1952 Michigan Wolverines football team


The 1952 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1952 Big Ten Conference football season. In its fifth year under head coach Bennie Oosterbaan, Michigan compiled a 5–4 record, tied for fourth place in the Big Ten, and outscored opponents by a combined total of 207 to 134.
Defensive end Merritt Green was the team captain, and quarterback Tony Branoff received the team's most valuable player award.
Lowell Perry was selected by the Newspaper Enterprise Association as a first-team defensive back on the 1952 College Football All-America Team. Five Michigan players received All-Big Ten honors: linebacker Roger Zatkoff ; guard Bob Timm ; center Dick O'Shaugnessy ; left halfback Ted Kress ; and defensive tackle Art Walker.
The team's statistical leaders included Ted Kress with 559 passing yards and 623 rushing yards and Lowell Perry with 492 receiving yards.

Schedule

Game summaries

Northwestern

Michigan's individual statistical leaders for the 1952 season include those listed below.

Rushing

Passing

Receiving

PlayerReceptionsYardsYds/RecpTDLong
Lowell Perry3149215.9552
Ted Topor1820811.6432
Thad Stanford1220016.7048

Kickoff returns

PlayerReturnsYardsYds/ReturnTDLong
Tony Branoff614524.2031
Don Oldham712317.6030
Frank Howell610016.7026

Punt returns

PlayerReturnsYardsYds/ReturnTDLong
Lowell Perry12736.1015
Don Oldham5316.20
Dave Tinkham4276.806

Players

The starting lineup of the 1952 football team was made up of the following players. Players who started at least four games are shown with their names in bold.
Honors and awards for the 1952 season went to the following individuals.
Michigan's 1952 coaching, training, and support staff included the following persons.