1983 Michigan Wolverines football team

1983 Michigan Wolverines football
Sugar Bowl, L 7–9 vs. Auburn
ConferenceBig Ten Conference
Ranking
CoachesNo. 9
APNo. 8
Record9–3 (8–1 Big Ten)
Head coach
Defensive coordinatorGary Moeller (6th season)
MVPSteve Smith
Captains
Home stadiumMichigan Stadium
(Capacity: 101,701)
Seasons
← 1982
1984 →
1983 Big Ten Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 10 Illinois $ 9 0 0 10 2 0
No. 8 Michigan 8 1 0 9 3 0
No. 14 Iowa 7 2 0 9 3 0
No. 9 Ohio State 6 3 0 9 3 0
Wisconsin 5 4 0 7 4 0
Purdue 3 5 1 3 7 1
Michigan State 2 6 1 4 6 1
Indiana 2 7 0 3 8 0
Northwestern 2 7 0 2 9 0
Minnesota 0 9 0 1 10 0
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1983 Michigan Wolverines football team was an American football team that represented the University of Michigan in the 1983 Big Ten Conference football season. In their 15th season under head coach Bo Schembechler, the Wolverines compiled a 9–3 record (8–1 against conference opponents), lost to Auburn in the 1984 Sugar Bowl, and outscored all opponents by a total of 355 to 160.[1][2]

The team's statistical leaders included tailback Rick Rogers with 1,002 rushing yards, quarterback Steve Smith with 1,420 passing yards and 2,087 yards of total offense, Sim Nelson with 494 receiving yards, and placekicker Bob Bergeron with 76 points scored.[3]

Steve Smith was selected as the most valuable player on the Michigan team. Two Michigan offensive linemen, guard Stefan Humphries and center Tom Dixon, received first-team All-America honors. Six Michigan players (Humphries, Dixon, defensive linemen Al Sincich and Kevin Brooks, defensive back Evan Cooper, and placekicker Bob Bergeron) received first-team honors on the 1983 All-Big Ten Conference football team.

Prior to the season, head coach Bo Schembechler delivered the famous "The Team" speech which would go on to become an integral part of Michigan football lore.

  1. ^ "1983 Football Team". Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan. Retrieved January 13, 2020.
  2. ^ "1983 Michigan Wolverines Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved January 13, 2020.
  3. ^ "1983 Michigan Wolverines Stats". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved January 13, 2020.