1989 Michigan Wolverines football team

The 1989 Michigan Wolverines football team was an American football team that represented the University of Michigan as a member of the Big Ten Conference during the 1989 NCAA Division I-A football season. In its 21st and final season under head coach Bo Schembechler, the team compiled a 10–2 record (8–0 against conference opponents), won the Big Ten championship, lost to USC in the 1990 Rose Bowl, outscored opponents by a total of 335 to 184, and was ranked No. 7 and No. 8, respectively, in the final AP and UPI polls.[1][2]

1989 Michigan Wolverines football
Big Ten champion
Rose Bowl, L 10–17 vs. USC
ConferenceBig Ten Conference
Ranking
CoachesNo. 8
APNo. 7
Record10–2 (8–0 Big Ten)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorGary Moeller (3rd season)
Defensive coordinatorLloyd Carr (3rd season)
MVPTony Boles
Captains
Home stadiumMichigan Stadium
(Capacity: 101,701)
1989 Big Ten Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
No. 7 Michigan $ 8 –0 –010 –2 –0
No. 10 Illinois 7 –1 –010 –2 –0
No. 16 Michigan State 6 –2 –08 –4 –0
No. 24 Ohio State 6 –2 –08 –4 –0
Minnesota 4 –4 –06 –5 –0
Indiana 3 –5 –05 –6 –0
Iowa 3 –5 –05 –6 –0
Purdue 2 –6 –03 –8 –0
Wisconsin 1 –7 –02 –9 –0
Northwestern 0 –8 –00 –11 –0
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from AP Poll

The team's statistical leaders included quarterback Michael Taylor with 1,081 passing yards, tailback Tony Boles with 839 rushing yards, and split end Greg McMurtry with 711 receiving yards, and placekicker J.D. Carlson with 73 points scored.[3]

Defensive back Tripp Welborne was a consensus first-team selection to the 1989 All-America college football team. Six Michigan players received first-team honors on the 1989 All-Big Ten Conference football team.

Season

The Wolverines lost their season opener to Notre Dame but won ten consecutive games to finish the regular season. Highlights of the winning streak included the defeat of Minnesota by 34 points for the Little Brown Jug and a victory over Ohio State in their home finale.

The team leaders included running back Tony Boles, who rushed for 839 yards, and Michael Taylor, who threw for 1,081 yards. Greg McMurtry was the Wolverine's leading receiver with 41 catches for 711 yards. Schembechler retired after the Rose Bowl, which the Wolverines lost to USC by a touchdown.

Schedule
DateTimeOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendance
September 163:30 p.m.No. 1 Notre Dame*No. 2
ABCL 19–24105,912
September 238:00 p.m.at No. 24 UCLA*No. 5
ABCW 24–2371,797
September 301:00 p.m.Maryland*No. 6
  • Michigan Stadium
  • Ann Arbor, MI
W 41–21104,872
October 71:00 p.m.WisconsinNo. 5
  • Michigan Stadium
  • Ann Arbor, MI
W 24–0104,097
October 143:30 p.m.at No. 21 Michigan StateNo. 5
ABCW 10–776,913
October 213:30 p.m.at IowaNo. 5
ABCW 26–1267,700
October 2812:00 p.m.IndianadaggerNo. 5
  • Michigan Stadium
  • Ann Arbor, MI
ABCW 38–10105,989
November 41:00 p.m.PurdueNo. 4
  • Michigan Stadium
  • Ann Arbor, MI
W 42–27105,128
November 113:30 p.m.at No. 8 IllinoisNo. 3
ABCW 24–1073,069
November 1812:30 p.m.at MinnesotaNo. 3
ESPNW 49–1535,103
November 2512:00 p.m.No. 20 Ohio StateNo. 3
  • Michigan Stadium
  • Ann Arbor, MI (rivalry)
ABCW 28–18106,137
January 1, 19904:45 p.m.vs. No. 12 USC*No. 3
ABCL 10–17103,450
  • *Non-conference game
  • daggerHomecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game
  • All times are in Eastern time

Personnel
1989 Michigan Wolverines football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos.#NameClass
WR 1 Derrick Alexander Fr
RB 46 Tony Boles Sr
FB Jarrod Bunch Sr
WR Alfie Burch Fr
WR Chris Calloway Sr
G Joe Cocozzo
TE Dave Diebolt
G Dean Dingman Jr
OL Robert Doherty So
OT Tom Dohring Sr
G Jumbo Elliott Jr
G, C Steve Everitt So
QB Elvis Grbac So
FB Leroy Hoard Sr
WR Desmond Howard So
RB Allen Jefferson Sr
WR Dan Jokish Jr
WR David Knight Sr
FB Burnie Legette Fr
TE Tony McGee Fr
WR Greg McMurtry Sr
FB Bill Prichard
G Marc Ramirez Sr
OT Doug Skene So
OT Greg Skrepenak Jr
QB Ken Sollom Jr
QB Michael Taylor Sr
WR Yale Van Dyne Jr
RB Jon Vaughan So
TE Derrick Walker Sr
TE Steve Zacharias Sr
 Defense
Pos.#NameClass
OLB Bobby Abrams Sr
OLB Erick Anderson Jr
ILB Chris Bohn Jr
S Corwin Brown So
MG Dave Caputo Jr
OLB Martin Davis So
CB Lance Dottin Jr
DT Mike Evans Jr
LB Chris Feaster Sr
LB Rusty Fitchner Jr
ILB J.J. Grant Sr
DT Chris Hutchinson So
CB David Key Sr
ILB Curt Mallory So
OLB Alex Marshall Jr
DT Matt McCoy Sr
ILB John Milligan Sr
S Vada Murray Sr
DT T.J. Osman Sr
CB Todd Plate Sr
S David Ritter Jr
OLB Cornelius Simpson Jr
ILB Scott Smykowski Sr
ILB Marc Spencer Sr
DT Buster Stanley Fr
MG Mike Teeter Sr
OLB Brian Townsend Jr
ILB Eric Taupe
DB Coleman Wallace So
CB Dwayne Ware So
S Tripp Welborne Sr
DT Brent White Sr
OLB Timothy Williams Sr
 Special teams
Pos.#NameClass
K J.D. Carlson Jr
K Gulam Kahn Sr
P Chris Stapleton Fr
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Injured Injured
  • Redshirt Redshirt

Roster

Season summary

Notre Dame
See also: Michigan–Notre Dame football rivalry
#1 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (1–0) at #2 Michigan Wolverines (0–0)
Period 1 2 34Total
Notre Dame 0 7 10724
Michigan 0 6 01319

at Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, Michigan

Game information

At UCLA

At Michigan State
See also: Paul Bunyan Trophy
#5 Michigan Wolverines (3–1) at #21 Michigan State Spartans (2–2)
Period 1 2 34Total
Michigan 7 3 0010
Michigan St 0 0 077

at Spartan Stadium, East Lansing, Michigan

  • Date: October 14, 1989
  • Game time: 3:30 p.m.
  • Game weather: Sunny, 82 °F (28 °C)
  • Game attendance: 76,913
  • Referee: Ron Winter
  • TV: ABC
  • Box Score
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Michigan PassingElvis Grbac8/15, 76 Yds, INT
RushingTony Boles22 Rush, 100 Yds
ReceivingGreg McMurtry2 Rec, 33 Yds
Michigan St PassingDan Enos21/31, 214 Yds, TD, 2 INT
RushingBlake Ezor27 Rush, 69 Yds
ReceivingCourtney Hawkins8 Rec, 89 Yds, TD

Purdue
Purdue Boilermakers (1–6) at #4 Michigan Wolverines (6–1)
Period 1 2 34Total
Purdue 0 7 02027
Michigan 7 21 7742

at Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, Michigan

  • Date: November 4, 1989
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m.
  • Game weather: Overcast, 44 °F (7 °C)
  • Game attendance: 105, 126
  • Box Score

[4]

External video
video icon Game highlights
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Purdue PassingEric Hunter27/42, 344 Yds, 4 TD, 2 INT
RushingJerome Sparkman11 Rush, 50 Yds
ReceivingCalvin Williams13 Rec, 156 Yds, 3 TD
Michigan PassingMichael Taylor8/13, 124 Yds, TD
RushingTony Boles13 Rush, 80 Yds, 2 TD
ReceivingChris Calloway3 Rec, 68 Yds, TD

At Minnesota
See also: Little Brown Jug
#3 Michigan Wolverines (8–1) at Minnesota Golden Gophers (5–4)
Period 1 2 34Total
Michigan 0 28 71449
Minnesota 7 0 8015

at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota

  • Date: November 18, 1989
  • Game time: 11:30 a.m. CDT
  • Game weather: Indoors (dome)
  • Game attendance: 35,103
  • Referee: Jerry Hendrickson
  • TV: ESPN
  • Box Score
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Michigan PassingMichael Taylor12/16, 231 Yds, 4 TD
RushingLeroy Hoard11 Rush, 90 Yds, TD
ReceivingGreg McMurtry7 Rec, 165 Yds, 3 TD
Minnesota PassingMarquel Fleetwood11/23, 100 Yds, 2 INT
RushingDarrell Thompson18 Rush, 50 Yds, TD
ReceivingPat Tinglehoff7 Rec, 77 Yds

Ohio State
#20 Ohio State Buckeyes (8–2) at #3 Michigan Wolverines (9–1)
Period 1 2 34Total
Ohio St 0 3 9618
Michigan 7 7 01428

at Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, Michigan

  • Date: November 25
  • Game weather: Partly sunny, 46 °F (8 °C)
  • Game attendance: 106,137
  • TV: ABC
  • Box Score
Game information

Todd Plate's second interception of the day with 2:48 left in the game sealed the game and the Big Ten title for the Wolverines. [5]

Rose Bowl (vs USC)
1 234Total
• USC 0 1007 17
Michigan 0 370 10
Scoring summary
Q2USCMarinovich 1-yard run (Rodriguez kick)USC 7–0
Q26:28MICHCarlson 19-yard field goalUSC 7–3
Q2USCRodriguez 34-yard field goalUSC 10–3
Q3MICHJeffereson 2-yard run (Carlson kick)Tied 10–10
Q4USCErvins 9 yard run (Rodriguez kick)USC 17–10
Main article: 1990 Rose Bowl
See also: 1989 USC Trojans football team

The 1990 Rose Bowl was a rematch of the previous Rose Bowl in which Michigan won 22 to 14. Prior to the contest, Bo Schembechler had announced he would retire.[6] USC scored the first points in the second quarter with a one-yard run by Todd Marinovich. Michigan got a field goal to make it 7 to 3 but the Trojans added another field goal before the half to take a 10 to 3 lead at halftime. Although Michigan tied the score, Ricky Ervins had a fourteen-yard touchdown run which clinched the Rose Bowl for the Trojans.[7]

Player stats
Passing AT CMP Pct. YDS
Michael Taylor 122 74 .61 1081
Rushing Yds Att Avg
Tony Boles 839 131 6.4
Receiving Rec Yds Avg
Greg McMurtry 41 711 17.3

Awards and honors

Professional football

The following players were claimed in the 1990 NFL Draft.

PlayerPositionRoundPickNFL club
Leroy HoardRunning Back245Cleveland Browns
Greg McMurtryWide Receiver380New England Patriots
Chris CallowayWide Receiver497Pittsburgh Steelers
Derrick WalkerTight End6163San Diego Chargers

[8]

A total of 25 players from the 1989 team went on to play professional football. They are Bobby Abrams (New York Giants 1990-91, Cleveland Browns 1992, New York Giants 1992, Dallas Cowboys 1992-93, Minnesota Vikings 1993-94, New England Patriots 1995), Derrick Alexander (Cleveland Browns 1994–95, Baltimore Ravens 1996–97, Kansas City Chiefs 1998–01, Minnesota Vikings 2002), Erick Anderson (Kansas City Chiefs 1992-93, Washington Redskins 1994-95), Tony Boles (Dallas Cowboys 1991; San Antonio Riders 1992), Jarrod Bunch (New York Giants 1991–93, Los Angeles Raiders 1994), Corwin Brown (New England Patriots 1993–96, New York Jets 1997–98, Detroit Lions 1999–00), Chris Calloway (Pittsburgh Steelers 1990-91, New York Giants 1992-98, Atlanta Falcons 1999, New England Patriots 2000), Joe Cocozzo (San Diego Chargers 1993-97), Tom Dohring (Kansas City Chiefs 1992), Matt Elliott (Washington Redskins 1992, Carolina Panthers 1995-97), Steve Everitt (Cleveland Browns 1993-95, Baltimore Ravens 1996, Philadelphia Eagles 1997-99), Elvis Grbac (San Francisco 49ers 1993-96, Kansas City Chiefs 1997-00, Baltimore Ravens 2001), Leroy Hoard (Cleveland Browns 1990-95, Baltimore Ravens 1996, Carolina Panthers 1996, Minnesota Vikings 1996-99), Desmond Howard (Washington Redskins 1992-94, Jacksonville Jaguars 1995, Green Bay Packers 1996, Oakland Raiders 1997-98, Green Bay Packers 1999, Detroit Lions 2000-02), Burnie Legette (New England Patriots 1993-94), Tony McGee (Cincinnati Bengals 1993-01, Dallas Cowboys 2002-03, New York Giants 2003), Greg McMurtry (New England Patriots 1990-93, Chicago Bears 1994), Doug Skene (New England Patriots 1994), Greg Skrepenak (Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders 1992-95, Carolina Panthers 1996-97), Buster Stanley (New England Patriots 1994, Rhein Fire 1996-97, Grand Rapids Rampage 1999-00), Mike Teeter (Indianapolis Colts 1990, Frankfurt Galaxy 1991, Minnesota Vikings 1991, Houston Oilers 1993–94, Carolina Panthers 1995), Brian Townsend (Cincinnati Bengals 1992), Jon Vaughn (New England Patriots 1991-92, Seattle Seahawks 1993-94, Kansas City Chiefs 1994), Derrick Walker (San Diego Chargers 1990-93, Kansas City Chiefs 1994-97, Oakland Raiders 1999), and Tripp Welborne (Minnesota Vikings 1992).

References
  1. "1989 Football Team". Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan. Retrieved February 3, 2020.
  2. "1989 Michigan Wolverines Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved February 3, 2020.
  3. "1989 Michigan Wolverines Stats". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved February 3, 2020.
  4. Gainesville Sun. 1989 Nov 5.
  5. "Michigan hoards the spotlight." Eugene Register-Guard. 1989 Nov 26.
  6. Jenkins, Sally (December 14, 1989). "Schembechler Announces Retirement". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 8, 2023.
  7. "Rose Bowl 1990". Archived from the original on December 2, 2008. Retrieved December 23, 2008.
  8. "1990 NFL Draft Listing - Pro-Football-Reference.com". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on December 20, 2007.
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