The 1917 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the

University of Michigan The University of Michigan (U-M, U of M, or Michigan) is a public university, public research university in Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States. Founded in 1817, it is the oldest institution of higher education in the state. The University of Mi ...

in the

1917 college football season The 1917 college football season ended with six undefeated teams in 1917 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football team, Georgia Tech, 1917 Pittsburgh Panthers football team, Pittsburgh, 1917 Ohio State Buckeyes football team, Ohio State, 1917 Texas A ...

. In his 17th year as head coach,

Fielding H. Yost Fielding Harris Yost (; April 30, 1871 – August 20, 1946) was an American college football player, coach and athletics administrator. He served as the head football coach at: Ohio Wesleyan University, the University of Nebraska, the University ...

led the

Michigan Wolverines football The Michigan Wolverines football team represents the University of Michigan in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level. Michigan has the List of NCAA football teams by wins, most all-time wins in college football ...

team to an 8–2 record, as Michigan outscored its opponents by a combined score of 304 to 53. Michigan won its first eight games and outscored those opponents by a combined score of 292 to 16. The team then lost its final two games against Penn and Northwestern. With the United States entry into

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

in April 1917, Michigan's male student body dropped by 30%, and Michigan lost many of its starters to military service. The players lost to the military included fullback Cedric "Pat" Smith, who had been elected to serve as captain of the 1917 team. With only one returning backfield player, coach Yost converted tackle Tad Wieman into a fullback. Wieman became the team's leading scorer in 1917 with 129 points on 14

touchdown A touchdown (abbreviated as TD) is a scoring play in gridiron football. Scoring a touchdown grants the team that scored it 6 points. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchd ...

s, 36 points after touchdown (PAT), and three

field goal A field goal (FG) is a means of scoring in gridiron football. To score a field goal, the team in possession of the ball must place kick, or drop kick, the ball through the goal, i.e., between the uprights and over the crossbar. Consequently, ...

s. After an injury to starting

quarterback The quarterback (QB) is a position in gridiron football who are members of the offensive side of the ball and mostly line up directly behind the Lineman (football), offensive line. In modern American football, the quarterback is usually consider ...

Cliff Sparks in the second game,

Archie Weston Archie Bruce "Beak" Weston (June 9, 1895 – April 1981) was an American football player who was a quarterback for the University of Michigan in 1917 and a halfback in 1919. He was selected as a first-team All-American in 1917 by ''Chicago ...

took over and became the team's second leading scorer with 78 points on 13 touchdowns.

Schedule

Season summary

Pre-season

On April 6, 1917, the United States declared war on the

German Empire The German Empire (),; ; World Book, Inc. ''The World Book dictionary, Volume 1''. World Book, Inc., 2003. p. 572. States that Deutsches Reich translates as "German Realm" and was a former official name of Germany. also referred to as Imperia ...

, marking its entry into

. In early August 1917, the

National Collegiate Athletic Association The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is a nonprofit organization that regulates College athletics in the United States, student athletics among about 1,100 schools in the United States, and Simon Fraser University, 1 in Canada. ...

(NCAA) met with representatives of more than 125 colleges and universities to determine whether or not to proceed with intercollegiate athletics during the war. Secretary of War

Newton D. Baker Newton Diehl Baker Jr. (December 3, 1871 – December 25, 1937) was an American lawyer, Georgist,Noble, Ransom E. "Henry George and the Progressive Movement." The American Journal of Economics and Sociology, vol. 8, no. 3, 1949, pp. 259–269. w ...

addressed the gathering, opined that intercollegiate athletics were an effective means of training for military service, and recommended that efforts be undertaken to expand the number of persons receiving this training. The gathering then passed a resolution providing for the continuation of intercollegiate athletics with an emphasis on carrying out the recommendations of the Secretary of War. As students enlisted in large numbers for military service, the enrollment of male students at the University of Michigan dropped by thirty percent (30%) in the fall of 1917. Several of Michigan veteran players (including Cedric "Pat" Smith, Philip Raymond, Willard Peach, John West, J. Vinton Hammels, and Frank Willard) were unavailable to the team due to military service. The losses left the team with only six players ( Cliff Sparks, Tad Wieman, Richard Weske, Alan Boyd, Joseph Hanish, and John Orton Goodsell) who had ever played on the first team. With only one returning backfield player (Sparks), Yost converted tackle Tad Wieman into a fullback.

Week 1: Case

On October 6, 1917, Michigan played its annual game against the team from Case Scientific School in Cleveland. The game was the 21st meeting between the schools in a series dating back to 1894. In the 20 prior meetings, Michigan won 19 games and played to a tie once. Michigan won the 1917 game by a 41–0 score. Tad Wieman, in his first game after being converted into a fullback, scored three touchdowns. Wieman also kicked five points after touchdown (PAT) for a total of 23 points in the game. Quarterback Cliff Sparks scored two touchdowns, and substitute right halfback Harold Rye also scored once. Case made only one first down. The game was played in 12-1/2 minute quarters. Michigan's starting lineup against Case was Elmer Cress (left end), Frank Culver (left tackle), Alan Boyd (left guard), Charles Beath (center), John Orton Goodsell (right guard), Richard Weske (right tackle), Oscar Cartwright (right end), Cliff Sparks (quarterback), Joseph Hanish (left halfback),

Abe Cohn Abraham Jerome Cohn (June 27, 1897 – October 23, 1970) was an American football and basketball player, coach and official. He played football and basketball at the University of Michigan from 1917 to 1920. He coached football and basketball at W ...

(right halfback), and Tad Wieman (fullback). Substitutes appearing in the game for Michigan were Julius St. Clair (right end), Harold Rye (right halfback), Gerald Froemke (left halfback),

Angus Goetz Angus Gerald "Gus" Goetz (July 6, 1897 – July 24, 1977) was an American football player who played four years with the Michigan Wolverines from 1917 to 1920. He also played professional football for the Buffalo All-Americans (1922) and th ...

(right guard), Fred Hendershott (left end), Lowell Genebach (quarterback), William Fortune (right guard), and C. H. Graff (right tackle).

Week 2: Western State Normal

On Wednesday, October 10, 1917, Michigan played the football team from the Western State Normal Normal School (also called Kalamazoo Normal and later renamed

Western Michigan University Western Michigan University (Western Michigan, Western or WMU) is a Public university, public research university in Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States. It was initially established as Western State Normal School in 1903 by Governor Aaron T. B ...

). The game was the first game between the two schools, and the two programs met only one other time in the 20th century. Michigan won the game by a score of 17 to 13. Michigan led 10–7 at the start of the fourth quarter, but Kalamazoo Normal scored a touchdown with four minutes remaining to take a 13–10 lead. On the following drive, halfback Harold Rye returned the kickoff 35 yards, and Abe Cohn then had a long run. Fullback Tad Wieman accounted for all of Michigan's points, scoring two touchdowns, kicking two points after touchdown, and one field goal from place kick. Michigan quarterback Cliff Sparks was injured in the game and did not start another game. The game was played in quarters lasting 7-1/2, 7-1/2, 10 and 10 minutes. Michigan's starting lineup against Kalamazoo Normal was

(left end), Frank Culver (left tackle), Alan Boyd (left guard), John Orton Goodsell (center), William Fortune (right guard), Richard Weske (right tackle), Oscar Cartwright (right end), Cliff Sparks (quarterback),

(left halfback), Joseph Hanish (right halfback), and Tad Wieman (fullback). Substitutes appearing in the game for Michigan were Elmer Cress (left end), Rye (right halfback), St. Clair (right end), and Lowell Genebach (quarterback).

Week 3: Mount Union

On Saturday, October 13, 1917, Michigan played the football team

Mount Union College The University of Mount Union is a private liberal arts university in Alliance, Ohio, United States. Founded in 1846, the university was affiliated with the Methodist Church until 2019. It had an enrollment of 2,100 students as of 2023. Histo ...

Alliance, Ohio Alliance is a city in Stark County, Ohio, United States. The population was 21,672 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. It was established in 1854 by the merger of three smaller communities and was a manufacturing and railroad hub in t ...

. The game was the fifth game between the two schools since 1913, with Michigan winning the prior games by a combined score of 102 to 7. Michigan won the 1917 game by a score of 69 to 0. Left halfback

started the scoring with a touchdown run in the first quarter.

came into the game as a substitute at quarterback at the start of the second quarter and scored five touchdowns, including a 65-yard touchdown run around the right end. Additional touchdowns were scored by Gerald Froemke, Tad Wieman, Thomas Garrett, and William Cruse. Wieman also kicked for eight points after touchdown (PAT), and Frank Culver added one PAT. The game was played in 12-minute quarters. Michigan's starting lineup against Case was

(left end), Alan Boyd (left tackle), Julius St. Clair (left guard), Charles Beath (center), John Orton Goodsell (right guard), Richard Weske (right tackle), Oscar Cartwright (right end), Lowell Genebach (quarterback), Cohn (left halfback), Harold Rye (right halfback), and Wieman (fullback). Substitutes appearing in the game for Michigan were Weston (quarterback), Froemke (right halfback), Fred Hendershott (left end), William Fortune (right guard), Frank Culver (right guard), Thomas Garrett (fullback), Chester Morrison (right end), Elmer Cress (left end), William Cruse (left halfback), Arthur Weadock (right halfback), L. O. Lindstrom (left guard), and Harold Barnard (left tackle).

Week 4: Detroit

On Wednesday, October 17, 1917, Michigan played the football team

University of Detroit The University of Detroit Mercy is a private Catholic university in Detroit, Michigan, United States. It is sponsored by both the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) and the Sisters of Mercy. The university was founded in 1877 and is the largest Catho ...

. The game was the first and only football game ever played between the two schools. The Detroit team came into the game with a reputation for its powerful offense, having scored 145 the week before against the

University of Toledo The University of Toledo (UToledo or UT) is a Public university, public research university in Toledo, Ohio, United States. It is the northernmost campus of the University System of Ohio. The university also operates a Health Science campus, ...

. Michigan won the game by a score of 14 to 3. An interception led to a Michigan touchdown in the second quarter, and two forward passes led to another touchdown in the third quarter. Michigan's touchdowns were scored by

and Tad Wieman. Wieman also kicked two points after touchdown. Detroit scored on a dropkick field goal by halfback Allen. The game marked the Michigan debut of center Oscar Lambert who reportedly made fifty percent of Michigan's tackles. The game was played in 10-minute quarters. Michigan's starting lineup against Detroit was

(left end), John Orton Goodsell (left tackle), Alan Boyd (left guard), Oscar Lambert (center), Frank Culver (right guard), Richard Weske (right tackle), Hanish (right end),

(quarterback),

(left halfback), Froemke (right halfback), and Tad Wieman (fullback). Substitutes appearing in the game for Michigan were William Fortune (right guard), Oscar Cartwright (right end), L. O. Lindstrom (left tackle), Lowell Geneback (quarterback).

Week 5: Michigan Agricultural

Michigan played its annual game against

Michigan Agricultural College Michigan State University (Michigan State or MSU) is a public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in East Lansing, Michigan, United States. It was founded in 1855 as the Agricultural College of the State o ...

at Ferry Field on October 20, 1917. It was the 12th game between the two schools dating back to 1898. Michigan had won eight of the prior 11 games. Michigan won the 1917 game by a score of 27 to 0. Michigan scored in the first quarter on a drive that featured a 30-yard run by Tad Wieman and was capped by a 15-yard touchdown run by

. Wieman missed the kick for point after touchdown (PAT). At halftime, the schools' combined bands led a detachment of troops onto the field and played the "

Star Spangled Banner "The Star-Spangled Banner" is the national anthem of the United States. The lyrics come from the "Defence of Fort M'Henry", a poem written by American lawyer Francis Scott Key on September 14, 1814, after he witnessed the bombardment of Fort ...

" and "

The Victors "The Victors" is the fight song of the University of Michigan. Michigan student Louis Elbel wrote the song in 1898 after the football team's victory over the University of Chicago, which clinched an undefeated season and the Western Conferen ...

". In the third quarter, the Wolverines scoring drive began with a 20-yard punt return by Weston with Wieman scoring on a seven-yard run. Wieman then kicked the PAT to give the Wolverines a 13–0 lead. In the fourth quarter, Wieman ran through the middle of the M.A.C. line, "shook off five tacklers," and scored on a 35-yard touchdown run. Wieman added the PAT. Later in the fourth quarter, Weston ran 30 yards around the left end to the M.A.C. 12-yard line, and Wieman scored his third touchdown of the afternoon on a one-yard run. Wieman then kicked his third PAT for 21 points in the game. Michigan's starting lineup against M.A.C. included Goetz (left end), Goodsell (left tackle), Boyd (left guard), Oscar Lambert (center), Frank Culver (right guard), Weske (right tackle), Cartwright (right end),

(quarterback),

(left halfback), Genebach (right halfback), and Tad Wieman (fullback). Substitutes appearing in the game for Michigan were Rye (right halfback), Cruse (left halfback), Hanish (left halfback), Froemke (left halfback), William Fortune (right guard), Barnard (right halfback), Cress, Hendershott, Weadock, Wellford, Garrett, and St. Clair.

Week 6: Nebraska

On October 27, 1917, Michigan played the football team from the

University of Nebraska A university () is an educational institution, institution of tertiary education and research which awards academic degrees in several Discipline (academia), academic disciplines. ''University'' is derived from the Latin phrase , which roughly ...

. The game was the first between the two schools. The 1918 Michiganensian described the field conditions this way: "The heavy field, soaked by a week's rain, hampered the Nebraska boys while the Michiganders seemed to revel in the goo." Michigan won by a score of 20 to 0. Michigan's two touchdowns were scored by left halfback Gerald Froemke and fullback Tad Wieman. Wieman scored 14 of Michigan's 20 points, kicking two points after touchdown and two field goals in addition to his touchdown. Froemke's touchdown came in the first quarter when he recovered a fumble at Nebraska's 10-yard line and, behind the blocking of Wieman and

, returned the ball 90 yards for a touchdown. The game was played in 15-minute quarters. Michigan's starting lineup against Nebraska was

(left end), John Orton Goodsell (left tackle), Frank Culver (left guard), Oscar Lambert (center), William Fortune (right guard), Richard Weske (right tackle), Boyd (right end),

(quarterback), Froemke (left halfback), Joseph Hanish (right halfback), and Wieman (fullback). Substitutes appearing in the game for Michigan were William Cruse (left halfback), Harold Rye (left halfback), Lowell Genebach (left halfback), Lee Bonar (left end) and Chester Morrison (right guard).

Week 7: Kalamazoo

On November 3, 1917, Michigan played the football team from

Kalamazoo College Kalamazoo College is a private university, private Liberal arts colleges in the United States, liberal arts college in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Founded in 1833 by American Baptist Churches USA, Baptist ministers as the Michigan and Huron Institute, K ...

. The game was the fifth between the two schools dating back to 1899. Michigan had won the four previous games by a combined score of 177 to 0. Michigan won the 1917 game by a score of 62 to 0. Quarterback

gained over 300 yards, including runs of 60 yards, 35 yards and two for 25 yards. Weston also scored four touchdowns in the game. Tad Wieman and William Cruse scored two touchdowns each, and a ninth touchdown was scored by Gerald Froemke. Wieman also kicked for eight points after touchdown. The game was played in 15-minute quarters. Michigan's starting lineup against Kalamazoo was

(left end), John Orton Goodsell (left tackle), Frank Culver (left guard), Oscar Lambert (center), William Fortune (right guard), Richard Weske (right tackle), Oscar Cartwright (right end),

(quarterback), Gerald Froemke (left halfback), Joseph Hanish (right halfback), and Tad Wieman (fullback). Substitutes appearing in the game for Michigan were Lowell Genebach (right halfback), Lee Bonar (left end), William Cruse (left halfback), Alan Boyd (right end), Chester Morrison (right tackle), and Thomas Garrett (center).

Week 8: Cornell

On November 3, 1917, Michigan played the football team from

Cornell University Cornell University is a Private university, private Ivy League research university based in Ithaca, New York, United States. The university was co-founded by American philanthropist Ezra Cornell and historian and educator Andrew Dickson W ...

. The game was the 15th meeting of the teams dating back to 1889. Michigan had won only three of the prior 14 meetings. Michigan won the 1917 game by a score of 42 to 0. Michigan quarterback

scored three touchdowns. Additional touchdowns were scored by Cliff Sparks, Joseph Hanish, and

. Tad Wieman was successful on all six kicks for point after touchdown. The game was played in 15-minute quarters. Michigan's starting lineup against Cornell was

(left end), John Orton Goodsell (left tackle), Frank Culver (left guard), Oscar Lambert (center), William Fortune (right guard), Richard Weske (right tackle), Alan Boyd (right end),

(quarterback), Cliff Sparks (left halfback), Joseph Hanish (right halfback), and Tad Wieman (fullback).

Week 9: at Penn

On November 17, 1917, Michigan played its annual rivalry game against the

Penn Quakers football The Penn Quakers football program is the college football team at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. The Penn Quakers have competed in the Ivy League since its inaugural season of 1956, and are a NCAA Division I, Division I Footbal ...

team. The game was the 13th meeting between the teams dating back to 1899. After leaving the

Big Ten Conference The Big Ten Conference (stylized B1G, formerly the Western Conference and the Big Nine Conference, among others) is a collegiate List of NCAA conferences, athletic conference in the United States. Founded as the Intercollegiate Conference of Fa ...

, Penn became Michigan's regular season-ending rivalry game. In the 12 prior meetings, Michigan had won only four times, with the two teams playing to a scoreless tie in 1915. Michigan lost the 1917 game by a score of 16 to 0. Michigan and Penn played "almost even" in the first quarter with Penn gaining 53 yards from scrimmage to 45 for Michigan. However, at the start of the second quarter, Michigan's quarterback

was ejected from the game after a fight with two Penn players, Miller and Strauss. After Weston was ejected, Penn dominated the game, limiting Michigan to only seven yards from scrimmage in the entire second half. Penn's scoring came on a touchdown by Cleary and three field goals and a point after touchdown by

Howard Berry Joseph Howard Berry Jr. (December 31, 1894 – April 27, 1976) was an American Major League Baseball second baseman and pinch runner for the New York Giants from 1921 to 1922. At the University of Pennsylvania, he was an All-American football fu ...

. The game was played in 15-minute quarters. Michigan's starting lineup against Northwestern was

(left end), Goodsell (left tackle), Frank Culver (left guard), Oscar Lambert (center), William Fortune (right guard), Richard Weske (right tackle), Boyd (right end),

(quarterback),

(left halfback), Joseph Hanish (right halfback), and Tad Wieman (fullback).

Week 10: at Northwestern

On November 24, 1917, Michigan played the football team from

Northwestern University Northwestern University (NU) is a Private university, private research university in Evanston, Illinois, United States. Established in 1851 to serve the historic Northwest Territory, it is the oldest University charter, chartered university in ...

. The game was the 15th meeting of the teams dating back to 1889. Michigan had won only three of the prior 14 meetings. The game represented Michigan's first game against a conference opponent after rejoining the

. Before the game started, the Northwestern crowd greeted the Wolverines warmly, and

Walter Eckersall Walter Herbert "Eckie" Eckersall (June 17, 1883 – March 24, 1930) was an American college football player, official, and sportswriter for the ''Chicago Tribune''. He played for the Maroons of the University of Chicago, and was elected to the C ...

in the ''

Chicago Tribune The ''Chicago Tribune'' is an American daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Founded in 1847, it was formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper", a slogan from which its once integrated WGN (AM), WGN radio and ...

'' wrote: "That Michigan is welcomed in its return to the conference goes without saying." Michigan played the game with three of its key starters, quarterback

, center Oscar Lambert, and guard Frank Culver) sidelined by injury. Michigan lost the 1917 game by a score of 21 to 12. Northwestern scored first on a forward pass from Ellingwood to Arrles. Michigan responded with a scoring drive capped by a three-year run by Gerald Froemke, but Tad Wieman missed the point after touchdown (PAT), and Northwestern remained in the lead, 7–6. Northwestern scored again, on a short run by Koehler, and extended its lead to 14–6 at halftime. Northwestern scored again in the third period and led 21–6. In the fourth quarter, Froemke returned a punt 50 yards. Michigan scored a touchdown to reduce Northwestern's lead to 21–12, though accounts differ as to whether the second Michigan touchdown was scored by Froemke or Wieman. The game was played in 15-minute quarters. Michigan's starting lineup against Northwestern was

(left end), Wieman (left tackle), Alan Boyd (left guard), Goodsell (center), Morrison (right guard), Richard Weske (right tackle), Cartwright (right end), Froemke (quarterback), Rye (left halfback), Joseph Hanish (right halfback), and

(fullback). Substitutions for Michigan were Cliff Sparks (left halfback), William Fortune (right guard), and Morrison (left tackle).

Players

Varsity letter winners

For their participation on the 1917 football team, 18 players were awarded a varsity letter "M". Those 18 players are: * Alan Boyd,

Indianapolis, Indiana Indianapolis ( ), colloquially known as Indy, is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of municipalities in Indiana, most populous city of the U.S. state of Indiana and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana, Marion ...

- started 5 games at left guard, 3 games at right end, 1 game at left tackle * Oscar Cartwright,

Detroit Detroit ( , ) is the List of municipalities in Michigan, most populous city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is situated on the bank of the Detroit River across from Windsor, Ontario. It had a population of 639,111 at the 2020 United State ...

Michigan Michigan ( ) is a peninsular U.S. state, state in the Great Lakes region, Great Lakes region of the Upper Midwest, Upper Midwestern United States. It shares water and land boundaries with Minnesota to the northwest, Wisconsin to the west, ...

- started 6 games at right end *

Portland, Oregon Portland ( ) is the List of cities in Oregon, most populous city in the U.S. state of Oregon, located in the Pacific Northwest region. Situated close to northwest Oregon at the confluence of the Willamette River, Willamette and Columbia River, ...

- started 5 games at left halfback, 2 games at fullback, 1 game at right halfback * William R. Cruse, Detroit, Michigan - halfback * Frank Culver, Detroit, Michigan - started 4 games at left guard, 3 games at left tackle, 1 game at right guard * William Fortune,

Springfield, Illinois Springfield is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the U.S. state of Illinois. Its population was 114,394 at the 2020 United States census, which makes it the state's List of cities in Illinois, seventh-most populous cit ...

- started 5 games at right guard * Gerald Froemke,

Sheldon, North Dakota Sheldon is a city in Ransom County, North Dakota, Ransom County, North Dakota, United States. The population was 95 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. Sheldon was founded in 1882. History The city is named after an early landowner. I ...

- started 3 games at left halfback, 1 game at quarterback * Lowell Genebach,

Battle Creek, Michigan Battle Creek is a city in northwestern Calhoun County, Michigan, United States, at the confluence of the Kalamazoo River, Kalamazoo and Battle Creek River, Battle Creek rivers. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the city had a tota ...

- started 1 game at quarterback, 1 game at right halfback *

, De Tour Village, Michigan - started 9 games at left end * John Orton Goodsell,

Saginaw, Michigan Saginaw () is a city in Saginaw County, Michigan, United States, and its county seat. It had a population of 44,202 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. Located along the Saginaw River, Saginaw is adjacent to Saginaw Charter Township, ...

- started 5 games at left tackle, 3 games at right guard, 2 games at center * Joseph Hanish,

Grand Rapids, Michigan Grand Rapids is the largest city and county seat of Kent County, Michigan, United States. With a population of 198,917 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census and estimated at 200,117 in 2024, Grand Rapids is the List of municipalities ...

- started 7 games at right halfback, 1 game at right end * Oscar Lambert,

Pennsboro, West Virginia Pennsboro is a city in Ritchie County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 1,050 at the 2020 census. The city is located at the junction of U.S. Route 50 and West Virginia Route 74; the North Bend Rail Trail also passes through ...

- started 6 games at center * Chester C. Morrison,

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Pittsburgh ( ) is a city in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States, and its county seat. It is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania#Municipalities, second-most populous city in Pennsylvania (after Philadelphia) and the List of Un ...

- started 1 game at right guard * Harold Rye,

Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan Sault Ste. Marie ( ') is a city in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, Upper Peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is the county seat of Chippewa County, Michigan, Chippewa County and is the only city within the county. With a population of ...

- started 1 game at left halfback, 1 game at right halfback * Cliff Sparks,

Jackson, Michigan Jackson is a city in Jackson County, Michigan, United States, and its county seat. The population was 31,309 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. Located along Interstate 94 in Michigan, Interstate 94 and U.S. Route 127 in Michigan, U.S ...

- started 2 games at quarterback, 1 game at left halfback * Richard F. "Dick" Weske,Richard Ferdinand Weske, sometimes listed as Ferdinand Richard Weske, born August 15, 1894, in Petrograd, Russia (now known as

Saint Petersburg Saint Petersburg, formerly known as Petrograd and later Leningrad, is the List of cities and towns in Russia by population, second-largest city in Russia after Moscow. It is situated on the Neva, River Neva, at the head of the Gulf of Finland ...

. He came to the United States in June 1903 with his parents, Peter and Agnela Weske, and sister, Juliana. He was raised in

New London, Connecticut New London is a seaport city and a port of entry on the northeast coast of the United States, located at the outlet of the Thames River (Connecticut), Thames River in New London County, Connecticut, which empties into Long Island Sound. The cit ...

. At the time of the 1910 Census, he was living in New London with his father, Peter (a 41-year-old machinist), and sister Juliana (age 14). He became a naturalized U.S. citizen and enrolled at the University of Michigan as an engineering student. At the time of the 1930 Census, he was living in Salt Lake City with his wife Wanda, daughters Jacqueline and Juliana, and was working as a civil engineer for a railroad. He died in October 1971 in Nevada City, Nevada.

- started 10 games at right tackle *

, Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan - started 6 games at quarterback * Tad Wieman,

Los Angeles, California Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...

- started 8 games at fullback, 1 game at left tackle

aMa letter winners

*Charles Beath,

Escanaba, Michigan Escanaba ( ), commonly shortened to Esky, is a port city and the county seat of Delta County in the U.S. state of Michigan, located on Little Bay de Noc in the state's Upper Peninsula. The population was 12,450 at the 2020 census, making it the ...

- started 2 games at center *Lee Bonar, Belleville, West Virginia - end *Harold M. Cherry,

Buffalo, New York Buffalo is a Administrative divisions of New York (state), city in the U.S. state of New York (state), New York and county seat of Erie County, New York, Erie County. It lies in Western New York at the eastern end of Lake Erie, at the head of ...

- center *John H. Emery,

Bedford, Indiana Bedford is a city in Shawswick Township and the county seat of Lawrence County, Indiana, United States. In the 2020 census, the population was 13,792. That is up from 13,413 in 2010. Bedford is the principal city of the Bedford, IN Micropo ...

- end *Thomas C. Garrett,

Lakewood, Ohio Lakewood is a city in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, United States, on the southern shore of Lake Erie. Established in 1889, it is one of Cleveland's historical streetcar suburbs and part of the Greater Cleveland, Cleveland metropolitan area. The popula ...

- fullback *Fred Hendershott,

Tecumseh, Michigan Tecumseh ( ) is a city in Lenawee County, Michigan, Lenawee County in the U.S. state of Michigan, near the River Raisin. Tecumseh is about southwest of Detroit, south of Ann Arbor, Michigan, Ann Arbor, and north of Toledo, Ohio. The main stree ...

- end *L.O. Lindstrom,

Marquette, Michigan Marquette ( ) is the county seat of Marquette County, Michigan, Marquette County and the largest city in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, United States. Located on the shores of Lake Superior, Marquette is a major port known primarily for shippin ...

- guard

Others

*Elmer Cress,

- started 1 game at left end (designated as reserve) *C. H. Graff, reserve * John Perrin, reserve *Julius St. Clair,

Duluth, Minnesota Duluth ( ) is a Port, port city in the U.S. state of Minnesota and the county seat of St. Louis County, Minnesota, St. Louis County. Located on Lake Superior in Minnesota's Arrowhead Region, the city is a hub for cargo shipping. The population ...

- started 1 game at left guard *Arthur Weadock, reserve

Scoring leaders

Awards and honors

* Captain:

Cedric C. Smith Cedric Crawford "Pat" Smith (March 12, 1895 – April 23, 1969) was an American football Fullback (gridiron football), fullback who played for the University of Michigan (1915–1916), the Great Lakes Naval Training Station, and the Buffalo All-A ...

* All-Americans: Ernest Allmendinger,

, Frank Culver * All-Conference:

Ernie Vick Henry Arthur "Ernie" Vick (July 2, 1900 – July 16, 1980) was an American football and baseball player. He was selected as an All-American center in 1921, played on the 1926 World Series champion St. Louis Cardinals, and was elected to the Co ...

Coaching staff

* Head coach:

* Assistant coaches:

Prentiss Douglass Prentiss Porter Douglass (June 23, 1887 – November 9, 1949) was an American college football player and coach. A native of Martinsville, Illinois, Douglass graduated from the Culver Military Academy and the University of Michigan. He played ...

, Robert Watson * Trainer: Harry Tuthill * Manager: Charles F. Boos

References

External links

1917 Football Team -- Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan Athletics History

1917-18 Michigan Alumnus - includes accounts of each game

1918 Michiganensian
{{Michigan Wolverines football navbox

Michigan Wolverines football seasons