Michigan Tech Huskies football, 1950–1959

1950–1959 Michigan Tech Huskies football
ConferenceIndependent (1951–1957)
Northern State College Conference (1958–1959)
Head coach

The Michigan Tech Huskies football program, 1950–1959 represented the Michigan College of Mines and Technology (now known as Michigan Technological University) as an independent team during the 1930s.[1]

Alan Bovard was the head coach from 1947 to 1956, and Omer LaJeunesse held the post from 1957 to 1962. Both had played football at the University of Michigan in the early 1930s.

1950

1950 Michigan Tech Huskies football
ConferenceIndependent
Record4–2–1
Head coach
1950 Midwestern college football independents records
Conf. Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
Valparaiso   –   9 – 1 – 0
No. 8 Michigan State   –   8 – 1 – 0
Xavier   –   8 – 1 – 0
John Carroll   –   8 – 2 – 0
Baldwin–Wallace   –   5 – 2 – 1
Michigan Tech   –   4 – 2 – 1
Marquette   –   5 – 3 – 1
Wabash   –   4 – 2 – 3
Butler   –   4 – 4 – 1
Notre Dame   –   4 – 4 – 1
Toledo   –   4 – 5 – 0
Bowling Green   –   3 – 4 – 2
Dayton   –   4 – 6 – 0
Youngstown   –   3 – 5 – 0
Ball State   –   2 – 4 – 1
Washington University   –   2 – 7 – 0
Wayne   –   2 – 7 – 0
Indiana State   –   1 – 7 – 1
Rose Poly   –   0 – 8 – 0
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1950 Michigan Tech Huskies football team, sometimes referred to as the Michigan Tech Engineers, represented the Michigan College of Mines and Technology (now known as Michigan Technological University) as an independent during the 1950 college football season. In their fourth year under head coach Alan Bovard, the team compiled a 4–2–1 record.

Michigan Tech halfback Jim Lahr led the state in scoring with 85 points scored.

Schedule

DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 23Stevens Point StateHoughton, MIT 6–6
September 30at AlbionAlbion, MIL 13–14
October 7at Ferris InstituteBig Rapids, MIW 20–6
October 14Detroit TechHoughton, MIW 40–7
October 21Northern MichiganHoughton, MIW 26–02,500
October 28Northland (WI)Houghton, MIW 48–0
November 4MacalesterL 6–7

1951

1951 Michigan Tech Huskies football
ConferenceIndependent
Record4–2–1
Head coach
1951 Midwestern college football independents records
Conf. Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 2 Michigan State   –   9 – 0 – 0
Xavier   –   9 – 0 – 1
Wabash   –   7 – 0 – 1
No. 13 Notre Dame   –   7 – 2 – 1
Dayton   –   7 – 3 – 0
Michigan Tech   –   4 – 2 – 1
Toledo   –   6 – 4 – 0
Washington University   –   5 – 4 – 0
Wayne   –   5 – 4 – 0
Bowling Green   –   4 – 4 – 1
Marquette   –   4 – 6 – 1
Baldwin–Wallace   –   3 – 5 – 0
John Carroll   –   3 – 6 – 0
Rose Poly   –   2 – 5 – 0
Youngstown   –   2 – 6 – 1
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1951 Michigan Tech Huskies football team, sometimes referred to as the Michigan Tech Engineers, represented the Michigan College of Mines and Technology (now known as Michigan Technological University) as an independent during the 1951 college football season. In their fifth year under head coach Alan Bovard, the team compiled a 4–2–1 record.

Schedule

DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 21at Stevens Point StateStevens Point, WIT 13–13
September 29vs. AlmaCalumet, MIW 19–6
October 5at Western Illinois
L 0–35
October 13Ferris InstituteW 31–6
October 20at Northern MichiganW 31–6
October 27St. Cloud StateHougton, MIW 14–0
November 3at Wheaton (IL)Wheaton, ILL 0–18

1952

1952 Michigan Tech Huskies football
ConferenceIndependent
Record6–1
Head coach
1952 Midwestern college football independents records
Conf. Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 1 Michigan State   –   9 – 0 – 0
Michigan Tech   –   6 – 1 – 0
No. 3 Notre Dame   –   7 – 2 – 1
Carthage   –   5 – 2 – 0
Youngstown   –   4 – 3 – 1
Wabash   –   5 – 4 – 0
Dayton   –   6 – 5 – 0
Baldwin–Wallace   –   4 – 4 – 0
Wayne   –   4 – 4 – 0
Bradley   –   4 – 5 – 0
John Carroll   –   4 – 5 – 0
Washington University   –   4 – 5 – 0
Rose Poly   –   3 – 4 – 1
Xavier   –   4 – 6 – 0
Marquette   –   3 – 5 – 1
Drake   –   2 – 7 – 0
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1952 Michigan Tech Huskies football team, sometimes referred to as the Michigan Tech Engineers, represented the Michigan College of Mines and Technology (now known as Michigan Technological University) as an independent during the 1952 college football season. In their sixth year under head coach Alan Bovard, the team compiled a 6–1 record.

Schedule

DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 20Stevens Point StateHoughton, MIL 0–13
September 27at Northland (WI)Ashland, WIW 27–13
October 4AlbionHoughton, MIW 21–0
October 11Minnesota–DuluthHoughton, MIW 35–7
October 18Northern MichiganHoughton, MIW 21–0
November 1at Superior StateSuperior, WIW 12–6
November 8Ferris InstituteW 27–6

1953

1953 Michigan Tech Huskies football
ConferenceIndependent
Record2–5
Head coach
1953 Midwestern college football independents records
Conf. Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 2 Notre Dame   –   9 – 0 – 1
Cincinnati   –   9 – 1 – 0
Carthage   –   8 – 1 – 0
Youngstown   –   7 – 1 – 0
John Carroll   –   7 – 2 – 0
Washington University   –   7 – 2 – 0
Rose Poly   –   6 – 2 – 0
Wabash   –   6 – 2 – 1
Marquette   –   6 – 3 – 1
Baldwin–Wallace   –   4 – 4 – 0
Drake   –   4 – 4 – 0
Wayne   –   3 – 4 – 1
Dayton   –   3 – 5 – 1
Michigan Tech   –   2 – 5 – 0
Xavier   –   2 – 7 – 1
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1953 Michigan Tech Huskies football team, sometimes referred to as the Michigan Tech Engineers, represented the Michigan College of Mines and Technology (now known as Michigan Technological University) as an independent during the 1953 college football season. In their seventh year under head coach Alan Bovard, the team compiled a 2–5 record.

Schedule

DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 19Stevens Point StateL 7–24
September 26Northland (WI)W 18–0
October 3Wheaton (IL)L 0–29
October 10Ferris InstituteW 12–0
October 17Northern MichiganL 18–19
October 31Superior StateL 16–34
November 7QuincyL 6–42

[2]

1954

1954 Michigan Tech Huskies football
ConferenceIndependent
Record3–4
Head coach
1954 Midwestern college football independents records
Conf. Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
Omaha   –   10 – 0 – 0
No. 4 Notre Dame   –   9 – 1 – 0
Wabash   –   7 – 1 – 1
Cincinnati   –   8 – 2 – 0
Youngstown   –   7 – 2 – 0
Washington University   –   6 – 3 – 0
Carthage   –   5 – 3 – 0
Dayton   –   5 – 5 – 0
Michigan Tech   –   3 – 4 – 0
Marquette   –   3 – 5 – 1
Wayne   –   3 – 5 – 1
John Carroll   –   3 – 5 – 0
Rose Poly   –   2 – 5 – 0
Drake   –   2 – 7 – 0
Xavier   –   2 – 8 – 0
Baldwin–Wallace   –   1 – 8 – 0
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1954 Michigan Tech Huskies football team, sometimes referred to as the Michigan Tech Engineers, represented the Michigan College of Mines and Technology (now known as Michigan Technological University) as an independent during the 1954 college football season. In their eighth year under head coach Alan Bovard, the team compiled a 3–4 record.

Schedule

DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 18Stevens Point StateL 6–13
October 2St. NorbertL 14–20
October 9Ferris InstituteL 0–25
October 16Northern MichiganL 6–13
October 23Northland (WI)W 20–13
October 30Moorhead StateW 13–0
November 6St. Cloud StateW 18–15

[3]

1955

1955 Michigan Tech Huskies football
ConferenceIndependent
Record4–3
Head coach
1955 Midwestern college football independents records
Conf. Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
Ferris Institute   –   6 – 1 – 0
No. 9 Notre Dame   –   8 – 2 – 0
Xavier   –   7 – 2 – 0
Carthage   –   6 – 2 – 0
Wabash   –   5 – 3 – 1
Michigan Tech   –   4 – 3 – 0
Washington University   –   5 – 4 – 0
Drake   –   4 – 4 – 0
Youngstown   –   4 – 5 – 0
Dayton   –   3 – 6 – 0
Marquette   –   2 – 6 – 1
Baldwin–Wallace   –   2 – 6 – 0
Cincinnati   –   1 – 6 – 2
Rose Poly   –   1 – 6 – 1
Northern Michigan   –   0 – 7 – 0
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1955 Michigan Tech Huskies football team, sometimes referred to as the Michigan Tech Engineers, represented the Michigan College of Mines and Technology (now known as Michigan Technological University) as an independent during the 1955 college football season. In their third year under head coach Omer LaJeunesse, the team compiled a 6–2 record.

Schedule

DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 17Stevens PointHoughton, MIL 6–18[4]
October 1St. NorbertW 19–13
October 8Ferris InstituteW 26–13
October 15Northern MichiganW 46–12
October 22Northland (WI)W 60–7
October 29Moorhead StateL 0–13
November 4Bemidji StateL 0–13

[5]

1956

1956 Michigan Tech Huskies football
ConferenceIndependent
Record2–5
Head coach

The 1956 Michigan Tech Huskies football team, sometimes referred to as the Michigan Tech Engineers, represented the Michigan College of Mines and Technology (now known as Michigan Technological University) as an independent during the 1956 college football season. In their tenth and final year under head coach Alan Bovard, the team compiled a 2–5 record.

Schedule

DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 22St. Cloud StateL 12–16
September 29St. NorbertL 13–39
October 6Ferris InstituteW 20–0
October 13Northern MichiganHoughton, MIL 13–20
October 20Moorhead StateL 6–13
November 3Bemidji StateW 31–14
November 10Mankato StateL 6–40

[6]

1957

1957 Michigan Tech Huskies football
ConferenceIndependent
Record2–4
Head coach

The 1957 Michigan Tech Huskies football team, sometimes referred to as the Michigan Tech Engineers, represented the Michigan College of Mines and Technology (now known as Michigan Technological University) as an independent during the 1957 college football season. In their first year under head coach Omer LaJeunesse, the team compiled a 2–4 record.

Michigan Tech tallied 1,016 rushing yards (169.3 yars per game) and 397 passing yards (66.2 yards per game). On defense, they gave up 1,337 rushing yards (222.8 yards per game) and 412 passing yards (68.7 yards per game).[7] Halfback Jim Peter led the team in rushing (322 yards), total offense (337 yards), and receiving (196 yards). Quarterback Clay Willman led the team with 255 passing yards.[7]

Schedule

DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 21Mankato StateL 0–28
October 5Ferris InstituteW 31–13
October 12at Northern MichiganMarquette, MIL 6–20
October 19Moorhead StateW 21–6
October 26AlbionL 0–20
November 2St. NorbertL 19–43

[7]

1958

1958 Michigan Tech Huskies football
ConferenceNorthern State College Conference
Record4–4 (2–2 NSCC)
Head coach
1958 Northern State College Conference football standings
Conf. Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
Mankato State $ 5 – 0 – 0 7 – 2 – 0
Bemidji State 4 – 1 – 0 7 – 1 – 0
Michigan Tech 2 – 2 – 0 4 – 4 – 0
Winona State 1 – 3 – 1 3 – 4 – 1
Moorhead State 1 – 4 – 0 1 – 7 – 0
St. Cloud State 0 – 3 – 1 1 – 6 – 1
  • $ – Conference champion

The 1958 Michigan Tech Huskies football team, sometimes referred to as the Michigan Tech Engineers, represented the Michigan College of Mines and Technology (now known as Michigan Technological University) as a member of the Northern State College Conference (NSCC) during the 1958 college football season. In their second year under head coach Omer LaJeunesse, the team compiled a 4–4 record (2–2 in conference games) and finished in third place in the NSCC.[8]

Michigan Tech gained 1,404 rushing yards and 508 passing yards. On defense, they gave up they gave up 1,468 rushing yards and 494 passing yards.[9] The team's individual statistical leaders included:

  • Quarterback Clay Willman led the team in passing (397 yards) and total offense (436 yards).[9]
  • Fullback Ed Vernes led the team in both rushing (259 yards) and punting (22 punts, 34.0 yard average).[9]
  • End Gerald Carpenter was the leading receiver with eight catches for 210 yards and three touchdowns.[9]

Schedule

DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 13Mankato StateHoughton, MIL 16–262,000
September 20Bemidji StateHoughton, MIL 21–361,850
September 27St. Norbert*Houghton, MIW 20–183,000
October 4at Ferris Institute*Big Rapids, MIW 35–7
October 11at Moorhead StateMoorhead, MMW 28–0
October 18Northern Michigan*Houghton, MIL 0–345,000
October 25at Northern State*Aberdeen, SDL 6–28
November 1at Winona StateWinona, MNW 26–6
  • *Non-conference game

[9]

1959

1959 Michigan Tech Huskies football
NSCC co-champion
ConferenceNorthern State College Conference
Record6–2 (4–1 NSCC)
Head coach
1959 Northern State College Conference football standings
Conf. Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
Bemidji State + 4 – 1 – 0 6 – 1 – 1
Michigan Tech + 4 – 1 – 0 6 – 2 – 0
Mankato State + 4 – 1 – 0 6 – 3 – 0
Winona State 2 – 3 – 0 2 – 5 – 0
St. Cloud State 1 – 4 – 0 2 – 6 – 0
Moorhead State 0 – 5 – 0 0 – 9 – 0
  • + – Conference co-champions

The 1959 Michigan Tech Huskies football team, sometimes referred to as the Michigan Tech Engineers, represented the Michigan College of Mines and Technology (now known as Michigan Technological University) as a member of the Northern State College Conference (NSCC) during the 1959 college football season. In their third year under head coach Omer LaJeunesse, the team compiled a 6–2 record (4–1 in conference games) and finished in a three-way tie with Bemidji State and Mankato State for the NSCC championship.[10]

The team gained 1,341 rushing yards and 957 passing yars. On defense, they gave up 1,285 rushing yards and 410 passing yards. Quarterback Clay Willman led the team in both passing (944 yards), rushing (389 yards), and total offense (1,333 yards).[11] Willman had a high of 355 yards of ttal offense against Bemidji. Halfback Jack Boldt was the leading scorer with 66 points on 11 touchdowns. End Bill Wiljanen was the leading receiver with 28 catches for 454 yards.[11]

Three Michigan Tech players were selected as first-team players on the 1959 All-NSCC football team: Willman at quarterback; Wiljanen as a utility lineman; and John Kwiatkowski at guard. Boldt was named a utility back on the second team, and Orvis Watia was selected as a guard on the second team.[12]

Schedule

DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 12at Mankato State Mankato, MNL 0–143,000[13]
September 19at Winona State
W 12–02,850
September 26at Northern Michigan*Marquette, MIL 12–493,500
October 3Ferris Institute*Houghton, MIW 26–72,300[14]
October 10Moorhead StateHoughton, MIW 21–61,256[15]
October 17at St. Cloud StateSt. Cloud, MNW 25–82,976[16]
October 25Northern State*Houghton, MIW 35–131,128[17]
October 31at Bemidji StateBemidji, MNW 22–02,780[18]
  • *Non-conference game

[11]

References

  1. ^ "Football Year-By-Year Results". Michigan Technological University. Retrieved March 25, 2025.
  2. ^ "Brief Summary of Cumulative Football Statistics (Michigan Tech 1953)". NCAA. Retrieved March 27, 2025.
  3. ^ "Brief Summary of Cumulative Football Statistics (Michigan Tech 1954)". NCAA. Retrieved March 27, 2025.
  4. ^ "Central State Gets Off On Right Foot". Stevens Point Daily Journal. September 19, 1955. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Brief Summary of Cumulative Football Statistics (Michigan Tech 1955)". NCAA. Retrieved March 27, 2025.
  6. ^ "Brief Summary of Cumulative Football Statistics (Michigan Tech 1956)". NCAA. Retrieved March 27, 2025.
  7. ^ a b c "Brief Summary of Cumulative Football Statistics (Michigan Tech 1957)". NCAA. Retrieved March 27, 2025.
  8. ^ "Northern State". The St. Cloud Daily Times. St. Cloud, Minnesota. November 4, 1958. p. 17. Retrieved June 6, 2023 – via Newspapers.com .
  9. ^ a b c d e "Brief Summary of Cumulative Football Statistics (Michigan Tech 1958)". NCAA. Retrieved March 27, 2025.
  10. ^ "Bemidji, Michigan Tech, Mankato Share Crown". Winona Daily News. Winona, Minnesota. November 2, 1959. p. 14. Retrieved June 6, 2023 – via Newspapers.com .
  11. ^ a b c "Brief Summary of Cumulative Football Statistics (Michigan Tech 1959)". NCAA. Retrieved March 27, 2025.
  12. ^ "WSC Tackle All-Conference". The Winona Daily News. November 4, 1959. p. 18 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "Mankato Wins Opener 14-0". Minneapolis Sunday Tribune. September 13, 1959. p. 1 (sports) – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ "Boldt on Rampage". The Flint Journal. October 4, 1959. p. 51 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ "Michigan Tech Romps". The Flint Journal. October 11, 1959. p. 56 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ King Grundman (October 19, 1959). "Drought Holds as State Drops 5th". St. Cloud Times. p. 12 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ^ "Michigan Tech Rips Northern TC 35-13". St. Cloud Times. October 26, 1959. p. 12 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ^ "Michigan Tech Downs Bemidji". Minneapolis Sunday Tribune. November 1, 1959. p. 12S – via Newspapers.com.
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