The 1894 Michigan Wolverines football team was an American football team that represented the University of Michigan in the 1894 college football season. In its first season under head coach William McCauley, the team compiled a 9–1–1 record and outscored its opponents by a combined score of 244 to 84.
The Wolverines played two games against Cornell, losing at Ithaca and winning the second game in Detroit. The win over Cornell "marked the first time in collegiate football history that a western school defeated an established power from the east." The Wolverines closed the season with a victory over Amos Alonzo Stagg's University of Chicago Maroons.
James Baird was the team's captain and quarterback.
Schedule
Season summary Preseason
Prior to the 1894 season, three individuals took charge of the Michigan football program—each of whom would play an important role in its development. The first was Charles A. Baird, manager of the football team who later became Michigan's first athletic director and was the person who hired Fielding H. Yost in 1901. In 1894, Baird hired William McCauley, who had played at the tackle position on Princeton's championship team in 1893, as Michigan's head football coach. In two years as Michigan's head coach, McCauley led the Wolverines to a 17–2–1 record. The third member of Michigan's football triumvirate in 1894 was Keene Fitzpatrick, a nationally known track coach, who Baird hired as the football team's trainer. Baird's hiring of McCauley and Fitzpatrick led to a heightened level of interest in the football team. The Michigan Alumnus described the impact of the new coaching staff:"The work of both of these enthusiasts can be seen in the practice of the team from day to day. At a mass meeting held last month great enthusiasm was shown by students, and several hundred dollars was [sic] raised for the team. Thus, for the first time in the history of Michigan football, the manager was able to secure the necessary equipment for a first-class eleven. Lack of money has been the cry hitherto."The Michigan Alumnus, Vol. 1, November 1894, "The Football Situation," by George Dygert, p. 13. Several players returned in 1894 from the 1893 team, including quarterback and team captain James Baird, halfbacks Gustave Ferbert, Horace Dyer, and George Dygert, guard "Pa" Heninger, center C. H. Smith, end Henry Senter, and tackle Giovanni "Count" Villa.
Game 1: Michigan Military Academy
The Michigan football team opened the 1894 season on October 6, 1894, with its first of two games against the Michigan Military Academy from Orchard Lake, Michigan. The 50-minute game was played before 900 spectators at Regents Field and ended in a 12–12 tie. A large contingent from the Academy attended the game.
The game was preceded by a Friday evening mass meeting. Enthusiasm was high, and the team was well supported throughout the game. Left halfback John A. Bloomingston scored Michigan's first touchdown and kicked goal. The Military Academy tied the game a short time later on a touchdown by Burrows and goal kick by Deering. The score was tied at 6–6 at halftime. Four minutes into the second half, the Military Academy executed a double pass, and Burrows ran around end for a touchdown, with Deering again kicking goal. Eleven minutes later, Michigan tied the score on a short touchdown carry by fullback George Dygert and goal kick by Bloomingston. Dygert later missed a drop-kick field goal attempt from the 30-yard line.
The Inlander, a monthly magazine published by students at the University of Michigan, noted that the team had been training for only four days, and the result was "quite a disappointment for those interested in the team."The Inlander, Vol. 5, October 1894, p. 39. The Michigan Alumnus also blamed the result on lack of training, noting that the team did not commence practice until October 1, and concluding that the Academy's Cadets "had the advantage of longer training, and played a quick, snappy game."
Michigan's lineup against Michigan Military Academy was George Greenleaf (left end), Walter A. Parker (left tackle), Bert Carr (left guard), Warren Rundell (center), Frederick W. Henninger (right guard), Ralph W. E. Hayes (right tackle), H. G. Hadden (right end), James Baird (quarterback), Bloomingston (left halfback), Jesse Yont (right halfback), and Dygert (fullback).
Game 2: Albion
On October 13, 1894, Michigan defeated , 26 to 10, at Regents Field in Ann Arbor. The game was the 11th meeting between the Michigan and Albion football teams with Michigan winning ten games and Albion winning one. As of 1894, Michigan had played more games against Albion than any other team.
Bloomingston scored Michigan's first touchdown, and Dygert kicked goal. A full recitation of Michigan's scoring has not been found, but The U. of M. Daily reported that Bloomingston scored two touchdowns in the game while Yont and Leonard also ran for touchdowns. Dygert kicked two goals from touchdown in the game.
Michigan's lineup against Albion was Greenleaf (left end), Parker (left tackle), Carr (left guard), Smith (center), Henninger (right guard), Yont (right tackle), Price (right end), Baird (quarterback), Bloomingston (left halfback), Richards (right halfback), and Dygert (fullback).
Game 3: Olivet
On October 17, 1894, Michigan defeated , 48–0, at Regents Field in Ann Arbor. The game was the second and final meeting between Michigan and Olivet. Michigan won the first game in 1891 by a score of 18 to 6.
Left halfback Gustave Ferbert scored Michigan's first and second touchdowns, and the kick for goal failed each time. Michigan led, 8–0. Jesse Yont scored the third touchdown, and the kick for goal was good. Michigan led, 14–0. Right guard Frederick W. Henninger scored the fourth and fifth touchdowns, and one of the goals was kicked. Michigan led, 24–0, at halftime. In the second half, Michigan scored four touchdowns and kicked all four goals from touchdown. Touchdowns were scored by Yont (25-yard run), Raynor Freund, Herman Leonard, and Frank Villa.
The Detroit Free Press wrote that, following the lopsided win, "[t]he croakers are silent to-night." Olivet gained positive yardage on only 10 plays in the entire game and gained the required five yards for a first down only three times.
Michigan's starting lineup was made up of George Greenleaf (left end), Villa (left tackle), Bert Carr (left guard), C. H. Smith (center), Henninger (right guard), Yont (right tackle), H. G. Hadden (right end), James Baird (quarterback), Ferbert (left halfback), J. De Forest Richards (right halfback), and Horace Dyer (fullback). Substitutions were Daniel Ninde for Carr, Leonard for Ferbert, and Freund for Richards.
Game 4: Michigan Military Academy
On October 21, 1894, Michigan played a second game against the Michigan Military Academy (M.M.A.) After playing M.M.A. to a tie 13 days earlier, the Wolverines soundly defeated the Cadets, 40–6, in the rematch. The game was played before a crowd of 800 spectators at Regents Field in Ann Arbor. Michigan touchdowns in the first half were scored by Frank Villa, Richards (2), and Yont. Baird made one kick for goal, and Michigan led, 18–0, at halftime. In the second half, two touchdowns were scored by Bloomingston, and single touchdowns were scored by Henninger, Yont, and Bloomingston. Bloomingston also kicked two goals from touchdown. Michigan's team captain and quarterback Baird was injured in the game and was unable to play for three weeks.
Michigan's lineup against M.M.A. was George Greenleaf (left end), Villa (left tackle), Ninde (left guard), Smith (center), Henninger (right guard), Yont (right tackle), Hadden (right end), Baird (quarterback), Ferbert (left halfback), Bloomingston (right halfback), and Dyer (fullback).
Game 5: Adrian
On October 23, 1894, Michigan defeated , 46–0, at Regents Field. The game was the first and last game between the Michigan and Adrian football teams.
The game was played in "a steady downpour of rain and was witnessed by a small crowd." Michigan scored six touchdowns in the first half and three in the second half. The first half was 30 minutes in length, and the second half was limited to 10 minutes due to darkness. Right halfback John A. Bloomingston scored four touchdowns. Right guard Frederick A. Henninger scored three, and single touchdowns were scored by left halfback Gustave Ferbert and fullback Dyer. Bloomingston also kicked at least two goals from touchdown.
The team's captain, James Baird, did not play due to injury. Ferbert acted as captain in Baird's absence.
Michigan's lineup against Adrian was Edward Ryan (left end), John W. Reynolds (left tackle), Daniel Ninde (left guard), C. H. Smith (center), Henninger (right guard), Jesse Yont (right tackle), H. G. Hadden (right end), Norris (quarterback), Ferbert (left halfback), Bloomingston (right halfback), and Horace Dyer (fullback).
Game 6: Case
On October 27, 1894, Michigan defeated Case, 18–8, at League Park in Cleveland. Case had not been defeated in two years. The game was the first meeting between Michigan and Case. The two teams played each other 27 times between 1894 and 1923, with Michigan winning 26 of those games.
Right halfback John A. Bloomingston scored all 18 points for Michigan with three touchdowns, including a 30-yard touchdown run in the second half, and three goals after touchdown. The Detroit Free Press also praised left halfback Gustave Ferbert for having consistently "wriggled" away from the Case tacklers and covered himself in glory. Riley scored two touchdowns for Case.
The game was described as "by long odds the finest and best game of the season so far as Cleveland is concerned." Michigan's win was attributed to "the superior strength and weight of their rush line," and its line play was described as "beautiful to see" and "about as fine as could be imagined."
Michigan's captain and quarterback James Baird, did not play due to injury. Ferbert acted as captain in Baird's absence. Ferbert sustained "a fearful kick in the head ... cutting his scalp badly, but he stubbornly continued playing."
Michigan's 11 starters played the entire 60-minute game without substitution. They were Hadden (left end), Villa (left tackle), Ninde (left guard), Smith (center), Henninger (right guard), Yont (right tackle), Price (right end), Greenleaf (quarterback), Bloomingston (right halfback), Ferbert (left halfback), and Dyer (fullback).
Game 7: at Cornell
On November 3, 1894, Michigan lost to Cornell, 22–0, before a crowd of 1,000 spectators at Percy Field in Ithaca, New York. It was Michigan's seventh consecutive loss to Cornell dating back to 1889.
The game was played in halves of 35 and 25 minutes. Kelly scored Cornell's first touchdown at the 6-minute mark, and the kick for goal failed. Rogers scored Cornell's second touchdown, but the goal was again missed, and Cornell led 8–0 at halftime. In the second half, Beacham of Cornell quickly scored two touchdowns. Near the end of the game, Starbuckle ran 25 yards for a final Cornell touchdown. Fullback Ohl of Cornell made only one of five kicks for goal for touchdown. Heavy rain fell through most of the game. The loss to Cornell was Michigan's only loss of the 1894 season.
Michigan's lineup against Cornell was Hadden (left end), Villa (left tackle), Carr (left guard), Smith (center), Henninger (right guard), Reynolds (right tackle), Price (right end), Ferbert (quarterback), Richards (left halfback), Bloomingston (right halfback), and Dygert (fullback). Michigan played the game without its captain and starting quarterback, James Baird, following a knee injury sustained in the October 21 game with the Michigan Military Academy.
Game 8: vs. Kansas