MICHIGAN HIGH SCHOOL

FOOTBALL RECORD BOOK

All information copyright 2007 by
Ron Pesch
1317 Lakeshore Drive
Muskegon, Michigan 49441
Home: (231) 759-7253

The debate on the state's top team is nearly as old as the game itself.  In the early years, and the battle for the crown took place in the press, as local writers dissected the schedules of the "challengers for the crown" in an attempt to determine the merit of a claim.  Qualification for the state crown was usually based on an undefeated record against other Michigan high schools. While challenges often surfaced between the state's undefeated, the contests seldom took place.  Hence, historians refer to the titles as "mythical".

As early as 1926, the Associated Press expressed the need for a new system to select Michigan's high school grid champion. The state's first gridiron poll found to date appeared in the fall of 1944 in the Detroit Free Press.  The Associated Press debuted a poll in 1947, however no other AP polls have surfaced for the years 1948-1950. 

A second AP poll appeared in the fall of 1951.  Based on a weekly survey of 17 sports editors in Michigan, the poll rated the states finest teams.

However, the poll had many critics.  By the end of the season, the council of the Michigan High School Athletic Association, Coach Harry Potter of number one ranked Muskegon and Ted Sowle of number two ranked Grand Rapids Catholic Central had denounced the AP poll.  Potter felt that the polls put "dangerous pressures" on athletes.  Both men believed the weekly polls overemphasized the importance of a "game."

 It appears the Associated Press abandoned the rankings because of the '51 controversy.  AP sponsored lists of undefeated teams have been found for the 1952, 1953, and 1954 seasons.  The teams, however, are not ranked. 

In the fall of 1955, the AP poll reappeared.  Ann Arbor was selected as the recipient of the mythical state championship.  Based on a poll of the state's high school football writers and sportscasters, the Pioneers received 21 of the 26 first-place votes in the final balloting of the season.  The criticism had died down, and the AP football poll became a fixture in the state of Michigan.

Here is a listing, assembled from a variety of sources, listing claimants to the state's mythical crown 1894-1950.

Please e-mail me if you can provide additional details on teams listed below, or on teams that you feel should be on the list.

Thanks!

Click here to read an expanded account of  Michigan's Mythical State Champions