1953 West Virginia Mountaineers football team

American college football season August 2023 February 2026 1953 West Virginia Mountaineers football Southern Conference SoCon 13 10 8–2 4–0 Art Lewis 4th Mountaineer Field SoCon champion Sugar Bowl L 19–42 vs. Georgia Tech The 1953 West Virginia Mountaineers football team was an American football team that represented West Virginia University in the Southern Conference (SoCon) during the 1953 college football season. Led by fourth-year head coach Art Lewis, the Mountaineers compiled an overall record of 8–2 with a mark of 4–0 in conference play, winning the SoCon title. West Virginia was invited to the Sugar Bowl, where the Mountaineers lost to Georgia Tech, 42–19. Schedule 1953 AP Eastern September 26 w y y 16 Pittsburgh 17 Pitt Stadium Pittsburgh, PA rivalry 17–7 43,446 https://www.newspapers.com/article/richmond-times-dispatch-mountaineers-aga/138028533/ Richmond Times-Dispatch Mountaineers again upset Pitt as Stone, Marconi star, 17 to 7 September 27, 1953 January 4, 2024 Newspapers.com October 3 w y 13 1953 Waynesburg Yellow Jackets Waynesburg Mountaineer Field Morgantown, WV 47–19 18,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-state-west-virginia-wins-another/138028618/ The State West Virginia wins another October 4, 1953 January 4, 2024 Newspapers.com October 10 w 12 Washington and Lee Mountaineer Field Morgantown, WV 40–14 14,000 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108029040/mountaineers-rout-generals/ The News and Observer Mountaineers rout Generals October 11, 1953 August 21, 2022 Newspapers.com October 16 w y 10 George Washington Griffith Stadium Washington, DC 27–6 10,633 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/69886241/west-virginia-in-tenth-win/ Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph West Virginia in tenth win October 17, 1953 February 10, 2021 Newspapers.com October 24 w 8 y VMI Mountaineer Field Morgantown, WV 52–20 23,000 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/91826954/wvu-slaughters-vmi-52-to-20-in-homecomin/ The Raleigh Register WVU slaughters VMI 52 to 20 in homecoming tilt October 25, 1953 January 4, 2022 Newspapers.com October 31 w y y 5 Penn State New Beaver Field University Park, PA rivalry 20–19 24,670 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-jackson-sun-west-virginia-blocks-pun/138028714/ The Jackson Sun West Virginia blocks punt to win 20–19 November 1, 1953 January 4, 2024 Newspapers.com November 7 w y 7 VPI Mitchell Stadium Bluefield, WV rivalry 12–7 12,300 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-knoxville-journal-wvu-forced-to-spur/138028796/ The Knoxville Journal WVU forced to spurt in nudging VPI by 12–7 November 8, 1953 January 4, 2024 Newspapers.com November 14 l y 8 South Carolina Mountaineer Field Morgantown, WV 14–20 31,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-herald-sun-south-carolina-upends-wes/138028891/ Durham Morning Herald South Carolina upends West Virginia, 20 to 14 November 15, 1953 January 4, 2024 Newspapers.com November 21 w y y 19 NC State Riddick Stadium Raleigh, NC 61–0 5,800 https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-worth-star-telegram-west-virginia-w/138028969/ Fort Worth Star-Telegram West Virginia wallops NCS November 22, 1953 January 4, 2024 Newspapers.com January 1 l y y 10 Georgia Tech 8 Tulane Stadium New Orleans, LA Sugar Bowl ABC 19–42 71,666 https://www.newspapers.com/article/richmond-times-dispatch-georgia-tech-cru/132964274/ Richmond Times-Dispatch Georgia Tech crushes WVU, 42–19, smashing six records January 2, 1953 October 5, 2023 Newspapers.com Roster 1954 West Virginia Mountaineers f 11 Junior Fred Wyant QB y 89 Senior Billy Hillen End 86 Junior Gary Bunn End 84 Sophomore Joe Kopnisky End 55 Senior John Kernic End 81 Senior Max Ludwig End 77 Junior Bruce Bosley OL-LT y 72 Junior Gene Lamone OL-LG y 75 Sophomore Sam Huff OL-RG y 64 Sophomore Gene Lathey Guard 88 Junior Bill Underdonk Guard 65 Sophomore Jerry Urda Guard 36 Senior Charles Donaldson Center 42 Senior Dick Nicholson RB 25 Junior Bob Moss HB 15 Senior Harry Sweeney HB 22 Sophomore Victor "Jack" Rabbits HB 47 Junior Eddie Dugan HB 32 Junior Ray Surbaugh HB 21 Sophomore Paul Shepherd HB 34 Junior Joe Marconi FB y 24 Senior Carl Norman FB 35 Senior Danny Williams FB 23 Sophomore Ray Borst FB 10 Sophomore Alex Szuch QB 12 Sophomore Walter Beene E 31 Senior Don Wilson C 89 Senior Billy Hillen DE 55 Senior John Kernic DE 84 Sophomore Joe Kopnisky DE 81 Senior Max Ludwig DE 86 Junior Gary Bunn DE 12 Sophomore Walter Beene DE 77 Junior Bruce Bosley DT y 75 Sophomore Sam Huff DT y 72 Junior Gene Lamone NG y 88 Junior Bill Underdonk DG 64 Sophomore Gene Lathey DG 65 Sophomore Jerry Urda DG 36 Senior Charles Donaldson LB 34 Junior Joe Marconi LB y 24 Senior Carl Norman LB 35 Senior Danny Williams LB 23 Sophomore Ray Borst LB 31 Senior Don Wilson LB 42 Senior Dick Nicholson DB 25 Junior Bob Moss DB 15 Senior Harry Sweeney DB 22 Sophomore Victor "Jack" Rabbits DB 47 Junior Eddie Dugan DB 32 Junior Ray Surbaugh DB 21 Sophomore Paul Shepherd DB 11 Junior Fred Wyant S y 10 Sophomore Alex Szuch S 11 Junior Fred Wyant P y 24 Senior Carl Norman K 25 Junior Bob Moss KR 42 Senior Dick Nicholson KR 15 Senior Harry Sweeney PR 22 Sophomore Victor "Jack" Rabbits PR Art "Pappy" Lewis Gene Corum (Ends) Russ Crane (Defensive Line) Harold Sawyers (Backfield) Ed Shockey (Backfield) Quentin Barnette (Freshman Coach) April 18, 2026 References West Virginia Category:West Virginia Mountaineers football seasons Category:Southern Conference football champion seasons West Virginia Mountaineers football