1904 Michigan Wolverines football team

The 1904 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1904 Western Conference football season. In the team's fourth season under head coach Fielding H. Yost, the Wolverines compiled a perfect 10–0 record and outscored opponents 567–22. The 1904 team was the fourth of Yost's legendary "Point-a-Minute" teams. Michigan's games were of varying length from 22½ minutes to 70 minutes. Over the course of ten games, Michigan played 476 minutes of football and averaged a point scored for every 50.3 seconds played. The team included future College Football Hall of Fame inductee Willie Heston, who scored 20 touchdowns for 100 points that season; touchdowns were worth five points under 1904 rules.

1904 Michigan Wolverines football
Co-national champion (NCF) Western Conference co-champion
Conference	Western Conference
1904 record	10–0 (2–0 Western)
Head coach	Fielding H. Yost (4th season)
Offensive scheme	Short punt
Captain	Willie Heston
Home stadium	Regents Field

1904 Western Conference football standings
	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
Minnesota +	3	–	0	–	0			13	–	0	–	0
Michigan +	2	–	0	–	0			10	–	0	–	0
Chicago	5	–	1	–	1			10	–	1	–	1
Illinois	3	–	1	–	1			9	–	2	–	1
Northwestern	1	–	2	–	0			8	–	2	–	0
Purdue	1	–	2	–	0			9	–	3	–	0
Iowa	0	–	3	–	0			7	–	4	–	0
Wisconsin	0	–	3	–	0			5	–	3	–	0
Indiana	0	–	3	–	0			6	–	4	–	0
+ – Conference co-champions

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance
October 1	Case*	Regents Field Ann Arbor, MI	W 33–0
October 5	Ohio Northern*	Regents Field Ann Arbor, MI	W 48–0
October 8	Kalamazoo*	Regents Field Ann Arbor, MI	W 95–0
October 12	College of Physicians & Surgeons Chicago*	Regents Field Ann Arbor, MI	W 72–0	1,500
October 15	at Ohio State*	University Park Columbus, OH (rivalry)	W 31–6	8,000
October 19	American Medical*	Regents Field Ann Arbor, MI	W 72–0
October 22	West Virginia*	Regents Field Ann Arbor, MI	W 130–0	4,000
October 29	at Wisconsin	Randall Field Madison, WI	W 28–0	11,000
November 5	Drake*	Regents Field Ann Arbor, MI	W 36–4
November 12	Chicago	Regents Field Ann Arbor, MI (rivalry)	W 22–12	13,000
*Non-conference game Homecoming

Game summaries

Michigan 33, Case 0

1904 Michigan football team

Michigan opened the 1904 college football season on October 1 with a 33–0 win over Cleveland's Case School of Applied Science. The game was played in 20-minute halves, and the Wolverines scored 22 points in the first half. Numerous substitutions were made at half-time, and the backup players added 11 points in the second half. Fullback Frank Longman scored three touchdowns in the game, and Willie Heston, Walter Rheinschild, and Joe Curtis scored one touchdown each. Tom Hammond converted three extra point kicks. Heston's touchdown came on a 75-yard run. Case managed only one first down in the game.

The Michigan players appearing in the game were: John Garrels (left end), Joe Curtis (left tackle), Henry Schulte (left guard), Ted Hammond (starting center), Germany Schulz (right guard), Roy Beechler (starting right tackle and substitute at center), Smull (substitute at right tackle), Tom Hammond (starting right end), Harry Patrick (substitute at right end), Fred Norcross (starting quarterback and substitute at right halfback), Walter Becker (substitute at quarterback), Willie Heston (starting left halfback), William Dennison Clark (substitute at left halfback), Ted Stuart (starting right halfback), James DePree (substitute at right halfback), Frank Longman (starting fullback), and Walter Rheinschild (substitute at fullback).

Player	Position	Starter	Touchdowns	Extra points	Field goals	Points
Longman	Fullback	Yes	3	0	0	15
Heston	Left halfback	Yes	1	0	0	5
Curtis	Left tackle	Yes	1	0	0	5
Rheinschild	Fullback	No	1	0	0	5
Tom Hammond	Right end	No	0	3	0	3
Total	--	--	6	3	0	33

Michigan 48, Ohio Northern 0

In the second game of the 1904 season, Michigan defeated Ohio Northern, 38–0, in a game consisting of halves of 20 and 15 minutes. Willie Heston scored three touchdowns and had runs of 45, 32, 35 and 30 yards.

Player	Position	Starter	Touchdowns	Extra points	Field goals	Points
Heston	Left halfback	Yes	3	0	0	15
Tom Hammond	Right end	Yes	0	5	2	13
H. Hammond	Fullback	Yes	2	0	0	10
Clark	Fullback	No	1	0	0	5
Hal Weeks	Right halfback	No	1	0	0	5
Total	--	--	7	5	2	48

Michigan 95, Kalamazoo 0

In the third game of the season, Michigan defeated Kalamazoo College, 95–0, in a game consisting of two 20-minute halves. Heston scored six touchdowns and had long touchdown runs of 65, 70, 85 and 65 yards.

Player	Position	Starter	Touchdowns	Extra points	Field goals	Points
Heston	Left halfback	Yes	6	0	0	30
H. Hammond	Fullback	Yes	5	0	0	25
Tom Hammond	Right tackle	Yes	0	15	0	15
Patrick	Left tackle	No	2	0	0	10
Hal Weeks	Right halfback	No	1	0	0	5
Clark	Right end	No	1	0	0	5
Schulte	Center	Yes	1	0	0	5
Total	--	--	16	15	0	95

Michigan 72, Physicians & Surgeons 0

In the fourth game of the season, Michigan defeated the Physicians & Surgeons team 72–0 in a short mid-week game lasting only 22½ minutes, a 15-minute first half and a 7½ minute second half. Quarterback Fred Norcross scored four touchdowns, and Heston scored three. Norcross had touchdown runs of 67, 35 and 90 yards.

Player	Position	Starter	Touchdowns	Extra points	Field goals	Points
Tom Hammond	Right tackle	Yes	2	12	0	22
Norcross	Quarterback	Yes	4	0	0	20
Heston	Left halfback	Yes	3	0	0	15
Curtis	Left tackle	Yes	1	0	0	5
Clark	Right end	Yes	1	0	0	5
H. Hammond	Right halfback	Yes	1	0	0	5
Total	--	--	12	12	0	72

Michigan 31, Ohio State 6

Michigan defeated Ohio State, 31–6, in a game consisting of 30-minute halves in Columbus, Ohio. Heston scored three touchdowns, bringing his season total to 16.

Player	Position	Starter	Touchdowns	Extra points	Field goals	Points
Heston	Left halfback	Yes	3	0	0	15
Tom Hammond	Right tackle	Yes	0	3	2	11
H. Hammond	Right halfback	Yes	1	0	0	5
Total	--	--	4	3	2	31

Michigan 72, American Medical School 0

For its sixth game of the season, Michigan played a short mid-week game against the American Medical School. The game consisted of a 20-minute first half and a 3½ minute second half. Right halfback Clark led the scoring with four touchdowns. Weeks scored three touchdowns. Heston was limited to a single touchdown.

Player	Position	Starter	Touchdowns	Extra points	Field goals	Points
Clark	Right halfback	Yes	4	0	0	20
Hal Weeks	Fullback	Yes	3	0	0	15
Curtis	Left tackle	Yes	1	5	0	10
Magoffin	Left halfback	No	1	2	0	7
Carter	Right guard	Yes	1	0	0	5
Heston	Left halfback	Yes	1	0	0	5
Rheinschild	Left end	No	1	0	0	5
Patrick	Left tackle	No	1	0	0	5
Total	--	--	13	7	0	72

Michigan 130, West Virginia 0

The most lopsided score in Michigan football history. In a game consisting of 25 and 20-minute halves, the Wolverines scored 22 touchdowns and 20 extra points (which would have resulted in a margin of 152-0 under modern scoring rules). Joe Curtis alone accounted for 49 points with six touchdowns and 19 extra points. The undefeated 1904 team won Michigan's fourth national championship and scored 567 points in 476 minutes of football, averaging a point every 50.3 seconds. For the first time in the 1904 season, Heston did not score.

Player	Position	Starter	Touchdowns	Extra points	Field goals	Points
Curtis	Left tackle	Yes	6	19	0	49
Norcross	Quarterback	Yes	5	0	0	25
Clark	Fullback	Yes	3	0	0	15
Magoffin	Right halfback	Yes	2	1	0	11
Graham	Right tackle	Yes	1	0	0	5
Patrick	Right tackle	No	1	0	0	5
H. Hammond	Right end	Yes	1	0	0	5
Schulte	Left guard	Yes	1	0	0	5
Carter	Right guard	Yes	1	0	0	5
Becker	Quarterback	No	1	0	0	5
Total	--	--	22	20	0	130

Michigan 28, Wisconsin 0

Michigan played its first full-length game (two 35-minute halves) of the season against Wisconsin. Michigan won the game, 28–0. Heston and Carter each scored two touchdowns, and Norcross added another.

Player	Position	Starter	Touchdowns	Extra points	Field goals	Points
Heston	Left halfback	Yes	2	0	0	10
Carter	Right guard	Yes	2	0	0	10
Norcross	Quarterback	Yes	1	0	0	5
Tom Hammond	Right halfback	Yes	0	2	0	2
Curtis	Left tackle	Yes	0	1	0	1
Total	--	--	5	3	0	28

Michigan 36, Drake 4

In its ninth game, Michigan defeated the team from Drake by a score of 36–4. The game was played in two 25-minute halves. Curtis led the scoring with 16 points on two touchdowns and six extra point kicks. Willie Heston did not play in the game.

Player	Position	Starter	Touchdowns	Extra points	Field goals	Points
Curtis	Left tackle	Yes	2	6	0	16
Carter	Right guard	Yes	2	0	0	10
Stuart	Right end	Yes	1	0	0	5
Tom Hammond	Right halfback	Yes	1	0	0	5
Total	--	--	6	6	0	36

Michigan 22, Chicago 12

Michigan concluded an undefeated season with a 22–12 win over the University of Chicago on November 12. The game, played in 35-minute halves, featured several College Football Hall of Fame inductees, including Walter Eckersall and Hugo Bezdek for Chicago and Willie Heston and Germany Schulz for Michigan. Heston, Eckersall and Bezdek each scored single touchdowns, but the lead scorer was Michigan's Tom Hammond with 17 points on three touchdowns and two extra points. Heston finished the season with 20 touchdowns for 100 points.

Player	Position	Starter	Touchdowns	Extra points	Field goals	Points
Tom Hammond	Right halfback	Yes	3	2	0	17
Heston	Left halfback	Yes	1	0	0	5
Total	--	--	4	2	0	22

Players

Varsity letter winners

The following 13 players received varsity "M" letters for their participation on the 1904 football team:[1]

Player	Position	Games started	Hometown
Charles B. Carter	Right guard	8	Lewiston, Maine
William Dennison Clark	Left end Right end Fullback Right halfback	2 2 1 1	Detroit, Michigan
Joe Curtis	Left tackle	10	Brooklyn, New York
Walter D. Graham	Right tackle	6	Chicago, Illinois
Harry S. Hammond	Right end Fullback Right halfback	4 2 2	Chicago, Illinois
Tom Hammond	Right tackle Right end Right halfback	3 3 3	Chicago, Illinois
Willie Heston	Left halfback	9	Grants Pass, Oregon
Frank Longman	Fullback	4	Battle Creek, Michigan
Fred Norcross	Quarterback	10	Menominee, Michigan
Henry Schulte	Left guard Center	7 3	Jefferson Barracks, Missouri
Germany Schulz	Center Left guard Right guard	5 3 2	Fort Wayne, Indiana
Ted Stuart	Right end Right halfback	1 1	Chariton, Iowa
Harold Weeks	Fullback Left end	3 2	Allegan, Michigan

Scoring leaders

Player	Touchdowns	Extra points	Field goals	Points
Willie Heston	20	0	0	100
Tom Hammond	6	42	4	88
Joe Curtis	11	31	0	86
Fred Norcross	10	0	0	50
Harry Hammond	10	0	0	50
Wm. Clark	10	0	0	50
Charles Carter	6	0	0	30
Harold Weeks	5	0	0	25
Harry Patrick	4	0	0	20
Paul Magoffin	3	3	0	18
Frank Longman	3	0	0	15
Walter Rheinschild	2	0	0	10
Henry Schulte	2	0	0	10
Walter Graham	1	0	0	5
Walter Becker	1	0	0	5
Ted Stuart	1	0	0	5

Reserves

• Charles W. Anderson, Albion, Michigan
• Harry S. Bartlett, Detroit, Michigan
• Walter Cooley Becker, Chicago, Illinois
• Roy Beechler, Ithaca, New York - started 1 game at right tackle
• James DePree, Holland, Michigan
• Robert M. Drysdale, Wooster, Ohio
• George Palmer Edmonds, Wayne, Michigan
• John Garrels, left end, Detroit, Michigan - started 6 games at left end
• Edward P. "Ted" Hammond, Detroit, Michigan - started 2 games at center
• John F. Lewis, Covington, Indiana
• Jay Mack Love, Arkansas City, Kansas
• Paul Magoffin, Washington, D.C. - started 3 games at right halfback
• William Joseph Miller, Escanaba, Michigan
• Harry E. Patrick, Detroit, Michigan - started 1 game at left halfback
• Duncan H. Pierce, Buffalo, New York
• Walter Rheinschild, Los Angeles, California
• Mason Rumney, Detroit, Michigan
• Reuben S. Schmidt, Los Angeles, California
• Charles Smoyer, Wadsworth, Ohio
• Edward G. Weeks, Allegan, Michigan
• Harry A. Workman, Chicago, Illinois

Others

• Charles A. Briggs, Red Oak, Iowa
• William Cole, Charlottesville, Virginia
• Roswell Murray Wendell, Detroit, Michigan

Awards and honors

• Captain: Willie Heston
• All-Americans: Willie Heston (as selected by Walter Camp, New York Evening Telegram, and Fred Lowenthal); Joe Curtis (as selected by Fred Lowenthal)[2][3][4]
• All-Western: Willie Heston (Chicago Record-Herald, Chicago Tribune, Detroit Free Press, Detroit Tribune), Tom Hammond (Chicago Record-Herald, Chicago Tribune, Detroit Free Press), Frank Longman (Chicago Record-Herald, Detroit Free Press, Detroit Tribune), Joe Curtis (Chicago Record-Herald, Chicago Tribune, Detroit Tribune), Carter (Detroit Tribune)

Coaching staff

• Head coach: Fielding H. Yost
• Assistant coach: William C. "King" Cole
• Trainer: Keene Fitzpatrick
• Graduate director of athletics: Charles A. Baird
• Manager: A.H. Montgomery[5]

References

1. "Summary of Football, 1904". The Michigan Alumnus. January 1905. p. 134.
2. "Camp's Idea Of Football Stars: Yale Coach Puts Two Western Men in His Selection". The Daily Review (Decatur, IL). 1904-12-28.
3. "In the Sporting World". Oshkosh Daily Northwestern. 1904-12-03.
4. "Some All-American Football Elevens". The Pittsburgh Press. 1904-11-29.
5. Albert Horr Montgomery, born September 8, 1882, in Chicago. Graduate of University of Michigan, 1905, AB. Rush Medical College, Chicago, 1907. Professor of surgery at the University of Illinois College of Medicine. Clinical Professor of Surgery at Rushc Medical College. Co-founder of the American Board of Surgery. Retired in 1946 as Chief of Surgical Department at Children's Memorial Hospital. Died January 31, 1948. See obituary.

External links

• 1904 Football Team -- Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan Athletics History
• Michigan Alumnus, 1904–1905 - includes accounts of each game
• 1905 Michiganensian - University of Michigan yearbook for the 1904–1905 academic year