1951 Drake Bulldogs football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2023 1951 Drake Bulldogs football Missouri Valley Conference MVC 7–2 3–1 Warren Gaer 3rd Drake Stadium The 1951 Drake Bulldogs football team was an American football team that represented Drake University as a member of the Missouri Valley Conference during the 1951 college football season. In its third season under head coach Warren Gaer, the team compiled a 7–2 record (3–1 against MVC opponents), tied for fourth place in the conference, and outscored opponents by a total of 247 to 117.1951 Drake Bulldogs Schedule and Results Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football February 1, 2019 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/drake/1951-schedule.html The team was ranked at No. 80 in the 1951 Litkenhous Ratings.Vols Top Final 1951 Litkenhous Ratings The Nashville Banner December 14, 1951 49 https://www.newspapers.com/article/nashville-banner-vols-top-final-1951-lit/124782001/ Newspapers.com On October 20, 1951, Drake halfback Johnny Bright, an African-American athlete and Heisman Trophy candidate, was assaulted by a white player during a game against Oklahoma A&M. The assault resulted in a broken jaw to Bright. When the Missouri Valley Conference refused to discipline Oklahoma A&M, despite evidence of a concerted and racially motivated plan to injure Bright, Drake withdrew from the conference in protest. In 2005, Oklahoma State's president issued a letter of apology for the incident which has become known at the Johnny Bright incident. Bright had led the nation in total offense in both 1949 and 1950. See List of NCAA major college football yearly total offense leaders. At the end of the 1951 season, he was selected by the United Press, based on voting from 260 sports writers and broadcasters, as a second-team player on the 1951 College Football All-America Team.Leo H. Peterson Kazmaier Tops INS "Star" Team The Lowell Sun United Press November 28, 1951 Bright later played 11 seasons in the Canadian Football League and was inducted into both the College Football Hall of Fame and the Canadian Football Hall of Fame. The team played its home games at Drake Stadium in Des Moines, Iowa. Schedule y y September 14 Abilene Christian<ncg> Drake Stadium Des Moines, IA W 19-7 8,000 Bright: 'We Won't Be a Doormat' Des Moines Tribune September 15, 1951 7 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/32342199/bright_we_wont_be_a_doormat/ Newspapers.com September 22 at Denver<ncg> Hilltop Stadium Denver, CO W 20-7 15,680 Bright Fires Drake Rally, 20-7 The Des Moines Register September 23, 1951 25 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/115792732/bright-fires-drake-rally-20-7/ Newspapers.com September 29 at Bradley Peoria Stadium Peoria, IL W 20-14 Bryson Bill Bill Bryson Sr. Bulldogs Johnny Gains 242 Yards, Sets Mark https://www.newspapers.com/clip/91696429/the-des-moines-register/ The Des Moines Register Des Moines, Iowa September 30, 1951 1S January 2, 2022 Newspapers.com Bryson Bill Bill Bryson Sr. Bradley Holds Bright to 50 Via Air (continued) https://www.newspapers.com/clip/91696661/the-des-moines-register/ The Des Moines Register Des Moines, Iowa September 30, 1951 4S January 2, 2022 Newspapers.com October 6 Iowa State Teachers<ncg> Drake Stadium Des Moines, IA (rivalry) W 39-6 October 12 Detroit Drake Stadium Des Moines, IA W 26-6 15,000 Bright Zips Past U-D Eleven, 26-6 Detroit Free Press October 13, 1951 14 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/15953094/bright_zips_past_ud_eleven_266/ Newspapers.com October 20 at Oklahoma A&M Lewis Field Stillwater, OK L 14-27 October 27 Iowa State<ncg> Drake Stadium Des Moines, IA L 0-13 November 3 1951 Great Lakes Navy Bluejackets Great Lakes Navy<ncg> Drake Stadium Des Moines, IA W 35-20 November 10 at Wichita Cessna Stadium Wichita, KS W 14-7 References Drake Category:Drake Bulldogs football seasons Drake Bulldogs football