1989 Michigan Wolverines football
Big Ten champion
Rose Bowl, L 10–17 vs. USC
ConferenceBig Ten Conference
Ranking
CoachesNo. 8
APNo. 7
Record10–2 (8–0 Big Ten)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorGary Moeller (3rd season)
Defensive coordinatorLloyd Carr (3rd season)
MVPTony Boles
Captains
Home stadiumMichigan Stadium
(Capacity: 101,701)
Seasons
← 1988
1990 →
1989 Big Ten Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 7 Michigan $ 8 – 0 – 0 10 – 2 – 0
No. 10 Illinois 7 – 1 – 0 10 – 2 – 0
No. 16 Michigan State 6 – 2 – 0 8 – 4 – 0
No. 24 Ohio State 6 – 2 – 0 8 – 4 – 0
Minnesota 4 – 4 – 0 6 – 5 – 0
Indiana 3 – 5 – 0 5 – 6 – 0
Iowa 3 – 5 – 0 5 – 6 – 0
Purdue 2 – 6 – 0 3 – 8 – 0
Wisconsin 1 – 7 – 0 2 – 9 – 0
Northwestern 0 – 8 – 0 0 – 11 – 0
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1989 Michigan Wolverines football team was an American football team that represented the University of Michigan as a member of the Big Ten Conference during the 1989 NCAA Division I-A football season. In its 21st and final season under head coach Bo Schembechler, the team compiled a 10–2 record (8–0 against conference opponents), won the Big Ten championship, lost to USC in the 1990 Rose Bowl, outscored opponents by a total of 335 to 184, and was ranked No. 7 and No. 8, respectively, in the final AP and UPI polls.[1][2]

The team's statistical leaders included quarterback Michael Taylor with 1,081 passing yards, tailback Tony Boles with 839 rushing yards, and split end Greg McMurtry with 711 receiving yards, and placekicker J.D. Carlson with 73 points scored.[3]

Defensive back Tripp Welborne was a consensus first-team selection to the 1989 All-America college football team. Six Michigan players received first-team honors on the 1989 All-Big Ten Conference football team.

The Wolverines lost their season opener to Notre Dame but won ten consecutive games to finish the regular season. Highlights of the winning streak included the defeat of Minnesota by 34 points for the Little Brown Jug and a victory over Ohio State in their home finale.

Schembechler retired after the Rose Bowl.

Schedule

DateTimeOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendanceSource
September 163:30 p.m.No. 1 Notre Dame*No. 2
ABCL 19–24105,912
September 238:00 p.m.at No. 24 UCLA*No. 5
ABCW 24–2371,797
September 301:00 p.m.Maryland*No. 6
  • Michigan Stadium
  • Ann Arbor, MI
W 41–21104,872[4]
October 71:00 p.m.WisconsinNo. 5
  • Michigan Stadium
  • Ann Arbor, MI
W 24–0104,097
October 143:30 p.m.at No. 21 Michigan StateNo. 5
ABCW 10–776,913
October 213:30 p.m.at IowaNo. 5
ABCW 26–1267,700
October 2812:00 p.m.IndianadaggerNo. 5
  • Michigan Stadium
  • Ann Arbor, MI
ABCW 38–10105,989
November 41:00 p.m.PurdueNo. 4
  • Michigan Stadium
  • Ann Arbor, MI
W 42–27105,128
November 113:30 p.m.at No. 8 IllinoisNo. 3
ABCW 24–1073,069
November 1812:30 p.m.at MinnesotaNo. 3
ESPNW 49–1535,103
November 2512:00 p.m.No. 20 Ohio StateNo. 3
  • Michigan Stadium
  • Ann Arbor, MI (rivalry)
ABCW 28–18106,137
January 1, 19904:45 p.m.vs. No. 12 USC*No. 3
ABCL 10–17103,450
  • *Non-conference game
  • daggerHomecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
  • All times are in Eastern time

Game summaries

Notre Dame

See also: Michigan–Notre Dame football rivalry
#1 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (1–0) at #2 Michigan Wolverines (0–0)
Period 1 2 34Total
Notre Dame 0 7 10724
Michigan 0 6 01319

at Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, Michigan

Game information

At UCLA

This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (October 2022)

Maryland

This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (October 2014)

Wisconsin

This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (October 2014)

At Michigan State

See also: Paul Bunyan Trophy
#5 Michigan Wolverines (3–1) at #21 Michigan State Spartans (2–2)
Period 1 2 34Total
Michigan 7 3 0010
Michigan St 0 0 077

at Spartan Stadium, East Lansing, Michigan

  • Date: October 14, 1989
  • Game time: 3:30 p.m.
  • Game weather: Sunny, 82 °F (28 °C)
  • Game attendance: 76,913
  • Referee: Ron Winter
  • TV: ABC
  • Box Score
Team Category Player Statistics
Michigan Passing Elvis Grbac 8/15, 76 Yds, INT
Rushing Tony Boles 22 Rush, 100 Yds
Receiving Greg McMurtry 2 Rec, 33 Yds
Michigan St Passing Dan Enos 21/31, 214 Yds, TD, 2 INT
Rushing Blake Ezor 27 Rush, 69 Yds
Receiving Courtney Hawkins 8 Rec, 89 Yds, TD

At Iowa

This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (October 2022)

Indiana

This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (October 2014)

Purdue

Purdue Boilermakers (1–6) at #4 Michigan Wolverines (6–1)
Period 1 2 34Total
Purdue 0 7 02027
Michigan 7 21 7742

at Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, Michigan

  • Date: November 4, 1989
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m.
  • Game weather: Overcast, 44 °F (7 °C)
  • Game attendance: 105, 126
  • Box Score

[5]

External videos
video icon Game highlights
Team Category Player Statistics
Purdue Passing Eric Hunter 27/42, 344 Yds, 4 TD, 2 INT
Rushing Jerome Sparkman 11 Rush, 50 Yds
Receiving Calvin Williams 13 Rec, 156 Yds, 3 TD
Michigan Passing Michael Taylor 8/13, 124 Yds, TD
Rushing Tony Boles 13 Rush, 80 Yds, 2 TD
Receiving Chris Calloway 3 Rec, 68 Yds, TD

At Illinois

This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (October 2014)

At Minnesota

See also: Little Brown Jug
#3 Michigan Wolverines (8–1) at Minnesota Golden Gophers (5–4)
Period 1 2 34Total
Michigan 0 28 71449
Minnesota 7 0 8015

at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota

  • Date: November 18, 1989
  • Game time: 11:30 a.m. CDT
  • Game weather: Indoors (dome)
  • Game attendance: 35,103
  • Referee: Jerry Hendrickson
  • TV: ESPN
  • Box Score
Team Category Player Statistics
Michigan Passing Michael Taylor 12/16, 231 Yds, 4 TD
Rushing Leroy Hoard 11 Rush, 90 Yds, TD
Receiving Greg McMurtry 7 Rec, 165 Yds, 3 TD
Minnesota Passing Marquel Fleetwood 11/23, 100 Yds, 2 INT
Rushing Darrell Thompson 18 Rush, 50 Yds, TD
Receiving Pat Tinglehoff 7 Rec, 77 Yds

Ohio State

#20 Ohio State Buckeyes (8–2) at #3 Michigan Wolverines (9–1)
Period 1 2 34Total
Ohio St 0 3 9618
Michigan 7 7 01428

at Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, Michigan

  • Date: November 25
  • Game weather: Partly sunny, 46 °F (8 °C)
  • Game attendance: 106,137
  • TV: ABC
Game information

Todd Plate's second interception of the day with 2:48 left in the game sealed the game and the Big Ten title for the Wolverines. [6]

Rose Bowl (vs USC)

1 234Total
• USC 0 1007 17
Michigan 0 370 10
Scoring summary
Q2USCMarinovich 1-yard run (Rodriguez kick)USC 7–0
Q26:28MICHCarlson 19-yard field goalUSC 7–3
Q2USCRodriguez 34-yard field goalUSC 10–3
Q3MICHJeffereson 2-yard run (Carlson kick)Tied 10–10
Q4USCErvins 9 yard run (Rodriguez kick)USC 17–10

Main article: 1990 Rose Bowl

See also: 1989 USC Trojans football team

The 1990 Rose Bowl was a rematch of the previous Rose Bowl in which Michigan won 22 to 14. Prior to the contest, Bo Schembechler had announced he would retire.[7] USC scored the first points in the second quarter with a one-yard run by Todd Marinovich. Michigan got a field goal to make it 7 to 3 but the Trojans added another field goal before the half to take a 10 to 3 lead at halftime. Although Michigan tied the score, Ricky Ervins had a fourteen-yard touchdown run which clinched the Rose Bowl for the Trojans.[8]

Personnel

1989 Michigan Wolverines football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos. # Name Class
WR 1 Derrick Alexander Fr
RB 46 Tony Boles Sr
FB 32 Jarrod Bunch Sr
WR 16 Alfie Burch Fr
WR 2 Chris Calloway Sr
G 68 Joe Cocozzo So
TE 48 Dave Diebolt Fr
G 78 Dean Dingman Jr
OL 70 Robert Doherty So
OT 73 Tom Dohring Sr
G, C 51 Steve Everitt So
QB 15 Elvis Grbac So
FB 33 Leroy Hoard Sr
WR 21 Desmond Howard So
RB 28 Allen Jefferson Sr
WR 84 Dan Jokish Jr
WR 21 David Knight Sr
FB 46 Burnie Legette Fr
TE 82 Tony McGee Fr
WR 1 Greg McMurtry Sr
FB Bill Prichard
G Marc Ramirez Sr
OT 72 Doug Skene So
OT 75 Greg Skrepenak Jr
QB Ken Sollom Jr
QB 9 Michael Taylor Sr
WR Yale Van Dyne Jr
RB 25 Jon Vaughan So
TE 89 Derrick Walker Sr
TE 27 Steve Zacharias Sr
Defense
Pos. # Name Class
OLB 24 Bobby Abrams Sr
OLB 37 Erick Anderson Jr
ILB 49 Chris Bohn Jr
S 20 Corwin Brown So
MG 61 Dave Caputo Jr
OLB 86 Martin Davis So
CB 22 Lance Dottin Jr
DT 61 Mike Evans Jr
LB 57 Chris Feaster Sr
LB 41 Rusty Fitchner Jr
ILB 95 J.J. Grant Sr
DT 97 Chris Hutchinson So
CB 26 David Key Sr
ILB 39 Curt Mallory So
OLB 59 Alex Marshall Jr
DT 50 Matt McCoy Sr
ILB 30 John Milligan Sr
S 27 Vada Murray Sr
DT 94 T.J. Osman Sr
CB 63 Todd Plate Sr
S 29 David Ritter Jr
OLB 65 Cornelius Simpson Jr
ILB 58 Scott Smykowski Sr
ILB 55 Marc Spencer Sr
DT 60 Buster Stanley Fr
MG 91 Mike Teeter Sr
OLB 45 Brian Townsend Jr
ILB 61 Eric Taupe Jr
DB 5 Coleman Wallace So
CB 8 Dwayne Ware So
S 3 Tripp Welborne Sr
DT 88 Brent White Sr
OLB 85 Timothy Williams Sr
Special teams
Pos. # Name Class
K 38 J.D. Carlson Jr
K 12 Gulam Kahn Sr
P 81 Chris Stapleton Fr
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Injured Injured
  • Redshirt Redshirt

Roster

Player statistics

Passing AT CMP Pct. YDS
Michael Taylor 122 74 .61 1081
Rushing Yds Att Avg
Tony Boles 839 131 6.4
Receiving Rec Yds Avg
Greg McMurtry 41 711 17.3

Awards and honors

Professional football

The following players were claimed in the 1990 NFL Draft.

Player Position Round Pick NFL club
Leroy Hoard Running Back 2 45 Cleveland Browns
Greg McMurtry Wide Receiver 3 80 New England Patriots
Chris Calloway Wide Receiver 4 97 Pittsburgh Steelers
Derrick Walker Tight End 6 163 San Diego Chargers

[9]

A total of 25 players from the 1989 team went on to play professional football. They are Bobby Abrams (New York Giants 1990-91, Cleveland Browns 1992, New York Giants 1992, Dallas Cowboys 1992-93, Minnesota Vikings 1993-94, New England Patriots 1995), Derrick Alexander (Cleveland Browns 1994–95, Baltimore Ravens 1996–97, Kansas City Chiefs 1998–01, Minnesota Vikings 2002), Erick Anderson (Kansas City Chiefs 1992-93, Washington Redskins 1994-95), Tony Boles (Dallas Cowboys 1991; San Antonio Riders 1992), Jarrod Bunch (New York Giants 1991–93, Los Angeles Raiders 1994), Corwin Brown (New England Patriots 1993–96, New York Jets 1997–98, Detroit Lions 1999–00), Chris Calloway (Pittsburgh Steelers 1990-91, New York Giants 1992-98, Atlanta Falcons 1999, New England Patriots 2000), Joe Cocozzo (San Diego Chargers 1993-97), Tom Dohring (Kansas City Chiefs 1992), Matt Elliott (Washington Redskins 1992, Carolina Panthers 1995-97), Steve Everitt (Cleveland Browns 1993-95, Baltimore Ravens 1996, Philadelphia Eagles 1997-99), Elvis Grbac (San Francisco 49ers 1993-96, Kansas City Chiefs 1997-00, Baltimore Ravens 2001), Leroy Hoard (Cleveland Browns 1990-95, Baltimore Ravens 1996, Carolina Panthers 1996, Minnesota Vikings 1996-99), Desmond Howard (Washington Redskins 1992-94, Jacksonville Jaguars 1995, Green Bay Packers 1996, Oakland Raiders 1997-98, Green Bay Packers 1999, Detroit Lions 2000-02), Burnie Legette (New England Patriots 1993-94), Tony McGee (Cincinnati Bengals 1993-01, Dallas Cowboys 2002-03, New York Giants 2003), Greg McMurtry (New England Patriots 1990-93, Chicago Bears 1994), Doug Skene (New England Patriots 1994), Greg Skrepenak (Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders 1992-95, Carolina Panthers 1996-97), Buster Stanley (New England Patriots 1994, Rhein Fire 1996-97, Grand Rapids Rampage 1999-00), Mike Teeter (Indianapolis Colts 1990, Frankfurt Galaxy 1991, Minnesota Vikings 1991, Houston Oilers 1993–94, Carolina Panthers 1995), Brian Townsend (Cincinnati Bengals 1992), Jon Vaughn (New England Patriots 1991-92, Seattle Seahawks 1993-94, Kansas City Chiefs 1994), Derrick Walker (San Diego Chargers 1990-93, Kansas City Chiefs 1994-97, Oakland Raiders 1999), and Tripp Welborne (Minnesota Vikings 1992).

References

  1. ^ "1989 Football Team". Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan. Retrieved February 3, 2020.
  2. ^ "1989 Michigan Wolverines Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved February 3, 2020.
  3. ^ "1989 Michigan Wolverines Stats". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved February 3, 2020.
  4. ^ "Michigan air show blitzes Maryland". Detroit Free Press. October 1, 1989. Retrieved February 3, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ Gainesville Sun. 1989 Nov 5.
  6. ^ "Michigan hoards the spotlight." Eugene Register-Guard. 1989 Nov 26.
  7. ^ Jenkins, Sally (December 14, 1989). "Schembechler Announces Retirement". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 8, 2023.
  8. ^ "Rose Bowl 1990". Archived from the original on December 2, 2008. Retrieved December 23, 2008.
  9. ^ "1990 NFL Draft Listing - Pro-Football-Reference.com". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on December 20, 2007.

External links

Michigan Wolverines football
Big Ten Conference football champions
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