The 1953 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1953 Big Ten Conference football season. In its sixth year under head coach Bennie Oosterbaan, 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 Polls.
Center Dick O'Shaughnessy was the team captain, and right halfback Tony Branoff 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 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.(statistics retrieved by entering "1953" in the box for "Games & Totals by Season" and then, at the next screen, choosing "Display Season Totals")
Rushing Tony Branoff1005015.05Ted Kress1013393.45 Bob Hurley472826.01
Passing Duncan McDonald4620343.529314.7449Lou Baldacci5121641.228513.6136Ted Kress4319744.223812.5144
Receiving Bob Topp2333114.4266Gene Knutson1120118.3133Tony Branoff1115113.7144
Kickoff returns Ted Kress1020320.3033Tony Branoff613021.7028
Punt returns Tony Branoff89011.3018Ted Kress12635.3016
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, 5'11", 180 pounds, junior, LaGrange, IL - fullback Lou Baldacci, 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, 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 Assistant coaches: Jack Blott - line coach Cliff Keen - assistant football coach, head wrestling coach Bill Orwig - offensive backfield coach Matt Patanelli - defensive ends coach Don Robinson - defensive backfield coach Wally Weber - freshman coach J. T. White - assistant line coach, scout, and junior varsity coach Trainer: Jim Hunt 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 Meyer Morton Award: Tony Branoff
References