1947 Fordham Rams football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2023 1947 Fordham Rams football Independent 1–6–1 Ed Danowski 2nd T formation Polo Grounds The 1947 Fordham Rams football team was an American football team that represented Fordham University as an independent during the 1947 college football season. In its second season under head coach Ed Danowski, the team compiled a 1–6–1 record and was outscored opponents by a total of 245 to Rams offense scored 44.1947 Fordham Rams Schedule and Results Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football February 20, 2019 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/fordham/1947-schedule.html After a winless 1946 season, Fordham boosters raised money for 30 new scholarships. In addition, the school made several additions to its coaching staff, including the hiring of Vince Lombardi. Maraniss David When Pride Still Mattered: A Life of Vince Lombardi 1999 Simon & Schuster 978-0-684-84418-3 89 https://archive.org/details/whenpridestillma00mara/page/89 Lombardi was responsible for coaching the freshman team. In addition, he helped the varsity team implement the T-Formation on offense. Lombardi did this for a salary of $3,500 a year. Athletic director Jack Coffey stated that he thought Lombardi would one day become head coach of the varsity team. In the final Litkenhous Ratings released in mid-December, Fordham was ranked at No. 318 out of 500 college football teams.Michigan National Champion in Final Litkenhous Ratings Times Dr. E. E. Litkenhous December 18, 1947 47 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/123152970/michigan-national-champion-in-final/ Newspapers.com Schedule 1947 AP October 3 l y Georgetown Griffith Stadium Washington, DC 7–40 12,500 Georgetown Leading Fordham at Capital The Daily News (New York City) October 4, 1947 26 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/28372185/georgetown_leading_fordham_at_capital/ Newspapers.com October 11 l 12 Penn State Polo Grounds New York, NY 0–75 12,000 Penn St., 75-0; Worst Ram Loss The Daily News (New York City) Hy Turkin October 12, 1947 102 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/28447082/penn_st_750_worst_ram_loss/ Newspapers.com October 18 l y Rutgers Rutgers Stadium Piscataway, NJ 6-36 10,000 Stubborn Fordham Gridders Beaten by Rutgers, 36-6 The Sunday Times (New Brunswick, NJ) Joe Burns October 19, 1947 1 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/28222104/stubborn_fordham_gridders_beaten_by/ Newspapers.com October 25 w y Merchant Marine Tomb Memorial Field Kings Point, NY 12–0 9,000 Fordham Defeats Kings Point, 12-0 The Daily News (New York City) October 26, 1947 95 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/27991047/fordham_defeats_kings_point_120/ Newspapers.com November 1 l y Boston University Fenway Park Boston, MA 6–26 2,703 Only 2703 See B.U. Batter Fordham, 26-6 The Boston Globe Jack Barry November 2, 1947 30 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/28282611/only_2703_see_bu_batter_fordham_266/ Newspapers.com November 15 l y Lafayette Polo Grounds New York, NY 0–7 5,900 Lafayette Nips Rams In 1st Quarter, 7-0 The Daily News (New York City) Dana Mozley November 16, 1947 102 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/28381171/lafayette_nips_rams_in_1st_quarter_70/ Newspapers.com November 22 l y Holy Cross Fitton Field Worcester, MA 0–48 7,000 HC, 48-0; Rams Gain ONE Yard The Daily News (New York City) November 23, 1947 103 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/27970115/hc_480_rams_gain_one_yard/ Newspapers.com November 29 t y NYU Polo Grounds New York, NY 13–13 27,000 Blocked Kick Gives NYU 13-13 Tie With Fordham The Daily News (New York City) Joe Trimble November 30, 1947 89 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/28020864/blocked_kick_gives_nyu_1313_tie_with/ Newspapers.com Freshman team The freshman team was Vince Lombardi's first experience as a head coach above the high school level. Many of the freshmen on the team were in their twenties. Three of the freshmen were players that Lombardi had coached in high school: Dick Doheny, Billy White and Larry Higgins. Twenty-three-year-old freshman Herb Seidell was elected as captain of the freshman team. He had served in the Navy with Leo Paquin, who was one of Lombardi's teammates on Fordham's Seven Blocks of Granite. Dick Doheny was the starting quarterback. One of the highlights for the team was defeating Rutgers freshman team by a score of 12–0. The Rams held the Scarlet Knights to negative yards, while the Rams gained 400 yards on the ground. Maraniss David When Pride Still Mattered: A Life of Vince Lombardi 1999 Simon & Schuster 978-0-684-84418-3 92 https://archive.org/details/whenpridestillma00mara/page/92 After a 33–0 defeat of New York University's freshman team, the New York Herald Tribune stated that Lombardi should feel proud for a job well done. Other members in the media were very optimistic about Lombardi because the varsity team finished the season with a record of 1–6–1. References Fordham Category:Fordham Rams football seasons Fordham Rams football