1954 Fordham Rams football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2023 1954 Fordham Rams football Independent 1–7–1 Ed Danowski 9th Polo Grounds 1964 The 1954 Fordham Rams football team represented Fordham University as an independent during the 1954 college football season. The Rams went 1–7–1 and amassed 96 points while their defense allowed 292 points. It was their worst season since the winless 1946 campaign. Shortly afterwards, and following a disastrous, 41–0 season finale home loss to previously winless (0–9) Villanova, head coach Ed Danowski resigned.https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1954/12/02/84441644.html?pageNumber=45 Danowski Resigns After 9 Seasons as Fordham's Football Coach; DRUZE, LOMBARDI IN LINE FOR POST but Fordham Plans Screening of All Applicants for Job Vacated by Danowski Speculation grew around five coaches, all former Fordham players, rumored as replacements. In order of likeliness the candidates were Vince Lombardi, at the time a backfield coach with the New York Giants; Johnny Druze, at the time a line coach with Notre Dame; Harry Jacunski, at the time a line coach with Yale and two long shots who were each successful in the high school ranks. They were Ray Riddick, at the time head coach of Lowell High School's powerhouse program in Massachusetts and Leo Paquin, in charge of Xavier High School's program in Manhattan. http://digital.library.fordham.edu/digital/collection/RAM/id/6573/rec/25 Reference at digital.library.fordham.edu In the end none of the five were chosen.https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1954/12/11/84444751.html?pageNumber=17 Fordham Football 'Under Advisement' with No Decision Reached on Retention Instead, sighting poor attendance numbers and financial losses of $100,000 per year, the school decided to drop its football program on December, 15th. http://digital.library.fordham.edu/digital/collection/RAM/id/6591/rec/46 Reference at digital.library.fordham.eduhttps://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1954/12/16/84446623.html?pageNumber=57 Fordham Abandons Football, Citing 'Continuing Financial Loss'; SPORT IS DROPPED AFTER 63 SEASONS Fordham's Defection Leaves Columbia as City's Only Major College Eleven Alumni, many hoping Lombardi would be named head coach, led a campaign to cover all operating costs for the 1955 season and honor an already announced schedule https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1954/11/23/84438693.html?pageNumber=30 FORDHAM TO PLAY NINE GAMES IN '55; Will Renew Football Series with Penn State, Missouri in First Two Games in the process. The university however stood by their decision. http://digital.library.fordham.edu/digital/collection/RAM/id/6599/rec/1 Reference at digital.library.fordham.eduhttps://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1955/01/13/92842663.html?pageNumber=35 FORDHAM RETAINS STAND; Sticks to Decision to Abandon Football Despite Pressurehttps://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1955/01/21/83349083.html?pageNumber=26 FORDHAM ALUMNI IN FOOTBALL DRIVE; Seek to Raise $100,000 to Revive Sport Dropped by University in Decemberhttps://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1955/01/26/83350710.html?pageNumber=30 FORDHAM ALUMNI START FUND DRIVE; Group Seeks to Raise Money to Save Football Despite Opposition of School After more pushing, the alumni movement was finally abandoned in May, 1955.https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1955/05/12/84147228.html?pageNumber=38 FORDHAM ALUMNI QUIT FUND DRIVE; Abandon Move to Reinstate Football Because School's Officials Oppose It The school lost the services of freshmen quarterbacks Chuck Zimmerman and Jim Reese who had platooned the freshman team to a promising 3-1 record. Reese transferred to Minnesota where in 1958 he became the first Golden Gopher to throw for 200 yards in a game. Zimmerman transferred to Syracuse where in that same season he threw for over 700 yards while leading the Orangemen to the Orange Bowl. Schedule 1954 AP October 2 w y Rutgers Rutgers Stadium Piscataway, NJ 13–7 10,000 Rams Tally in 2d to Rap Rutgers, 13-7 Art Smith October 3, 1954 101 Sunday News New York, N.Y. Newspapers.com https://www.newspapers.com/clip/67815117/1954-fordham-rutgers/ October 9 l y Boston University Boston University Field Boston, MA 20–55 18,000 Boston U. Swamps Fordham, 55-20 Clif Keane October 10, 1954 D1 The Boston Sunday Globe Boston, Mass. Newspapers.com https://www.newspapers.com/clip/67815715/1954-fordham-bu/ October 16 l Boston College Polo Grounds New York, NY 7–21 13,676 Gagliardi, Kane Spark Eagles, 21-7 Ernie Roberts October 17, 1954 58 The Boston Sunday Globe Boston, Mass. Newspapers.com https://www.newspapers.com/clip/67817184/1954-fordham-bc/ October 23 t y Marquette Marquette Stadium Milwaukee, WI 14–14 19,500 Marquette Rallies to Tie Fordham, 14-14 George Strickler October 24, 1954 sect. 2, p. 3 Chicago Sunday Tribune Chicago, Ill. Newspapers.com https://www.newspapers.com/clip/67819651/1954-fordham-marquette/ October 29 l y Miami (FL) 10 Burdine Stadium Miami, FL 7–75 37,498 Revenge-Mad Miami Humiliates Fordham, 75-7 Luther Evans October 30, 1954 14A The Miami Herald Miami, Fla. Newspapers.com https://www.newspapers.com/clip/67820563/1954-fordham-miami/ November 6 l y West Virginia 17 Mountaineer Field Morgantown, WV 9–39 10,000 WVU Trims Fordham; Six Men Get Touchdowns Bob McKowen November 7, 1954 13 The Charleston Daily Mail Charleston, W.Va. Newspapers.com https://www.newspapers.com/clip/67823400/1954-fordham-wvu/ Attendance figure in Mountaineers Whip Rams, 39-9 November 7, 1954 sect. 4, p. 2 The Pittsburgh Press Pittsburgh, Pa. November 13 l Holy Cross Polo Grounds New York, NY 19–20 13,557 Rams Butt, Can't Kick – Holy Cross Wins, 20-19 Art Smith November 14, 1954 100 Sunday News New York, N.Y. Newspapers.com https://www.newspapers.com/clip/67853164/1954-fordham-hc/ November 20 l Syracuse Polo Grounds New York, NY 7–20 10,423 Syracuse U. Whips Fordham in Finale, 20 to 7 Bill Reddy November 21, 1954 31 The Post-Standard Syracuse, N.Y. Newspapers.com https://www.newspapers.com/clip/67857427/1954-fordham-syracuse/ November 27 l Villanova Polo Grounds New York, NY 0–41 9,699 Villanova Slams Rams for First Victory, 41-0 Hy Turkin November 28, 1954 111 Sunday News New York, N.Y. Newspapers.com https://www.newspapers.com/clip/67858432/1954-fordham-villanova/ References Fordham Category:Fordham Rams football seasons Fordham Rams football