1954 Oklahoma A&M Cowboys football team
American college football season
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The 1954 Oklahoma A&M Cowboys football team represented Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical College (later renamed Oklahoma State University–Stillwater) in the Missouri Valley Conference during the 1954 college football season. In their fifth and final season under head coach Jennings B. Whitworth, the Cowboys compiled a 5–4–1 record (2–2 against conference opponents), finished in third place in the conference, and outscored opponents by a combined total of 161 to 119.[1][2]
- Jennings B. Whitworth (5th season)
| 1954 Oklahoma A&M Cowboys football | |
|---|---|
| Conference | Missouri Valley Conference |
| Record | 5–4–1 (2–2 MVC) |
| Head coach |
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| Home stadium | Lewis Field |
| Conf. | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Team | W | L | T | W | L | T | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wichita $ | 4 | – | 0 | – | 0 | 9 | – | 1 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Houston | 3 | – | 1 | – | 0 | 5 | – | 5 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Oklahoma A&M | 2 | – | 2 | – | 0 | 5 | – | 4 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Detroit | 1 | – | 3 | – | 0 | 2 | – | 7 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tulsa | 0 | – | 4 | – | 0 | 0 | – | 11 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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On offense, the 1954 team averaged 16.1 points scored, 229.3 rushing yards, and 56.5 passing yards per game.[3] On defense, the team allowed an average of 11.9 points scored, 163.0 rushing yards and 68.8 passing yards per game.[4] The team's statistical leaders included fullback Earl Lunsford with 761 rushing yards and 54 points scored, Fred Duvall with 195 passing yards, and Chester Spencer with 119 receiving yards.[5]
Two Oklahoma A&M players received first-team All-Missouri Valley Conference honors: end Bob LaRue and tackle Dale Meinert.[6]
The team played its home games at Lewis Field in Stillwater, Oklahoma.[7]
Schedule
| Date | Opponent | Site | Result | Attendance | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 18 | at Wyoming* | W 14–6 | 14,871 | [8] | |
| September 25 | vs. Texas A&M* | W 14–6 | 14,000 | [9] | |
| October 2 | at No. 17 Texas Tech* | T 13–13 | 24,500 | [10] | |
| October 9 | at Wichita | L 13–22 | 18,321 | ||
| October 16 | Houston | L 7–14 | 24,000 | [11] | |
| October 23 | vs. Hardin–Simmons* |
| L 0–13 | 8,500 | [12] |
| October 30 | at Tulsa | W 12–0 | 11,000 | ||
| November 6 | Detroit |
| W 34–19 | 12,000 | [13] |
| November 13 | Kansas* |
| W 47–12 | 10,000 | |
| November 27 | at No. 3 Oklahoma* |
| L 0–14 | 38,000 | |
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After the season
The 1955 NFL draft was held on January 27–28, 1955. The following Cowboys were selected.[14]
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | NFL team |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 59 | Leland Kendall | Tackle | Chicago Bears |
| 8 | 88 | Dale Meinert | Linebacker | Baltimore Colts |
| 8 | 93 | Freddie Meyers | Back | San Francisco 49ers |