1954 Luther Norse football team
| 1954 Luther Norse football | |
|---|---|
Iowa Conference champion | |
| Conference | Iowa Conference |
| Record | 9–0 (6–0 Iowa) |
| Head coach |
|
| Conf | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team | W | L | T | W | L | T | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Luther $ | 6 | – | 0 | – | 0 | 9 | – | 0 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wartburg | 5 | – | 1 | – | 0 | 5 | – | 2 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dubuque | 4 | – | 1 | – | 1 | 4 | – | 3 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Iowa Wesleyan | 4 | – | 2 | – | 0 | 4 | – | 4 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Buena Vista | 3 | – | 2 | – | 1 | 5 | – | 3 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Parsons | 1 | – | 4 | – | 1 | 2 | – | 4 | – | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Central (IA) | 1 | – | 5 | – | 0 | 3 | – | 5 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Simpson | 0 | – | 4 | – | 2 | 1 | – | 5 | – | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Upper Iowa | 0 | – | 5 | – | 1 | 1 | – | 5 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The 1954 Luther Norse football team was an American football team that represented Luther College as a member of the Iowa Conference during the 1954 college football season. In their third year under head coach Edsel Schweizer, the Norse compiled a perfect 9–0 record (6–0 in conference games), won the conference championship, and outscored opponents by a total of 312 to 78.[1]
Luther ranked fifth in the NAIA with an average of 395.5 yards of total offense (350 rushing, 45 passing) per game. On defense, Luther ranked third in the NAIA, limited opponents to an average of 66 rushing yards and 79 passing yards per game.[2]
Six Luther players were selected as first-team players on the 1954 All-Iowa Conference football team: quarterback Dick Rundle; fullback Jack Schultz; halfback Don Nesheim; guards Bob Lee and Bob Pederson; tackle and Charles Engen. Two others received second-tea honors: center Bill Losen and end Ken Vinge. Tackle Gene Ersland received honorable mention.[3] Rundle and Schultz were selected as team captains for 1955.[4] Nesheim led the team with 808 rushing yards and an average of 8.8 yards per carry. Schultz led the team in scoring with 72 points on 12 touchdowns. Rundle led in passing, completing 16 of 40 passes for 268 yards, three interceptions, and three touchdowns.[2]
Schedule[edit]
| Date | Opponent | Site | Result | Attendance | Source | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 17 | at Simpson | Indianola, IA | W 26–0 | [5][6] | |||
| September 25 | Northland* | Decorah, IA | W 40–18 | [7] | |||
| October 2 | at Buena Vista | Storm Lake, IA | W 19–0 | [8] | |||
| October 9 | at Upper Iowa | Fayette, IA | W 32–13 | [9] | |||
| October 16 | Wartburg | Decorah, IA | W 28–7 | [10] | |||
| October 23 | Iowa Wesleyan | Decorah, IA | W 42–14 | 4,000 | [11][12] | ||
| October 30 | at Augustana (IL)* |
| W 48–13 | [13] | |||
| November 6 | Central (IA) | Decorah, IA | W 32–7 | [14] | |||
| November 13 | Loras* | Decorah, IA | W 45–6 | [15] | |||
| |||||||
References[edit]
- ^ "Grid Records". The Des Moines Register. Des Moines, Iowa. November 15, 1954. p. 14 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b "Luther's Average 395 Yards a Game". Waterloo Daily Courier. November 19, 1954. p. 20 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Luther Gets 6, Wartburg 3 on All-Loop". Waterloo Daily Courier. November 30, 1954. p. 18 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Schultz, Rundle Luther Captains". The Cedar Rapids Gazette. November 21, 1954. p. Sports 5 – via Newsapers.com.
- ^ "Luther Pins 26-0 Defeat On Simpson". The Des Moines Register. September 18, 1954. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Luther Ground Attac Routs Simpson, 26 to 0". The Cedar Rapids Gazette. September 18, 1954. p. 4 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Luther Rolls Past Northland, 40-18". The Des Moines Register. September 26, 1954. p. 7S – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Luther Beats Beavers, 19-0". The Cedar Rapids Gazette. October 3, 1954. p. Sports 3 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Luther 32-13 Victor Over Upper Iowa". The Des Moines Register. October 10, 1954. p. 9S – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Luther Rips Wartburg, 28-7: Norsemen Take Loop Lead". The Des Moines Register. October 17, 1954. p. 6S – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Luther Routs Wesleyan For Sixth in Row, 42-14". The Cedar Rapids Gazette. October 24, 1954. p. Sports 2 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Luther Staggers Wesleyan, 42-14: Sixth in Row As Norsemen Near Crown". the Des Moines Register. October 24, 1954. p. 10S – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Dick Collins (November 1, 1954). "Luther Spoils Augie Homecoming, 48-13: Visitors Rip Viking Line In Easy Win". The Rock Island Argus. p. 21 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Luther Clinches Loop Title 32-6; Trails Once 7-6". Waterloo Sunday Courier. November 7, 1954. p. 44 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Luther Defeats Loras Team 45-6". Council Bluffs Nonpareil. November 14, 1954. p. 9B – via Newspapers.com.