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The 1953 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
1953 Big Ten Conference football season The 1953 Big Ten Conference football season was the 58th season of college football played by the member schools of the Big Ten Conference (also known as the Western Conference) and was a part of the 1953 college football season. The 1953 Michig ...
. In its sixth year under head coach
Bennie Oosterbaan Benjamin Oosterbaan ( ; February 24, 1906 – October 25, 1990) was an American football end and head coach for the University of Michigan. He was a three-time All-American college football player, a two-time All-American basketball player, and ...
, Michigan compiled a 6–3 record (3–3 against conference opponents), tied for fifth place in the Big Ten, outscored opponents by a combined total of 163 to 101, and was ranked No. 20 in the final AP Poll and No. 19 in the
Coaches Poll In the United States, the Coaches Poll is a weekly ranking of the top 25 NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) college football, Division I college basketball, and Division I college baseball teams. The football version of the poll has ...
s. Center Dick O'Shaughnessy was the team captain, and right halfback
Tony Branoff Anthonios "Tony" Branoff (January 1, 1934 – December 20, 2012) was an American football player. He played at the halfback position for the University of Michigan from 1952 to 1955. He was chosen as the Most Valuable Player on the 1953 Michig ...
received the team's most valuable player award. Two Michigan players received All-Big Ten honors: left end Bob Topp was selected by the
Associated Press The Associated Press (AP) is an American not-for-profit organization, not-for-profit news agency headquartered in New York City. Founded in 1846, it operates as a cooperative, unincorporated association, and produces news reports that are dist ...
as a first-team player, and left halfback Ted Kress. The team's statistical leaders included quarterback Duncan McDonald with 293 passing yards, Tony Branoff with 501 rushing yards, and Bob Topp with 331 receiving yards.


Schedule


Statistical leaders

Michigan's individual statistical leaders for the 1953 season include those listed below.


Rushing


Passing


Receiving


Kickoff returns


Punt returns


Personnel


Letter winners

The following 31 players received varsity letters for their participation on the 1953 team. Players who started at least four games are shown with their names in bold. *
Fred Baer Frederick N. Baer (July 2, 1932 – March 21, 2007) was an American football player. He played at the fullback position for the University of Michigan from 1952 to 1954. He was chosen as the Most Valuable Player on the 1954 Michigan Wolverine ...
, 5'11", 180 pounds, junior, LaGrange, IL - fullback *
Lou Baldacci Louis Granville Baldacci (born December 17, 1934) is an American former professional football player who was a halfback for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Michigan Wolverines f ...
, 6'0", 205 pounds, sophomore, Akron, OH - started 9 games at quarterback *James T. Balog, 6'3", 210 pounds, senior, Wheaton, IL - started 9 games at left tackle *Richard E. Balzhiser,Balzhiser was the first University of Michigan athlete to be inducted into the Academic All-America Hall of Fame. 6'0", 186 pounds, senior, Wheaton, IL - started 9 games at fullback *Richard A. Beison, 6'0", 200 pounds, senior, East Chicago, IN - started 9 games at right guard * Donald C. Bennett, 6'2", 195 pounds, senior, Chicago - tackle *
Tony Branoff Anthonios "Tony" Branoff (January 1, 1934 – December 20, 2012) was an American football player. He played at the halfback position for the University of Michigan from 1952 to 1955. He was chosen as the Most Valuable Player on the 1953 Michig ...
, 5'11", 180 pounds, sophomore, Flint, MI - started 9 games at right halfback * Theodore J. Cachey, 5'11", 185 pounds, senior, Chicago - guard * J. Daniel Cline, 5'10", 168 pounds, junior, Brockport, NY - halfback *Donald Dugger, 5'10", 185 pounds, senior, Charleston, WV - started 9 games at left end * George S. Dutter, 6'2", 190 pounds, senior, Fort Wayne, IN - end * James W. Fox, 6'0", 185 pounds, sophomore, Saginaw, MI - guard * H. Ronald Geyer, 6'2", 220 pounds, junior, Toledo, OH - tackle * Edward L. Hickey, 5'8", 160 pounds, senior, Anaconda, MT - halfback * Robert S. Hurley, 5'10", 180 pounds, senior, Alamosa, CO- fullback * Raymond K. Kenaga, 5'11", 170 pounds, junior, Sterling, IL - quarterback *Eugene P. Knutson, 6'4", 210 pounds, senior, Beloit, WI - started 8 games at right end * William P. Kolesar, 6'0", 190 pounds, sophomore, Mentor, OH - tackle * Ted Kress, 5'11", 175 pounds, senior, Kansas City, MO - started 9 games at left halfback * Duncan B. McDonald, 6'0", 175 pounds, junior, Flint, MI - quarterback * G. Edgar Meads, 6'0", 190 pounds, sophomore, Oxford, MI - guard *John M. Morrow, 6'2", 220 pounds, sophomore, Ann Arbor, MI - started 4 games at center * Dick O'Shaughnessy, 5'11", 190 pounds, senior, Seaford, NY - started 5 games at center * H. John Peckham Jr., 6'2", 220 pounds, sophomore, Sioux Falls, SD - center * Thad C. Stanford, 6'0", 175 pounds, senior, Midland, MI - end *Dick Strozewski, 6'0", 205 pounds, senior, South Bend, IN - started 9 games at left tackle * Bob Topp, 6'2", 190 pounds, senior, Kalamazoo, MI - started 8 games at left end, 1 game at right end * John J. Veselenak, 6'2", 190 pounds, junior, Flint, MI - end * Art Walker, 5'11" 200 pounds, junior, South Haven, MI - tackle * Gerald H. Williams, 6'2", 188 pounds, sophomore, Flint, MI - started 1 game at left end * Ronald M. Williams, 5'9", 185 pounds, senior, Massillon, OH - guard


Coaches and staff

Michigan's 1953 coaching, training, and support staff included the following persons. *Head coach:
Bennie Oosterbaan Benjamin Oosterbaan ( ; February 24, 1906 – October 25, 1990) was an American football end and head coach for the University of Michigan. He was a three-time All-American college football player, a two-time All-American basketball player, and ...
*Assistant coaches: :* Jack Blott - line coach :*
Cliff Keen Clifford Patrick Keen (June 13, 1901 – November 4, 1991) was an American coach who served as the head coach of the University of Michigan collegiate wrestling team from 1925 to 1970. He led the Michigan Wolverines to 13 Big Ten Conference ...
- assistant football coach, head wrestling coach :*
Bill Orwig James Wilfred "Bill" Orwig (January 1, 1907 – July 30, 1994) was an American football and basketball player, coach, and college athletics administrator. He played college football and college basketball at the University of Michigan. He later ...
- offensive backfield coach :*
Matt Patanelli Matthew Lewis Patanelli (July 13, 1914 – May 27, 1992) was an American football, baseball and basketball player and coach. He played and coached all three sports at the University of Michigan and was selected as the Most Valuable Player on the 1 ...
- defensive ends coach :* Don Robinson - defensive backfield coach :*
Wally Weber Walter J. Weber (February 27, 1903 – April 14, 1984) was an American football player and coach at the University of Michigan. He played halfback and fullback for the Wolverines in 1925 and 1926 on the same teams as Benny Friedman and Bennie O ...
- freshman coach :* J. T. White - assistant line coach, scout, and junior varsity coach *Trainer:
Jim Hunt James Baxter Hunt Jr. (born May 16, 1937) is an American politician and retired attorney who was the List of governors of North Carolina, 69th and 71st governor of North Carolina (1977–1985, and 1993–2001). He is the longest-serving governo ...
*Manager: Richard Petrie


Awards and honors

Honors and awards for the 1953 season went to the following individuals. *Captain: Dick O'Shaughnessy *All-Conference: Ted Kress, Bob Topp *Most Valuable Player:
Tony Branoff Anthonios "Tony" Branoff (January 1, 1934 – December 20, 2012) was an American football player. He played at the halfback position for the University of Michigan from 1952 to 1955. He was chosen as the Most Valuable Player on the 1953 Michig ...
*Meyer Morton Award: Tony Branoff


References

{{Michigan Wolverines football navbox
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, ...
Michigan Wolverines football seasons
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 ...