The 1899 Michigan Wolverines football team was an American football team that represented the University of Michigan in the 1899 Western Conference football season. In their third and final season under head coach Gustave Ferbert, the team compiled an 8–2 record (1–1 against conference opponents), tied for third in the Western Conference, and outscored opponents by a total of 176 to 43.
The team opened the season with seven consecutive shutouts, outscoring opponents in those contests by a total of 109 to 0. However, Michigan finished the season by going 2–2 in its final four games, losing to Penn and Wisconsin. After the 1899 season, Ferbert resigned as Michigan's head coach to travel to Alaska to participate in the Klondike Gold Rush.
Allen Steckle was the team captain. Leo J. Keena was the team's leading scorer with 32 points on five touchdowns (five points each) and seven goals from touchdown (one point each). Three Michigan players were named to the 1899 College Football All-America Team, as selected by The Philadelphia Inquirer: end Neil Snow, halfback John McLean, and tackle Richard France. Snow, McLean, and France were also named to the 1899 All-Western college football team.
Schedule
Season summary
Pre-season
Game 1: Hillsdale
On September 30, 1899, Michigan defeated by an 11–0 score at Regents Field in Ann Arbor. Fullback Leo J. Keena scored Michigan's first touchdown less than two minutes into the game, and the kick for goal was unsuccessful. J. Elliott McAfee scored Michigan's second touchdown, still in the first half, and Keena kicked the goal from touchdown. Neither team scored in the second half The game was played halves of 20 and 15 minutes.
Game 2: Albion
On October 7, 1899, Michigan defeated by a 26–0 score at Regents Field in Ann Arbor. Michigan scored three touchdowns in the first half on runs of 18 yards by Clayton Teetzel and 22 yards by Everett Sweeley, and an 85-yard punt return by Arthur Fitzgerald. Michigan missed on all three kicks for goal in the first half and led, 15–0, at halftime. Michigan scored two more touchdowns in the second half, the first on a short run by Ebin Wilson with Neil Snow kicking the goal. Michigan's final touchdown was scored by Albert E. Herrnstein on a 45-yard run. The kick for goal was unsuccessful. The game was played in 20-minute halves.
Game 3: Western Reserve
On October 14, 1899, Michigan defeated Western Reserve by a 17–0 score at Regents Field in Ann Arbor. After 15 minutes of play in the first half, right tackle Allen Steckle scored a touchdown on a short run, and Neil Snow kicked the goal. In the second half, Charles Frank Juttner, a substitute right tackle, scored on a "revolving play" from the one-yard line, and Snow again kicked the goal. Michigan scored a third touchdown when fullback Everett Sweeley recovered a fumble and returned it 20 yards for a touchdown. Snow's kick for goal was unsuccessful. The game was played in halves of 25 and 20 minutes.
Game 4: Notre Dame
On October 18, 1899, Michigan defeated Notre Dame by a 12–0 score before a crowd of 2,000 spectators at Regents Field in Ann Arbor. The field was soft and slippery from heavy rain that fell the day before the game. Both teams played "plain football with a little punting". Michigan scored its first touchdown when Albert E. Herrnstein blocked a Notre Dame punt, Charles Frank Juttner fell on the ball, and Leo J. Keena then scored on a short run. John McLean scored Michigan's other touchdown in the second half. Neil Snow kicked both goals from touchdown. Clayton Teetzel also had runs of 45 and 40 yards in the second half. The game was played in halves of 25 and 20 minutes.
Game 5: Michigan alumni
On October 21, 1899, Michigan played its annual exhibition game with an alumni team made up of Michigan players from prior years. A large crowd that included university president James Burrill Angell attended the game at Regents Field. The game, played in 20-minute halves, ended in a scoreless tie. The alumni team included H. G. Hadden (left end), Frederick W. Henninger (left tackle), Richard France (left guard), Edwin Denby (center), Horace Greely Prettyman (right guard), John W. F. Bennett (right end), William Wilson Talcott (quarterback), Gustave Ferbert (left halfback), Charles Widman (right halfback), and John A. Bloomingston (fullback).