Bump Elliott

Bio

In military and civilian life, Chalmers "Bump" Elliott was a star. He joined the Marines in 1943, and was assigned to officer training at Purdue arriving in time to play three games with a Big Ten championship team. In 1944, still at Purdue, he was a starting halfback. He served in China with the Marines, came home, and enrolled at Michigan. His big year was 1947. He scored eight touchdowns, leading the Big Ten; ripped off a 74-yard punt return against Illinois; made the All-America team and was voted Most Valuable Player in the Big Ten. This was the year Michigan went 10-0, scored 394 points, and won the Rose Bowl 49-0. Michigan was one of the first teams to employ two platoons and Bump Elliott was one of two regulars who played both offense and defense. In 1959, at age 34, he became Michigan's football coach. He served ten years; his 1964 team won the Big Ten and the Rose Bowl. He was part of a great family tradition. His father was Dr. J. Norman Elliott, a physician and, in the 1930's, the head football coach at Illinois Wesleyan. Bump lettered in three sports in college. So did his brother, Pete; they were teammates at Michigan. And they opposed each other, when Bump was coach at Michigan, Pete at Illinois.

Career Highlights

• 1947 All-Conference
• 1947 Conference MVP
• 1947 First Team All-America