1953 Army Cadets football team
{{short description|American college football season}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox college sports team season
| year = 1953
| team = Army Cadets
| sport = football
| image =
| image_size =
| CoachRank = 16
| APRank = 14
| record = 7–1–1
| conference = Independent
| head_coach = Earl Blaik
| hc_year = 13th
| off_scheme = T formation
| def_scheme =
| captain = LeRoy Lunn
| champion = Eastern champion
}}
{{1953 Eastern college football independents records}}
The 1953 Army Cadets football team represented the United States Military Academy in the 1953 college football season. Led by head coach Earl Blaik, the team finished with a record of 7–1–1. The Cadets won the Lambert-Meadowlands Trophy, awarded to the top college team in the East.
The Cadets had lost six players, including Freddie Myers, to academic ineligibility.When Pride Still Mattered, David Maraniss, p.147, Simon & Schuster Paperbacks, New York, 1999, {{ISBN|978-0-684-84418-3}} The Cadets defeated Furman, 41–0, the team's first shutout since the 1951 scandal. After a loss to Northwestern, the Cadets were undefeated for the rest of the season. In a scoreless tie against Tulane, future Max McGee starred for the Green Wave. In the Army–Navy Game, Army's 20–7 victory over Navy was its first since 1949. The turning point of the season was an October victory over No. 7 Duke. The Blue Devils featured stars such as Red Smith and Worth (A Million) Lutz. Tommy Bell ran up the middle. Quarterback Pete Vann switched the ball to his left hand, and made a southpaw pass. Red Smith was tackled by Bob Mischak in the final minutes of the game. Mischak ran 73 yards to make the tackle catching up eight yards of separation to save a touchdown. Inspired by Mischak, Army held Duke inside the one yard line, took over on downs, and eventually won the game. "When Bob Mischak, who was posthumously enshrined in the Army/West Point Sports Hall of Fame in 2017, made that unlikely play, what Blaik called 'a marvelous display of heart and pursuit', the Army football team regained its soul." Direct quote from MaranessWhen Pride Still Mattered, David Maraniss, p.148, Simon & Schuster Paperbacks, New York, 1999, {{ISBN|978-0-684-84418-3}}
Schedule
{{CFB schedule
| rankyear = 1953
| poll = AP
| timezone = Eastern
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 26
| time =
| w/l = w
| opponent = Furman
| site_stadium = Michie Stadium
| site_cityst = West Point, NY
| score = 41–0
| attend = 8,450
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/109504554/army-trounces-furman-410-in-opener-at/|work=The Baltimore Sun|title=Army trounces Furman, 41–0, in opener at West Point|date=September 27, 1953|access-date=September 13, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 3
| time =
| w/l = l
| away = y
| opponent = Northwestern
| site_stadium = Dyche Stadium
| site_cityst = Evanston, IL
| score = 20–33
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 10
| time =
| w/l = w
| opponent = Dartmouth
| site_stadium = Michie Stadium
| site_cityst = West Point, NY
| score = 27–0
| attend = 17,525
| source = {{cite news |title=Cadets Turn Back Dartmouth, 27 to 0 |first=William J. |last=Briordy |date=October 11, 1953 |page=S1 |newspaper=The New York Times |location=New York, N.Y.}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 17
| time =
| w/l = w
| neutral = y
| opponent = Duke
| opprank = 7
| site_stadium = Polo Grounds
| site_cityst = New York, NY
| score = 14–13
| attend = 21,284
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-ogden-standard-examiner-army-upsets/138032095/|work=The Ogden Standard-Examiner|title=Army upsets Duke Blue Devils 14–13|date=October 18, 1953|accessdate=January 4, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 24
| time =
| w/l = w
| opponent = Columbia
| site_stadium = Michie Stadium
| site_cityst = West Point, NY
| score = 40–7
| attend = 23,520
| source = {{cite news |title=Cadets Roll to Easy Victory Behind Vann's Fine Passing |first=Louis |last=Effrat |date=October 25, 1953 |page=S1 |newspaper=The New York Times |location=New York, N.Y.}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 31
| time =
| w/l = t
| away = y
| rank = 15
| opponent = Tulane
| site_stadium = Tulane Stadium
| site_cityst = New Orleans, LA
| score = 0–0
| attend = 40,000
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/85622877/tulane-plays-army-to-scoreless-tie/|work=The Daily Advertiser|title=Tulane plays Army to scoreless tie|date=November 1, 1953|access-date=September 19, 2021|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 7
| time =
| w/l = w
| opponent = NC State
| site_stadium = Michie Stadium
| site_cityst = West Point, NY
| score = 27–7
| attend = 9,400
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-sun-telegraph-army-crushes-n/138034484/|work=Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph|title=Army crushes N. Carolina St. by 27–7 score|date=November 8, 1953|accessdate=January 4, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 14
| time =
| w/l = w
| away = y
| opponent = Penn
| site_stadium = Franklin Field
| site_cityst = Philadelphia, PA
| score = 21–14
| attend = 47,305
| source = {{cite news |title=Army Rolls 75 Yds. in 4th Period to Top Penn, 21-14 |first=Herb |last=Good |date=November 15, 1953 |page=S1 |newspaper=The Philadelphia Inquirer |location=Philadelphia, Pa.|via=Newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/67732892/1953-penn-army/ }}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 28
| time = 1:15 p.m.
| w/l = w
| neutral = y
| rank = 18
| opponent = Navy
| site_stadium = Philadelphia Municipal Stadium
| site_cityst = Philadelphia, PA
| gamename = Army–Navy Game
| tv = NBC
| score = 20–7
| attend = 102,000
| source = {{cite news |author= |title=Uebel Score 3 TD's As Cadets Too Tough |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/80947158/daily-press/ |newspaper=Daily Press |location=Newport News, Virginia |agency=Associated Press |date=November 29, 1953 |page=27 |access-date=July 6, 2021 |via=Newspapers.com {{Open access}} }}
}}
}}
Roster
{{American football roster/Header|year=1953|team=Army Cadets|teamcolors=y
|offensive_players=
{{American football roster/Player|num=|class=Jr|first=Tommy|last=Bell|pos=HB}}
{{American football roster/Player|num=|class=So|first=Ralph|last=Chesnauskas|pos=G}}
{{American football roster/Player|num=|class=So|first=Don|last=Holleder|pos=E}}
{{American football roster/Player|num=|class=So|first=Pat|last=Uebel|pos=FB}}
{{American football roster/Player|num=|class=Jr|first=Pete|last=Vann|pos=QB}}
{{American football roster/Player|num=|class=Sr|first=Leroy|last=Lunn (C)|pos=G}}
|defensive_players=
|special_teams_players=
}}
{{American football roster/Footer|roster_url=|access-date=
|head_coach=
|asst_coach=
}}
New York Giants coaching vacancy
Before the end of the 1953 season, the New York Daily News had a headline in their paper that Vince Lombardi was the top candidate to become the Giants new head coach.Giants Among Men, p. 152, Jack Cavanaugh, 2008, Random House, New York, {{ISBN|978-1-4000-6717-6}} Although Giants co-owner Wellington Mara was a classmate of Lombardi at Fordham University, the Giants were actually interested in Army head coach, Colonel Red Blaik. Blaik had declined the job, but recommended Lombardi, who was his offensive co-ordinator at Army.Giants Among Men, p. 153, Jack Cavanaugh, 2008, Random House, New York, {{ISBN|978-1-4000-6717-6}} Despite being Red Blaik's top aide, Vince Lombardi was anxious and frustrated. Three other Army assistants, including Murray Warmath were now head coaches.When Pride Still Mattered, David Maraniss, p.146, Simon & Schuster Paperbacks, New York, 1999, {{ISBN|978-0-684-84418-3}} In June, Lombardi had turned forty years old. Lombardi would be hired as the offensive co-ordinator for the 1954 season.Giants Among Men, p. 154, Jack Cavanaugh, 2008, Random House, New York {{ISBN|978-1-4000-6717-6}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Army Black Knights football navbox}}
Category:Army Black Knights football seasons