1953 SMU Mustangs football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2023 1953 SMU Mustangs football Southwest Conference SWC 5–5 3–3 Woody Woodard 1st Jack Gunlock Jerry Clem Cotton Bowl The 1953 SMU Mustangs football team represented Southern Methodist University (SMU) as a member of the Southwest Conference (SWC) during the 1953 college football season. Led by first-year head coach Woody Woodard, the Mustangs compiled an overall record of 5–5 with a mark of 3–3 in conference play, placing fourth in the SWC. SMU played home games at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas. Jack Gunlock and Jerry Clem were the team captains. Schedule 1953 AP October 3 l y y Georgia Tech 9 Grant Field Atlanta, GA 4–6 37,000 Irish End Season Unbeaten: N.D. Crushes S.M.U., 40-14, in Final Game; Millions See Senior Backs Batter Mustangs The South Bend Tribune Joe Doyle December 5, 1953 1 (main), 1 (sports) https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-south-bend-tribune-irish-end-season/201948329/ Newspapers.comhttps://www.newspapers.com/article/the-brownsville-herald-georgia-tech-sque/132963353/ The Brownsville Herald Georgia Tech squeezes pat SMU Mustangs, 6–4 October 4, 1953 October 5, 2023 Newspapers.com October 9 w y Missouri Cotton Bowl Dallas, TX 20–7 35,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-worth-star-telegram-mustangs-trim-m/168460716/ Fort Worth Star-Telegram Mustangs trim Missouri, 20–7 October 11, 1953 March 20, 2025 Newspapers.com October 17 w Rice 11 Cotton Bowl Dallas, TX rivalry 12–7 50,000 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/110712568/ponies-nudge-owls-12-to-7/ The Marshall News Messenger Ponies nudge Owls, 12 to 7 October 18, 1953 March 20, 2025 Newspapers.com October 24 w y y 13 Kansas Memorial Stadium Lawrence, KS 14–6 29,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tyler-courier-times-smu-uses-breaks/168460873/ The Tyler Courier-Times-Telegraph SMU uses breaks to defeat Kansas October 25, 1953 March 20, 2025 Newspapers.com October 31 l 11 Texas Cotton Bowl Dallas, TX 7–16 51,000 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/123793888/texas-defeats-fumbling-smu-167-with-s/ The Lexington Herald Texas defeats fumbling SMU, 16–7, with second-half scoring outburst November 1, 1953 October 4, 2022 Newspapers.com November 7 w y Texas A&M Kyle Field College Station, TX 23–0 20,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-worth-star-telegram-mustangs-maul-a/168461014/ Fort Worth Star-Telegram Mustangs maul Ags in mud, 23–0 November 8, 1953 March 20, 2025 Newspapers.com November 14 w Arkansas Cotton Bowl Dallas, TX 13–7 26,500 https://www.newspapers.com/article/victoria-advocate-nutt-leads-mustangs-ov/168461158/ The Victoria Advocate Nutt leads Mustangs over determined Arkansas, 13–7 November 15, 1953 March 20, 2025 Newspapers.com November 21 l y Baylor Baylor Stadium Waco, TX 21–27 30,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/victoria-advocate-baylor-comeback-drops/168460356/ The Victoria Advocate Baylor comeback drops Ponies from SWC race November 22, 1953 March 20, 2025 Newspapers.com November 28 l y TCU Amon G. Carter Stadium Fort Worth, TX rivalry 0–13 27,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/bryan-college-station-eagle-frogs-arise/168461327/ The Bryan Daily Eagle Frogs arise from cellar to swat Mustangs, 13–0 November 29, 1953 March 20, 2025 Newspapers.com December 5 l y y Notre Dame 2 Notre Dame Stadium Notre Dame, IN 14–40 55,522 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-des-moines-register-angry-irish-puni/168461461/ The Des Moines Register Angry Irish punish S.M.U. December 6, 1953 March 20, 2025 Newspapers.com 1953 SMU Mustangs Schedule and Results https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/southern-methodist/1953-schedule.html Sports Reference December 24, 2022 2022 Football Media Guide https://smumustangs.com/documents/2022/7/27/Complete-MG.pdf SMU Athletics 99 December 24, 2022 Personnel Raymond Berry References SMU Category:SMU Mustangs football seasons SMU Mustangs football