Dennis Franks Dennis John Franks ( born May 29 , 1953 ) is a former American football player . He played professional football as a center and on special teams for the Philadelphia Eagles from 1976 to 1978 and for the Detroit Lions in 1979 . He also played college football at the University of Michigan from 1972 to 1974 . He was the starting center in all 11 games for the 1974 Michigan Wolverines football team that began its season with ten consecutive wins before losing to Ohio State by a 12 - 10 score in the final game of the season . Franks was selected as a first - team All - Big Ten Conference center in 1974 . Early years . Franks was born in McKeesport , Pennsylvania , in 1953 . He grew up in Bethel Park , Pennsylvania , a suburb of Pittsburgh , and attended Bethel Park High School . Franks was recruited by Woody Hayes to attend Ohio State , including three home visits by Hayes , but Franks chose to play football at the University of Michigan for Bo Schembechler . Michigan . Franks attended the University of Michigan on a football scholarship . As a freshman in 1971 , he played on the all - freshman team . As a sophomore , he was the backup for starting center Bill Hart . As a junior , Franks started 5 of 11 games at center for the undefeated 1973 Michigan Wolverines football team . As a senior , Franks started all 11 games at center for the 1974 Michigan team that began its season with ten consecutive wins before losing to Ohio State by a 12 - 10 score in the final game of the season . Franks was selected as a first - team All - Big Ten Conference player 1974 . Head coach Bo Schembechler said of Franks : " He ' s the best center I ' ve seen around so far . He may be a little better than Guy Murdock - - a little better and a little quicker . He ' s consistent . " While playing football at Michigan , Franks drew press attention for his hobby of figure skating . His mother had been a figure skating champion in Germany , and he noted : " The figure skating is a great help for me in developing agility , versatility , quickness , and strength in my legs . " Professional football . Franks was not selected in the 1975 NFL Draft . Franks later recalled , " The computers said I was too small . I just didn ' t believe the computers . " He tried out with the Philadelphia Eagles and Oakland Raiders in 1975 , but both teams cut him during training camp . He tried out with the Eagles again in 1976 and made the team . As a rookie , he appeared in 14 games for the Eagles as a special teams player . During the 1977 season , Franks was given the opportunity to play at the center position . Following an injury to the team ' s starting center Guy Morriss , Franks played one game as the Eagles ' starting center . Franks was waived by the Eagles in August 1979 . He had played for the Eagles for three years from 1976 to 1978 , appearing in a total of 44 games . " The Philadelphia Inquirer " later summarized Franks ' career as follows : " For the Eagles , Dennis Franks was a bit player who made himself important to the team by sheer force of personality . He was gung - ho , articulate and hard - working . Whatever coach Dick Vermeil wanted him to do , whether it was to fill in at an unusual position or work out year after year just to sit on the bench , Franks never lost his enthusiasm for the game or the team . His attitude may have been his most important team contribution . " In September 1979 , Franks signed to play for the Detroit Lions . The Lions announced that they would use him as the center on punts and on special teams . Franks appeared in 13 games for the Lions during the 1979 NFL season . Later years . After retiring from football , Franks worked for Cambridge Diet Company , a company providing diet services to Philadelphia area residents . In August 1987 , Franks was indicted on federal drug charges as part of a so - called " Yuppie " drug ring allegedly operated by a Philadelphia dentist from 1981 to 1983 . In September 1987 , Franks pleaded guilty to distributing cocaine and conspiring to distribute cocaine . He admitted that he had participated in a drug ring that had sold cocaine to Philadelphia Eagles football players . In November 1988 , Franks was " spared a prison sentence " and instead was ordered to spend 52 weekends in a community treatment facility , allowing him to continue with his job in Monterey , California , where he had moved . In 1999 , Franks was one of the first group to be inducted into the Behtel Park High School Hall of Fame . Franks was later employed as an executive vice president at Market America , an Internet marketing and product brokerage company . At Market America , he helped develop the company ' s " Mall Without Walls™ " and supported its " health professional program , nutraMetrix® " an its weight management program , " Transitions Lifestyle System® . "