1983 Michigan Wolverines football team

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]

1983 Michigan Wolverines football
Sugar Bowl, L 7–9 vs. Auburn
ConferenceBig Ten Conference
Ranking
CoachesNo. 9
APNo. 8
1983 record9–3 (8–1 Big Ten)
Head coach
Defensive coordinatorGary Moeller (6th season)
MVPSteve Smith
Captains
Home stadiumMichigan Stadium
(Capacity: 101,701)
1983 Big Ten Conference football standings
Conf  Overall
TeamW 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 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.

Schedule
DateTimeOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendance
September 101:00 p.m.Washington State*No. 6
W 20–17103,256
September 174:30 p.m.at No. 16 Washington*No. 8
WXYZ-TVL 24–2560,638
September 242:30 p.m.at WisconsinNo. 17
W 38–2177,708
October 11:00 p.m.IndianaNo. 14
  • Michigan Stadium
  • Ann Arbor, MI
W 43–18104,126
October 81:00 p.m.at Michigan StateNo. 14
W 42–078,033
October 151:00 p.m.NorthwesternNo. 13
  • Michigan Stadium
  • Ann Arbor, MI
W 35–0103,914
October 2212:00 p.m.No. 12 IowaNo. 10
  • Michigan Stadium
  • Ann Arbor, MI
ABCW 16–13104,559
October 2912:30 p.m.at No. 9 IllinoisNo. 8
CBSL 6–1676,127
November 51:00 p.m.PurdueNo. 13
  • Michigan Stadium
  • Ann Arbor, MI
W 42–10104,946
November 128:00 p.m.at MinnesotaNo. 9
W 58–1040,945
November 191:00 p.m.No. 10 Ohio StateNo. 8
  • Michigan Stadium
  • Ann Arbor, MI (rivalry)
SVW 24–21106,115
January 2, 19848:00 p.m.vs. No. 3 Auburn*No. 8
ABCL 7–977,893
  • *Non-conference game
  • Homecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game
  • All times are in Eastern time

Game summaries

Washington State
Week 1: Washington State at Michigan
1 234Total
Washington State 0 737 17
• Michigan 7 706 20
  • Date: September 10
  • Location: Ann Arbor, MI
  • Game attendance: 103,256

On September 10, 1983, Michigan, ranked No. 1 preseason by Sports Illustrated, defeated Washington State, 20–17, before a crowd of 103,256 at Michigan Stadium. The game was played in extreme heat with the temperature reaching 100 degrees on the field. Washington State took a 17–14 lead with 9:42 left in the game after a 63-yard, 11-play drive capped by a two-yard touchdown run. The Wolverines responded with a 75-yard drive that included a 52-yard run by Rick Rogers. Rogers rushed for 124 yards on 19 carries. Quarterback David Hall scored the winning touchdown on a four-yard option run with 6:10 left in the game.[4][5]

at Washington
Week 2: Michigan at Washington
1 234Total
Michigan 3 0147 24
• Washington 3 7015 25


On September 17, 1983, Michigan lost to Washington, 25–24, before a crowd of 60,638 at Husky Stadium in Seattle. After trailing 24-10 early in the fourth quarter, Washington scored two fourth-quarter touchdowns and successfully passed for a two-point conversion in the final minute of play. Washington quarterback Steve Pelluer completed 15 of 15 passes in the fourth quarter. Todd Schlopy missed what would have been a game-winning 32-yard field goal with four minutes remaining in the game.[6][7]

Wisconsin
Week 3: Michigan at Wisconsin
1 234Total
• Michigan 7 15106 38
Wisconsin 7 0014 21
  • Date: September 24
  • Location: Madison, WI
  • Game attendance: 77,708

On September 24, 1983, Michigan defeated Wisconsin, 38–21, before a crowd of 77,708 at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin. Michigan led, 32–7, at the end of the third quarter before Wisconsin mounted a fourth-quarter comeback. Michigan rushed for 351 yards in the game. Kerry Smith led with 107 yards on 22 carries. Brian Mercer added 64 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries, and Rick Rogers rushed for 59 yards and two touchdowns. The Wolverines passed for only 42 yards on five completions. Steve Smith also threw two interceptions.[8][9]

Indiana
Week 4: Indiana at Michigan
1 234Total
Indiana 0 1170 18
• Michigan 14 7913 43
  • Date: October 1
  • Location: Ann Arbor, MI

On October 1, 1983, Michigan defeated Indiana, 43–18, before a crowd of 104,126 at Michigan Stadium. Tailback Kerry Smith rushed for three touchdowns. Steve Smith rushed for 130 yards on 14 carries and completed six of 17 passes for 82 yards. Rick Rogers also rushed for 101 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries. Indiana quarterback Steve Bradley passed for 246 yards, but he also gave up four interceptions.[10]

Michigan State
Week 5: Michigan at Michigan State
1 234Total
• Michigan 9 16314 42
Michigan State 0 000 0

On October 8, 1983, Michigan defeated Michigan State, 42–0, before a crowd of 78,033 at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing, Michigan. It was Bo Schembechler's 100th Big Ten coach victory and George Perles' first year as head coach of the Spartans.[11]

Northwestern
Week 6: Northwestern at Michigan
1 234Total
Northwestern 0 000 0
• Michigan 14 1470 35
  • Date: October 15
  • Location: Ann Arbor, MI
  • Game attendance: 103,914

On October 14, 1983, Michigan defeated Northwestern, 35–0, before a crowd of 103,914 at Michigan Stadium. Rick Rogers scored two rushing touchdowns. Steve Smith also rushed for two touchdown and threw for another on a two-yard pass to Dan Rice.[12]

Iowa
See also: 1983 Iowa Hawkeyes football team
Week 7: Iowa at Michigan
1 234Total
No. 12 Iowa 0 3010 13
• No. 10 Michigan 3 373 16


On October 22, 1983, Michigan, ranked No. 10, defeated No. 12 Iowa, 16–13, before a homecoming crowd of 104,559 at Michigan Stadium. Bob Bergeron kicked three field goals, including the game-winning 45-yard field with eight seconds left in the game. The game-winning drive began when Michigan linebacker Rodney Lyles recovered an Owen Gill fumble with 90 seconds left in the game. Rick Rogers also scored a touchdown on a four-yard run in the third quarter.[13]

Illinois
Week 8: Michigan at Illinois
1 234Total
Michigan 3 030 6
• Illinois 0 709 16
  • Date: October 29
  • Location: Champaign, IL
  • Game attendance: 76,127
  • Television network: CBS

On October 29, 1983, Michigan lost to Illinois, 16–6, before a crowd of 76,127 at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Illinois. It was the first time Illinois had beaten Michigan since 1966. Illinois quarterback Jack Trudeau completed 21 of 37 passes for 271 yards, including touchdown passes of nine yard to Thomas Rooks and 46 yards to David Williams. Steve Smith completed 12 of 25 for 111 yards. Michigan was limited to two field goals by Bob Bergeron.[14] Illinois went on to win the Big Ten championship.

Purdue
Week 9: Purdue at Michigan
1 234Total
Purdue 0 307 10
• Michigan 14 2170 42
  • Date: November 5
  • Location: Ann Arbor, MI
  • Game attendance: 104,946

On November 5, 1983, Michigan defeated Purdue, 42–10, before a crowd of 104,946 at Michigan Stadium. Steve Smith completed 11 of 13 passes for 159 yards, and also rushed for 126 yards on 12 carries. Purdue's quarterback Scott Campbell was held to 118 passing yards and was intercepted three times.[15]

Minnesota
Week 10: Michigan at Minnesota
1 234Total
• Michigan 10 31143 58
Minnesota 3 007 10

On November 12, 1983, Michigan defeated Minnesota, 58–10, before a crowd of 40,945 at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis. Despite being pulled early in the third quarter, Steve Smith accounted for six touchdowns (three rushing, three passing) and compiled 327 yards in total offense (147 rushing, 180 passing).[16]

Ohio State
Week 11: Ohio State at Michigan
1 234Total
Ohio State 0 777 21
• Michigan 10 0014 24

On November 19, 1983, Michigan defeated Ohio State, 24–21, before crowd of 106,115 at Michigan Stadium. Steve Smith ran for a touchdown and passed for two others, a 67-yard completion to Triando Markray in the first quarter and an eight-yarder to tight end Eric Kattus in the fourth quarter. Ohio State turned the ball over four times. Michigan drove to the one-yard line in the second quarter, but the Ohio State defense held, and Michigan missed a field goal attempt on fourth down. The Wolverines trailed at the start of the fourth quarter, but rallied for two touchdowns in the fourth quarter. The go-ahead touchdown followed a Brad Cochran interception at midfield which he returned to Ohio State's 28-yard line.[17]

1984 Sugar Bowl
1984 Sugar Bowl
1 234Total
• Auburn 0 036 9
Michigan 7 000 7
Main article: 1984 Sugar Bowl

On January 2, 1984, Michigan lost to Auburn, 9–7, in the 1984 Sugar Bowl, played before a crowd of 77,893 at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans. Michigan took the lead on a four-yard touchdown run by Steve Smith in the first quarter. Michigan was unable to score again, and Auburn came back on three field goals by Al Del Greco. Del Greco's final field goal occurred with 23 seconds remaining in the game. Bo Jackson rushed for 130 yards on 22 carries and was selected as the game's most valuable player.[18]

Award season

Two Michigan players received first-team honors on the 1983 All-America team:

Six Michigan players received first-team honors from the Associated Press (AP) and/or United Press International (UPI) on the 1983 All-Big Ten Conference football team: offensive guard Stefan Humphries (AP-1, UPI-1), center Tom Dixon (AP-1, UPI-1), placekicker Bob Bergeron (AP-1), defensive lineman Kevin Brooks (AP-2, UPI-1), defensive lineman Al Sincich (AP-1, UPI-2), and defensive back Evan Cooper (AP-1, UPI-2). Four others received second-team honors: linebacker Mike Mallory (AP-2, UPI-2); linebacker Carlton Rose (AP-2, UPI-2); running back Rick Rogers (UPI-2); and offensive guard Jerry Diorio (AP-2).[19][20]

Team awards were presented as follows:

  • Most Valuable Player: Steve Smith
  • Meyer Morton Award: Steve Smith
  • John Maulbetsch Award: Bob Perryman
  • Frederick Matthei Award: Al Sincich
  • Arthur Robinson Scholarship Award: Stefan Humphries
  • Dick Katcher Award: Carlton Rose
  • Robert P. Ufer Award: Jeff Cohen

Personnel

Offense

Defense

Kickers

Professional football

Fifteen members of the 1983 football team went on to play professional football.

  • Don Bracken (Green Bay Packers 1985–90, Los Angeles Rams 1992-93)
  • Kevin Brooks (Dallas Cowboys 1985–88, Detroit Lions 1989-90)
  • Milt Carthens (Indianapolis Colts 1987)
  • Evan Cooper (Philadelphia Eagles 1984–87, Atlanta Falcons, 1988-89)
  • Jerry Diorio (Detroit Lions 1987)
  • Jumbo Elliott (New York Giants 1988–95, New York Jets 1996–2000, 2002)
  • Mike Hammerstein (Cincinnati Bengals 1986-90)
  • Jim Harbaugh (Chicago Bears 1987–1993, Indianapolis Colts 1994–1997, Baltimore Ravens 1998, San Diego Chargers 1999–2000, Carolina Panthers 2001)
  • Stefan Humphries (Chicago Bears 1984–86, Denver Broncos 1987-88)
  • Eric Kattus (Cincinnati Bengals 1986–91, New York Jets 1992)
  • Bob Perryman (New England Patriots 1987–90, Denver Broncos 1991-92)
  • Garland Rivers (Chicago Bears 1987, Albany Firebirds 1990–91, Arizona Rattlers 1992–93)
  • Carlton Rose (Washington Redskins 1987)
  • Gerald White (Dallas Cowboys 1987)

Coaching staff
  • Trainer: Russ Miller[1]
  • Manager: Paul Gehkas, Douglans Ham, Kenneth Pefkins, Robert Reid[1]

Statistics

Rushing
PlayerAttNet YardsYds/AttTD
Rick Rogers20910024.89
Steve Smith1036676.510
Kerry Smith985175.33
Eddie Garrett853534.20
Brian Mercer301515.01
Dan Rice351404.02
Greg Armstrong20914.61

[3]

Passing
PlayerAttCompIntComp %YdsYds/CompTD
Steve Smith206106851.7142013.413
David Hall2513252.01189.11
Jim Harbaugh52040.02613.00

[3]

Receiving
PlayerRecpYdsYds/RecpTD
Sim Nelson4149412.03
Vince Bean2940714.03
Triando Markray1131929.04
Rick Rogers161378.60

[3]

Scoring
PlayerTDsXPMFGMPoints
Bob Bergeron0311576
Steve Smith100060
Rick Rogers90054
Triando Markray40024

[3]

References
  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.
  4. Joe Lapointe (September 11, 1983). "MSU, U-M survive hot openers: No 'ho-hummer' -- Wolverines escape Cougar attack, 20-17". Detroit Free Press. pp. 1H, 7H – via Newspapers.com.
  5. Larry Mishkin (September 11, 1983). "Michigan sweats out win, 20-17". The Michigan Daily. pp. 1, 10 – via Bentley Historical Library.
  6. Joe Lapointe (September 18, 1983). "U-M falls in final minute". Detroit Free Press. pp. 1H, 11H – via Newspapers.com.
  7. John Kerr (September 18, 1983). "Blue stunned by Huskies, 25-24". The Michigan Daily. p. 1 – via Bentley Historical Library.
  8. Joe Lapointe (September 25, 1983). "U-M outlasts Badger rally". Detroit Free Press. pp. 1H, 9H – via Newspapers.com.
  9. Chuck Jaffe (September 25, 1983). "Wolverines plow over Badgers: 'M' does not get kick out of 38-21 win". The Michigan Daily. pp. 1, 8 – via Bentley Historical Library.
  10. Joe Lapointe (October 2, 1983). "Michigan pummels Hoosiers, 43-18". Detroit Free Press. pp. 1H, 11H – via Newspapers.com.
  11. Jack Saylor (October 9, 1983). "Same old Story: Bo gets No. 100 as U-M ruins Perles' MSU debut, 42-0". Detroit Free Press. pp. 1H, 9H – via Newspapers.com.
  12. Joe Lapointe (October 16, 1983). "U-M wins easily, but Bo fumes: Coach raps his offense". Detroit Free Press. pp. 1H, 8H – via Newspapers.com.
  13. Joe Lapointe (October 23, 1983). "U-M gives Iowa the boot: Bergeron wins it with last-seconds field goal, 16-13". Detroit Free Press. pp. 1H, 7H – via Newspapers.com.
  14. Joe Lapointe (October 30, 1983). "Illinois on the road to Roses after dominating U-M, 16-6". Detroit Free Press. pp. 1F, 7F – via Newspapers.com.
  15. Joe Lapointe (November 6, 1983). "U-M bowl outlook sweetens after rout". Detroit Free Press. pp. 1E, 7E – via Newspapers.com.
  16. Joe Lapointe (November 13, 1983). "Michigan buries Gophers, 58-10". Detroit Free Press. pp. 1C, 13C – via Newspapers.com.
  17. Joe Lapointe (November 20, 1983). "How sweet! Sugar's next for Michigan". Detroit Free Press. pp. 1D, 11D – via Newspapers.com.
  18. Joe Lapointe (January 3, 1984). "Sugar Bowl: Auburn boots U-M". Detroit Free Press. pp. 1D, 5D – via Newspapers.com.
  19. "Five 'M' gridders earn All-Big Ten". The Michigan Daily. December 1, 1983. p. 10 – via Bentley Historical Library.
  20. "1983 All-Big Ten Football Team". Journal Gazette. November 22, 1983. p. B2 – via Newspapers.com.(UPI)
  21. "Moeller, 'M' extra hungry for victory". The Michigan Daily. October 28, 1983. p. 10 – via Bentley Historical Library.
  22. "Cochran: a crack back". The Michigan Daily. November 7, 1984. p. 10 – via Bentley Historical Library.
  23. "Mallory rises to stabilize linebackers". The Michigan Daily. October 16, 1983. p. 8 – via Bentley Historical Library.
  24. "Mystery QB: Who owns that arm?". The Michigan Daily. November 17, 1983. p. 10 – via Bentley Historical Library.
  25. "Cochran returns to secondary". The Michigan Daily. September 9, 1983. p. 21 – via Bentley Historical Library.
  26. "Carter's status up in the air". The Michigan Daily. September 23, 1983. p. 9 – via Bentley Historical Library.
  27. "Agase joins football staff". The Michigan Daily. July 15, 1983. p. 12 – via Bentley Historical Library.
  28. "Becker pulls his weight for Bears". The Michigan Daily. November 3, 1983. p. 8 – via Bentley Historical Library.
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