1953 Iowa Hawkeyes football team
| 1953 Iowa Hawkeyes football | |
|---|---|
| Conference | Big Ten Conference |
| Ranking | |
| Coaches | No. 10 |
| AP | No. 9 |
| Record | 5–3–1 (3–3 Big Ten) |
| Head coach |
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| MVP | Bill Fenton |
| Captain | Andrew Houg |
| Home stadium | Iowa Stadium |
| Conf. | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Team | W | L | T | W | L | T | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 3 Michigan State + | 5 | – | 1 | – | 0 | 9 | – | 1 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 7 Illinois + | 5 | – | 1 | – | 0 | 7 | – | 1 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 15 Wisconsin | 4 | – | 1 | – | 1 | 6 | – | 2 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ohio State | 4 | – | 3 | – | 0 | 6 | – | 3 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Minnesota | 3 | – | 3 | – | 1 | 4 | – | 4 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 20 Michigan | 3 | – | 3 | – | 0 | 6 | – | 3 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 9 | 3 | – | 3 | – | 0 | 5 | – | 3 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Purdue | 2 | – | 4 | – | 0 | 2 | – | 7 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Indiana | 1 | – | 5 | – | 0 | 2 | – | 7 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Northwestern | 0 | – | 6 | – | 0 | 3 | – | 6 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The 1953 Iowa Hawkeyes football team was an American football team that represented the University of Iowa as a member of the Big Ten Conference during the 1953 Big Ten football season. In their second season under head coach Forest Evashevski, the Hawkeyes compiled a 5–3–1 record (3–3 in conference games), finished in a three-way tie for fifth place in the Big Ten, and outscored opponents by a total of 187 to 91.[1][2] Two of their losses came against No. 2 Michigan State and No. 5 Michigan. They closed their season with a victory over No. 15 Minnesota and a 14–14 tie with No. 1 Notre Dame. The Hawkeyes were rewarded for their strong finish with the No. 9 ranking in the final AP poll. It was the first time an Iowa team had been ranked in the final AP poll since 1939.[3]
The 1953 Hawkeyes gained 2,147 rushing yards and 586 passing yards. On defense, they gave up 1,050 rushing yards and 1,208 passing yards.[4] The Hawkeyes set Iowa records (both later broken) for most rushing yards in a season (2,147) and in a game (396 vs. Washington State).[5] They also set the school's record for scoring defense by giving up only 10.1 points per game; the 1953 team's scoring defense mark now ranks second in Iowa history.[6]
The team's statistical leaders included George "Binky" Broeder (410 rushing yards); Lou Matykiewicz (18-of-44 passing for 234 yards); Frank Gilliam (12 receptions for 71 yards); and George "Dusty" Rice (60 points scored).[7] Jerry Hilgenberg, who played at center on offense and linebacker on defense, was selected as a first-team All-American and a first-team All-Big Ten player.
Iowa played it first nationally televised game on October 24, 1953, as its game with Indiana was broadcast by NBC.[8] The team played its home games at Iowa Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa. Home attendance was 211,109, an average of 42,222 per game.[9]
Schedule
| Date | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 26 | No. 2 Michigan State | L 7–21 | 47,125 | [10] | |||
| October 3 | Washington State* |
| W 54–12 | 31,500 | |||
| October 10 | at No. 5 Michigan | L 13–14 | 49,551 | ||||
| October 17 | Wyoming* |
| W 21–7 | 29,000 | [11] | ||
| October 24 | Indiana |
| NBC | W 19–13 | 50,129 | ||
| October 31 | at Wisconsin | L 6–10 | 52,819 | ||||
| November 7 | at Purdue | W 26–0 | 35,000 | ||||
| November 14 | No. 15 Minnesota |
| W 27–0 | 55,355 | [12] | ||
| November 21 | at No. 1 Notre Dame* | No. 20 | T 14–14 | 56,478 | [13] | ||
| |||||||
Rankings
Personnel
Players
The following players received varsity letters for their performance on the 1952 Iowa football team:
- Charles Boothe, tackle, senior, 6-0, 205 pounds, Galesburg, IL
- George "Binky" Broeder, fullback, junior, 5-8, 180 pounds, St. Louis, MO
- Don Chelf, tackle, senior, No. 77, 6-3, 215 pounds, West Liberty, IA
- Jerry Clark, tackle, senior, 5-9, 195 pounds, Independence, IA
- Bob Commings, guard, sophomore, 5-9, 180 pounds, Youngstown, OH
- Cameron Cummins, junior, 6-1, 200 pounds, Cedar Rapids, IA
- Bill Fenton, end and MVP, senior, No. 30, 6-3, 210 pounds, Iowa City, IA
- James Freeman, end, sophomore, 6-4, 230 pounds, Iowa City, IA
- Frank Gilliam, end, sophomore, No. 37, 6-2, 176 pounds, Steubenville, OH
- John Hall Jr., tackle, junior, 6-1, 200 pounds, Chicago
- Jerry Hilgenberg, center/linebacker, senior, No. 52, 6-2, 196 pounds, Wilton, IA
- Andy Houg, tackle and captain, senior, 6-3, 195 pounds, St. Ansgar, IA
- Cal Jones, tackle, sophomore, No. 62, 6-0, 210 pounds, Steubenville, OH
- Paul Kemp, quarterback, senior, 6-2, 175 pounds, Waterloo, IA
- George Kress, guard, sophomore, 6-2, 235 pounds, Dubuque, IA
- Warren "Bud" Lawson, center, junior, 6-1, 200 pounds, Fairfield, IA
- Lyle Leinbaugh, halfback, senior, 5-10, 170 pounds, Holstein, IA
- Ed Lindsey, end, senior, 6-1, 190 pounds, Davenport, IA
- Eldean Matheson, halfback, sophomore, 6-0, 170 pounds, Lake Mills, IA
- Lou Matykiewicz, quarterback, junior, No. 23, 6-2, 185 pounds, Calumet Park, IL
- Terry Moran, quarterback, sophomore, 5-9, 185 pounds, River Forest, IL
- Bob Phillips, halfback, senior, 5-11, 180 pounds, Cedar Rapids, IA
- Jerry Reichow, quarterback, sophomore, No. 25, 6-2 1/2, 195 pounds, Decorah, IA
- George "Dusty" Rice, halfback, senior, 5-11, 175 pounds, Oelwein, IA
- Earl Smith, halfback, sophomore, 5-11, 170 pounds, Gary, IN
- Bob Stearnes, halfback, junior, 4-8, 170 pounds, Gary, IN
- Rodger Swedberg, tackle, sophomore, 6-1, 215 pounds, Sycamore, IL
- Eddie Vincent, halfback, sophomore, No. 41, 5-11, 170 pounds, Steubenville, IA
- Roger Wiegmann, fullback, sophomore, 6-2, 205 pounds, Waverly, IA
Coaches and administration
- Head coach: Forest Evashevski
- Assistant coach: Bump Elliott
- Athletic director: Paul Brechler
Awards and honors
Senior Jerry Hilgenberg, who played at center on offense and linebacker on defense, was selected by the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) as a first-team player on the 1953 All-America team.[16] He received second-team honors from the Associated Press (AP).[17][18] Hilegenberg also received first-team honors from the AP and United Press (UP) on the 1953 All-Big Ten Conference football team.[19][20] Hilgenberg was later inducted into the Iowa Letterwinners Club Hall of Fame.[21]
Sophomore guard Cal Jones received first-team honors from the AP, and second-team honors from the UP, on the All-Big Ten team.[19][20] Jones was later inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame and the Iowa Letterwinners Club Hall of Fame.[21]
End Bill Fenton was selected as Iowa's most valuable player for the second consecutive year.[22] He also received second-team All-Big Ten honors from the AP.[19] Fenton was also selected as an Academic All-American for the second consecutive year.[23]
Tackle Andrew Houg was the team captain.[24]
1954 NFL draft
The following Iowa players were selected in the 1954 NFL draft:
| Player | Position | Round | Pick | NFL club |
| Jerry Hilgenberg | Center | 4 | 48 | Cleveland Browns |
| Don Chelf | Tackle | 12 | 136 | Baltimore Colts |
| Jim Head | Back | 14 | 168 | Cleveland Browns |
| George Rice | Back | 16 | 185 | New York Giants |
References
- ^ "1953 Iowa Hawkeyes Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved May 16, 2025.
- ^ "2022 Iowa Football Media Guide" (PDF). University of Iowa. p. 241. Retrieved May 16, 2025.
- ^ 2022 Iowa Football Media Guide, p. 192.
- ^ 2022 Iowa Football Media Guide, p. 161.
- ^ 2022 Iowa Football Media Guide, pp. 276–277.
- ^ 2022 Iowa Football Media Guide, p. 277.
- ^ 2022 Iowa Football Media Guide, pp. 278–279.
- ^ 2022 Iowa Football Media Guide, p. 234.
- ^ 2022 Iowa Football Media Guide, p. 260.
- ^ John O'Donnell (September 27, 1953). "Spartans Topple Stubborn Hawks, 21-7: Two First Period Tallies Pave Michigan State Win". Sunday Democrat and Times. p. 1, 2 (section IV) – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Iowa defeats Wyoming, 21–7, as Rice stars". Chicago Tribune. October 18, 1953. Retrieved May 1, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "IOWA 27, GOPHERS 0!". Des Moines Register via newspapers.com. November 15, 1953. p. 21. Retrieved December 29, 2019.
- ^ "IRISH RALLY TO TIE IOWA". Des Moines Register. November 22, 1953. p. 25. Retrieved December 26, 2019.
- ^ 2022 Media Guide, pp. 250-258.
- ^ "Hawkeyes' Grid Roster". Waterloo Daily Courier. September 2, 1953. p. 19 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "FWAA All America" (PDF). Football Writers Association of America. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 26, 2009. Retrieved April 19, 2009.
- ^ Ted Smits (December 5, 1953). "Cavazos Is Named To'AP's Second All-American Team: Rice Star On First Team". Morning Avalanche. Lubbock, TX.
- ^ ESPN College Football Encyclopedia. ESPN Books. 2005. p. 1232. ISBN 1401337031.
- ^ a b c "Coaches Pick Gopher's Giel". Ludington Daily News. November 24, 1953. p. 6.
- ^ a b "UP All-Big Ten". The Oshkosh Northwestern. November 23, 1953. p. 16 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b 2022 iowa Football Media Guide, p. 211.
- ^ 2022 Iowa Football Media Guide, p. 222.
- ^ 2022 Iowa Football Media Guide, p. 215.
- ^ 2022 Iowa Football Media Guide, p. 220.
- ^ "1954 NFL Draft". Sports Reference. Retrieved December 26, 2019.