Inducted 1951
Date of Birth
3/18/1905
Birthplace
Cleveland, OH
School
University of Michigan (1924-1926)
Bio
Michigan quarterback Benny Friedman and end Bennie Oosterbaan were one of the game's first great passing combinations. With Oosterbaan making circus catches off Friedman's soft throws, Michigan roared from behind to beat Ohio State 17-16 in a pivotal game for the 1926 conference title. The two Bennies also led Michigan to a Big Ten title in 1925. "He never makes a mistake", Yost said while watching Friedman capture consensus All America honors in 1925 and 1926. He had poise and remarkable ability. The handsome son of a Cleveland, Ohio tailor, Friedman went on to play professional football, first in his hometown of Cleveland and then in Detroit before finishing up his career in New York for six seasons with the gridiron Giants and Dodgers. Friedman hated to lose, and his combativeness, wild inventiveness and determination to win drew thousands of fans Sunday after Sunday. In all of his years as a player, college or pro, Friedman never suffered an injury and never missed a game.
Stats
Height 5'8
Weight 172
Career Highlights
- 1926 All-Conference
- 1926 Conference MVP
- 1926 Consensus All-America
- 1925 All-Conference
- 1925 Consensus All-America
Class of 1951
Halfback
Sammy Baugh
Guard
John Brown
Quarterback
Dutch Clark
Tackle
Hector Cowan
Fullback
Ted Coy
Quarterback
Charlie Daly
Quarterback
Walter Eckersall
Quarterback
Benny Friedman
Halfback
George Gipp
Halfback
Red Grange
Guard
Truxton Hare
Halfback
Chic Harley
Fullback
Homer Hazel
Guard
Pudge Heffelfinger
Tackle
Wilbur Henry
End
Frank Hinkey
Halfback
Bill Hollenback
End
Don Hutson
Tackle
Bruiser Kinard
Halfback
Nile Kinnick
Fullback
Elmer Layden
Fullback
Eddie Mahan
Quarterback
Bo McMillin
End
Harold Muller
Tackle
Bronko Nagurski
Fullback
Ernie Nevers
Center
Germany Schulz
Tackle
Duke Slater
End
Amos Alonzo Stagg
Halfback
Jim Thorpe
Tackle
Ed Weir
Halfback
George Wilson
Coach
Bill Alexander
Coach
Dana Bible
Coach
Walter Camp
Coach
Gil Dobie
Coach
Michael Donahue
Coach
Ed Hall
Coach
Percy Haughton
Coach
Howard Jones
Coach
Andy Kerr
Coach
Dan McGugin
Coach
Frank O'Neill
Coach
Bennie Owen
Coach
Knute Rockne
Coach
Bill Roper
Coach
Andy Smith
Coach
Amos Alonzo Stagg
Coach
Jock Sutherland
Coach
Frank Thomas
Coach
Pop Warner
Coach
Henry Williams
Coach
Fielding Yost
Coach
Bob Zuppke
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