William Renner
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| Date of birth | September 16, 1910 |
|---|---|
| Date of death | July 5, 1969 |
| Career information | |
| Position(s) | Quarterback |
| College | University of Michigan |
| Career history | |
| As player | |
| 1931–1935 | Michigan |
William Wilford "Bill" Renner (born September 16, 1910) was an American football player. He played at the quarterback position for the University of Michigan teams from 1931 to 1935. He was a member of the undefeated national champion 1933 Michigan football team also the captain of the 1935 Michigan football team.
Renner was a native of Youngstown, Ohio, the son of Emil and Mary Renner. He enrolled at the University of Michigan in 1930 where he was on the football roster for parts of five seasons from 1931 to 1935. Injuries and illnesses prevented kept Renner out of the lineup in 1931 and 1932. He was one of the lightest players on the team at 165 pounds and six feet tall, and he developed a reputation as "a 'fragile' athlete."
Following the graduation of Michigan's Hall of Fame quarterback Harry Newman, Renner was expected to be Michigan's starting quarterback in 1933. At the beginning of the 1933 football season, the Associated Press reported that Renner had the talent to be a better quarterback than either of Michigan's great quarterbacks, Newman and Benny Friedman. The AP noted: "Western Conference coaches whose football teams will battle Michigan this Fall have passed out word that they fear Bill Renner, of Youngstown, O., quarterback candidate, will be another Harry Newman 'or even worse.' ... Observers who saw Ben Friedman and Newman throughout their forward passing careers at Michigan maintain that Renner is the best ball tosser the Maize and Blue ever had." Renner won the starting quarterback job in 1933, and expectations ran high as reflected in the following newspaper profile:
"A slender youth from Youngstown, Ohio who specializes in throwing a pigskin to exactly the right place at exactly the right time is the center of attention on Michigan's 1933 team. ... Kipke again has an 'ace in the hole,' an undercover star, to make Wolverine fans forget Bennie Friedman and Harry Newman. Renner throws long ones and short ones, high 'soft' ones and the other kind that go with baseball speed. He heaves them backing up or running toward the sidelines, all with deadly accuracy and timing."
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