1949 Michigan Wolverines football team

1949 Michigan Wolverines football
Big Nine co-champion
ConferenceBig Nine Conference
Ranking
APNo. 7
Record6–2–1 (4–1–1 Big Nine)
Head coach
MVPDick Kempthorn
CaptainAlvin Wistert
Home stadiumMichigan Stadium
Seasons
← 1948
1950 →
1949 Big Nine Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 6 Ohio State + 4 – 1 – 1 7 – 1 – 2
No. 7 Michigan + 4 – 1 – 1 6 – 2 – 1
No. 8 Minnesota 4 – 2 – 0 7 – 2 – 0
Wisconsin 3 – 2 – 1 5 – 3 – 1
Illinois 3 – 3 – 1 3 – 4 – 2
Iowa 3 – 3 – 0 4 – 5 – 0
Northwestern 3 – 4 – 0 4 – 5 – 0
Purdue 2 – 4 – 0 4 – 5 – 0
Indiana 0 – 6 – 0 1 – 8 – 0
  • + – Conference co-champions
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1949 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1949 Big Nine Conference football season. In their second season under head coach Bennie Oosterbaan, the Wolverines compiled a 6–2–1 record (4–1–1 against conference opponents), tied with Ohio State for the Big Ten Conference championship, were ranked No. 7 in the final AP Poll, and outscored all opponents by a combined total of 135 to 85.[1][2] On October 8, 1949, the Wolverines had their 25-game winning streak broken in 21–7 loss to Army.

On offense, the 1949 team averaged 12.3 points, 176.8 rushing yards, 94.9 passing yards, and 272.3 yards of total offense per game.[3] In rushing yards per carry, the team averaged only 4.3 yards per carry, the lowest season average in team history, reaching a low against Army with only 0.7 yards per rushing attempt against (the second lowest single-game average in team history).[4] Chuck Ortmann led the team with 956 yards of total offense,[5] including 627 passing yards.[6] Ortmann also rushed for 115 yards on 16 carries against Minnesota.[7] Other statistical leaders on offense included Don Dufek with 392 rushing yards and 30 points scored and Harry Allis with 23 receptions for 338 yards.[8]

On defense, the team allowed an average of 9.4 points, 116.4 rushing yards, 98.7 passing yards, and 215.1 yards of total offense per game.[9] Chuck Lentz set a Michigan school record with nine interceptions in 1949. His record was broken by Tom Curtis in 1968.[10] The defense as a whole recorded 25 interceptions, tied for second best in school history.[11] Michigan allowed zero first downs by rushing in its game against Indiana.[12]

Tackles Alvin Wistert and Robert Wahl received first-team All-America honors. Wistert, Lloyd Heneveld, and Chuck Ortmann received first-team All-Big Nine honors. Dick Kempthorn, who contributed at fullback and linebacker, was selected as the team's most valuable player.

The team played its home games at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Prior to the 1949 season, Michigan replaced the stadium's wooden bleachers with permanent steel stands and increased the seating capacity to 97,239.[13] Michigan led the NCAA in 1949 with average home attendance of 93,894 (563,363 in six games).[14]

  1. ^ "1949 Michigan Wolverines Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved September 28, 2017.
  2. ^ "Michigan Football Media Guide" (PDF). University of Michigan. 2016. p. 168. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 9, 2016. Retrieved September 26, 2017.
  3. ^ 2016 Media Guide, p. 119.
  4. ^ 2016 Media Guide, p. 112.
  5. ^ 2016 Media Guide, p. 124.
  6. ^ 2016 Media Guide, p. 123.
  7. ^ 2016 Media Guide, p. 86.
  8. ^ 2016 Media Guide, pp. 123-124.
  9. ^ 2016 Media Guide, p. 120.
  10. ^ 2016 Media Guide, p. 106.
  11. ^ 2016 Media Guide, p. 114.
  12. ^ 2016 Media Guide, p. 109.
  13. ^ 2016 Media Guide, p. 190.
  14. ^ 2016 Media Guide, p. 191.