 Crisler
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Fritz Crisler graduated from Mendota High School in 1917. Although his parents lived in Earlville, he moved in with the Harris family in Mendota during his high school years so that he could play football. He went on to coach at Princeton and the University of Michigan. His 1938-47 record at Michigan was 71-16-3. His teams dominated in Big Ten play, finishing lower than second only twice and winning league crowns in 1943 and 1947. Probably his greatest contribution to Wolverine football history was the winged helmet. Originally designed to enable quarterbacks in distinguishing receivers, the winged design has become a world-recognized symbol of the U. of Michigan. This helmet, along with tear away jerseys, were implemented prior to Crisler coaching his first game. |
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Fritz Crisler's final season with the Wolverines ended with a 49-0 creaming of Southern California in the Rose Bowl and a perfect 10-0 for the season. Under his coaching the U of M played their first televised game, 1947; their first night game, 1944; and the first college football team to travel cross country by plane, 1940. |
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