Don Moorhead
NFL draft 1971, Round: 6, Pick: 132 | (By the New Orleans Saints) | |
Career history | ||
---|---|---|
As player | ||
1971–1975 | BC Lions | |
Awards | All Big Ten quarterback | |
Honors | Co-captain, 1970 Michigan football team |
Don Moorhead (born October 11, 1948) [1] is a former Canadian Football League (CFL) quarterback. He was the starting quarterback for the BC Lions from 1971 to 1975 and for the Michigan Wolverines football team in 1969 and 1970. He set 24 football records at the University of Michigan, including most yards of total offense and most yards passing.
Biography
Early years
Moorhead grew up in South Haven, Michigan where he was an All-State high school football player.[2]
University of Michigan
Accomplishments and records
After graduating from high school, Moorhead enrolled at the University of Michigan. He was the starting quarterback for Bo Schembechler's Michigan Wolverines in all 21 games of the 1969 and 1970 seasons; he led the Wolverines to an overall record of 17–4 in his two seasons as quarterback.[3][4] During his playing career at Michigan, Moorhead also broke Bob Chappuis's school record for total offense in a career with 3,641 yards of total offense.[2] Moorhead set a total of 24 University of Michigan football records, including total offensive plays (706), most yards gained passing (2,550), most passes completed (200) and most passes attempted (423).[2]
1969 season
As a junior, Moorhead led the
The Wolverines tied for the Big Ten Conference championship in 1969 and advanced to the 1970 Rose Bowl. Shortly before the game, Schembechler suffered a heart attack and was hospitalized. Moorhead said at the time, "I was shocked. It was like learning that your father was very ill."[6] Moorhead led the Wolverines in the Rose Bowl against a USC Trojans team that included a defensive front five known as the "Wild Bunch." Charlie Weaver made a key play in the second quarter batting down a Moorhead pass to Jim Mandich who was open in the end zone.[7] In all, the Wild Bunch knocked down four of Moorhead's passes.[7] Moorhead was 14-for-32 in passing with one interception and 127 passing yards.[7] USC won the game, 10–3.[3] After the game, Moorhead expressed disappointment at not winning the game for the ailing Schembechler: "A couple of times in the huddle, guys would say 'get this one for Bo. He worked so hard to get us here.' But we weren't able to get it."[6]
1970 season
Before the start of the 1970 football season, the Associated Press ran a feature story on Moorhead, writing that, "Anyone wishing to undermine the very capable 1970 Michigan team must simply figure a way to 'eliminate' quarterback Don Moorhead early in the season."[8] Coach Schembechler lavished praise on Moorhead, calling him "a great football player" who knows the game and "can think out there."[8] Schembechler added, "As long as Moorhead is whole, in my opinion, we have as good a quarterback as there is the country."[8]
The 1970 Michigan team started the season with nine consecutive wins, outscoring opponents 279 to 70.[4] Ranked #4 in the country, the Wolverines faced Ohio State in the final game of the season at Columbus. Ohio State defeated Michigan, 20–9, in Moorhead's final game in a Wolverines uniform.[4] Moorhead was selected as an All-Big Ten Conference quarterback at the end of the 1970 season.[4]
Career passing statistics
Season | Att | Comp | Int | Comp % | Yds | Yds/Comp | TD |
1968 | 25 | 10 | 2 | 40.0 | 122 | 12.2 | 1 |
1969 | 210 | 99 | 7 | 47.1 | 1261 | 12.7 | 6 |
1970 | 190 | 87 | 6 | 45.8 | 1167 | 13.4 | 8 |
Career total | 425 | 196 | 15 | 46.1 | 2550 | 13.0 | 15 |
Career rushing statistics
Season | Att | Yd+ | Yd- | Net Yd | Yd/Att | TD |
1968 | 16 | 106 | 8 | 98 | 6.1 | 0 |
1969 | 170 | 808 | 183 | 625 | 3.7 | 9 |
1970 | 97 | 431 | 63 | 368 | 3.8 | 2 |
Career total | 283 | 1345 | 254 | 1091 | 3.9 | 11 |
BC Lions
Moorhead was drafted by the
Career passing statistics
Season | Att | Comp | Int | Comp % | Yds | Yds/Comp | TD |
1971 | 182 | 98 | 13 | 53.8 | 1302 | 13.8 | 9 |
1972 | 326 | 159 | 17 | 48.7 | 2606 | 16.3 | 10 |
1973 | 278 | 160 | 12 | 57.8 | 2005 | 12.5 | 4 |
1974 | 306 | 160 | 13 | 52.8 | 2478 | 15.5 | 17 |
1975 | 42 | 25 | 3 | 59.3 | 298 | 11.9 | 2 |
After football
When he retired from football, Moorhead became a physical education teacher at Paw Paw High School in Paw Paw, Michigan, retiring in 2010.
References
- ^ "LION ALUMNI BIRTHDAY'S IN OCTOBER". LION ALUMNI BIRTHDAYS IN OCTOBER. 1998-10-25. Retrieved 27 December 2009.
- ^ a b c d e Paul Morgan (1976-07-08). "Moorhead Quits Canadian Football League". The Herald-Palladium (Benton Harbor, MI).
- ^ a b c "1969 Football Team". Univ. of Michigan, Bentley Historical Library.
- ^ a b c d "1970 Football Team". Univ. of Michigan, Bentley Historical Library.
- ^ a b Lowell Schrader (1969-12-31). "Keep Your Eye on Moorhead, Jones". Independent (Long Beach, CA).
- ^ a b "Schembechler Heart Tested". Charleston Daily Mail. 1970-01-02.
- ^ a b c Bill Jauss (1970-01-02). "X-Ray Ace, Punter, 'Wild Bunch' Lead USC Before Record Crowd". Charleston Daily Mail.
- ^ a b c "Wolverines' Fortunes Rest on Don Moorhead". The Ironwood Daily Globe (AP story). 1970-08-26.
- ^ "Moorhead Is Still Unsigned: 'M' Star Wants Job As Quarterback". The News-Palladium (Benton Harbor, MI). 1971-02-23.
- ^ "Moorhead Going To Canada Now: May Sign With Vancouver Team". The News-Palladium (Benton Harbor, MI). 1971-02-18.