1953 Central Michigan Chippewas football team

The 1953 Central Michigan Chippewas football team represented Central Michigan College of Education, renamed Central Michigan University in 1959, in the Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) during the 1953 college football season. In their third season under head coach Kenneth Kelly, the Chippewas compiled a 7–1–1 record (5–0–1 against IIAC opponents), won the IIAC championship, and outscored all opponents by a combined total of 244 to 129.^[1]

1953 Central Michigan Chippewas football
IIAC champion
Conference	Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
Record	7–1–1 (5–0–1 IIAC)
Head coach	Kenneth Kelly (3rd season)
MVP	Chuck Miller
Home stadium	Alumni Field
Seasons ← 1952 1954 →

1953 Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings

v t e	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
Central Michigan $	5	–	0	–	1			7	–	1	–	1
Western Illinois	5	–	1	–	0			8	–	2	–	0
Michigan State Normal	4	–	1	–	1			7	–	1	–	1
Illinois State Normal	3	–	3	–	0			5	–	4	–	0
Southern Illinois	2	–	4	–	0			2	–	7	–	0
Northern Illinois State	1	–	5	–	0			1	–	8	–	0
Eastern Illinois	0	–	6	–	0			1	–	8	–	0
$ – Conference champion

The team's statistical leaders included Lornie Kerr with 327 passing yards, Chuck Miller with 938 rushing yards, and Jim Podoley with 186 receiving yards.^[2] Miller received the team's most valuable player award and also received the IIAC most valuable player award.^[3] Four Central Michigan players (Miller, tackle Ken Barron, guard Jack Clary, and center Dick Kackmeister) received first-team honors on the All-IIAC team.^[4]

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 19	at Iowa State Teachers*	O. R. Latham Stadium Cedar Falls, IA	W 34–20		^[5]
September 26	Western Michigan*	Alumni Field Mount Pleasant, MI (rivalry)	W 21–0		^[6]
October 2	Eastern Illinois	Alumni Field Mount Pleasant, MI	W 33–6		^[7]
October 10	vs. Great Lakes Naval*	Arthur Hill Stadium Saginaw, MI	L 16–39	7,500	^[8]
October 17	at Southern Illinois	McAndrew Stadium Carbondale, IL	W 19–6	2,500	^[9]
October 24	Western Illinois	Alumni Field Mount Pleasant, MI	W 13–6		^[10]
October 31	at Illinois State Normal	McCormick Field Normal, IL	W 29–19		^[11]
November 6	Northern Illinois	Alumni Field Mount Pleasant, MI	W 46–0		^[12]
November 14	at Michigan State Normal	Briggs Field Ypsilanti, MI (rivalry)	T 33–33		^[13]
*Non-conference game

^[14]

References

1. (PDF). Central Michigan University. 2015. pp. 100, 110. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 26, 2016. Retrieved July 20, 2016.
2. 2015 Media Guide, pp. 88-89.
3. 2015 Media Guide, pp. 95-96.
4. 2015 Media Guide, p. 96.
5. Ney, Al (September 20, 1953). "Long Runs Defeat Iowa Teachers 34-20". Waterloo Sunday Courier. p. 39. Retrieved February 28, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
6. "Central Michigan Blanks Western Michigan, 21-0". Lansing State Journal. Associated Press. September 27, 1953. p. 63. Retrieved February 28, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
7. "Central Romps over E. Illinois". Ludington Daily News. Associated Press. October 3, 1953. p. 6. Retrieved February 20, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
8. "Great Lakes '11' Ends Chips' Victory String". Battle Creek Enquirer. Associated Press. October 12, 1953. p. 10. Retrieved February 28, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
9. Jones, Merle (October 19, 1953). "Central Michigan Defeats Southern Salukis, 19 to 6". The Southern Illinoisan. p. 9. Retrieved February 27, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
10. "Central Michigan Defeats Western". Journal-Courier. Associated Press. October 25, 1953. p. 10. Retrieved November 20, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
11. Alsene, Ed (November 1, 1953). "Central Drops Red Birds, 29-19". The Pantagraph. p. 13. Retrieved February 17, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
12. "Chips Blast N.I. Gridders". The DeKalb Daily Chronicle. November 7, 1953. p. 8. Retrieved February 24, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
13. "Central Michigan Ties Michigan Normal, 33-33". Lansing State Journal. Associated Press. November 15, 1953. p. 64. Retrieved February 28, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
14. "Brief Summary Of Cumulative Football Statistics". National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved December 14, 2022.