Bennie Oosterbaan

Lore & Background

Oosterbaan was a three-time All-American in football, two-time All-American in basketball, and an All-Big Ten selection in baseball at Michigan. He threw three touchdown passes in the dedication game of Michigan Stadium on October 22, 1927. He was selected by Sports Illustrated as the fourth greatest athlete in the history of Michigan in 2003.

In Their Own Story

The November air off the Detroit River was sharp enough to cut. The stadium lights hummed and buzzed above the packed stands, and the crowd — a sea of wool coats and leather caps — roared as the Lions lined up on their own thirty. The ball snapped. The center hauled it back. And there he was, Oosterbaan, eyes low, shoulders squared, the leather ball tucked hard against his ribs. The first defender came in at the knee. He didn't flinch. The second came at the hip. He absorbed it, rolled his ankle, and kept driving. The third tried to wrap the legs. Oosterbaan simply stepped over the man's outstretched arms like they weren't there. By the time the pile settled, he was four yards past the line, and the Lions' bench was on its feet. The crowd didn't cheer so much as growl. That was the sound of the early Lions, and that was the sound of Bennie Oosterbaan.

Reader's Guide

Oosterbaan played as an end (receiver/defensive end) in football, not as a fullback. He coached only at the University of Michigan, serving as head football coach from 1948 to 1958, winning a national championship in 1948 and the 1951 Rose Bowl. He also served as head basketball coach from 1938 to 1946 and as director of athletic alumni relations until 1972.

Did You Know?

• Oosterbaan was the first University of Michigan athlete to become a first-team All-American in basketball and the first three-time first-team All-American in football.
• He declined offers to play professional football and baseball due to his religious background.
• He was awarded the Western Conference Medal of Honor in 1928 for proficiency as a scholar-athlete.