1953 Michigan Wolverines football team

1953 Michigan Wolverines football
ConferenceBig Ten Conference
Ranking
CoachesNo. 19
APNo. 20
Record6–3 (3–3 Big Ten)
Head coach
MVPTony Branoff
CaptainDick O'Shaughnessy
Home stadiumMichigan Stadium
Seasons
← 1952
1954 →
1953 Big Ten Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 3 Michigan State + 5 1 0 9 1 0
No. 7 Illinois + 5 1 0 7 1 1
No. 15 Wisconsin 4 1 1 6 2 1
Ohio State 4 3 0 6 3 0
Minnesota 3 3 1 4 4 1
No. 20 Michigan 3 3 0 6 3 0
No. 9 Iowa 3 3 0 5 3 1
Purdue 2 4 0 2 7 0
Indiana 1 5 0 2 7 0
Northwestern 0 6 0 3 6 0
  • + – Conference co-champions
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1953 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1953 Big Ten Conference football season. In its sixth year under head coach Bennie Oosterbaan, Michigan compiled a 6–3 record (3–3 against conference opponents), tied for fifth place in the Big Ten, outscored opponents by a combined total of 163 to 101, and was ranked No. 20 in the final AP Poll and No. 19 in the Coaches Polls.[1][2]

Center Dick O'Shaughnessy was the team captain, and right halfback Tony Branoff received the team's most valuable player award.[2] Two Michigan players received All-Big Ten honors: left end Bob Topp was selected by the Associated Press as a first-team player, and left halfback Ted Kress.[2][3]

The team's statistical leaders included quarterback Duncan McDonald with 293 passing yards, Tony Branoff with 501 rushing yards, and Bob Topp with 331 receiving yards.[4]

  1. ^ "1953 Michigan Wolverines Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 6, 2017.
  2. ^ a b c "1953 Football Team". University of Michigan, Bentley Historical Library. Retrieved November 6, 2017.
  3. ^ "Coaches Pick Gopher's Giel". Ludington Daily News. November 24, 1953. p. 6.
  4. ^ "1953 Michigan Wolverines Statistics". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 6, 2017.