The 1958 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1958 Big Ten Conference football season. In its 11th and final year under head coach Bennie Oosterbaan, Michigan compiled a 2–6–1 record (1–5–1 against conference opponents), finished in eighth place in the Big Ten, and were outscored by opponents by a combined total of 211 to 132 points.

The team got off to a promising start with a 20–19 victory over USC and a 12–12 tie with a Michigan State team that was ranked No. 2 in the Coaches Poll. After two games, Michigan was ranked No. 12 in the Coaches Poll. The team then lost six of its final seven games. On October 18, the Wolverines lost, 55–24, to Northwestern, the worst beating in program history. Bennie O0sterbaan resigned after the 1958 season.

Fullback John Herrnstein was the team captain, and quarterback Bob Ptacek received the team's most valuable player award. The team's statistical leaders included Bob Ptacek with 763 passing yards, left halfback Darrell Harper with 309 rushing yards, and left end Gary Prahst with 313 receiving yards.

Schedule

Game summaries USC

On September 27, 1958, Michigan defeated USC, 20–19, before a crowd of 77,005 at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Fullback and captain John Herrnstein rushed for 144 yards and two touchdowns on 26 carries. Herrnstein's first touchdown came on Michigan's first possession. Michigan started the drive on the USC 37-yard line after Gary Prahst partially blocked a punt. Michigan led, 14–7, at halftime and 20–7 at the end of the third quarter. The fourth quarter began with USC at Michigan's one-yard line, but USC halfback Rex Johnston fumbled on the goal line, and Michigan recovered the ball. Later in the quarter, Johnston ran 67 yards for a touchdown, but Johnston missed the extra-point kick, narrowing Michigan's lead to 20–13. On its next drive, Tom Maudlin threw a 36-yard touchdown pass to Hilliard Hill. USC lined up in kick formation for the extra point, but a late substitution cost them five yards. On the next play, an illegal procedure penalty pushed USC back to the 13-yard line. USC then shifted out of the kick formation, and Maudlin threw to Bob Arnett in an attempted two point conversion, but Arnett was tackled at the seven-yard line.

Statistical leaders Michigan's individual statistical leaders for the 1958 season include those listed below.(statistics retrieved by entering "1958" in the box for "Games & Totals by Season" and then, at the next screen, choosing "Display Season Totals")

Rushing Darrell Harper553095.62Brad Myers822022.53Fred Julian451804.00

Passing Bob Ptacek11565956.576011.7337Stan Noskin2913144.820415.7133Darrell Harper148057.113116.4056

Receiving Gary Prahst2231314.2237Brad Myers171699.9035Darrell Harper1313710.5136

Kickoff returns Brad Myers817321.6029Bob Ptacek613422.3041Fred Julian58817.6025

Punt returns Bob Ptacek8739.1019Brad Myers7639.0020Darrell Harper5336.6015

Personnel Letter winners The following 40 players received varsity letters for their participation on the 1958 team. Players who started at least four games are shown with their names in bold.

John Batsakes, 5'8", 172 pounds, senior, Ann Arbor, MI - halfback Jared Bushong, 6'2", 209 pounds, junior, Toledo, OH – started 1 game at right tackle Reid J. Bushong, 6'1", 179 pounds, sophomore, Toledo, OH - halfback James Byers, 6'0", 198 pounds, senior, Evansville, IN - center Alex Callahan, 6'0", 195 pounds, senior, Wyandotte, MI – started 9 games at left guard Donald R. Deskins, 6'2", 241 pounds, sophomore, Jamaica, NY – started 8 games at right tackle James Dickey, 6'1", 191 pounds, senior, Miamisburg, OH – started 9 games at center Michael Fillichio, 5'10", 190 pounds, junior, River Forest, IL - guard George Genyk, 6'1", 200 pounds, junior, Detroit – started 9 games at left tackle James P. Gray, 6'3", 233 pounds, senior, Battle Creek, MI - tackle Alvin Groce, 5'11", 166 pounds, junior, Clairton, PA - halfback John Halstead, 6'2", 205 pounds, sophomore, Bay City, MI - end Darrell Harper, 6'1", 195 pounds, junior, Royal Oak, MI – started 3 games at left halfback John Herrnstein, 6'2", 215 pounds, senior, Chillicothe, OH – started 3 games at fullback Willard R. Hildebrand, 6'2", 216 pounds, sophomore, Chillicothe, OH - tackle E. Thomas Jobson, 6'0", 201 pounds, sophomore, Flint, MI - guard Robert Johnson, 6'2", 199 pounds, senior, Chicago - end Walter N. Johnson, 6'2", 214 pounds, senior, Dearborn, MI – started 9 games at right end Fred Julian, 5'9", 184 pounds, junior, Detroit – started 9 games at right halfback Gary F. Kane, 6'2", 215 pounds, sophomore, Elgin, IL - end William MacPhee, 6'0", 191 pounds, senior, Grand Haven, MI - center Jerry Marcinak, 6'2", 236 pounds, Chicago – started 9 games at right guard Gary McNitt, 5'9", 196 pounds, sophomore, Mesick, MI - halfback Brad Myers, 6'0", 196 pounds, junior, Evanston, IL – started 6 games at left halfback Harry Newman Jr., 5'9", 185 pounds, sophomore, Franklin, MI - halfback Stan Noskin, 5'11", 180 pounds, junior, Chicago - quarterback Douglas F. Oppman, 5'10", 192 pounds, junior, Gary, IN - guard Paul Poulos, 5'11", 198 pounds, junior, Freedom, PA - guard Gary Prahst, 6'4", 220 pounds, senior, Berea, OH – started 9 games at left end Bob Ptacek, 6'1", 204 pounds, senior, Cleveland – started 9 games at quarterback Gene Sisinyak, 6'0", 195 pounds, sophomore, Monroe, MI – started 4 games at fullback Gerald Smith, 5'11", 185 pounds, junior, Detroit - center Willie Smith, 6'2", 243 pounds, senior, Little Rock, AR – tackle John Spidel, 5'11", 180 pounds, senior, Greenville, OH - quarterback Maynard Stetten, 6'2", 206 pounds, senior, Gibraltar, MI - tackle William R. Stine, 6'1", 215 pounds, sophomore, Toledo, OH - tackle Richard Syring, 6'0", 189 pounds, sophomore, Bay City, OH - center James Sytek, 5'11", 194 pounds, senior, Detroit - quarterback John C. Walker, 6'0", 195 pounds, sophomore, Milford, MI - fullback John Zachary, 5'9", 174 pounds, senior, Chicago - halfback

Non-letter winners Tony Rio, 6'0", 189 pounds, senior, Chicago – started 2 games at fullback

Freshmen George Mans, 6'4", 205 pounds, Trenton, MI - end Bennie McRae, 6'0", 170 pounds, Newport News, VA - halfback John Stamos, 6'2", 200 pounds, Chicago - quarterback Bill Tunnicliff, 6'1", 200 pounds, Ferndale, MI - fullback

Coaches and staff Head coach: Bennie Oosterbaan Assistant coaches: Jack Blott - line coach Don Dufek, Sr. - freshman coach Bump Elliott - backfield coach Bob Hollway - assistant line coach Cliff Keen - assistant football coach, head wrestling coach Matt Patanelli - end coach Wally Weber - recruiting and eligibility Trainer: Jim Hunt Equipment manager - Henry Hatch Manager: Tom Hitchman

Awards and honors Team honors and awards for the 1958 season went to the following individuals. Captain: John Herrnstein Most Valuable Player: Bob Ptacek Meyer Morton Award: Dick Syring John Maulbetsch Award: John Walker

References