The 1940 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1940 Big Ten Conference football season. Under third-year head coach Fritz Crisler, Michigan compiled a 7–1 record and finished the season ranked No. 3 in the final AP Poll. The team outscored opponents 196 to 34. The team's sole setback was a 7–6 loss on the road against a Minnesota team that finished the season No. 1 in the final AP Poll.
The 1940 team featured one of the greatest backfields in Michigan football history with all four principal starters going on to be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as either a player or coach. Left halfback Tom Harmon was a consensus All-American and the winner of the Heisman Trophy as the best overall player in college football. Harmon became the focus of nationwide media coverage, even appearing on the cover of Life magazine in November 1940. Quarterback Forest Evashevski won the Big Ten Medal as the school's best senior student-athlete and was later referred to by Coach Crisler as "the greatest quarterback I ever had."Mark Dukes & Gus Schrader, Greatest Moments In Iowa Hawkeyes Football History, p. 85. . Fullback Bob Westfall, known as "Bullet Bob," was the country's fourth leading rusher in 1940, gaining 808 yards in eight games. (Harmon had 852 rushing yards.) Westfall went on to become a consensus All-American in 1941 and also won All-Pro honors for the Detroit Lions in 1945. David M. Nelson, who started the most games at right halfback, went on to a 20-year career as a college football coach and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as a coach.
The line playing in front of Michigan's Hall of Fame backfield was also one of the best in school history with four of the seven starters going on to play in the NFL. Left tackle Al Wistert had his jersey retired at Michigan, was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame, and was an eight-time All-Pro selection for the Philadelphia Eagles. Left guard Ralph Fritz was a first-team All-Big Ten player in 1940 and later played for the Philadelphia Eagles. Center Robert Ingalls played for the Green Bay Packers and later served for 12 years as the head football coach at Connecticut. End Ed Frutig, who was Harmon's principal receiver, was selected as a first-team member of the 1940 College Football All-America Team and later played for the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions.
A fifth starter on the 1940 line, Milo Sukup, was the running guard and one of the principal blockers for Harmon and Westfall. Harmon in 1940 publicly praised Sukup and Fritz as "two big reasons for Harmon." Sukup was reportedly on track for selection as an All-American until he suffered a career-ending injury late in the season. In a November 1940 game against Illinois, Sukup suffered a blow to the head while blocking for Harmon. He was knocked unconscious, suffered from temporary amnesia and was later hospitalized for several days after suffering recurring headaches. Sukup was propped up in a bed at University Hospital when the Wolverines left to play Minnesota and listened by radio from his hospital bed as the team suffered its only loss of the season.("Meanwhile, Dr. George Hammond, team physician, reported that Milo Sukup, who heard the Minnesota game by radio from his hospital cot, would probably be unable to face the Wildcats. Sukup, who has suffered recurrent headaches from an injury in the Illinois game, left the hospital Sunday but yesterday was ordered back to confinement.") Sukup missed the last three games of the season due to the concussion and did not compete further as a football player. Robert Kolesar, who replaced Sukup at right guard for the last two games, went on to play for the Cleveland Browns.
Schedule
Rankings
Game summaries Week 1: at California
On September 28, 1940, Michigan opened its season on the road playing the California Golden Bears at Berkeley, California. The game was the first played between the two football programs. Michigan won the game by a score of 41 to 0. While celebrating his 21st birthday, Michigan halfback Tom Harmon scored four touchdowns, kicked four points after touchdown (PAT), and threw a touchdown pass to David M. Nelson. Cliff Wise also scored a touchdown for Michigan, after coming into the game as a substitute for Harmon in the second half, and William Melzow kicked the PAT. Harmon's first touchdown came on the opening kickoff, which he returned 94 yards. His second touchdown came in the second quarter on a 72-yard punt return in which he reportedly dodged and swerved from one side of the field to the other, running about 100 yards before reaching the end zone. His third touchdown was on an 85-yard run in the second quarter. During the third touchdown run, a spectator jumped from the stands and ran onto the field trying, without success, to tackle Harmon.1941 Michiganensian, page 194.
Michigan gained 295 rushing yards, held Cal to only eight rushing yards, and only allowed Cal to advance beyond midfield once, and then only in the fourth quarter when the Bears advanced to Michigan's 40-yard line. The margin of defeat was the worst for a Cal team since a 70–0 loss to USC in 1930. The Associated Press wrote that Harmon found California's defense "about as strong as a wet paper bag," noted that Harmon was "as hard to snare as a greased pig," and opined that the only reason Michigan's point total was not higher was that "Michigan's first-string players ran themselves into a complete state of exhaustion."
Michigan's starting lineup against California was Ed Frutig (left end), Albert Wistert (left tackle), Ralph Fritz (left guard), Robert Ingalls (center), Milo Sukup (right guard), Reuben Kelto (right tackle), Joe Rogers (right end), Forest Evashevski (quarterback), Harmon (left halfback), Norman Call (right halfback), and Bob Westfall (fullback).
Week 2: Michigan State
On October 5, 1940, Michigan defeated Michigan State by a 21 to 14 score. The game was the 35th played between the two programs.
Tom Harmon scored all 21 points for Michigan on three touchdowns and three kicks for extra point. Michigan gained 312 rushing yards compared to 49 rushing yards for Michigan State. Both Michigan State touchdowns were scored by right halfback Walt Pawlowski.1941 Michiganensian, page 195.
Michigan's starting lineup against Michigan State was Joe Rogers (left end), Albert Wistert (left tackle), Ralph Fritz (left guard), Robert Ingalls (center), Milo Sukup (right guard), Reuben Kelto (right tackle), Ed Frutig (right end), Forest Evashevski (quarterback), Harmon (left halfback), David M. Nelson (right halfback), and Bob Westfall (fullback).
Week 3: at Harvard
On October 12, 1940, Michigan defeated Harvard at Harvard Stadium by a score of 26–0. The game was the seventh played between the two programs, with Harvard having won four of the prior six games.
Tom Harmon scored three touchdowns and passed for a fourth to Paul Kromer. Harmon also kicked for two extra points. Michigan rushed for 204 yards as compared to 61 yards for Harvard. Michigan's starters played only two minutes of the second half and were then replaced by substitutes.1941 Michiganensian, page 196.
Michigan's starting lineup against Harvard was Joe Rogers (left end), Albert Wistert (left tackle), Ralph Fritz (left guard), Robert Ingalls (center), Milo Sukup (right guard), Reuben Kelto (right tackle), Ed Frutig (right end), Forest Evashevski (quarterback), Harmon (left halfback), David M. Nelson (right halfback), and Bob Westfall (fullback).
Week 4: Illinois
On October 19, 1940, Michigan defeated Illinois by a 28–0 score. The game was the 26th meeting between the two programs with the Illini having upset the Wolverines in 1939.
Michigan's scoring came on touchdowns by David M. Nelson, Tom Harmon, Ed Frutig and Bob Westfall. Harmon also threw a touchdown pass to Frutig and kicked both a field goal and a PAT. Michigan rushed for 240 yards, while Illinois was limited to 24 rushing yards. The game was attended by Michigan's Governor-elect Murray Van Wagoner and Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Jr., the President's son.1941 Michiganensian, page 197.
Michigan's starting lineup against Illinois was Joe Rogers (left end), Albert Wistert (left tackle), Ralph Fritz (left guard), Robert Ingalls (center), Milo Sukup (right guard), Reuben Kelto (right tackle), Frutig (right end), Forest Evashevski (quarterback), Harmon (left halfback), Nelson (right halfback), and Westfall (fullback).
Week 5: Penn
On October 26, 1940, Michigan defeated Penn by a 14 to 0 score. The game was the 17th meeting between the two programs. It was a match between highly touted, undefeated teams. It matched two of the game's top coaches (Fritz Crisler and George Munger) and featured the nation's top two scorers in Tom Harmon of Michigan and Frank Reagan of Penn. The game drew noted broadcasters Ted Husing and Bill Stern in an event that was reportedly relayed by short wave "clear into war-torn Europe."1941 Michiganensian, page 198.
Harmon carried the ball 28 times for 142 net rushing yards and also handled the passing (8 of 12 for 51 yards) and punting for Michigan. He scored early in the game on a 19-yard run around the right end after a Penn fumble gave Michigan good field position. Harmon was responsible for Michigan's second touchdown in the third quarter, as he threw a touchdown pass to Ed Frutig, and also kicked for both extra points. Harmon reportedly played the second half with his shirt "half ripped off his back", and "gave the dogged Quaker defense a going over that will never be forgotten." Michigan senior guard Milo Sukup sustained a concussion in the game and, on medical advice, did not appear in another game.
Michigan's starting lineup against Penn was Joe Rogers (left end), Albert Wistert (left tackle), Ralph Fritz (left guard), Robert Ingalls (center), Milo Sukup (right guard), Reuben Kelto (right tackle), Frutig (right end), Forest Evashevski (quarterback), Harmon (left halfback), David M. Nelson (right halfback), and Bob Westfall (fullback). George Ceithaml replaced Evashevski at quarterback after the latter left the game with an injury.
Week 6: at Minnesota
On November 9, 1940, Michigan played its annual rivalry game with Minnesota. The game was the 31st between the programs, with Minnesota having won the previous six games under head coach Bernie Bierman. The 1940 game was played "in the mud and rain" at Memorial Stadium in Minneapolis. Both teams came into the game undefeated with Minnesota ranked #2 and Michigan ranked #3 in the AP Poll. The game was played before a crowd of 63,894 spectators, the largest crowd at a Minnesota home game to that point.
In the first quarter, Michigan drove to the Minnesota one-yard line, but Tom Harmon slipped on fourth down, and the ball went to Minnesota on downs. In the second quarter, Michigan took a 6–0 lead on a touchdown pass from Harmon to Forest Evashevski. Harmon missed "by inches" the kick for extra point. Later in the second quarter, Michigan's Ed Frutig blocked a Minnesota punt that was recovered by Michigan's Reuben Kelto at the Minnesota three-yard line. However, Harmon's pass into the end zone was intercepted, and Minnesota took over at the 20-yard line. On the next play from scrimmage, Minnesota scored on an 80-yard run by Bruce Smith. Joe Mernik kicked the extra point which was the difference in the game, Minnesota winning by a 7–6 score.