1951 Loyola Lions football team
{{short description|American college football season}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox college sports team season
| year = 1951
| team = Loyola Lions
| sport = football
| image =
| image_size =
| conference = Independent
| record = 3–6
| head_coach = Jordan Olivar
| hc_year = 3rd
| captain =
| stadium = Rose Bowl
| next_year = none
}}
{{1951 Western college football independents records}}
The 1951 Loyola Lions football team was an American football team that represented Loyola University of Los Angeles (now known as Loyola Marymount University) as an independent during the 1951 college football season. In their third season under head coach Jordan Olivar, the Lions compiled a 3–6 record and were outscored by a total of 229 to 180.{{cite web|title=1951 Loyola Marymount Lions Schedule and Results|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=SR/College Football|accessdate=August 11, 2018|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/loyola-marymount/1951-schedule.html}}
Loyola was ranked at No. 96 in the 1951 Litkenhous Ratings.{{cite news|title=Vols Top Final 1951 Litkenhous Ratings|newspaper=The Nashville Banner|date=December 14, 1951|page=49|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/nashville-banner-vols-top-final-1951-lit/124782001/|via=Newspapers.com}}
Schedule
{{CFB schedule
| rankyear = 1951
| poll = AP
| attend = y
| source = y
|September 23||San Diego Navy|Rose Bowl|Pasadena, CA|L 28-42|9,572|{{cite news|title=San Diego Sailors Lower Boom on Loyolans, 42 to 28: Logue Passes Five TDs for Border Eleven|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|author=Jack Geyer|date=September 24, 1951|pages=IV-1, IV-2|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/100054177/san-diego-sailors-lower-boom-on/|via=Newspapers.com}}
|September 29|at|Pacific (CA)|Pacific Memorial Stadium|Stockton, CA|L 28-41|24,000|{{cite news|title=24,000 Fans See COP Swamp Loyola 41-28 Despite Smart Passing|newspaper=Napa Sunday Journal|date=September 30, 1951|page=7|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/100054504/24000-fans-see-cop-swamp-loyola-41-28/|via=Newspapers.com}}
|October 6||Florida|Rose Bowl|Pasadena, CA|L 7-40|15,350|{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/94685055/gators-walk-over-loyola-lions-407/|work=Long Beach Press-Telegram|title=Gators walk over Loyola Lions, 40–7|date=October 7, 1951|accessdate=February 10, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}}
|October 14|at|Santa Clara|Kezar Stadium|San Francisco|L 16-20|10,000|{{cite news|title=Broncs Hang On for First Victory: Lions' Rally Fails, 20-16|newspaper=The San Francisco Examiner|author=Harry M. Hayward|date=October 15, 1951|pages=35, 37|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/99921853/broncs-hang-on-for-first-victory/|via=Newspapers.com}}
|October 26|at|San Jose State|Spartan Stadium|San Jose, CA|W 13-12|7,500|{{cite news|title=Loyola Rallies For 13-12 Win|newspaper=The San Bernardino Sun|date=October 27, 1951|page=16|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/100054896/loyola-rallies-for-13-12-win/|via=Newspapers.com}}
|November 3||Pepperdine|Rose Bowl|Pasadena, CA|W 46-7|6,200|{{cite news|title=Lions Trounce Waves, 46 to 7|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|author=Jack Geyer|date=November 4, 1951|pages=II-9, II-14|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/100055768/lions-trounce-waves-46-to-7/|via=Newspapers.com|accessdate=August 17, 2018}}
|November 10|at|Kansas|Memorial Stadium|Lawrence, KS|L 26-34|18,000|{{cite news|title=Kansas Rally Overpowers Loyola, 34-26|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|author=Jack Geyer|date=November 11, 1951|pages=II-9, II-14|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/100055661/kansas-rally-overpowers-loyola-34-26/|accessdate=August 14, 2018}}
|November 17||Hardin–Simmons|Rose Bowl|Pasadena, CA|W 14-13|9,500|{{cite news|title=Lions Nose Out Cowboys, 14 to 13|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|author=Jack Geyer|date=November 18, 1951|page=II-10|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/38772230/1951-beat-hs/|accessdate=August 14, 2018}}
|November 25||No. 13 San Francisco|Rose Bowl|Pasadena, CA|L 2-20|15,750|{{cite news|title=USF Bowls Over Lions, 20-2; Matson Falls Short of Marks|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|author=Jack Geyer|date=November 26, 1951|pages=IV-1, IV-3|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/39126082/1951-lat-usf-recap-pt-1/|accessdate=August 14, 2018}}
}}
Discontinuation of the program
On December 30, 1951, one month after the season ended, Loyola's president, the Rev. Charles S. Casassa, SJ, announced that the school was discontinuing its intercollegiate football program. The announcement shocked coaches, students, and alumni at the school.
Loyola's president attributed the decision to the loss of several hundred students resulting from the Korean War which began in June 1950. The Los Angeles Times wrote that other likely factors influencing Loyola's decision included concerns about overemphasis on football, rising costs, heightened competition for players, the platoon system with its demand for a greater number of players, the lack of a suitable home field, and difficulty in scheduling games with popular teams such as UCLA and USC.{{cite news|title=Football Program Abandoned at Loyola and San Francisco|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=December 31, 1951|page=IV-1|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/22804702/football_program_abandoned_at_loyola/|via=Newspapers.com}}
Other independent Catholic schools on the West Coast also discontinued their programs during this time period. Saint Mary's College of California disbanded its program after the 1950 season, and the University of San Francisco made its announcement on the same day as Loyola.