1952 George Washington Colonials football team

{{short description|American college football season}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}

{{Infobox college sports team season

| year = 1952

| team = George Washington Colonials

| sport = football

| image =

| image_size =

| conference = Southern Conference

| short_conf = SoCon

| record = 6–2–1

| conf_record = 5–1–1

| head_coach = Bo Sherman

| hc_year = 1st

| captain =

| stadium = Griffith Stadium

}}

{{1952 Southern Conference football standings}}

The 1952 George Washington Colonials football team was an American football team that represented George Washington University as a member of the Southern Conference (SoCon) during the 1952 college football season. In its first season under head coach Bo Sherman, the team compiled a 6–2–1 record (5–1–1 in conference games) and outscored its opponents by a total of 188 to 149.{{cite web|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/george-washington/1952-schedule.html|title=1952 George Washington Colonials Schedule and Results|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=SR/College Football|accessdate=September 3, 2019}} It was the school's best win-loss record since 1936.{{cite news|title=Victory Caps Big Year for GW|newspaper=The Evening Star|author=George Huber|date=November 24, 1952|page=C2|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-star-victory-caps-big-year-for-g/165450625/|via=Newspapers.com}}

Sherman was hired as the team's head coach in June 1952. He announced at the time tht he change the program's offense from the single-wing formation to a split-T.{{cite news|title=Bo Sherman, Rowland's Aide, Named New Football Coach at GW: Signs On-Year Contract, Plans to Keep New Split-T|newspaper=Evening Star|author=George Huber|date=June 4, 1952|page=1C|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-star-bo-sherman-rowlands-aide/165449720/|via=Newspapers.com}}

Schedule

{{CFB schedule

| rankyear = 1952

| poll = AP

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = September 27

| w/l = w

| away = y

| opponent = NC State

| site_stadium = Riddick Stadium

| site_cityst = Raleigh, NC

| score = 39–0

| attend = 7,500

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/69893338/colonials-wallop-pack-in-opening-game/|work=The News and Observer|title=Colonials wallop Pack in opening game, 39-0|date=September 28, 1952|accessdate=February 10, 2021|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 4

| w/l = w

| opponent = Washington and Lee

| site_stadium = George Washington HS Stadium

| site_cityst = Alexandria, VA

| score = 33-28

| attend = 7,500

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/69894076/colonials-rally-in-2d-half-to-trim/|work=Richmond Times-Dispatch|title=Colonials rally in 2d half to trim Generals, 33 to 28|date=October 5, 1952|accessdate=February 10, 2021|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 11

| w/l = l

| away = y

| nonconf = y

| opponent = Virginia

| opprank = 15

| site_stadium = Scott Stadium

| site_cityst = Charlottesville, VA

| score = 0–50

| attend = 18,000

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/69894586/virginia-50-gwu-0-u-va-roars-to/|work=Richmond Times-Dispatch|title=Virginia 50; GWU 0 - U. Va. roars to 34-point lead at half|date=October 12, 1952|accessdate=February 10, 2021|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 18

| w/l = w

| away = y

| opponent = VPI

| site_stadium = Miles Stadium

| site_cityst = Blacksburg, VA

| score = 6–0

| attend = 11,000

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/69894826/gw-takes-60-win-on-early-payoff-march/|work=Daily Press|title=GW takes 6–0 win on early payoff march|date=October 19, 1952|accessdate=February 10, 2021|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = {{tooltip|October 24|Friday}}

| w/l = t

| opponent = VMI

| site_stadium = Griffith Stadium

| site_cityst = Washington, DC

| score = 20–20

| attend = 12,000

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/69895599/chumbleys-45-yard-run-enables-vmi-to/|work=Richmond Times-Dispatch|title=Chumbley's 45-yard run enables VMI to tie Colonials, 20–20|date=October 26, 1952|accessdate=February 9, 2021|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = November 1

| w/l = l

| away = y

| opponent = West Virginia

| site_stadium = Mountaineer Field

| site_cityst = Morgantown, WV

| score = 0–24

| attend = 20,000

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/69895871/west-virginia-bags-fourth-win-240/|work=Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph|title=West Virginia bags fourth win, 24–0|date=November 2, 1952|accessdate=February 10, 2021|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = {{tooltip|November 7|Friday}}

| w/l = w

| nonconf = y

| opponent = Bucknell

| site_stadium = Griffith Stadium

| site_cityst = Washington, DC

| score = 21–7

| attend = 4,000

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/67592375/1952-bucknell-gwu/|work=The York Dispatch|title=Bucknell is upset by G. Washington|date=November 8, 1952|accessdate=February 10, 2021|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = {{tooltip|November 14|Friday}}

| w/l = w

| opponent = Davidson

| site_stadium = Griffith Stadium

| site_cityst = Washington, DC

| score = 40–13

| attend =

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/69896700/colonials-rap-davidson-wildcats-by-40/|work=The Charlotte Observer|title=Colonials rap Davidson Wildcats by 40 and 13|date=November 15, 1952|accessdate=February 10, 2021|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = November 22

| w/l = w

| away = y

| opponent = Richmond

| site_stadium = City Stadium

| site_cityst = Richmond, VA

| score = 29–7

| attend = 3,000

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/69896911/george-washington-powers-way-to-easy/|work=Daily Press|title=George Washington powers way to easy 29–7 victory over Richmond|date=November 23, 1952|accessdate=February 10, 2021|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

}}

Players

  • Little Bino Barreira, right halfback, 155 pounds
  • Jack Baumgartner, quarterback, senior, completed 9 of 14 passes for 189 yards
  • Len Ciemniecki, left halfback, freshman, 185 pounds, Elizabeth, NJ{{cite news|title=Ciemniecki 'Freshman of Week' For Sparking GW to Victory|newspaper=The Evening Star|date=October 1, 1952|page=C2|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-star-ciemniecki-freshman-of-wee/165451309/|via=Newspapers.com}}
  • Frank Continetti, defensive line
  • Norb "Dutch" Danz, fullback
  • Jim England, end
  • Tom Flyzik, tackle{{cite news|title=Ciemniecki and Flyzik Expect to See Action For GWU Against VPI|newspaper=The Evening Star|date=October 15, 1952|page=A20|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-star-ciemniecki-and-flyzik-expec/165451505/|via=Newspapers.com}}
  • Ray Fox, T quarterback
  • Don Greene
  • Bob Gutt, defensive line
  • Cecil Perkins, end
  • Skinny Safter, freshman
  • George Semkew, defensive line
  • Bob Sturm, safety, Muskogee, OK{{cite news|title=Bob Sturm Stars|newspaper=Muskogee Daily Phoenix|date=October 9, 1952|page=15|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/muskogee-daily-phoenix-and-times-democra/165452042/|via=Newspapers.com}}

References