1988 Michigan Wolverines football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2023 1988 Michigan Wolverines football 1901-94 Michigan Wolverines Primary Logo.png Big Ten Conference Big Ten 4 4 9–2–1 7–0–1 Bo Schembechler 20th Gary Moeller 2nd Lloyd Carr 2nd Mark Messner Mark Messner John Vitale Michigan Stadium Big Ten championRose Bowl champion Rose Bowl W Won 22–14 vs. USC The 1988 Michigan Wolverines football team was an American football team that represented the University of Michigan as a member of the Big Ten Conference during the 1988 NCAA Division I-A football season. In its 20th season under head coach Bo Schembechler, the team compiled a 9–2–1 record (7–0–1 against conference opponents), won the Big Ten championship, defeated USC in the 1989 Rose Bowl, outscored opponents by a total of 361 to 167, and was ranked No. 4 in the final AP and UPI polls.1988 Football Team Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan https://bentley.umich.edu/athdept/football/fbteam/1988fbt.htm February 3, 20201988 Michigan Wolverines Schedule and Results Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/michigan/1988-schedule.html February 3, 2020 The team's statistical leaders included quarterback Michael Taylor with 957 passing yards, tailback Tony Boles with 1,408 rushing yards, and split end Greg McMurtry with 470 receiving yards, and placekicker Mike Gillette with 97 points scored.1988 Michigan Wolverines Stats Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football February 3, 2020 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/michigan/1988.html Two Michigan players received first-team honors on the 1988 All-America college football team: center John Vitale (consensus) and defensive tackle Mark Messner (consensus). Seven Michigan players received first-team honors on the 1988 All-Big Ten Conference football team. Schedule 1988 AP Eastern September 10 9:00 p.m. l y y 9 Notre Dame 13 Notre Dame Stadium Notre Dame, IN rivalry CBS 17–19 59,075 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-plain-dealer-irish-magic-hos-4-fg/173472880/ The Plain Dealer Irish magic; Ho's 4 FG's nip Michigan September 11, 1988 June 2, 2025 Newspapers.com September 17 3:30 p.m. l y 15 Miami (FL) 1 Michigan Stadium Ann Arbor, MI ABC 30–31 105,834 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-flint-journal-hurricanes-wash-away-u/173472022/ The Flint Journal Hurricanes wash away UM upset bid September 18, 1988 June 2, 2025 Newspapers.com September 24 1:00 p.m. w y 19 Wake Forest Michigan Stadium Ann Arbor, MI 19–9 102,776 https://www.newspapers.com/article/wisconsin-state-journal-michigan-rolls-p/140133018/ Wisconsin State Journal Michigan rolls past Wake Forest September 25, 1988 February 2, 2024 Newspapers.com October 1 2:00 p.m. w y 19 Wisconsin Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI 62–14 61,180 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sheboygan-press-wolverines-rip-badge/173711376/ The Sheboygan Press Wolverines rip Badgers, 62–14 October 2, 1988 June 2, 2025 Newspapers.com October 8 12:00 p.m. w 17 Michigan State Michigan Stadium Ann Arbor, MI rivalry Big 10 Synd. 17–3 106,208 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-plain-dealer-kicker-the-key-wolveri/173716713/ The Plain Dealer Kicker the key: Wolverines jar Spartans October 9, 1988 June 2, 2025 Newspapers.com October 15 3:30 p.m. t y 15 Iowa Kinnick Stadium Iowa City, IA ABC 17–17 67,700 https://www.newspapers.com/article/quad-city-times-iowa-michigan-fight-to/173715837/ Quad-City Times Iowa, Michigan fight to a draw October 16, 1988 June 2, 2025 Newspapers.com October 22 3:30 p.m. w y 20 Indiana 14 Michigan Stadium Ann Arbor, MI ABC 31–6 106,104 https://www.newspapers.com/article/lexington-herald-leader-michigan-floors/173714837/ Lexington Herald-Leader Michigan floors Hoosiers 31–6 with razzle-dazzle rally October 23, 1988 June 2, 2025 Newspapers.com October 29 2:00 p.m. w y 14 Northwestern Dyche Stadium Evanston, IL rivalry 52–7 33,647 https://www.newspapers.com/article/jackson-citizen-patriot-decisive-wolveri/173712422/ Jackson Citizen Patriot Decisive Wolverines manhandle Northwestern, 52–7, show why they lead Big Ten October 30, 1988 June 2, 2025 Newspapers.com November 5 3:30 p.m. w 14 Minnesota Michigan Stadium Ann Arbor, MI Little Brown Jug ABC 22–7 102,171 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-duluth-news-tribune-wolverines-give/173650650/ The Duluth News Tribune Wolverines give Gophers the boot November 6, 1988 June 2, 2025 Newspapers.com November 12 1:00 p.m. w 13 Illinois Michigan Stadium Ann Arbor, MI rivalry 38–9 105,714 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-des-moines-register-michigan-trample/173716402/ The Des Moines Register Michigan tramples Illinois to clinch spot in Rose Bowl November 13, 1988 June 2, 2025 Newspapers.com November 19 12:00 p.m. w y 12 Ohio State Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH The Game ABC 34–31 90,176 https://www.newspapers.com/article/dayton-daily-news-osu-comeback-nearly-up/173713673/ Dayton Daily News OSU comeback nearly upsets Michigan November 20, 1988 June 2, 2025 Newspapers.com January 2, 1989, 1989 5:00 p.m. w y y 11 USC 5 Rose Bowl Pasadena, CA Rose Bowl ABC 22–14 101,688 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-san-francisco-examiner-hoard-is-a-lo/173532895/ The San Francisco Examiner Hoard is a load for Trojans January 3, 1989 June 2, 2025 Newspapers.com Rankings November 2025 1988 NCAA Division I-A football rankings AP 0 16 11 10 9 15 19 19 17 15 20 14 14 13 12 11 11 11 4 Coaches 0 16 10 (1) 10 (1) 10 16 RV 20 20 17 RV 14 13 12 11 10 11 11 4 Game summaries At Notre Dame #9 Michigan 0 7 7 3 #13 Notre Dame 10 3 0 6 September 10 Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend, Indiana CBS yes 1 ND Watters 81-yard punt return (Ho kick) ND 7-0 1 ND Ho 31-yard field goal ND 10-0 2 ND Ho 38-yard field goal ND 13-0 2 MICH Hoard 1-yard run (Gillette kick) ND 13-7 3 MICH Taylor 1-yard run (Gillette kick) MICH 14-13 4 ND Ho 26-yard field goal ND 16-14 4 MICH Gillette 49-yard field goal MICH 17-16 4 1:13 ND Ho 26-yard field goal ND 19-17 yes 1988 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team Michigan–Notre Dame football rivalry Miami (FL) #1 Miami (FL) 7 7 0 17 #15 Michigan 3 17 3 7 September 17 Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, Michigan 105,834 yes 1 Michigan Mike Gillette 22-yard field goal Michigan 3-0 1 Miami (FL) Cleveland Gary 49-yard pass from Steve Walsh (Carlos Huerta kick) Miami (FL) 7-3 2 Michigan Mike Gillette 30-yard field goal Miami (FL) 7-6 2 Miami (FL) Cleveland Gary 1-yard run (Carlos Huerta kick) Miami (FL) 14-6 2 Michigan Jeffrey Brown 5-yard pass from Michael Taylor (pass failed) Miami (FL) 14-12 2 Michigan John Kolesar 18-yard pass from Michael Taylor (Chris Horn run) Michigan 20-14 3 Michigan Mike Gillette 29-yard field goal Michigan 23-14 4 Michigan Chris Calloway 16-yard pass from Michael Taylor (Mike Gillette kick) Michigan 30-14 4 5:23 Miami (FL) Rob Chudzinski 7-yard pass from Steve Walsh (Dale Dawkins pass from Steve Walsh) Michigan 30-22 4 2:58 Miami (FL) Cleveland Gary 48-yard pass from Steve Walsh (pass failed) Michigan 30-28 4 0:43 Miami (FL) Carlos Huerta 29-yard field goal Miami (FL) 31-30 yes 1988 Miami Hurricanes football team "Hurricanes blow past Wolverines." Eugene Register-Guard. 1988 Sept 18. "Miami Doesn't Wilt in Michigan Heat" Chicago Tribune. 1988 Sept 18. Wake Forest Win 19-9 Tony Boles 33 Rush, 213 Yds University of Michigan Football Record Book Pt. 1 Wisconsin October 2015 Michigan State Kicker Mike Gillette scored on a 40-yard fake punt run, a play that was put in during halftime, and kicked a 30-yard field goal as Michigan's defense registered five sacks and an interception against the winless Spartans.Eugene Register-Guard. 1988 Oct 9. Retrieved 2015-Oct-04. At Iowa Michigan 3 7 7 0 Iowa 7 10 0 0 October 15 Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City, Iowa 67,700 ABC yes 1 IOWA Cook 5-yard pass from Hartlieb (Skillett kick) IOWA 7–0 1 Mich Gillette 43-yard field goal IOWA 7–3 2 IOWA Skillett 32-yard field goal IOWA 10–3 2 IOWA Hudson 5-yard run (Skillett kick) IOWA 17–3 2 Mich Taylor 5-yard run (Gillette kick) IOWA 17–10 3 Mich Kolesar 24-yard pass from Taylor (Gillette kick) Tied 17–17 yes 1988 Iowa Hawkeyes football team A 17-17 tie at Kinnick Stadium was the lone blemish on an otherwise perfect Big Ten season for the Wolverines.Michigan, Iowa Both Fit To Be Tied https://www.chicagotribune.com/1988/10/16/michigan-iowa-both-fit-to-be-tied/ Chicago Tribune October 16, 1988 September 2, 2019 Indiana 1988 Indiana Hoosiers football team Northwestern October 2015 Minnesota October 2015 Illinois October 2015 Ohio State 1988 Ohio State Buckeyes football team Michigan–Ohio State football rivalry Michigan Wolverines 2; text-align:center collapsed Michigan Wolverines at Ohio State Buckeyes November 19, 1988 12:10 p.m. Michigan 10 10 0 14 Ohio St 0 0 14 17 Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio 90,176 Overcast, 44 F C John Nealow First quarter MICH – Mike Gillette 22-yard field goal, 5:47. Michigan 3–0. Drive: 12 plays, 74 yards, 4:09. MICH – Greg McMurtry 57-yard pass from Demetrius Brown (Mike Gillette kick), 1:06. Michigan 10–0. Drive: 4 plays, 72 yards, 1:44. Second quarter MICH – Leroy Hoard 18-yard run (Mike Gillette kick), 8:35. Michigan 17–0. Drive: 2 plays, 17 yards, 0:53. MICH – Mike Gillette 56-yard field goal, 0:00. Michigan 20–0. Drive: 5 plays, 36 yards, 2:35. Third quarter OSU – Carlos Snow 4-yard run (Pat O'Morrow kick), 12:06. Michigan 20–7. Drive: 7 plays, 70 yards, 2:48. OSU – Bill Matlock 9-yard run (Pat O'Morrow kick), 4:59. Michigan 20–14. Drive: 8 plays, 66 yards, 3:08. Fourth quarter OSU – Bobby Olive 4-yard pass from Greg Frey (Pat O'Morrow kick), 11:26. Ohio St 21–20. Drive: 8 plays, 90 yards, 3:42. OSU – Pat O'Morrow 21-yard field goal, 8:30. Ohio St 24–20. Drive: 6 plays, 18 yards, 2:50. MICH – Leroy Hoard 8-yard run (Mike Gillette kick), 4:20. Michigan 27–24. Drive: 10 plays, 76 yards, 4:03. OSU – Bill Matlock 16-yard run (Pat O'Morrow kick), 2:02. Ohio St 31–27. Drive: 6 plays, 92 yards, 2:12. MICH – John Kolesar 41-yard pass from Demetrius Brown (Mike Gillette kick), 1:37. Michigan 34–31. Drive: 2 plays, 41 yards, 0:15. Top passers MICH – Demetrius Brown – 11/17, 223 yards, 2 TD OSU – Greg Frey – 14/29, 192 yards, TD, INT Top rushers MICH – Leroy Hoard – 23 rushes, 158 yards, 2 TD OSU – Carlos Snow – 21 rushes, 170 yards, TD Top receivers MICH – John Kolesar – 3 receptions, 95 yards, TD OSU – Bobby Olive – 3 receptions, 59 yards, TD Vs. USC (Rose Bowl) Rose Bowl Michigan 3 0 6 13 USC 0 14 0 0 January 2 Rose Bowl, Pasadena, California PST 101,688 Gordon Riese Keith Jackson, Bob Griese ABC 1989 Rose Bowl 1988 USC Trojans football team Players Roster 1988 Michigan Wolverines f 46 Jr Tony Boles RB y 32 Jr Jarrod Bunch FB y 2 Jr Chris Calloway WR y 63 Jr Doug Daugherty T 73 Fr Tom Dohring T y 33 Jr Leroy Hoard RB y 21 Fr Desmond Howard WR y 1 Jr Greg McMurtry WR y 90 Sr Keith Mitchell TE 75 So Greg Skrepenak T y 9 Sr Michael Taylor Michael Taylor (American football) QB y 67 Sr John Vitale John Vitale (American football) C y 89 Jr Derrick Walker Derrick Walker (American football) TE y 24 Jr Bobby Abrams DB y 37 So Erick Anderson OLB y 15 Sr David Arnold David Arnold (American football) DB y 43 Fr Corwin Brown S y 61 So Mike Evans DT y Mike Evans (defensive lineman) 99 Fr Chris Hutchinson DT y Chris Hutchinson (American football) 39 Fr Curt Mallory ILB y 60 Sr Mark Messner DT y 91 Jr Mike Teeter MG y https://bentley.umich.edu/athdept/rosters/search.php?data=football&year_option=equals&year=1988&sortby=lastname%2C+firstname%2C+year&find=FIND *Bo Schembechler Offense Tony Boles – started 10 games at tailback (team's leading rusher in 1988 with 1,408 yards) Demetrius Brown – started 3 games at quarterback (48 of 84 for 775 passing yards) Jeffrey Brown – started 11 games at tight end Jarrod Bunch – started 5 games at fullback Chris Calloway – started 5 games at flanker and 1 game at split end (led team with 4 touchdown catches) Dave Chester – started 2 games at left guard Dean Dingman – started 12 games at right guard Tom Dohring – started 10 games at left tackle Leroy Hoard – started 6 games at fullback and 1 game at tailback (team's second leading rusher in 1988 with 752 yards) Chris Horn – started 1 game at fullback Mike Husar – started 10 games at left guard and 2 games at left tackle John Kolesar – started 7 games at flanker (team's second leading receiver with 18 catches for 356 yards) Greg McMurtry – started 10 games at split end (team's leading receiver with 27 catches for 470 yards) Greg Skrepenak – started 12 games at right tackle Michael Taylor – started 9 games at quarterback (65 for 122 for 957 passing yards) John Vitale – started 12 games at center Derrick Walker – started 1 game at tight end and 1 game at split end Tracy Williams – started 1 game at tailback Defense Bobby Abrams – started 12 games at outside linebacker Erick Anderson – started 6 games at inside linebacker (led team with 77 tackles) David Arnold – started 10 games at cornerback Mike Evans – started 1 game at defensive tackle J. J. Grant – started 9 games at inside linebacker (tied for second on the team with 72 tackles) Mark Gutzwiller, defensive back John Hermann – started 2 games at defensive tackle David Key – started 12 games at cornerback (fifth on the team with 63 tackles) Alex Marshall – started 9 games at outside linebacker Mark Messner – started 12 games at defensive tackle (fourth on the team with 70 tackles) Anthony Mitchell – started 1 game at outside linebacker Vada Murray – started 12 games at free safety (second on team with 4 interceptions) T. J. Osman – started 12 games at middle guard Todd Plate – started 2 games at cornerback Marc Spencer – started 3 games at inside linebacker Tripp Welborne – started 12 games at strong safety (led team with five interceptions; tied for second on the team with 72 tackles) Brent White – started 9 games at defensive tackle Tim Williams – started 2 games at outside linebacker Special teams Tony Boles – kick off returns (14 returns for an average of 24.1 yards) Mike Gillette – placekicker (18 of 27 on field goals) and punter (46 punts for an average of 39.9 yards) Gulam Khan – placekicker (0 for 1 on field goals) John Kolesar – kickoff returns (13 returns for an average of 23.5 yards); punt returns (17 returns for an average of 11.9 yards) Awards and honors All-Americans: Mark Messner, John Vitale All-Conference: Mark Messner, John Vitale, Mike Husar, John Kolesar, Tony Boles, Mike Gillette, David Arnold Most Valuable Player: Mark Messner Meyer Morton Award: John Vitale John Maulbetsch Award: Tripp Welborne Frederick Matthei Award: Warde Manuel Arthur Robinson Scholarship Award: David Weil Dick Katcher Award: Mark Messner Hugh Rader Jr. Award: Mark Messner Robert P. Ufer Award: John Kolesar Coaching staff Head coach: Bo Schembechler Assistant coaches: Tirrel Burton, Cam Cameron, Lloyd Carr, Jerry Hanlon, Bill Harris, Jim Herrmann, Les Miles, Gary Moeller, Bobby Morrison, Tom Reed Trainer: Russ Miller Manager: Pat Perkins, Scott Boyle References External links 1988 Football Team -- Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan Athletics History Michigan Category:Michigan Wolverines football seasons Category:Big Ten Conference football champion seasons Category:Rose Bowl champion seasons Michigan Wolverines football