The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/347495
WHERE ARE THEY NOW? in a dozen years. Following his true freshman season (when first-year col- lege players weren't eligible to partici- pate on the varsity anyway), all of that changed in a whirlwind of success. The 1964 Wolverines rampaged through the season with an unleashing of pent-up frustrations from previous shortfalls. Laden with talented players such as All-American quarterback Bob Timberlake, team captain and end Jim Conley and All-American tackle Bill Yearby, they surged to a 9-1 season and a No. 4 national ranking. They won at Michigan State, 17-10, before dropping a heartbreaker at home against Purdue, 21-20, in a game that kept them from a national cham- pionship. From that point on, though, they couldn't be beaten, winning 10-0 at Ohio State and dismantling Oregon State in the Rose Bowl, 34-7. Wilhite, a defensive end, labored that season as a young backup for Elliott's crew, and he could see the storm com- ing. The chemistry on the '64 squad proved incredible. "Conley is a great example of this mindset," Wilhite observed. "He was tired of losing. At lunch years later, I re- member him saying that in the locker room after another loss, too many guys were more interested in their Saturday night social plans than they were win- ning football games. "This was a guy who was hungry and eager to demonstrate that he and Michigan could win in the Big Ten and on the national stage. There were 18 or so starters on the '64 team, and a good half of them were classmates of Conley and shared his views. "Also on the roster were recruits from the classes of '62 and '63, with the later group among the best in the country if NFL rosters are one of the benchmarks." Some of those who made big con- tributions to the '64 team included pivotal performers such as halfback Jim Detwiler, running back Carl Ward, defensive back Rick Volk, linebacker Frank Nunley and fullback Dave Fisher. "We had no fear," Wilhite observed. "We were on the cocky side of con- fident, but we understood that you had to prove yourself on the field, not with high school awards and freshman promise. "You had to demonstrate you could get out there and win in the Big Ten. That chemistry, both among us and as it related to the juniors and seniors, was a defining component of this team." Coaching played a role as well, and insightful player moves all fell into place, Wilhite recalled. "There was the judgment and skill set of those who were making deci- sions about players," he said. "These were prescient judgments. A great example linked new assis- tant Tony Mason and Tom Mack. Ma- son brought a brashness and swagger to the team and also saw something in Mack. "Tom was a back-up tight end as a sophomore but never invoked Jack Clancy's name when describing his pass-catching prowess. But he was 235 pounds, big for that era, very athletic and quick. Tom became a two-time