SANDPOINTE, Idaho - While preparing lunch at his Idaho home, you can almost hear the smile in Jim Czirr's voice as he recounts his experiences battling two football legends from 50 years ago. Now 71 years old, the former Michigan football starting center has transitioned into a life dedicated to funding the development of anti-cancer drugs. Though his once-prominent 70s era moustache is gone, he now sports a clean shave and thin glasses, embodying a man shaped by time and experience.
Czirr, who weighed in at 235 pounds during his college days, faced off against the formidable Selmon brothers from Oklahoma in the 1976 Orange Bowl. Both Lee Roy and Dewey Selmon were consensus All-Americans that season, with Lee Roy eventually being inducted into the college and NFL Hall of Fame, as well as making it onto the Sports Illustrated “NCAA Football All-Century Team.” Despite a valiant effort, Michigan lost the game 14-6, leaving Czirr feeling dejected. However, the next night brought a pleasant surprise when a woman recognized him and praised his performance. “I thought ‘you must have blue and gold toilet seats in your home to think I did a good job,’” Czirr recalls, laughing. The woman informed him that her husband, NFL Hall of Fame coach Don Shula, had also been impressed by his play against the Selmon brothers.
Before his time at Michigan, Czirr was an unassuming offensive lineman from St. Joseph High School. He received scholarship offers from smaller programs like the Air Force Academy and Navy but felt limited in his options. It wasn’t until late in his senior year that he received an offer from Michigan's legendary coach, Bo Schembechler, which piqued his interest. Initially considering Air Force due to his father's background, Czirr eventually had a moment of clarity while shaving one night. He realized he would always wonder whether he was good enough to play at the University of Michigan. “Without knowing my major, I decided to go,” he said, highlighting the gravity of his decision.
One of the factors that attracted Czirr to Schembechler was his motivational speaking style. However, he later discovered that many of Schembechler's quotes were borrowed from famous philosophers. “Before I played for him, I was a naive high school kid,” Czirr admitted. “He used to say: ‘Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve.’ I only found out later Bo stole the phrase from Napoleon Hill.” This revelation led Czirr to joke with Schembechler about his lack of originality, yet he still recognized the life lessons instilled in him by his coach. “Everything I’ve ever accomplished is due to the people around me,” Czirr stated, emphasizing the importance of teamwork and ethical conduct.
Throughout his college career, Czirr faced challenges in bulking up, finally reaching the necessary weight in his senior year to secure a starting position. Under his leadership, the Wolverines achieved impressive offensive stats, averaging over 300 rushing yards a game in 1975, which earned Czirr a place on the consensus All-Big Ten list. The team's success led to a trip to the Orange Bowl, a dream come true for Czirr, especially after being denied opportunities to play in earlier bowl games due to restrictive Big Ten rules. He reminisced about the disappointment of not attending the Rose Bowl after a tie against Ohio State in 1973, calling the conference's decision “goofy.”
The stakes were high when Michigan faced Oklahoma, as the game turned into a de facto national championship showdown. Czirr was matched against Dewey Selmon, a formidable opponent who had a significant size and strength advantage. “He was all I could handle,” Czirr recalled. Nevertheless, he found a way to prepare, managing to bulk up an additional 10 pounds before the game. The Wolverines managed to accumulate 169 rushing yards against the Sooners, but quarterback Rick Leach struggled after taking a hard hit that would likely result in a targeting penalty today. “That’s where we lost the game,” Czirr reflected, noting that Leach didn’t complete a pass until the fourth quarter.
Despite his impressive performance, Czirr was drafted in the ninth round of the 1976 NFL Draft by the Denver Broncos. However, he didn’t finish the season in the NFL, marking the end of his football career. Today, Czirr is the president of Sterling Pacific NW, LLC, a Washington-based financial advisory firm. Additionally, he co-founded Galactin Therapeutics, Inc., a company focused on developing drugs to combat chronic liver disease and cancer. His experiences playing in front of 100,000 fans at Michigan Stadium continue to inspire him, as he envisions a future where he can fill the stadium with cancer survivors.
For more updates and news about the Ann Arbor area, remember to bookmark our local Ann Arbor news page.
