Jack Wheeler (American football)
| Michigan Wolverines | |
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Jack Wheeler, 1930
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| Date of birth | October 31, 1908 |
|---|---|
| Place of birth | Bay City, Michigan |
| Date of death | February 26, 1990 (aged 81) |
| Place of death | Midland, Michigan |
| Career information | |
| Position(s) | Halfback/Fullback, Quarterback |
| Height | 5 ft 8 in (173 cm) |
| Weight | 155 lb (70 kg) |
| College | University of Michigan |
| High school | Bay City Central High School |
| Career history | |
| As player | |
| 1928–1930 | Michigan |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| Awards | Most Valuable Player, 1930 Michigan Wolverines football team |
Clare Jack Wheeler (October 31, 1908 – February 26, 1990) was an American football player. He played in the backfield for the University of Michigan from 1928 to 1930 and was the Most Valuable Player on the 1930 Michigan Wolverines football team.
A native of Bay City, Michigan, Wheeler began to attain athletic prominence playing halfback and quarterback for the football team at Bay City Central High School from 1924 to 1926.
After graduating from high school, he enrolled at the University of Michigan and played on the freshman football team in 1927. As a sophomore in 1928, Wheeler started three games at the halfback position for Michigan's varsity football team. As a junior in 1929, he started two games at the fullback position.
Wheeler had his best season as a senior in 1930. He demonstrated his versatility by playing all three backfield positions (quarterback, halfback and fullback) for the undefeated 1930 Michigan Wolverines football team that compiled a record of 8-0-1.
In the 1930 season opener, Wheeler was the Wolverines' starting quarterback and scored two touchdowns in a 33–0 victory over Denison College.
His performance in the fourth game of the 1930 season helped secure his reputation. Michigan trailed Purdue 13–0 at the end of the first quarter. Wheeler and sophomore quarterback Harry Newman were sent into the game in the second quarter and led Michigan to a come-from-behind victory and a final score of 14–13. Wheeler did most of the ball carrying on the drive that resulted in Michigan's winning touchdown. Wheeler scored the winning touchdown with an eight-yard run on "the old 83 play." The following week, Wheeler was Michigan's leading rusher in a 13–0 win over Ohio State. He also caught a 20-yard touchdown pass from Harry Newman in a 15–7 win over Illinois. In the seventh week of the 1930 season, Wheeler scored the only touchdown in Michigan's 7–0 win over Minnesota in the annual competition for the Little Brown Jug. Wheeler scored the touchdown in the first quarter on a 45-yard punt return which a newspaper account of the game described as follows:
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