1949 Lewis Flyers football team

American college football season April 2024 1949 Lewis Flyers football Badger-Illini Conference Badger-Illini 9–0 6–0 Ray McLean 2nd T formation Badger-Illini champion The 1949 Lewis Flyers football team represented Lewis College—now known as Lewis University—of Lockport, Illinois, as a member of the Badger-Illini Conference during the 1949 college football season. Led by second-year head coach Ray McLean, the Flyers compiled a perfect 9–0 record (6–0 in conference games), won the Badger-Illini championship, shut out six opponents, and outscored all opponents by a total of 310 to 15. Milton College Second In Badger-Illini Conference https://www.newspapers.com/clip/63944512/janesville-daily-gazette/ The Gazette Janesville, Wisconsin November 26, 1949 8 November 24, 2020 Newspapers.com Lewis employed a T formation on offense. 'Little Bears' Eye Bowl Bid https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-world-herald/144873690/ Evening World-Herald Omaha, Nebraska International News Service November 12, 1949 10 April 6, 2024 Newspapers.com Coach McLean played halfback for the Chicago Bears from 1940 to 1947, winning four NFL championships, and used the Bears' playbook while coaching at Lewis. McLean boasted to the press that his players were "so well versed in the Chicago Bears' plays that they could step into the Bears' lineup and run them off without trouble."Lewis Rolling Along on Push of Its Scooter Chicago Tribune Robert Cromie November 3, 1949 4 (part 4) https://www.newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune-lewis-rolling-along-on-p/171522952/ Newspapers.com McLean later became head coach of the Green Bay Packers. Key players on the 1949 Lewis team included fullbacks Bill Stratton and Bob Giesey, halfback Chico Mavigliano, quarterback Larry O'Shea, and Marvin Prate who was described in the Chicago Tribune as "not too fast but a tricky runner." Lewis in 1949 was a two-year college with less than 150 students. The team was touted as a candidate to play in the 1949 Little Rose Bowl.Lewis College Gridders Have High Hopes Of Bid To Little Rose Bowl The Journal-Standard November 4, 1949 11 https://www.newspapers.com/article/freeport-journal-standard-lewis-college/171521929/ Newspapers.com In the end, 1949 Little Rock Trojans Little Rock received the bid over Lewis. In late November 1949, Lewis withdrew from the Badger-Illini Conference after dropping plans to expand into a four-year college, a requirement for continued membership in the conference. Because of the school's withdrawal from the conference, no Lewis players were included on the 1949 all-conference team.Badger-Illini Champs; Lewis Drops League Chicago Tribune November 26, 1949 3 (part 2) https://www.newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune-badger-illini-champs-le/171522316/ Newspapers.com Schedule Central September 15 w y LaSalle-Peru Junior College Romeoville, IL 28–8 September 23 w y Morgan Park Junior College Romeoville, IL 54–0 October 1 w y 1949 Northwestern Trojans Northwestern (WI) Watertown, WI 21–7 Northwestern College Challenges Lewis Title https://www.newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune/144873162/ Chicago Daily Tribune Chicago, Illinois October 1, 1949 4, part 2 April 6, 2024 Newspapers.com October 8 w 1949 Concordia Cougars Concordia (IL) Romeoville, IL 44–0 October 15 2:00 p.m. w 1949 Wisconsin Tech Miners Wisconsin Tech Legion Memorial Field Platteville, WI 30–0 Football! https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-platteville-journal-and-grant-county/144874808/ The Platteville Journal Platteville, Wisconsin October 13, 1949 1, part 2 April 6, 2024 Newspapers.com October 21 w y Great Lakes Hospital 53–0 College Football https://www.newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune/144874308/ Chicago Daily Tribune Chicago, Illinois October 22, 1949 1, part 2 April 6, 2024 Newspapers.com October 29 w y 1949 Aurora Spartans Aurora Aurora, IL 47–0 Lewis Blanks Aurora in Badger-Illini Game, 47-0 https://www.newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune/144874624/ Chicago Sunday Tribune Chicago, Illinois October 30, 1949 2, part 8 April 6, 2024 Newspapers.com November 3 w 1949 Mission House Muskies Mission House Romeoville, IL 33–0 Lewis Defeat Mission House, 33-0; 8th In Row https://www.newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune/144874030/ Chicago Daily Tribune Chicago, Illinois November 4, 1949 2, part 3 April 6, 2024 Newspapers.com November 12 w 1949 St. Procopius Eagles St. Procopius Baldwin City, KS (forfeit) Any Takers? https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-terre-haute-star/144873478/ The Terre Haute Star Terre Haute, Indiana United Press November 12, 1949 9 April 6, 2024 Newspapers.com References Lewis Category:Lewis Flyers football Category:Badger-Illini Conference football champion seasons Category:College football undefeated seasons Lewis Flyers football