The 1915 Michigan Wolverines football team was an American football team that represented the University of Michigan as an independent during the 1915 college football season. In its 15th season under head coach was Fielding H. Yost the team compiled a 4–3–1 record and outscored opponents by a total of 130 to 81. After winning its first four games, the Wolverines lost three consecutive games.

Right guard William D. Cochran was the team captain. Key players included left halfback John Maulbetsch, quarterback Lawrence Roehm, fullback Cedric C. Smith, center Walter Niemann, and guard Frank Millard. Maulbetch was selected as a first-team All-American by Tommy Clark and as a second-team player by Walter Eckersall and Monty. He also received the Heston-Schulz Trophy as the team's most valuable player.

Schedule

Roster

Letter winners Clyde E. Bastian HalfbackFullback01 Williamsport, PA 5-8 168 22 James Bland CatlettJames Bland Catlett, born February 21, 1893, Estelline, South Dakota. Died September 22, 1986, San Antonio, Texas. Halfback 3 Brookings, SD William D. Cochran Guard8 Houghton, MI 5-8 235 Maurice F. DunneMaurice Francis Dunne, born March 12, 1895, River Forest, Illinois. His father, Edward F. Dunne, was the mayor of Chicago from 1905 to 1907 and governor of Illinois from 1913 to 1917. After graduating from Michigan, he became a lawyer practicing in Chicago. He was also the proprietor of a business manufacturing foundry tools. He died in August 1974 at Evanston, Illinois. End 3 Springfield, IL 6-0 164 John Maulbetsch Halfback 7 Ann Arbor, MI5-8 168 Frank Millard Guard 3Ann Arbor, MI 5-7 212 Walter Neimann CenterEnd31 Hermansville, MI 5-11 165 21 John K. NortonTackleCenterGuard 321Ontonagon, MI Fred Rehor Guard 2Hastings, MI 6-0 262 21 Lawrence Roehm Quarterback 7Detroit, MI5-8½ 16822 Cedric C. Smith Fullback 5Bay City, MI 6-0 190 20 Karl S. StaatzStaatz was born August 21, 1890. He graduated from the University of Washington in 1912. He became a surgeon. He died July 1973. End 5Tacoma, WA 5-10 16822 Robert W. WatsonRobert William Watson, born April 20, 1893, Ludington, Michigan. Tackle 8Ludington, MI 5-9 174 Richard F. "Dick" WeskeRichard Ferdinand Weske, sometimes listed as Ferdinand Richard Weske, born August 15, 1894, in Petrograd, Russia (now known as Saint Petersburg). He came to the United States in June 1903 with his parents, Peter and Agnela Weske, and sister, Juliana. He was raised in New London, Connecticut. At the time of the 1910 Census, he was living in New London with his father, Peter (a 41-year-old machinist), and sister Juliana (age 14). He became a naturalized U.S. citizen and enrolled at the University of Michigan as an engineering student. At the time of the 1930 Census, he was living in Salt Lake City with his wife Wanda, daughters Jacqueline and Juliana, and was working as a civil engineer for a railroad. He died in October 1971 in Nevada City, Nevada.GuardTackle02New London, CT 6-0 190 James L. WhalenJames Lawrence Whalen, born January 17, 1893, Savannah, New York. He was a student at Michigan when the U.S. entered World War I. He entered Ft. Sheridan R.O.T.C. as a reserve officer. He served as a 2nd Lieutenant with the American Expeditionary Forces in France.TackleGuardEnd 211 Savannah, NY 5-10 188

Reserves Leland Benton, Valparaiso, IN, started 3 games at end, 4 games at halfback Alan W. Boyd,Alan W. Boyd, born March 11, 1897, Indianapolis, Indiana. He was awarded the medal for being Michigan's best athlete and student for the year 1917–1918. He became a lawyer practicing in Indiana. He died in May 1987 in Indianapolis. Indianapolis, IN, started 1 game at guard Harry L. Calvin, Jr., Detroit, MI, quarterback Otto Eberwein,Otto Eberwein was born July 22, 1893, died October 1968. Ann Arbor, MI, started 2 games at halfback Egmont Goetz Hildner,Hildner was born December 29, 1894, died January 1966. Ann Arbor, MI, started 2 games at end Hepburn Ingham, Des Moines, IA, started 1 game at end Hoyne Howe, Oak Park, IL, started 3 games center Philip T. Raymond,Philip Titus Raymond, born July 29, 1894, Dundee, Michigan. He served as an ensign in the engineering branch of the U.S. Navy during World War I. He was the superintendent of a construction company in Saginaw, Michigan, in 1921. In 1930, he was living in Miami, Florida, working as an engineer in building construction. He died January 16, 1966, El Cajon, California. Saginaw, MI, started 2 games at fullback Lewis Reimann, Iron River, MI, started 1 game at tackle James H. Sharpe,James Harrison Sharpe, born October 26, 1896, Sault Ste Marie, Michigan. He served in the U.S. Field Artillery Service in France from October to December 1918. He worked as a mechanical engineer in Sault Ste. Marie. He died at Lakewood, Ohio, June 30, 1957. Sault Ste. Marie, MI, halfback Harold M. Zeigler,Harold Morris Zeiger, born December 8, 1895, in Colorado. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War I. At the time of the 1920 Census, he lived in Long Beach, California, and working as a salesman of auto supplies. In 1930, he was living in Long Beach, working as a petroleum inspector. He died October 12, 1984, Rialto, California. Pueblo, CO, started 1 game at quarterback

Awards and honors Captain: William D. Cochran All-Americans: John Maulbetsch (Walter Eckersall, 2nd team; Monty, 2nd team; Tommy Clark, 1st team) Heston-Schulz Trophy (team MVP): John Maulbetsch

Coaching staff Head coach: Fielding H. Yost Assistant coaches: Ernest Allmendinger (Second Assistant Coach), Prentiss Douglass, Ralph A. McGinnis (Third Assistant Coach), James Raynsford, Germany Schulz (First Assistant Coach) Trainer: Stephen Farrell Manager: Boyd M. Compton

References

External links 1915 Football Team -- Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan Athletics History 1915–1916 Michigan Alumnus 1916 Michiganensian - University of Michigan yearbook for the 1915–1916 academic year