1954 Michigan State Normal Hurons football team

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1954 Michigan State Normal Hurons football
IIAC co-champion
ConferenceInterstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
Record8–1 (5–1 IIAC)
Head coach
MVPRobert Middlekauf
CaptainNicholas Manych
Home stadiumBriggs Field
Seasons
← 1953
1955 →
1954 Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
Michigan State Normal + 5 1 0 8 1 0
Central Michigan + 5 1 0 8 2 0
Western Illinois 3 1 2 6 1 3
Illinois State Normal 3 2 1 5 3 1
Eastern Illinois 1 4 1 2 6 1
Southern Illinois 1 5 0 2 7 0
Northern Illinois State 1 5 0 2 7 0
  • + – Conference co-champions

The 1954 Michigan State Normal Hurons football team represented Michigan State Normal College (renamed Eastern Michigan College in 1956 and Eastern Michigan University in 1959) in the Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) during the 1954 college football season. In their third season under head coach Fred Trosko, the Hurons compiled an 8–1 record (5–1 against IIAC opponents), tied with Central Michigan for the IIAC championship, and outscored their opponents, 210 to 67.[1] Nicholas Manych was the team captain.[1] The Hurons lost to Central Michigan by a 28 to 7 score in the final game of the season, resulting in the two teams sharing the conference championship.[2] Quarterback Bob Middlekauff led the team with 934 yards of total offense. Virgil Windom led the team with 530 rushing yards and in scoring with 11 touchdowns and 66 points.[1]: 178, 184, 189, 191  Middlekauf was also named MVP of the IIAC.[1]: 142 

Schedule[edit]

DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 18at Hope*
W 19–02,500[3]
September 25Hillsdale*
W 32–13[4]
October 1Wayne*
  • Briggs Field
  • Ypsilanti, MI
W 7–04,000[5]
October 9Eastern Illinois
  • Briggs Field
  • Ypsilanti, MI
W 33–0[6]
October 16at Northern Illinois StateW 34–0[7]
October 23at Southern IllinoisW 20–06,500[8]
October 30Western Illinoisdagger
  • Briggs Field
  • Ypsilanti, MI
W 33–195,100[9]
November 6at Illinois State Normal
W 25–7[10]
November 13at Central MichiganMount Pleasant, MI (rivalry)L 7–28[2]
  • *Non-conference game
  • daggerHomecoming

[11]

After the season[edit]

The following Huron was selected in the 1955 NFL Draft after the season.[12]

Round Pick Player Position NFL club
21 243 Nick Manych End Baltimore Colts

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d "2014 Digital Media Guide: Eastern Michigan University" (PDF). Eastern Michigan University Football. Retrieved June 29, 2016.
  2. ^ a b "Hurons Lose; Tie For Crown; Chippewas Hand Michigan Normal First Loss of Season, 28-7". The DeKalb Daily Chronicle. November 15, 1954. p. 12.
  3. ^ "Hope Drops Opening Tilt, 19-0". The Holland Evening Sentinel. September 20, 1954. p. 7. Retrieved March 5, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "One Major Mich. Power Suffers Loss". The Herald-Press. Associated Press. September 27, 1954. p. 8. Retrieved March 5, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Hurons Snag Wayne Pass to Win, 7-0". Detroit Free Press. October 2, 1954. p. 14. Retrieved March 5, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Mich. Normal Raps EI, 33-0". Decatur Sunday Herald and Review. October 10, 1954. p. 20. Retrieved February 21, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Michigan Normal Blanks Northern Illinois, 34-0". Battle Creek Enquirer. Associated Press. October 18, 1954. p. 10. Retrieved December 8, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ Jones, Merle (October 25, 1954). "Michigan Hurons Beat Southern, 20-0". The Southern Illinoisan. p. 7. Retrieved February 27, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "Normal Wins 7th In Row". Lansing State Journal. Associated Press. October 31, 1954. p. 66. Retrieved February 19, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ Barnhart, Jim (November 7, 1954). "Michigan Normal Halts ISNU". The Pantagraph. p. 12. Retrieved February 17, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "Brief Summary Of Cumulative Football Statistics". National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved December 11, 2022.
  12. ^ "1955 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved January 7, 2024.