The 1954 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1954 Big Ten Conference football season. In its seventh year under head coach Bennie Oosterbaan, Michigan compiled a 6–3 record (5–2 against conference opponents), tied for second place in the Big Ten, outscored opponents by a combined total of 139 to 87, and was ranked No. 15 in the final AP and Coaches Polls.
Left guard Ted Cachey was the team captain, and fullback Fred Baer received the team's most valuable player award,
Two Michigan players received All-American honors: left end Ron Kramer was selected as a first-team All-American by the Central Press Association, and left tackle Art Walker received first-team honors from the All-America Board and the Football Writers Association of America.
The team's statistical leaders included quarterback Jim Maddock with 293 passing yards, Fred Baer with 439 rushing yards, and Ron Kramer with 303 receiving yards.
Schedule
Statistical leaders
Michigan's individual statistical leaders for the 1954 season include those listed below.
Rushing
Passing
Receiving
Kickoff returns
Punt returns
Scoring
Personnel
Letter winners
The following 33 players received varsity letters for their participation on the 1954 team. Players who started at least four games are shown with their names in bold.
- Fred Baer, 5'11", 188 pounds, senior, LaGrange, IL – started 6 games at fullback
- Lou Baldacci, 6'1", 196 pounds, junior, Akron, OH – started 5 games at quarterback, 1 game at fullback
- Terry Barr, 6'1", 172 pounds, sophomore, Grand Rapids, MI - halfback
- James Bates, 6'0", 198 pounds, senior, Farmington, MI – started 4 games at center
- Tony Branoff, 5'11", 188 pounds, junior, Flint, MI – started 2 games at right halfback
- Charles Brooks, 6'1", 202 pounds, sophomore, Marshall, MI - end
- Ted Cachey, 5'10", 178 pounds, senior, Chicago – started 9 games at left guard
- Daniel Cline, 5'10" 175 pounds, senior, Brockport, NY – started 9 games at left halfback
- George Corey, 5'10", 163 pounds, junior, Baden, PA - halfback
- Don Drake, 5'11", 213 pounds, senior, Ypsilanti, MI - center
- Jim Fox, 6'0", 190 pounds, junior, Saginaw, MI - guard
- Ronald Geyer, 6'2", 225 pounds, senior, Toledo, OH – started 6 games at right tackle
- Jerry Goebel, 6'3", 214 pounds, sophomore, Grosse Pointe, MI - center
- Tom Hendricks, 5'11", 181 pounds, junior, Detroit - halfback
- Edward Hickey, 5'8", 173 pounds, senior, Anaconda, MT – started 1 game at right halfback
- Dave Hill, 6'0", 188 pounds, junior, Ypsilanti, MI – started 2 games at fullback
- Stan Knickerbocker, 5'11", 173 pounds, senior, Chelsea, MI - halfback
- Bill Kolesar, 6'0", 221 pounds, junior, Mentor, OH - tackle
- Ron Kramer, 6'3", 210 pounds, sophomore, East Detroit, MI – started 9 games at left end
- Jim Maddock, 6'0", 187 pounds, sophomore, Chicago – started 1 game at quarterback
- Tom Maentz, 6'2", 205 pounds, sophomore, Holland, MI – started 5 games at right end
- Bob Marion, 5'10", 192 pounds, junior, Muskegon Heights, MI - guard
- Duncan McDonald, 6'0", 170 pounds, senior, Flint, MI – started 3 games at quarterback
- Ed Meads, 6'0", 199 pounds, junior, Oxford, MI – started 9 games at right guard
- John Morrow, 6'2", 228 pounds, junior, Ann Arbor, MI – started 3 games at right tackle
- John Peckham, 6'2", 227 pounds, junior, Sioux Falls, SD – started 2 games at center
- Chuck Ritter, 6'0", 195 pounds, senior, Cassopolis, MI - guard
- Mike Rotunno, 6'0", 187 pounds, sophomore, Canton, OH - guard
- Ed Shannon, 5'8", 172 pounds, sophomore, River Forest, IL – started 6 games at right halfback
- Gene Snider, 6'0", 195 pounds, sophomore, Hamtramck, MI – started 3 games at center
- John Veselenak, 6'2", 192 pounds, senior, Flint, MI - end
- Art Walker, 5'11", 218 pounds, senior, South Haven, MI – started 9 games at left tackle
- Gerry Williams, 6'2", 189 pounds, junior, Flint, MI – started 4 games at right end
Coaches and staff
Michigan's 1954 coaching, training, and support staff included the following persons.
- Head coach: Bennie Oosterbaan
- Assistant coaches: Jack Blott, Don Dufek, Robert Hollway, Cliff Keen, Pete Kinyon, Matt Patanelli, Don Robinson, Walter Weber, J. T. White
- Trainer: Jim Hunt
- Manager: Glenn Bearss
Awards and honors
Honors and awards for the 1954 season went to the following individuals.
- Captain: Ted Cachey
- All-Americans: Art Walker
- All-Conference: Art Walker, Ron Kramer
- Most Valuable Player: Fred Baer
- Meyer Morton Award: Don Dugger
References
