Moorhead grew up in South Haven, Michigan where he was an All-State high school football player.[2]
University of Michigan
Accomplishments and records
After graduating from high school, Moorhead enrolled at the University of Michigan. He was the starting quarterback for Bo Schembechler's Michigan Wolverines in all 21 games of the 1969 and 1970 seasons; he led the Wolverines to an overall record of 17–4 in his two seasons as quarterback.[3][4] During his playing career at Michigan, Moorhead also broke Bob Chappuis's school record for total offense in a career with 3,641 yards of total offense.[2] Moorhead set a total of 24 University of Michigan football records, including total offensive plays (706), most yards gained passing (2,550), most passes completed (200) and most passes attempted (423).[2]
1969 season
As a junior, Moorhead led the 1969 Wolverines team to an 8–2 regular season record, including a 24–12 win in the 1969 Ohio State game.[3] He also led the 1969 Wolverines in total offense with 1,699 yards, 565 yards rushing and 1,134 yards passing. He completed 50 percent of his 178 passing attempts in 1969, threw five touchdown passes and had six passes intercepted.[5] After the 1969 season, Schembechler called Moorhead "a very cool customer."[5]
The Wolverines tied for the Big Ten Conference championship in 1969 and advanced to the 1970 Rose Bowl. Shortly before the game, Schembechler suffered a heart attack and was hospitalized. Moorhead said at the time, "I was shocked. It was like learning that your father was very ill."[6] Moorhead led the Wolverines in the Rose Bowl against a USC Trojans team that included a defensive front five known as the "Wild Bunch." Charlie Weaver made a key play in the second quarter batting down a Moorhead pass to Jim Mandich who was open in the end zone.[7] In all, the Wild Bunch knocked down four of Moorhead's passes.[7] Moorhead was 14-for-32 in passing with one interception and 127 passing yards.[7] USC won the game, 10–3.[3] After the game, Moorhead expressed disappointment at not winning the game for the ailing Schembechler: "A couple of times in the huddle, guys would say 'get this one for Bo. He worked so hard to get us here.' But we weren't able to get it."[6]
1970 season
Before the start of the 1970 football season, the Associated Press ran a feature story on Moorhead, writing that, "Anyone wishing to undermine the very capable 1970 Michigan team must simply figure a way to 'eliminate' quarterback Don Moorhead early in the season."[8] Coach Schembechler lavished praise on Moorhead, calling him "a great football player" who knows the game and "can think out there."[8] Schembechler added, "As long as Moorhead is whole, in my opinion, we have as good a quarterback as there is the country."[8]
The 1970 Michigan team started the season with nine consecutive wins, outscoring opponents 279 to 70.[4] Ranked #4 in the country, the Wolverines faced Ohio State in the final game of the season at Columbus. Ohio State defeated Michigan, 20–9, in Moorhead's final game in a Wolverines uniform.[4] Moorhead was selected as an All-Big Ten Conference quarterback at the end of the 1970 season.[4]
Career passing statistics
Season
Att
Comp
Int
Comp %
Yds
Yds/Comp
TD
1968
25
10
2
40.0
122
12.2
1
1969
210
99
7
47.1
1261
12.7
6
1970
190
87
6
45.8
1167
13.4
8
Career total
425
196
15
46.1
2550
13.0
15
Career rushing statistics
Season
Att
Yd+
Yd-
Net Yd
Yd/Att
TD
1968
16
106
8
98
6.1
0
1969
170
808
183
625
3.7
9
1970
97
431
63
368
3.8
2
Career total
283
1345
254
1091
3.9
11
BC Lions
Moorhead was drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the sixth round of the 1971 NFL draft, but the Saints also drafted Mississippi's Archie Manning the same year. The Saints intended to use Moorhead as a running back, but Moorhead wanted to play quarterback. In February 1971, Moorhead told a group in his home town, "The big deal is that I want to play quarterback. New Orleans drafted me as a running back, so you know that's what they're thinking."[9] Determined to play quarterback, Moorhead elected instead to sign with the BC Lions in the Canadian Football League.[10] In his first season, Moorhead split time behind incumbent starter Paul Brothers and backup Tom Wilkinson. After Brothers was traded to Ottawa and Wilkinson was released, he became the Lions' starting quarterback from 1972 to 1975 and led the team to the Grey Cup playoffs in 1973 and 1974.[2] He lost is starting job to Peter Liske in 1975, after the Lions obtained Liske from Calgary in a trade. He announced his retirement from football in July 1976 after undergoing three knee operations in two years and tearing the biceps on his left arm. At the time of his retirement, Moorhead said, "Football was good to me. It gave me lots of things, but I may pay for it in later years with my injuries. I didn't set the world on fire, but I did have good years at British Columbia."[2]
Career passing statistics
Season
Att
Comp
Int
Comp %
Yds
Yds/Comp
TD
1971
182
98
13
53.8
1302
13.8
9
1972
326
159
17
48.7
2606
16.3
10
1973
278
160
12
57.8
2005
12.5
4
1974
306
160
13
52.8
2478
15.5
17
1975
42
25
3
59.3
298
11.9
2
After football
When he retired from football, Moorhead became a physical education teacher at Paw Paw High School in Paw Paw, Michigan, retiring in 2010.
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