1977 Michigan Wolverines football team

1977 Michigan Wolverines football
Big Ten co-champion
Rose Bowl, L 20–27 vs. Washington
Conference	Big Ten Conference
Ranking
Coaches	No. 8
AP	No. 9
1977 record	10–2 (7–1 Big Ten)
Head coach	Bo Schembechler (9th year)
Defensive coordinator	Bill McCartney (1st year)
Base defense	3–4
MVP	Russell Davis
Captain	Walt Downing
Captain	Dwight Hicks
Home stadium	Michigan Stadium
Seasons ← 1976 1978 →

1977 Big Ten football standings
	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
#9 Michigan +	7	–	1	–	0			10	–	2	–	0
#11 Ohio State +	7	–	1	–	0			9	–	3	–	0
Michigan State	6	–	1	–	1			7	–	3	–	1
Indiana	4	–	3	–	1			5	–	5	–	1
Minnesota	4	–	4	–	0			7	–	5	–	0
Purdue	3	–	5	–	0			5	–	6	–	0
Iowa	3	–	5	–	0			4	–	7	–	0
Wisconsin	3	–	6	–	0			5	–	6	–	0
Illinois	2	–	6	–	0			3	–	8	–	0
Northwestern	1	–	8	–	0			1	–	10	–	0
+ – Conference co-champions Rankings from AP Poll

Week 1: Illinois at Michigan

1 2 3 4 Total • Michigan 13 7 10 7 37 Illinois 3 0 0 6 9 Date: September 10, 1977 Location: Memorial Stadium, Champaign, Il Game attendance: 60,477

Scoring summary 1 ILL Finzer 42-yard field goal ILL 3-0 1 MICH Clayton 30-yard pass from Leach (Gregg Willner kick) MICH 7-3 1 MICH Huckleby 15-yard run (kick failed) MICH 13-3 2 MICH Huckleby 3-yard run (Gregg Willner kick) MICH 20-3 3 MICH Willner 23-yard field goal MICH 23-3 3 MICH G. Johnson 11-yard pass from Leach (Gregg Willner kick) MICH 30-3 4 MICH Davis 4-yard run (Gregg Willner kick) MICH 37-3 4 ILL Baker 1-yard run (kick failed) MICH 37-9

Scoring summary
1		ILL	Finzer 42-yard field goal	ILL 3-0
1		MICH	Clayton 30-yard pass from Leach (Gregg Willner kick)	MICH 7-3
1		MICH	Huckleby 15-yard run (kick failed)	MICH 13-3
2		MICH	Huckleby 3-yard run (Gregg Willner kick)	MICH 20-3
3		MICH	Willner 23-yard field goal	MICH 23-3
3		MICH	G. Johnson 11-yard pass from Leach (Gregg Willner kick)	MICH 30-3
4		MICH	Davis 4-yard run (Gregg Willner kick)	MICH 37-3
4		ILL	Baker 1-yard run (kick failed)	MICH 37-9

Week 2: Duke at Michigan

1 2 3 4 Total Duke 0 0 6 3 9 • Michigan 0 14 0 7 21 Date: September 17, 1977 Location: Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, MI Game attendance: 104,072

Scoring summary 2 =MICH Leach 7-yard run (Gregg Willner kick) MICH 7-0 2 MICH R. Davis 4-yard run (Gregg Willner kick) MICH 14-0 3 DUKE Dunn 3-yard run (run failed) MICH 14-6 4 DUKE Walcott 43-yard field goal MICH 14-9 4 MICH Leach 7-yard run (Gregg Willner kick) MICH 21-9

Scoring summary
2		=MICH	Leach 7-yard run (Gregg Willner kick)	MICH 7-0
2		MICH	R. Davis 4-yard run (Gregg Willner kick)	MICH 14-0
3		DUKE	Dunn 3-yard run (run failed)	MICH 14-6
4		DUKE	Walcott 43-yard field goal	MICH 14-9
4		MICH	Leach 7-yard run (Gregg Willner kick)	MICH 21-9

Week 3: Navy at Michigan

1 2 3 4 Total Navy 0 0 7 0 7 • Michigan 0 14 0 0 14 Date: September 24, 1977 Location: Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, MI Game attendance: 101,877

Scoring summary 2 =MICH Huckleby 13-yard run (Gregg Willner kick) MICH 7-0 2 MICH Huckleby 22-yard run (Gregg Willner kick) MICH 14-0 3 NAVY Sandy Jones 34-yard pass from Bob Leszczynski (Tala kick) MICH 14-7

Scoring summary
2		=MICH	Huckleby 13-yard run (Gregg Willner kick)	MICH 7-0
2		MICH	Huckleby 22-yard run (Gregg Willner kick)	MICH 14-0
3		NAVY	Sandy Jones 34-yard pass from Bob Leszczynski (Tala kick)	MICH 14-7

Texas A&M at Michigan

1 2 3 4 Total Texas A&M 3 0 0 0 3 • Michigan 0 7 13 21 41 Date: October 1 Location: Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, MI Game attendance: 104,802

Scoring summary 1 A&M Tony Franklin 24-yard field goal A&M 3-0 2 MICH Russell Davis 4-yard run (Gregg Willner kick) MICH 7-3 3 MICH Russell Davis 1-yard run (run failed) MICH 13-3 3 MICH Curt Stephenson 35-yard pass from Rick Leach (Gregg Willner kick) MICH 20-3 4 MICH Harlan Huckleby 8-yard run (Gregg Willner kick) MICH 27-3 4 MICH Jim Pickens recovered blocked punt in end zone (Gregg Willner kick) MICH 34-3 4 MICH Mike Jolly 50-yard interception return (Gregg Willner kick) MICH 41-3

Scoring summary
1		A&M	Tony Franklin 24-yard field goal	A&M 3-0
2		MICH	Russell Davis 4-yard run (Gregg Willner kick)	MICH 7-3
3		MICH	Russell Davis 1-yard run (run failed)	MICH 13-3
3		MICH	Curt Stephenson 35-yard pass from Rick Leach (Gregg Willner kick)	MICH 20-3
4		MICH	Harlan Huckleby 8-yard run (Gregg Willner kick)	MICH 27-3
4		MICH	Jim Pickens recovered blocked punt in end zone (Gregg Willner kick)	MICH 34-3
4		MICH	Mike Jolly 50-yard interception return (Gregg Willner kick)	MICH 41-3

The 1977 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1977 Big Ten Conference football season. In their ninth year under head coach Bo Schembechler, the Wolverines finished the regular season with a 10–1 record, won the Big Ten Conference championship, and lost to Washington in the 1978 Rose Bowl. In the final AP and UPI Polls, Michigan was ranked #9 and #8, respectively.

On offense, quarterback Rick Leach totaled 1,109 passing yards and 370 rushing yards. Russell Davis led the team with 1,013 rushing yards and seven rushing touchdowns and was selected as the team's most valuable player. Harlan Huckleby added 743 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns.

Three Michigan players received first-team honors on the 1977 College Football All-America Team: (1) offensive guard Mark Donahue (consensus); (2) center Walt Downing; and (3) linebacker John Anderson.

On September 10, 1977, Michigan defeated Illinois, 37-9, at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Illinois, in a game matching Michigan coach Bo Schembechler against his former defensive coordinator, who took over as Illinois' head coach in 1977. The game attracted a crowd of 60,477, the largest opening day crowd in Illinois school history. Michigan quarterback Rick Leach rushed for 78 yards and completed six of 11 passes for 76 yards, including touchdown passes of 30 yards to Ralph Clayton and 11 yards to Gene Johnson. Running back Harlan Huckleby rushed for 128 yards and two touchdowns on 24 carries. Russell Davis also rushed for 99 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries.

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