711:
719:
210:, he totaled 293 passing yards, two passing touchdowns, 130 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns. His best game as a quarterback came against Illinois on November 8, 1969, when he completed six of nine passes for 106 yards, including touchdown passes to Garvie Craw and John Gable. He also rushed for 51 yards and a touchdown on nine carries. Michigan defeated Illinois by a score of 57-0, marking the second worst defeat in the history of the Illinois football program.
139:(born May, 1949) Nathaniel, his given name makes him Nathaniel James Betts III, after his father and grandfather. Jim is in the direct bloodline of his Cherokee mother and grandmother, though his father was African American. Jim is a former American football player, university administrator, and business executive focusing on diversity and inclusion in the workplace. He played college football for the
203:. Amid the threat of deteriorating race relations, Betts saw an opportunity to alter Schembechler's clean-shave policy. Betts told the coach that facial hair was part of the African American players' "heritage." Schembechler agreed to relax the policy, reportedly "to the amusement of the rest of the players, both black and white, who believed Betts was full of shit."
264:. In May 1971, he signed a contract to play for the Jets as a backup quarterback and safety. However, an eye injury cast uncertainty over his potential career as a professional football player. He lost 70% of the vision in his left eye in a swimming accident when a whistle struck him in the eye. He was cut by the Jets in training camp, tried out with the
225:
separated the players. Forty years later, Betts recalled: "On Friday, the
Buckeyes were on the field first, doing their walk-through drills. Before they left, they lined up in the tunnel on both sides. As we made our way to the field, some Buckeye made a nasty comment and all hell broke loose. Woody
237:, awarded each year to the Michigan football player who showed "the greatest development and most promise as a result of the annual spring practice." In his final game in a Michigan uniform, Betts had 14 tackles and intercepted a pass to set up a Michigan score in the 1970 Michigan-Ohio State game.
693:
217:, considered one of the biggest upsets in college football history. The unranked Wolverines defeated the No. 1 Buckeyes by a 24-12 score. The day before the game, a fight broke out between players from the two teams as they passed each other in the tunnel at
712:"Minority Areas Drawing Retailers: The Opening of Domino's Pizza in the Black Community of Washington Shores Is Another Sign That Established Retailers Are Going to Where the Buying Power Is to Make Shopping More Convenient"
295:
In 1978, Betts moved to
Chicago where he accepted a position with a financial services firm. He subsequently returned to Ann Arbor where he worked for an advertising firm founded by a former Michigan football player,
310:
Betts is married to Marty Betts, a former weight loss professional. They have two sons, Eric
Stanton Betts, an actor in Los Angeles, and Evan James Betts, a fitness professional and model in New York City.
751:
151:(CFL). During the 1970s, he worked as an administrator in the University of Michigan athletic department. He later pursued a career in business and was in charge of minority recruitment at
292:
to direct the academic counseling and tutoring service for the university's student-athletes. In that capacity, he became an advocate for football players to complete their degrees.
179:
in 1967 and played college football there from 1968 to 1970. He played at several positions during his collegiate career, including quarterback, running back, wide receiver and
878:
873:
744:
180:
39:
674:
656:
635:
599:
581:
562:
518:
617:
883:
120:
737:
214:
172:
124:
96:
401:
307:
as its
Director of Minority Recruitment, a position he held for at least 15 years. He also served as the company's Director of Urban Initiatives.
229:
As a senior, Betts told
Schembechler he was unhappy in the backup role and persuaded the coach to allow him to move to the defensive unit for the
230:
207:
536:
226:
and Bo were trying to separate guys as we were all fighting like cats and dogs. One of us yelled that we'd beat 'em tomorrow. And we did!".
888:
483:
385:
804:
443:(To retrieve Marsh's statistics, enter "betts" in the space for "Enter last name" and "jim" in the space for "Enter first name.")
285:
422:
478:(2007). "Bo's Lasting Lessons: The Legendary Coach Teaches the Timeless Fundamentals of Leadership". Hachette Book Group USA.
241:
360:
799:
77:
192:
297:
273:
148:
868:
289:
176:
140:
456:
196:
240:
After the 1970 football season, Betts was selected to play on defense for the Blue team in the annual
863:
269:
245:
200:
144:
83:
789:
540:
500:
352:
345:
183:. As a sophomore in 1968, Betts played at the running back and wide receiver positions. When
479:
381:
356:
304:
265:
152:
268:, but was cut by them as well. He did play professional football for a short time with the
218:
188:
729:
184:
765:
261:
233:. During spring practice, he made the switch to the safety position and received the
857:
760:
475:
257:
430:
839:
825:
794:
784:
779:
234:
378:
War As They Knew It: Woody Hayes, Bo
Schembechler, and America in a Time of Unrest
809:
222:
35:
164:
100:
143:
from 1968 to 1970. He also briefly played professional football for the
168:
104:
733:
187:
became the team's head football coach in 1969, protests by
380:. Grand Central Publishing, Hachette Book Group USA.
288:
for two years. In August 1974, he was hired by the
694:"Riviera Beach's Black Areas May Get Pizza Service"
110:
92:
71:
66:
58:
50:
45:
31:
26:
344:
284:After his playing career ended, Betts worked for
423:"Michigan Football Statistic Archive Query Page"
582:"Blue-Grey Game Tonight May Be Offensive Show"
260:in the 10th round (240th overall pick) of the
745:
718:. August 19, 1998. p. B1. Archived from
563:"North Squad Announced For Blue-Gray Contest"
16:American gridiron football player (born 1949)
8:
21:
879:Players of American football from Cleveland
874:21st-century African-American sportspeople
752:
738:
730:
402:"Fresh Woody-Bo tale should appeal to all"
215:1969 Michigan vs. Ohio State football game
20:
27:Michigan Wolverines – No. 23
539:. University of Michigan. Archived from
429:. University of Michigan. Archived from
417:
415:
338:
336:
334:
332:
330:
328:
326:
324:
320:
171:, Betts played high school football at
651:
649:
303:In the late 1980s, Betts was hired by
231:1970 Michigan Wolverines football team
208:1969 Michigan Wolverines football team
451:
449:
7:
884:Michigan Wolverines football players
675:"Collegians Eye Early Crack at Pros"
195:team. An organization known as the
580:Jim McGregor (December 28, 1970).
351:. Sports Publishing LLC. pp.
206:As the backup quarterback for the
175:in Cleveland. He enrolled at the
14:
62:6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
286:Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company
499:Jim Betts (November 18, 2009).
25:
692:Bill Dothat (March 19, 2000).
663:. August 16, 1974. p. 12.
501:"A Friday Fight in the Tunnel"
347:Michigan: Where Have You Gone?
1:
622:The Michigan Daily (AP story)
199:(BAM) was also spreading in
191:players were disrupting the
111:Career highlights and awards
889:Hamilton Tiger-Cats players
657:"Jim Betts is academic aid"
905:
624:. May 6, 1971. p. 10.
586:The Times-News (UPI story)
376:Michael Rosenberg (2008).
775:
507:. University of Michigan.
457:"Illinois Trounced, 57-0"
256:Betts was drafted by the
213:Betts also played in the
193:Indiana Hoosiers football
115:
679:Reading Eagle (AP story)
567:Gadsden Times (AP story)
537:"The Meyer Morton Award"
274:Canadian Football League
149:Canadian Football League
640:Sarasota Herald-Tribune
618:"Betts signs with Jets"
242:Blue-Gray All-Star Game
173:Benedictine High School
97:Benedictine High School
600:"Pros seek 'sleepers'"
343:Jim Cnockaert (2004).
290:University of Michigan
177:University of Michigan
141:University of Michigan
604:Star-News (UPI story)
406:The Columbus Dispatch
252:Professional football
197:Black Action Movement
722:on February 1, 2013.
569:. December 13, 1970.
433:on November 12, 2007
221:. Schembechler and
46:Personal information
698:The Palm Beach Post
681:. December 7, 1977.
606:. January 29, 1971.
543:on October 21, 2012
463:. November 9, 1969.
408:. November 8, 2008.
270:Hamilton Tiger-Cats
246:Birmingham, Alabama
235:Meyer Morton Trophy
145:Hamilton Tiger-Cats
84:Hamilton Tiger-Cats
23:
790:Chris Farasopoulos
661:The Michigan Daily
461:The New York Times
851:
850:
636:"Sports In Brief"
525:. April 26, 1970.
474:Bo Schembechler,
266:Minnesota Vikings
134:
133:
896:
768:
763:
754:
747:
740:
731:
724:
723:
716:Orlando Sentinel
708:
702:
701:
689:
683:
682:
671:
665:
664:
653:
644:
643:
632:
626:
625:
614:
608:
607:
596:
590:
589:
577:
571:
570:
559:
553:
552:
550:
548:
533:
527:
526:
515:
509:
508:
496:
490:
489:
471:
465:
464:
453:
444:
442:
440:
438:
419:
410:
409:
398:
392:
391:
373:
367:
366:
350:
340:
219:Michigan Stadium
189:African American
155:for many years.
24:
904:
903:
899:
898:
897:
895:
894:
893:
854:
853:
852:
847:
771:
766:
761:
758:
728:
727:
710:
709:
705:
691:
690:
686:
673:
672:
668:
655:
654:
647:
634:
633:
629:
616:
615:
611:
598:
597:
593:
579:
578:
574:
561:
560:
556:
546:
544:
535:
534:
530:
517:
516:
512:
498:
497:
493:
486:
473:
472:
468:
455:
454:
447:
436:
434:
421:
420:
413:
400:
399:
395:
388:
375:
374:
370:
363:
342:
341:
322:
317:
282:
254:
185:Bo Schembechler
161:
130:
17:
12:
11:
5:
902:
900:
892:
891:
886:
881:
876:
871:
866:
856:
855:
849:
848:
846:
845:
842:
837:
834:
831:
828:
823:
820:
815:
812:
807:
802:
797:
792:
787:
782:
776:
773:
772:
767:1971 NFL draft
759:
757:
756:
749:
742:
734:
726:
725:
703:
684:
666:
645:
642:. May 6, 1971.
627:
609:
591:
572:
554:
528:
519:"Earns Trophy"
510:
491:
484:
466:
445:
411:
393:
386:
368:
361:
319:
318:
316:
313:
305:Domino's Pizza
281:
278:
262:1971 NFL draft
253:
250:
160:
157:
153:Domino's Pizza
132:
131:
129:
128:
116:
113:
112:
108:
107:
94:
90:
89:
88:
87:
81:
73:
69:
68:
67:Career history
64:
63:
60:
56:
55:
52:
48:
47:
43:
42:
33:
29:
28:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
901:
890:
887:
885:
882:
880:
877:
875:
872:
870:
869:Living people
867:
865:
862:
861:
859:
843:
841:
838:
835:
833:John Harpring
832:
829:
827:
824:
822:Vern Studdard
821:
819:
816:
813:
811:
808:
806:
803:
801:
798:
796:
793:
791:
788:
786:
783:
781:
778:
777:
774:
769:
764:
762:New York Jets
755:
750:
748:
743:
741:
736:
735:
732:
721:
717:
713:
707:
704:
699:
695:
688:
685:
680:
676:
670:
667:
662:
658:
652:
650:
646:
641:
637:
631:
628:
623:
619:
613:
610:
605:
601:
595:
592:
587:
583:
576:
573:
568:
564:
558:
555:
542:
538:
532:
529:
524:
520:
514:
511:
506:
502:
495:
492:
487:
485:9780446402545
481:
477:
476:John U. Bacon
470:
467:
462:
458:
452:
450:
446:
432:
428:
424:
418:
416:
412:
407:
403:
397:
394:
389:
387:9780446542234
383:
379:
372:
369:
364:
358:
354:
349:
348:
339:
337:
335:
333:
331:
329:
327:
325:
321:
314:
312:
308:
306:
301:
299:
293:
291:
287:
279:
277:
275:
271:
267:
263:
259:
258:New York Jets
251:
249:
247:
243:
238:
236:
232:
227:
224:
220:
216:
211:
209:
204:
202:
198:
194:
190:
186:
182:
178:
174:
170:
166:
158:
156:
154:
150:
146:
142:
138:
126:
122:
118:
117:
114:
109:
106:
102:
98:
95:
91:
85:
82:
79:
76:
75:
74:
70:
65:
61:
57:
53:
49:
44:
41:
37:
34:
30:
19:
840:Steve Harkey
826:Rich Sowells
817:
805:Scott Palmer
795:Bill Zapalac
785:John Mooring
780:John Riggins
720:the original
715:
706:
697:
687:
678:
669:
660:
639:
630:
621:
612:
603:
594:
585:
575:
566:
557:
547:December 11,
545:. Retrieved
541:the original
531:
523:Earns Trophy
522:
513:
504:
494:
469:
460:
435:. Retrieved
431:the original
426:
405:
396:
377:
371:
346:
309:
302:
294:
283:
255:
239:
228:
212:
205:
163:A native of
162:
136:
135:
119:Second-team
54:May 18, 1949
18:
864:1949 births
844:Greg Flaska
830:John Eggold
814:John Curtis
810:Roy Kirksey
505:Mgoblue.com
437:December 5,
427:MGoBlue.com
298:Don Coleman
280:Later years
223:Woody Hayes
137:James Betts
121:All-Big Ten
93:High school
80:(1968–1970)
36:Quarterback
858:Categories
836:Dan Dyches
770:selections
362:1582617716
315:References
818:Jim Betts
800:Phil Wise
201:Ann Arbor
165:Cleveland
101:Cleveland
22:Jim Betts
159:Michigan
78:Michigan
32:Position
272:of the
147:of the
72:College
482:
384:
359:
181:safety
59:Height
40:safety
353:14–18
51:Born:
549:2012
480:ISBN
439:2012
382:ISBN
357:ISBN
169:Ohio
125:1970
105:Ohio
244:in
86:(?)
860::
714:.
696:.
677:.
659:.
648:^
638:.
620:.
602:.
584:.
565:.
521:.
503:.
459:.
448:^
425:.
414:^
404:.
355:.
323:^
300:.
276:.
248:.
167:,
103:,
99:,
38:,
753:e
746:t
739:v
700:.
588:.
551:.
488:.
441:.
390:.
365:.
127:)
123:(
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.