[2] In 1939 Ceithaml enrolled at the University of Michigan and joined the football team at the beginning of the Fritz Crisler era.

[3] As a sophomore in 1940 Ceithaml was the backup quarterback to Forest Evashevski on a team the included All-American Tom Harmon.

"[5] Ceithaml received the 1940 Meyer Morton Award, established by the University of Michigan's "M" Club to recognize the underclassman who shows the greatest development and most promise as a football player.

The 1942 team captained by Ceithaml has been called "Crisler's '42 Iron Men":"What made the 1942 Michigan football season interesting was the great spirit shown by a club that lacked bench strength.

"[9]The 1942 season opened with a game against a military team from the Great Lakes Naval Station that featured 13 All-Americans and several professional players.

Ceithaml led Michigan to a 33-20 win over the Fighting Irish and scored the Wolverines' first touchdown on a quarterback sneak.

[12] Football Hall of Famers Red Grange and Elmer Layden called Ceithaml "one of the best blockers, signal callers, and defensive players in Michigan history.

After the game, Associated Press sports writer Paul Chandler credited Ceithaml for his play-calling and "clever" blending of reverses, laterals and forward passes.

Ceithaml was reunited with former Michigan teammate Tom Harmon on a College All-Star team that defeated the NFL champion Rams by a score of 16-0.

Ceithaml intercepted a pass off Kenny Washington in the fourth quarter of the game to stop a late drive by the Rams.

[20] Ceithaml was an assistant coach on Michigan's 1947 and 1948 championship football teams that compiled a two-year record of 19-0 and outscored opponents by a combined two-season total of 646-97.

[27] Kalmbach, an ardent USC fan, was working for Los Angeles radio station KXLA, and the two became acquainted on a pre-Rose Bowl trip to Catalina Island.

[28][29] Having lost badly to Michigan's single-wing offense in 1948, USC head coach Jess Hill told reporters, "We had to have a man who knew the single wing.

"[2] The Los Angeles Times expressed their hope that Ceithaml would teach USC's backs Michigan's "fullback spinner" and other "hocus pocus" plays.

[30] In January 1956 San Diego State University sought to lure Ceithaml away from USC by offering him a head coaching position and faculty status.