1989 Michigan Wolverines football team

The 1989 Michigan Wolverines football team was an American football team that represented the University of Michigan as a member of the Big Ten Conference during the 1989 NCAA Division I-A football season. In its 21st and final season under head coach Bo Schembechler, the team compiled a 10–2 record (8–0 against conference opponents), won the Big Ten championship, lost to USC in the 1990 Rose Bowl, outscored opponents by a total of 335 to 184, and was ranked No. 7 and No. 8, respectively, in the final AP and UPI polls.^[1][2]

1989 Michigan Wolverines football
Big Ten champion
Rose Bowl, L 10–17 vs. USC
Conference	Big Ten Conference
Ranking
Coaches	No. 8
AP	No. 7
Record	10–2 (8–0 Big Ten)
Head coach	Bo Schembechler (21st season)
Offensive coordinator	Gary Moeller (3rd season)
Defensive coordinator	Lloyd Carr (3rd season)
MVP	Tony Boles
Captains	J. J. Grant Derrick Walker
Home stadium	Michigan Stadium (Capacity: 101,701)
Seasons ← 1988 1990 →

1989 Big Ten Conference football standings

v t e	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
No. 7 Michigan $	8	–	0	–	0			10	–	2	–	0
No. 10 Illinois	7	–	1	–	0			10	–	2	–	0
No. 16 Michigan State	6	–	2	–	0			8	–	4	–	0
No. 24 Ohio State	6	–	2	–	0			8	–	4	–	0
Minnesota	4	–	4	–	0			6	–	5	–	0
Indiana	3	–	5	–	0			5	–	6	–	0
Iowa	3	–	5	–	0			5	–	6	–	0
Purdue	2	–	6	–	0			3	–	8	–	0
Wisconsin	1	–	7	–	0			2	–	9	–	0
Northwestern	0	–	8	–	0			0	–	11	–	0
$ – Conference champion Rankings from AP Poll

The team's statistical leaders included quarterback Michael Taylor with 1,081 passing yards, tailback Tony Boles with 839 rushing yards, and split end Greg McMurtry with 711 receiving yards, and placekicker J.D. Carlson with 73 points scored.^[3]

Defensive back Tripp Welborne was a consensus first-team selection to the 1989 All-America college football team. Six Michigan players received first-team honors on the 1989 All-Big Ten Conference football team.

The Wolverines lost their season opener to Notre Dame but won ten consecutive games to finish the regular season. Highlights of the winning streak included the defeat of Minnesota by 34 points for the Little Brown Jug and a victory over Ohio State in their home finale.

Schembechler retired after the Rose Bowl.

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Rank	Site	TV	Result	Attendance	Source
September 16	3:30 p.m.	No. 1 Notre Dame*	No. 2	Michigan Stadium Ann Arbor, MI (rivalry)	ABC	L 19–24	105,912
September 23	8:00 p.m.	at No. 24 UCLA*	No. 5	Rose Bowl Pasadena, CA	ABC	W 24–23	71,797
September 30	1:00 p.m.	Maryland*	No. 6	Michigan Stadium Ann Arbor, MI		W 41–21	104,872	^[4]
October 7	1:00 p.m.	Wisconsin	No. 5	Michigan Stadium Ann Arbor, MI		W 24–0	104,097
October 14	3:30 p.m.	at No. 21 Michigan State	No. 5	Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI (rivalry)	ABC	W 10–7	76,913
October 21	3:30 p.m.	at Iowa	No. 5	Kinnick Stadium Iowa City, IA	ABC	W 26–12	67,700
October 28	12:00 p.m.	Indiana	No. 5	Michigan Stadium Ann Arbor, MI	ABC	W 38–10	105,989
November 4	1:00 p.m.	Purdue	No. 4	Michigan Stadium Ann Arbor, MI		W 42–27	105,128
November 11	3:30 p.m.	at No. 8 Illinois	No. 3	Memorial Stadium Champaign, Il	ABC	W 24–10	73,069
November 18	12:30 p.m.	at Minnesota	No. 3	Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome Minneapolis, MN (Little Brown Jug)	ESPN	W 49–15	35,103
November 25	12:00 p.m.	No. 20 Ohio State	No. 3	Michigan Stadium Ann Arbor, MI (rivalry)	ABC	W 28–18	106,137
January 1, 1990	4:45 p.m.	vs. No. 12 USC*	No. 3	Rose Bowl Pasadena, CA (Rose Bowl)	ABC	L 10–17	103,450
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game All times are in Eastern time

Game summaries

Notre Dame

See also: Michigan–Notre Dame football rivalry

#1 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (1–0) at #2 Michigan Wolverines (0–0)

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Notre Dame	0	7	10	7	24
Michigan	0	6	0	13	19

at Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, Michigan

• Date: September 16
• Game time: 3:30 p.m. EDT
• Game weather: Rain
• Game attendance: 105,912
• TV announcers (ABC): Keith Jackson and Bob Griese
• Recap/Box Score

Game information

First quarter No scoring Second quarter ND – Anthony Johnson 6-yard pass from Tony Rice (Craig Hentrich kick), 5:05. Notre Dame 7–0. Drive: 24 yards. MICH – Chris Calloway 9-yard pass from Michael Taylor (kick failed), 0:25. Notre Dame 7–6. Drive: 50 yards. Third quarter ND – Raghib Ismail 89-yard kickoff return (Craig Hentrich kick), 14:49. Notre Dame 14–6. ND – Craig Hentrich 30-yard field goal, 4:28. Notre Dame 17–6. Fourth quarter MICH – Derrick Walker 5-yard pass from Elvis Grbac (pass failed), 12:58. Notre Dame 17–12. Drive: 12 plays. ND – Raghib Ismail 92-yard kickoff return (Craig Hentrich kick), 12:46. Notre Dame 24–13. MICH – Greg McMurtry 4-yard pass from Elvis Grbac (J.D. Carlson kick), 4:08. Notre Dame 24–19. Drive: 13 plays, 67 yards. Top passers ND – Tony Rice – 1/2, 6 yards, TD MICH – Elvis Grbac – 17/21, 134 yards, 2 TD Top rushers ND – Anthony Johnson – 20 rushes, 80 yards MICH – Leroy Hoard – 15 rushes, 56 yards Top receivers ND – Anthony Johnson – 1 reception, 6 yards, TD MICH – Greg McMurtry – 4 receptions, 51 yards, TD

At UCLA

Maryland

Wisconsin

At Michigan State

See also: Paul Bunyan Trophy

#5 Michigan Wolverines (3–1) at #21 Michigan State Spartans (2–2)

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Michigan	7	3	0	0	10
Michigan St	0	0	0	7	7

at Spartan Stadium, East Lansing, Michigan

• Date: October 14, 1989
• Game time: 3:30 p.m.
• Game weather: Sunny, 82 °F (28 °C)
• Game attendance: 76,913
• Referee: Ron Winter
• TV: ABC
• Box Score

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Michigan	Passing	Elvis Grbac	8/15, 76 Yds, INT
	Rushing	Tony Boles	22 Rush, 100 Yds
	Receiving	Greg McMurtry	2 Rec, 33 Yds
Michigan St	Passing	Dan Enos	21/31, 214 Yds, TD, 2 INT
	Rushing	Blake Ezor	27 Rush, 69 Yds
	Receiving	Courtney Hawkins	8 Rec, 89 Yds, TD

Scoring summary

Quarter Time Drive Team Scoring information Score Plays Yards TOP UM MSU 1 12:20 12 61 6:31 Michigan Leroy Hoard 1-yard touchdown run, J.D. Carlson kick good 7 0 2 5:44 13 56 6:00 Michigan 35-yard field goal by J.D. Carlson 10 0 4 9:51 8 52 3:16 Michigan St Courtney Hawkins 4-yard touchdown reception from Dan Enos, John Langeloh kick good 10 7 "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. 10 7

At Iowa

Indiana

Purdue

Purdue Boilermakers (1–6) at #4 Michigan Wolverines (6–1)

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Purdue	0	7	0	20	27
Michigan	7	21	7	7	42

at Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, Michigan

• Date: November 4, 1989
• Game time: 1:00 p.m.
• Game weather: Overcast, 44 °F (7 °C)
• Game attendance: 105, 126
• Box Score

^[5]

External videos
Game highlights

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Purdue	Passing	Eric Hunter	27/42, 344 Yds, 4 TD, 2 INT
	Rushing	Jerome Sparkman	11 Rush, 50 Yds
	Receiving	Calvin Williams	13 Rec, 156 Yds, 3 TD
Michigan	Passing	Michael Taylor	8/13, 124 Yds, TD
	Rushing	Tony Boles	13 Rush, 80 Yds, 2 TD
	Receiving	Chris Calloway	3 Rec, 68 Yds, TD

Scoring summary

Quarter Time Drive Team Scoring information Score Plays Yards TOP PU UM 1 9:16 4 77 1:23 Michigan Tony Boles 39-yard touchdown run, J.D. Carlson kick good 0 7 2 12:50 3 9 1:17 Michigan Desmond Howard 8-yard touchdown reception from Michael Taylor, J.D. Carlson kick good 0 14 2 5:46 8 77 3:25 Purdue Calvin Williams 44-yard touchdown reception from Eric Hunter, Larry Sullivan kick good 7 14 2 2:31 8 80 3:15 Michigan Tony Boles 1-yard touchdown run, J.D. Carlson kick good 7 21 2 0:09 5 79 0:55 Michigan Chris Calloway 29-yard touchdown reception from Elvis Grbac, J.D. Carlson kick good 7 28 3 1:10 3 16 0:57 Michigan Leroy Hoard 2-yard touchdown run, J.D. Carlson kick good 7 35 4 13:03 1 11 0:06 Purdue Robert Oglesby 11-yard touchdown reception from Eric Hunter, Larry Sullivan kick good 14 35 4 12:52 Michigan Kickoff returned 85 yards for touchdown by Tony Boles, J.D. Carlson kick good 14 42 4 6:48 3 34 1:19 Purdue Calvin Williams 3-yard touchdown reception from Eric Hunter, Larry Sullivan kick good 21 42 4 2:33 4 61 1:14 Purdue Calvin Williams 15-yard touchdown reception from Eric Hunter, Larry Sullivan kick no good (wide right) 27 42 "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. 27 42

At Illinois

At Minnesota

See also: Little Brown Jug

#3 Michigan Wolverines (8–1) at Minnesota Golden Gophers (5–4)

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Michigan	0	28	7	14	49
Minnesota	7	0	8	0	15

at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota

• Date: November 18, 1989
• Game time: 11:30 a.m. CDT
• Game weather: Indoors (dome)
• Game attendance: 35,103
• Referee: Jerry Hendrickson
• TV: ESPN
• Box Score

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Michigan	Passing	Michael Taylor	12/16, 231 Yds, 4 TD
	Rushing	Leroy Hoard	11 Rush, 90 Yds, TD
	Receiving	Greg McMurtry	7 Rec, 165 Yds, 3 TD
Minnesota	Passing	Marquel Fleetwood	11/23, 100 Yds, 2 INT
	Rushing	Darrell Thompson	18 Rush, 50 Yds, TD
	Receiving	Pat Tinglehoff	7 Rec, 77 Yds

Scoring summary

Quarter Time Drive Team Scoring information Score Plays Yards TOP MICH MINN 1 10:08 12 76 4:52 Minnesota Darrell Thompson 1-yard touchdown run, Brent Berglund kick good 0 7 2 9:24 7 88 3:23 Michigan Greg McMurtry 34-yard touchdown reception from Michael Taylor, J.D. Carlson kick good 7 7 2 4:14 5 59 1:43 Michigan Greg McMurtry 34-yard touchdown reception from Michael Taylor, J.D. Carlson kick good 14 7 2 2:06 1 44 0:15 Michigan Leroy Hoard 29-yard touchdown run, J.D. Carlson kick good 21 7 2 0:45 3 75 0:23 Michigan Greg McMurtry 25-yard touchdown reception from Michael Taylor, J.D. Carlson kick good 28 7 3 9:48 10 77 5:12 Michigan Allen Jefferson 3-yard touchdown reception from Michael Taylor, J.D. Carlson kick good 35 7 3 0:00 10 36 5:10 Minnesota Marquel Fleetwood 2-yard touchdown run, 2-point run good 35 15 4 11:03 8 80 3:57 Michigan Allen Jefferson 15-yard touchdown run, J.D. Carlson kick good 42 15 4 3:43 6 60 3:07 Michigan Desmond Howard 19-yard touchdown reception from Elvis Grbac, Gulam Khan kick good 49 15 "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. 49 15

Ohio State

#20 Ohio State Buckeyes (8–2) at #3 Michigan Wolverines (9–1)

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Ohio St	0	3	9	6	18
Michigan	7	7	0	14	28

at Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, Michigan

• Date: November 25
• Game weather: Partly sunny, 46 °F (8 °C)
• Game attendance: 106,137
• TV: ABC

Game information

First quarter MICH – Leroy Hoard 1-yard run (J.D. Carlson kick), 3:13. Michigan 7–0. Drive: 9 plays, 47 yards, 3:04. Second quarter MICH – Allen Jefferson 2-yard run (J.D. Carlson kick), 2:23. Michigan 14–0. Drive: 13 plays, 81 yards, 6:28. OSU – Pat O'Morrow 20-yard field goal, 0:25. Michigan 14–3. Drive: 7 plays, 65 yards, 1:58. Third quarter OSU – Pat O'Morrow 22-yard field goal, 10:45. Michigan 14–6. Drive: 8 plays, 49 yards, 2:24. OSU – Scottie Graham 3-yard run (run failed), 4:03. Michigan 14–12. Drive: 9 plays, 40 yards, 5:11. Fourth quarter MICH – Jarrod Bunch 5-yard pass from Michael Taylor (J.D. Carlson kick), 12:22. Michigan 21–12. Drive: 6 plays, 53 yards, 2:32. OSU – Scottie Graham 4-yard run (kick blocked), 7:04. Michigan 21–18. Drive: 11 plays, 80 yards, 5:18. MICH – Jarrod Bunch 23-yard run (J.D. Carlson kick), 1:20. Michigan 28–18. Drive: 7 plays, 59 yards, 1:28. Top passers OSU – Greg Frey – 14/25, 220 yards, 2 INT MICH – Michael Taylor – 8/16, 100 yards, TD Top rushers OSU – Scottie Graham – 28 rushes, 133 yards, 2 TD MICH – Leroy Hoard – 21 rushes, 152 yards, TD Top receivers OSU – Jim Palmer – 5 receptions, 61 yards MICH – Greg McMurtry – 3 receptions, 39 yards

Todd Plate's second interception of the day with 2:48 left in the game sealed the game and the Big Ten title for the Wolverines. ^[6]

Rose Bowl (vs USC)

1 2 3 4 Total • USC 0 10 0 7 17 Michigan 0 3 7 0 10 Location: Rose Bowl, Pasadena, CA

Scoring summary Q2 USC Marinovich 1-yard run (Rodriguez kick) USC 7–0 Q2 6:28 MICH Carlson 19-yard field goal USC 7–3 Q2 USC Rodriguez 34-yard field goal USC 10–3 Q3 MICH Jeffereson 2-yard run (Carlson kick) Tied 10–10 Q4 USC Ervins 9 yard run (Rodriguez kick) USC 17–10

Main article: 1990 Rose Bowl

See also: 1989 USC Trojans football team

The 1990 Rose Bowl was a rematch of the previous Rose Bowl in which Michigan won 22 to 14. Prior to the contest, Bo Schembechler had announced he would retire.^[7] USC scored the first points in the second quarter with a one-yard run by Todd Marinovich. Michigan got a field goal to make it 7 to 3 but the Trojans added another field goal before the half to take a 10 to 3 lead at halftime. Although Michigan tied the score, Ricky Ervins had a fourteen-yard touchdown run which clinched the Rose Bowl for the Trojans.^[8]

Personnel

1989 Michigan Wolverines football team roster
Players			Coaches
Offense Pos. # Name Class WR 1 Derrick Alexander Fr RB 46 Tony Boles Sr FB 32 Jarrod Bunch Sr WR 16 Alfie Burch Fr WR 2 Chris Calloway Sr G 68 Joe Cocozzo So TE 48 Dave Diebolt Fr G 78 Dean Dingman Jr OL 70 Robert Doherty So OT 73 Tom Dohring Sr G, C 51 Steve Everitt So QB 15 Elvis Grbac So FB 33 Leroy Hoard Sr WR 21 Desmond Howard So RB 28 Allen Jefferson Sr WR 84 Dan Jokish Jr WR 21 David Knight Sr FB 46 Burnie Legette Fr TE 82 Tony McGee Fr WR 1 Greg McMurtry Sr FB Bill Prichard G Marc Ramirez Sr OT 72 Doug Skene So OT 75 Greg Skrepenak Jr QB Ken Sollom Jr QB 9 Michael Taylor Sr WR Yale Van Dyne Jr RB 25 Jon Vaughan So TE 89 Derrick Walker Sr TE 27 Steve Zacharias Sr	Defense Pos. # Name Class OLB 24 Bobby Abrams Sr OLB 37 Erick Anderson Jr ILB 49 Chris Bohn Jr S 20 Corwin Brown So MG 61 Dave Caputo Jr OLB 86 Martin Davis So CB 22 Lance Dottin Jr DT 61 Mike Evans Jr LB 57 Chris Feaster Sr LB 41 Rusty Fitchner Jr ILB 95 J.J. Grant Sr DT 97 Chris Hutchinson So CB 26 David Key Sr ILB 39 Curt Mallory So OLB 59 Alex Marshall Jr DT 50 Matt McCoy Sr ILB 30 John Milligan Sr S 27 Vada Murray Sr DT 94 T.J. Osman Sr CB 63 Todd Plate Sr S 29 David Ritter Jr OLB 65 Cornelius Simpson Jr ILB 58 Scott Smykowski Sr ILB 55 Marc Spencer Sr DT 60 Buster Stanley Fr MG 91 Mike Teeter Sr OLB 45 Brian Townsend Jr ILB 61 Eric Taupe Jr DB 5 Coleman Wallace So CB 8 Dwayne Ware So S 3 Tripp Welborne Sr DT 88 Brent White Sr OLB 85 Timothy Williams Sr	Special teams Pos. # Name Class K 38 J.D. Carlson Jr K 12 Gulam Kahn Sr P 81 Chris Stapleton Fr	Head coach Bo Schembechler Coordinators/assistant coaches Tirrel Burton Cam Cameron Lloyd Carr Jerry Hanlon Bill Harris Jim Herrmann Les Miles Gary Moeller Bobby Morrison Tom Reed Legend (C) Team captain (S) Suspended (I) Ineligible   Injured   Redshirt Roster

Player statistics

Passing	AT	CMP	Pct.	YDS
Michael Taylor	122	74	.61	1081
Rushing	Yds	Att	Avg
Tony Boles	839	131	6.4
Receiving	Rec	Yds	Avg
Greg McMurtry	41	711	17.3

Awards and honors

• All-Americans: Tripp Welborne
• All-Conference: Tony Boles, J.D. Carlson, Dean Dingman, Derrick Walker, Tripp Welborne
• Most Valuable Player: Tony Boles
• Meyer Morton Award: Chris Calloway
• John Maulbetsch Award: Steve Everitt
• Frederick Matthei Award: Dean Dingman
• Arthur Robinson Scholarship Award: Tim Williams
• Dick Katcher Award: Mike Teeter
• Hugh Rader Jr. Award: Derrick Walker
• Robert P. Ufer Award: Chris Calloway

Professional football

The following players were claimed in the 1990 NFL Draft.

Player	Position	Round	Pick	NFL club
Leroy Hoard	Running Back	2	45	Cleveland Browns
Greg McMurtry	Wide Receiver	3	80	New England Patriots
Chris Calloway	Wide Receiver	4	97	Pittsburgh Steelers
Derrick Walker	Tight End	6	163	San Diego Chargers

^[9]

A total of 25 players from the 1989 team went on to play professional football. They are Bobby Abrams (New York Giants 1990-91, Cleveland Browns 1992, New York Giants 1992, Dallas Cowboys 1992-93, Minnesota Vikings 1993-94, New England Patriots 1995), Derrick Alexander (Cleveland Browns 1994–95, Baltimore Ravens 1996–97, Kansas City Chiefs 1998–01, Minnesota Vikings 2002), Erick Anderson (Kansas City Chiefs 1992-93, Washington Redskins 1994-95), Tony Boles (Dallas Cowboys 1991; San Antonio Riders 1992), Jarrod Bunch (New York Giants 1991–93, Los Angeles Raiders 1994), Corwin Brown (New England Patriots 1993–96, New York Jets 1997–98, Detroit Lions 1999–00), Chris Calloway (Pittsburgh Steelers 1990-91, New York Giants 1992-98, Atlanta Falcons 1999, New England Patriots 2000), Joe Cocozzo (San Diego Chargers 1993-97), Tom Dohring (Kansas City Chiefs 1992), Matt Elliott (Washington Redskins 1992, Carolina Panthers 1995-97), Steve Everitt (Cleveland Browns 1993-95, Baltimore Ravens 1996, Philadelphia Eagles 1997-99), Elvis Grbac (San Francisco 49ers 1993-96, Kansas City Chiefs 1997-00, Baltimore Ravens 2001), Leroy Hoard (Cleveland Browns 1990-95, Baltimore Ravens 1996, Carolina Panthers 1996, Minnesota Vikings 1996-99), Desmond Howard (Washington Redskins 1992-94, Jacksonville Jaguars 1995, Green Bay Packers 1996, Oakland Raiders 1997-98, Green Bay Packers 1999, Detroit Lions 2000-02), Burnie Legette (New England Patriots 1993-94), Tony McGee (Cincinnati Bengals 1993-01, Dallas Cowboys 2002-03, New York Giants 2003), Greg McMurtry (New England Patriots 1990-93, Chicago Bears 1994), Doug Skene (New England Patriots 1994), Greg Skrepenak (Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders 1992-95, Carolina Panthers 1996-97), Buster Stanley (New England Patriots 1994, Rhein Fire 1996-97, Grand Rapids Rampage 1999-00), Mike Teeter (Indianapolis Colts 1990, Frankfurt Galaxy 1991, Minnesota Vikings 1991, Houston Oilers 1993–94, Carolina Panthers 1995), Brian Townsend (Cincinnati Bengals 1992), Jon Vaughn (New England Patriots 1991-92, Seattle Seahawks 1993-94, Kansas City Chiefs 1994), Derrick Walker (San Diego Chargers 1990-93, Kansas City Chiefs 1994-97, Oakland Raiders 1999), and Tripp Welborne (Minnesota Vikings 1992).

References

1. "1989 Football Team". Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan. Retrieved February 3, 2020.
2. "1989 Michigan Wolverines Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved February 3, 2020.
3. "1989 Michigan Wolverines Stats". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved February 3, 2020.
4. "Michigan air show blitzes Maryland". Detroit Free Press. October 1, 1989. Retrieved February 3, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
5. Gainesville Sun. 1989 Nov 5.
6. "Michigan hoards the spotlight." Eugene Register-Guard. 1989 Nov 26.
7. Jenkins, Sally (December 14, 1989). "Schembechler Announces Retirement". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 8, 2023.
8. . Archived from the original on December 2, 2008. Retrieved December 23, 2008.
9. . Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on December 20, 2007.

External links

• 1989 Football Team – Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan Athletics History