1954 Oklahoma A&M Cowboys football team

The 1954 Oklahoma A&M Cowboys football team represented Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical College (later renamed Oklahoma State University–Stillwater) in the Missouri Valley Conference during the 1954 college football season. In their fifth and final season under head coach Jennings B. Whitworth, the Cowboys compiled a 5–4–1 record (2–2 against conference opponents), finished in third place in the conference, and outscored opponents by a combined total of 161 to 119.[1][2]

1954 Oklahoma A&M Cowboys football
ConferenceMissouri Valley Conference
Record5–4–1 (2–2 MVC)
Head coach
Home stadiumLewis Field
Seasons
← 1953
1955 →
1954 Missouri Valley Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
Wichita $ 4 0 0 9 1 0
Houston 3 1 0 5 5 0
Oklahoma A&M 2 2 0 5 4 0
Detroit 1 3 0 2 7 0
Tulsa 0 4 0 0 11 0
  • $ – Conference champion

On offense, the 1954 team averaged 16.1 points scored, 229.3 rushing yards, and 56.5 passing yards per game.[3] On defense, the team allowed an average of 11.9 points scored, 163.0 rushing yards and 68.8 passing yards per game.[4] The team's statistical leaders included fullback Earl Lunsford with 761 rushing yards and 54 points scored, Fred Duvall with 195 passing yards, and Chester Spencer with 119 receiving yards.[5]

Two Oklahoma A&M players received first-team All-Missouri Valley Conference honors: end Bob LaRue and tackle Dale Meinert.[6]

The team played its home games at Lewis Field in Stillwater, Oklahoma.[7]

Schedule

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DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 18at Wyoming*W 14–6
September 25vs. Texas A&M*W 14–6
October 2at No. 17 Texas Tech*T 13–1324,500
October 9at WichitaL 13–22
October 16Houston L 7–1424,000
October 23vs. Hardin–Simmons*Odessa, TXL 0–13
October 30at TulsaW 12–011,000
November 6Detroit
  • Lewis Field
  • Stillwater, OK
W 34–1912,000[8]
November 13Kansas*
  • Lewis Field
  • Stillwater, OK
W 47–1210,000
November 27at No. 3 Oklahoma*
L 0–1438,000
  • *Non-conference game
  •  Homecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

After the season

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The 1955 NFL Draft was held on January 27–28, 1955. The following Cowboys were selected.[9]

Round Pick Player Position NFL Club
5 59 Leland Kendall Tackle Chicago Bears
8 88 Dale Meinert Linebacker Baltimore Colts
8 93 Freddie Meyers Back San Francisco 49ers

References

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  1. ^ "1954 Oklahoma State Cowboys Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved September 25, 2017.
  2. ^ "Oklahoma State Cowboy Football 2016 Guide" (PDF). Oklahoma State University. p. 172. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 21, 2017. Retrieved September 25, 2017.
  3. ^ 2016 Football Guide, p. 138.
  4. ^ 2016 Football Guide, p. 140.
  5. ^ 2016 Football Guide, pp. 168, 170.
  6. ^ 2016 Football Guide, p. 155.
  7. ^ 2016 Football Guide, pp. 217, 219.
  8. ^ "Titans Fall Apart In Second Half: Bow to A&M, 34-19". Detroit Free Press. November 7, 1954. p. D5 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "1955 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 13, 2021.