Fritz Crisler

Herbert Orin "Fritz" Crisler (January 12, 1899 near Earlville, Illinois – August 19, 1982) was a head football coach, best known for his tenure at the University of Michigan from 1938 to 1947. He also coached at the University of Minnesota (1930-1931) and Princeton University (1932-1937). Before this, he played football at the University of Chicago under Amos Alonzo Stagg, who nicknamed him Fritz after violinist Fritz Kreisler.

During his head coaching career, which lasted 18 seasons (1930-47), Crisler posted a career record of 116 victories, 32 losses and 9 ties, for a winning percentage of .768. At Michigan, Crisler won 71 games, lost 16, and tied 3 for a winning percentage of .806. Known for his innovative strategies, Crisler is credited with inventing the current two-platoon system, in which separate units of players were used for offense and defense. At Michigan, Crisler is also well-known for the distinctive winged football helmet he introduced in 1938. The Michigan football team has worn a version of his design ever since. Crisler had first introduced the winged helmet design at Princeton in 1935; while Princeton abandoned the design when he left, it resumed using it in 1998. [ [http://www.princeton.edu/~paw/archive_old/PAW98-99/01-0909/0909sptx.html After 61 years, "Tiger" helmet returns to Princeton] . Princeton Alumni Weekly (PAW), September 9, 1998]

Crisler's 1947 team, dubbed the "Mad Magicians," had an undefeated campaign, capping it off with a 49-0 triumph over Southern California in the 1948 Rose Bowl. Afterwards, the team was selected the national champion by the Associated Press in an unprecedented post-bowl vote. There was suggestion that Michigan play undefeated Notre Dame to settle the matter once and for all, but Crisler flatly refused to ever play the Irish again after losing to them in 1943. After retiring from coaching, he served as the university's athletic director.

Crisler Arena, home of the Michigan men's and women's basketball teams, was named for Crisler. In addition, one "extra" seat in Michigan Stadium was added to honor Crisler for his special place in the history of Michigan football. However, its location is unknown. [http://www.mgoblue.com/document_display.cfm?document_id=3052]

Football head coaching records

CFB Yearly Record Start
type=coach
team=
conf=
bowl=
poll=APCFB Yearly Record Subhead
name = Minnesota
conf = Big Ten Conference
startyear = 1930
endyear = 1931CFB Yearly Record Entry
championship =
year = 1930
name = Minnesota
overall = 3-4-1
conference = 1-3
confstanding = 6th (tie)
bowlname =
bowloutcome =
ranking =
ranking2 = noCFB Yearly Record Entry
championship =
year = 1931
name = Minnesota
overall = 7-3
conference = 3-2
confstanding = 5th
bowlname =
bowloutcome =
ranking =
ranking2 = noCFB Yearly Record Subtotal
name = Minnesota
overall = 10-7-1
confrecord = 4-5CFB Yearly Record Subhead
name = Princeton
conf = Independent
startyear = 1932
endyear = 1937CFB Yearly Record Entry
championship =
year = 1932
name = Princeton
overall = 2-2-3
conference = -
confstanding = -
bowlname =
bowloutcome =
ranking =
ranking2 = noCFB Yearly Record Entry
championship =
year = 1933
name = Princeton
overall = 9-0
conference = -
confstanding = -
bowlname =
bowloutcome =
ranking =
ranking2 = noCFB Yearly Record Entry
championship =
year = 1934
name = Princeton
overall = 7-1
conference = -
confstanding = -
bowlname =
bowloutcome =
ranking =
ranking2 = noCFB Yearly Record Entry
championship =
year = 1935
name = Princeton
overall = 9-0
conference = -
confstanding = -
bowlname =
bowloutcome =
ranking =
ranking2 = noCFB Yearly Record Entry
championship =
year = 1936
name = Princeton
overall = 4-2-2
conference = -
confstanding = -
bowlname =
bowloutcome =
ranking =
ranking2 = noCFB Yearly Record Entry
championship =
year = 1937
name = Princeton
overall = 4-4
conference = -
confstanding = -
bowlname =
bowloutcome =
ranking =
ranking2 = noCFB Yearly Record Subtotal
name = Princeton
overall = 35-9-5
confrecord = -CFB Yearly Record Subhead
name = Michigan
conf = Big Ten Conference
startyear = 1938
endyear = 1947CFB Yearly Record Entry
championship =
year = 1938
name = Michigan
overall = 6-1-1
conference = 3-1-1
confstanding = 2nd (tie)
bowlname =
bowloutcome =
ranking = 16
ranking2 = noCFB Yearly Record Entry
championship =
year = 1939
name = Michigan
overall = 6-2
conference = 3-2
confstanding = 3rd (tie)
bowlname =
bowloutcome =
ranking = 20
ranking2 = noCFB Yearly Record Entry
championship =
year = 1940
name = Michigan
overall = 7-1
conference = 3-1
confstanding = 2nd
bowlname =
bowloutcome =
ranking = 3
ranking2 = noCFB Yearly Record Entry
championship =
year = 1941
name = Michigan
overall = 6-1-1
conference = 3-1-1
confstanding = 2nd (tie)
bowlname =
bowloutcome =
ranking = 5
ranking2 = noCFB Yearly Record Entry
championship =
year = 1942
name = Michigan
overall = 7-3
conference = 3-2
confstanding = 3rd (tie)
bowlname =
bowloutcome =
ranking = 9
ranking2 = noCFB Yearly Record Entry
championship = conference
year = 1943
name = Michigan
overall = 8-1
conference = 6-0
confstanding = 1st (tie)
bowlname =
bowloutcome =
ranking = 3
ranking2 = noCFB Yearly Record Entry
championship =
year = 1944
name = Michigan
overall = 8-2
conference = 5-2
confstanding = 2nd
bowlname =
bowloutcome =
ranking = 8
ranking2 = noCFB Yearly Record Entry
championship =
year = 1945
name = Michigan
overall = 7-3
conference = 5-1
confstanding = 2nd
bowlname =
bowloutcome =
ranking = 6
ranking2 = noCFB Yearly Record Entry
championship =
year = 1946
name = Michigan
overall = 6-2-1
conference = 5-1-1
confstanding = 2nd
bowlname =
bowloutcome =
ranking = 6
ranking2 = noCFB Yearly Record Entry
championship = national
year = 1947
name = Michigan
overall = 10-0
conference = 6-0
confstanding = 1st
bowlname = Rose Bowl
bowloutcome = W 49-0
ranking = 2/1
ranking2 = noCFB Yearly Record Subtotal
name = Michigan
overall = 71-16-3
confrecord = 42-11-3CFB Yearly Record End
overall = 116-32-9
bcs = no
poll=
polltype=AP

ee also

*List of presidents of the American Football Coaches Association
* University of Michigan Athletic Hall of Honor

Notes

External links

* [http://www.umich.edu/~bhl/athdept/football/helmet/mhelmet.htm Michigan's winged football helmet]
* [http://www.dailyprincetonian.com/archives/2004/09/22/sports/10787.shtml Using their heads: Story of the Princeton Tiger helmet]