1954 West Virginia Mountaineers football team
{{short description|American college football season}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox college sports team season
| year = 1954
| team = West Virginia Mountaineers
| sport = football
| image =
| image_size =
| conference = Southern Conference
| short_conf = SoCon
| APRank = 12
| record = 8–1
| conf_record = 3–0
| head_coach = Art Lewis
| hc_year = 5th
| captain =
| stadium = Mountaineer Field
| champion = SoCon champion
}}
{{1954 Southern Conference football standings}}
The 1954 West Virginia Mountaineers football team was an American football team that represented West Virginia University in the Southern Conference (SoCon) during the 1954 college football season. Led by fifth-year head coach Art Lewis, the Mountaineers compiled an overall record of 8–1 with a mark of 3–0 in conference play, winning the SoCon title for the second consecutive season.
Schedule
{{CFB schedule
| poll = AP
| rankyear = 1954
| timezone = Eastern
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 2
| w/l = w
| nonconf = y
| away = y
| opponent = South Carolina
| opprank = 15
| site_stadium = Carolina Stadium
| site_cityst = Columbia, SC
| score = 26–6
| attend = 31,000
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-and-observer-west-virginia-scor/138086407/|work=The News and Observer|title=West Virginia scores upset victory over Gamecocks, 26–6|date=October 3, 1954|accessdate=January 5, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 9
| w/l = w
| rank = 16
| homecoming = y
| opponent = George Washington
| site_stadium = Mountaineer Field
| site_cityst = Morgantown, WV
| score = 13–7
| attend = 20,000
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/69881869/mounties-barely-squeeze-past-stubborn/|work=The Beckley Post-Herald|title=Mounties barely squeeze past stubborn G-W 13–7|date=October 10, 1954|accessdate=February 10, 2021|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 16
| w/l = w
| nonconf = y
| away = y
| rank = 14
| opponent = Penn State
| opprank = 9
| site_stadium = New Beaver Field
| site_cityst = University Park , PA
| gamename = rivalry
| score = 19–14
| attend = 32,221
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/sunday-news-west-virginia-tops-unbeaten/138086446/|work=Sunday News|title=West Virginia tops unbeaten Lions by 19–14|date=October 17, 1954|accessdate=January 5, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 23
| w/l = w
| neutral = y
| rank = 10
| opponent = VMI
| site_stadium = Mitchell Stadium
| site_cityst = Bluefield, WV
| score = 40–6
| attend = 11,000
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/91831634/west-virginias-devastating-ground-game/|work=The State|title=West Virginia's devastating ground game rocks VMI 40–6|date=October 24, 1954|accessdate=January 4, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 30
| w/l = l
| nonconf = y
| rank = 7
| opponent = Pittsburgh
| site_stadium = Mountaineer Field
| site_cityst = Morgantown, WV
| gamename = rivalry
| score = 10–13
| attend = 34,000
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/richmond-times-dispatch-salvaterra-heads/138086528/|work=Richmond Times-Dispatch|title=Salvaterra heads late Panther surge which topples West Virginia by 13–10|date=October 31, 1954|accessdate=January 5, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 6
| w/l = w
| nonconf = y
| rank = 17
| opponent = Fordham
| site_stadium = Mountaineer Field
| site_cityst = Morgantown, WV
| score = 39–9
| attend = 10,000
| source = {{cite news |title=WVU trims Fordham; Six men get touchdowns |first=Bob |last=McKowen |date=November 7, 1954 |page=13 |newspaper=The Charleston Daily Mail |via=Newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/67823400/1954-fordham-wvu/ }} Attendance figure in {{cite news |title=Mountaineers whip Rams, 39-9 |date=November 7, 1954 |at=sect. 4, p. 2 |newspaper=The Pittsburgh Press}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 13
| w/l = w
| away = y
| rank = 16
| opponent = William & Mary
| site_stadium = Cary Field
| site_cityst = Williamsburg, VA
| score = 20–6
| attend = 10,000
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-star-west-virginia-beats-wm-20/138086584/|work=The Sunday Star|title=West Virginia beats W&M, 20–6, to take Conference crown|date=November 14, 1954|accessdate=January 5, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 20
| w/l = w
| nonconf = y
| rank = 14
| opponent = NC State
| site_stadium = Mountaineer Field
| site_cityst = Morgantown, WV
| score = 28–3
| attend = 20,000
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-baltimore-sun-nc-state-bows-to-wes/138086622/|work=The Baltimore Sun|title=N.C. State bows to West Virginia|date=November 21, 1954|accessdate=January 5, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 27
| w/l = w
| nonconf = y
| away = y
| rank = 12
| opponent = Virginia
| site_stadium = Scott Stadium
| site_cityst = Charlottesville, VA
| score = 14–10
| attend = 10,000
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-state-bowl-fever-almost-beats-mounta/138086665/|work=The State|title=Bowl fever almost beats Mountaineers|date=November 28, 1954|accessdate=January 5, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
}}
Roster
{{American football roster/Header
| year = 1954
| team = West Virginia Mountaineers
| teamcolors = f
| offensive_players =
{{American football roster/Player|num=11|class=Junior|first=Fred|last=Wyant|pos=QB|link=y}}
{{American football roster/Player|num=89|class=Senior|first=Billy|last=Hillen|pos=End}}
{{American football roster/Player|num=84|class=Sophomore|first=Joe|last=Kopnisky|pos=End}}
{{American football roster/Player|num=64|class=Sophomore|first=Gene|last=Lathey|pos=Guard}}
{{American football roster/Player|num=88|class=Junior|first=Bill|last=Underdonk|pos=Guard}}
{{American football roster/Player|num=36|class=Senior|first=Charles|last=Donaldson|pos=Center}}
{{American football roster/Player|num=77|class=Junior|first=Bruce|last=Bosley|pos=OL-LT}}
{{American football roster/Player|num=75|class=Sophomore|first=Sam|last=Huff|pos=OL-RG}}
{{American football roster/Player|num=72|class=Junior|first=Gene|last=Lamone|pos=OL-LG}}
{{American football roster/Player|num=65|class=Sophomore|first=Jerry|last=Urda|pos=Guard}}
{{American football roster/Player|num=55|class=Senior|first=John|last=Kernic|pos=End}}
{{American football roster/Player|num=81|class=Senior|first=Max|last=Ludwig|pos=End}}
{{American football roster/Player|num=22|class=Sophomore|first=Victor "Jack"|last=Rabbits|pos=RB}}
{{American football roster/Player|num=42|class=Senior|first=Dick|last=Nicholson|pos=RB}}
{{American football roster/Player|num=15|class=Senior|first=Harry|last=Sweeney|pos=RB}}
{{American football roster/Player|num=24|class=Senior|first=Carl|last=Norman|pos=FB}}
{{American football roster/Player|num=35|class=Senior|first=Danny|last=Williams|pos=FB}}
{{American football roster/Player|num=|class=|first=|last=|pos=}}
{{American football roster/Player|num=10|class=Sophomore|first=Alex|last=Szuch|pos=QB}}
{{American football roster/Player|num=12|class=Sophomore|first=Walter|last=Beene|pos=E}}
{{American football roster/Player|num=21|class=Sophomore|first=Paul| last=Shepherd|pos=HB}}
{{American football roster/Player|num=23|class=Sophomore|first=Ray|last=Borst|pos=FB}}
{{American football roster/Player|num=25|class=Junior|first=Bob|last=Moss|pos=HB}}
{{American football roster/Player|num=31|class=Senior|first=Don|last=Wilson|pos=C}}
| defensive_players=
{{American football roster/Player|num=|class=|first=|last=|pos=|link=y}}
| special_teams_players=
}}
{{American football roster/Footer
| head_coach = Art "Pappy" Lewis
| asst_coach =
| accessdate=
}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{West Virginia Mountaineers football navbox}}
{{Southern Conference football champions}}
Category:West Virginia Mountaineers football seasons