Jim Detwiler
Michigan Wolverines – No. 48 | |
---|---|
Position | Halfback |
Personal information | |
Born: | Bluffton, Ohio, U.S. | May 29, 1945
Height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) |
Weight | 220 lb (100 kg) |
Career history | |
College |
|
Bowl games | |
High school | DeVilbiss (OH) |
James R. Detwiler (born May 29, 1945) is a former
Early years
Detwiler was born in 1945 in Bluffton, Ohio. He was an all-city, all-state and All-American running back as a senior at Toledo's DeVilbiss High School in 1962.[2]
One of the most sought after players in Ohio in 1962, Detwiler "refused an invitation to visit Ohio State, prompting Coach Woody Hayes to harangue him on the telephone one night for more than half an hour about being disloyal to the state of Ohio."[3]
University of Michigan
In 1964, Detwiler was part of
Detwiler redeemed himself by scoring the only touchdown in the 1964
In the 1965 Rose Bowl, Michigan beat the Oregon State Beavers 34-7,[6] and Detwiler had a 30-yard reception from Timberlake on a key scoring drive in the third quarter.[7]
In the 1965 season, a knee injury limited Detwiler to three games. He had surgery to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament.[8]
In 1966, he returned from his injury, but he never fully recovered as his knee swelled after every game. He had the best game of his career against Ohio State in 1966, gaining 140 yards, and scoring a touchdown, on 20 carries—all in the first half.[9] The Wolverines won, 17-3, and Detwiler later recalled: "We knew after the first two series that we were the better team. They couldn't stop us, and they couldn't do much against us. But I'll tell you what: That game got me a pro contract."[3] As for why he did not play in the second half, Detwiler recalled: "I ran the ball more times in the first half than I had ever run it before, but I ran out of gas. The coach very kindly told the media that I had the flu. I actually was rubber-legged and couldn't play much after that."[2]
For his career at Michigan, Detwiler had 788 rushing yards and seven touchdowns.[10]
Detwiler was named to the first-team All Big Ten team,[11] and he rushed for over 100 yards in the Blue–Gray Football Classic in 1966, earning himself the game's most valuable back award.
Professional football
The
Dental career and later years
Detwiler enrolled in dental school while trying to rehabilitate his knee. He used his $50,000 signing bonus to put himself through dental school.[3]
In 1971, Detwiler returned to Toledo and set up a dental practice near Perrysburg, Ohio.
References
- ^ "The 1967 NFL Draft - March 14, 1967". Pro Football Hall of Fame. 2007. Archived from the original on March 4, 2009. Retrieved December 1, 2007.
- ^ a b c Musselman, Ron (November 18, 2005). "Michigan's Detwiler loved to drill Ohio State". Toledo Blade. The Blade. Retrieved December 1, 2007.
- ^ ISBN 1-58261-771-6.
- ^ "Versus Purdue October 17, 1964". Regents of the University of Michigan. 2003. Archived from the original on May 13, 2005. Retrieved December 1, 2007.
- ^ Phillips, Larry. "Key Buckeye-Wolverine games sprinkled through every decade". Central Ohio. Archived from the original on November 17, 2007. Retrieved December 1, 2007.
- ^ "Michigan's Bowl History" (PDF). mgoblue.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 30, 2008. Retrieved December 1, 2007.
- ^ "Versus Oregon State January 1, 1965". Regents of the University of Michigan. 2003. Archived from the original on May 12, 2005. Retrieved December 1, 2007.
- ^ "Jim Detwiler Out for Year". Lansing State Journal. October 12, 1965. p. D1.
- ^ "Detwiler, Clancy, Sygar So Good: U-M Kills Off Bucks, 17-3". Battle Creek Enquirer-News. November 20, 1966. p. 3-1.
- ^ "Michigan Football Statistic Archive Query Page". Regents of the University of Michigan. 2003. Archived from the original on November 12, 2007. Retrieved December 1, 2007.
- ^ "1966 Football Team". The Regents of the University of Michigan. March 31, 2007. Retrieved December 1, 2007.
- ^ "Sitting on 20". Tampa Bay Buccaneers. April 19, 2008. Retrieved January 14, 2010.
- ^ "Anatomy of a Recruiter: Chalmers "Bump" Elliot". MGoBlog. July 23, 2009. Retrieved January 14, 2010.
- ^ "Jim Detwiler Signs With Colts". Argus-Leader. May 24, 1967. p. 27.
- ^ "Hosses Place Detwiler, Carr On Waiver List". The Daily Times. August 28, 1968. p. 27.