1953 USC Trojans football team

American college football season August 2023 February 2026 1953 USC Trojans football Pacific Coast Conference PCC 6–3–1 4–2–1 Jess Hill 3rd George Bozanic Tom Nickoloff Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum The 1953 USC Trojans football team represented the University of Southern California (USC) in the 1953 college football season. In their third year under head coach Jess Hill, the Trojans compiled a 6–3–1 record (4–2–1 against conference opponents), finished in third place in the Pacific Coast Conference, and outscored their opponents by a combined total of 199 to 161. The team's home attendance of 413,617 in six games was the highest in the country during the 1953 season. The total attendance of 561,389 in 10 games was the second highest in the nation.1954 "El Rodeo" (USC yearbook), p. 219. George Bozanic led the team in passing yardage with 15 of 34 passes completed for 278 yards, four touchdowns and one interception. Aramis Dandoy led the team in rushing with 113 carries for 578 yards and six touchdowns. Tom Nickoloff was the leading receiver with 16 catches for 214 yards and two touchdowns.1953 Southern California Trojans Stats Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football July 21, 2015 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/southern-california/1953.html Three Trojans received honors from the Associated Press (AP), the United Press (UP), or Tide Water (TW) on the 1953 All-Pacific Coast Conference football team: back Aramis Dandoy (AP-1); tackle Mario Da Re (TW); and guard George Timberlake (AP-1; UP-1; TW).Shaw, Pheister Gain All-Coast Spots The News Review (Oregon) November 23, 1953 6 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/2579413/1953_ap_all_pcc_football_team/UCLA, Stanford Head Coast All-Star Pick Nevada State Journal, Reno, Nevada November 26, 1953 13 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/2579329/1953_up_allpcc_football_team/Shaw, Pheister Gain Unofficial All-Coast Spots The News Review (Oregon) November 23, 1953 6 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/2579472/1953_tide_water_all_pcc_football_team/ (Tide Water) Schedule 1953 AP September 19 w y 8 Washington State Rogers Field Pullman, WA 29–13 20,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/santa-barbara-news-press-trojans-tip-cou/189192603/ Santa Barbara News-Press Trojans tip Cougars September 20, 1953 January 17, 2026 Newspapers.com September 26 w y 8 Minnesota Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA 17–7 66,698 https://www.newspapers.com/article/omaha-world-herald-giels-miserable-day/189192728/ Omaha World-Herald Giel's miserable day assists USC victory September 27, 1953 January 17, 2026 Newspapers.com October 2, 1953 w y 7 Indiana Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA 27–14 49,578 https://www.newspapers.com/article/honolulu-star-advertiser-trojans-win-ove/189192910/ The Honolulu Advertiser Trojans win over Indiana, 27–14 October 3, 1953 January 17, 2026 Newspapers.com October 10 t y 7 Washington Husky Stadium Seattle, WA 13–13 32,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-bellingham-herald-usc-lucky-to-tie-h/189193082/ The Bellingham Herald USC lucky to tie Huskies October 11, 1953 January 17, 2026 Newspapers.com October 17 w 13 Oregon State Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA 37–0 34,163 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-san-francisco-examiner-troy-rips-osc/189193257/ The San Francisco Examiner Troy rips OSC, 37–0 October 18, 1953 January 17, 2026 Newspapers.com October 24 w y 11 California California Memorial Stadium Berkeley, CA 32–20 78,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-salt-lake-tribune-line-power-sends-s/189193387/ The Salt Lake Tribune Line power sends Southern California to 32–20 victory over Bears October 25, 1953 January 17, 2026 Newspapers.com October 31 l y 7 Oregon Multnomah Stadium Portland, OR 7–13 17,772 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sunday-oregonian-shaw-standout-as-or/189193529/ The Sunday Oregonian Shaw standout as Oregon tops Trojans, 13 to 7 November 1, 1953 January 17, 2026 Newspapers.com November 7 w y 17 Stanford 11 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA rivalry 23–20 79,015 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-fresno-bee-field-goal-beats-stanford/189191842/ The Fresno Bee Field goal beats Stanford November 8, 1953 January 17, 2026 Newspapers.com November 21 l 9 UCLA 5 Victory Bell Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA 0–13 85,366 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-union-bruins-win-pcc-titl/189190384/ The Sacramento Union Bruins win PCC title as Indians tie November 22, 1953 January 17, 2026 Newspapers.com November 28 l y 20 Notre Dame 2 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA rivalry 14–48 97,952 Trojans Walloped by Notre Dame, 48-14: Irish Power to Seven TDs to Smash SC Before 97,952 Los Angeles Times Braven Dyer November 29, 1953 7 (part II) https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times-trojans-walloped-b/201940471/ Newspapers.comhttps://www.newspapers.com/article/pasadena-star-news-notre-dame-smashes-tr/189193635/ Pasadena Star-News Notre Dame smashes Troy, 48–14 November 29, 1953 January 17, 2026 Newspapers.com 1953 USC Trojans Schedule and Results https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/southern-california/1953-schedule.html College Football at Sports-Reference.com Sports Reference January 17, 2026 Schedule/Results (1953 USC) https://stats.ncaa.org/teams/403112 National Collegiate Athletic Association NCAA Statistics May 24, 2025 Players The following players were members of the 1953 USC football team.1954 "El Rodeo", pp. 220-239. Mickey Artenian, left guard, #63, Los Angeles, 6'0", 190 pounds Al Baldock, left end, #83, Santa Monica, California, 6'3", 200 pounds Al Barry, 6'2", 221 pounds, right tackle (offense and defense), #79, 200 pounds George Bozanic, blocking back, #38, Lander, Wyoming, 6'2", 205 pounds (co-captain) Bob Buckley, wingback, #33, Brooklyn, New York, 5'9-1/2", 180 pounds Leon Clarke, right end, #81, Los Angeles, Commerce, California, 6'4", 210 pounds Jim Contratto, quarterback, #12, Compton, California, 5'9", 180 pounds Lindon Crow, wingback, #36, Corcoran, California, 6'1", 190 pounds ("a stand out on defense") Aramis Dandoy, tailback, #27, Torrance, California, 5'11", 180 pounds Mario Da Re, left tackle, #74, Crockett, California, 6'2-1/2", 215 pounds Jim "Triple" Decker, tailback, #21, San Pedro, California, 5'10", 190 pounds Landon Exley, quarterback, #35, Santa Monica, California, 6'0", 180 pounds Orlando Ferrante, right guard, #61, Los Angeles, 5'11", 192 pounds Ed Fouch, tackle, #49, Santa Ana, California, 6'3", 225 pounds (benched by a knee injury) George Galli, left guard, #60, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 5'10-1/2", 195 pounds Harold Han, fullback, #46, Honolulu, Hawaii, 5'9", 185 pounds Addison Hawthorne, fullback, #23, Los Angeles, 5'10", 195 pounds Des Koch, tailback, #43, Shelton, Washington, 6'1", 208 pounds (led the nation in punts) John Miller, right tackle, #79, Compton, California, 6'1-1/2", 191 pounds Ron Miller, left end, #88, Los Angeles, 6'4", 205 pounds Tom Nickoloff, right end, #80, Los Angeles, 6'3-1/2", 220 pounds (co-captain, "a standout both on offense and defense" for three years) Frank Pavich, left tackle, #75, San Francisco, California, 6'0", 213 pounds Dick Petty, center, #54, Auburn, California, 6'0", 196 pounds Ed Pucci, left guard, #64, Canton, Ohio, 6'0", 215 pounds (invited to play in East-West game) Bill Riddle, blocking back, #52, El Centro, California, 6'0", 200 pounds (started season as 3rd-string quarterback, then moved to fullback) Vern Sampson, center, #53, Sacramento, California, 6'0", 205 pounds Leon Sellers, fullback, #44, Ontario, California, 6'0", 190 pounds Ken Thompson, right tackle, #78, Phoenix, Arizona, 6'2", 216 pounds George Timberlake, right guard, #56, Long Beach, California, 6'0", 210 pounds Sam Tsagalakis, aka "Sad Sam" and "The Toe", placekicker, #31, Los Angeles, 5'7-1/2", 165 pounds (kicked game-winning field goal against Stanford) Tom Weber, left tackle, #73, Canton, Ohio Coaches and other staff Head coach: Jess Hill1954 "El Rodeo", p. 216. Assistant coaches: Mel Hein (line coach), George Ceithaml (backfield coach), Don Clark (line coach), Bill Fisk (end coach), Nick Pappas (backfield coach), Jess Mortensen (freshman coach)1954 "El Rodeo", p. 217. Senior manager: Bob Laughlin1954 "El Rodeo", p. 218. References USC Category:USC Trojans football seasons USC Trojans football