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1905 Michigan Wolverines football
Conference	Western Conference
Record	12–1 (2–1 Western)
Head coach	Fielding H. Yost (5th season)
Offensive scheme	Short punt
Captain	Fred Norcross
Home stadium	Regents Field
Seasons← 19041906 →

The 1905 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1905 Western Conference football season. The team's head football coach was Fielding H. Yost. The Wolverines played their home games at Regents Field. After winning the first 12 games of the season by a combined score of 495–0, the team lost the final game of the season by a score of 2–0 against the University of Chicago.

Schedule

Pre-season

The 1905 football team returned 11 varsity letter winners from the 1904 team. The only letter winners not returning from 1904 were Willie Heston and Babe Carter. Center Germany Schulz, who had played as a freshman in 1904, was expected to be the best center in the west during the 1905 season. The line also returned "Octopus" Graham, Henry Schulte, and Joe Curtis. Fred Norcross also returned as the team's starting quarterback. In the backfield, several players were in competition to replace Heston at left halfback. Tom Hammond returned at right halfback. At fullback, Frank Longman sustained a knee injury that was expected to keep him on the sidelines for the early part of the season. Track star John Garrels had shown promise in 1904 and was the fastest man on the Michigan team.

Game summaries

Michigan 65, Ohio Wesleyan 0

In the first game of the 1905 season was played on a warm day with the field at Ferry Field in excellent condition. Michigan defeated the team from Ohio Wesleyan University 65-0 and was reported to have "over, through and around" the opposition. Fred Norcross ran for 144 yards in the first half, including a 70-yard touchdown run. Hammond was Michigan's high scorer with 25 points on four touchdowns (five points each) and five point after touchdown kicks.

The game was played in halves of 18.5 minutes and 15 minutes. In the first game, Michigan scored 65 points in 33.5 minutes. Michigan's starting lineup was Garrels (left end), Curtis (left tackle), Love (left guard), Clement (center), Graham (right guard), Patrick (right tackle), Stuart (right end), Norcross (quarterback), Dunlap (left halfback), Workman (right halfback), Hammond (fullback).

Michigan 44, Kalamazoo 0

In the second game of the season, played at Ferry Field, Michigan defeated the team from Kalamazoo College 44-0. Despite the one-sided score, The Michigan Alumnus complained, "The whole offensive work was ragged and spiritless, the warm weather having much to do with this."

The game was played in halves of 20 minutes and 15 minutes. Through two games, Michigan had scored 109 points in 68.5 minutes. Michigan's starting lineup was Garrels (left end), Curtis (left tackle), Love (left guard), Clement (center), Graham (right guard), Patrick (right tackle), Stuart (right end), Norcross (quarterback), Dunlap (left halfback), Workman (right halfback), Rumney (fullback).

Michigan 36, Case 0

The third game of the season matched Michigan against Case. With most of the game played by the "scrubs," Michigan defeated Case 36-0. In his first start at left halfback, Paul Magoffin had a 75-yard run against Case.

The game was played in halves of 20 minutes each. Through three games, Michigan had scored 145 points in 108.5 minutes.

Michigan 23, Ohio Northern 0

Michigan played its fourth consecutive home game against Ohio Northern on October 11, 1905. The game was played on a wet field, and Michigan's play was described by The Michigan Alumnus as ragged. A highlight of the game was John Garrels' 65-yard run, "using the straight arm with good results."

The game was played in halves of 19 minutes and 10 minutes. Through four games, Michigan had scored 168 points in 137.5 minutes. Michigan's starting lineup was Garrels (left end), Curtis (left tackle), Love (left guard), Clement (center), Graham (right guard), Patrick (right tackle), Stuart (right end), Norcross (quarterback), Magoffin (left halfback), Workman (right halfback), Weeks (fullback).

Michigan 18, Vanderbilt 0

In the fifth game of the season, Vanderbilt, coached Yost's former player and assistant coach Dan McGugin, traveled to Ann Arbor. Michigan won the game 18-0. The game was played in halves of 25 minutes each. Through five games, Michigan had scored 186 points in 187.5 minutes. Michigan's starting lineup was Garrels (left end), Curtis (left tackle), Schulte (left guard), Schultz (center), Graham (right guard), Rheinschild (right tackle), Stuart (right end), Norcross (quarterback), Magoffin (left halfback), T. Hammond (right halfback), Weeks (fullback).

Cancelled game with Denison

Michigan had planned a mid-week game against Denison University for Wednesday, October 18, 1905. That game was cancelled due to rain and the wet condition of Ferry Field. The Michigan Alumnus noted: "It is not often that Michigan shirks the dampness, but Yost and Norcross feared to risk injuring any player so soon before the Nebraska game."

Michigan 31, Nebraska 0

On October 21, 1905, Michigan faced Nebraska. Although the final score was 31-0, The Michigan Alumnus noted that Michigan did not score in the first half and observed:

"Seldom has a more exciting contest been witnessed on Ferry Field . . . For the first time in the season the apostles of the 'hurry-up' gospel met foemen worthy of their very best efforts." The publication credited Michigan's second half scoring on Keene Fitzpatrick's training which lad left the Wolverines in "splendid physical condition." Tom Hammond scored 16 of Michigan's points on a touchdown, three point after touchdown kicks, and two field goals.

The game was played in halves of 35 minutes each. Through six games, Michigan had scored 217 points in 257.5 minutes.

Michigan 70, Albion 0

After the Nebraska game, Michigan faced Albion in a mid-week game in Ann Arbor. Despite the 70-0 score, and being held on downs only once, The Michigan Alumnus found the performance to be less than ideal: "The playing was rather ragged, the team work being decidedly below standard."

The game was played in halves of 25 minutes and 14.5 minutes. Through seven games, Michigan had scored 287 points in 297 minutes. Michigan's starting lineup was Garrels (left end), Curtis (left tackle), Love (left guard), Shultz (center), Graham (right guard), Rheinschild (right tackle), Newton (right end), Barlow (quarterback), Weeks (left halfback), Kanaja (right halfback), and Embs (fullback).

Michigan 48, Drake 0

On October 28, 1905, Yost faced another of his pupils. Willie Heston, who had accepted the position of head coach at Drake, brought his team to Ann Arbor. The Drake team was reported to have played "pluckily," but was "crippled and badly outclassed."

The game was played in halves of 25 minutes and 20 minutes. Through eight games, Michigan had scored 335 points in 342 minutes.

At the end of October, The Michigan Alumnus wrote that the team's "ragged work" had "marred" the early games. With the team's tendency to fumble, the publication wrote that "one would have thought the Wolverines' fingers had been greased." In comparing it to Yost's prior teams, the Alumnus wrote: "It is not, perhaps, the best team which Yost has ever coached. In all probability the team of 1901 could defeat it by two or three touchdowns."

Michigan 33, Illinois 0

On November 4, 1905, Michigan played its first road game of the season against Illinois. The running and punting of Alfred Barlow, substituting at quarterback, were reported to be features of the game.

The game was played in halves of 35 minutes each. Through nine games, Michigan had scored 368 points in 412 minutes. Michigan's starting lineup was Garrels (left end), Curtis (left tackle), Schulte (left guard),Schultz (center), Graham (right guard), Rheinschild (right tackle), H. Hammond (right end), Workman (quarterback), T. Hammond (right halfback), Magoffin (left halfback), Clark (fullback).

Michigan 40, Ohio State 0

The Wolverines returned to Ann Arbor for their November 8 game against Ohio State. Michigan played many of its substitutes in the game, starting Barlow at quarterback and Fred Newton at fullback. The game featured a 105-yard run by Barlow, described as "the longest ever seen on Ferry Field." Barlow returned a missed dropkick from five yards deep in Michigan's endzone. Almost tackled at the 40-yard line, Barlow was aided by his teammates' blocking and returned the ball all the way for a touchdown. A large number of Ohio State fans attended the game, and the supporters of the two schools were reported to be on such friendly terms that the Ohio State band played "Men of Yost," and the Michigan supporters "returned the compliment by giving the Ohio yell."

The game was played in halves of 35 minutes each. Through ten games, Michigan had scored 408 points in 482 minutes.

Michigan 12, Wisconsin 0

On November 18, 1905, Wisconsin traveled to Ann Arbor. In front of a crowd estimated at nearly 18,000 people, Michigan won by a score of 12-0. During the second half, a temporary bleacher with 2,000 persons on it collapsed. Three or four spectators sustained "more or less severe injuries," but none were killed. A warning was given before the collapse that the timber was weakening, the statement was reported to have not been taken seriously. Frank Longman scored both of Michigan's touchdowns, and Tom Hammond converted on both point after touchdown kicks.

The game was played in halves of 35 minutes each. Through 11 games, Michigan had scored 420 points in 552 minutes. Michigan's starting lineup was Garrels (left end), Curtis (left tackle), Schulte (left guard), Schultz (center), Graham (right guard), Rheinschild (right tackle), H. Hammond (right end), Norcross (quarterback), Weeks (left halfback), T. Hammond (right halfback), Longman (fullback).

Michigan 75, Oberlin 0

On November 25, 1905, Michigan defeated the Oberlin Congregationalists 75-0. The Michigan Alumnus noted that Oberlin came close to scoring in the game: "It was a comedy that was almost turned into a tragedy when the plucky Congregationalist end, Featherstone, got away with the ball. Barlow missed him, and had not Schultz succeeded in reaching him Michigan would surely have been scored on."

The game was played in halves of 25 minutes and 19 minutes. Through 12 games, Michigan had scored 495 points in 596 minutes. Michigan's starting lineup was Garrels (left end), Curtis (left tackle), Clement (left guard), Schultz (center), Graham (right guard), Love (right tackle), H. Hammond (right end), Barlow (quarterback), Patrick (left halfback), Clark (right halfback), Embs (fullback).

Chicago 2, Michigan 0

The game, dubbed "The First Greatest Game of the Century," broke Michigan's 56-game unbeaten streak and marked the end of the "Point-a-Minute" years. The 1905 Michigan team had outscored opponents 495-0 in its first 12 games. The game was lost in the final ten minutes of play when Denny Clark was tackled for a safety as he attempted to return a punt from behind the goal line. Newspapers described Clark's play as "the wretched blunder" and a "lapse of brain work." Clark transferred to M.I.T. the following year and was haunted by the play for the rest of his life. In 1932, he shot himself, leaving a suicide note that reportedly expressed hope that his "final play" would atone for his error at Marshall Field in 1905.

The game was played in halves of 35 minutes each. Through 13 games, Michigan scored 495 points in 666 minutes.

Scoring summary

The following chart accounts for the 495 points scored by the 1905 football team and is based on the box scores published in 1905 by the Detroit Free Press and The Michigan Alumnus.

Players

Varsity letter winners

The following 15 players received varsity "M" letters for their participation on the 1905 football team:

Reserves

The following 25 players received "R" letters for their participation on the 1905 football team:

• Eugene G. Ackerman, Martinsville, New York
• Alexander M. Barnes, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
• Edward Munroe Benson, Detroit, MI
• Carl Bergin, Lowell, Michigan
• William Casey, Cedar Falls, Iowa
• Albert R. Chandler, Salem, Massachusetts
• Carl Howard Clement, Brooklyn, New York - started 4 games at center, 1 game at left guard
• Frank Doty, Pontiac, Michigan
• Lewis Dunlap - started 3 games at left halfback, 1 game at right halfback
• William John Embs, Escanaba, Michigan - started 3 games at fullback
• Albert de Valois Evans, Cheboygan, Michigan
• Mason Gray, Pontiac, Michigan
• Ben Harris, Salt Lake City, Utah
• Guy T. Helvering, Beattie, Kansas (later served in U.S. Congress)
• Eber Dunbar Kanaga, Charlevoix, Michigan - started 1 game at right halfback
• Jesse R. Langley, Alva, Oklahoma
• Jay Mack Love, Arkansas City, Kansas - started 5 games at left guard, 1 game at right guard, 1 game at right tackle
• William Joseph Miller, Escanaba, Michigan
• Fred B. Newton, Portland, Oregon - started 1 game at right end
• Duncan H. Pierce, Buffalo, New York
• Mason P. Rumney, Detroit, MI - started 1 game at right halfback
• Newton Gard Van Ness, Cassopolis, Michigan
• Howard Withey, Reed City, Michigan
• Paul Work, Elkhart, Indiana
• Harry A. Workman, Chicago, IL - started 1 game at left halfback, 1 game at right halfback

Others

• Harry S. Bartlett, Detroit, Michigan
• David L. Dunlap, Hopkinton, Iowa - halfback
• Walter L. Eyke, Muskegon, Michigan
• Harold Weeks, Allegan, Michigan - started 3 games at fullback, 2 games at left halfback

Awards and honors

• Captain: Fred Norcross
• All-Americans: Thomas S. Hammond (WC-3), Henry Schulte (WC-2)
• All-Conference: Thomas S. Hammond (Chicago Tribune), Frank Longman, Joe Curtis (Chicago Tribune), Germany Schulz (Chicago Tribune), Henry Schulte

Coaching staff

• Head coach: Fielding H. Yost
• Assistant coach: Leigh C. Turner
• Trainer: Keene Fitzpatrick
• Manager: Walter Cooley Becker

References

1. "Football Prospects". The Michigan Alumnus. October 1905. pp. 53–54.
2. "Michigan 65 - Ohio Wesleyan 0". The Michigan Alumnus. October 1905. p. 33.
3. "GOT 65 POINTS: Michigan Made Good Start in Game With Ohio Wesleyan at Ann Arbor on Saturday; NEW MEN ALL SHOW WELL; Not a First Down Made by Visitors--Michigan Stuck to Straight Football". Detroit Free Press. October 1, 1905. Archived from the original on November 4, 2012.
4. "Michigan 44 - Kalamazoo 0". The Michigan Alumnus. November 1905. p. 78.
5. "YOST'S MEN ERRATIC: TOO MUCH FUMBLING IN GAME WITH KALAMAZOO; LATTER CAME CLOSE TO SCORING FIELD GOAL; Michigan Shows Fine New Pair of Halfbacks". Detroit Free Press. October 5, 1905. p. 9. Archived from the original on January 31, 2013.
6. "Michigan 36 - Case 0". The Michigan Alumnus. November 1905. p. 78.
7. "NO CASE SCORE: Ohio Team Denied Touchdown Its Backers Foundly Hoped For; MICHIGAN FUMBLED SOME; But Erratic Work Proved of No Cost--Shifts Many by Michigan". Detroit Free Press. October 8, 1905. p. 13. Archived from the original on November 4, 2012.
8. "Michigan 23 - Ohio Northern 0". The Michigan Alumnus. November 1905. p. 79.
9. "OHIO NORTHERN HELD SCORE DOWN: Michigan Made But Four Touchdowns, Playing in Horrible Weather for Football--Curtis, Graham and Garrels Starred". Detroit Free Press. October 12, 1905. p. 9. Archived from the original on November 4, 2012.
10. "Michigan 28 - Vanderbilt 0". The Michigan Alumnus. November 1905. p. 79.
11. "VANDERBILT MADE A PROUD RECORD: Held Michigan to 18 to 0 Score, the Lowest Figures With One Exception, Ferry Field Has Known in Yost's Day". Detroit Free Press. October 15, 1905. Archived from the original on November 4, 2012.
12. "Past Events - October". The Michigan Alumnus. November 1905. p. 82.
13. "Denison Game Called Off". The Michigan Alumnus. November 1905. p. 79.
14. "Michigan 31 - Nebraska 0". The Michigan Alumnus. November 1905. p. 79.
15. Seward Cramer (October 22, 1905). "Game Showed That Michigan is Great on Defense, and in Different Class From Nebraska in Every Line". Detroit Free Press. p. 13. Archived from the original on November 4, 2012.
16. Joe Jackson (October 22, 1905). "HELD SCORELESS IN FIRST, MICHIGAN WENT AFTER NEBRASKA FOR A 31 TO 0 CONCLUSION: Fumbles in First Half Made Sad the Faithful, Who Did Not Realize That Michigan Was Just Making a Joke". Detroit Free Press. p. 13. Archived from the original on November 4, 2012.
17. "Michigan 70 - Albion 0". The Michigan Alumnus. November 1905. p. 80.
18. "SCORED 70 POINTS: MICHIGAN HAD AN EASY TIME WITH ALBION; SUB BACKFIELD WORKED MOST OF THE CONTEST; Was in Long Enough to Hurt Bad". Detroit Free Press. October 26, 1905. Archived from the original on November 4, 2012.
19. "Michigan 48 - Drake 0". The Michigan Alumnus. November 1905. p. 81.
20. "DRAKE IS BEATEN BY MICHIGAN ABOUT AS HESTON HAD DOPED IT: FUMBLING AGAIN A FAULT; Michigan Juggled the Oval, but Des Moines Eleven Did Not Take Advantage of the Openings That Were Given". Detroit Free Press. October 29, 1905. p. 15. Archived from the original on November 4, 2012.
21. "The Early Season's Work". The Michigan Alumnus. November 1905. pp. 76–77.
22. "Michigan 33 - Illinois 0". The Michigan Alumnus. December 1905. p. 129.
23. "MICHIGAN, 33; ILLINOIS, 0: Champaign Team Did Not Make First Down Against the Men of Yost; OFFENSE WAS BIT RAGGED; Stagg Thinks Team Was Not at Best, but Yost Says He's Satisfied". Detroit Free Press. November 5, 1905. p. 15. Archived from the original on November 4, 2012.
24. "Michigan 40 - Ohio State 0". The Michigan Alumnus. December 1905. p. 129.
25. "WITH WISCONSIN AND CHICAGO SCOUTS: WATCHING THE PLAY, MIGHIGAN, BY STRAIGHT FOOT BALL, BEAT OHIO, 40 TO 0; Barlow Starred the Contest With a Great Run for Entire Length of Field--All Players Came Out in Splendid Shape". Detroit Free Press. November 12, 1905. Archived from the original on November 4, 2012.
26. "Michigan 12 - Wisconsin 0". The Michigan Alumnus. December 1905. pp. 130–131.
27. Joe S. Jackson (November 19, 1905). "Victory to Wolverines in Close Game: With Figures 12 to 0, Michigan Took It Easier, Finishing With Punting Game; Day Was All But Spoiled By Collapse of Stand, 2,000 Persons Going Down, None Seriously Hurt--Biggest Crowd Field Has Seen". Detroit Free Press. p. 1. Archived from the original on February 1, 2013.
28. "Michigan 75 - Oberlin 0". The Michigan Alumnus. December 1905. p. 131.
29. "ALL BUT MADE SCORE ON MICHIGAN: Oberlin End Got Loose and Made Longest Gain of Season, Fifty Yards---Score 75 to 0, Making 495 for Year". Detroit Free Press. November 26, 1905. Archived from the original on November 4, 2012.
30. ^ Robin Lester (Summer 1991). "Michigan-Chicago 1905: The First Greatest Game of the Century" (PDF). Journal of Sport History, Vol. 18, No. 2. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 12, 2012.
31. ""DENNY" CLARK DEAD BY OWN HAND IN OREGON". Los Angeles Times. June 2, 1932.
32. Joe S. Jackson (December 1, 1905). "Michigan Lost to Chicago: Desperate Struggle Resulted 2 to 0; Measly Safety Was the Undoing of the Gladiators From the University of Michigan; Game Fiercely Fought; Both Elevens Put Up a Grand Contest, Barring Fumbling on Part of Wolvernies---Garrels the Bright Star". Detroit Free Press. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
33. ^ "Fifteen M's Given". The Michigan Alumnus. January 1906. p. 170.
34. Born 27 Jan 1884 - Michigan; Died 21 Feb 1942 - Los Angeles.
35. Born September 8, 1883, Toledo, Ohio. As of 1918, he was a receiver for American Magneto Co. in Toledo.
36. Born December 31, 1884. As of 1918, he was a lawyer in Iron River, Michigan.
37. Born March 24, 1878, Michigan; Died March 31, 1941, Riverside, California. As of 1918 he was a physician and surgeon in Hood River, Oregon.
38. The Chicago Daily Tribune wrote that it had rejected Schulte because of questions as to his eligibility: "The natural selection for left guard would be the Michigan giant, Schulte, because of the imperviousness of Yost's middle trio, but Schulte is so manifestly ineligible according to all the records obtainable that to give him a place would be like reviving Heston for left half or Heffelfinger for an All-American guard."

External links

• 1905 Football Team -- Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan Athletics History
• Michigan Alumnus, 1905-1906 - includes accounts of each game
• 1906 Michiganensian - University of Michigan yearbook for the 1905-1906 academic year
• Michigan-Chicago 1905: The First Greatest Game of the Century from Journal of Sport History, Vol. 18, No. 2 (Summer, 1991)

• 1905 Western Conference football season
• Michigan Wolverines football seasons
• 1905 in sports in Michigan