1953 Iowa Hawkeyes football team

American college football season August 2023 January 2026 1953 Iowa Hawkeyes football Big Ten Conference Big Ten 10 9 5–3–1 3–3 Forest Evashevski 2nd Bill Fenton Andrew Houg Iowa Stadium The 1953 Iowa Hawkeyes football team was an American football team that represented the University of Iowa as a member of the Big Ten Conference during the 1953 Big Ten football season. In their second season under head coach Forest Evashevski, the Hawkeyes compiled a 5–3–1 record (3–3 in conference games), finished in a three-way tie for fifth place in the Big Ten, and outscored opponents by a total of 187 to 91.1953 Iowa Hawkeyes Schedule and Results Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football May 16, 2025 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/iowa/1953-schedule.html2022 Iowa Football Media Guide 241 University of Iowa https://storage.googleapis.com/hawkeyesports-prod/2022/07/b99ff33b-2022_ia_fb_media-guide-online-version.pdf May 16, 2025 Two of their losses came against No. 2 Michigan State and No. 5 Michigan. They closed their season with a victory over No. 15 Minnesota and a 14–14 tie with No. 1 Notre Dame. The Hawkeyes were rewarded for their strong finish with the No. 9 ranking in the final AP poll. It was the first time an Iowa team had been ranked in the final AP poll since 1939.2022 Iowa Football Media Guide, p. 192. The 1953 Hawkeyes gained 2,147 rushing yards and 586 passing yards. On defense, they gave up 1,050 rushing yards and 1,208 passing yards.2022 Iowa Football Media Guide, p. 161. The Hawkeyes set Iowa records (both later broken) for most rushing yards in a season (2,147) and in a game (396 vs. Washington State).2022 Iowa Football Media Guide, pp. 276–277. They also set the school's record for scoring defense by giving up only 10.1 points per game; the 1953 team's scoring defense mark now ranks second in Iowa history.2022 Iowa Football Media Guide, p. 277. The team's statistical leaders included George "Binky" Broeder (410 rushing yards); Lou Matykiewicz (18-of-44 passing for 234 yards); Frank Gilliam (12 receptions for 71 yards); and George "Dusty" Rice (60 points scored).2022 Iowa Football Media Guide, pp. 278–279. Jerry Hilgenberg, who played at center on offense and linebacker on defense, was selected as a first-team All-American and a first-team All-Big Ten player. Iowa played it first nationally televised game on October 24, 1953, as its game with Indiana was broadcast by NBC.2022 Iowa Football Media Guide, p. 234. The team played its home games at Iowa Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa. Home attendance was 211,109, an average of 42,222 per game.2022 Iowa Football Media Guide, p. 260. Schedule 1953 AP September 26 l Michigan State 2 Iowa Stadium Iowa City, IA 7–21 47,125 Spartans Topple Stubborn Hawks, 21-7: Two First Period Tallies Pave Michigan State Win Sunday Democrat and Times John O'Donnell September 27, 1953 1, 2 (section IV) https://www.newspapers.com/article/quad-city-times-spartans-topple-stubborn/167387336/ Newspapers.com October 3 w y Washington State Iowa Stadium Iowa City, IA 54–12 31,500 October 10 l y Michigan 5 Michigan Stadium Ann Arbor, MI 13–14 49,551 October 17 w y Wyoming Iowa Stadium Iowa City, IA 21–7 29,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune-iowa-defeats-wyoming-21/171519025/ Chicago Tribune Iowa defeats Wyoming, 21–7, as Rice stars October 18, 1953 May 1, 2025 Newspapers.com October 24 w y Indiana Iowa Stadium Iowa City, IA NBC 19–13 50,129 October 31 l y Wisconsin Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI rivalry 6–10 52,819 November 7 w y Purdue Ross–Ade Stadium West Lafayette, IN 26–0 35,000 November 14 w Minnesota 15 Iowa Stadium Iowa City, IA rivalry 27–0 55,355 IOWA 27, GOPHERS 0! https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/127736723/ Des Moines Register via newspapers.com 21 November 15, 1953 December 29, 2019 November 21 t y y 20 Notre Dame 1 Notre Dame Stadium Notre Dame, IN 14–14 56,478 Tie Keeps N.D. Slate Clean: Vicious Iowa Outplays Top Team in U.S.; Passes to Shannon Blunt Hawkeye Attack The South Bend Tribune Joe Doyle November 22, 1953 1 (main), 1 (sports) https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-south-bend-tribune-tie-keeps-nd-sl/201933435/ Newspapers.comIRISH RALLY TO TIE IOWA https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/127737033/ Des Moines Register 25 November 22, 1953 December 26, 2019 Rankings 1953 college football rankings Personnel Players The following players received varsity letters for their performance on the 1952 Iowa football team: 35em Charles Boothe, tackle, senior, 6-0, 205 pounds, Galesburg, IL George "Binky" Broeder, fullback, junior, 5-8, 180 pounds, St. Louis, MO Don Chelf, tackle, senior, No. 77, 6-3, 215 pounds, West Liberty, IA Jerry Clark, tackle, senior, 5-9, 195 pounds, Independence, IA Bob Commings, guard, sophomore, 5-9, 180 pounds, Youngstown, OH Cameron Cummins, junior, 6-1, 200 pounds, Cedar Rapids, IA Bill Fenton, end and MVP, senior, No. 30, 6-3, 210 pounds, Iowa City, IA James Freeman, end, sophomore, 6-4, 230 pounds, Iowa City, IA Frank Gilliam, end, sophomore, No. 37, 6-2, 176 pounds, Steubenville, OH John Hall Jr., tackle, junior, 6-1, 200 pounds, Chicago Jerry Hilgenberg, center/linebacker, senior, No. 52, 6-2, 196 pounds, Wilton, IA Andy Houg, tackle and captain, senior, 6-3, 195 pounds, St. Ansgar, IA Cal Jones, tackle, sophomore, No. 62, 6-0, 210 pounds, Steubenville, OH Paul Kemp, quarterback, senior, 6-2, 175 pounds, Waterloo, IA George Kress, guard, sophomore, 6-2, 235 pounds, Dubuque, IA Warren "Bud" Lawson, center, junior, 6-1, 200 pounds, Fairfield, IA Lyle Leinbaugh, halfback, senior, 5-10, 170 pounds, Holstein, IA Ed Lindsey, end, senior, 6-1, 190 pounds, Davenport, IA Eldean Matheson, halfback, sophomore, 6-0, 170 pounds, Lake Mills, IA Lou Matykiewicz, quarterback, junior, No. 23, 6-2, 185 pounds, Calumet Park, IL Terry Moran, quarterback, sophomore, 5-9, 185 pounds, River Forest, IL Bob Phillips, halfback, senior, 5-11, 180 pounds, Cedar Rapids, IA Jerry Reichow, quarterback, sophomore, No. 25, 6-2 1/2, 195 pounds, Decorah, IA George "Dusty" Rice, halfback, senior, 5-11, 175 pounds, Oelwein, IA Earl Smith, halfback, sophomore, 5-11, 170 pounds, Gary, IN Bob Stearnes, halfback, junior, 4-8, 170 pounds, Gary, IN Rodger Swedberg, tackle, sophomore, 6-1, 215 pounds, Sycamore, IL Eddie Vincent, halfback, sophomore, No. 41, 5-11, 170 pounds, Steubenville, IA Roger Wiegmann, fullback, sophomore, 6-2, 205 pounds, Waverly, IA 2022 Media Guide, pp. 250-258.Hawkeyes' Grid Roster Waterloo Daily Courier September 2, 1953 19 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-courier-iowa-roster/172495160/ Newspapers.com Coaches and administration Head coach: Forest Evashevski Assistant coach: Bump Elliott Athletic director: Paul Brechler Awards and honors Senior Jerry Hilgenberg, who played at center on offense and linebacker on defense, was selected by the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) as a first-team player on the 1953 All-America team.FWAA All America Football Writers Association of America http://www.sportswriters.net/fwaa/awards/allamerica/alltime.pdf 19 April 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20090326165534/http://www.sportswriters.net/fwaa/awards/allamerica/alltime.pdf 26 March 2009 live He received second-team honors from the Associated Press (AP).Ted Smits Cavazos Is Named To'AP's Second All-American Team: Rice Star On First Team Morning Avalanche Lubbock, TX December 5, 1953ESPN College Football Encyclopedia 1232 ESPN Books 2005 1401337031 Hilegenberg also received first-team honors from the AP and United Press (UP) on the 1953 All-Big Ten Conference football team.Coaches Pick Gopher's Giel Ludington Daily News November 24, 1953 6 https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=110&dat=19531124&id=JFNOAAAAIBAJ&sjid=eDwDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3916,1826150UP All-Big Ten The Oshkosh Northwestern November 23, 1953 16 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/104922910/up-all-big-ten/ Newspapers.com Hilgenberg was later inducted into the Iowa Letterwinners Club Hall of Fame. Sophomore guard Cal Jones received first-team honors from the AP, and second-team honors from the UP, on the All-Big Ten team. Jones was later inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame and the Iowa Letterwinners Club Hall of Fame.2022 iowa Football Media Guide, p. 211. End Bill Fenton was selected as Iowa's most valuable player for the second consecutive year.2022 Iowa Football Media Guide, p. 222. He also received second-team All-Big Ten honors from the AP. Fenton was also selected as an Academic All-American for the second consecutive year.2022 Iowa Football Media Guide, p. 215. Tackle Andrew Houg was the team captain.2022 Iowa Football Media Guide, p. 220. 1954 NFL draft The following Iowa players were selected in the 1954 NFL draft: 2 Iowa Hawkeyes Player Position Round Pick NFL club Jerry Hilgenberg Center 448 Cleveland Browns Don Chelf Tackle 12 136 Baltimore Colts Jim Head Back 14 168 Cleveland Browns George Rice Back 16 185 New York Giants 1954 NFL Draft https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1954/draft.htm Sports Reference December 26, 2019 References Iowa Category:Iowa Hawkeyes football seasons Iowa Hawkeyes football