1955 West Virginia Mountaineers football team

American college football season August 2023 February 2026 1955 West Virginia Mountaineers football Southern Conference SoCon 17 19 8–2 4–0 Art Lewis 6th Mountaineer Field SoCon champion The 1955 West Virginia Mountaineers football team was an American football team that represented West Virginia University as a member of the Southern Conference (SoCon) during the 1955 college football season. Led by sixth-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 for the third consecutive season. West Virginia was ranked No. 19 in the final AP Poll and No. 17 in the final Coaches Poll. Schedule 1955 AP Eastern September 24 w Richmond Mountaineer Field Morgantown, WV 33–12 21,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-press-west-virginia-rips-richmond/138110191/ Daily Press West Virginia rips Richmond, 33–12 September 25, 1955 January 5, 2024 Newspapers.com October 1 w y 13 Wake Forest Mountaineer Field Morgantown, WV 46–0 25,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/news-and-record-mountaineers-hand-deacon/138110332/ Greensboro Daily News Mountaineers hand Deacons first defeat October 2, 1955 January 5, 2024 Newspapers.com October 8 1:45 p.m. w y 11 VMI Mitchell Stadium Bluefield, WV 47–12 11,000 Drewry Walt State Gridders Face Stiff Slate https://www.newspapers.com/clip/91948850/the-times-dispatch/ Richmond Times-Dispatch Richmond, Virginia October 8, 1955 14 January 5, 2022 Newspapers.com https://www.newspapers.com/clip/91846630/mountaineers-roll-over-virginia-military/ Kingsport Times-News Mountaineers roll over Virginia Military, 47–12 October 9, 1955 January 4, 2022 Newspapers.com October 15 w y 10 William & Mary Mountaineer Field Morgantown, WV 39–13 22,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-knoxville-journal-west-virginia-roar/138110444/ The Knoxville Journal West Virginia roars past W-M, 39–13 October 16, 1955 January 5, 2024 Newspapers.com October 22 w y 8 Penn State Mountaineer Field Morgantown, WV rivalry 21–7 34,400 https://www.newspapers.com/article/cumberland-sunday-times-wvu-rally-spills/138110535/ Cumberland Sunday Times WVU rally spills Lions October 23, 1955 January 5, 2024 Newspapers.com October 29 w y y 7 Marquette Marquette Stadium Milwaukee, WI 39–0 16,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune-west-virginia-romps-39/138110653/ Chicago Tribune West Virginia romps, 39 to 0, at Marquette October 30, 1955 January 5, 2024 Newspapers.com November 4 w y 7 George Washington Griffith Stadium Washington, DC 13–7 22,500 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/69877150/west-virginia-moves-toward-bowl-bid/ The Shreveport Journal West Virginia moves toward bowl bid November 5, 1955 February 10, 2021 Newspapers.com November 12 l y y 6 Pittsburgh 17 Pitt Stadium Pittsburgh, PA rivalry 7–26 55,772–57,996 https://www.newspapers.com/article/arizona-daily-star-pitt-storms-to-267-t/138110771/ The Arizona Daily Star Pitt storms to 26–7 triumph November 13, 1955 January 5, 2024 Newspapers.com November 19 l y 13 Syracuse Mountaineer Field Morgantown, WV rivalry 13–20 22,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/rocky-mount-telegram-syracuse-upsets-wes/138110869/ The Rocky Mount Telegram Syracuse upsets West Virginia, 20–13 November 20, 1955 January 5, 2024 Newspapers.com November 25 w y y NC State Riddick Stadium Raleigh, NC 27–7 4,500 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-herald-sun-mountaineers-rally-in-sec/138111008/ Durham Sunday Herald Mountaineers rally in second half to top Wolfpack in rain by 27–7 November 26, 1955 January 5, 2024 Newspapers.com Roster 1955 West Virginia Mountaineers f 11 Senior Fred Wyant QB y 86 Senior Gary Bunn End 84 Junior Joe Kopnisky End 12 Junior Walter Beene End 81 Sophomore Chuck Howley End y 77 Senior Bruce Bosley OL-LT y 75 Junior Sam Huff OL-RT y 72 Senior Gene Lamone OL-LG y 88 Senior Bill Underdonk Guard 64 Junior Gene Lathey Guard 65 Junior Jerry Urda Guard 25 Senior Bob Moss HB 47 Senior Eddie Dugan HB 32 Senior Ray Surbaugh HB 22 Junior Victor "Jack" Rabbits HB 21 Junior Paul Shepherd HB 42 Sophomore Larry Krutko HB y 34 Senior Joe Marconi FB y 23 Junior Ray Borst FB 10 Junior Alex Szuch QB 15 Sophomore Mickey Trimarki QB 86 Senior Gary Bunn DE 84 Junior Joe Kopnisky DE 12 Junior Walter Beene DE 81 Sophomore Chuck Howley DE y 77 Senior Bruce Bosley DT y 75 Junior Sam Huff DT y 72 Senior Gene Lamone NG y 88 Senior Bill Underdonk DG 64 Junior Gene Lathey DG 65 Junior Jerry Urda DG 34 Senior Joe Marconi LB y 23 Junior Ray Borst LB 25 Senior Bob Moss DB 47 Senior Eddie Dugan DB 32 Senior Ray Surbaugh DB 22 Junior Victor "Jack" Rabbits DB 21 Junior Paul Shepherd DB 42 Sophomore Larry Krutko DB y 11 Senior Fred Wyant S y 10 Junior Alex Szuch S 15 Sophomore Mickey Trimarki S 11 Senior Fred Wyant P y 34 Senior Joe Marconi K y 25 Senior Bob Moss KR 42 Sophomore Larry Krutko KR y 22 Junior Victor "Jack" Rabbits PR 21 Junior Paul Shepherd PR Art "Pappy" Lewis Gene Corum (Ends) Russ Crane (Defensive Line) Harold Sawyers (Backfield) Ed Shockey (Backfield) Quentin Barnette (Freshman Coach) April 21, 2026 ` --- Key changes from 1954 → 1955 and items to verify: - 9 seniors departed (Hillen, Kernic, Ludwig, Donaldson, Nicholson, Sweeney, Norman, Williams, Wilson) - Sam Huff #75 moved from OL-RG → OL-RT — his transition to tackle is well-documented historically - 3 Sophomore newcomers added with provisional jersey numbers from vacated senior slots: - Chuck Howley #81 (End/DE) — used Ludwig's old number - Larry Krutko #42 (HB/DB) — used Nicholson's old number - Mickey Trimarki #15 (QB/S) — used Sweeney's old number - Center gap — both Donaldson and Wilson graduated; no replacement identified yet - Kicker — Norman graduated; Marconi listed as placeholder K, needs verification - Coaching staff — carried over from 1954 pending confirmation of any changes - Roster is incomplete — a full squad would have had additional Sophomores and depth players beyond these 21; names like Joe Papetti, Tom Domen, and Ralph Anastasio surfaced in fragmentary research but couldn't be confirmed with enough detail to include References West Virginia Category:West Virginia Mountaineers football seasons Category:Southern Conference football champion seasons West Virginia Mountaineers football