1951 St. Bonaventure Bonnies football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2023 1951 St. Bonaventure Bonnies football Independent 5–4 Joe Bach 2nd Forness Stadium none The 1951 St. Bonaventure Brown Indians football team was an American football team that represented St. Bonaventure University during the 1951 college football season. In its second season under head coach Joe Bach, the team compiled a 5–4 record and outscored opponents by a total of 218 to 175.1951 Saint Bonaventure (NY) College Football Data Warehouse June 11, 2020 http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/incomplete_data/game_by_game_discontinued.php?teamid=2793&year=1951 https://web.archive.org/web/20150910135346/http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/incomplete_data/game_by_game_discontinued.php?teamid=2793&year=1951 2015-09-10 The team played its home games at Forness Stadium in Olean, New York. Quarterback Ted Marchibroda led the team on offense. In nine games, Marchibroda completed 72 of 170 passes for 1,146 yards and 12 touchdowns.Kluckhohn Sets 2 Marks Binghamton Press November 29, 1951 24 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53316656/kluckhohn-sets-2-marks/ Newspapers.com Halfback Jerry Hanifin led the team's rushing attack. Among its more notable contests was the October 27 game against the Louisville Cardinals, which marked the debut of Johnny Unitas.Mike Abdo Bob Davies Unitas 'Started' Career at St. Bona Olean Times Herald November 7, 1959 In December 1951, one month after the season ended, coach Bach left the team to become head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers.Bach Promises 'Wide-Open' Football The Pittsburgh Press December 19, 1951 41 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53315128/bach-promises-wide-open-football/ Newspapers.com In February 1952, St. Bonaventure announced that it was suspending competition in intercollegiate football, after the administration had said early in 1951 that it would "make every effort to carry on" despite financial problems and rival schools already dropping the sport.Eagles To Quit Grid, Bona To Continue Buffalo Courier-Express Associated Press March 7, 1951 20 The school's president, Rev. Juvenal Lalor, stated that the decision was prompted by "ever increasing costs in every department and steadily declining income."St. Bonaventure Drops Football The Ithaca Journal February 8, 1952 13 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53314737/st-bonaventure-drops-football/ Newspapers.com The decision was part of a trend among Catholic universities in the post-war years to terminate their football programs. The trend included Portland (1949), Saint Louis (1949), Duquesne (1950), Georgetown (1950),Georgetown would resurrect its football program in 1964. Saint Mary's (1950),Saint Mary's did make a comeback to football at "College Division" (ancestor of NCAA Division II and III) level between 1959 and 1992, and would play as an independent in NCAA division I-AA (ancestor of today's Football Championship Subdivision) between 1993 and 2003, before dropping football again after 2003. Mount St. Mary's (1950),Mt. St. Mary's Gives Up Football The Washington Daily News Washington, D.C. December 14, 1950 82 Niagara (1950), Loyola of Los Angeles (1951), San Francisco (1951),San Francisco did make a comeback to football at "College Division" level between 1959 and 1982, but has not fielded a varsity football team since 1983. and Santa Clara (1952).Santa Clara did make a comeback to football at "College Division" level between 1959 and 1992, but has not fielded a varsity football team since 1993. Schedule yes yes September 16 1951 Saint Francis Red Flash Saint Francis (PA) Forness Stadium Olean, NY W 65-6 4,000 Bonnies Rip St. Francis in Opener, 65–6 Rochester Democrat and Chronicle September 17, 1951 17 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53353355/bonnies-rip-st-francis-in-opener-65-6/ Newspapers.com September 23 Xavier<ncg> Forness Stadium Olean, NY L 6-40 9,500 Xavier Swamps Bonnies, 40–6, Worst Licking Since 1940 Binghamton Press September 24, 1951 14 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53353513/xavier-swamps-bonnies-40-6/ Newspapers.com September 30 at Dayton<ncg> Dayton, OH L 14-35 Dayton Overpowers Bonaventure, 35–14 The Elmira Advertiser October 1, 1951 6 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53353752/dayton-overpowers-bonaventure-35-14/ Newspapers.com October 13 at 1951 John Carroll Blue Streaks John Carroll<ncg> Cleveland, OH W 20-13 St. Bonaventure Shades John Carroll U., 20–13 The Sunday Press (Binghamton, NY) October 14, 1951 3D https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53353907/st-bonaventure-shades-john-carroll-u/ Newspapers.com October 21 vs 1951 Quantico Marines Devil Dogs Quantico Marines Civic Stadium Buffalo, NY L 14-21 9,908 Hanifin Stars But Marines Beat Bonnies Binghamton Press October 22, 1951 14 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53354138/hanifin-stars-but-marines-beat-bonnies/ Newspapers.com October 27 Louisville Forness Stadium Olean, NY W 22-21 6,500 Field Goal in Last 3 Seconds Tops Louisville, 22–21, for Bona The Sunday Press (Binghamton, NY) October 28, 1951 3D https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53354327/field-goal-in-last-3-seconds-tops/ Newspapers.com November 3 1951 Youngstown Penguins Youngstown Forness Stadium Olean, NY W 39-6 St. Bona Soph Glitters in Win Rochester Democrat and Chronicle November 4, 1951 4D https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53354635/st-bona-soph-glitters-in-win/ Newspapers.comSoph Mate Outpasses 'Marchy' in Bona Win The Sunday Press (Binghamton, NY) November 4, 1951 3D https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53354822/soph-mate-outpasses-marchy-in-bona-win/ Newspapers.com November 10 at Camp Lejeune Jacksonville, NC L 10-20 7,000 Lejeune Marines Rally, Clip Bonnies Rochester Democrat and Chronicle November 11, 1951 8D https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53355142/lejeune-marines-rally-clip-bonnies/ Newspapers.com November 18 1951 Saint Vincent Bearcats Saint Vincent<ncg> Bearcat Stadium Latrobe, PA W 28-13 1,500 Bonnies Thrash St. Vincent, 28–13 New York Daily News November 19, 1951 60 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53355288/bonnies-thrash-st-vincent-28-13/ Newspapers.comBonnies Dump SVC Bearcats in Finale, 28–13: Hanifin Runs 102, 55 Yards To Score The Latrobe Bulletin November 19, 1951 13 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53355565/bonnies-dump-svc-bearcats-in-finale/ Newspapers.com Notes References St. Bonaventure Category:St. Bonaventure Brown Indians football seasons St. Bonaventure Bonnies football