Dennis Brown (quarterback)

Brown enrolled at the University of Michigan in 1965. As a sophomore in 1966, he was a back-up to quarterback Dick Vidmer. His first appearance for Michigan was as a substitute for Vidmer in a 41–0 victory over Oregon State on September 17, 1966. He completed both of his passes, including a touchdown pass to Jim Berline.[2] Brown also saw brief action in a loss to an undefeated Michigan State team (0–1 passing) and against Minnesota (1–1 passing).[2]

In 1967, Brown started six games at quarterback for a Michigan team that finished the season with a 4–6 record.[3] It was Michigan's last losing season for more than 40 years.[4]

Vidmer began the 1967 season as the starting quarterback, and Michigan won one game and lost three under Vidmer. Brown was brought into the game in the second half against Michigan State. Although the Wolverines lost the game 34–0, Brown's performance was good enough to win him the starting assignment the following week. Teammate George Hoey later recalled, "From an emotional standpoint, I know that when Dennis came in, he was just a spark plug. He had a fiery spirit and that permeated through the team."[4] Vidmer had the stronger throwing arm, but Brown was more mobile.[4]

Brown's first start came against Indiana. Although Michigan lost the game 27–20, Brown established himself as a star. He completed 18 of 31 passes for 211 yards and led the team in rushing with 127 yards and two touchdowns. He also broke two Big Ten Conference records. He accumulated 338 yards of total offense, breaking the single game conference record set by Bob Griese with 317 yards in 1966. He was also involved in 61 plays to surpass the conference record set by Paul Giel with 53 plays in 1953.[5][6][7]

Three weeks later against Wisconsin, Brown completed 12 of 17 passes for 232 yards. He threw touchdown passes of 60 yards to Jim Berline and 31 yards to Ron Johnson and scrambled 44 yards for a rushing touchdown. He totaled 274 yards of total offense before leaving the game in the fourth quarter after he had the wind knocked out of him by a Wisconsin tackler.[8][9]

In the final game of the 1967 season against Ohio State, Brown was 17 for 24 passing for 179 yards and two touchdowns.[2] In the closing minutes of the first half, Brown led the Wolverines on an 80-yard drive, capped by a six-yard touchdown pass to Jim Berline. The second score came on a 47-yard drive in the fourth quarter, ending with a 13-yard touchdown pass to John Gabler.[10] Brown's two touchdown passes were not enough as Michigan was limited to 128 rushing yards and lost to the Buckeyes, 24–14.

In the final six games of the season, with Brown as the starting quarterback, Michigan improved to 3–3. During the 1967 season, Brown completed 82 of 155 pass attempts for 928 yards and seven touchdowns.[2] Despite starting only six games, Brown set a new Big Ten season record for most offensive plays with 290, breaking the prior record of 276 plays by Gary Snook in 1964.[7]

As a senior, Brown was the starting quarterback in 9 of 10 games for the 1968 team that finished 8–2 in Bump Elliott's last year as head coach.[11]

In mid-October, Brown led Michigan to a come-from-behind win over Michigan State. One sports writer opened his game coverage as follows:

"Bundle up when you go out in the cold, Dennis Brown. Wear your galoshes and that maize and blue muffler. And please don't slip in the shower or slam a finger in a car door. Michigan needs you, Dennis Brown. You were charmed Saturday when you brought your Wolverines from behind in the fourth quarter to hand Michigan State its first loss, 28–14."[12]

After Brown led Michigan to a 33–20 win over Minnesota with 152 passing yards and passing touchdowns to Billy Harris and Paul Staroba, the Golden Gophers' head coach Murray Warmath said: "Brown was the big player. He was a genius on the field. I've never seen a better game from a quarterback. This is what chopped us up. His quick passes were tremendous. [Ron] Johnson's a great back and he runs real well, but Brown was the big man today."[13]

Two weeks later, Brown had his best game of the 1968 season against Illinois. He led Michigan to a 36-0 win, completing 13 of 27 passes for 226 yards and throwing touchdown passes of 69 yards to Billy Harris and 14 yards to Paul Staroba.[14] In that game, Brown added 45 rushing yards for 271 total offensive yards. In the third quarter, he threw a 69-yard touchdown pass to William Harris for Michigan's longest scoring play of the 1968 season. After the score, Brown ran for a two-point conversion.[15]

Brown finished the season with 109 complete passes for 1,562 yards, 12 touchdown passes and 10 interceptions,[2] and ranked as the Big Ten's leader in total offense.[16]

He was selected by the Associated Press as the first-team quarterback on the 1968 All-Big Ten Conference football team,[17] and was also selected to play quarterback in the 1968 East–West Shrine Game and the 1969 Hula Bowl.[18]

In three years at Michigan, Brown completed 194 of 388 pass attempts for 2,534 yards, 20 touchdowns and 17 interceptions.[2] Brown also rushed for 616 yards and had six rushing touchdowns. At the end of his playing career at Michigan, he held most of the school's career passing records, including passing yards (2,534), pass attempts (388), and touchdown passes (20).[2]