The 1930 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1930 college football season. The head coach was former Michigan star, 31-year-old Harry Kipke, in his second year in the position.
The team went through the 1930 season with an undefeated 8–0–1 record, outscored opponents 111 to 23, and tied for the Big Ten Conference championship with Northwestern. The 1930 season marked the debut of Michigan's College Football Hall of Fame quarterback Harry Newman, who became a star in his first season leading the Wolverines' offense. In Newman's three years at Michigan, the Wolverines lost only one game, won three Big Ten Conference championships, and had a combined record of 24–1–2. Further, the 1930 team was the first of four consecutive Michigan teams coached by Harry Kipke to win or tie for the Big Ten championship, losing only one game from 1930 to 1933.
Right halfback James Simrall was the team captain, and left halfback Jack Wheeler was selected as the Most Valuable Player. Six players from the 1930 team were selected to All-Big Ten teams, and five went on to play in the National Football League.
Schedule
Game summaries Michigan 33, Denison 0 Michigan opened the 1930 football season on September 27, 1930, with an unusual football double-header, playing two games on the same afternoon. In the first game against Denison College, Coach Kipke played his "second team" squad for the entire game. The Wolverines beat Denison by a score of 33 to 0. Michigan's touchdowns against Denison were scored by quarterback Jack Wheeler (2), fullback DuVal Goldsmith, left halfback Ralph Wills, and end William D. O'Neil, Jr.
Michigan's starting lineup against Denison consisted entirely of second-team players: Jay Sikkenga (left end), William Gitman (left tackle), Leslie Douglass (left guard), Carlton Soelberg (center), Leslie Avery (right guard), Carl Castle (right tackle), Ivy Williamson (right end), Jack Wheeler (quarterback), Ralph Wills (left halfback), Claude Stoll (right halfback), and DuVal Goldsmith (fullback).
Michigan 7, Michigan State Normal 0 The second game of the double-header matched the Wolverines against Michigan State Normal (now known as Eastern Michigan University) from nearby Ypsilanti. According to a United Press account of the game, the Hurons "outplayed the Wolves in two quarters, held them even in another, and broke just long enough in the third period to allow Michigan to flash through two forward passes and a lateral pass for a touchdown." Michigan's sole touchdown in the Michigan State Normal game was scored by Charles DeBaker, a "fast-running halfback from Muskegon."
Michigan's starting lineup against Michigan State Normal consisted of Michigan's first-team players: Bill Hewitt (left end), Tom Samuels (left tackle), Omer LaJeunesse (right guard), Maynard Morrison (center), Francis Cornwell (right guard), Claire Purdum (right tackle), Norman Daniels (right end), Estel Tessmer (quarterback), William Heston (left halfback), James Simrall (right halfback), and Roy Hudson (fullback).
Michigan 0, Michigan State 0
In the second week of the season, Michigan played the Michigan State Spartans to a scoreless tie in front of a crowd of 49,900 at Michigan Stadium. The game marked the end of a losing streak for the Spartans against the Wolverines dating back to 1916. Michigan had crossed the goal line near the end of the first half, but the play was called back on an offside penalty; the first half ended before Michigan could conclude the drive. One of Michigan's key players, Bill Hewitt sustained an injured ankle while playing at left end in the game; Hewitt did not play the rest of the season. The Associated Press reported that Michigan's passing attack kept the ball in Michigan State's territory much of the time but the Wolverines "lacked the scoring punch."
The starting lineup for Michigan in the game was Bill Hewitt (left end), Howie Auer (left tackle), Francis Cornwell (left guard), Maynard Morrison (center), Omer LaJeunesse (right guard), Samuels (right tackle), Norman Daniels (right end), Estel Tessmer (quarterback), William Heston (left halfback), James Simrall (right halfback), and Roy Hudson (fullback). Substitutions were by Williamson (left end), Hozer and Purdum (right guard), Debaker and Heston (left halfback), and Newman (quarterback).
Michigan 14, Purdue 13
In the third week of the 1930 season, Michigan played the defending Big Ten Conference champion Purdue Boilermakers at Michigan Stadium. The game marked the first start for Harry Newman as Michigan's quarterback, a position he would hold for three seasons. After Purdue took a 13-0 lead at the end of the first quarter, Michigan came back with two touchdowns in the second quarter to win the game by a score of 14 to 13. The first Michigan touchdown came early in the second quarter when Norman Daniels, playing at right end as a substitute for Leo Draveling, caught a long pass from quarterback Newman and sprinted into the end zone. Later in the second quarter, Michigan's center Maynard Morrison recovered a Purdue fumble at the Boilermakers' 25-yard line. After advancing the ball to the five-yard line, Jack Wheeler, playing at left halfback as a substitute for Heston, ran the ball across the goal line for Michigan's second touchdown. Newman converted both point after touchdown kicks, which proved to be the difference in the game, as Purdue had missed on one of its extra point attempts.
Michigan's starting lineup against Purdue was Roderick Cox (left end), Howie Auer (left tackle), Stanley Hozer (left guard), Maynard Morrison (center), Francis Cornwell (right guard), Tom Samuels (right tackle), Leo Draveling (right end), Estel Tessmer (quarterback), William Heston (left halfback), James Simrall (right halfback), and Roy Hudson (fullback).
Michigan 13, Ohio State 0
In the fourth week of the season, Michigan traveled to Columbus, Ohio to face the Ohio State Buckeyes. In front of a crowd of 68,000, quarterback Newman used the forward passing game to defeat the Buckeyes by a score of 13 to 0. The Associated Press wrote that Michigan dominated the game with its "lightning like attack" consisting of "long deadly passes." Michigan's first touchdown came late in the first half. The drive began with Harry Newman returning a punt to Michigan's 46-yard line. On the next play, Newman threw a long pass to Michigan's captain James Simrall, who caught the ball at the 15-yard line and was tackled at the one-yard line. On the second play of the drive, Newman called a quarterback sneak and carried the ball across the goal line. Newman also kicked the extra point. Michigan's second touchdown came on a 14-yard run by an Ohio native, fullback Roy Hudson. The extra point attempt by Newman was blocked. Newman added to his status as the star of the game with an interception to end a late drive by the Buckeyes. According to the AP account of the game, "the final gun had hardly sounded before Michigan's ninety piece band was parading obliquely down the field blaring 'Hail to the Victors', Michigan's song of triumph and destiny."
Michigan's starting lineup against Ohio State was Ivy Williamson (left end), Claire Purdum (left tackle), Stanley Hozer (left guard), Maynard Morrison (center), Francis Cornwell (right guard), Samuels (right tackle), Roderick Cox (right end), Harry Newman (quarterback), Jack Wheeler (left halfback), James Simrall (right halfback), and Roy Hudson (fullback). Michigan substitutions were Omer LaJuenesse (left guard), Leo Draveling (right tackle), and Wallace Miller (right tackle).
Michigan 15, Illinois 7
In the fifth week of the season, Michigan returned to Ann Arbor for its homecoming game against Illinois. Michigan won the game by a score of 15 to 7. Quarterback Newman, playing in his third game as Michigan's quarterback, was referred to by the United Press as Michigan's "crack Jewish field general." The UP report praised Newman's performance:"Harry Newman, Michigan's stocky sophomore quarterback, revived memories of his illustrious predecessor, Benny Friedman ... It was Newman's smart generalship, accurate passing and place-kicking which enabled Michigan to continue its undefeated march toward the Big Ten football championship ... Newman, one-time pupil of Friedman, Michigan's great quarterback, had a hand in every point scored by the Wolverines in winning their third straight conference victcry." Michigan's first touchdown followed an Illinois turnover less than four minutes into the game. Illinois fumbled a punt, and Michigan's guard Omer Lajeunesse recovered the ball on Illinois's 25-yard line. After two running plays advanced the ball five yards, Newman threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to Jack Wheeler. Newman's attempt at the extra point failed. Michigan next score came after an Illinois punt was blocked and recovered at the Illinois 10-yard line. After losing five yards on three plays, Newman kicked a field goal from a difficult angle to give Michigan a 9 to 0 lead at half-time. In the third quarter, Illinois scored on a 60-yard punt return by quarterback Berry. Newman led the final Michigan scoring drive in the fourth quarter. Taking over at the 50-yard line, Newman threw the ball 30 yards to right end Ivy Williamson, who ran another 10 yards before being tackled at the 10-yard line. On third down, Newman dropped back for an apparent place kick, but passed the ball over the goal line to Roy Hudson for a touchdown. Newman's extra point attempt was blocked for a final score of 15 to 7. Newman attempted only four passes in the game, but completed three of them for 72 yards.
Michigan's starting lineup against Illinois was Stanley Hozer (left end), Claude Stoll (left tackle), Omer LaJeunesse (left guard), Maynard Morrison (center), Francis Cornwell (right guard), Claire Purdum (right tackle), Ivy Williamson (right end), Harry Newman (quarterback), Jack Wheeler (left halfback), James Simrall (right halfback) and Roy Hudson (fullback). Substitution for Michigan were Norman Daniels (left end), Tom Samuels (left tackle), Robert Morgan (left guard), Wallace Miller (right tackle), Leo Draveling (right tackle), Harry Eastman, Jr. (right halfback,) and Charles DeBaker (right halfback).
Michigan 6, Harvard 3
For its sixth week of competition, Michigan traveled to Cambridge, Massachusetts to face the Harvard Crimson. The game was scoreless after three periods, with Harvard having the best scoring opportunities. Harvard had driven deep into Michigan territory twice, and one field goal attempt was blocked by Maynard Morrison and another was missed. Early in the fourth quarter, Harvard drove the ball to Michigan's 12-yard line. On fourth down, Harvard successfully converted on a field goal attempt to take a 3 to 0 lead. In the closing minutes of the game, Newman led Michigan's final drive. Newman and Roy Hudson began the drive running the ball to Harvard's 35-yard line. It was from that point that Newman threw the winning touchdown pass described by the Associated Press as follows:"Newman then backed up to the 50-yard line, waited until Hudson, whose jersey, fore and aft, bore the supposedly ill-fated number 13, had time to clear the Harvard secondaries. When that speedy fullback gained the open, in the vicinity of the 30-yard marker, Newman tossed him a lofty pass and he out-footed his Harvard pursuers across their goal line." The United Press described Michigan's late scoring drive as follows:"A mighty march down the field in the closing minutes of play, climaxed by a beautiful 30 yard forward pass from the magic hand of Harry Newman, enabled a suddenly inspired Michigan eleven to come from behind and defeat Harvard on its home gridiron Saturday for the first time in nearly 50 years of rivalry."