 pounds, junior, Charleston, WV – started 5 games at defensive left guard, 1 game at offensive left guard
Merritt Green, 6'0", 180 pounds, junior, Toledo, OH – started 9 games at defensive left end
Frank Howell, 5'8", 160 pounds, junior, Muskegon Heights, MI - running back
Tom Johnson, 6'2", 227 pounds, Muskegon Heights, MI – started 9 games at left tackle (offense and defense)
Ray Thomas Kelsey, 6'2", 195 pounds, senior, Lakewood, OH - guard
Peter Kinyon, 5'11", 190 pounds, senior, Ann Arbor, MI – started 7 games at offensive left guard, 1 game at offensive right guard
Eugene Knutson, 6'4", 210 pounds, sophomore, Beloit, WI - end
^"Michigan Football Statistic Archive Query Page". University of Michigan. Archived from
the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved November 6, 2017.(statistics retrieved by entering "1951" in the box for "Games & Totals by Season" and then, at the next screen, choosing "Display Season Totals")
^Ralph C. Stribe, Jr., born on March 12, 1928, died December 24, 2010. Graduated from UM 1953 with a degree in religion and ethics. Served as pastor of the Church of Our Saviour in Birmingham, Michigan, chairman of the general council of the Presbyterian Synod of Michigan, and a member of the Board of Trustees of Alma College.