1954 Western Illinois Leathernecks football team

Last updated
1954 Western Illinois Leathernecks football
Conference Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
Record6–1–3 (3–1–2 IIAC)
Head coach
Home stadium Hanson Field
Seasons
←  1953
1955  →
1954 Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
Michigan State Normal + 5 –1 –08 –1 –0
Central Michigan + 5 –1 –08 –2 –0
Western Illinois 3 –1 –26 –1 –3
Illinois State Normal 3 –2 –15 –3 –1
Eastern Illinois 1 –4 –12 –6 –1
Southern Illinois 1 –5 –02 –7 –0
Northern Illinois State 1 –5 –02 –7 –0
  • + – Conference co-champions

The 1954 Western Illinois Leathernecks football team represented Western Illinois University as a member of the Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) during the 1954 college football season. They were led by first-year head coach Wes Stevens and played their home games at Hanson Field. The Leathernecks finished the season with a 6–1–3 record overall and a 3–1–2 record in conference play, placing third in the IIAC. [1]

Schedule

DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 16 Loras *
W 38–6 [2]
September 24at St. Ambrose *
W 26–18 [3]
October 2at Bradley *
T 7–7 [4]
October 7 Lewis *
  • Hanson Field
  • Macomb, IL
W 7–6 [5]
October 16at Illinois State Normal
T 13–13 [6]
October 23 Central Michigan
  • Hanson Field
  • Macomb, IL
W 14–710,000 [7]
October 30at Michigan State Normal
L 19–335,100 [8]
November 6 Eastern Illinois
  • Hanson Field
  • Macomb, IL
T 13–13 [9]
November 13 Northern Illinois State
  • Hanson Field
  • Macomb, IL
W 14–0 [10]
November 20at Southern Illinois
W 19–17 [11]
  • *Non-conference game

[12]

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The 1954 Michigan State Normal Hurons football team represented Michigan State Normal College in the Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) during the 1954 college football season. In their third season under head coach Fred Trosko, the Hurons compiled an 8–1 record, tied with Central Michigan for the IIAC championship, and outscored their opponents, 210 to 67. Nicholas Manych was the team captain. The Hurons lost to Central Michigan by a 28 to 7 score in the final game of the season, resulting in the two teams sharing the conference championship. Quarterback Bob Middlekauff led the team with 934 yards of total offense. Virgil Windom led the team with 530 rushing yards and in scoring with 11 touchdowns and 66 points. Middlekauf was also named MVP of the IIAC.

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The 1953 Central Michigan Chippewas football team represented Central Michigan College of Education, renamed Central Michigan University in 1959, in the Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) during the 1953 college football season. In their third season under head coach Kenneth Kelly, the Chippewas compiled a 7–1–1 record, won the IIAC championship, and outscored all opponents by a combined total of 244 to 129.

The 1955 Western Illinois Leathernecks football team represented Western Illinois University as a member of the Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) during the 1955 college football season. Led by second-year head coach Wes Stevens, the Leathernecks finished the season with an overall record of 6–3–1 and a mark of 3–2–1 in conference play, placing fourth in the IIAC. Western Illinois later forfeited its win over Illinois State Normal, dropping its season record to 5–4–1 overall and 2–3–1 in the IIAC, putting the team into a fourth-place tie with Illinois State. The forfeit came as a result of Western Illinois using an ineligible player, quarterback Sam Esposito; while Esposito also played in other games for the team, Illinois State Normal was the only school to protest their result.

The 1950 Illinois State Normal Redbirds football team represented Illinois State Normal University—now known as Illinois State University—as a member of the Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) during the 1950 college football season. Led by sixth-year head coach Edwin Struck, the Redbirds compiled an overall record of 7–1–2 with a mark of 5–0–1 in conference play, winning the IIAC. Illinois State Normal lost to Missouri Mines in the postseason Corn Bowl. The team played home games at McCormick Field in Normal, Illinois.

The 1953 Illinois State Normal Redbirds football team represented Illinois State Normal University—now known as Illinois State University—as a member of the Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) during the 1953 college football season. Led by 11th-year head coach Edwin Struck, the Redbirds compiled an overall record of 3–4–2 with a mark of 2–3–1 in conference play, tying for fourth place in the IIAC. Illinois State Normal played home games at McCormick Field in Normal, Illinois.

The 1969 Western Illinois Leathernecks football team represented Western Illinois University as a member of the Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) during the 1969 NCAA College Division football season. They were led by first-year head coach Darrell Mudra and played their home games at Hanson Field. The Leathernecks finished the season with a 8–2 record and a 3–0 record in conference play, winning the IIAC title.

The 1964 Western Illinois Leathernecks football team represented Western Illinois University as a member of the Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) during the 1964 NCAA College Division football season. They were led by fifth-year head coach Art Dufelmeier and played their home games at Hanson Field. The Leathernecks finished the season with a 6–3 record overall and a 3–1 record in conference play, sharing the IIAC title with Northern Illinois.

The 1959 Western Illinois Leathernecks football team represented Western Illinois University as a member of the Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) during the 1959 NCAA College Division football season. They were led by third-year head coach Lou Saban and played their home games at Hanson Field. The Leathernecks finished the season with a perfect 9–0 record overall and a 6–0 record in conference play, winning the IIAC title. Despite its record, the team was unable to participate in a postseason bowl game, as the Illinois state teachers college board banned its schools from participating in postseason sporting events.

The 1958 Western Illinois Leathernecks football team represented Western Illinois University as a member of the Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) during the 1958 NCAA College Division football season. They were led by second-year head coach Lou Saban and played their home games at Hanson Field. The Leathernecks finished the season with a 6–1–1 record overall and a 5–1 record in conference play, winning the IIAC title.

The 1953 Western Illinois Leathernecks football team represented Western Illinois University as a member of the Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) during the 1953 college football season. They were led by fifth-year head coach Vince DiFrancesca and played their home games at Hanson Field. The Leathernecks finished the season with a 8–2 record overall and a 5–1 record in conference play, placing second in the IIAC. They were invited to the postseason Corn Bowl, where they defeated Iowa Wesleyan 32–0.

The 1949 Western Illinois Leathernecks football team represented Western Illinois University as a member of the Illinois Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) during the 1949 college football season. They were led by first-year head coach Vince DiFrancesca and played their home games at Morgan Field. The Leathernecks finished the season with a 9–1 record overall and a 4–0 record in conference play, winning the IIAC title. They were invited to the postseason Corn Bowl, where they defeated the Wheaton Crusaders, 13–0.

The 1942 Western Illinois Leathernecks football team represented Western Illinois University as a member of the Illinois Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) during the 1942 college football season. They were led by first-year head coach Wix Garner and played their home games at Morgan Field. The Leathernecks finished the season with a 5–0–2 record overall and a 3–0–1 record in conference play, winning the IIAC title.

The 1939 Western Illinois Leathernecks football team represented Western Illinois University as a member of the Illinois Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) during the 1939 college football season. They were led by 14th-year head coach Ray Hanson and played their home games at Morgan Field. The Leathernecks finished the season with a 5–1–1 record overall and a 3–0–1 record in conference play, winning the IIAC title.

The 1951 Western Illinois Leathernecks football team was an American football team that represented Western Illinois University as a member of the Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) during the 1951 college football season. Led by third-year head coach Vince DiFrancesca, the Leathernecks compiled an overall record of 7–1–1 with a mark of 4–1–1 in conference play, placing second in the IIAC.

The 1954 Illinois State Normal Redbirds football team represented Illinois State Normal University—now known as Illinois State University—as a member of the Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) during the 1954 college football season. Led by tenth-year head coach Edwin Struck, the Redbirds compiled an overall record of 5–3–1 with a mark of 3–2–1 in conference play, placing fourth in the IIAC. Illinois State Normal played home games at McCormick Field in Normal, Illinois.

The 1950 Western Illinois Leathernecks football team represented Western Illinois University as a member of the Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) during the 1950 college football season. They were led by second-year head coach Vince DiFrancesca and played their home games at Hanson Field, which opened at the beginning of the season. The Leathernecks finished the season with a 7–1 record overall and a 4–1 record in conference play, placing second in the IIAC.

The 1952 Western Illinois Leathernecks football team represented Western Illinois University as a member of the Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) during the 1952 college football season. They were led by fourth-year head coach Vince DiFrancesca and played their home games at Hanson Field. The Leathernecks finished the season with a 7–2 record overall and a 5–1 record in conference play, placing second in the IIAC.

References

  1. ↑ "Western Illinois Football Record Book" (PDF). Western Illinois University Athletics. p. 69. Retrieved February 19, 2022.
  2. ↑ Young, Fred (September 17, 1954). "Western Smears Loras Eleven, 38-6". The Pantagraph . p. 16. Retrieved February 19, 2022– via Newspapers.com.
  3. ↑ DeFayette, Bob (September 25, 1954). "W. Illinois Ruins Saint Debut, 26-18". Morning Democrat . p. 13. Retrieved February 19, 2022– via Newspapers.com.
  4. ↑ "Bradley Ties Western, 7-7". The Pantagraph . Associated Press. October 4, 1954. p. 12. Retrieved February 19, 2022– via Newspapers.com.
  5. ↑ "Western Scores Third Victory Against Lewis". The DeKalb Daily Chronicle . October 9, 1954. p. 8. Retrieved February 19, 2022– via Newspapers.com.
  6. ↑ Barnhart, Jim (October 17, 1954). "ISNU Ties Western, 13-13". The Pantagraph . p. 12. Retrieved February 19, 2022– via Newspapers.com.
  7. ↑ "Western Illinois Upsets Central Michigan, 14-7". Lansing State Journal . Associated Press. October 24, 1954. p. 62. Retrieved February 19, 2022– via Newspapers.com.
  8. ↑ "Normal Wins 7th In Row". Lansing State Journal . Associated Press. October 31, 1954. p. 66. Retrieved February 19, 2022– via Newspapers.com.
  9. ↑ "EI, Western In 13-13 Tie". Decatur Sunday Herald and Review . November 7, 1954. p. 19. Retrieved February 19, 2022– via Newspapers.com.
  10. ↑ "Western Illinois In 14-0 Victory Over N. Illinois". Davenport Daily Times . Associated Press. November 14, 1954. p. 48. Retrieved February 19, 2022– via Newspapers.com.
  11. ↑ Jones, Merle (November 22, 1954). "Southern Gives Western Scare Before Losing, 19-17". The Southern Illinoisan . p. 11. Retrieved February 19, 2022– via Newspapers.com.
  12. ↑ "Brief Summary of Cumulative Football Statistics". National Collegiate Athletic Association . Retrieved December 10, 2022.
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