1964 Michigan Wolverines football team

rdf:langString 1964 Michigan Wolverines football team

rdf:langString Jim Conley

rdf:langString Rose Bowl champion

rdf:langString Big Ten champion

rdf:langString Big Ten Conference

rdf:langString Michigan

rdf:langString Ann Arbor, Michigan

rdf:langString Columbus, Ohio

rdf:langString East Lansing, Michigan

rdf:langString Iowa City, Iowa

rdf:langString Pasadena, California

rdf:langString Michigan Wolverines

rdf:langString Week 5: Minnesota at Michigan

rdf:langString Week 9: Michigan at Ohio State

rdf:langString Week 7: Illinois at Michigan

rdf:langString Rose Bowl: Michigan vs. Oregon State

rdf:langString Week 1: Air Force at Michigan

rdf:langString Week 2: Navy at Michigan

rdf:langString Week 3: Michigan at Michigan State

rdf:langString Week 4: Purdue at Michigan

rdf:langString Week 6: Northwestern at Michigan

rdf:langString Week 8: Michigan at Iowa

rdf:langString Michigan

rdf:langString W 34–7 vs. Oregon State

rdf:langString Big Ten

rdf:langString The 1964 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1964 Big Ten Conference football season. In its sixth year under head coach Bump Elliott, Michigan compiled a 9–1 record, won the Big Ten Conference championship for the first time since 1950, and defeated Oregon State in the 1965 Rose Bowl by a score of 34–7. The 1964 Wolverines defeated four teams ranked in the Top 10 in the AP Poll by a combined score of 82 to 17 and finished the regular season ranked No. 4 in both the AP and Coaches' polls. Although no post-bowl polls were taken in the 1964 season, Oregon State coach Tommy Prothro opined after watching game film from the Rose Bowl that the 1964 Wolverines were "the greatest football team he has ever seen." On offense, Michigan scored 235 points, an average of 23.5 points per game, and averaged 349 yards of total offense per game. The offense was led by quarterback Bob Timberlake who was selected as a first-team All-American. Timberlake was a triple threat who rushed for 631 yards, passed for 884 yards, and also handled field goals and extra points. The 1964 team had a strong running game with Mel Anthony and Carl Ward in the backfield. Totaling 2,473 rushing yards for the season, the Wolverines had four games (Air Force, Minnesota, Northwestern, and Oregon State) in which they rushed for over 300 yards. On defense, Michigan had three shutouts (a feat not accomplished by a Michigan team since 1948) and gave up only 83 points, an average of 8.3 points per game. Team leaders on defense included All-American defensive tackle Bill Yearby, All-Big Ten linebacker Tom Cecchini, and team captain and All-Big Ten player Jim Conley. The 1964 team also included at least 16 players who went on to play professional football, including offensive guard Tom Mack (13 years in the NFL, 11 Pro Bowl appearances), defensive back Rick Volk (12 years in the NFL, three Pro Bowl appearances), linebacker Frank Nunley (10 years in the NFL), linebacker Bill Laskey (10 years in the AFL/NFL), and defensive back John Rowser (10 years in the NFL). The Wolverines narrowly missed an undefeated season, with their only loss coming against a Purdue team led by Bob Griese by a score of 21–20. Michigan had a chance to tie the game in the fourth quarter, but Timberlake carried the ball for an attempted two-point conversion and was stopped short of the goal line.