So How 'Bout Them New Guys: Michigan Wolverines 1989

Author's Note:

Home Blog contains my scoring system and the schedule of events, as well as the top classes I have done so far.

Purdue's rosters got here Monday. Good thing. Means that I can start working on them and actually get some information. I have back to WWII, minus a few years, so that's good.

I'm going to stop summarizing with my first paragraph at the bottom. You can all figure out what the numbers mean.

This is my second of two Michigan classes in a row, and then I'm going to try to find enough information to do the next one down on my list... we will see how that goes, really. Playing it by ear on schools not named Michigan (or Purdue now).

Set the Stage:

Head Coach: Bo Schembechler (1989), Gary Moeller (1990-1993)

1988 Performance: 9-2-1, AP 4th, Big Ten 1st
New Blood: 19

Recruiting Map:

Mini Recruiting Board Lives Here:

Position	Count
QB	1
RB/FB	2
WR	2
TE	2
OL	3
DT	4
DE	0
LB	3
DB	1
K	1

The 1989 was recruited off of what had been a standard 9-win Big Ten Title season. The class was strongly balanced, with a good mix of every position. I do not know if Bo thought this was his last season by the time this season started, but it is clear that he was intending on leaving a strong foundation for his successor.

How They Did:

Overall Record: 46-11-3
Varsity Letters: 46
Graduated on Team: 16
Started a Game: 10
Full Eligibility: 12
5th Year Seniors: 10

Notable Honors:

• Derrick Alexander, WR, All-American 1992, All-Conference 1992 1993
• Tony McGee, TE, All-Conference 1992
• Buster Stanley, DT, All-Conference 1993

Draftees:

• Derrick Alexander, 1994, 1st Round, 29 Overall
• Tony McGee, 1993, 2nd Round, 37 Overall

Recruiting Score:

Category	Points
Man-Game Ratio	0.1589
Record	0.0792
Letters	0.0460
Heisman	0.0000
All-Americans	0.0250
All-Big Ten	0.0400
Full Eligibility	0.0120
Drafted	0.0300
Total	0.3911

So, besides being the year I was born, 1989 is famously known as the year after Desmond Howard was recruited, or Bo's last year coaching. That's about it. The class produced two draftees, but they went in rounds 1 and 2, so that is redeeming. One All-American honor was awarded, to Derrick Alexander, who also was All-Big Ten twice and a first-round draft pick. Alexander was solely responsible for .0700 points of this class, giving the class a strong boost. This class only started 15.9% of possible starts, implying that the surrounding classes will be much stronger.

This class also had a weak Senior season (9-0-3), as well as a weak 5th Year (8-4-0). When I get more data points, I'm going to try to link 4th year record to recruiting score.