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.

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.

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.

Washington State
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.

At Washington
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.

Wisconsin
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.

Indiana
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.

Michigan State
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.

Northwestern
On October 15, 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.

Iowa
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.

Illinois
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. Illinois went on to win the Big Ten championship.

Purdue
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.

Minnesota
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).

Ohio State
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.

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. <

Award season
Two Michigan players received first-team honors on the 1983 All-America team:
 * Offensive guard Stefan Humphries received first-team honors from the Football Writers Association of America, United Press International, and The Sporting News. He also received second-team honors from the Associated Press, Gannett News Service, and Newspaper Enterprise Association.
 * Center Tom Dixon received first-team honors from the American Football Coaches Association, Associated Press, and The Sporting News.

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).

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

Offense

 * Greg Armstrong, fullback, senior, Middletown, Ohio - started 4 games at fullback
 * Art Balourdos, center, junior, Chicago, Illinois
 * Vincent Bean, split end, senior, Southfield, Michigan - started all 12 games at split end
 * Milt Carthens, tight end, senior, Pontiac, Michigan
 * Dan Decker, quarterback, sophomore, Roseville, Michigan
 * Jerry Diorio, offensive guard, senior, Youngstown, Ohio - started all 12 games at left offensive guard
 * Tom Dixon, center, senior, Fort Wayne, Indiana - started all 12 games at center
 * Jumbo Elliott, offensive tackle, freshman, Lake Ronkonkoma, New York
 * Eddie Garrett, fullback, sophomore, Milwaukee, Wisconsin - started 6 games at fullback
 * David Hall, quarterback, senior, Livonia, Michigan - started 1 game at quarterback
 * Mark Hammerstein, offensive line, sophomore, Wapakoneta, Ohio
 * Jim Harbaugh, quarterback, sophomore, Palo Alto, California
 * Ken Higgins, wide receiver, freshman, Battle Creek, Michigan - started 1 game at flanker
 * Stefan Humphries, offensive guard, senior, Broward, Florida - started all 12 games at right offensive guard
 * Jerald Ingram, fullback, senior, Beaver, Pennsylvania
 * Doug James, offensive guard, senior, Louisville, Kentucky - started all 12 games at right offensive tackle
 * Gilvanni Johnson, wide receiver, sophomore, Detroit, Michigan - started 4 games at flanker
 * Eric Kattus, tight end, junior, Cincinnati, Ohio
 * Ben Logue, running back, sophomore, Atlanta, Georgia
 * Triando Markray, wide receiver, sophomore, Detroit, Michigan - started 7 games at flanker
 * Brian Mercer, tailback, junior, Cincinnati, Ohio
 * Clay Miller, offensive tackle, junior, Norman, Oklahoma - started all 12 games at left offensive tackle
 * Sim Nelson, tight end, junior, Fort Wayne, Indiana - started all 12 games at tight end
 * Bob Perryman, running back, sophomore, Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts
 * Dan Rice, running back, sophomore, Roxbury, Massachusetts - started 2 games at fullback
 * Rick Rogers, running back, junior, Inkster, Michigan - started 11 games at tailback
 * Kerry Smith, running back, senior, Grand Rapids, Michigan - started 1 game at tailback
 * Steve Smith, quarterback, senior, Grand Blanc, Michigan - started 09 games at quarterback
 * Larry Sweeney, center, senior, Alma, Michigan
 * Gerald White, running back, freshman, Titusville, Florida
 * Thomas Wilcher, tailback, sophomore, Detroit, Michigan
 * Dan Yarano, offensive guard, senior, Zanesville, Ohio

Defense

 * Jeffery Akers, outside linebacker, junior, Lynn, Massachusetts
 * Timothy Anderson, inside linebacker, junior, Ann Arbor, Michigan - started 6 games at inside linebacker
 * Mike Boren, inside linebacker, senior, Columbus, Ohio - started 4 games at inside linebacker
 * Kevin Brooks, defensive tackle, junior, Detroit, Michigan - started all 12 games at defensive tackle
 * Fritz Burgess, defensive back, senior, Pasadena, California
 * Brad Cochran, defensive back, junior, Royal Oak, Michigan - started all 12 games at strong-side cornerback
 * Jeff Cohen, defensive back, senior, Farmington Hills, Michigan
 * Evan Cooper, defensive back, senior, Miami, Florida - started all 12 games (8 at strong safety, 4 at free safety)
 * Vincent DeFelice, defensive tackle, senior, Trenton, Michigan - started 11 games at defensive tackle
 * John Ferens, defensive back, senior, Toledo, Ohio
 * Tony Gant, linebacker, sophomore, Fremont, Ohio - started 8 games at free safety
 * Joe Gray, linebacker, junior, Detroit, Michigan
 * Mike Hammerstein, defensive tackle, junior, Wapakoneta, Ohio - started 1 game at defensive tackle
 * Thomas J. Hassel, outside linebacker, senior, Cincinnati, Ohio - started 6 games at outside linebacker
 * Dieter Heren, defensive back, sophomore, Fort Wayne, Indiana
 * Jim Herrmann, inside linebacker, senior, Dearborn Heights, Michigan
 * Rich Hewlett, defensive back, senior, Plymouth, Michigan - started 4 games at strong safety
 * John Lott, defensive back, senior, Masury, Ohio - started all 12 games at weak-side cornerback
 * Rodney Lyles, outside linebacker, senior, Miami, Florida - started 11 games at outside linebacker
 * Doug Mallory, defensive back, freshman, DeKalb, Illinois
 * Mike Mallory, inside linebacker, junior, DeKalb, Illinois - started all 12 games at inside linebacker
 * Dave Meredith, defensive tackle, senior, Sterling Heights, Michigan
 * Andy Moeller, inside linebacker, sophomore, Ann Arbor, Michigan
 * Mike Reinhold, inside linebacker, sophomore, Muskegon, Michigan - started 2 games at inside linebacker
 * Garland Rivers, defensive back, freshman, Canton, Ohio
 * Nathaniel Rodgers, middle guard, senior, Warren, Ohio
 * Carlton Rose, outside linebacker, senior, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida - started 6 games at outside linebacker
 * James Scarcelli, outside linebacker, junior, Warren, Michigan - started 1 game at outside linebacker
 * Alan Sincich, middle guard, junior, Cleveland, Ohio - started all 12 games at middle guard
 * Michael Wilson, defensive tackle, senior, Detroit, Michigan

Kickers

 * Bob Bergeron, place-kicker, senior, Fort Wayne, Indiana
 * Don Bracken, punter, senior, Thermopolis, Wyoming
 * Todd Schlopy, place-kicker, senior, Orchard Park, New York

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

 * Head coach: Bo Schembechler
 * Assistant coaches:
 * Gary Moeller - assistant head coach and defensive coordinator
 * Lloyd Carr - defensive backfield coach
 * Milan Vooletich - linebackers coach
 * Jerry Meter - defensive line coach
 * Jerry Hanlon - quarterbacks coach
 * Tirrel Burton - running backs coach
 * Bob Thornbladh - wide receivers coach
 * Elliot Uzelac - offensive line coach
 * Paul Schudel - offensive interior line coach
 * Alex Agase
 * Bob Chmiel


 * Trainer: Russ Miller
 * Manager: Paul Gehkas, Douglans Ham, Kenneth Pefkins, Robert Reid