The 1954 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1954 Big Ten Conference football season. In its seventh year under head coach Bennie Oosterbaan, Michigan compiled a 6–3 record (5–2 against conference opponents), tied for second place in the Big Ten, outscored opponents by a combined total of 139 to 87, and was ranked No. 15 in the final AP and Coaches Polls.
Left guard Ted Cachey was the team captain, and fullback Fred Baer received the team's most valuable player award,
Two Michigan players received All-American honors: left end Ron Kramer was selected as a first-team All-American by the Central Press Association, and left tackle Art Walker received first-team honors from the All-America Board and the Football Writers Association of America.
The team's statistical leaders included quarterback Jim Maddock with 293 passing yards, Fred Baer with 439 rushing yards, and Ron Kramer with 303 receiving yards.
Schedule
Statistical leaders Michigan's individual statistical leaders for the 1954 season include those listed below.(statistics retrieved by entering "1954" in the box for "Games & Totals by Season" and then, at the next screen, choosing "Display Season Totals")
Rushing Fred Baer1074394.13Dan Cline973403.53Ed Hickey451693.80 Lou Baldacci461523.34
Passing Jim Maddock3516545.729318.3133Dan Cline4315434.928118.7363Duncan McDonald3615641.723715.8132
Receiving Ron Kramer2330313.2229Lou Baldacci821126.4163Dan Cline66110.2033
Kickoff returns Dan Cline816420.5034Ed Hickey23216.0024
Punt returns Dan Cline131138.7022Tom Hendricks16767.01 67Terry Barr45614.0025Ron Kramer34314.3026
Scoring Ron Kramer 0 2 1 Blk Punt 14 13 31 Lou Baldacci 4 1 0 1 1 31 Fred Baer 3 0 0 0 0 18 Dan Cline 3 0 0 0 0 18
Personnel
Letter winners The following 33 players received varsity letters for their participation on the 1954 team. Players who started at least four games are shown with their names in bold.
Fred Baer, 5'11", 188 pounds, senior, LaGrange, IL – started 6 games at fullback Lou Baldacci, 6'1", 196 pounds, junior, Akron, OH – started 5 games at quarterback, 1 game at fullback Terry Barr, 6'1", 172 pounds, sophomore, Grand Rapids, MI - halfback James Bates, 6'0", 198 pounds, senior, Farmington, MI – started 4 games at center Tony Branoff, 5'11", 188 pounds, junior, Flint, MI – started 2 games at right halfback Charles Brooks, 6'1", 202 pounds, sophomore, Marshall, MI - end Ted Cachey, 5'10", 178 pounds, senior, Chicago – started 9 games at left guard Daniel Cline, 5'10" 175 pounds, senior, Brockport, NY – started 9 games at left halfback George Corey, 5'10", 163 pounds, junior, Baden, PA - halfback Don Drake, 5'11", 213 pounds, senior, Ypsilanti, MI - center Jim Fox, 6'0", 190 pounds, junior, Saginaw, MI - guard Ronald Geyer, 6'2", 225 pounds, senior, Toledo, OH – started 6 games at right tackle Jerry Goebel, 6'3", 214 pounds, sophomore, Grosse Pointe, MI - center Tom Hendricks, 5'11", 181 pounds, junior, Detroit - halfback Edward Hickey, 5'8", 173 pounds, senior, Anaconda, MT – started 1 game at right halfback Dave Hill, 6'0", 188 pounds, junior, Ypsilanti, MI – started 2 games at fullback Stan Knickerbocker, 5'11", 173 pounds, senior, Chelsea, MI - halfback Bill Kolesar, 6'0", 221 pounds, junior, Mentor, OH - tackle Ron Kramer, 6'3", 210 pounds, sophomore, East Detroit, MI – started 9 games at left end Jim Maddock, 6'0", 187 pounds, sophomore, Chicago – started 1 game at quarterback Tom Maentz, 6'2", 205 pounds, sophomore, Holland, MI – started 5 games at right end Bob Marion, 5'10", 192 pounds, junior, Muskegon Heights, MI - guard Duncan McDonald, 6'0", 170 pounds, senior, Flint, MI – started 3 games at quarterback Ed Meads, 6'0", 199 pounds, junior, Oxford, MI – started 9 games at right guard John Morrow, 6'2", 228 pounds, junior, Ann Arbor, MI – started 3 games at right tackle John Peckham, 6'2", 227 pounds, junior, Sioux Falls, SD – started 2 games at center Chuck Ritter, 6'0", 195 pounds, senior, Cassopolis, MI - guard Mike Rotunno, 6'0", 187 pounds, sophomore, Canton, OH - guard Ed Shannon, 5'8", 172 pounds, sophomore, River Forest, IL – started 6 games at right halfback Gene Snider, 6'0", 195 pounds, sophomore, Hamtramck, MI – started 3 games at center John Veselenak, 6'2", 192 pounds, senior, Flint, MI - end Art Walker, 5'11", 218 pounds, senior, South Haven, MI – started 9 games at left tackle Gerry Williams, 6'2", 189 pounds, junior, Flint, MI – started 4 games at right end
Coaches and staff Michigan's 1954 coaching, training, and support staff included the following persons. Head coach: Bennie Oosterbaan Assistant coaches: Jack Blott, Don Dufek, Robert Hollway, Cliff Keen, Pete Kinyon,Peter Chatfield Kinyon, born December 5, 1929, died November 16, 2012. Played football at Michigan 1948–1951 (varsity 1950–51). Coached football at Michigan 1954–56. Matt Patanelli, Don Robinson, Walter Weber, J. T. White Trainer: Jim Hunt Manager: Glenn Bearss
Awards and honors Honors and awards for the 1954 season went to the following individuals. Captain: Ted Cachey All-Americans: Art Walker All-Conference: Art Walker, Ron Kramer Most Valuable Player: Fred Baer Meyer Morton Award: Don Dugger
References